The first mention of “the house of God” occurs in Genesis 28 where we find Jacob awakening from his dream with the realization that he has been in the presence of the living God: “How dreadful (awesome) is this place! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” As a result of his experience with God on that occasion, the place was named Bethel. There was certainly nothing striking about the surroundings, an outdoor location with none of the amenities we count as essential today–but there was the presence of the God of heaven.
May I suggest that the local expression of the New Testament church is our “Bethel,” i.e., the house of God and the “gateway to heaven.” This is the place where the Lord has chosen to place His Name. “Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there” (Deut. 12:11). “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt. 18:20). This is the place where we meet God through worship, prayer, the teaching of His Word, the fellowship of the saints, and the preaching of the gospel.
A house is a physical dwelling place or habitation; a home has been defined as “the dwelling place of the affections” (“home is where the heart is”). Still further, a scriptural home is a place where the occupants live together for the Lord Jesus. As the local church should bear resemblance to the family, so our homes should share the spiritual atmosphere of the local church.
You will remember that in the book of Exodus, the God of Israel first spoke of dwelling among His people, of having a sanctuary (a holy place, a safe haven) in the center of their camp. “Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of Thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which Thou hast made for Thee to dwell in, in the sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established” (Ex. 15:17). As He said, “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8).
Paul’s concern in writing to Timothy was that the saints in Ephesus should know how to conduct themselves or ‘busy themselves’ in the local church. They had never seen a local expression of the church and had no idea how they were to function in the midst of their idol-worshiping society, hence the epistle to them via Timothy.
As we approach a house, the first thing we notice is the entryway. The door reminds us of access, and communication. “I am the door; by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (Jn. 10:9). Are folks given a hearty welcome as they enter our assemblies? Are the saints encouraged to go out into the highways and byways, seeking the lost and needy?
Upon entering the house, we’re usually taken into the living room where we experience the kind hospitality of the host. “Use hospitality one to another” (1 Pet. 4:9). We get to know the residents and are cordially entertained by them. Our assemblies should be centers of hospitality, making known to all who enter the unlimited provision of the good Word of God. “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1:3).
We might also be beneficiaries of the ministry of the kitchen where food and drink is prepared in a tasty and eye-appealing manner in order to meet the nutritional needs of even the youngest guest. Our ministry and teaching sessions in the assembly should be known for the healthy meals served, offering spiritual nourishment to all who enter. Great care must be taken so that the dietary needs of every individual saint are met. “Feed me with food convenient for me” (Prov. 30:8). We proceed to the dining room where a bounty is spread before us and we are told to make ourselves at home. “Thou preparest a table before me” (Ps. 23:5). (See the story of David and Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9).
If our stay is to be an extended one, we’ll likely be shown the location of the bathroom and bedroom, suggesting the opportunity for cleansing and rest. Didn’t Paul remind Timothy of the necessity of being a cleansed vessel fit for the master’s use (2 Tim. 2:21)? Please remember, too, that the Lord Jesus told His disciples of the necessity of physical rest for the body (Mk. 6:31) and of spiritual rest for the believer as He is taught the marvelous truths of Scripture (Mt. 11:28; Heb. 4:9).
How sad that national surveys indicate Americans are more drawn to a local church by the appearance of the physical facility than the quality of the teaching of God’s Word! May we consider the gathering of the saints (and our own homes) as God’s house–a place of safety, security, and enjoyment in this crooked and perverse generation. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1). Like the virtuous woman, may the local church share this testimony: “She perceiveth that her merchandise is good; her lamp goeth not out by night…She looketh well to the ways of her household” (Prov. 31:18, 27).