Bible Matters 507:  House on Fire

Jesus came to the earth to deliver God’s gospel of Love.  This gospel and promise of everlasting life is between you and God.   Man’s temple for the house of God’s was turned into a den of thieves by the Jews.  Instead of prayer, the Jews sold doves and bought in the temple to be offered as a sacrifice for sin. (See Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46)

Matthew 21:13 – And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 

The temple and animal sacrifice did not draw people closer to God.  Remission of sin could be bought off with a price. There was non-righteous, no not one.  There was none that doeth good. 

Romans 3:10-12 – As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:  There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

The Temple contained the Holy of Holies or inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle where God’s presence appeared only to the High Priests.  The temple veil divided the Holy of Holies from the lesser Holy place.  Communication with God was not possible for the common man.  God wanted all his children to be praying directly to him.  This was made possible by the tearing or renting the temple veil when Jesus died on the cross.  God removed man or the high priests out of the way for you to have a relationship directly with God. (See Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45)

Mark 15:38- And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

God wants you to pray, directly to him with no one in the way.  Believe and you shall receive.

 Matthew 21:22 – And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Commit your good works unto God and he’ll deliver. Your house on fire will be established by righteousness. 

Proverbs 16:3,9-10,12 – Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. A man’s heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.  A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresses not in judgment. It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Righteousness by recognizing God’s commandments in the New Testament as told to you by the witnesses.  God’s commandments are clear for the New Testament believer:  Do not commit adultery; Do not kill; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Honor thy father and thy mother; Love God; Love neighbor.  You are told to walk in the light doing the will of God with a pure heart and not serving the lusts of the flesh in drunkenness.  The witnesses made it clear to flee fornication.  God knows your heart by your actions.  With your house on fire, live your life by judging no one.   (See 1 Corinthians 6:18-19; John 8:41; Matthew 19:9; Mark 7:20-23)

1 Corinthians 6:18-19 – Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sins against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

John 8:41 – Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

Mark 7:20-23 – And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Your baptism by the Holy Ghost will be your fire.   God’s word will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.   Your testimony will be your house on fire! (See Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, Acts 1:5, Acts 11:16-18)

Luke 3:16 – John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

The Holy Ghost cannot be bought by money or an act of man.  God sends the Holy Ghost when you do his will and obey him.  (See Acts 8:19-21; Hebrews 2:4; Acts 5:32;)

Acts 5:32 – And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

God wants your house on fire seven days a week.  Jesus made it clear that worshipping God only on the sabbath means nothing.  Jesus and his disciples picked corn on the sabbath and healed the sick.  (See Matthew 12:1-2,5; Matthew 12:10-12; Mark 2:23-24,27; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:1-2,5; Luke 6:9; Luke 13:14-16; Luke 14:3,5; John 5:9,10; John 7:23; John 9:16)

Mark 2:23-24,27 – And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.  And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?  And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

Your house on fire begins by doing the will of God.  You recognize that only God can change your life by serving him.  Serving him by living his gospel of Love.  God’s message is clear.   If you love him, then keep his commandments.  Yield yourself unto God. 

Romans 6:13 – Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Your house on fire will live a righteous life unto God, doing God’s will with fervent acts of charity, being a witness by sharing God’s word, endure to the end and enjoy God’s gift of everlasting life.

James 5:20 – Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:2 – That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 John 2:17 – And the world passes away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abides forever.

Do not be afraid to live and share God’s gospel of Love:

• Believe in one God – God is King.

• Repent of your sins and surrender to God – Your walk with God begins when you turn from your sinful past and follow after righteousness with a pure heart. 

• Judge no one – Judge your walk against God’s word.  God is the judge.  

• Love God – When you love God, then you love the things of God in charity, faith and purity.

• Love your Neighbor – When you love others, you are not ashamed of God’s word.  Be willing to share exponentially with your neighbor with fervent acts of charity.

• Fight the good fight, do the will of God and endure to the end unto eternal life. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.