Who Builds the House?

If God wanted someone to build and Ark to prepare for a flood today what would happen?

·       First he would need a building permit.

·       They would want you to install a sprinkler system.

·       Your neighbors would claim that you've violated the neighborhood zoning laws.

·       The Department of Transportation would demand a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. They don’t understand that the sea would be coming to the Ark.

·       Getting the wood would be another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl.

·       An animal rights group would sue you for confining wild animals against their will.

·       The EPA would rule that you couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

·       The IRS would seize all your assets, claiming you’re trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

Matt 7:24-27 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 

Ps 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

I.          The Lord builds with the best materials!

a. 1 Cor 15:42-44 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable , it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

                                       i.    RAISED IMPERISHABLE

                                     ii.    RAISED IN GLORY

                                   iii.    RAISED IN POWER

                                   iv.    RAISED SPIRITUAL

b. The materials that God uses to build His house is you!

                                       i.    What about my faults?

                                     ii.    What about my sin?

The master wood worker can take an old used board, rough and dirty on the outside. It may be ragged looking on the outside but the craftsman knows what is at the heart of the old board. He will take the board and run it through a planer to make it flat on both the top and bottom. This process removes the filth and stains that once marred the wood. The master will then square up one edge of the once ugly board. He will trim the board straight and square making the board clean and perfect for His project. This is exactly what God does with us. He takes our lives and the mess that we have created with our sin and failures. He washes away our sin. He sets us straight and narrow. Then He uses us as part of his project.

c.  1 Peter 1:18-19  For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

d. God accepts us as defiled humanity and then through the relationship process He changes us from the inside out to makes “perfect” for His work.

II.       The Lord builds on a firm foundation.

You must be born again. This is not a command, it is a foundation fact. The characteristic of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me.    Oswald Chambers

a. Luke 6:46-49  "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation . The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

Faith is the Christian's foundation, hope is his anchor, death is his harbor, Christ is his pilot, and heaven is his country. - Jeremy Taylor

b. When we talk about the Christian life let us make sure that we are talking about the same thing..

c. A life marked by a turning point in which we accept Christ as our LORD and SAVIOR.

d. Many try to make Christ their Savior without making Him LORD. It does not work that way!

e. When you accept Christ as Lord and Savior you set the foundation upon which God will transform you and your life.

f.   NOTE: You don’t clean up your life then come to Christ … you come to Christ and give Him your life so the Holy Spirit can transform you through that relationship.

III.    The Lord builds to last through eternity.

a. 1 Cor 3:10-15 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

b. Matt 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy , and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy , and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

c.  When you have been gone from this earth for a length of time, what will remain?

                                       i.    The only things that are permanent are the things done for God.

                                     ii.    People won to the Lord.

                                   iii.    Those that helped lead me to Christ planted a continuing legacy in my life. … Those I have had part in bringing to Christ continue that legacy. … the people they lead to Christ will win even more people.

d. The foundation the Father laid in me will continue to bears fruit until the Lord returns again.

IV.    The Lord builds for service.

a. 1 Tim 3:14-15 … I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 … you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

One of the reasons that churches and pastors run into problems is because they do not know what to expect from each other

As a member of Bethany Baptist Church

·       We are expected to read the Bible every day.

·       We are expected to pray with and for your family every day.

·       We are expected to pray for your church family every day.

·       We are expected to pray for your pastor every day.

·       We are expected to regularly attend worship services unless hindered by health or circumstances beyond your control.

·       We are expected to abstain from gossip, backbiting, murmuring or negative talk.

·       We are to respond to conflict and disagreement according to Biblical precepts (Matthew 18).

·       We are to be loving and not legalistic.

·       We are to share our faith regularly and invite other people to attend church with us.

·       We are to participate in Sunday School and Bible Study

·       We are to be in agreement with the church’s doctrines.

·       We are to be involved in at least one ministry of the church.

·       We are expected to Tithe.

·       We are expected to abstain from any actions that would hinder our Christian witness or cause someone to stumble.

·       We are to be sexually pure.

·      We are to love the sinner but not condone the sin.

V.        The Lord builds perfection.

a. Matt 5:48 Be perfect , therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect .

William Carvosso said: "I began to exercise faith, and a heavenly influence filled the room; refining fire went through my heart, illuminated my soul, scattered its life through every part and sanctified the whole. I then received the full witness of the Holy Spirit that the blood of Jesus had cleansed me from all sin. I was emptied of self and sin, and filled with God. I was nothing, and Christ was all in all."

b. Phil 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect , but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

c.  Col 1:28 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

A French inventor, Bernard Palissey, was seeking the secret of making fine china with its translucence and indestructible ornamentation.  But he was poor and sought for help.  "Give me only fire enough," said he, "and these colors will become part and parcel of the china."  "He's crazy," said his neighbors. "More fire," said Palissey, and he threw his furniture into the oven and even tore up the floor to get more fire.  And he succeeded. "More fire," is the need of true Christians.  We need the fire of the Spirit's cleansing to burn up the dross in our hearts; the fire of Christ's refining grace to make us like himself; and the fire of the Spirit's destruction of inner carnality with its cowardice and self-seeking and compromise to make us witness with boldness and effectiveness.

Unless it is the workings of the Lord we will fail!