19.Dec.2008 The Importance of Connection in the House of God
Number 9:17-23 (NLT): Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp. In this way, they traveled and camped at the Lord’s command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle. If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the Lord. Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the Lord commanded. Then at the Lord’s command they would break camp and move on. Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on. Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on. So they camped or traveled at the Lord’s command, and they did whatever the Lord told them through Moses.
The cloud is the presence of God, but God was also using Moses, the man, to lead His people. It is a continually evolving pattern where the people moved when the Tabernacle, the Cloud, and Moses moved. They kept it as the hub of their lives. They knew its importance. Today, we need to continue moving forward as believers in the House of God. We need to understand that God;s message has not changed from the times of Moses to today.
When we gather together in the House, we become something that is very strong. We become something that can guide those around us out of trouble. If you have a bad day, the House will be bale to help you. Connection is crucial. The human heart yearns for connection to something more. Connection to God and connection to the House answer that need. We look to each other, and we look to God.
When priorities begin to shift, the House tends to be forgotten. If you life needs work, cling to the House. Leaving the House due to trouble in life is the last thing you should do. Cling to God in trouble. Connection to the House is there for that reason. If your marriage needs work, connect! If your career needs work, connect! If your children need help, connect! The House of God is there for that very reason!
What does our church bring? It brings strength. It brings protection. It brings aid. It brings vision. It brings the Presence of God through great worship. And there is connection. No one was meant to walk this journey of life alone.
You can’t follow God if you can’t follow a man. Though this man is imperfect, God placed him in the position of Authority and charged him to lead His people. God chooses imperfect men to lead. We are asked to follow these imperfect people through faith in God and faith in the vision God has given these people. Perfect nullifies the need for faith. Imperfection leaves room for faith and growth. Faith stands alongside imperfection. Faith has to align with imperfection. There is no separating the two.
Our natural man rebels against authority. Authority let’s us down. Authority is imperfect. Authority is hard to follow. So we buck against it. And yet, despite how much authority has hurt us, God still calls us to submit in faith to that authority for which He has placed over us. Following the imperfect man requires us to step out in faith and believe in the path that has been set before us as a group. Rebellion stops movement. Submission in faith brings forward motion. And when the House moves together, anything is possible. And God blesses those who step out in faith behind the imperfect man.
Faith moves us forward. We follow God, we follow the imperfect man, and we move forward.
