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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/allan-christopherson/the-house-of-god/
The book of the Psalms, please, number 27. Number 27 Psalm, reading at verse 4. One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
Now it's with mixed emotions that I am the first speaker this morning, because it is a very critical part as far as the conference is concerned. There is something that I have enjoyed, and I hope to pass just a few comments on, relative to the house of God.
I couldn't help but notice that the house of God is something that is very, very precious to God. It is something that was spoken of in the Old Testament. David longed to be there. In fact, one thing this verse would tell me that that was his whole life, was the house of God.
So I can see something, dear brethren and sisters, that there is something to covet, and there is something to appreciate and to value, and to be very exercised about. And that is that if I am in the house of God, to value that and to appreciate it.
If I am not in the house of God, that there might be an exercise in your soul to take the steps, baptism, and then to ask for assembly fellowship, that I might be in the house of God. David, he longed for it for two particular reasons, I can tell in this verse.
That he wanted to behold the beauty of the Lord, and then to inquire in his temple. So there is something marvelous that when I am linked with the house of God, and I am brought into that particular fellowship, I am in that fellowship 24 -7, and I think I'm talking to an audience that would appreciate the value of what the house of God is.
I don't have to explain that the house of God is God's lampstand, a place where his honor dwelleth, and a place where his truth can be proclaimed. If David wanted to inquire into the house, rather to see the beauty of the Lord, and to behold the beauty of the Lord, he also wanted to inquire in his temple.
So when I come into the house of God, I appreciate and I value the beauty, the marvelous grace of God, the long suffering of our God, the beauties that we see in him. The house of God would likely refer to, would fall under four different reasons why there is the planting of the house of God.
In 1932, according to Marvin Staniska, there was a tent pitched in Blue River. Two men came to preach the gospel. Marvin's grandmother was sick. She went to the doctor, and across from the doctor was a tent.
She asked, what is going on over there? The doctor, whoever in the office, says, just a couple of men preaching to empty chairs. Mr. and Mrs. Staniska was the next people at that tent meeting. They heard the simple way of salvation.
They heard the gospel. And from that particular moment, the Staniska family never missed, or seldom missed, because they could see that this is what they needed, and this is what they had been longing for.
I don't need to tell you that God came in in marvelous grace, and in a way in which we stand back and rejoice today, because from that plunge of the gospel in 1932, there was multitude saved, brought under the waters of baptism, and then brought into the house of God.
At the very beginning, at the very beginning of that lampstand, there was many Staniskas, and of course they went on for God, and many of them are here, and their offspring even today. So I want to try just to warm our appreciation of the house of God.
Have I lost sight of the value of it? I suppose there are different approaches that one could take on this, but I just want to, before we go into it a little bit further, I want to just touch this for a moment.
Have I lost my appreciation for the house of God? Do I know what it is to thank God daily for the house of God? That house that has often been under attack, that has been under attack from without at the beginning of the dispensation of grace, and sad to say, according to Acts chapter 20, the house of God that is an attack from within.
But thank God, thank God for all that are in the house of God, and for that step that you have taken, where you have identified yourself with a local company gathered simply unto the name of the Lord Jesus.
There are four things I'd like to suggest that is ever so critical in the forming and in the planting of the house of God. Number one, I'd like to suggest that it is a testimony to the Lord's name. That name that has been linked, that we are linked with.
I am gathered simply unto the Lord's name. And of course, planting the assembly would be a high priority. It would be a testimony for Him, for the glory of God in that particular locality that there might be a testimony that will be raised up, that will be planted for Him.
Number two, in the house of God and for the functioning of it, would be the functioning of the priesthood. And so, the planting of the house, yes, for a testimony for Christ, but number two, for the functioning of the priesthood, that there might be the operation of the Spirit of God in the hearts of God's beloved people, that the gifts that God has given to the church will then be in operation.
But just as important is the fact that, number three, that there is a furtherance of the truth. That from that house, from that house of God, comes men and women that will be ready, exercised and desirous, does carry the truth out.
A furtherance of the truth, especially in the Gospel. I was talking to a dear man not too long ago, and he says, we belong to the house of God at Solon. And I says, wonderful. I says, when is your Gospel meeting, sir, that I can come and listen to the Gospel, and listen to you men preach the Gospel?
And he didn't know what I was talking about. So, from the house of God goes out the Gospel. And of course, this glorious news, the reason why the function and the means of that house was planted in Blue River in 1932, has now been established, and of course, the house of God is still being, or rather, the Gospel is still going out from that particular place.
And then, of course, number four is the fact that there is the enjoyment of fellowship based on scriptural principles and precepts. The enjoyment of fellowship based, of course, on the fact that Christ is the rock.
Christ is the foundation. And when I'm put upon that foundation, and put upon Christ, I am gathered with like people, with like believers, of like precious faith, and of course, with the purpose of enjoyment and fellowship.
Now you notice that our New Testament tells us that it's the pillar and ground of the truth. And I'd like to suggest that a pillar does three things. A pillar would simply honor a deed. And that pillar that stands, the house of God, that would honor a deed.
And of course, that deed would be none other than Calvary. That pillar always remembers a name. And when a pillar is erected, there is a name associated with that pillar. Regardless of what it might be, that there is a name linked to that pillar.
And of course, that name is none other than our blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, who humbled Himself unto Calvary, even the death of the cross. And then of course, the third thing that a pillar does is supports the truth.
But what has been speaking to me as of late, and that is, there are characteristics that need to be seen in every house of God. In the state of Iowa, that I am linked with, there are 13 assemblies. I believe in the state of Wisconsin, there are at least 10, and maybe I have missed one.
So, there is a great deal to rejoice in, brethren. Thank God for every house of God that has been planted scripturally away. And a marvelous thing to think as well, that you and I are in fellowship with these lampstands that have been planted.
And we can move in fellowship one with the other. And from one lampstand and from one house of God to another. Marvelous to think of the fellowship that God's people enjoy one with another, placed upon the solid rock, Christ Jesus, and linked in capacity as far as the house of God is concerned.
Now, these characteristics that I'd like to just mention, number one, must be seen and should be in every house of God. And that is, we need counsel. There is counsel that is given. And according to Acts 2, reading in verse 41, there is the doctrine, there is the fellowship, there is the continuing on.
And of course, when I come to the house of God, my soul needs to be fed. And I need counsel. I need food. Perhaps maybe the better word for it would be food for the soul. Counsel from His Word. Ministry that is given to the individuals and to those that are in the house of God.
The unfolding of truth. And then the application of that truth to my spiritual life and especially my walk here in the day in which we live. So, in the house of God, there must be, there has to be, counsel given.
And I do believe that counsel not only is given as far as a public way is concerned, but there must be counsel given in different areas. Men and women. Older sisters. There's nothing wrong, dear brethren, with the older sister to take a side and perhaps maybe counsel a younger sister.
An older sister that can touch subjects and can touch difficult subjects that a man can't. But that there is the counsel given to our many young people that need to be counseled. And of course, everyone that is in a place of leadership, they are going to be called upon to give counsel.
Especially when it comes to the home life. The younger children growing up. But, especially when it comes to a courtship and to marriage, there must be counsel. So, whoever is in a place of leadership, there must be counsel given to these dear young people that they too will be kept and preserved from taking wrong steps.
Another thing that needs to be seen in the house of God, and that is the conduct. Titus chapter 2 reminds us that teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world.
So the conduct of every believer has guidelines. And really when we come into the last three chapters of the book of Ephesians, from Ephesians chapter 4 to chapter 6, there's the practical outworking of what is positionally in the first three chapters of Ephesians.
So I come to my New Testament and I can see guidelines for my walk. You likely have enjoyed the seven different walks in the book of Ephesians. And in that Ephesian letter, it is clear of the guidelines given for the conduct.
Behind every house of God, there must be proper conduct. There has to be conduct that will leave a testimony in a favorable way to those that are around about. And of course, the reason why that conduct is to be seen and that others may be attracted to the person of the Lord Jesus.
So yes, there is conduct, counsel, and there is the conduct behavior that is linked with the house of God. Acts chapter 20 would tell me of care. In the house of God, there is care. And there is that leadership.
There are those men that are in the house of God. They've been raised up to feed. And of course, you'll understand that the word feed is to tend as a shepherd. Every shepherd enjoys being with a sheep.
A man who says he's a shepherd and is not with a sheep. There's something wrong. And I believe in email, and I won't say I believe in the rest of those, but I enjoy email and those Twitters or Twatters, whatever you call them, and Facebook and all that.
They might have their place. And for forms and for ways of communication. But I fear sometimes, brethren, that we rely upon email to take care of shepherd work. And the leaders in God's assembly, they need to be with the sheep.
There must be times with the sheep spending time with the lambs. These lambs and these sheep that are so critical and so beautiful as far as God is concerned. Leonard de Boer, the dear man, taught me something.
And he said, Al, maybe I ministered one day and maybe I come across what he thought maybe was a little too hard or maybe too direct. And he said, Al, when you seek to speak to God's people, remember, they are not your people.
They are God's people. They are not your sheep. They are God's sheep. Bought with the price of His own Son. And so in the house of God, there must be elders, there must be shepherds, who not only guide, but tend and feed and care for these lambs who God has given to them as far as leadership is concerned.
In the house of God, there must be correction. Number four. So in the house of God, there must be times when the Scriptures are given and correction is given to the flock. If correction is never given, dear brethren and sisters, then who knows where our little feet would stray?
Who knows where the house of God would drift to? So there must be correction. 2 Timothy 3 reminds us that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. Number one, for doctrine. Number two, for reproof.
Number three, for correction. Number four, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. So, in the house of God, I thank God for the times when I have been corrected.
It's far easier to be corrected by God than men. Far easier to take it from God than it is men. But I thank God for His Word that come home to my soul and come home to my heart in a form of correction and straightened out that which perhaps needed to be corrected.
So, in the house of God, there is the need for correction. Number five, in the house of God, that there must be commitment. That is what has made the assemblies of Wisconsin and the assemblies of Iowa that I am linked with and count it an honor to be linked with them, by the way.
That is what has made them strong. Over the years, I was brought into an assembly, a large assembly in Iowa. And in that assembly, there was 100 people when I was brought in in 1961. What made that assembly strong?
What makes any assembly strong? And that is that those members of that particular assembly are committed. That they are there at every single meeting. And of course, when there is a ministry meeting, when there is a prayer meeting, that the house of God is all there.
And so there is a pulling together in one direction. There is not the lagging behind. There is the commitment that goes in to those that are linked with the house of God. Acts 2 tells me, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and in fellowship and in prayers and in the breaking of bread.
Perhaps maybe what should have been higher on the list than the next, and that is in the house of God, there must be charity. Oh, there has to be charity. There has to be love. Peter says, above all things.
Above all things in chapter 4. Have charity? Yes. But he describes what quality of charity. Have fervent charity. Have fervent charity among yourselves. And that will cover a multitude of sins. Where would we be today, dear brethren, if there was not love shown?
If the love did not go out? If there was not compassion and love and interest in God's beloved people? Thank God for everyone who shows that love, who manifests that love, and brings that love to the house of God.
My time is up. In the house of God, there must be also confession. When was the last time, dear brother, you had somebody come to you and tell you... have someone express their fault to you? Not your fault, but their fault to you.
In the house of God, there needs to be known what it is to confess our faults one to another. Confessing our failures and our faults one to another. That keeps the accounts short. That keeps our fellowship together.
That keeps our fellowship together in a harmonious way. And oftentimes, dear brethren, this can't be done on the doorstep of the Gospel Hall. Please don't get the idea that all of this can be shown on the doorstep.
There must be homes that are open. And many a time, we have entertained the Lord's beloved people in our particular home. And there have been issues that have what we thought was an issue. And it wasn't an issue whatsoever.
But it wasn't accomplished on the doorstep of the Gospel Hall. It was over. Cheese and crackers and some day-old brownies. Some fresh brownies even. All in the home. Thank God, dear brethren, for the fact that we can confess our faults one to another.
Now what's the last thing in the house of God that should be seen? Well, the house of God that doesn't have and isn't interested in converts will soon fade away. The Lord Jesus, before He ascended back to glory, He took that little band outside the city.
And before He ascended up, He said, Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And then I love what verse 20 says of Matthew 28.
Teaching them to observe. Teaching them to observe. All things that I have commanded. And I was thrilled to see what that word observe means. That word observe means keep the eye upon. If you saw a 58 point elk, a 58 point buck here in Wisconsin, what would you do?
I don't know. Maybe they don't make 58 point bucks in Wisconsin. But if you saw a 58 point buck, what would you do? If I'm sitting in Jim Fraser's living room and right across the river goes a big buck and it's got points all over the place, I'll tell you what I do.
I don't eat Janice's ice cream any longer. I don't nibble at the lunch any longer. No, no. I'm out of that chair and I'm looking at that animal. I'm looking at it and I'm watching it until it goes into the woods.
What am I doing with that? Is 58 too high? What am I doing with that buck? I'm keeping my eye upon it. I'm observing it. I'm not letting it out of my sight. I'm doing whatever I can to behold that animal and to keep my eye upon it.
That's the word in verse 20 of Matthew 28. Teaching them to observe. Don't get your eye off. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And then that great promise at the end of the verse.
And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Marvelous thing, brethren. In the house of God, He has promised, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. And to think that you and I, once poor sinners of the Gentiles, on the downward road to eternal hell, have been brought into His favor, have been brought into His banqueting house, and are part and parcel of the house of God.
Thank God, dear brethren, I hope you appreciate it. I hope I appreciate it. I hope we pray for them. I hope we thank God that we're in fellowship with all those that take the name of the Lord Jesus and are in fellowship one with the other, linked to the house of God.
May the Lord bless His word and that others who are not in the house of God might soon be brought in.