Building God's House

Building the House of the Lord

What does God desire? Through His grace He desires to form up a united body among whom He can dwell in His fullness and glory. The Church is to dispense Christ's fullness everywhere ministering as a living body spreading over the earth and penetrating the heavenlies.

Today there are many who have heard the cry of God's heart for His house to become a habitation. So we cry out in prayer for a habitation instead of a visitation. We want His presence to come and not leave. But it will take more than just a passionate cry to accomplish His desire. Let's take a look at Ephesians 2:21-22. I've bolded some words that I'd like us to look at more closely.

Ephesians 2:21-22

21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

So we see that the "whole building" when it is "fitted together," grows and that we are also personally being built together as a dwelling place of God. Based upon the scripture above, we could also say that when the building is NOT "fitted together," it does not grow. Let's take a look at what "fitted together" means in the Greek. Please note I've bolded the part of the Strongs Concordance definition. Fitted together comes from:

NT:4883

sunarmologeo (soon-ar-mol-og-eh'-o); from NT:4862 and a derivative of a compound of NT:719 and NT:3004 (in its original sense of laying); to render close-jointed together, i.e. organize compactly:

KJV - be fitly framed (joined) together.

Note that the building is to be close-jointed or organized compactly. This Greek word is from three other Greek words.

NT:4862

sun (soon); a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than NT:3326 or NT:3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.:

NT:719

harmos (har-mos'); from the same as NT:716; an articulation (of the body): KJV - joint.

NT:3004

lego (leg'-o); a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words [usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas NT:2036 and NT:5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while NT:4483 is properly, to break silence merely, and NT:2980 means an extended or random harangue]); by implication, to mean:

KJV - ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say (-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter

So the fitting together involves relationship, process and communication.

Now let's look at "built."

NT:4925

sunoikodomeo (soon-oy-kod-om-eh'-o); from NT:4862 and NT:3618; to construct, i.e. (passively) to compose (in company with other Christians, figuratively):

KJV - build together.

NT:4862

sun (soon); a primary preposition denoting union; with or together (but much closer than NT:3326 or NT:3844), i.e. by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.:

KJV - beside, with. In composition it has similar applications, including completeness.

NT:3618

oikodomeo (oy-kod-om-eh'-o); from the same as NT:3619; to be a house-builder, i.e. construct or (figuratively) confirm:

KJV - (be in) build (-er, -ing, up), edify, embolden.

Note that one of the words used to form this Greek word we translated built is one of the same words used in "fitted together." It is the Greek word "sun" which communicates that we are to be joined together as part of a relationship process.

That my friends describes one of the many scriptures that helped birth CONECT. CONECT stands for the Christian Outreach Network Establishing City-wide Teamwork. It is a CORPORATE RELATIONSHIP PROCESS with a goal of uniting like minded churches in their respective cities and regions.

We've heard so many cry out for unity and that is the heart of God. But it takes apostolic wisdom combined with vision to actually begin to do what the Lord has declared He wants done.

How does CONECT:

Enable a church to become close jointed or organized compactly?

The first step in CONECT is to build the wall of prayer in the family unit by having each person pray for their family members daily.

Then each family should pray for two other families daily in their local church. In doing so, the wall of prayer is being built in the church and the gaps in the congregation are being filled.

Each church that desires to CONECT with other churches in their city or region will pray for two other local churches daily. In doing so, you build the wall of prayer in a city.

Note each person only does their part and in doing so the body edifies itself (Eph. 4:16)

Communicate and build the corporate relationship process

In order to pray effectively for others we should get to know them

CONECT establishes a strategic communication center in local churches, cities, and states. This is essential for any networking ministry to effectively draw the different parts of the body together corporately.

Implement or enable a church of the church in a city to follow a process

CONECT lays the apostolic foundation and provides not only the Biblical training but also the process, practical tools, communication plans, and administration to enable a local church or many churches in a city, state or region to establish a strategic communication center.

It also provides a systematic way to help leaders ascertain their vision, the state of their flock, identify their prophetic people, determine the discipleship needs of their congregation, and greatly enhance their teamwork and effectiveness

So what is CONECT all about? It is about building the house of the Lord. It is about helping churches to CONECT corporately with every other church, ministry or organization whom the Lord has given them relationship with. It is about fulfilling God's desire for His house to be built. CONECT is like sinew (Ezekiel 37:1-10) in the body of Christ. It is connective tissue. The desire is to do all that we can to help local churches in a city CONECT with one another so as to create a place for God to inhabit.

Establishing 24 hour prayer in cities takes more than just a vision. It takes passion combined with wisdom and discipline just like King David applied when he built the Tabernacle of David. King David had a heart to build God a house. In that process King David assigned divisions of priests to minister unto the Lord 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Why? Because David had a heart for God to dwell with His people. Therefore, he joined the priests closely together with a common purpose, and he established a process of worship so that God would be ministered to 24 hours per day. He composed a union of people to work together in order to build God a house, and until that house was complete (Solomon's Temple) he arranged to make sure that God was made to feel welcome in the city of Zion but providing a habitation for the Lord.

Let's help provide an inviting place in each of our cities for God to dwell.

If you would like to know more about how CONECT can help you build the house of the Lord in your city then I'd encourage you to

The apostolic reformation will see apostles, prophets, and the fivefold ministry working together like never before, building a wall of prayer and restoring the Tabernacle of David. EncourageU and CONECT are for the equipping of the saints and to facilitate corporate teamwork in the Body of Christ. All scripture quotations, not otherwise indicated are from the New King James Version: Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. CONECT developed by Tim Taylor, Copyright © 1994-2008, Published by Watchman Ministries International , All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. All registered trademarks are properties of their respective owners. Questions or comments email wmi@watchmanministries.org