His House, His Presence: Calling the Church Back to God's Original Design

by Michael Freeland Miller

His House, His Presence is about how God took a small prayer meeting above a veterinarian clinic in Dallas to a global prayer and worship movement, known today as UPPERROOM. As founder and senior leader, Michael Miller got revelation that ministry to the Lord is every believer's first and primary calling, he was pruned of his original 'more comfortable' plans to pastor a middle-class suburban church and instead yield his personal leadership gifts and desires to the Lord's perfect leadership. Jesus said, "My house will be a house of prayer" (Matt. 21:13), and UPPERROOM is now a house of prayer committed to ministering to the Lord every morning, noon and night until Jesus returns. His House, His Presence is God's original design for His church--a resting place for His presence on earth. Relevant to every Christian believer, and especially for faith leaders, Miller's revelations will ignite conviction, simplicity, a return to Jesus, our first love, and a true longing for His return.

Genres: Christian, Prayer, Nonfiction, Spirituality

ebook

Published August 22, 2023

Reviews

[Johson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry more than once. The goodness of God‘s presence is an anomaly but Michael translates the necessity so well. The stories he tells of Upperroom moved me, and the clarity in which he speaks the gospel are refreshing.
Definitely recommend this to anyone wanting to learn to steward the Lords presence and how to make a dwelling place for His presence to manifest.

[John Ayena · Rating 3 out of 5]

"We can have everything yet miss the main thing. All we value must submit to the chief value of His presence. The value for right theology, Scriptural teaching, evangelism, gifts of the Spirit, leadership practices and excellent programs, must be unto the value for His presence."

Cool book by the lead pastor of a church I really admire. One thing that has stuck with me from this book is simply the question of "What is church?" Outside of the Church as the body of Christ, what defines church? Or more importantly, WHO defines church? I enjoyed Michael Miller's telling of how UPPERROOM came to be - how the church was not established by traditional church planting methods but rather by simply being led by a desire to make a space to host God's presence. If the church is meant to be God's house, then submitting to His leading for how to build it is the only way toward health and true Kingdom impact. There's big Davidic faith needed in being led this way and I am encouraged by Miller's exhortation to church leaders: to die to all our ideas of what church should look like and to be driven solely by a desire to be God's dwelling place.

3.5 stars.

[Mark Zumpano · Rating 5 out of 5]

The message is simple: can we make church about God again? A place where He can manifest Himself and rest with His people?

Miller has been pioneering for a biblical reformation/restoration of the modern church model through the founding of UPPERROOM, and this telling of that story as well as the conviction with which Miller has radically devoted Himself to nothing but the manifest presence of God is rich and I believe very needed in this hour. I highly recommend!!!

I’ve been following this movement since when I lived in Dallas and attended UPPERROOM in early 2015. Its had a profound impact on my life and I believe will have a profound impact on many believers and the church in the days ahead!

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

[Jayton Pimentel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s simple. It always has been.

I’m convinced the next generation of priests to usher in the presence of God will be creatives. Filmmakers, musicians, writer, poets, artists. These passions (gifts) are given to us for the soul purpose of seeing and experiencing Jesus rightly.

Bring me back to the garden Lord.

[McRae Taul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book was so fire. We forget how powerful prayer is. A lot of testimonies of people’s lives getting saved by just sitting in the presence of God during prayer sets. If you wanna be a pastor you should read

[Laura Nikolaichyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one is such a gift!! def my book of the year

[Abby Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book club book 6 - Beautiful words by Miller about letting Jesus and his presence truly lead the church. It all goes back to David’s temple and constant praise, worship, and prayer. Feeling stirred for how the church can embrace these in the last days! Also great to hear how God has lead and established Upperroom.

[Carl Meese · Rating 4 out of 5]

The worship, culture and presence of Jesus is undeniable at Upperroom! I’ve got the utmost respect for their clear practice of following Jesus’ leadership instead of “human strategy.” I hope to integrate more of this book into my life! Also, every pursuit has unintended consequences. I still have questions around where the poor are left in this paradigm. The interpretation of the greatest commandment in this book seems to clash with Jesus words “as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Overall I want to grow in the pursuit of the “one thing”, while also growing in the pursuit of the marginalized. Grateful for this brook!

[Natasha Dosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t stop reading this book. Word after word and page after page resonated with me; deep in my spirit. It feels like every recent conversation and prayer moment with community and family members is echoed here in Miller’s words, tying all the pieces into one cohesive picture. Maranatha. Beholding. Manifest Presence. Christ as the Head. Prayer as a relationship. Yielding. Surrender. So much packed into one book but so simple.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so grateful for Michael’s “yes” to write this book. This book is such a timely word of encouragement, directing and re-directing us back to the heart and point of the church and prayer rooms…to look at, love on, lean into, and minister to Jesus. I believe every leader and believer should read this book!

[Victoria Zumpano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a poignant and powerful read about the Lord’s heart for our gatherings as His bride. Can we just make the main thing the One thing and abandon the business of church we have created? The Lord is so beautiful and has laid out what He desires in His Word. Let’s just follow that in simplicity.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved loved loved this so very much. for any leader in any church absolutely necessary. focuses on what it’s all really about in the most bold & loving way.

[Hernan Rueda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed each and every page of this book. I found myself engrossed in its contents mainly at home, but I also delved into chapters 4 and 5 during my vacation in Europe with my wife. During a lengthy train ride and a 9-hour flight from Colombia's Barranquilla to Madrid, Spain, I realized that this is not just another Christian book to be placed on a shelf. It is the life story of a man who, along with his wife and family, has dedicated himself to serving the Lord above all else. This story serves as a powerful inspiration for me to continue my dedicated quest to seek the Lord with all my heart, with the goal of meeting Him face to face. Maranatha!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on Kindle and as soon as I was done decided to buy the paperback because I need to underline with my own hand and be able to flip back and forth to read it again.

Miller's story, his passion and his mission for Church is spot-on. It's a worldview shift for some churches, I think. But it put a hunger in me. A hunger to be around people who are making a resting place for God, people who desire to encounter Him and minister to Him. And even more a hunger to be around God and make a resting place for Him, encounter Him and minister to Him myself.

I can't put all my thoughts into words yet. But, I feel like this is something that God is doing in the Church.

If you work in a church, read this book, PLEASE. If you don't work in a church, read this book, please! It will set a fire in your heart!

[Kendrick Vinar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have massive respect and appreciation for Michael and Lorissa Miller and the UPPERROOM house. They carry a unique call and anointing. I’ve been so blessed by the culture they’ve stewarded here in Dallas. This book dives into the awkward and beautiful process of beginning UPPERROOM, what now appears to be an inevitable success and movement. This book captures Michael’s heart in a compelling well. I’m looking forward to the second book on the values of UPPERROOM.

4.5/5.0

[Graydon Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a lot of helpful things in this book about seeking God’s presence first and shaping our churches as houses of prayer. Other parts were less clear or I didn’t agree with. My best takeaway is churches cultivating reliance on Jesus’ presence, but I just didn’t connect with the book very well.

[Sarah Gerbers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I firmly believe every church leader should read this book.
Scratch that, every church go-er should read this book. I love the subversive thoughts….subversive to western church culture, but well in line with scripture.

This book has greatly challenged my own thought processes & has led me to a purer understanding of how to live life as a Christ follower!

[Jasmine M · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s so much needed truth packed into this book idek where to start. A feeling I had many times reading this book is when you’ve forgotten the name of something and you just can’t figure it out and it finally comes to you. The light turns back on and connections are made. It all falls into place and makes sense. It really is so simple.. HIS house, HIS presence. It’s everything.

Maranatha.

[Andrew Faber · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book about the presence of God, I was disappointed to not see so many references to scripture. Also, there were two quotes of scripture that were taken out of context, making it hard to trust his quotes from the Bible so I looked up each passage.

Some of his thoughts were interesting, despite this.

[Jack Heimbigner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refocusing our eyes on Jesus. If we look to him and follow his lead, there is no place we cannot go. This book really gave me freedom to truly worship Jesus and understand what it means to mi sister to him. Which I believe is going to impact the world more than doing the ministry.

[Jeremiah Dascenzo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chapters 2 and 3 were fire, but then I felt like the meat of the material had been explored. The rest felt like a gradual decline - either repeating ideas, making new claims without as much support, or just random passages about the “homosexual agenda” 😅

[aidan mcquinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

maranatha. This book is beautiful, against the norm, and has some weird theology bits I am still working out. The point isn’t the theology, it’s God. It’s time to center the church into houses of prayer.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right on target. There is nothing more powerful than sitting in the presence of God and letting Him transform your life. It's unexplainable, indescribable, and incomparable to any other spiritual experience. His presence fuels every part of our lives. Everything unto this one thing.

[Hannah Grace Cicciari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to read this book, especially those in church leadership! It’s calling people higher & deeper into what our roles are as His bride! It’s beautiful, honest, & convicting. Highly recommend it

[Lydia Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

[Matthew Lilley]

Loved it!

[Alexia Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love upper room and loved hearing some of the backstory and heart of the pastor.

[Maddie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prophetic, prolific, powerful. Wish it didn’t take me so long to read

[Beth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read so many books. This is the most important, significant book I’ve read in…well, maybe ever. If you lead in His church in any capacity, please read this now.

[Paige Sagach · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What if we make His presence as the priority for everything we do as a church community?”

A convicting, moving read that challenges church communities to come back to their first Love.