Introduction: Psalm 127:1 reads:

"A song of ascents. Of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain." To "ascend" means to "go up," and is a reference to traveling to Jerusalem for worship at the temple of God. For example:

Psa 122:3 Jerusalem is built like a city that is closely compacted together.
Psa 122:4 That is where the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.

Isa 2:3 Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Solomon of course is the great builder of the first temple of God in Jerusalem. He gathered materials from all over the known world, and spent seven years in construction. At the dedication of Solomon's temple the glory of the Lord filled the house, and not even the priests were able to enter it.

King David wanted to build the temple, but God forbade him, because he had been a warrior king, and his hands were bloody. God chose Solomon to build the temple, and God was behind the planning and construction. It was not built in vain, but according to God's will. How can we tell in our time if a church, or a house of God, is being built by God, and not just by man-centered design and effort?

I. A house of God must stand ON the truth and stand FOR the truth.

A. 1 Tim 3:14-15 "Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."

B. Pilate said to Jesus, "What is truth?" We know the answer to that. Jesus Himself is the Truth, and the Bible is the Truth.

David prayed in Psalm 25:4-5 "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
And in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

Proverbs 30:5 says, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." In Hebrews 4:12 we read, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (not vice-versa)

C. As someone once said, "Wayside is not a perfect Church, but we believe in a perfect Savior." We have our weaknesses, but at least we believe in the Truth, and we stand for the Truth. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, and we are committed to it.

II. Every church that wants to be a true house of God must bow the knee to the authority of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

A. Hebrews 3:3-6

"Heb 3:3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.
Heb 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
Heb 3:5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future.
Heb 3:6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

B. Christ is the Son of God, and God the Father has put Jesus in charge (Colossians 1:15-20).

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Col 1:16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Col 1:17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Col 1:19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,
Col 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

C. Jesus laid claim to all authority in Heaven and on earth....(Matthew 28:18-20).

Mat 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Mat 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

D. We acknowledge His authority by obedience to His commands (John 14:23-24):

John 14:23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 14:24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

Jesus Himself illustrated the importance of obedience: Matthew 15:1-9.

III. The church which is truly a house of God will be characterized by individuals who live with holiness and worship (I Peter. 2:5).

"You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

A. Each person in the church is a living stone. Each person has an important part in the house of God. (I Co. 12:12-27)

B. We are to be a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices. The church is not to be a worldly place, with worldly people, worldly standards, worldly atmosphere, worldly goals and worldly ambitions. The church is not a business, nor a place of amusement; it is God's family. Christians are not yet perfect, but God has called us to be saints, not sinners.

C. Jesus cast out the money-changers from the temple in Jerusalem (Matt. 21:12-13):

"Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, "'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"

Conclusion: We hope that Wayside Presbyterian Church is not just another building, and not just another human organization, but we hope, and we purpose, that Wayside is and will be a real house of God. We are beginning a new addition this month, and dedicating the construction today: not for any worldly goals or ambitions, but for the glory of God. We hope to serve God's people better. We hope to grow. Not just to be big, but in order to have a longer arm, to reach out further with the Gospel, and the message of God's love in Christ. Amen.