Can We Call Our Church "Our Church"? | Matthew 23:38

[00:00:00] We'll Truth Daily. This is Daily Truths with Dave Ahlman. We'll open to the temple in the future. This is what He says. Oh, Jerusalem drew some of the city that kills the prophets and so on those who are sent to it.

[00:00:38] How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen? Gathers are brewed under wings and you would not. Remember we talked about Jesus visiting Jerusalem many times and not admonishing, not recognizing the fact that he was a Messiah.

[00:00:51] Not listening to his word and so he left that place and said, Basically you've rejected me, you've rejected God. And then he says this in verse 38. And this is the basis for our little talk today. See your house is left to you, desolate.

[00:01:06] Now what was he talking about? As you know, in 70 AD, the Romans ransacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Now during Jesus reign, when He was in Jerusalem even crucified and raised from the dead, the people generally speaking did not accept His Messianic rule.

[00:01:23] So God, kind of like Elvis, had left the building. God had left the temple and so it's interesting that Jesus uses the phrase, See your house is left to you, desolate. In other words, it's no longer God dwelling there.

[00:01:37] It's your house but you don't acknowledge me as the Messiah's Savior, Lord Redeemer and King, And so God quote has left the building. Now that begs the question, can we still say that your church is your church even though it's God's house?

[00:01:54] And God dwells there. That reminds me many years ago, we went camping with two of our grandkids, Aubrey and Micah, they were about three years old at the time. And we have a pop-up camper so we rented for a couple days.

[00:02:06] And then when we were taking it down, they said they're destroying our house. That's what the Jews could say about the ransacking of the temple in 70 AD. They're destroying our house. But isn't a God's house? In that case, it no longer was because God had left.

[00:02:23] Remember we said that, okay? But what about the question, can you say the your church is really your church? Isn't it God's church? Well, let's talk about that. It's your family.

[00:02:35] It's in a way. In a way, you're building. I know some churches when people become members of that church. They give those people a church key so that they can go into that church anytime.

[00:02:45] So it's your church, your family, your fellow believers in Christ and also your God. Right? And so if it's your God, your church, your family, fellow believers. You're God. It's perfectly fine to say, that's my church.

[00:03:03] That's my church family. That's a people I love. That's the interaction I have with other believers. That's where I meet God. That's where I receive the sacrament. That's where I hear the proclamation of God's word. Yes, that's my church is God's church too.

[00:03:17] So I think both of those statements is fine. It's your church. But it's also God's church. So the bottom line of this message today is, thank God for your church. Thank God for what happens there. Thank God that when you're hurting, you can go to a pastor.

[00:03:31] You can go to a friend in the church and receive reconciliation and encouragement. And you know, wise counsel and so forth. Why? Because you're part of a family.

[00:03:42] You're part of the church. And if I'm talking to someone who's not a part of the church who believes, you know, I'm kind of an independent thinker and you know, I'm a believer in Christ.

[00:03:52] I listen to podcasts like this, but I really don't go to church because I've been too hurt at the church. Let me tell you. The church is not a rest home for saints. It's a hospital for sinners. And people will break promises.

[00:04:04] The church people will offend you. That this point you though, you don't. Why? Because they're sinners. But we still need the church. I'd rather be together with a bunch of sinners who love Jesus than a bunch of folks outside the church.

[00:04:18] I don't love Jesus because you're pretty much on your own. We need the church and your church. If you remember the church is your church and God dwells there. So I hope that helps to answer the question today.

[00:04:30] Is it okay for you to call your church? Your church? Absolutely. That's a lot different than the temple. When it was destroyed in 78D, and when people rejected Jesus, the Messiah, God basically left the building.

[00:04:44] Alright, that's today's Daily Truth. I have a great day in the Lord Jesus Christ.