Partnership – 5

Partnership – 5

Subject – Passion for the House of God

By Rick Welborne

John 2:16-17 (NLT2) ¹⁶ Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
¹⁷  Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.” 

Psalm 69:9 (NLT2) ⁹ Passion for your house has consumed me…

--Today I want to continue the series “Partnership”. This subject is something I have spoken to the pastoral staff and the Board of Deacons quite a bit.

--I know that when we speak about the church we are not talking about a building or buildings but we are talking about the people who make up the Kingdom of God.

--That being said, according to our text, Jesus had such a passion for God’s House (Sanctuary) and that was obvious by what He did with the whip and the money changers.

Question: Do you have a passion for God’s House to be here, to meet with your brothers and sisters, and even a desire to make sure the House of God is well taken care of?

--We used to sing a song, “To Be Like Jesus, To Be Just Like Him.” Jesus had a love and a passion so much for the House of God. Do we have that same love and passion like Him?

--Today we worship in the House of God because so many who came before us were so sacrificial and had a determination to make this sanctuary a refuge for many to come.

--In 1979 they purchased this property and built the Sanctuary which is now the Family Life Center, La Vida Church, Children’s Church, and Youth. Thank you for your sacrifice.

--In 2000-2001 we set out on a journey to build this beautiful building you are in today. 2.2 million dollars. Imagine this poor boy from Louisiana signing his name to that. Scary.

--We felt that if it was God’s will, it would be God’s bill. But remember, God uses people and the people responded. We all began to give and we did not pressure the people to give.

--We even said to the people, if you have to make a decision about giving to missions or giving to the building fund, give to missions. They were faithful in tithing, missions, and the building.

--It was miraculous what God did and how He used people. Our people’s love for God’s House showed up in their giving. Even guest and people who were not members gave. 

--With God’s blessings we paid it off in three years. To God be the glory! By the way, our mission’s giving continued to increase during that time also. God is faithful.

1. In this Partnership, God’s House Should be a House of Prayer.

Mark 11:17 (NKJV) ¹⁷ Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "

Isaiah 56:7 (NKJV) ⁷ Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." 

--God’s intent and will was that His House should be a place of prayer and a place seeking God with all our hearts. Not a place of entertainment or a display of talent, but prayer.

Jim Cymbala – God didn’t say His House was to be a House of preaching, a House of singing, a House of teaching, but a House of Prayer. All those things have their place, but the priority must be prayer.

--As you prepare to come to God’s House, pray. As you drive to God’s House, pray. Even before the service starts, pray. When the singing starts, pray and worship.

--God wants prayer going on in His House (pray without ceasing) non-stop. When the pastor leads in prayer, pray. When he receives tithes and offerings, pray.

--When the pastor or missionary begins to speak, pray. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. When the altar call is given, pray. My House shall be called a House of Prayer.

2 Chronicles 7:12-16 (NKJV)
¹²  Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
¹³  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
¹⁴  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
¹⁵  Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
¹⁶  For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

2. In this Partnership, God’s House Must be a Priority.

--Again, we thank God for those who have sacrificed to build this house (sanctuary or complex) but please understand there is ongoing care that needs to be addressed.

--When I came here the congregation was in the process of purchasing property over on South Street. The first time I saw it, I felt it was not God’s will for us to buy it. I told the pastor.

--He said that he knew but this wasn’t the time to address it. Fast forward, two years and we become the pastors. I felt it was time to address it. It was draining us financially.

--My first Board Meeting, I tell the men I didn’t feel it was God’s will for us to build on South Street. Can we get more land here? Let’s pray. While we were praying (above) the phone starts ringing.

--Are you the pastor? Just barely. If you need land I will sell you the land next to the church…cheap! What was only 9 acres has since become 34 acres. Two houses and the House of Hope. 

--Obviously, we give God all the glory, but praise the Lord, He uses people to bless the church and to sustain it. I could go on and on about God’s blessings but let’s get to the point.

Haggai 1:1-4 (NLT2)
¹  On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the LORD gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel…                                                                                                                                                ²  “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’”
³  Then the LORD sent this message through the prophet Haggai:
⁴  “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 

--This is not a message of condemnation but a message of exhortation to value, to love, and to take care of the House of God. We are the stewards of these facilities.

--Haggai receives a message from the Lord and he says, “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’” 

--Before he gives the word he tells them this is what God is saying…The message that he is saying to the people, you are not making care of God’s House a priority.

--We have always been careful here at Life Church not to burden you with things that we can take care of from the General Fund and from extra-ordinary blessings.

--But there comes a time when a facility begins to age (25years) and the needs are more than what can be taken care of by using what we have on hand. 

--This is what Haggai was doing when he gave the word from the Lord to the people. He was reminding them that it was their responsibility to take care of God’s House.

--Our pastors and supporting staff have done an amazing job of being stewards of God’s House and resources but the time has come that we need help.

--Haggai saw that the people were blessed with nice houses but he also pointed out that God’s House was lacking attention and something needed to be done about it.

3. In this Partnership, Notice the Connection of Caring for God’s House and Blessings.

Haggai 1:5-8 (NLT2) ⁵ This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
⁶  You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
⁷  “This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you!
⁸  Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. 

--In Hebrews 10 the writer exhorts us to not forsake (neglect) our attendance in God’s house because as Christ’s coming draws near, we need to be encouraging each other.

--Here in Hag.1, Haggai not only tells us to care for God’s House but he goes as far as to explain to us why we are potentially in financial difficulty. 

You plant but harvest little. You eat but not satisfied. You drink but still thirsty. Your clothes don’t work right. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!

--In verse 8 he says go get what you need to care for God’s House. I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. God uses us and His Name is glorified. God uses people. Paul in prison:

Philippians 4:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity.

--Like the Philippians lacking opportunity to help Paul because they didn’t know, I believe the same is true, about the needs of the Church. Paul said their care flourished. Do it again, Lord!

--So what do we need at this present time? Great question:

House of Hope – Walk in Freezer - $28,000 – Given or committed approximately $20,000

Carpet for Sanctuary and Foyers - $80,000 – Given already $50,000

Life Church Sound System - $175,000 – Given already $2500

Roof Over the Educational Wing and Bailey Hall – Approximately $60,000

Parking Lot Repaint - Approximately $9000

Freezer for Bailey Hall - $1000

--Of course, there are other needs but these are very important for us to care for as soon as possible.

Total - $353,000 Needs

Given or Committed - $72,500

Remaining Approximate Balance - $280,500

--We want you to understand this can’t come from your tithes. Also, if you can only give to Missions or this project, give to Missions. 

--Put on your offering – God’s House.