Order in the House

“Order in the Court, Order in the Court, the judge bangs his gavel! In a court of law, there is usually silence and calmness in the room as everyone quickly focuses on the judge, but what about order in God’s House?"

Order can be a mandate, a decision of a court or judge in a court of law. According to The Webs Largest Resources for Definitions for Translation, order means a command given by a superior (e g a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed.

The Funk and Wagnall’s American College Dictionary defines "Order" as "row, series; a condition in which there is methodical, proper and harmonious arrangement or disposition of things; established or existing state, a proper or working (functioning) state or condition; a command, direction or regulation". Also, "a commission or instruction to supply, a class or body of persons united by common bond or purpose; rank or position; ordained sequence, degree or position".

The word, "order", comes from the Latin word, "ordo".

Is God’s House in order today? Order in God’s house means things are done “appropriately,” in order, according to what the Word says. For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. 1 Cor. 14: 33. There are many agendas in the church that has nothing to do with our main mission….the saving of souls. St. Matthew 28: 18-20. This is the business of the church and this is still the order of the church. It is not about what I think or even what my mama, granddaddy or even grandma thinks. It is what God thinks. One reason the church is out of order is the lack of prayer. Prayer is still the key. Prayer still unlocks doors. Chains are broken when we pray…..heaven bends down her ear and listen when we pray, God is glorified and magnified…hallelujah when we pray and we get a lot more done for the kingdom. Read Acts 12: 7-10.

Did I just hear you say, “You don’t have time for prayer?” Did I just hear you say, “I pray at home?” What about when two or three gather in my name? Whatever happened to the two or three gathering at the altar? St. Matt. 18: 20.

Order in the House of God! There is so much confusion going on in the church today. I must share with you that I am praying with urgency about this matter because it is a total distraction and somewhat of a burden when week after week, the enemy uses devices of division to hinder the mission of the church. Whatever happened to “on one accord?” Acts 1: 1-10. We need the Holy Spirit to operate in the House of God. Let’s not forget that the Holy Spirit gives directions for the body of Christ. We were given gifts in the body of Christ after the Holy Ghost came. Eph. 4.

The church must be unified. Eph. 4: 1-16.

• Unified in the spirit. Eph 4: 4-6

• Unified in preparation of God’s people. Eph. 4: 11-13

Everything in the House of God should be done decently and in order. “Decent and In Order” are key words. It’s not about us and our order. It’s about God’s way in His house. 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” St. John 14: 5-7. When we follow the way and the truth of Christ, we will be in order. Jesus didn’t say the Pastors are the way, He didn’t say the Deacons are the way, nor the missionaries, ushers etc. Jesus is the way. Many times the body of Christ is out of order and in conflict and confusion because everybody wants to have their way. It is NOT your way. We need to get this. Praise God!!

God is speaking to us to get His house in order. Not my will but thy will be done…..on earth as it is in heaven. If there is only one way, and there is only one way…then we do it God’s way.

If you are causing confusion and are disorderly in the House of God…trying to get your way….shame, shame, shame on you!!!! Satan loves confusion. He is the author of confusion. He directs the confusion. It doesn’t matter if you have been in the church fifty years or five years. When it comes to kingdom building, it is what the Word of God says. Satan is enjoying the church today. He knows if he can keep us fighting each other…he can hinder kingdom building. My Sisters and Brothers, let’s touch and agree that we won’t be the problem in the House of God. Let’s us ensure that we are not sowing seeds of discord. Let’s make sure we are not the hindrance.

I Cor. 14: 40. “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.” Whoops, there it is…..fitting and orderly. Who wants to wear an outfit that does not fit? If we are out shopping and try on an outfit that doesn’t fit…too tight, too loose….too short…..on and on, many of us do not purchase that outfit. It constricts or interferes with our movement. This is what happens in the House of God when something doesn’t fit or when something is out of order. It constricts and hinders the movement of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to do so much for the believer. When persons show up at our churches, I believe many of them (not all) are coming for a blessing, direction, deliverance, healing etc. However, we have so much going on that has absolutely nothing to do with deliverance.

When God created the heavens and earth in six days, he created everything in order. Things don’t just happen in the kingdom. God orchestrates the flow in the kingdom. Nothing happens outside of His knowledge. Nothing catches Him off guard…..so there is an order as to how God allows everything to flow.

God saw all that he had made and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day. Gen. 1:31.

Matt. 21: 12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN."…

What are we doing in the House of Prayer that needs to be driven out? Ask yourself this question. It’s an individual question and it is not rhetorical. It needs a response. Is it lying, gossiping, meddling sowing discord among the brethren? Let’s all examine ourselves. What did the scriptures say about it? Proverbs 20: 19, Leviticus 19: 16, Proverbs 11: 13, Proverbs 13: 3, Proverbs 26: 20-22. Are we assembling ourselves with the saints? Read Hebrews 10: 25. Or is it holding onto God’s money and not bringing it into the storehouse? Deuteronomy 15: 10, Deuteronomy 16: 7, 1 Chronicles 19: 9, Malachi 3: 7-10.

My Sisters and Brothers, there is help for us. When the Lord woke me up this morning and my eyes beheld a brand new day, even before my feet touched the floor, the spirit was reminding me “fix your eyes on Jesus. So, as I dressed and grabbed a bite to eat, the spirit was still speaking, “fix your eyes on Jesus.” Even as I drove my car to church, I could still hear in my spirit, “fix your eyes on Jesus.” My Brothers and Sisters, since there is so much unrest in the world and in the House of God, let us seriously and consistently “FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS” so that we can complete the assignment God has given to us.

The scriptures bear records as to how to keep the House of God decently and in order. As Christians we must, fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Read Hebrew 12: 2.

2 Corinthians 4: 7-18 ESV “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” Praise God!

Finally, let us remember 2 Chronicles 19: 9a (NKJV) For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. God is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcome anyone looking for help, no matter how desperate the trouble. Nahum 1: 7 (MSG Bible). We know that He is watching and this brings us comfort in times of trouble.

May God Continue to Bless You!

Yulla Hines