Establish Your House — We Are Ecclesia

Mar 20

Mar 20 Establish Your House

I. The Word for 2022

a. Established as the House of His Glory (Isaiah 60:1-7 & 21, Isaiah 62:6-7)

i. A House of Illumination: A Year of BOLDNESS

1. We are being made into a lampstand

Revelation 1:12&20 New King James Version
12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
20 The [d]mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the [e]angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands [f]which you saw are the seven churches.

a. Lifted up and set on FIRE

Matthew 5:14-16 New King James Version
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

ii. A House of Reconciliation: Prodigals are Coming Home

1. Prodigals are coming HOME

Isaiah 60:4-5 New King James Version
4 “Lift up your eyes all around, and see:
They all gather together, they come to you;
Your sons shall come from afar,
And your daughters shall be nursed at your side.
5 Then you shall see and become radiant,
And your heart shall swell with joy;
Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.

iii. A House of Supernatural Provision and Growth

1. Supernatural provision in the midst of dessert seasons

Isaiah 60:6 New King James Version
6 The multitude of camels shall cover your land,
The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba shall come;
They shall bring gold and incense,
And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.

2. Supernatural growth

Isaiah 60:7 New King James Version
7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,
The rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;
They shall ascend with acceptance on My altar,
And I will glorify the house of My glory.

II. He Establishes His House

Psalm 127 New King James Version
127 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

a. If Holy Spirit doesn’t establish this house, we are wasting everyone’s time

b. The Lord builds and guards what belongs to Him

i. How do we know if what we are bulding is the House of HIS Glory and not our own?

1. It is a House of Prayer

Matthew 21:13 New King James Version
13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

a. If we do not build His house of prayer, we build a den of thieves

b. Pleasing Him is our greatest motivation

Ephesians 5:10 New Living Translation
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.

c. Praying to, listening to, and obeying Him, has to be one of our highest priorities

2. Jesus is the foundation

1 Corinthians 3:11 New King James Version
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

a. He is the Word (John 1:14), our Rock (Acts 4:10-11) and our peace (Ephesians 2:14)

John 1:14 New King James Version
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Acts 4:10-11 New King James Version
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
Ephesians 2:14 New King James Version
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

b. Our foundation must be unshakable

3. It’s made of LIVING stones

1 Peter 2:5 New King James Version
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

a. We are the stones

b. He positions each stone, we don’t position ourselves

c. Living stones GROW

Colossians 3:13 New Living Translation
13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

iii. Be careful how you view, criticize, judge, and measure the stones around you

Matthew 7:1-2 New King James Version
7 “Judge[a] not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what [b]judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

iv. Be sure to extend the grace and mercy you would like extended to you

d. A house made of DEAD stones can never GROW

i. Not only referring to numerically, but spiritually and in maturity as well

ii. You die when you join a house made of dead stones, because it prevents you from growing

4. It begins in our Homes

Nehemiah 3:28-30 New King James Version
28 Beyond the Horse Gate the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer made repairs in front of his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, made repairs. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs in front of his [a]dwelling.

a. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem supernaturally in just 52 days

b. Like Nehemiah, we will build beginning at home

i. We can build confidently with Holy Spirit when we pray, listen, and obey

ii. Holy Spirit is inviting us to begin at home

iii. Once we start building as families, Holy Spirit will connect us as He builds and establishes His House of Glory

5. It UNITES and MULTIPLIES, it doesn’t divide

a. Unity is powerful, something about unity gets God’s attention

Genesis 11:1-5 New King James Version
11 Now the whole earth had one language and one [a]speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and [b]bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

i. Even though they were united in the wrong pursuit, their unity in word, action, and purpose got God’s attention and He came down to see what they were doing.

1. It wasn’t the Lord will though, so the result was supernatural division

Acts 2:1-4 & 41 New King James Version
2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
41 Then those who [a]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

ii. In one accord, united in prayer (Acts1 :14), and Holy Spirit came down

1. It was the Lord’s will, so the result was supernatural multiplication

Psalm 133 New King James Version
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon,Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

III. A Word of Encouragement to Our Watchmen

Isaiah 62:6-7 New King James Version
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall [a]never hold their peace day or night. You who [b]make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, 7 And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Psalm 127:1-2 New King James Version
127 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

a. What is a watchman/woman?

i. A son or daughter periodically tasked by Holy Spirit to Pray and to Watch:

1. Pray

Isaiah 55:8-9 New King James Version
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

2. Watch

b. If Holy Spirit isn’t guarding, you’re wasting your time

i. If Holy Spirit is waking you up, you’re being invited to watch and pray with Him

1. He’s waking people up for “night watches”

a. First: 6-9pm

b. Second: 9pm-12am

c. Third: 12-3am

d. Fourth: 3-6am

2. He’s waking people up at specific times, repeatedly

a. 3am, 3:30am, 4:30am, etc…

ii. Hearing Him invite you to get up is NEVER the problem, its actually staying up and focused that’s difficult

Matthew 26:37-46 New King James Version
37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, [a]if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.
44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. 45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour [b]is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

iii. Holy Spirit will invite you to watch and pray with Him at CRUCIAL moments in the life of the body of Christ.

1. You are watching for the enemy or their messengers

2. You are watching for the King or His messengers

3. The goal is to identify what is coming, before it gets to the gate

a. Gatekeepers prepare to appropriately meet whatever the watchmen identify, so long as the watchmen catch it in time

b. Watchmen exist to give the church time to prepare for what’s coming

c. He gives His beloved REST

i. You ARE His beloved

Matthew 11:28-30 New Living Translation
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

ii. Rest is found in not stopping work, but changing the WAY you work.

1. Take His YOKE

a. Work in partnership with Him, doing ONLY what you see Him doing

John 5:19 New Living Translation
19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.

2. Learn from Him

a. Jesus models a new way of working and invites us into it

i. That’s what it means to be yoked with Him

b. Empowerment: Model and Invite

i. Humility is the key that unlocks empowerment at BCF. When we choose to be correctable and teachable, we are empowered to fulfill every good and perfect work.

3. Find rest for your soul

IV. A Word of Encouragement for Those Contending for Prodigals

a. The Lord is starting to build in sections: An important reminder to heads of households

i. Jesus always prepares a place for those He calls to Himself

John 14:3 New King James Version
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

ii. He is inviting those of us with prodigals to prepare our homes as well as this House of His Glory for our prodigals

1. We do this when we partner with Holy Spirit in prayer

a. Pray, listen, obey

b. Remember your 2022 prayer cards

Psalm 127:3-4 New King James Version
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,So are the children of one’s youth.

b. Children are a heritage and reward

i. I know right now, for many of our prodigals, they do not feel like a heritage or reward, but rather an emotional burden

ii. The Lord required that His people TAKE the land of their heritage

Genesis 13:14-15 New King James Version
14 And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; 15 for all the land which you see I give to you and your [a]descendants forever.
Numbers 27:12 New King James Version
12 Now the Lord said to Moses: “Go up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.
Joshua 18:3 New King James Version
3 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?

iii. If you want your heritage, your reward, your promise land you’re going to have to go and get it in prayer as you engage in spiritual warfare

c. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior… children of one’s youth…

i. Parenting typically is the easiest when our children are little and we have more energy

1. Children can’t stay young and arrows can’t stay in the hands of the warrior

a. THEY ARE MEANT TO BE RELEASED!!!!

2 Kings 13:14-19 New King James Version
14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”
15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. 19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”

d. The enemy wants you believe the lie that he stole and now possesses your children, but Holy Spirit says differently

i. Your children weren’t stolen by the enemy, they were released from the hands of a warrior into the enemy’s territory

ii. You didn’t lose your children, the enemy lost the battle

Psalm 127:5 New King James Version
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

e. How does an arrow return to its quiver?

i. The warrior goes back and get it

ii. Right now, Holy Spirit is inviting you to go get your prodigals.

iii. Lay hold of the promises Holy Spirit over your children, family, and friends

1. Don’t just put it back in your quiver, but

f. KEEP STRIKING

i. Freedom isn’t coming just for your children, the gates of hell are going down and ALL the prisoners are coming out

1. The Testimony of Saint Patrick

ii. You thought your prodigal was in slavery to addiction, sexual perversion, rebellion, but they were an arrow shot into the enemy’s land,

iii. Strike the ground until the enemy is DESTROYED and THEN put the arrows back in your quiver, be not ashamed and speak with your enemy at the gate

Matthew 16:16-19 New King James Version
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not [a]prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth [b]will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

1. With Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God as the foundation of our house, the gates of hell won’t stand a chance, and our enemies will have no choice but to hear us at their gates binding them, and loosing the prisoners within.