Willing To Ask? To Truly Hear The Answer?

© 2013 - 2016 ClipArt Best (altered by PDR)

What is God's desire for HIS CHURCH?

I haven't written anything for some time now while focusing on other edeavors but I was reminded of something this morning. May you be blessed in the reading of this in Jesus name. 

Years ago I had found a severely fire-damaged house and purchased it with the intent of restoring it. A dear friend of mine and brother in the LORD had decided to help me by financing the restoration of if in which I would do the work.

One day he, some other brothers and I were meeting in a restaurant discussing this investment and the brother asked me what would seem like a normal question. He asked me, "What do you want out of this house?"

For some strange reason, when I tried to answer that, I found very powerful emotions rise up inside me so much that before I could speak even a word, I would break out in uncontrollable tears to the point of having to fight back the urge to break into deep sobs. Each time I collected myself, I would try to answer and the same overpowering emotions would overwhelm me. This went on for perhaps five minutes and it was a mystery to me and them. (and quite embarassing)

I finally managed to collect myself and gave an "answer" but it was not one from my heart. What was really wanting to come out from my heart was, "Nobody has ever asked me that." but in the context of our fellowship that didn't make any natural sense.

I pondered this for several days as I was left with two things:

1) A question - "What do you want out of this house?"

2) An answer accompanied by deep emotions - "Nobody has ever asked me that."

To understand my true answer to that question, one would have to understand the background. Over the prior perhaps 30 years we had moved many, many times and lived in many dwellings of all kinds. We have never really had a "certain dwelling place" for very long in our lives. (ie for many years)

When I found the house I would have to say that despite that fact that it was severely fire-damaged, I was notably drawn to it. I saw it as our home not just another house. A "certain dwelling place" for me and my family.

Circumstances were, however, that I couldn't finish it by myself so we had decided we would have to sell it after it was restored. That was our agreement with my friend the investor so when he asked the question I felt hindered from saying what was really on my heart. (I didn't realize that at the time.)

Now I have got to say here that brother loved me and I'm sure he would have had no problem with me expressing my inner desires at all. I am firmly convinced he wanted nothing but God's best for me so what was this all really about?

I have many more times than once lived in circumstances that God orchestrated to reflect something that He was saying. This was what I was left with in this instance.

We are all "investing" in building God's house which is in all actuallity consists of human beings touched by His Spirit and saved by the shed blood of His Son. God's house on earth is not a physical building, a collection of organizations or even a collection of ideologies and imperfect understandings.

We are all eager to "invest" in restoring it but have we truly ever asked Jesus what He wants out of this "house" and what would be his answer if we were even remotely willing to hear it? Are we really investing in it only for the one who will rightfully occupy it or are we inwardly working towards our own gain?

Throughout the history of the Spirit of God's revealing of Jesus to human beings, that movement and work of the Holy Spirit has moved from "house to house" and over the centuries has not had a "certain dwelling place" (external) that anyone who is truly honest can point to. (there is a long list of organizations who would claim they have always been the ones but by and large the Spirit of God has moved on to where there is greater openness. He always has.)

This is especially true since the inception of what is called "the Reformation" which is an ongoing thing and at no point since can we point to anything along the way and say "It is finished!"

The Spirit of God moves on when we reach a point when we are unwilling to hear the answer of Jesus to the question of "What do you want out of this house." I dare say that in all reality we have never truly asked that question of Him in totality without reservations. I'm not ever sure if we are totally capable of hearing His complete answer.

Part of that answer is that ALL external houses (organizations and movements) that Jesus has resided in over the entire history of "The Church" are nothing more than temporary dwellings.

Even though there has been movement from house to house over the centuries, Jesus is building His house out of human beings who have followed him. They are chosen and faithful. That is the house He is building.

The other part of that answer is that it has been a long time and a long history of moving from external house to external house. Jesus is longing to be with his WHOLE family in one place. That longing has been growing for centuries.

His answer: "I want a CERTAIN, PERMANENT dwelling place for Me and my family and I am coming back soon to live with them. No one will dare lay claim to them. They are mine."

Jesus has a very large family and the vast majority are now "asleep." He has all along been building a living, ever expanding building not made by human flesh. He is coming back to resurrect those that "sleep" and transform those yet alive to dwell with them forever.

Everything else is temporary....

The earth is being harvested by the sickle of choice. If any man or organization of men is laying claim to the people of God, henceforth let them fear the judgement of God to come.