No Room

“Is there room within you to receive the Savior?”

This question is not just for the non-Christian, but for the Christian as well. The Greek interpreted “room” in Luke 2:7 below is topos. It’s defined as “a spot, location, condition, opportunity, or occasion for acting.” In regard to the first coming of Jesus, John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” The definition for the Greek word interpreted as “own” is idios. It means “pertaining to oneself, one's own, belonging to oneself.” Jesus came to His own people, the Jewish nation, those who belonged to Him, and they rejected Him as their Messiah. It will not be any different at His second coming. He will come to His own people, the church, and many of them will reject Him also.

There is no room for Him within their hearts which is revealed by the lack of room for Him in their order of worship (see the Bible study Order In The House). The condition of many of His people’s hearts has become calloused and rebellious toward His lordship over them. Revelation 3:14-22 is a message from God to the lukewarm church in Laodicea. He says in verse 20 to this deceived church who thinks they are rich and in need of nothing, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” Remember, the door is of the church. He is on the outside looking in. This aptly describes the present state of the church in America. For all of our religious activity there is very little presence of His life in our midst.

The present generation of youth in America now identifies true Christianity with lively, entertaining music, a charismatic speaker, and a good coffee shop! They hardly ever bring, or read, their own Bibles. They’re provided for them when they come in the door, or they put them on their big screens. No sense bringing your own when you depend upon others to do that for you. What may have been a nice idea for those who do not have one has become a case of enablement for the “poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). As Jesus said, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous therefore, and repent.” Thank-you Lord.

Luke 2:7- See the note below. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room [5117] for them in the inn [2646]. (NAS)

5117 topos (top'-os); apparently a primary word; a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas 5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specifically, a scabbard: 1) a place, any portion or space marked off, as it were, from a surrounding space a) an inhabited place, as a city, village, district b) a place (passage) in a book 2) metaphorically: a) the condition or station held by one in any company or assembly b) opportunity, power, occasion for acting

2646 kataluma (kat-al'-oo-mah); (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from 2647 [see definition below]; properly, a dissolution (breaking up of a journey), i.e. (by implication) a lodging-place: KJV-- guestchamber, inn. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) 1) an inn, lodging place

2) an eating room, dining room

2647 kataluo (kat-al-oo'-o); (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from 2596 and 3089; to loosen down (disintegrate), i.e. (by implication) to demolish (literally or figuratively); specially [compare 2646] to halt for the night: KJV-- destroy, dissolve, be guest, lodge, come to nought, overthrow, throw down. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) to dissolve, disunite

a. (what has been joined together) equivalent to to destroy, demolish (Matthew 24:2)

b. metaphorically, to overthrow, i. e. to render vain, to deprive of success, to bring to nothing: c. of travelers, to halt on a journey, to put up, lodge

This might not have been a public lodging place as we have always assumed and has been portrayed. According to the Greek, it could have been a private guest chamber within someone’s home (see the note for “Guest Chamber” from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words below). Another Greek word, used in the story of the Good Samaritan (see Luke 10:33-34 below), uses the specific word for a public lodging place.

Bethlehem being the hometown of Joseph, it might have been a relative of his that he approached, someone that he knew. There could very possibly have been some of his family or relatives still living there at that time. Could it be they just didn’t want him and his pregnant fiancé staying at their home? Can you hear their response and see their faces if he tried to explain that Mary was conceived by the Holy Spirit? Apart from a heart that knows God and hears His voice, you would probably think that he was lying. Their response would most likely have been along the lines of, “Yeah, right Joseph. No, I’m sorry but we have no room for you. You’ll have to go somewhere else.”

You see, even before Jesus was born, while still in the womb, He came to His own and His own did not receive Him (John 1:11-13). When you identify with Jesus, as Mary and Joseph did, you will be treated as He was, even by some of your own people. The reproach of Christ will also come upon you. It could be by your immediate family, possibly like Joseph’s since it was his hometown, as well as, unfortunately, the family of God in the church. Rejection by others, and suffering, are part of the price for identifying with Jesus Christ.

There is a picture in this passage that we must not miss at this appointed time in history. Joseph was a husband, and a soon to be father, who was, most likely, looking rather anxiously for a place for his wife, Mary, whose time had come to give birth. For Mary, as all women who have given birth fully understand, there was no turning back at this point of delivery (i.e. at this point of their deliverance). It was the end of their journey (one of the definitions for the Greek interpreted “inn” [2646] in Luke 2:7). The time had come for the birth, the arrival of their Son, Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

So the picture is this; the Heavenly Father is now seeking a place for HIS Son to be birthed within because, I believe, the body of Christ is nearing the end of our journey. It is the appointed time of the Lord to, again, give birth, in this world, to the purpose and will of the Father, one last time at the end of this age.

So the question remains; “Is there room for the Savior to enter in and give birth to a new life, His life within you, or is His guest room within you filled with other guests? Are you willing in this moment of God’s mercy to repent of your sin and surrender your life to Jesus Christ, thereby willingly granting Him the right of access within you? He can be your newborn King, the One who was given, or should I say gifted to any who would open the door and in humility invite Him within them. He alone is the only lodging place for the weary traveler who longs for true and lasting “peace on earth” in the midst of this world’s ever-increasing chaos and grief.

Hosea 13:13 – The foolish son/the foolish virgins who did not hear and do, in the appointed time, what was necessary in order to come forth, delaying at the womb of a new dawn, a new age of complete peace and joy on earth when Jesus Christ will rule the nations with full authority. They did not walk in obedience to what the Spirit was saying to the church at the appointed time (i.e. in “the fullness of time”) in history, and therefore did not have the oil (i.e. the Holy Spirit) necessary to enter in.

Mark 14:12-16 – See the note below. (Also, see Luke 22:7-23, a parallel passage.) 12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was being sacrificed, His disciples said to Him, "Where do You want us to go and prepare for You to eat the Passover?"

13 And He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him;

14 and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is My guest room [2646] in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?"' 15 "And he himself will show you a large upper room furnished [4766- “to spread”] and ready [2092- “prepared, opportune, seasonable”]; and prepare [2090- “to make ready”] for us there." 16 And the disciples went out, and came to the city, and found it just as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover. (NAS)

Guest Room A room for the lodging of guests (Mark 14:14; Philemon 22). The Greek word translated as guest room means "a lodging or resting place." A few houses of Palestine had rooms set aside for use by guests. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Guest-Chamber kataluma [2646], akin to kataluo (see Note above), signifies (a) "an inn, lodging-place," (Luke 2:7); (b) "a guest-room," (Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11). The word literally signifies "a loosening down" (kata, "down," luo, "to loose"), used of the place where travelers and their beasts untied their packages, girdles and sandals. "In the East, no figure is more invested with chivalry than the guest. In his own right he cannot cross the threshold, but when once he is invited in, all do him honor and unite in rendering service; cf. (Gen. 18:19; Judges 19:9, 15)." These two passages in the NT “concern a room in a private house, which the owner readily placed at the disposal of Jesus and His disciples for the celebration of the Passover... At the festivals of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles the people were commanded to repair to Jerusalem; and it was a boast of the Rabbis that, notwithstanding the enormous crowds, no man could truthfully say to his fellow, `I have not found a fire where to roast my paschal lamb in Jerusalem,' or `I have not found a bed in Jerusalem to lie in,' or `My lodging is too strait in Jerusalem'" (Hastings, Bib. Dic., GUESTCHAMBER and INN). See INN. (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright (C) 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Jesus is leading His disciples to the place of preparation in this passage. He is going to eat the final Passover meal with His followers. As pictured through Israel’s journey our of Egypt and into the Promised Land, we will finish the way we started with a complete consumption of the Lamb (see the Bible study Beginning And Ending With Passover).

Jesus gave specific instructions to His disciples that they would encounter a man who would lead them to a large upper room that would be ready for them. Jesus leads His disciples today to those with a guest room inside them that is also “furnished and ready.” They are ready to partake of the Passover Lamb of God.

I believe the man carrying a pitcher of water represents the ones who have been cleansed within through obedience to the word of truth and are ready to receive the Messiah. In these last days before His return, He is gathering His disciples, preparing them to partake of the final Passover, the final consuming of the Lamb as we enter our Promised Land, our promised place in Himself. He is our inheritance. I believe this is what Jesus was speaking of in Revelation 3:20 when He said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.” This is the guest room that has been made ready through a repentant heart (Rev. 3:19), whether that be an unbeliever or a straying Christian.

This Passover meal is what many refer to as “the last supper.” It was called the Passover sedar, which means “order.” It is the order of God that is missing from modern Christianity (see the Bible study Order In The House). This “order” for the Lord’s salvation, His deliverance of mankind is seen within John 3. To be born again, spiritually, is to be given eyes to see the truth. It represents a cleansed heart through repentance. Like the man carrying a pitcher of water, a guest room has been made ready for Jesus to eat the Passover sedar with His disciple. This leads to the next step of “water and Spirit” (John 3:5) in order to enter in. This is when the true baptism of the Spirit occurs which, by the way, is not tongues (see the Bible study Tongues). Titus declared that “He saved us through the washing of rebirth [i.e. water] and renewal by the Holy Spirit [i.e. Spirit], whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.” (Titus 3:5-6/NIV) The one prepares us for the next, bringing to completion our faith/salvation (James 2:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:23).

By partaking of the Lord’s last Passover sedar/order before His return, He will pass over you when He pours out His wrath on earth (see the Bible study Elul; The Season Of Preparation And 40 Days Of Favor). All Christians who do not listen, who do not put their lives in order in preparation for the Bridegroom’s return, will go through the “great tribulation” (Rev. 2:22) on earth. Like the foolish virgins, they did not take serious the present midnight call to prepare themselves through repentance where necessary in eager anticipation of the Lord’s return. They were not “made ready” for the Savior and will not be allowed entrance into the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).

Luke 10:33-34 - The word interpreted as “inn” is a different Greek word in the story of the Good Samaritan. This one refers specifically to a public lodging place. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn [3829] and took care of him. (NIV)

3829 pandocheion (pan-dokk-i'-on) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) neuter of a presumed compound of 3956 and a derivative of 1209; all-receptive, i.e. a public lodging-place (caravanserai or khan): KJV-- inn. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) an inn, a public house for the reception of strangers

1 Kings 6:18-22- The preparing of the inner sanctuary within Solomon’s temple is a picture of the preparation necessary with us to receive the Lord’s glory. The covenant is established within His people where a heart has been made ready through repentance (see the Bible study Establishing The Covenant). 18 And there was cedar on the house within, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, there was no stone seen. 19 Then he prepared an inner sanctuary within the house in order to place there the ark of the covenant of the LORD. [It was also called “the ark of His presence”] 20 And the inner sanctuary was twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in height, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid the altar with cedar. 21 So Solomon overlaid the inside of the house with pure gold. And he drew chains of gold across the front of the inner sanctuary; and he overlaid it with gold. 22 And he overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. Also the whole altar which was by the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold. (NAS)

1 Chronicles 15:1-14 - This Scripture describes David’s preparation of a place for the Lord in the city of David. This is spoken of in Luke 2:4, 11, and 1 Samuel 17:12. It also fulfilled the prophecy within Jeremiah 33:15-17 that the Messiah would come from the line of David. Consecration is the key that will open the door for Jesus to “come in and dine” with us (see the Bible studies Consecration and Glorified). 1 Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it.

2 Then David said, "No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to Him forever." 3 And David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the LORD to its place, which he had prepared for it. 11 Then David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, 12 and said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' households of the Levites; consecrate yourselves both you and your relatives, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. 13 "Because you did not carry it at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst on us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance." [See the Bible study Order In The House.] 14 So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. (NAS)

Psalm 10:2-4 - The psalmist says the wicked has “no room” in all his thoughts for God.

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.

3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. NIV

Psalm 10:4 4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. NKJV

John 8:30-37 - The Pharisees challenge Jesus authority. Jesus said that these religious leaders were ready to kill Him because they had “no room”/”no place” for His word within them. Many church leaders have the same spirit within them today. In 2 Peter 3:9 the same Greek word is used; “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to [5562] repentance.” (NASU) So to “come to repentance” is to have room for it, to make room for it.

30 Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him.

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?"

34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

37 I know you are Abraham's descendants. Yet you are ready to kill me, because you have no room [5562] for my word. NIV

John 8:37 37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place [5562] in you. NASU

NT:5562 choreo (kho-reh'-o) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:5561; to be in (give) space, i.e. (intransitively) to pass, enter, or (transitively) to hold, admit (literally or figuratively): KJV - come, contain, go, have place, (can, be room to) receive. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) 1. properly, to leave a space

2. to go forward, advance, proceed

3. to have space or room for receiving or holding something

choreo [NT:5562] - lit., "to make room (chora, "a place") for another, and so to have place, receive," is rendered "come" (followed by "to repentance") in 2 Peter 3:9; the meaning strictly is "have room (i. e., space of time) for repentance." (from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:2 – There is SO MUCH in these verses connected with many other Bible studies. Paul, in speaking of fellowship which is what Jesus spoke of in Revelation 3:20, asked the church in Corinth to prepare their hearts by cleansing themselves from all impurity (consecration), making “room” in their hearts. Paul even quotes the Lord in regard to separating ourselves from that which is “unclean” so that He may welcome us, becoming a Father to us.

So to make room for the Lord is to not be bound together with unbelievers (see the Bible study Unbelieving Believers), to not be in partnership with lawlessness, to not have fellowship with darkness, to not be in harmony (sounding in agreement) with Belial, and to not be in agreement with idols. We must be separate from these things and not touch what is unclean thereby defiling God’s temple within us, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. That is how we are to make room for the Lord within us.

14 Do not be bound together [2086] with unbelievers [571- “without faith or trust, unfaithful, faithless, untrustworthy”]; for what partnership [3353] have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship [2842] has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony [***4857- see the Bible study The Sound Of His Coming] has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common [3310- “share, a part, a portion] with an unbeliever [571]? 16 Or what agreement [***4783] has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell [1774- “to reside in, to occupy a house, to inhabit”] in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 17 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate [***873- see the Bible study Moving The Boundary Stones]," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean [see Haggai 2:11-14]; and I will welcome [1523- “to take into one’s favor, to receive kindly, to receive into, to admit”; see the Bible study Have Grace] you. 18 "And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me," says the Lord Almighty. 1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement [3436- “a stain, a soiling”] of flesh and spirit, perfecting [***2005- see the Bible study The Perfect] holiness in the fear of God. 2 Make room [5562- see John 8:30-37 above] for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. (NAS)

NT:2086 heterozugeo (het-er-od-zoog-eh'-o) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from a compound of NT:2087 and NT:2218; to yoke up differently, i.e. (figuratively) to associate discordantly: KJV - unequally yoke together with. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) to come under an unequal or different yoke (2 Corinthians 6:14)

NT:3353 metochos (met'-okh-os) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:3348; participant, i.e. (as noun) a sharer; by implication an associate: KJV - fellow, partaker, partner. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

1. sharing in, partaking of, with the genitive of the thing (Hebrews 3:1)

2. a partner (in a work, office, dignity) (Hebrews 1:9)

NT:2842 koinonia (koy-nohn-ee'-ah)

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:2844; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: KJV - (to) communicate (-ation), communion, (contri-) distribution, fellowship. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, contact

1. the share which one has in anything, participation; with the genitive of the thing in which he shares: pneumatos (Phil. 2:1)

2. contact, fellowship, intimacy:

3. a benefaction jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship (2 Corinthians 8:4)

NT:4857 sumphonesis (soom-fo'-nay-sis) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:4856 [“to be harmonious, to sound together (see the Bible study The Sound Of His Coming), be in accord, to agree together (Matthew 18:19)]; accordance [which means “agreement, harmony, peace, unity”] KJV - concord. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) concord, agreement (2 Cor. 6:15) [“concord” – a state of peaceful agreement; agreement by stipulation, compact, or covenant]

NT:4783 sugkatathesis (soong-kat-ath'-es-is) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:4784; a deposition (of sentiment) in company with, i.e. (figuratively) accord with: KJV - agreement. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) a putting together or joint deposit (of votes); hence, approval, assent, agreement

NT:873 aphorizo (af-or-id'-zo) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:575 and NT:3724; to set off by boundary [***see the Bible study Moving The Boundary Stones], i.e. (figuratively) limit, exclude, appoint, etc.: KJV - divide, separate, sever. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) to mark off from (apo) others by boundaries, to limit, to separate (Galatians 2:12)

NT:2005 epiteleo (ep-ee-tel-eh'-o) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:1909 and NT:5055; to fulfill further (or completely), i.e. execute; by implication, to terminate, undergo: KJV - accomplish, do, finish, (make) (perfect), perform (X -ance). (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

1. to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete: substantively, to epitelesai (2 Cor. 8:11)

2. to appoint to, impose upon (1 Peter 5:9)

Philemon 1:22 – See the note below. 22 And one thing more: Prepare [2090] a guest room [3578] for me, because I hope to be restored [5483] to you in answer to your prayers. NIV Philemon 1:22 22 At the same time also prepare [2090] me a lodging [3578], for I hope that through your prayers I will be given [5483] to you.

NASU

NT:2090 hetoimazo (het-oy-mad'-zo) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:2092; to prepare: KJV - prepare, provide, make ready. Compare NT:2680. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) to make ready, prepare

1. the act of preparing

2. the condition of a person or thing so far forth as prepared, preparedness, readiness [see Luke 12:35]

NT:3578 xenia (xen-ee'-ah) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) from NT:3581; hospitality, i.e. (by implication) a place of entertainment: KJV - lodging. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) hospitality, hospitable reception; equivalent to a lodging-place, lodgings (Acts 28:23)

NT:5483 charizomai (khar-id'-zom-ahee) (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) middle voice from NT:5485; to grant as a favor, i.e. gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue: KJV - deliver, (frankly) forgive, (freely) give, grant. (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor to, gratify

a. universally, to show oneself gracious, kind, benevolent: tini (Galatians 3:18)

b. to grant forgiveness, to pardon (2 Cor. 2:7)

c. to give graciously, give freely, bestow: tini ti (Luke 7:21)

Paul tells Philemon to prepare a “guest room” for him in answer to a prayer of restoration, of being given to him. As the Lord’s people, we need to pray the same thing in regards to a restored relationship with Him, of having Him be given to us (Isaiah 9:6) in this day. The Greek is also interpreted in a few verses as “forgiven.” So in order to be given the Lord we must first be forgiven by Him. Repentance is the key in our preparing a place for Him to lodge in.

The Greek word for “prepare” is the same word used by John the Baptist when he cried out; “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” (Matthew 3:3). The Lord asks us today; “Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” We must cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit in preparation to receive the Savior (2 Cor. 7:1; the pitch inside and outside of the ark), Jesus Christ, when He returns. Too often the church is busy preparing a place for people when we should be preparing a lodging place/guest room for the Lord (i.e. the inner temple).

It will be through our consecration and prayers that He will be given to us. When He is exalted, rather than something of ourselves that exalts us or our group, He can and will then draw all men to Himself. There won’t be the need to advertise like the world. Self-exaltation results in the need for some manmade gimmick to draw people in. This has become common practice in western religion.