S-25 - Household of Faith Part 5

Joh 14:1-6

(1) Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated). You believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely on God; believe in and adhere to and trust in and rely also on Me.

(2) In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.

(3) And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.

(4) And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.

(5) Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?

(6) Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

In order for us to fully understand and interpret this scripture we also have to understand it in the context of John 13 concerning the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.

To understand John 14, read the preceeding verses in John 13, which concerns his betrayal.

House = ‘oikia’ = HOUSEHOLD

G3614

οἰκία – oikia - oy-kee'-ah

From G3624; properly residence (abstractly), but usually (concretely) an abode (literally or figuratively); by implication a family (especially domestics): - home, house (-hold).

Build = ‘oikodomeo’ = making of a household

Dwelling places = ‘mone’

G3438

Μονή, monē

Thayer Definition:

1) a staying, abiding, dwelling, abode

2) to make an (one’s) abode

3) metaphorically of the God the Holy Spirit indwelling believers

Part of Speech: noun feminine

Joh 14:4

(4) And [to the place] where I am going, you know the way.

If we read John 13 we know that the place where Jesus is going is the Cross of Calvary. Last week we also saw that according to Ephesians 2 that Jesus is creating a new man.

Eph 2:18-19

(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.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

I need you to follow closely now what I am saying to you here this morning. Let me now allow scripture to interpret scripture and paraphrase it in order for us to understand what Jesus is saying to us through these scriptures and passages we have studied over the past weeks:

Firstly Jesus told us that He is establishing a new creature, a new race of beings called the Household of God. – His Family. In establishing this family unit He is introducing us to the Father in order for us to share citizenship within the Household of God. Citizenship implies that a demand is placed upon us to fulfill the duties and responsibilities that comes with being a member of this community called the Household of God.

If we look at the word dwelling places – MONE – we see that the symbolic meaning allocated to this word by Thayer’s Dictionary is God the Holy Spirit indwelling believers. This word is also again in the feminine format which again speaks of the WOMB.

We see then the whole purpose of Jesus going to the cross is to prepare a dwelling place for God the Holy Spirit in us in order for us to become the dwelling place of the CHRIST. The dwelling placed being spoken about here by Jesus has nothing to do with your mansion in the sky. It is all about each one of us being the dwelling place of the CHRIST bounded together in love and being the Household of God, His Family through which the expression of His divine nature can be manifested both individually as well as corporately.

Joh 14:23-24

(23) Jesus answered, If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home [mone] (abode, special dwelling place) with him.

(24) Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me.

The word used here is again the word MONE which speaks of the indwelling of God in us through the Holy Spirit.

What is also significant in this scripture is that obedience is a requirement for the indwelling of the very presence of God through the Holy Spirit.

Eph 4:30

(30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

We know from experience and from scripture that God removed Himself and His presence time and time again where a person walked in disobedience. This is the same principle we see reflected here. He can only make His dwelling place in a bowed and obedient heart. Remember that the very essence of God is fathering.

Joh 14:18

(18) I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you.

Orphan is one without a mother and a father. What Jesus is saying here is that He will not leave us without a father. He will come back to us. He is saying that He is going to the CROSS in order to reconcile us back unto the FATHER so that we will not longer be fatherless. You will now belong to a family called the Household of God. Jesus did come back to us was through the Holy Spirit. Now the Christ is in us and we are in HIM. We are no longer fatherless.

Allow me for a moment to divert in creating the symbolic picture we see of the church represented to us in the lives of two women.

Go read and study the following scriptures in

Mark 5:22-43

Matt 9:18-25

Luke 8:41-56

I cannot take the time now to expand on this. Go read and study these portions of scriptures.

WOMAN WITH A BLEEDING WOMB

We see the picture of a woman with a bleeding womb. This is a picture of a non productive womb. There is also no mention made of a husband. There is no covering. This is a picture of a widow and orphan church. She went from physician to physician but no one could heal here.

12 YEAR OLD WOMAN IN THE HOUSE OF JAIRUS

We see the picture of a 12 YEAR OLD woman. This is a picture of a productive womb. Her covering is Jairus whose name means enlightened one. It speaks of revelation. This girl was within the Household.

Joh 14:26-31

(26) But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.

(27) Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled]

(28) You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.

(29) And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me.

(30) I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me]

(31) But [Satan is coming and] I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do. [I act in full agreement with His orders] Rise, let us go away from here.

Joh 14:28

(28) You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.

I am going to the Father – Jesus is saying that He is going to His father’s family. - I am going to my Father’s House. The House of God has the culture of family. God has specifically chosen to make His dwelling place the Household of God which is the family of God.

Psa 133:1-3

(1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

(2) It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body]. [Exodus 30:25, 30]

(3) It is like the dew of [lofty] Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore [upon the high and the lowly].

It is in this place called Household of Faith, in unity that God commands His blessing on family. When a Household comes together in unity, God’s blessing is automatically activated – this is where the Lord commands a blessing. We have to simply position ourselves accurately in Him within the Household of Faith where He has placed His Name for us and provision will follow. This is the place where we then have locked into the grace of the father of the house and the rest of the family members within that House we see God opening the windows of blessing upon our lives. This is where this scripture becomes life for it is like an automatic switch that is triggered in the heavenlies the moment we are accurately aligned and this unity is manifested in and through the Household of Faith.

H6680 - COMMAND

צוה - tsâvâh - tsaw-vaw'

A primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin: - appoint, (for-) bid. (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command (-er, ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order.

If we study this word in the context of Psalm 133 we see that this word can be defined and God that has placed a command in the heavenlies that when the requirements are met that blessing is to be released. We do not have to beg. All we need to do is to meet the requirements of the blessing that is commanded in order for us to receive what God has prepared in the heavenlies.

If we study Deut 28 you will find that the very principle is being used. If you meet the requirements God has commanded His blessing if you do not then a curse follows which is the negative principles that are set in place in the heavenlies if you align yourself to those negative aspects that are all rooted in disobedience.

What I want you to understand from this, this morning is that you do not have to labor to receive the blessings of the Lord. He has already commanded His blessing to be released. All that is required is for you to meet the requirements and blessing will follow. It is as simple as that.

Joh 14:2

(2) In My Father's house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you.

“I go to prepare a place for you” : ‘Place for you – where I am you may be also’ = His location is wherever you are..

Eph 2:6

(6) And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

You have to understand that whatever your location is, Jesus is there with you also. Positionally you are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Your location is already presently in heavenly dwelling places in Christ. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You are literally with Christ in heavenly places. You are now born into this family called the family of God and you carry the surname of being part of this family that is called “IN CHRIST”….. That is your new surname as you get adopted into the family of God. You now take on the new family name which is the name of the FATHER and that surname is called IN CHRIST.

My inheritance thus as a Son of God is the earth. I am in the position to exercise control and dominion in the earth. God has already ordained me into sonship. The only limitation I have is that of immaturity.

Gal 4:1

(1) Now what I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir) is a child and under age, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate;

The only thing prohibiting and stopping this flow of resource and access to inheritance is the immaturity in the son – so long as the heir is a child – the inheritance is withheld. It is only as we come to this place of maturity where we accurately represent the image and likeness of the Father that we will function in this dimension of supernatural provision and manifestation of the blessings that God has commanded. This is where we come to the place where we can say as Jesus said…..

Joh 17:21

(21) That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me.

This is where you walk in the authority and glory of Christ in you and earth responds. This is where you walk on the plain and place where no demon can withstand or touch you at this level. This is where the splendor and magnificence of God is revealed and manifested in and through us.

The early church met in Households and this is not cell groups as we know them today. This is not the culture that we are speaking of that we are seeing manifested today. People have taken this scripture and applied it to the cell group model and said now we are meeting from house to house. This move that we see is formulated from a place where people got hurt under inaccurate leadership and are now moving from a place of independence and rebellion to submit to oversight and a refusal to call anyone your spiritual father. This is now the place where we see ourselves as all being equal and there is no accountability. I do as I please and as I feel lead. They do not tithe and do not submit to any authority. This is ungodly and unbiblical.

What we see from scripture is that a Household met under the grace of a certain man whom they called a father which was the head of the household. The household could be 5 or even 5000 members. Yes within that house might be many fathers that are part of the layers of the governmental structure of the Household but at the end of the day they are all connected to the grace of the man that is the father over that Household. We are not connected to an institution. We are connected to the grace of a Father. We submit to grace. We support grace. We give our tithe and first fruits towards grace. We recognize that God uses grace to build the Household of God.

The early church met in the temple and from house to house, (iokos to oikos) all different sizes. Household to household. The houses in which they met were essentially the grace of a man, the father of that Household who is later called an elder.

Oikos = Speaks of family dwelling in a house linked to a certain lineage.

When we look at the Old Testament we see this picture emerge consistently. We see the first reference of family Household in Genesis – ‘Noah and his household’.

Gen 7:1

(1) And the Lord said to Noah, Come with all your household into the ark, for I have seen you to be righteous (upright and in right standing) before Me in this generation. [Psalms 27:5; 33:18, 19; 2 Peter 2:9]

We see here that Noah’s church consisted of eight (8) people. After this we see God speaking consistently of fathers representing the whole household throughout scripture. We see several instances where the members of the Household would be at a place of inaccuracy and sin but when the father applied the blood to the lentils they were saved.

There is a very important basic principle that we see manifested here. We refer to it as exact representation and representative leadership and Dr Sagie Govender has a great message that you can listen to and study to better understand this principle. I will try to quickly relay this concept to you in very simple terms. Please obtain the message if you want to study this in depth. In fact if you have not done so before do it now for this is also one of the very basic foundational doctrines within the apostolic doctrine that we need to fully comprehend and understand.

Unfortunately I do not have a copy of the message available and have placed an order from Dr Sagie’s Household to obtain this to make it available in our media centre.

Let me explain this on a high level to you. If you have submitted yourself to the grace of a leader then before God that man represents the family of each member of the Household that has locked into the grace of that leader. If that man makes a mistake then all who are under the grace of that man will also suffer. However when that man is in right standing before God then the whole Household is represented accurately before God even if some members within that corporate household are not accurate. I am not speaking here of willful sin in the life of a family member. It might be someone that has locked into the grace of that what we call Father but do not yet have a full understanding of all the doctrines and even meet all the requirements of sonship and life them. That member of the Household will also experience the blessing that God has commanded although he himself is not yet at a place of accuracy. Many of the sons sitting here today can testify to the manifestation of this upon their own lives.

The opposite and reverse of this however is also true. When a leader makes a mistake, his people are negatively affected will then also suffer the consequences. I am speaking here of a leader who has maliciously continued in inaccuracy. God will not bring judgment on an honest mistake made upon the people. He will repeatedly bring conviction of sin and if the man continue to walk in sin, judgment will come to him and his household.

We see this also reflected in the Feast of the Passover and especially of Tabernacles - the Father and the son made the journey to Jerusalem – they stayed together in Booths. These booths were a picture of the future Households of Faith and also a picture of transgenerational building.

Lets take a moment and study one such example from the Old Testament.

Take Note in this portion of scripture how God singled out and then dealt with Achan and his entire household.

Jos 7:13-26

(13) Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: There are accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel. You can not stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].

(14) In the morning therefore, you shall present your tribes. And the tribe which the Lord takes shall come by families; and the family which the Lord takes shall come by households; and the household which the Lord takes shall come by persons.

(15) And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be [killed and his body] burned with fire, he and all he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the Lord and because he has done a shameful and wicked thing in Israel. [Joshua 7:25]

(16) So Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel near by their tribes, and the tribe of Judah was taken.

(17) He brought near the family of Judah, and the family of the Zerahites was taken; and he brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.

(18) He brought near his household man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

(19) And Joshua said to Achan, My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and make confession to Him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.

(20) And Achan answered Joshua, In truth, I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel, and this have I done:

(21) When I saw among the spoils an attractive mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. Behold, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.

(22) So Joshua sent messengers, who ran to the tent, and behold, the spoil was hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.

(23) And they took them from the tent and brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and laid them out before the Lord.

(24) And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan son of Zerah, and the silver, the garment, the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all that he had; and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.

(25) And Joshua said, Why have you brought trouble on us? The Lord will trouble you this day. And all Israel stoned him and those with him with stones, and afterward burned their bodies with fire.

(26) And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Achor or Troubling to this day.

v.15 God judges the whole family of Achan. When the head went wrong, the whole body suffered.

TAKE NOTE: THE STRUCTURE WE SEE IS

• TRIBE
• CLANS (FAMILY)
• HOUSEHOLDS
• MAN

God takes the time here to show us the governmental structure within the Household of Faith. You can go and make a study of the life of Saul and you will see that all under his household suffered. They experienced debt, they were discontented and distressed and sick and in need of healing. When some of them came to David which is a picture of accurate alignment they experienced healing and became as the mighty army of God. Those under Saul were in debt, discontented and distressed.

I have seen this happen within our own Household. Those of you who have truly connected not in a political way because it is the right thing to do but those who have really connected and has become grafted in your relationship to the grace called Father has seen the manifestation of this in a practical way in their lives.

2Sa 2:3-4

(3) And David brought up his men who were with him, each one with his household, and they dwelt in the towns of Hebron.

(4) And the men of Judah came and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. They told David, The men of Jabesh-gilead buried Saul. [1 Samuel 31:11-13]

Look also at Joshua 2 – Rahab was saved with her household.

To come to a Hebron position the place of alliance you have to bring your whole family with you. You cannot rule over the entire community until …..

NT references to households

Matt 10:5-15

5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;

6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

7 “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

8 “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

9 “Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts,

10 or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support.

11 “And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city.

12 “As you enter the house, give it your greeting.

13 “If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace.

14 “Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.

15 “Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

We have to recognize the governmental structure of God’s Household. In the past we had teams going into a city to minister and do what they believe God has told them.

This culture of just going to a city for ministry needs to change. You have to identify the household you are going to. You must know the man of peace in that city. Go to the Household that will receive you. Bless the house that receives you. The days of reckless traveling are over. Enter through a household of faith for in it there is security and protection.

Examples of Household headed by individuals

Rom 16:10-16

(10) Greet Apelles, that one tried and approved in Christ (the Messiah). Remember me to those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

(11) Greet my tribal kinsman Herodion, and those in the Lord who belong to the household of Narcissus.

(12) Salute those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet my dear Persis, who has worked so hard in the Lord.

(13) Remember me to Rufus, eminent in the Lord, also to his mother [who has been] a mother to me as well.

(14) Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren who are with them.

(15) Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

(16) Greet one another with a holy (consecrated) kiss. All the churches of Christ (the Messiah) wish to be remembered to you.

1Co 1:10-17

(10) But I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions or factions or divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments.

(11) For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions and wrangling and factions among you.

(12) What I mean is this, that each one of you [either] says, I belong to Paul, or I belong to Apollos, or I belong to Cephas (Peter), or I belong to Christ.

(13) Is Christ (the Messiah) divided into parts? Was Paul crucified on behalf of you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?

(14) I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius,

(15) Lest anyone should say that I baptized in my own name.

(16) [Yes] I did baptize the household of Stephanas also. More than these, I do not remember that I baptized anyone.

(17) For Christ (the Messiah) sent me out not to baptize but [to evangelize by] preaching the glad tidings (the Gospel), and that not with verbal eloquence, lest the cross of Christ should be deprived of force and emptied of its power and rendered vain (fruitless, void of value, and of no effect).

1Co 16:15-20

(15) Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts and our firstfruits in Achaia (most of Greece), and how they have consecrated and devoted themselves to the service of the saints (God's people).

(16) I urge you to pay all deference to such leaders and to enlist under them and be subject to them, as well as to everyone who joins and cooperates [with you] and labors earnestly.

(17) I am happy because Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have come [to me], for they have made up for your absence.

(18) For they gave me respite from labor and rested me and refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Deeply appreciate and thoroughly know and fully recognize such men.

(19) The churches of Asia send greetings and best wishes. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church [that meets] in their house, send you their hearty greetings in the Lord.

(20) All the brethren wish to be remembered to you and wish you well. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Gal 6:6-10

(6) Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].

(7) Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.

(8) For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

(9) And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

(10) So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers].

Phi 4:22-23

(22) All the saints (God's consecrated ones here) wish to be remembered to you, especially those of Caesar's household.

(23) The grace (spiritual favor and blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Anointed One) be with your spirit. Amen (so be it).

2Ti 1:16-18

(16) May the Lord grant [His] mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often showed me kindness and ministered to my needs [comforting and reviving and bracing me like fresh air]! He was not ashamed of my chains and imprisonment [for Christ's sake].

(17) No, rather when he reached Rome, he searched diligently and eagerly for me and found me.

(18) May the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that [great] day! And you know how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus [you know better than I can tell you].

2 Tim 4:19

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

Church is a family and is governed by this structure we see portrayed here today.

Let us then conclude by again stating that it is a father that leads a household and not a Pastor.

The wineskin of Households of Faith is the intention of God ever before the foundation of the earth.

Finally we see the following structure that emerges from scripture:

• NATION
• TRIBE
• CLANS (FAMILY)
• HOUSEHOLDS
• MAN