Today I wish to continue with the second part on the Theology of the Household of Faith.

Last week I explained and expounded to you the following two principles:

· THE CHURCH IS THE NEW HUMAN RACE OF CREATION

· WE ARE BUILD ON THE PRINCIPLE OF FAMILY

We need to come to a place of clearly understanding that when we are building accurately and according to this pattern of Households of Faith that the gates of Hell are not able to prevail against this work of the Holy Spirit.

Mat 16:18

And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra --a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].

What are these Gates of Hades that will not prevail against the Household of Faith?

The Complete Wordstudy dictionary defines these Gates of Hades in the following way:

Figuratively the gates of hádēs ([G86], hell) refers to the powers of Satan and his hosts as commanding hádēs, the realm of death, including both the grave and the place of departed spirits. Death and hell are the effect of sin. Man is under the power of hell because he is under the power of sin. Satan is the father of sin and the lord of hell. Those whom he holds under sin, he holds under death. The redeeming work of Christ overcame the power of sin and hence the power of Satan and hell (1Co_15:52-57; Col_2:15; Heb_2:14; 1Jn_3:8; Rev_1:18).

1Co 15:52-57

(52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).

(53) For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death).

(54) And when this perishable puts on the imperishable and this that was capable of dying puts on freedom from death, then shall be fulfilled the Scripture that says, Death is swallowed up (utterly vanquished forever) in and unto victory. [Isaiah 25:8]

(55) O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? [Hosea 13:14]

(56) Now sin is the sting of death, and sin exercises its power [upon the soul] through [the abuse of] the Law.

(57) But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 2:15

(15) [God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display and public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him and in it [the cross].

Heb 2:14

(14) Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death--that is, the devil--

1Jo 3:8

(8) [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

Rev 1:18

(18) And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

The Church is the company of the redeemed and as such cannot be overcome by all the powers of hell. Sh^eōl (H7585) is the Hebr. equivalent of Hádēs (Sept.: Isa_38:10 [cf. Psa_9:14]).

Deriv.: pulṓn (G4440), a large door or gate.

Gates of hell will not prevail. Gates = are a picture of the seat, and counsels that authoritatively plot against the community of believers. What God builds in unity within households will stand against every vice of the enemy – the enemy will not withstand it’s advance in God’s purposes.

If you understand this then you will also clearly understand why there is such an opposition in the spirit realm against accurate Households of Faith as the enemy knows that he is powerless against these Households.

Unity can only come as we build accurate Households of Faiths. We need to understand that anyone that is not a son will produce a mixture – God wants to purge the seed to produce a perfect church.

The most accurate form of spiritual warfare in the earth lies in building accurate Households of Faith. Again if we look at the proclamation in 1 Sam 15:23 a profound statement is made to Saul. Remember Saul is also a picture of an inaccurate church that functions in the flesh and in the soul.

1Sa 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.

A direct result that we see from the life of Saul is that he lost his rulership and kingship due to the fact that he build inaccurately and did what he wanted to do. He did not build according to the principles that was given by God. Time do not allow me to expound this in detail but you can study the life and actions of Saul. He disobeyed God’s instructions. He offered sacrifices that he was not authorized to offer. The end was that he lost his kingship. Read the whole of 1 Sam 13 - 15 for the full history.

We need to understand that failure to build accurately will cause us to never enter into the position of a King. We might be anointed and appointed but if we do not walk in obedience to the instructions of God we will be rejected as kings. God is serious about building accurate Households of Faith that can prevail against the gates of hell.

Remember that I said in one of the previous session that the hierarchy of the NT church is not the five fold ministry. I have already explained that to you. We have to bring alignment to what we have previously built inaccurately. I spoke to you on the life of Judas. Judas had a household

• of which he was the head;
• also he was an elder that provided spiritual covering ;
• he functioned in the ministry of the ‘diakonia’ – work of a deacon serving the needs of others;
• he also was in the apostleship – a gift sent from God to his household. He lost all of these four dimensions of ministry.

He was one of the patriarchal graces and he sold Jesus and hung himself. A Life wasted.

We have to understand that workman cannot become the structure of what if being built. Households cannot be headed by any five fold ministry – but by FATHERS, who may (or may not) have a five fold office grace upon their lives.

Eph 2:13-22

(13) But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.

(14) For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,

(15) By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.

(16) And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end.

(17) And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near. [Isaiah 57:19]

(18) For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him].

(19) Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household.

(20) You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.

(21) In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].

(22) In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.

Take note of the following:

Eph 2:18

(18) For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him].

Jesus is the one that introduces us to the Father through the Holy Spirit. There is an emphasis placed here on the concept of God the Father. Paul is highlighting here the specific attributes of the Godhead called FATHER.

When we look at Matt 13 later you will find that the parable relating to sonship speaks of the Kingdom of the Father.

Eph 2:19

(19) Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God's own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God's [own] household.

Households = speaks of family units in the big household of God. This speaks of God’s family being one big family tree with a Father called God. This family is made up of 12 tribes. (James 1:1) – tribes are made up of clans – clans are made up of families.

Jam 1:27

(27) External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

Pure religion is to provide covering as a father to the widow and the orphan in this world. This places a strong demand upon us as a Household to extend covering and care to the widows and orphans in this world. This is all about bring back true spiritual covering through a Father.

Eph 2:20

(20) You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.

Apostles and prophets as we can see clearly from this scripture are not the structure. They provide a specific grace within the structure and are part of the infrastructure of the Household of Faith.

Eph 2:21

(21) In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].

The early church met from ‘from house to house’. These houses that are being referred to are not what we know of today as physical houses or homes or even better the traditional cell group meetings we have gotten to know.

These were ‘households’ of faith. These different Households in the city become the church in a city. That is why there are multiple elders in a city.

I we really wish to be accurate we will come to a place where identification of churches should be by the FATHER over that house. Look at scripture and see how we see Paul writing to the Household of So and So.

Rom 16:10

Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

Rom 16:11

Greet Herodion, my relative. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

1Co 1:16

(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.)

1Co 16:15

You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers,

2Ti 1:16

May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

2Ti 4:19

Greet Priscilla^[1] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.

We see Paul speaking of a household referring to the Father of that House. He recognizes the grace of the Father of that Household. Inherantly it is also an image of the grace of the Father of that Household that is now manifested in and through the sons of that given Household of Faith.

In the Greek the word FATHER= Pater ; The root of this word is related to the Greek word for

‘Family’ = (Grk.) Patria

Thus we can clearly see that a Father characterizes ‘family’. You know the family of a man by seeing the grace of the father in the sons. The seed of the father must be demonstrated in the son.

In this season we will see God removing inaccurate fathers from some churches– these men are hirelings. The predominant grace on a father must be seen on and in his sons. God is calling us to get back to the dominant patriarchal grace and culture to the dominant grace called Father.

The grace in you as a father, is the ‘fathering grace’ – not you specifically as a person, but the grace in you. As a father to this Household I am only the receptacle of the grace of God the Father that are projected and imparted to you all as sons of this House. There is only one Father and that is God the Father and the human vessels called father is only a receptacle and conduit of that grace which we call FATHER. However you have to receive the person in order to receive the grace of fathering he carries within him. In a practical way you can not receive the milk in a bottle if you not only accept the bottle. You drink the milk from the bottle or some other container. You have to receive not only the grace but also the grace carrier.

Psa 127:1-5

(1) Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain. [Psalms 121:1, 3, 5]

(2) It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil--for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.

(3) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. [Deuteronomy 28:4]

(4) As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.

(5) Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city's] gate.

Allow me to deviate for a moment and remind you of the scripture that we have used in the past in Matt 7.

Mat 7:24-27

(24) So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.

(25) And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

(26) And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the sand.

(27) And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and great and complete was the fall of it.

We used this scripture to apply it to our day to day family lives. If we study the contents of this scripture we will see that this scripture is dealing with lives that are to bear the fruit of the Kingdom of Heaven and has nothing to do with family life as we know it.

The house being referred to here is also indicative of the Household of Faith. We are to build the House on the Rock….. Again the word used in the Greek here is PETRA – The Womb which is the Household of Faith. We also know that this Rock is also Christ and Christ is the WORD. Is this not awesome?

If we now also look at the scripture that we have just read in Ps 127…..

Psalm 127 -The only way to build is by letting God build the house. You and I can not build the House, this is done by God himself

He then continues how to build the House and then how to build the city in the rest of this psalm. We see then from this psalm a blue print arise of how God is building his Household.

• God builds & Keeps the City
• There is no labor or effort by us
• Children is given as heritage
• A Son is given
• Sons becomes an ARROW in the HAND of the FATHER
• FATHER has a full quiver
• Sons contend in the city GATE against the ENEMIES

The word for children here is the Word “BEN” – It means son. In order for you to receive and inheritance you need to be a son. You do not have to do something to receive an inheritance. You just are the son and therefore the inheritance is yours.

Isa 9:6

(6) For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace. [Isaiah 25:1; 40:9-11; Matthew 28:18; Luke 2:11]

A son is given. To be given a son is to receive someone who then is appropriately and strategically placed. This is why it is so important for you to ensure that this is the place where God has placed His name for you. If this is not your House and I am not your Father then you are inappropriately placed and you are in a position where you are vulnerable and without covering and without strategy. Sons have to be given to you – they are begotten by the Spirit. Sons are not something that you can labor for. They are given. Ps127 clearly states that we need to operate from ‘rest’ and not work – even if it is only one son (like what we see in the live of Jacob. In Jacob was locked the twelve tribes of Israel.

This is not something that we can create in the flesh. We can not attend a Household and then have the father of the house call you his son if both of you have not come to a place where recognition has taken place that:

• This is the place where God has placed His name for me
• There is a response in your heart towards the Father you are given to in the House recognizing the grace and a deep desire in you to lock into that grace.
• There will be a response from the Father in the house recognizing you as a son and embracing you as a son.

You will not that I am not saying the Father of the House for in a Patriarchial Household there is generational building taking place and therefore you will find more than one father within the Household but there will be one Father overseeing the Household of Faith.

There are not only sons in the house. Other spheres of administration in the House are slaves and servants. Martha would be a good example. She could not sit at the table – or at the feet of Jesus – but continue to serve the table. They are happy to function but do not know how to sit at the table.

Let us look at the word House = ‘bayit’ = a house made of family units. God says in Ps1127:1 that he will build a house that is made up of family units. He further states that he will give an inheritance which consists if of sons and then in verse 4 God uses the metaphor of a bow and arrow.

Psa 127:4

(4) As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.

The sons now becomes arrows in the hand of the warrior which is the picture of the father in this context.

Psa 127:5

(5) Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city's] gate.

Now God is saying that your children will contend with the enemies in the gates. Your sons will be gatekeepers in the city. No enemy will be able to enter into the Household of faith or into the city. You will shoot them strategically and place them in every place of influence.

Gates = seats of governmental influence = highest form of counsels determining human movement in the earth. This is what God will build through his Household.

Lets look at the Quiver = a full quiver takes 5 arrows = this is symbolic of the five fold ministry. These sons need to be positioned in strategic places. Fathers must train their sons to rule the land.

Fathers have to give oversight to sons in key places in society. This is how we will establish and advance the Kingdom of God in the Earth

To Build = ‘Benah’ = means to construct houses, and cities; it also has the idiomatic meaning of bringing an increase.

House = ‘bayit’ = also refers to people that proceed like descendants. Build people as descendants.

If we put all of this together we see a picture arise:

God gives a Father

A Father begets Children

Children becomes SONS that are given

These sons are used to build accurately and generational houses and cities.

This is then the manifestation of the Kingdom of God in the EARTH.

Let me then conclude this morning and leave you with this challenge:

• Have you found the place where God has placed His name
• Have you come to a place where you have locked into the grace and person of the Father that God has given to you
• Are you actively involved in building this generational house to establish the Kingdom of God in the Earth?