The House of God
Genesis 28:10-22 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. (11)And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. (12)And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! (13)And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. (14)Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (15)Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” (16)The Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (17)And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (18)So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. (19)He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. (20)Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, (21)so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, (22)and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Why is this place called the house of God – the church?
Connection Church is experiencing God.
Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!
John 1:51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Genesis 28:16-17 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” (17)And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Church is becoming aware of the presence of God.
Communication Church is hearing God.
Genesis 28:13-15 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The Land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. (14)Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
(15)Behold, I am with you and I will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Ways God speaks to us:
Truth ——– correction.
Revelation ——— direction.
Encouragement ——– inspiration.
Commitment Church is yielding to God.
Genesis 28:20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear …
Genesis 28:22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Malachi 3:10-11 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no need. (11)I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.