There are so many arguments for or against church buildings these days that we need to hear from God again – some say church buildings are not necessary any more we should only meet in houses. Some say TV is the new church. Some are just back slidden and have no desire for God or His House any more.
When Jacob experienced the presence of God he called it Bethel – the House of God.Build the House of God
Bethel ? The House of God
2004/06/06

Genesis 28:10-22

God wants us to build a church: first of all a body of believers and secondly an actual building where we meet together to honour His Name and where we can become the receptacle of His blessings.
Bethel or El Bayth means ?House of God?. Jacob experienced the presence of God in such a way at Luz while he was sleeping that he renamed it Bethel. The awesome presence of God as well as divine activity convinced him that he visited the House of God during his sleep. At that place he made a vow to serve God and to honour Him with a tithe of all his income and possessions. God continually stipulated that we should bring the tithe to the place He would indicate. There He would receive our worship and sacrifice from us and there we would receive His blessing, His promises and experience His awesome presence.
Luz was an ancient place and seat of worship in Ephraim in the south country of Judah. God met Jacob there and as a result it was transformed into the House of God! God wants to eradicate the places of heathen worship and set up places for His own glory instead!
Bahyith or house actually refers to a household or an organized body of descendants. Another meaning of bahyith is ?receptacle?. A body of believers or a family of God?s household becomes a receptacle for divine involvement. Jacob saw a ladder descending from heaven and angels ascended and descended on it. Above the ladder was the throne of God in all it?s majesty and God spoke to him about his future and promised him the same things he promised to his father Abraham and his father Isaac.

To build a house also means to establish something permanently and to allow it to continue. The word Banah means to build or rebuild in order to establish something permanent. It also refers to restoring exiles ? those who were lost can find a permanent abode. The back sliders and sinners who strayed away from God?s family can come home now! They need to know that there is a place they can go to where they will be received! The church building is a place where sinners know they can go to get saved and where back sliders can be reconciled with God.

El is the name of God, the Mighty One and He is Immanuel, God with us! The derivative of ?El? is ?ahyil? referring to anything that is mighty in nature: great trees as the terebinth tree, or the great oaks; posts and lentils of great buildings that carry the weight of the building; noble or wealthy men ? all of these are ?mighty? and prominent. God needs prominent people to strengthen the church family and help to build the church.

Another meaning of ahyil is a ram: the mighty one among the sheep. When God provided a ram for an offering instead of Isaac, Abraham realized that God would provide an offering for Himself: His own Son!