Passion For The House Of God by Bishop David Oyedepo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Nothing steers passion like the prophetic word. Haggai 1:13-14 — "I am with you, saith the Lord," stirred the spirit of Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people to do the work. 2 Peter 1:19-21 — "a more sure word of prophecy... a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn." Passion is fire; the word is the wood.

Passion for the House of God

Psalm 84:1-2 — "how amiable are thy tabernacles... my soul longeth, yea, even fainteth, for the courts of the Lord." Psalm 73:17 — "until I went into the sanctuary of God" the psalmist understood.

The Church as City of Refuge

Joshua 20:1-3 — Old Testament cities of refuge where a slayer could flee the avenger. Hebrews 12:22-24 — the church is Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, an innumerable company of angels, the general assembly of the firstborn, Jesus the mediator, the blood of sprinkling.

What makes the church unique:

- The household of God. Ephesians 2:19, 1 Timothy 3:15.

- The city of the living God, where angels excel in strength and hearken to his word. Hebrews 12:22-24.

Testimonies of the City of Refuge

- A family's house was hit by a plane crash — the entire family was in church at the time.

- A house burned to the ground — the family was in church.

- A family of five, afflicted with tuberculosis, were all healed in one sitting, without anyone specifically praying over them.

- A woman with a 23-year condition felt something like a drop of water fall on her; she was healed.

- A new convert carried her dead child to the church gate and returned home with a living child.

- A woman praying at church about clearing a debt had a stranger walk up and pay the entire amount, by divine arrangement.

Psalm 65:4 — "blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts." Not a visitor — a member of the family.

Restoration Like Job's

Job had twice as much after his affliction as before, and 140 years to enjoy it. Whatever may have been stolen from you, you're getting it back.

Keeping Passion Alive

Stay sensitive to the voice of the Spirit. Elijah heard God not in the earthquake or the fire, but in a still small voice. A noisy, distraction-filled life deadens spiritual hearing — even praying with three phones in front of you.

Logos and Rhema: in April 1984, reading Deuteronomy 28:1, a personal word came behind the verse: "there's a place for you on top if you're interested." The logos (the written word) became rhema (a spoken word) — and what was said to one applies to all who diligently hearken to his voice.

Urgency in Soul Winning

Daniel 12:3 — they that turn many to righteousness shall shine as the stars forever. John 5:2-9 — the man at the pool of Bethesda waited 38 years; delay is costly. Genesis 49:3-4 — Reuben, unstable as water, forfeited his excellence through procrastination. Today, this exact day, will never come again.

Passion for God always manifests as passion for souls — you cannot claim to love someone and not love what they love. Romans 1:16, Psalm 119:46 — David and Paul, unashamed. A truly passionate believer enjoys instant answers to prayer, the way Elijah's prayer stopped and started the rain.