A House of worship

By Bill Sudduth

2 Chronicles 5:13-14, “Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord saying:

‘For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.’

that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,

14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”

Solomon completed the temple, and established it as a temple or House of worship unto God.

When he did this, it so pleased God  – He manifested His Presence in the form of a cloud and His glory filled the house!

You can also read in Ex. 40:34-35 when Moses completed the tabernacle:

34 “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

When we build a house of worship, God will inhabit it with His Presence (His manifest Presence).

This church is a good example of that – isn’t it?

The Lord wants to do this in every dwelling place of the church.

Note: When the spiritual structure of a building or house is affected, the domestic structure of that house will also be affected – that can be positive or negative depending on the source of the spiritual influence.

Isaiah 4:5-6, “then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night.  For over all the glory there will be a covering.

6 And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain.”

I want you to note verse 5 – Mt. Zion is not just a geographical location – BUT-

It’s actually a spiritual terminology or a type of the church today!

This passage is saying God will create above every church who worships Him  – His cloud and His fire! – His manifest Presence! 

 His glory! Hallelujah – He will cover them!

Hebrews 12:23 refers to Mt. Zion as the “Church of the Firstborn” who’s names are written in Heaven.

That’s us, folks – that gets me excited!

Folks, God will inhabit the praises of His people and that’s not just in a church house.

He wants to manifest His glory in your home as well as in your church!

Your home should become a dwelling place of God, and

 also a refuge a place where people can come for protection,.

We went to Oklahoma over Christmas break for 3 weeks and we had 

a student house sit for us – this girl paid Janet and I the biggest compliment anyone could have given us –

She shared with us some things that have tormented her at home – she couldn’t even sleep at all, without the light on –

But – she said she slept like a baby every night.

 She said she felt the Presence of the Lord! 

Your house should be a place where the worship of God has caused Divine Order to fill the atmosphere of the place 

– NOT –

A place of the all too familiar cycle of domestic confusion – but – a place where domestic confusion has been driven out by the glory of God(Amen).

We are going to look at a man who was a worshiper and was considered by God as a friend.

How many would like God to consider you as a friend?? I would!!!!

Turn to Genesis 18:17, “And the Lord said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing’”

God was getting ready to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah and He said, “I’m not going to hide this from Abraham.”

Genesis 18:18-19  “Since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?  For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.”

What the Lord is saying here is on the basis of one thing,

 two things are going to happen.

The one thing is, He (God) says, “ I know this man and he shall order his family after the Lord”, in other words- His dwelling place will have divine order, His home will be in proper alignment!

We’re going to see in a minute, that everywhere Abraham dwelled,

 he made it into a worship center.

That one thing led to 2 things…

  1. It enabled the release of Gods divine purpose in Abraham’s life. 

 “The Lord said, he shall surely become a great and mighty nation.”

This in turn opened the door for Abraham to intercede for Sodom and Gomorrah and we see from verse 23 to the end of chapter 18 Abraham bargaining and or pleading with God to spare the innocent and righteous in those cities!

This is an awesome thing.  Abraham was so close to God,

God came to his tent and stayed for dinner.  Confided in Abraham that He was about to destroy these cities due to their wickedness and then allowed Abraham to plead their case.  

Abraham and God were friends, good friends.

So let’s look at Abraham’s life and how Abraham worshiped God and how he made his home a home of worship.

I believe the release of Gods purpose in us and the revelation of Gods purpose can be directly related to our homes being a center of worship!

Abraham built at least 8 altars to worship God.

He built his first altar in Genesis 12:7

Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To you descendants I will give this land.”  And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.  

The second altar was built in Genesis 12:8 And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

When he moved, he built an altar to the Lord and called on His name!

We need to understand houses not only are physical dwelling places for human habitation but they can also be habitations for spiritual beings.  Polterquiest.

When we move to a new home we don’t know what went on, on that piece of ground. 

 Or we moved into an older home or an apartment we don’t know who or what lived there, do we?

There could have been sacrifices made on that land 100’s or 1,000’s of years ago.  There could have been a witch coven that met in the house for years, we just don’t know!

Pastor Kilpatrick preached a sermon called “Leprosy in your house” probably 2 years ago.  How when Israel took Caanan they took over houses, but green and red streaks would come on the white walls and they would have the priests come out and pray over the house but if the streaks came back they would tear the wall out and find an idol buried in the foundation of the house!  

(I’ll tell you a funny story, That was on a Sunday.

Monday, I sprayed the offices of BRSM for pests and I sprayed ceilings, edges.  I came in early so I could spray overhead.  A little after 9am there was a panic to find me because Lee Hutchinson came in and her walls had green and red streaks, the wallpaper in several offices did it, it was funny!

So when you move into a new place, there are several things you should do.

  1. You should plead the Blood of Jesus over it and sweep it out, just like we used to with the sanctuary.

Even if you know who lived there and they were Godly people, you still need to establish your altar.

Genesis 13: 3-4  And he went on his journey from the south as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there at first.  And there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

I want you to note:  Abraham was not just being religious or practicing vain repetition, he was a man of worship, who when he did anything he sought God.

We hear a lot of preaching and talk, about religious spirits

 And Works mentality and I agree with all of it,

 but I also believe there are some things we need to be religious about.

One is that we need to reverence the house of God.  I had more respect for the church as a blatant heathen than some Christians do.

As an usher at the Brownsville Revival, I think I’ve seen it all!

When 20/20 filmed the revival I made the TV program for a split second. 

 They filmed me wrestling a bottle of water away from a tall Swedish lady, who didn’t want to give it up!

We also need to be faithful or religious in our attendance, our giving, prayer, fasting and etc.

Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines “Religious” as pious; Godly; loving and Reverencing the Supreme Being and obeying his precepts;as a religious man.

Gen 13:17-18

17 Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.” 18 Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.    NKJV

In vs 17, we see this time Abrahams establishment of woirship is directly related to walking thru the length and width of the land.

And we 5too should declare the dominion of agod, with regard to thre property we live on. 

Regardless if we own it or rent it. We should claim it for the kingdom of /God and for his glory.

I recommend each of you do this at your home do a prayer walk around your property and claim that that place for the Lord.

Do it as an act of worship!

Everything we do in the natural has a spiritual consequence!

And with this type of symbolism things can and will happen in the spiritual realm.

We need to claim our homes for God then make them a house of worship.

There are several things we can do to Build a house of worship. 

1st- When you first wakeup- even before you run to the bathroom- say “Good morning Jesus”, Thank you for this day Jesus. Thank you for this home Jesus. Then plead the blood of Jesus over you and your Spouse and your kids and your stuff!

Say “ Lord they’re all yours anyway- so I commit them to you!

Get radical, be a fanatic!

2nd– Sing in your house- Sing praises to God or if you are like me just make Joyful Noise to the Lord!

We sing and praise in our home!  

And we leave our CD player on all the time. (Lindell Cooley)

 Even when we sleep, we just turn it down.

So we keep our house filled with praise and worship 24 hours a day.

And I believe it makes a tremendous difference in our home!

3rd– Have communion in your home!

We heard Dick Reuben teach on that in 1997, he said “if you’ll take communion in you home every day for a month, it will change your life.” 

Janet and I did it every day for one and a half years and it absolutely changed our lives.

If you are single that’s OK, It’s communion with Him anyway!

4th–  Make your table prayers meaningful– Don’t pray canned prayers a dinner.

 “ God is great, God is good, let us thank him for this food, Amen

 Mention things you are thankful for. Give thanks-giving. 

Now, don’t pray through with dinner on the table, and don’t go into deep intercession.  But pray meaningful prayers.

Also you should have your children pray, encourage them and

     teach them to pray!

I asked God to teach me to pray, and I had another dream. 

(Button Dream)

I’ve also told you several times I bless my wife at every meal. 

You should bless your spouse, your parents, your pastor, your church, your Nation or whatever.

5th– Your table talk should be meaningful- 

Never demeaning, or slanderous, Never gossip at the table.

Let you conversation be uplifting and encouraging.

The Bible says to think on things concerning Him, When you sit and when you arise!

6th– Build an Altar in your house, not 12 large stones in you living room. But, a place or a room that is dedicated to the Lord, A place he can expect to meet with you. A lot of people do this and it helps to focus them on the Lord and it helps them focus on prayer. 

Story of guy in India, he would go into the jungle every night and pray in this clearing and God would show up. A bright light would appear and shine on him. This area was infested with man eating tigers. He fell asleep one night and when he woke up a tiger had wrapped around him and was keeping him warm. One night he fell asleep at home and was late getting to the clearing and the Light was waiting for him. God was there waiting to commune with this brother. IMAGINE THAT!

7th– Pray with and for your family and your marriage, the bible says where two or more are gathered the lord is there.  The two can be related they can even be married. 

Your kids need to hear you pray, 

How many know your kids imitate you. My grand daughter does every thing she sees us do. Spaggetti noodles, recently.

 Let them see and hear you pray!

I’m sure I’ve shared this before, 1 out of 2 marriages end in divorce, actually it’s now about 67%

But

Marriage magazine says,” if a couple will pray together just3 minutes a day. That rate changed from 1 in 2, to 1 in 1152, WOW!!!

Then they gave the 3 reasons people won’t pray together for 3 minutes.

  1. At least one spouse is too tired, so don’t wait until bed time to pray.
  2. At least one spouse preaches instead of praying. So they recommend the only one you attack during your prayer time is Satan.
  3. At least one spouse prays too long. So they recommend you don’t pull out your prayer list for this 3 minute session.

8th– way to build a house of worship is to do family devotions together.

      Read scriptures and then discuss what they mean to you. You’ll note; the reading assignments are designed to get you in the good habit of reading the word and reading it together. 

9th– Play bible games, bible trivia, is fun and it challenges you!

As with most of these teachings, I have another caution. Good news is the ladies won’t get upset with me on this one.

I want to tell the men, in many cases women are much more sensitive to the spirit and to the voice of the Lord. They are often more spiritually responsive and expressive as well.

But don’t let that hinder you or discourage you. Let her be the help mate God has created her to be. He has made you the head but he has also gifted the women. And we can and should benefit from their sensitivity.

I often times feel my wife is more spiritual than myself, but I’m gaining on her. AMEN!

That does not make her the spiritual head of our house, but I do ask her to pray about things and give me her thoughts on a subject.

Women are made differently than us and it’s a good thing AMEN!!!

In closing, Joshua 24:15 says, Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But for me and my house we will serve the lord!!!!

A man who builds a house without the Lord, Builds it in vain!God bless you all!!