God’s Faithfulness is on full display in (Genesis 28:10–22). God’s watch care became apparent at Bethel, where Jacob encountered Yahweh in a dream. He revealed Himself to Jacob as the God of his fathers, the one who would continue the covenant promises through him. Whom God loves, he never leaves.

Bethel = “The House of God” where Jacob first met with God.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Today is the day, and now is the time, just look out at society and see that they are starving for right worship with a Holy God. They are all just filled with evil, hatred and anger because this present worlds sin. That world has nothing to offer them. We must become those who discern a world steeped in sin and seek God with joy. The church is a place where many come to worship and praise, a place where we come under conviction of sin,  and can repent and confess. The holy temple of God, is a house of God purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.. We, at Riverview Church, must worship God in spirit and truth. We must not be foolish instigators who let our own thoughts and ideas get ahead of us and through the church into chaos. God’s house contains abundant truth and true teachings, a place where we learn God’s will and the source of obedience. Amen!

We must recognize and repent of our sinful lives due to our mistakes and foolishness. We must be free from sin, liberated, and seek God’s house with joy and hope. I pray that we may become partners in God’s work, helping and encouraging each other when we are lacking, understanding each other, striving to gather together, learning and sharing the Word, and becoming children of God who set an example in the Word. This cursed world is filled with evil, hatred, anger, envy, and jealousy, and it has nothing to offer us. Therefore, we must enter God’s house. God’s house is the source of our salvation and forgiveness of sins. And we, who have been born again as God’s precious people through salvation, must make this known to the world and become examples.

We must recognize that God’s house is the holy temple where He dwells, and we must be humble. Fighting and jealousy are utterly foolish actions, and pride and confusion must be avoided at all costs.

Our God is well pleased with those who follow His standard, and worship the Father in spirit and in truth. We need to tell others what we have learned and how to obtain salvation. Our God is spirit, and we cannot begin to understand the ways of God.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Who are we to compare ourselves with our creator. We are His creation made in His image and the only way we can gain knowledge is from the written word of God and still we learn we can do nothing apart from God.

Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

If we consider these verse, we can see how small we really are compared to everything God has made. Each thing is in its place within the universe, and it is rightful place where God placed it. For His purpose and for His Glory, not ours. Even our thought process is much lower than God’s, and we are rightful place where God placed us. We must not go there based on our own way of thinking or pride, but by His grace, we must follow His will.

1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

God wants all things to be done decent and in order. When things get out of order you have chaos. When one creates chaos, it leads to division, and that could cause others to lose their faith in God. Our God is a God of order not chaos. Satan subtract and divides. Jesus adds and multiplies. We need to know the difference. 

Psalms 16:8 I have set the Lord always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

David set the Lord before him and allowed God to lead him in the path he should go. He wrote in the Psalm God would be set before him always to keep him on that right track headed to God. That’s right. Approaching the house of God is meant to be a joyful, expectant experience of community and connection with the Holy God. We must enter the house of God, sit with a reverent heart, and pray with a heart prepared for worship. Let us set God before us.

It is better to listen to God’s word and obey it than to offer sacrifices without sincere obedience. No matter how talented, wealthy, or powerful someone may be, God does not use those who are arrogant and disobedient. One obedient person can change his/her circumstances, his/her family’s circumstances, his/her neighbor’s circumstances, his/her communities’ circumstances, his/her nation’s circumstances, and yes even the worlds circumstances. Keep in mind that “obedience is better than sacrifice.” Selah!

Jesus said to disciple Nathanael, or Bartholomew “Nathanael” means “God has given.” Bartholomew” is an Aramaic meaning “son of Tholomaios,”

John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Disciple Nathanael never wavered in his faith towards God. He knew from this first meeting that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and the King of Israel. This is a precious lesson for us believers. We must serve Jesus with a heart free from slyness and deceit. Nathanael stated it in verse in,

John 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

If we know Jesus is the Son of God we should not waver in our faith just like  Nathanael. We should have a fear like Jacob and know that God is with us always. Amen!

Jesus replied,

John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son.

This is similar to Jacob’s dream, and what we have just learned about the House of God. Amen!

We must remember these things; to watch one’s steps, while approaching with humility, and coming in with a clean and open heart, is similar to Moses removing his shoes on Holy ground. Open your ears and be ready to hear the word of God and allow it to enter the open mind to meditated on and then hiding it in one’s heart

or treasure it in your heart.. God’s House is place where God speaks to us and where the Word of God is proclaimed. A place where angels come and go. I tell you God’s House is positioned on the edge of two worlds or two realities, earth, and heaven. When we go to the House of God and worship and pray to God it goes through the open gate between the House of God and Heavenly the Abode of God.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Jesus said that we can do greater things than He did on earth by following His example. Jesus is the gospel. This gospel is the blessing of entering the eternal house of God. Jesus is the Savior, who gives eternal life to anyone who believes. Amen.!

Jesus’ ministry lasted three years on this earth. We are to teach ourselves the word of God, our families, our neighbor’s our church families, our community, our nation, and the world all while following the instructions of God.

 John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Amen.