In Psalms, chapter one hundred and twenty-two, verse one, God’s house should be the sanctuary where the believer joyfully experiences intimate communion with the Lord, the fellowship of the Spirit, and the love of fellow believers. The theme begins with, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” A house is a residence where people live and dwell together in unity. God’s house must have all these qualities for His holy presence among His people to manifest.
A house is also known as a temple, as in the beginning of First Kings six, verse seventeen, “And the house, that is, the temple before it.” Furthermore, the temple is known for the body of believers who accepted Christ and serve God, as in First Corinthians three, verse sixteen, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” According to God’s Word, believers are saints of God upon accepting salvation. However, the people of God must be aware of First Corinthians seven, verse twenty-three, “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” All godly people must understand the tragic consequences when someone decides to turn back and live an ungodly life after experiencing the presence and power of God in First Corinthians three, verse seventeen, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
The house of the Lord is people who abide in and obey God’s Word, live righteously, have a prayerful relationship with the Lord, and love others while doing God’s will in helping people to know Jesus Christ through a godly living example. The temple of the Lord is the house.