PASSION FOR GOD'S HOUSE BY DR WILSON LIM

Very seldom do we hear about Jesus getting so worked up his blood was literally boiling. This was recorded so clearly in

Matt 21:12 - 13 (NIV) 12Jesus 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. 13“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.’”

We can imagine His righteous anger at the corruption in God’s house. Their greed to take advantage of the religious needs of the people, to sell various sacrificial animals and offer services for gain, simply rubbed Jesus the wrong way. For God’s house is to be kept pure, a house of prayer. His actions came out of a passion for the house of God.

I believe God wants us to have a passion for His house. Only with such passion, will we truly further the purposes of God for His church. Only with such passion in our midst, will we see our church reach its glorious destiny that God intends for us.

Nehemiah was a man with such a passion for God’s house. This is immediately evident in his concern about the affairs about the Jewish remnant that had return to Jerusalem, the religious centre of Israel. Passion is shown by intimate concern.

Neh 1:2 (NIV) Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

A passion for God’s house is revealed by our on-going concern for the well-being of the church. How are the believers? Are they strong and vibrant in their faith? Are they growing both in faith and in numbers? Is the church continuing to be faithful to God’s Word and His purposes? Is it able to continue to meet the needs of its members adequately? Is it making an increasing impact upon the surrounding communities? Is it still forging ahead to fulfil the Great Commission to the best of its ability?

Ever since I was a young believer, I had an increasing interest in the well-being of my fellow believers. How I longed to see other believers growing into maturity in their faith. To see them overcoming and gaining victory in their daily lives. I was keen to see the church vibrant and effective as a witness in the community.

I fully identify with Nehemiah’s anguish when he heard about the sad state of affairs in Jerusalem.

Neh 1:3 - 4 (NIV) 3They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” 4When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Nehemiah was so devastated with the situation, he could not eat for days. He wept for days and cried out to God for answers. Out of the cry from the depth of his heart, God began to form an answer. A divinely-inspired plan began to take shape. This moved Nehemiah to commit himself to act on behalf of Jerusalem. That the walls might be rebuilt and proper worship restore in the temple. Passion leads to personal action. The rest became history.

I too was moved to action to invest into building God’s house. Since 1990, Lai Ling and I have invested fully in building God’s house, with the last 15 years here in Brisbane. May we invite you to join your hearts with us in this passion for God’s house, if you are not already doing so. We are involved in the greatest investment ever with eternal returns that are priceless.

You can participate by building yourself up in the Lord, helping build another believer, helping to build your life group, building a ministry as well as investing into our Unidus project. Like Nehemiah, spend time to seek God about how you can get involved, how you can contribute. And respond to His rhema word to you. Nehemiah was used by God in a mighty way to restore Jerusalem. God can use you too. Whether in big or small ways. Everyone matters. Just be passionate about God’s house.

This article was published in Inside Hope April 30th, 2008