Brother Sparks emphasizes that the core purpose of Christian gatherings is to focus on God's all-encompassing objective: to have a dwelling place among men. While Christianity involves various aspects like evangelism, prophecy, and teaching, these can sometimes become isolated, causing believers to lose sight of God's ultimate aim—His presence and fellowship with His people. The foundation of understanding this divine purpose lies in recognizing God's eternal nature; He exists outside of time, and His plans are complete from eternity to eternity. The Bible reveals that God's desire is to manifest Himself in a house, a spiritual dwelling where He can be known and loved. This house is not merely a physical structure but a vital, organic expression of God's heart, culminating in Jesus Christ, who embodies God's presence among men. The end goal is a community united in Christ, where God's love, grace, and wisdom are fully displayed. However, man’s tendency to misinterpret and limit God to a physical house has led to exclusivism and spiritual blindness. Jesus corrected this by revealing that God's true house is found in Himself and His followers—those indwelt by Christ through the Spirit. The house of God is rooted in grace, humility, and Christ consciousness, emphasizing fellowship and relatedness among believers. Ultimately, God's purpose is fulfilled through Christ, the cross, and the Spirit, making His dwelling among His people a reality of love, grace, and spiritual union.
The primary purpose of Christian meetings is to focus on God's all-inclusive objective: His dwelling among men.
God's plans are eternal; He exists outside of time, and His purpose is complete from eternity to eternity.
The Bible portrays God's desire to manifest Himself in a spiritual house—more than a physical structure—representing His presence and fellowship.
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose, embodying God's presence and superseding all earthly representations.
The true house of God is a spiritual, organic community indwelt by Christ, characterized by love, grace, and humility.
Misinterpretations and exclusivism have distorted God's house, but Christ corrected this by revealing the true nature of God's dwelling.
The house of God is rooted in grace, humility, and Christ consciousness, fostering fellowship and relatedness among believers.
The cross and the Spirit are essential to realizing God's purpose, making His dwelling among His people a reality of love and spiritual union.
3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits;
1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, 49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? 50 Hath not my hand made all these things?
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.