JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD
By W. G. Guy
1 Peter 4:17 – For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Note that Peter refers to the House of God not as the church or a synagogue. What is the House of God? It is the temple where Israel went to worship and honor God according to Jesus. Jesus called it the House of Prayer that is Holy and Sanctified, which He had to cleanse of that which was unholy and defiled.
Matthew 21:12-13 – And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Why must this judgment begin at the House of God? What is it that is to be judged? Consider what is supposed to take place in the House of God - PRAYER! Jesus was angry at what was taking place in the temple, as well as what was lacking in the House of God.
What we need to recognize is that under the terms of the New Covenant of the Blood that Jesus shed for our sins is that the Spirit of God no longer dwells in a temple made of stone and brick, but in each individual believer by faith and faithfulness to Him and His Word.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Note the significant warning against defiling this temple of God in which the Holy Spirit of the Lord dwells in. What could possibly defile your bodily temple of God: joining it to a whore; filling it with sexual impurity, pornography or drugs; idolatry, adultery or any other thing that can defile and corrupt it? Much of this defiling behavior is currently being done by many who identify themselves as Christians – the temple of the Spirit of the Lord. Perhaps now you can see why judgment must begin at the House (temple) of God. Just as Jesus cleansed the ancient temple, so must the current temples be cleansed.
Ephesians 5:1-11 – Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
What is the primary purpose of the House of God: My house shall be called the house of prayer. The temple of your body is to be a fountain of prayer to God the Father; praying for the very things that Jesus said we are to pray and intercede to the Father; not only for our needs but also on behalf of others. This primary function is lacking in most of those who call themselves Christians; those identifying themselves as His Holy Temple by faith.
Consider the following illustration that Jesus gave concerning continued, persistent, fervent and effectual prayer.
Luke 18:1-7 – And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Here Jesus is instructing us not to give up on what we pray for; regardless of the obstacles, oppositions or delays. This parable is about persistence and holding fast to faith. True faith will not give up the fight but will hold fast to receive that which is sought after in prayer.
Luke 18:8 – I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
This last line that Jesus said has great significance. It implies that our standing in prayer and faith will wane in the last days to that point that it may not even be evident when He returns. The word faith comes from the Greek word pistos which means assurance, confidence and fidelity or faithfulness. Will He find us being faithful to do what is required of us in these lasts days before His return?
He poses a question that seems more like a statement. It appears that He knows full well that faith will diminish along with our prayer life in the last days. As stated in 1 Peter 4 above, He will have to bring judgment, which is corrective punishment, on believers to get them to live and function properly. What manner of corrective judgment will be employed? This is not known at this present time; but whatever form it takes will likely bring us to our knees to repent and cry out to Him.
There is a purging of the body of Christ in the earth that is needed today to eliminate that which defiles and limits the saints to be the light of the world that we should be. God’s plan is to have His church shine as a glorious church, not the shameful one as much of it is today.
Ephesians 5:25b-27 – even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
When we pray properly, and in faith, we will see things happen as they did in the early church, and the world will take note as that light shines forth.
James 5:13-16 – Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Judgment must begin at the House of God due to our lack of prayer and lack of faith. Both must be greatly increased, especially as the evil and darkness of this age is increasing. Believe what Jesus said:
John 14:12-14 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
The judgment is because He wants us, here on earth, to carry on His work as His representatives while He returned to the Father to prepare a place for us. Now let’s get with it!
By W. G. Guy
1 Peter 4:17 – For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Note that Peter refers to the House of God not as the church or a synagogue. What is the House of God? It is the temple where Israel went to worship and honor God according to Jesus. Jesus called it the House of Prayer that is Holy and Sanctified, which He had to cleanse of that which was unholy and defiled.
Matthew 21:12-13 – And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Why must this judgment begin at the House of God? What is it that is to be judged? Consider what is supposed to take place in the House of God - PRAYER! Jesus was angry at what was taking place in the temple, as well as what was lacking in the House of God.
What we need to recognize is that under the terms of the New Covenant of the Blood that Jesus shed for our sins is that the Spirit of God no longer dwells in a temple made of stone and brick, but in each individual believer by faith and faithfulness to Him and His Word.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Note the significant warning against defiling this temple of God in which the Holy Spirit of the Lord dwells in. What could possibly defile your bodily temple of God: joining it to a whore; filling it with sexual impurity, pornography or drugs; idolatry, adultery or any other thing that can defile and corrupt it? Much of this defiling behavior is currently being done by many who identify themselves as Christians – the temple of the Spirit of the Lord. Perhaps now you can see why judgment must begin at the House (temple) of God. Just as Jesus cleansed the ancient temple, so must the current temples be cleansed.
Ephesians 5:1-11 – Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
What is the primary purpose of the House of God: My house shall be called the house of prayer. The temple of your body is to be a fountain of prayer to God the Father; praying for the very things that Jesus said we are to pray and intercede to the Father; not only for our needs but also on behalf of others. This primary function is lacking in most of those who call themselves Christians; those identifying themselves as His Holy Temple by faith.
Consider the following illustration that Jesus gave concerning continued, persistent, fervent and effectual prayer.
Luke 18:1-7 – And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Here Jesus is instructing us not to give up on what we pray for; regardless of the obstacles, oppositions or delays. This parable is about persistence and holding fast to faith. True faith will not give up the fight but will hold fast to receive that which is sought after in prayer.
Luke 18:8 – I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
This last line that Jesus said has great significance. It implies that our standing in prayer and faith will wane in the last days to that point that it may not even be evident when He returns. The word faith comes from the Greek word pistos which means assurance, confidence and fidelity or faithfulness. Will He find us being faithful to do what is required of us in these lasts days before His return?
He poses a question that seems more like a statement. It appears that He knows full well that faith will diminish along with our prayer life in the last days. As stated in 1 Peter 4 above, He will have to bring judgment, which is corrective punishment, on believers to get them to live and function properly. What manner of corrective judgment will be employed? This is not known at this present time; but whatever form it takes will likely bring us to our knees to repent and cry out to Him.
There is a purging of the body of Christ in the earth that is needed today to eliminate that which defiles and limits the saints to be the light of the world that we should be. God’s plan is to have His church shine as a glorious church, not the shameful one as much of it is today.
Ephesians 5:25b-27 – even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
When we pray properly, and in faith, we will see things happen as they did in the early church, and the world will take note as that light shines forth.
James 5:13-16 – Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Judgment must begin at the House of God due to our lack of prayer and lack of faith. Both must be greatly increased, especially as the evil and darkness of this age is increasing. Believe what Jesus said:
John 14:12-14 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
The judgment is because He wants us, here on earth, to carry on His work as His representatives while He returned to the Father to prepare a place for us. Now let’s get with it!
