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The Master Builder

There are several scriptural examples given to us in the Bible in reference to leadership. I am always amazed to see these examples.... many times not being used as they were originally intended to be or kept in context. People are so tolerant in some areas and so intolerant in other areas of their walk with God. Folks...there needs to be some balance somewhere! It's either black or white! You either sinned or you didn't sin! I've heard people talking before and say “now you know that God will forgive us because it's just a little white lie”. There's no differentiation in lies! A lie is a lie and God hates a lie. One lie will keep you from entering into heaven. There is not room for error in leadership in the Kingdom of God. It's either right or wrong! Revelation 3:14,15 & 16 says he wants us either hot or cold! If you're lukewarm...he will vomit you out of his mouth. Many times, I have made mistakes...but, when it was brought to my attention, I immediately corrected the situation. I don't ever want to get the attitude or spirit that I'm perfect or beyond correction. That's why Paul put Elders in the early churches, (to keep the word of God from becoming perverted). Paul said “I die daily” to the things of the world or to this flesh. He also said “follow me as I follow Christ.”

When the foundation is corrupted , perverted or compromised, the building will not stand. You must lay a solid foundation for the church to be able to stand. That's exactly what Jesus did before he passed salvation for the Gentiles onto Peter. Jesus said, “I will build my Church or the Kingdom of Heaven on this rock”! The reason Jesus built his church on the rock is because he (Jesus) is in the rock! What was the rock? Jesus! Many people will tell you that it was Peter or Cephas. No! The Lord would never build his church on mankind! The church was built for mankind but not on mankind!

When you're on a construction site and you're using conventional methods...you'll have a large pile of sand, a large pile of gravel and a good supply of cement. We used to mix five shovels of gravel, three of sand and two of cement for foundations. All three of these ingredients are mixed together with water to make concrete. Then you have to reinforce the concrete or add some steel to give additional support and/or cement wire. The concrete is then poured into the footing ditches you've dug or into stem wall forms and allowed to cure, setup or harden to become the foundation. It's very similar in Church. The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven which Jesus gave to Peter was: (1) Repentance

with Godly sorrow in your heart. Actually being sorry for your sins and not sorry that you got caught. (2) Baptism in Jesus' name for the remission or forgiveness of your sins. The word baptism comes from the Greek word “Baptismo” which means to completely submerge in water. (3) The infilling of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the “Spirit of God” gives the utterance. Jesus gave these three ingredients to Peter and Peter understood that the foundation for salvation was made up of these three ingredients. Then Jesus said “I will build my Church on this rock”! Jesus is the rock. Matthew 16:18,19.Acts 2:38, Judges 6:21.

I'm convinced that if you don't have this foundation...your building will crumble when you start experiencing the “storms of life.” There's ONE way to get into the kingdom of heaven and that's through Jesus because he is the door. If you enter any other way...you'll be considered a thief and a robber and cast into outer darkness! We have another example where the Lord tells about two houses being built, (1) one house on a solid foundation and (2) another house being built on shifting sand. Matthew 7:24,25.

The first thing about new construction is that you must “setup” or shoot your elevations. You must have someone (architect) go out and get the elevations or topography of the land for you. Then you must have a blueprint made. We already have all these things laid out for us in the Holy Bible!

The law did not provide a good foundation. It only lasted a year at a time. Then you had to re-commit or re-everything! Then your sins were rolled ahead for one more year. That's why the Lord brought in the “Grace Dispensation”! The Lord never intended for the law to be permanent. He put it there to hold everything “in-check” or as a “school-mom” until “Grace” was established! The New Testament Church is under a new covenant (different) requirements than the law for salvation. The Gentiles will be under this covenant until the Church is caught-up or the rapture takes place. When the rapture takes place...that will fulfill the time of the Gentiles and the “Grace Dispensation” of time will be complete!

When you build a foundation, It must be anchored to something solid and it must be reinforced! After the foundation has been established, then you put up the walls. The foundation must be level because the walls must be plumbed and it's impossible to plumb the walls if the foundation is not level. It throws the whole house out of “kelter.” Spiritually speaking, the first thing you do for the Lord must be right! If it isn't...the farther you build, the more off center or out of plumb you will be! If your building isn't straight and it's leaning or weak, it will be more susceptible to the storms of life when they start beating down on you! I believe the adversary is sort of like a “building inspector”. He waits and watches for mistakes, because that's what he capitalizes on. The Bible provides us with a complete set of original blueprints for salvation. Jesus has set men of God in our assemblies to guide us through the steps we must take. We just need to put the flesh aside and let God be God! When the Lord speaks to that man of God and he ask you to do something...don't question God...just do what he ask you to do!

I believe the Lord looks at our foundations and he speaks to the pastors or men of God that he has placed in our lives and gives them messages and words of encouragement for the church or his sheep. Didn't he tell Peter to feed his sheep? How can the shepherd feed the flock unless the Lord gives him the feed (message). The Lord knows exactly where you are, where you're headed and what you're going to need! That's why men of God need to walk by the Lord's side daily! We must stay in-tune with God. We have such a responsibility to fulfill! We don't have time to get caught-up in the things of the world and become distracted by the adversary! We must have a vision and stay focused! This church belongs to God! All members of the church body are drawn by the spirit of God . The members are fitly joined together as it pleases the Lord! Jesus did not tell Peter to go and rearrange the body. He simply said “feed my sheep.” Each member has a specific function within the body of Christ. Some are preachers, teachers, prophets, evangelists and pastors. Some are just good old saints! But, we all work together in unity to make the body available to perform the function that God intended for it to do! How can the body or church birth new babes and perform the functions that the Lord designed it to do if someone comes in and removes some of the body parts or rearranges the body parts?I don't want to ever let myself get into a position where I'm trying to withstand God!Amen! At the end of the “Grace Dispensation” when the church is caught-up the body of Christ will become the bride! You're not the bride...yet! You're in the dressing room getting ready! When you're caught-up and have attained perfection....then you will become the bride! Remember, the Lord said that he wants us to be “spotless & without blemish” ? That's perfection! The Lord gave us the five-fold ministry for the perfecting of the Saints.

The “storms and trials” of life will take it's toll on many. Your house may become tattered and worn, but as long as it's anchored to a solid foundation, it will come through the storm. It may not look good on the outside, but it will be beautiful on the inside and that's what God looks at! A house can always be repaired as long as it has a solid foundation. That's why backsliders don't have to be re-baptized! They need to repent and be renewed with the Holy Ghost and that repairs their house and puts them in “good standing” with the Lord again! I believe the Lord is going to re-visit the backsliders in the endtime. I think he has already started! When the Lord looks down from heaven and sees all the foundations. I'm not sure but that was what he was talking about when he saw the valley of dry bones? That could have been dead churches that had grown cold and backslid, Perhaps the storms of life beat them down to their very foundations? But, when the Lord saw them he also saw that there was a foundation still in-tact and he said let's reverse this situation and revive these dry bones and see if they can live again! When they arose they were an exceeding great army! When they were still churches in-good standing didn't the Lord say he would come back and gather them up? The Lord sent people to rebuild the temple and when they finished it many of the elders cried , not just because of the memories it awoke or brought to their minds, but the beauty was even greater than the original! That's the way it will be with the backsliders. Because of the experience they've had...they will appreciate the Lord and the Church even more. Nehemiah was sent to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. The King gave him all the supplies he needed to rebuild the wall and safe passage to get there. All he had to do was provide the labor. The ministry is in the same situation today. The Lord has called us to build the Church! He has given us all the blueprints, plans and specifications, etc. All we have to do is provide the labor! We're in a harvest! The Bible says to pray to the Lord of the Harvest that he will send laborers to work in the fields. Church...that prayer went out a long time ago! We are the laborers that the Lord has placed here to work in the fields! It's a harvest of souls for the Lord. The reason the Lord sent Nehemiah to rebuild the wall is because their was still a foundation in-place! We are entering into a time of construction like there has never been before. Time is running out and we have a deadline to meet! Marines in battle have a motto that they never leave anyone behind! We as true Christians should have the same motto. We should never leave one of our comrades behind! The Bible says to “compel” them to come! Pray that the Lord will give you a burden for backsliders.

In closing...I would like to say that Jesus is the "MasterBui;der."  He started as a "carpenter"...then he started building churches. You build a church "one soul at a time"!  Jesus is now building the "New Jerusalem."  When he's ready the "New Jerusalem" will desend from heaven and we (his chosen) will occupy it!  Until that time....it's imperative that we stay busy working in the kingdom of God following our example (Jesus) building churches, one soul at a time!

I believe the Lord is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can think or ask! We need to step-up and have obedient faith! If we bind together and do that.... the Lord will provide. When we've done all we can do and come to a place where we can do no more....the Lord is able!

                                                                       Amen!