Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Romans 16. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- I suppose it is a natural thing, that we would first be concerned about building or purchasing our own house. This is high on the priority list for most people, and part of the American Dream, to be able to own a home. So for David, as recorded in the Old Testament Lesson, he first built a house of cedar for himself and then was concerned about God’s house.
- My own ancestors have an interesting history with this dynamic; my great-grandfather had his family living in a sod house on the prairie of Nebraska a long time after the framed church had been built. I’m sure there were other families in the same circumstances. They built the church first and then their homes.
- One of the difficulties that home-owners quickly face is the reality that everything needs to be maintained, and a house requires lots of maintenance. So we are often faced with choices – not only between paying our mortgage and also supporting the church, but also what the higher priority is, maintaining and improving our home or supporting the church. This involves both our finances and also our time and energy.
- It is an interesting exchange that God has with David through the prophet Nathan. Essentially, God tells David that He is the One doing the building, and that what He is doing for David is far more important than earthly homes or earthly temples. And we would do well to hear the message that God spoke to David, for He speaks the same to us to this very day! What is important is what God does for us, and how He has arranged for us to be “LIVING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.”
- The kingdom and house that God built for David, which is eternal, established forever, is the Lord Jesus Christ, His Kingdom, and it continues to be built to this very day. This is important, for our first consideration in life ought to be that:
I. God Builds His Eternal House For Our Habitation And Blessing
OT Lesson: “Would you build Me a house to dwell in? . . . the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house . . . and your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before Me. Your throne shall be established forever.”
Statement: The first thing that God wants us to realize and understand is that He is the Builder of all things, the Creator, and that even in view of human sin that calls down death and eternal destruction upon all human beings, He has made a house and kingdom for a refuge against judgment and eternal damnation. Before anyone thinks of doing anything for God, he must first consider what God has done for him. This is the proper dynamic for all relationship with God – that we first understand, acknowledge, and praise God for what He does for us.
Application: Just as David was reminded of Who our great Benefactor is, and what glorious love and kindness He has for us, so we too must first acknowledge the kindness, goodness, and love of God for us. We did not make ourselves, He made us. We did not develop our keen intellect and abilities; God has given these to us. We are not righteous and capable of pleasing Him on our own; we are full of sin and darkness, requiring His gracious forgiveness and mercy. Our daily song of praise must be: “Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.” This is reality, and apart from grasp of this reality there is only darkness, ignorance, idolatry, and continued damnable rebellion against God.
Transition: But God has invited us to come in out of the wilderness of sin, and invites into His house. And:
II. God’s House Is Literally His Beloved Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, His Salvation And Kingdom
Gospel: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”
Statement: It is not only creation that is built and provided to us by God, but also everything that pertains to our eternal welfare and our spiritual health. Jesus is “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.” “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the richness of His grace.” [Eph. 1:7] We enter this blessedness, this redemption and peace with God, into the eternal blessings of His kingdom by simple faith and trust, by acknowledging and receiving this blessing from Him. “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.”
Application: So it is that Christmas is about God’s giving, and His will is that we receive His blessings of salvation every day of our lives. He sent His Son out of love for us. His greatest will for each of us is that we be in His house, living in His house by faith in Jesus, a house and kingdom that lasts forever in ever-increasing blessedness and joy. And He is the One doing and accomplishing all of this for us and in us. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot build the house of God. We have nothing apart from what He does for us, the gifts He provides for us in Christ Jesus.
Transition: And once we have grasped this reality, once God has brought us into His house, then we can begin to properly look at priorities for this earthly life and to contemplate, as David did, how we might serve God and His kingdom. But always:
III. It Is God Who Strengthens Us
A. He Strengthens Us Through The Gospel, The Preaching Of Jesus Christ, The Mystery Now Revealed And Disclosed In Scripture, The Bible
Text: “Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages, but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations.”
B. And This Gospel Proclamation Continues By The Command Of God
Text: “according to the command of the eternal God.”
C. The Purpose Is To Bring About The Obedience Of Faith, So That We May Be Brought Into His House Of Blessing And Have Eternal Life
Text: “to bring about the obedience of faith.”
D. So That Always, To God Alone Belongs All Glory, Worship, And Praise
Text: “to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ.”
Statement: There is “preaching” work that goes on in building the House of God, bringing people to “the obedience of faith,” but as far as our being incorporated into the House of God, this is all the work of God. We are passive, the subjects upon whom God works His great blessings, the recipients of His wondrous grace, forgiveness, mercy, and eternal love. We might want to do something – as David did, but God wants to do much greater things for us!
Application: So it is our privilege – and in our best interests as well as the will of God – that we simply hear the preaching, study the prophetic writings, and allow God to reveal the wonders of His love to us. In this way we will ever be “LIVING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.” And once in His house and understanding of His blessings, then we may contemplate how to return our thanks and praise to God. One of the natural results of this is a growing love for God, a greater priority placed upon the things of His church, a greater zeal and energy to do all that we can for the “house of God” that we will be living in forever!
Conclusion: This is the plan of God announced to David, to Mary, to Elizabeth, to Joseph, to all of God’s people throughout human history! It is the plan of Christmas, the coming of Christ, and it is the account of God building His house for our great benefit and blessedness.
It may be more blessed to give than to receive when it comes to other people, but with God it is always more blessed for us to receive from Him. Only when we have received from Him are we able to truly and properly give to Him and others. May God grant us grace to receive all of the gracious love and blessing He wills for us in Christ Jesus, that we be “LIVING IN THE HOUSE OF GOD” forever! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.