Moving into place

'The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven.'

                                                      - Psalms 11:4 ^(NKJV)

Place has always been important to the people of God. The place of encounter between God and man has always been remembered and recorded, finding a primary place in Scripture. God is the initiator of places of encounter. The term “The House of God” has a rich and important heritage – as Jacob declared the place of encounter, “the gate to heaven” is no other than “The House of God” (Gen 28:17). The Lord’s throne is in heaven yet His presence is experienced amongst us as we gather together. This we must never forget.

Place is important to every family. We long for a home, we spend huge sums of money to secure a family home. Children flourish in the security of a home; a heritage is built, memories created and an inheritance is left. A home creates something good and leaves something good.

The house of God was important to Jesus. As a young boy, when his parents lost him for three days then found him, Jesus said, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49). As an adult, when Jesus saw the house of God being used wrongly, he quoted the scripture and said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Mark 11:17). The house of God is not the Lord, but rather a place of communal encounter with the Lord – just as making the “House of God” more important than the Lord, it is also wrong to devalue it. A place of encounter with God is a place to be highly valued as it reflects the importance we place on God’s presence and communion in our shared journey.

1 Chronicles 22:5

“The house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.”

The Lord said of David, “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” (Acts 13:22). David was a man who had the same orientation as that of the Lord who raised the resources to build a physical place for people to gather and encounter God. David wanted the house of God to reflect the nature of God – he wanted it to be magnificent. That is our desire as well.

We have been blessed in our giving. Those who have given have seen the Lord’s hand in job promotions, children added to their family, friends coming to faith in Christ, relationships reconciled and so much more. How could we hold back from preparing the House of God to be magnificent? Let us not withhold any good thing from God. Let us build for Him.

As we build let us build to reach – the house of God is a house of prayer for all nations not just for us. We are called as a church to not just build, but build to reach. We will build a magnificent place of encounter and, at the same time, build resources to reach out beyond us to plant churches, reach the young and help those in need.

Our vision for Build to Reach has not changed. As you give you are giving to build physical and financial resources to reach people locally, nationally and internationally. Let us continue in this work until completion. Nothing is more important than reaching others for Jesus. The Lord bless you as you give generously, sacrificially and with faith in Jesus.

Richard & Cathie Green

Senior Ministers :: C3 Church Ryde