YOUR HOUSE I think we all have a tendency to look forward to vacation with great anticipation and excitement.

We save our hard earned money so that we can afford to get out of town and really have a big time. Although, if you are like me, there is nothing like coming home. After a vacation, there is nothing like sitting in your own living room, taking a deep breath, and enjoying the peace you feel in your own home. There is no place like home. For this reason, I believe, Jesus often likens your body to your house. Remember, we all have a physical body and a spiritual body (I Cor. 15). Let's begin our study with John Chapter 14. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His departure to claim His throne. He reassures them by promising to send the Comforter. 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. There is no need for worry. This is a promise from Jesus Christ. He has prepared a home for you. And when you get there, I am certain you will feel just as you do when you arrive home from a vacation. You will experience the joy and peace that you feel in your own house. In a sense you become part of the house of God. There is no need to fear or be anxious. One usually only fears the unknown. When you study your Father's Word, there is nothing unknown. Christ said, "I go to prepare a place for you." That place of rest is available to you today. I hope you have already moved in. 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also. Does this Scripture read when you die, or in the eternity, there ye may be also? No! Christ went to the right hand of God. He is your Intercessor. When you are in Him, and he in you, you are already there. You can attain that rest now. 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? You see Thomas didn't have the same advantage as you and I have. We have the Word. We know where Christ went, and we know the way to join Him in our Father's house. If you are looking forward to an elaborate mansion, you are thinking carnal. You should think of your spiritual home as a place of rest and peace of mind. Remember, that home is available to you today. Let's continue our study in II Corinthians. 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of [this] tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. When you are finished with your flesh house, it returns to dust. But, don't ever forget you have a spiritual house. This is very important. Don't let Satan or anyone else sidetrack you from this fact. 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 5:3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.\ Paul is pointing out that making it to the eternity is one thing; however, don't be naked when you get there. As it is written in Revelation, your clothing in the eternity is made up of your righteous acts in the flesh. How are you doing friend? 5:4 For we that are in [this] tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. It is such a joy weaving that fabric by sharing God's truth with others. Death is swallowed up with eternal life for you and those you help find Jesus Christ. 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing [is] God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. The word "earnest" in this verse is a legal term. It means a guarantee. That is a promise from God.

5:6 Therefore [we are] always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 5:8 We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. I don't know about you, but I want to be well dressed when I meet the Lord. Don't be ashamed. Earn your clothing. Let's turn to the Book of Ephesians. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition [between us]; Chris is our peace, or rest. There is no other true rest. 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace; The blood of Jesus Christ replaces the blood ordinances for one and all time. The law remains intact. 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: He made it possible for all to enter the gate. None of us would be eligible, if we were judged by them. Christ earned the right to say, "You're home; come on in". 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Both Gentiles and Israel have that access available. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; Welcome home! It is there, if you will only come in. 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone]; I hope the foundation of your house is built on the Word of God and Jesus Christ. If not, you really don't have a house, friend. You are out of luck. Let's turn to the Book of James as we continue our study. God expects you to be the master of your house. 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts. Don't ask God for things that pleasure yourself. You won't receive them. Rather ask for things that will allow you to serve the Father better. He will add blessings on to your requests that will give you pleasure. 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? Sometimes our flesh bodies request things that are contrary o God. That shouldn't come as a surprise to any of us. The flesh is weak. Strive to concentrate on your spiritual body. With God's help, it is much stronger. 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Listen carefully. This is how you can clean house and be the mar of your own house. 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

When Satan shows p at your house trying to cause trouble, order him out in the name of Jesus. The choice is yours. You can put up with Satan and his, or you can take charge of your house. Once your house is clean, there is something in Matthew you need to know. 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Unclean spirits don't like dry places. They want a nice warm and moist house, such as a human body. 12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth [it] empty, swept, and garnished. If you don't fill your house with Jesus Christ and God's Word, it is empty. Guess what happens next. 12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last [state] of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. Your house is far too precious for you to allow Satan and his to have rule in your house. You will have no peace, or rest, in your home as long as you allow Satan to dwell there. Take care of your house. You'll find the instructions in God's Word. Let's back up a bit in this same Chapter. We will pick it up with Jesus just having cleaned a house. There were some critics nearby. They said His power was of Beelzebub. 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: 12:26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? Satan's kingdom won't stand; however, Jesus is making the point that if He were of Beelzebub, that is to say Satan, He certainly wouldn't be giving devils a hard time. 12:27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast [them] out? therefore they shall be your judges. I'm sure at that point the critics looked over at their children and asked, "By whom do you cast devils out?" Then their children said, "We can't cast out devils." Jesus certainly has a way of making a point by asking a question. 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. In the name of Jesus Christ you become strong with the power to bind Satan. Don't forget, Satan will flee from you, if you submit yourself to God and resist the devil. Clean the negative out of your house. 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Be the master of your own house. Don't put up with Satan in your own home. Fill your home with God's Word and Jesus Christ, and Satan will flee from you. In His Service, Arnold Murray