How can we ensure our church is a place where God dwells today? God’s Dwelling Promise (2 Chronicles 7:16) “For now I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that My Name may be there forever. My eyes and My heart will be there for all time.” God’s desire has not changed. He still chooses, consecrates, and remains among a people who honor His Name. Below are anchors drawn from Scripture that show how a contemporary congregation can live in the good of this promise. 1. Consecrate the House – Pursue Holiness • 1 Peter 1:15-16 – “Be holy, for I am holy.” • Hebrews 12:14 – Pursue holiness “without which no one will see the Lord.” Practical steps: – Set apart corporate gatherings for worship, not entertainment. – Encourage personal purity; address sin lovingly and directly (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). 2. Exalt His Name – Christ-Centered Worship • Psalm 22:3 – God “inhabits the praises of Israel.” • Revelation 5:12 – Heaven’s song centers on the Lamb. Focus points: – Songs, readings, and testimonies that clearly proclaim Jesus’ saving work. – Regular observance of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:26) to “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 3. Keep His Word – Obedient Teaching • John 14:23 – “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” • 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word… in season and out of season.” Essentials: – Expository preaching that lets Scripture set the agenda. – Bible studies and small groups that aim for application, not mere information. 4. Foster Prayer and Dependence • Isaiah 56:7 – “My house will be called a house of prayer.” • Acts 4:31 – The place where they prayed was shaken; they were filled with the Spirit. How to deepen prayer: – Weekly corporate prayer meetings. – Prayer teams available before and after services. – Encourage fasting for specific congregational needs. 5. Cultivate Unity and Love • John 13:35 – “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” • Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Ways to nurture unity: – Intentional cross-generational fellowship. – Quick reconciliation when offenses arise (Matthew 5:23-24). 6. Practice Sacrificial Service and Hospitality • Hebrews 13:15-16 – “Do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” • 1 Peter 4:9-10 – “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling… serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace.” Applications: – Ministries that meet tangible needs (widows, orphans, the poor). – Open homes for meals and discipleship. 7. Guard the Gospel and Exercise Discipline • Galatians 1:8 – No other gospel tolerated. • 1 Timothy 3:15 – The church is “the pillar and foundation of the truth.” Safeguards: – Clear statement of faith taught to members. – Loving correction and, if necessary, church discipline (Matthew 18:15-17) to preserve purity. 8. Encourage Spirit-Empowered Fellowship • Acts 2:42-47 – Teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayers; the Lord added daily. • 1 Corinthians 3:16 – “You are God’s temple and God’s Spirit dwells in you.” Cultivation: – Expect and welcome the Spirit’s gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7). – Test everything by Scripture; hold fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21). Living Under His Eyes and Heart Because God’s “eyes and heart” are on His consecrated house, we live: • With confidence—He watches and cares (Psalm 34:15). • With reverence—His presence is holy (Psalm 99:5). • With expectancy—He delights to reveal His glory among a prepared people (Ephesians 3:21). When a congregation embraces these biblical priorities, it becomes the very place God has chosen for His Name, where His eyes and heart gladly remain today. |
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