House Plan

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House Plan

Psalm 127:1a
   Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

     God builds His dwelling place among men according to His own plan. Unless the house is built according to God's blueprint, our labor is worthless.

Exodus 25:8-9, 40
     And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
     According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.
     . . .
     And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Exodus 26:30
     And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was shewed thee in the mount.

     When God told Moses to build the tabernacle as His dwelling place among the children of Israel in the wilderness, God gave Moses the pattern, the fashion, the plan, and the blueprint of how His home was to be built.

1 Chronicles 28:10-12, 19-20
     Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
     Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
     And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
     . . .
     All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
     And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

     When God told David to have Solomon build the temple as his dwelling place in Jerusalem, God gave David the pattern, plan, or blueprint for His house.

John 14:10
     Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

     During the Gospel period God dwelt in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus followed the pattern, plan, and blueprint of God by always doing his Father's will. He did the works of God to redeem mankind and made available a new dwelling place for God.

John 14:16-17
     And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
     Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

     Today, God dwells in believers because of the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16
     Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

     "Ye" are the temple of God. Today, believers are builded TOGETHER to be God's dwelling place.

Romans 8:11
     But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

     When a man or woman confessess with his or her mouth the Lord Jesus and believes that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9) that person is saved, born again. He or she becomes part of God's dwelling.

Romans 10:9
     That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

     This is God's pattern or blueprint for building His house today. Some may say there are many ways to get to God and be saved; but God's word declares only one plan, only one blueprint for building, only one way.

1 Timothy 2:3-5
     For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
     Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
     For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

     God's will is for ALL men to be saved. God's will is for ALL men to come to the knowledge of the truth that there is only ONE God and that there is only one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. The only way to God is via the Lord Jesus Christ. The only pattern for building God's house is to do it His way.

1 Corinthians 3:9-11
     For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
     According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
     For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5-7
     Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
     Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
     Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Ephesians 2:19 - 22
     Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
     And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
      In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
      In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

     In Bible times when a good carpenter built a house or other building he would measure and frame all the building from the corner stone. Jesus Christ is the corner stone for building the house. Only by building according to the pattern God gives, will the building be fitly framed together. Jesus Christ is the measure. Jesus Christ is the chief corner. Jesus Christ is the head of the body and as head he directs the building of God's house.

Ephesians 4:11-16
     And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
     For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
     Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
     That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
     But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
     From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

     When Jesus Christ was raised and seated at the right hand of God he gave to the church ministries to help build the dwelling place of God. Each individual believer has a ministry and part to play in this building. It is the job of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to get others in the body of Christ doing the work of the ministry. These five ministries are not given to "do the work." They are to perfect the saints (those who believe) so that THEY (the believers) can do the work of the ministry and edify the body of Christ. Every joint in this building of God has something to supply to the building.   And every joint supplies according to that plan which is provided from the head, Christ. As we all work effectively according to the plan which comes to us from "the head," the body increases and grows. This is God's blueprint. Christ is the head. He directs the work.

Colosians 2:9-10
     For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
     And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

     God dwells in Christ and Christ dwells in us. We are completely, completely, completely, complete in him. We have all we need to build the dwelling place of God as we look to Christ and follow the plan that God has given to build His house.