Let the House be Builded #3 of 3

Brother Sparks concludes his message by emphasizing that the overarching revelation of the Bible is God's desire to dwell with man on earth. Throughout Scripture, various symbols like God's house, tabernacle, and temple represent this divine longing. Initially, God enjoyed close fellowship with man in the Garden of Eden, walking and communing with him. However, due to human disobedience and moral change, God's presence had to withdraw, and His efforts to restore this habitation through patterns like the tabernacle and temple repeatedly failed, ending in failure and desolation. Yet, God's ultimate purpose remains unchanged, and He promises a future shaking of the earth, where His desire will be fulfilled. The key expressions of God's plan include His choice of Israel, the incarnation of Christ as God's dwelling, and the coming of the Holy Spirit to establish the church as His temple. The true criterion for God's presence is justice—meeting Him where righteousness is upheld. The measure of God's presence depends on the fullness of Christ within individuals and the church. When Christ is exalted and His authority recognized, and when the cross's judgment is applied, God's presence becomes fully manifest—"Jehovah-Shammah," the Lord is there. The flow of life from this divine habitation will then produce rivers of living water, symbolizing revival and spiritual vitality, contingent upon God's conditions being met—namely, the authority of Christ, the centrality of the cross, and the Spirit's fullness.

Main Points Outline

1. God's primary desire is to dwell with man on earth, symbolized by His house, tabernacle, and temple.
2. Initial fellowship in Eden was lost due to moral change; God's presence withdrew but remained committed to restoring His habitation.
3. Patterns like the tabernacle and temple symbolized God's efforts, but they ultimately failed, ending in desolation.
4. The ultimate fulfillment involves God's promise to shake the earth and establish His dwelling fully among His people.
5. Three major expressions of God's plan: Israel, the incarnation of Christ, and the Holy Spirit/Church.
6. The true criterion of God's presence is justice—meeting Him where righteousness is upheld, not merely external rites.
7. The measure of God's presence depends on the fullness of Christ within individuals and the church.
8. Exalting Christ and applying the judgment of the cross are essential for God's full presence—"Jehovah-Shammah."
9. Rivers of living water symbolize revival and spiritual life flowing from a church and people measured and judged according to Christ.
10. God's conditions—Christ's authority, the cross, and the Spirit—determine the extent of His presence and revival.