The bible tells us that God does not dwell in houses made by human hands (Acts 7:48, Acts 17:24-25. God dwells among his people.  We are his house and are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:22)

And yet, it was when the believers were gathered in the upper room of a house that Acts 2 says, "They were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting... and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:2-4).

It was the location in which the believers were gathered that God showed up!

And so on our first gathering here in our new building, we are going to pray a prayer of dedication and blessing over this church and this location we meet together in. And while I am praying, I want you engaged. Meaning, if there is something you particularly agree with, say “AMEN.”

Father, we honor you here in this place.  You rule the nations; your Son Jesus sits at your right hand until he has put every enemy under his feet, the last enemy being death. You are God, who made the world and everything in it. You are Lord of heaven and earth and do not live in temples made by man, nor are you served by human hands, as though you need anything, since you yourself give to all mankind life and breath and everything.

So Father, we come to you this morning, not to give you something you need, for you need nothing. But in view of your great mercy, we come to offer ourselves to you this morning as living sacrifices - individually, our families, and this church, and we do it here in this new building we meet in. Father may it be used to further your kingdom.  

May this be a place where sinners find their Savior and the prodigal is welcomed by you, a generous and compassionate Father. May this be a place your saints, young and old, are encouraged in the gospel, equipped for service, sanctified in the truth, and joyously assured of the eternal redemption Jesus has earned for us. Where the wounded receive comfort for their souls, the weary are revived, the despairing are filled with hope, the depressed filled with joy, and the sick are healed. Where the thirsty find satisfaction and the hungry are filled up.

May this be a place where your word is honored and trembled at; where your people are perfecting holiness in the fear of you; where friendships are established and deepened and many sins are covered by love.

Where you Father seek and find worshipers who worship in spirit and truth. And Jesus, our Head receives honor and praise – his cross boasted in, the power of his resurrection lived in, and his second coming hoped for. May the Spirit of God, the heavenly Dove, finds a friendly place to land and to dwell.

Father I pray for serious disciples to be made here – blood-bought, Spirit-filled, word-saturated, sold-out, cross-bearing disciples who make an impact on the nations of the world.

Father, I pray that as we gather week after week, we would be filled up with your Spirit, equipped in all kinds of ways for all kinds of service and sent out to touch the world around us – a world so desperately in need of good news!

All of this we pray in the name of Jesus and for your glory Father. Amen.