Whose House We Are

Take your Bibles if you would please and turn to Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews chapter 3 verse 6, I'd like to preach to you a message entitled, "Whose House We Are." And before we leave chapter 3, I want to dive in a little bit more on this particular subject and encourage us to continue in doing what we are already doing, not only in this church, but who you are as a person, as God's house. And so you are a house of God. We are His house. And I want you to see that in Scripture and we'll bring some truths to the surface in regards to this today. And I want you to think with me on this subject, being faithful, faithful as a house, but also being faithful in God's house.

You'll see that in the text and throughout the Bible. And so read with me in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 6, the Bible says, "But Christ was faithful as a son over His house, whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end." And so that phrase right there, "whose house we are," I'd like to capitalize on it. The ESV says it like this, "We are His house." And that is very significant because the Spirit of the living God is indwelling believers. Perhaps you remember some parental statements like this that trigger your mind on the same subject, "Not in my house." If you've heard that before, that is perhaps the Father stating to the children that things will not happen in a way that are unglorifying to the Lord in my house, not in my house. Maybe you've heard it this way, "Remember who you are." And so it's the same idea here being exegeted. So these parental points are points that the preacher of Hebrews helps to bring to the surface.

And I'd like to study these with you today. The example that's given is Moses. Let's start at the top of chapter 3 and see the example that's given here. "Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. He was faithful to Him who appointed Him as Moses also was in all His house." Okay? So Moses was faithful in all of His house, in all of God's house, in the house of the Israelites there. We'll turn to Numbers 12 and verse 7 now and continue to explore this. Turn with me if you would as I finish up verse 3. "Therefore, He has counted Jesus more glory than Him."

And so in Numbers chapter 12 and verse 7, this idea of God's house is still being explained here. And so in Numbers chapter 12 and verse 7 it says, "Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house." And now that's an allusion from Hebrews chapter 3. And that is fascinating to see this. And so point number one if you're taking notes is, "Faithful in our house." As Moses was faithful in his house, we also want to be faithful in our house. So faithful, faithful in our house. As Moses is the example of faithfulness in that house, it's logical to ask the question, "Well then how was Moses faithful?" Moses' faithfulness throughout the Scriptures help us to see that he was a very humble man. And that is being faithful inside of God's house.

In Numbers chapter 12 and verse 3, the Bible says, "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth." And so Moses was the most humble man. It's a bit of irony here to think of who wrote the book of Numbers. Moses. And yet now he wrote that he was the most humble man. How awkward would that have been? It's almost like someone gives you a humble pennant and you put it on and then you lose it because you just pridefully put it on. But nevertheless, the Spirit of the living God working through Moses here to be able to coin these concepts, we see that part of his faithfulness in the house was his humility. He was more than anyone. And then as well as Christ as an intercessor, he was faithful just as Christ is also an intercessor for the house. He prayed for the house.

In Numbers chapter 12 and verse 13, you see this played out. Numbers 12:13, "Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, 'O God, heal her, I pray.'" And this is on the heels of Aaron and Miriam, truly gossiping and disparaging Moses and even accusing God. Even at their worst point, Moses prayed and interceded that God would forgive them. And so that is part of Moses' faithfulness, is to be faithful even when those closest to him are not. And not only that, part of Moses' faithfulness is that he had patience, patience and persistence with Israel despite their constant complaining. So they were known as being stubborn, stubborn and complaining and yet Moses was very patient with them. And then as well, part of his faithfulness, I would perceive as to reason why the Hebrew preacher uses Moses as an example of being faithful in his house would be that he delivered God's Word. And so it is very, very strategic for us also to deliver God's Word, whether you're a preacher, whether you're a pastor, an elder, a deacon, a father, a mother, or a child. We need to be deliverers of God's Word, especially in our house, whether it's our own household at home or whether it's in God's house, whether you're at work, wherever you are, deliver the Word of God and be faithful.

In Numbers chapter 12 and verse 7 it says that Moses, he is faithful in all my house. This idea of God's house is what we're diving into today. Back to Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 2, you see this word "house" and then you also see it in verse 3 and then verse 5 and then in verse 6. It's a repeated word and if you do Bible study you recognize the fact that whenever there's a word that's repeated it's worth diving into that word and seeing why. Let's just read the whole text for context, okay? Starting back in verse 2, "He was faithful to him who appointed him as Moses also was faithful in all of his house." Okay, verse 3, "For he has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. For every house has been built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. And now Moses was faithful in all of his house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later. But Christ was faithful as a son over his house, whose house we are."

And then there's a condition laid bare, it says, "If we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end." So you are part of God's house if you hold fast. This word "house" in the Greek is "oikos" and it means to tabernacle with God. It means a dwelling place. It is also of the human body which we are also drawing some concepts out of the text for today. It's also in regards to the persons forming the family of God. It's the whole household of God. It's a family of God. It is the Christian church. And so also it's known as the descendants of Abraham and the ancestry of David. And really the list goes on and on, and on in regards to this wonderful rich concept.

But contextually here in Hebrews, the preacher of Hebrews uses house metaphorically as of Israel as being the house of God. This is not Moses's house. This is God's house. In chapter 3 verse 5 it says so that those who hold fast are firm until the end. And then in chapter 10 verses 21 to 25 it says the house of God. And so this is definitely God's house, not Moses's house. Moses was faithful in the house. And so in our house we should also be faithful. We should be faithful by being humble, humble in our house. We should be faithful through intercessory prayer like Moses was faithful in his house to pray for those around you in your church and in your home and around you. And you should be faithful in patience, patience and persistence to persistently love and forgive even when others are unloving and unforgiving and doing the worst of things. And then as well you should be faithful to deliver God's Word. Later in Hebrews it says that you should have been teachers by now. And so this encouragement to deliver God's Word is for all people.

Now there's an expanded this rich word "house." It has layers of wonderful meaning. So in our house not only should we be faithful but house also refers to it being a spiritual house, 1 Peter 2:5. And we should also remember that in our house this is the ones whom we'll face judgment first. Judgment begins in the house of God, 1 Peter 4:17. We should also remember that our Father's house is an eternal dwelling in John 14:2. And Jesus said to compel them to come in so that my house may be filled in Luke 14:23.

So Moses was faithful in his house to teach spiritual things and we want to also be faithful in our house. Point number one, I would like to discuss with you as we get going the five uses that are found in regards to the word house. Five uses. Number one is actual. And then number two, three is natural, three spiritual. I'll go back through these, don't worry. Number four is literal. Number five is worshipful. The actual household can be understood perhaps when it comes to your household at home. Abraham's house or household is used in this way in Genesis 17 verse 23. And it states that all those born in his house or bought with his money, that is his household. So those who live with him as his household, as an actual household, the people within his home that are there, both as relatives and slaves, slaves and servants. Okay. Households were larger then than they are now and included not only family but also the slaves and foreigners and et cetera.

Number one is actual. Number two then is national. You see the word house being used as the house of Israel or Moses's house in Numbers 13:2. It is qualified as sons of Israel as having those of their father's tribe. And this is the house. So the national house of Israel. And then thirdly, there's this spiritual house consisting of believers. A house or a household also used spiritually or you can say symbolically. Those who are united to Christ by salvation, they're Christians. And the New Testament refers to this household often in Galatians 6:10 while we have opportunity, led us to do good to all people, especially the household of faith. And so there they are being encouraged to do good to one another, especially inside the church walls. Those who are saved do good to those people and everyone.

In Ephesians 2:19, you are no longer strangers but aliens. You are fellow citizens with the saints and are of God's household. And so you see here the spiritual aspect of the word house. But then there's also the literal aspect when it comes to the actual bricks and mortar. You have houses, houses, you have churches, synagogues, temples. And so the house of God is referred to in its actual manner in the Bible as but then more importantly it's referred to by way of worship. Worship. Turn with me to 2 Samuel and see how most of these uses of the word house are utilized. And if you're going to read the Bible, you have to read the Bible from the lens of God. And when he layers meaning inside of words, you'll get lost unless you truly are tracking with him. And you'll see this house of worship here in 2 Samuel which is the temple or the tent which has spiritual application in New Testament of you being now the temple or the tent. And so the fifth one is worshipful.

So five uses that I found, actual, national, spiritual, literal, and worshipful. In 2 Samuel, let's back up to chapter 6 verse 15 just to see the national house. 6:15, so David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord. And so you see the house of Israel here used. And then as well, David's literal home in chapter 2 verse 2, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See how I dwell in a house of cedar." Okay, so this is talking about David's literal home. And then as well in chapter 7 and verse 5, scroll down to 5, go and say to my servant David, "The Lord are you the one who should build me a house to dwell in?" And so now this idea of house is this house of worship. And then verses 11 through 16, use the word house again over and over, and over again.

God's house of believers being built is happening in chapter 7 and verse 11. "Even from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, I will give you rest from all of your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. And when your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise you up a descendant after you who will come forth from you and I will build you a house for you. And I will establish the throne of your kingdom forever." Pause right there if you would. So the transition in how the word house is being used is rather obvious here. It's even gone from being a household and talking about even people in a house to an actual house, to a house of worship, now to believers and now to believers eternally being in the household of God forever. And the point of this passage is that Christ is the fulfillment of this line of David to be over this house eternally. He is the only one who could fulfill this prophecy as one who is eternal. David could never have done that.

Scroll down to verse 16. "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before me forever and your throne shall be established forever." And then verse 18, "Then David the king went and sat before the Lord and he said, 'Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?'" That was very humble of David to pray that prayer authentically before the Lord and say, "Who am I to be used of you to build not only perhaps a household of faith but one whom would have Christ sitting on the throne, the throne of the Lord." This is amazing.

Turn back with me to Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 14 because within this house, the idea of believers making up the house of God, it also means to partake with Christ, to partake of Christ. In Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 14 as this idea continues to unfold, this wonderful word called partake, partakers of Christ, helps us to see the emphasis that I believe is being drawn out of the word house. In Hebrews chapter 3 verse 14, the Bible says, "For we have become partakers of Christ." Okay? And so as a household of faith, we not only have Christ as king and He our prophet, but also we partake of Christ. And this is participation with Christ. This is communication with Christ. This is communing with Christ.

Scholar F. F. Bruce indicates it is a participation in Christ's kingdom, okay? Not our will be done, but the will of God be done, which is His kingdom to be established in the hearts of man. John Owen the Puritan scholar sees our union and communication here as with the Spirit and so the concept that this word partake conveys to us is certainly synonymous with the bodily metaphor in that the body is connected to a head and the head is Christ. And so how can you not be in communion or fellowship or relating to or interacting with or part of Christ? Christ is the head, we're the body, and we are parts of the body. We're all interconnected. This necessitates just a bit of understanding in regards to a rich doctrine called the doctrine of our union with Christ.

And so I'd like to explain to you the doctrine of our union with Christ. Man's distinct makeup of having a heart, soul, mind, and even bodily strength is infused by the power of God through His Spirit. We're sealed by the Spirit when we're saved. Ephesians 1:13 clarifies this, and then from that point forward we are inseparably united to Christ. And so Christ is actually then your hope. He is your hope. Colossians chapter 1 and verse 27 says that Christ in you is the hope of glory. And so He in you is your hope. You don't have a hope in and of yourself. You're united to Christ and He being in you energizes your hope.

Our life comes from Christ. John 6:53 to 58 basically says this, that without Him we have no life, no life at all. And so Christ essentially is our life. This life is abundant. In Christ we have abundant life. John 10:10 says so. Not only do we have abundant life, eternal life, that's free, free and filling. Ephesians 3:19 says it's of the fullness of God. And so Christ in you not only is the hope of glory, and not only does He give you abundant or eternal life, but He also fills you to overflowing. The fullness of God contained inside of this house. It has to have a light on. It has to exit. It has to overflow. This is God in you.

So Christ being united with us, it's not only a personal thing, it's a collective thing. Collectively as the church we are united. John chapter 17 verses 21 to 23 says so. The best of this union that perhaps we can comprehend this sign of glory is marriage. Marriage illustrates our union with Christ and how to become one. What a mystery that is. But as two are married, and as the years go by they become more and more like one. Not only do they finish each other's sentences, but it's almost like their minds are united. They're thinking the same things. They're united. It is a mystery, but it's beautiful, beautiful and wonderful. And so it is with Christ.

It is hard to put into earthly language, to finite minds, and even to comprehend this union with Christ. But it is rich, rich and wonderful and beautiful. Far beyond anything else in this world. No other excitement can make or reach or be what it is to be excited in Christ. I say it like this as best as I possibly can. There's nothing better than Bible study. Communing with Christ and being with Christ and studying who He is, studying theology, who God is, studying God, the attributes of God, and learning more about Him. Our union with Christ is energized as we are in the Scriptures. And the Holy Spirit of God is illuminating the truth of His eternal Word inside of our hearts and souls. And there is an indescribable energy that happens within us that is beautiful, beautiful and not only that, you become more and more like Christ.

John chapter 15 describes how we are grafted in as branches into the vine of Christ. And Jesus being the vine and we being the branches were grafted in. And guess what happens when you graft a branch in? If you have a branch and you cut it off and then you take another branch, another tree, and you cut it off and you bring over a different tree like a Gentile to an Israelite, like a non-Christian to Christ, you bring it over and it's best to cut it at an angle by the way so that when you put it together you can tape it up and perhaps even put a stent on there and tape that up and give it some time. Well this different branch that has been grafted in to this vine will unite. And the inner tree, or should I say, the nutrients, the water starts to flow through this vine, this branch into this cut off branch and gives it life. And then after a while, guess what, this branch not only heals right here and is united but it starts to look like this vine. And the result is this, it's indistinguishable after some time. And so are you indistinguishable from Christ. Christ then starts to weigh that His energy, His nutrients, His everything, the source, you are rooted in Him, starts to flow through you and you produce His fruit. This is a wonderful thing, their union with Christ.

Our lives are to not only be hidden in Christ but indistinguishable from Christ. Galatians 2:20 says, "It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives within me." And so we who are crucified together with Christ are then raised together with Christ. This is a beautiful concept found in Colossians 3:1. And so our union with Christ, us being ones who have been blood-bought, us being now the bride of Christ owned and operated by Him, are His household. And this means, John recorded in John 14:20, "You in me and I in you." Remember that, "You in me and I in you." When you're praying to the Father, you can pray just like this, you can say, "It's amazing, our union, you are in me and I am in you." This beautiful concept is further explained through this idea of being in a household that still yet is pre-Heaven experiencing victories and tragedies collectively together.

Listen, in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 13, you see two concepts rolling. You see not only one another but you also see of you. Look with me in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 13, "But encourage one another day after day." Okay, this concept of being in a collective congregation, your concern for individuals, for the whole. Okay, individuals being concerned for the whole household. This is what this is helping you to understand. "But encourage one another day by day." Each of you have a personal responsibility to participate in God's household as ones who have been united to Christ in encouragement, in being a part of their lives.

But this is also found in reverse, this truth, this concern from the whole to the individuals. Look with me in the text, "But encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called today, today, so that none of you..." Okay, so now the whole is concerned about each one of you. This is a wonderful truth that you would not be hardened, you would fall away. And so not only are the individuals concerned for the whole, but the whole is concerned for each individual. This is union and this is interaction. This is beautiful. And so basically the Bible is helping us to see that we are tightly knit together like a garment, tightly knit together like a basket. We are interconnected with each other. We feel the joy when one individual has a victory in their life. And we feel the sorrow when one individual has a sorrow in their life. The same is true both ways. 1 Corinthians 12:26 says it this way, "If any one part of the body suffers, all the parts suffer with it. If a part is honored, all the parts rejoice with it." This is what it is to be in the household of faith, in a church, and be interconnected, tightly knit together, united by Christ.

Point number two today is bring people in God's house. This is the heart of God. He desires that none would perish. And if you was to get the heart of God for Gentiles, for lost people, then you will also seek and seek to save that which is lost. And so turn with me to Luke chapter 14 and verse 23. I want you to see, this is truly wonderful, Luke chapter 14. You're going to see the heart of Christ as an evangelist.

Luke 14:23. "And the master said to the slave, 'Go out into the highways and along the hedges and compel them to come in so that my house may be filled.'" Now the reason why this is rich, rich and wonderful is because when you get the understanding from behind the scenes, perhaps go talk to the hearers and say, "What did you actually hear?" They would hear this right here. When you're commanded to go into the highways, that means to go and evangelize where people are traveling. Go to the highways, okay? Go where people are. Be a great commissioned Christian. Infuse yourself inside of their traffic. Be a speed bump for Christ. Get their attention. Get the gospel inside of them. Give them, 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verses 1 through 4, "the death and the burial and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ as a substitutionary death for them because the penalty for sin is death and we've all sinned."

Get the gospel in there to them and let them know that most people are either trapped in trying to measure up to their own salvation, what they have defined as salvation. Most are trying to achieve or give or sacrifice or perhaps trapped in a works-based cult. Most people are trying to work their way to heaven and that's not true because workers don't get to heaven, good people don't get to heaven, saved people get to heaven. And if it be true that they could earn their way to heaven, Christ died needlessly, Paul said to the Galatian congregation. And so go to the highways, go where people are traveling, go where crowds are and preach the gospel, hand out tracks, proclaim the Word of God any way that you can, but not only in highly trafficked areas where they are, but they are in the middle of the world. And so the idea of the hedges, this idea of the hedges is those who are separated or hedged off, get behind those hedges, get behind those walls. It seems like every neighborhood around here has a gate. How do you get to the people that are inside those gates, inside those homes? How do you get in there?

And so not only the highways where people are really flowing back and forth and are everywhere, but also compel people to come to Christ who are separated. There are lots of people who are trapped in their own homes, back in some secluded bedroom and have no hope, no Christ, and they're depressed. How do you get to those areas? Pray and proceed and be led of the Lord. He will guide you to those places where you trust the Lord. And so go into the highways and along the hedges and compel. This word compel means to persuade. It's not a flippant attempt like that if you want to, and you kind of give up with any type of resistance. No, we're compelling. We're giving solid reasons for our faith. We are setting before them arguments as to why they should deny their self and come to Christ. We're giving them arguments for them for eternity. We really do believe what we believe, and that prompts us to memorize arguments, to get in there, to be able to set people free. And so we compel, we persuade people to come to Jesus so that my house may be filled. Participate in God's kingdom-building process. Bring people into the house.

Now Romans 1:16 says, "For I'm not ashamed of the gospel, for it's the power of salvation for the Jew first, and then also to the Gentile." Now these Gentiles are grafted into God's house. Turn with me to Matthew chapter 1 verse 23, and I want you to see more about this house. I know this is a bit of a study today, and it's great, and I want you to be encouraged through a deeper understanding of the word house in Hebrews so that we can build upon this in future days. In Matthew chapter 21, Jesus quotes the Old Testament.

In Matthew chapter 21 and verse 13, and he said to them, "It is written, my house shall be called a house of prayer. My house shall be a house of prayer." This is a quote from Isaiah chapter 56 verses 6 through 8, and it is bringing foreigners into God's house. Now let me just tell you how much better God is than we are. I don't know how many of you who bring homeless drug addicts, the slums of the earth into your actual house. But God does. I mean, He brings those who are the farthest away from anything normal or anything rich, anything wonderful, anything clean. He brings those directly into Himself and takes the time to clean them up and deals with their baggage, washes them clean, and works with them for as long as it takes.

What a messy ministry it is in helping people come to Christ. And so here, the stipulation is that God's house should be a house of prayer, but the Pharisees and Sadducees and all the Jews and whatnot are making a house of robbers, robbers and thieves. And so this is very when you see the why behind the water, what context Jesus is grabbing on from Isaiah, and quoting this to the robbers, robbers and thieves. He's actually calling them some derogatory terms, and He uses the context for which Isaiah is speaking in Isaiah chapter 55, and that context is then dumped over on top of robbers, robbers and thieves.

Turn with me as Jesus makes them to know that greedy dogs. Isaiah chapter 55 and verse 7 is where Jesus quotes from in regards to, "My house will be called a house of prayer." And I'm going to continue to read this because as any good Jew would have been, He would have memorized especially the scroll of Isaiah. He would have been quoting it since he was little, he or she. And so this is fascinating as Jesus gives them greedy dogs, greedy dogs and more. And so in Isaiah chapter 55 and verse 7, "Even those I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer." There's the quote. I should say allusion, a house of prayer for all the peoples. "The Lord God who gathers the dispersed of Israel declares, yet others I will gather to them." Okay? Others, not just the house of Israel, but outside of Israel, others, other Gentiles, He will gather into His house.

In verse 9, here comes the name calling. It's fantastic. I'm sorry, then I quote, I'm in Isaiah chapter 56. I saw some of the minds wondering and finding. Isaiah 56 verse 7. You guys have to bear with me, huh? All right, Isaiah chapter 56. Now let's get to, let's go to verse 9 where the name calling starts. "All you beasts of the field, all you beast in the forest, okay?" So this is the lost Gentiles being named of who they are. "Come to my house and eat." But in verse 10, he switches over to the watchmen are blind. "All of them know nothing. All of them are mute dogs, unable to bark, dreamers lying down who love to slumber. And the greedy dogs are greedy, greedy and they are not satisfied. And they are shepherds who have no understanding, and they all turn to each one to his unjust gain to the last one."

Those who were unjustly ripping people off in front of the temple, selling them sacrifices at an exaggerated price are greedy, greedy dogs, and they know nothing. It is sad to see this happening still today all around us. We see people using the name of Jesus for profit, and using God's house as a way to get rich. Nothing is new underneath the sun. But yet at the same time, God is bringing foreigners into his true house. There are false prophets. There are false preachers. There are false houses. But look with me in Isaiah chapter 56 in verse 3. Verse 3, "Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, the Lord will surely separate me from the people." And so now you see this idea of the foreigner joining himself. Look up in verse 5, "To them I will give in my house and within my walls a memorial." And so now he is giving things to them.

And in verse 6, "Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord." You see personal responsibility for foreigners, aliens, lost people, Gentiles, to join themselves to the Lord. And then in verse 7, "Even those I will bring to my house." And so you see sovereignty here in that God brings the foreigners to his house and make them joyful. In my house, God brings people inside of his house and gives them joy. And he gives them the idea that they should pray. Joyful prayer in this. And so Jesus says, "My house shall be a house of prayer." Not only does this word house have a rich understanding of it being perhaps like where Jesus was where he went to the temple and said, "My house will be a house of prayer." Yes, he's referring to perhaps the bricks and mortar, okay? But more so, the household of faith will be a house of prayer. But even more so than that, each individual in the house who is a house, the Spirit of the living God indwelling this tent, you will be a person of prayer. My house will be a house of prayer.

And so as Jesus is driving this concept home, not only is he disparaging those who are using God's house for profit, but he's also encouraging us to be houses of prayer. And this is rich, rich and wonderful. In Romans chapter 11 and verse 19, we see that branches that Gentiles can be grafted in. In Romans 11:19, it says, "Branches were broken off so that I," referring to Gentiles, "might be grafted in." And then verse 20, "True enough, they were broken off because of unbelief." So you see personal responsibility here on behalf of the stubborn Israelites in that they were broken off because of their unbelief. Just as a side note, Israel is not being replaced. There were believers inside of Israel. And it's that the rebellious are being cut off and the remnant are continuing and Gentiles are being grafted in.

Another point that I want to give you today is that God is cleaning house. Israel turned from God and they went after their own gods and they served them and they broke his covenant. It seemed like everywhere they went, they went after the foreign gods. It didn't matter if it was stone, it didn't matter if it was wood, it didn't matter if it's a figure of their imagination, those rebellious Israelites in their hearts, they always went astray. And no matter where they were, they lusted after the foreign gods of all the Canaanites and the parasites and everybody else in the -ites listed in the Old Testament. It's sad. Therefore, God brought disaster upon them. I want you to see it firsthand in Jeremiah chapter 11. Jeremiah chapter 11 verses 1 through 11. I think I got the chapter right in the Old Testament this time.

Jeremiah chapter 11 and verses 1 through 11 give us the disaster that was brought upon them. In Jeremiah chapter 11 and verse 1 and following the word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, "Hear the words of this covenant and speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem." Verse 3, "And said to them, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, cursed is the man who does not heed the words of this covenant, which I commanded your forefathers in the day that I brought them out to the land of Egypt. And from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice and do according to all which I commanded you, so that you shall be my people and I will be your God in order to confirm the oath which I swore to your forefathers to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. As it is this day, then I said, Amen, O Lord. And the Lord said to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the words of this covenant and do them, for I solemnly warn your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, warning to my voice.'"

Verse 8, "Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked each one of them in the stubbornness of his evil heart. And therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not do it." Verse 9, "Then the Lord said to me, A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors, who refused to hear my words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with the foreigners." This is sad to see that rebellious Israelites were broken off, but yet now in God's sovereign plan, he is grafting in verse 8 and 9 and wrote about who looked to which he looked to. This is the opportunity to pounce on someone who is in sin, he is long suffering. He is waiting to the very last minute.

In Exodus chapter 34 verses 6 and 7 we see this, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving kindness and truth, who keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin, yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished." By no means will God leave the guilty unpunished. And so now at this point in time, He cuts them off so that Gentiles can be grafted in. See the rebellious Israelites, they knew, yet they withdrew, they were reproved, then removed. This is not a quick thing. This is settling into perhaps even apostatizing. And so you see this flow through Hebrews as well, as Hebrews is a sermon that encapsulates a lot of the Old Testament truth.

And so you could say, perhaps strike one, you knew. In Hebrews 4:2 the good news was preached. Strike two is when they withdrew Hebrews 5:11, you have become dull, dull of hearing. And so when you know and then you withdraw yourself from where the gospel is, where the church is, you withdraw from the house of God, you've become dull of hearing. And then strike three is when you are reproved Hebrews 12:5, they've been disciplined and reproved and scourged, but yet they regarded that lightly. God even has more strikes than we do. Strike four is when they remove, when they've been removed. So the godless rebellious Esau is the example that the Hebrew preacher gives in chapter 12, verses 16 to 17. Strike four, you've been removed.

I want to give you some characterizations of God's house. Number one, they've been built by God. They've also not only been built by God, they've been saved. They're spiritual, they're living stones. And overall, they are joyful, joyful and prayerful. And these characterizations of those who are truly part of God's house, saved, spiritual, joyful, and prayerful, these are things of whom you are as God's house.

In 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 5, it says, "Being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices." Not only that, they're spiritually sacrificial. It does cost you to invest in others. If you are part of God's kingdom building process and truly going after those who need to be grafted in so that God's house may be filled, if you are truly part of evangelism and discipleship, it costs you, and this is a spiritual sacrifice that pleases God. Whatever miles you put on your vehicle, whatever strain you put on your heart, whatever effort you put into evangelism and discipleship pleases the Lord. You'll never travel farther than Jesus did from heaven to earth, so keep going. And God's going to continue to renew you day by day, by day.

These are characteristic of people who are truly in God's house. They are spiritually sacrificial. They will invest themselves to the point of a sacrificial cost. You're not guarding your time. You're not guarding your finances. You're not guarding yourselves. You are actually investing yourselves. It might insert a point of wisdom here that you really do guard your heart while you are getting involved with the lost. You don't want to become like the Israelites and succumb to their temptations. You also see that not only are they sacrificial in their giving, but they are covenant keeping. In Hebrews chapter 8 verse 10, they're covenant keeping people. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel. They're lovers of God's law. They enjoy knowing what the Bible says so that they can be pleasing unto the Lord. And not only that, in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 21, they have a high priest. They know that they have one who has given himself, being Christ Jesus, as a sacrifice for them. And he is their high priest who has not only given himself as a sacrifice, but continues to pray for them intercessorily.

It's a wonderful thing to know that you have a high priest, one who is truly praying for you. And so when you're prayed out and you give up, just know that Jesus is still interceding for you. This is characteristic of those who are in God's house. They know they have a high priest. They're heirs of righteousness. They're zealous for God. They enjoy both church, church at church, and church, church at home. In Acts chapter 2 verse 46, it says, "Day by day, continuing with one mind in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, taking meals together in gladness." Isn't that interesting how the joy of the Lord infuses us, not only in the temple or in the tabernacle or today's vernacular in the local church, but also from house to house. And so many of you really, truly enjoy one another's company from house to house. You break bread together, you eat, you fellowship, you pray together, you have joy together, you share one another's you're doing life together. And so there is both in the Bible, you see this not only in Acts chapter 2 verse 46, but also in Acts chapter 5 verse 42 in the houses and in the temple. They are worshiping, worshiping and preaching and eating, eating and fellowshipping.

And so this is characteristic of God's people is that those who have been infused with Christ, the things of Christ, don't just happen on Sunday. They're happening every day and even what goes on inside the church collectively on Sundays and on Wednesdays also is going on inside the homes. Most certainly from family to family within just the family unit, but also families gathering together. It's beautiful. There's so many characteristics of those who are in God's house. You could really exhaust a subject, and they're baptized and they're proving ground is the home.

And as we kind of move forward to our take home truths, I'd give you take home truth number one. In regards to whose house we are, who are in the Lord's house? Number one, it's those who hold fast, those who hold fast. And you see this in Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 6, "But Christ was faithful as a son over his house, whose house we are if we hold fast." This is the same synonymous idea that Jesus preached in John chapter 8 verse 31, "If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine." These "if then" statements are clarifying to who are truly in God's house. They continue to hold fast.

In verse 14, Hebrews 3:14, "For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast from the beginning of our insurance into the end," the doctrine of the perseverance of Christians there. And so our faith holds fast. Number two, this is an interesting point that just simply happened to stumble upon as I was studying, it's mercy, mercy for Moses-like mess-ups. Now you'd know that Moses was accredited by God as the most humble man in all of that time, and that also he was also accredited as one who was faithful to his house.

What a high compliment that he received of the Lord. And so it is true then, even though Moses struck down an Egyptian and then was restored by God, it is so true in the house of God that when we mess up, we're there for each other. I can't imagine how downtrodden Moses was at the time when he did that, but in Acts 2, verse 12, Moses struck down the Egyptian. Basically, he killed the aggressor. And then from moving from being adopted from those in Egypt in that household, they exiled him, right? But not so with God. When you're adopted into God's household, you're in, you're sealed. And when you mess up, you're not exiled from your salvation. God will restore you. And so our adopted are protected in God.

And so there's mercy, mercy for Moses-like mess-ups. I'll drive this home rather personally, a friend over at First Baptist Orlando, Pastor Bill Curl publicly forgave Ronald Davis after Ronald Davis pled guilty for killing his wife, Lucy, Lucy Pat Curl. Ronald Davis wasn't just a murderer. He was a brutal murderer. He didn't just kill her. It was a savage beating. It was a terrible thing to have to walk through. But while sentenced to life in prison, he was offered eternal life in heaven. There's mercy in God's house. And this is something that characterizes us as a congregation as we extend mercy to one another through our shortcomings and our failures.

If Pastor Bill Curl can extend mercy and salvation and patience even in such a tragedy, we can too continue to extend unlimited amounts of patience, patience and mercy and be persistent in this. Now, you know that I know, and I know that you know, that Bill Curl, Pastor Bill Curl, long faithful pastor at First Baptist Orlando, did not, was not able to do this in the flesh. He was filled with the spirit of the living God. In Ephesians 5:18, it says to be filled and only by God's power can you do these things. I don't care if it's to the extent for which Bill Curl was enabled to do that or it's to the extent for which we experience everyday life, we are dependent upon Christ to fulfill His will.

And as we walk with Him inside of God's household as a congregation, as we walk with Him as a house, housing the Spirit of the living God, not only are we people of prayer, but we are a people who allow Christ to flow through us in every way, not restricting Him, but we are truly His house. We are a wonderful, beautiful house. A big house might I ask, a beautiful house might I ask, or say, it is wonderful to think that Bill Curl extended forgiveness and I believe that he could do that because he knew how much he had been forgiven of. In Colossians 3:13, it says, "Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." And so there's really no limits to being one who is sacrificial in regards to suffering for Jesus. These examples are not only biblical, but they're right here, these types of things. And I think that a reminder of whom we are, we are Christ's, we belong to Him, and He has attributed to us to be a house for Him, for Him to dwell and to live. And so we should not stifle Him at all, we should commune with Him.

Take home number three, take home truth number three is to commune with Christ. Commune with Christ. God gave us a house as an illustration. The word house is illustrative. And so people commune, commune and interact inside of a house with one another, husbands and wives and children, the one another's inside of a home. But this illustration is also our interaction, our communion with the personhood of God through His Spirit that indwells us. And so as you pray, you then are fulfilling what Psalms 16:8 says to set the Lord continually before you. Set the Lord continually before you. It's been said like this, and don't let the Charismatics rob you of good ideas. It's been said like this, practice the presence of God. Now the crazies take it to a whole unbiblical level, but I'm saying to you, remember that God is omnipresent. Remember that you're in His presence and what you say He hears. And Ephesians 4:30 says, "Don't quench the Holy Spirit." And so as we are communing with God, we're praying all the day long. And as you're filled with the Spirit, it's overflowing into worship, worship and praise.

Seriously, the Psalmist put it like this in Psalm 16:11, Psalm 16:11 says, "In your presence is fullness of joy." It's fullness of joy. And so perhaps we need to dial back on the shallow entertainment that keeps us distracted from enjoying the presence of Christ. And perhaps we need to turn our cell phones off and turn TVs off and read our Bibles more and saturate our minds and saturate our hearts with Scripture, which is spending time with God and manage our house well and be ones who are filled with Christ.

And so I was truly encouraged with just a little bit further study on this idea of God's household and whose house we really are in Hebrews chapter 3. And before we left it, I wanted to set it before you to enjoy as well as you continue in your walk with Christ. Remember, God assigned this body a name, an illustration, a metaphor, and it's a house. You're a house of God. It's not just a building. It's not just the collective believers. It's not just a family, but you individually are a house of God.

Let's pray together. Lord, thank you for our time and just simply enjoying today what it is to be assigned a metaphor of a house and who we are. Thank you, dear Jesus, for this idea that we who are true believers have truly become not strangers, not foreigners, but saved, gloriously saved, and are in the household of faith, your spiritual house. God, thank you for this. If anyone has not come to you and been saved, I pray that while they have the light that they believe in the light. John 12:36 says, while you have the light, believe in the light. And I pray, dear God, that they would seek you while you may be found. Isaiah 55:6 says seek you while you may be found. I pray that if anyone is not saved, that they would repent of their sin. They know they've sinned. Every single person knows that they have sinned and they know that you exist. They're without excuse. And I pray, if one is not saved, that they would come, that they would respond to your call to come and be gloriously saved. You wish that none would perish and that they would come to you, dear Jesus. And so now I pray that not only would people continue to be saved, but also to follow believers baptism and then belong to the local church through membership, learn how to study their Bibles and then go forth and make disciples. Thank you for this vision for Beulah Baptist Church to continue to spread your word and your glory. Oh, we love you. And it's in Jesus name. We pray. Amen.