THE HOUSE OF GOD
TEXT:
Genesis 28:10-17
In
Hebrew, the “house of God” is Bethel, which is the name that Jacob gave to the place
where God met him on the run (Gen. 28:19).
This
is an Awesome house of prayer, intercession, praise and worship. The awesome house of God is an exciting
place. It’s a place where the Spirit of
God moves powerfully. It’s a place where prophetic revelation flows freely.
It’s a place where heaven seems near. It’s a place where God is truly Lord and
King. It’s a place where His glory abides!
When
Jacob woke up the next morning he made a statement – “This is none either than
the House of God and this is the Gateway of Heaven.” Gen.28:17
How
does that apply to us? Where is the House of God? 1 Cor. 6:19 says “Or do you
not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you,
whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” Your body is a temple. (My
body is a temple) The house of God is the gateway of Heaven – you are the
temple or house of God.
You
are temple where there is access to the Gateway of Heaven. The angels of God
are seen ascending and descending upon this house (temple) and conversation
with the Lord is face to face. That is what we are! We the temple of God are to
be continually walking under an open Heaven, talking to Him face to face and
seeing angelic activity.
For
Jacob, Bethel was a place of divine encounter: a House of Vision, a
House of Voice, and a House of Visitation.
1)
A HOUSE OF VISION – OPEN YOUR EYES AND SEE
Jacob
had a dream that night unlike any he had ever had before. He saw angels
ascending and descending a ladder that reached from the earth to Heaven. It was a powerful vision in which even God
Himself appeared to Jacob.
2)
A HOUSE OF HIS VOICE – OPEN YOUR EARS AND HEAR
Jacob
had a vision at Bethel in which he saw God. In his vision Jacob also heard
the voice of God. BETHEL WAS also the place to hear God’s voice. God spoke
directly to Jacob. For us when we are in the house of God, we can hear the
voice of God. God speaks to us directly and personally. The question is; are we listening? Last Days churches in Revelation – Jesus
says, “Let him who have ears let him hear.” Hear and Live!
3)
A HOUSE OF HIS VISITATION – OPEN YOUR HEARTS AND BELIEVE
One
who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of
purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay
attention to what was said by Paul.
(Acts 16:14)
When
Jacob awake from his dream, everything around him looked different. On the surface nothing had changed, but Jacob
was different. He had received a divine visitation from God. Bethel was a place
of visitation.
“Then
Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place and I
did not know it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place!” This is none other than the house of God and
this is the gate of heaven. The Visitation of God.
(Gen 28:16-17) The hour is Coming! God is visiting His People again and
making all things new. "Behold I make all things new"
4)
A HOUSE OF REMEMBRANCE – OPEN YOUR MOUTH
AND SPEAK
Bethel was a place of Remembrance
- Gen. 28:18-22
Jacob
arrived at Bethel as a schemer and a man who lived by his wits, he left as a
man who walked with God.
a)
What this says to us – We should never give up hope no matter what we have
done, no matter what mistakes we have made, no matter how low we have fallen or
how sneaky we have been. As long as we desire to change and repent – God will
meet us and turn our lives around.
b)
For Jacob, Bethel was a place of remembrance to which he could always point
and say, “That’s where God met me and changed my life.” All of us need such a place of remembrance, a
place of God making somebody new like you and me.
(Note: you can use this message and minister to others)
Outlines points taken from Dr. Frank M. Reid, III book "Restoring the House of God"
