His House

I felt led to speak a different Easter message than is normally given. This message testifies to the gift given to us by Christ and Christ giving His life for us that speaks of things which would melt the heart of David.

In 2 Samuel 7, David proposes to Nathan the prophet his wish to build a house for the Lord which would house the ark of God. Nathan agrees with him and tells David to do all that is in his heart. But the Lord later speaks to Nathan and tells him to tell David that he cannot build a house for the Lord. He has shed too much blood. The one who will build it will be David’s son, Solomon. Yet every part of the architectural plan, to the most tiny and exacting detail, was given to David who then instructed his son, Solomon. But David was not left out. God instead told David that He would build him a house. The Davidic covenant. His bloodline and throne would be established forever. The bloodline of Jesus the Messiah. David’s words show his understanding of this and his humility. He says in 2 Samuel 7:18, “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house that You have brought me this far?” He then verbally confirms his place in God’s decision and prays a prayer to the Lord in verses 28-29 saying, “O Lord, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

David knew full well of the magnitude of what God had promised him. A blessing beyond imagination. David was a man after God’s heart. His love for God was without question. The temple that Solomon built was done to perfection. The stones that were made were done so outside of the temple. They were so perfectly made that no finish work was necessary when placed in the temple. This speaks to us in Ephesians 2. Through the death of Jesus we are given a house of the Lord also. Us. Our body. The Passion Translation says in verse 21-22 that “This entire building is under construction and is continually growing under His supervision until it rises up completed as the holy temple of the Lord himself. This means that God is transforming each one of you into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you.”

Jesus spoke to His disciples in John 14 and told them that He was going away. The full impact of His dying on the cross was not understood. Jesus tells them He must go but that He will not leave them orphans. The Passion Translation of John 14:16-17 says that “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like Me – and He will never leave you. The world won’t receive Him because they can’t see Him or know Him. But you will know Him intimately, because He will make His home in you and will live inside of you.” He promised to make us His habitation. He said the Helper would guide us into all truth and would glorify Jesus.

Do you realize that it states in Romans 8:11, that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us? And in Romans 5:5, that the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us! In 2 Corinthians, we see that the Holy Spirit was given to us as a guarantee. But more like a deposit with redemptive value. So, when we give up these earthly tents, we will be present with God. Paul asks us in 1 Corinthians 3, if we know that we are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you. The very concept of this is only conceived in our hearts by faith. And this, too, is a gift of God. This Christ in us, the hope of glory, lives in me. And this life I live in the flesh, I live BY the faith of God, who loved me and died for me.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 it says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” We have been given the Holy Spirit as His gift to dwell in us. We did nothing by works to deserve this. It is His love for us that is so profound and deep that He sent His son to die for us that we might not only have eternal life and forgiveness of sins, but an earthly abode for His Spirit to dwell in us and guide us. We were bought at a price that cannot be calculated in our understanding. We are redeemed by His blood according to the riches of His grace. And the temple we provide for Him speaks of our love for Him. We are all fixer uppers. There are times I seem to have forgotten who lives in me. Parts of me have been closed off to Him. I took my eyes off the prize. We all do this yet He is faithful. And when we confess, He forgives. Only in Him are we complete. We must all check daily to see if we are in the faith. To see if we are a house that even we would want to live in, much less the Spirit of God. We must have the heart of David and say to our heavenly Father, who am I that You would dwell in me? That You would die for me, a sinner, and then make me a temple of Your Spirit. This seems ineffable. Too sacred and special to be put into words. Yet I receive this love.

I pray we all have a walk worthy of the Lord. Fully pleasing Him. Increasing in the knowledge of Him. I pray we are strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power and that we endure and remain steadfast and know His joy. I thank Him that He has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light, and to realize that He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transported us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. This Easter meditate on the gift He has given to all of us. We are “His house” and we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. Blessings.