The House of God - God's Focal Point

Preached by Ps Jude Blayney

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Genesis 28:10-22

What's the deal with the Local Church?

Matthew 16:17-18 - God builds people by building the church. There are four things about the House of God that come out of this passage. Let's remember that from principles of interpretation when something appears for the first time we need to take note because from that first appearance in scripture we get the foundations for understanding that idea or concept. This is called the law of first appearance.

Four foundational Principles about the House of God.

1. The presence of God is a given.
2. A ladder exists
3. An open heaven
4. An altar is built

Let's look at each of these to get some understanding.

1.The Presence of God

The presence of God activates the purpose of God.

Whenever we get in or become aware of the presence of God the purposes and plans of God get activated. If you need to hear God's voice or if you need an answer to a question or strength for the journey ahead, the place to go is the presence of God. This is not found just in a specific building but it is found in knowing God. The building gives the presence a place to manifest.

The presence of God activates the promises of God.

God's promises are yes and Amen. When we get into God's presence something changes. We view things from another angle. We see things differently. God's presence never leaves us or forsakes us, so it's us who move and distance ourselves from God's presence. When we become aware of His presence something gets activated because we are now aligning ourselves with God.

The Presence of God activates the Power of God.

When we stop and realize that God lives on the inside of us and that He never leaves us or forsakes us something changes. An awareness of God's power that is available to us occurs. It's like someone has just switched on a switch. It's not God who flips the switch, it's us. The Power is always there.

The presence of God activates the People of God.

2.The Ladder

This ladder goes towards Heaven. God has made a way for us. A way to Heaven. That way is Jesus. John 14:6

Something interesting occurs here. The angels go up first before coming down. This shows us a principle that "everything we do first goes up to God"

Going up and down indicates movements in two opposite directions this indicates the presence of transactions. The church is a place of spiritual transactions.

3.Heaven

The church should be like an open heaven. Every time we come to church we bring things into the House of God. Transactions take place and Heaven is revealed. Notice something very important here, Jacob did not place the ladder or Heaven, his response was to build the altar. God did. He has already done it for us through Jesus Christ. Jesus has completed the work for us it's only up to us to live out and through that which has already been done for us.

Heaven is here. Right now. Heaven is real. It's not just an imaginary thought it's a place.

Heaven is here. How good is that? How marvelous is that? But sometimes we don't know it. We come to church and we don't realize that Heaven is here and we did not know it.

Jacob does know that Heaven is here right now. He thinks its just some place in the future. He did not even realize it. He grew up around Christians. He grew up in the house of God and he doesn't even recognize that Heaven is here.

4.The House of God is built on the Altar of God.

Let's look at some facts about the altar. Jacob responded to the open heaven and the ladder which both speak of grace. His response was to build an altar. You don't need to be condemned into acting for God, when we realize the enormity of God's grace to us we will respond. We don't have to force it. It just happens.

IT'S NOT A PRETTY PLACE. It's not a nice place. Its looks messy, it is messy and it's the place of death. You don't go there to look pretty or to promote yourself.

• IF YOU ARE ON THE ALTAR YOU WILL DIE OR YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD.
• GOD ANOINTS THAT WHICH HAS BEEN SACRIFICED.
• THE ALTAR IS BUILT BY REVELATION.
• THE ALTAR CAUSE TWO RESPONSES
  1. Jacob built the house of God
  2. Jacob funded the house of God

The Church