“Anybody can build, but building a lasting super structure that will impact my world with a relevant and seasoned resource continuously, is my challenge.”
“For we are both God's workers, and you are God's field. You are God's building ...Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.” 1Corinthians 3:9-10
There were several instances in the scriptures where individuals, groups of people and nations set out to build notable structures. Noah, for example, was commanded by God to build an ark; Moses was instructed to build a tabernacle while Solomon was asked to build a temple. There were also some people who desired to build structures contrary to the will of God. A good example is found in Genesis 11, where the people of Babylonia desired to build a tower to the heights of heaven. We shall observe how these people built and the materials they build with and then compare with the pattern of our Lord Jesus.
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. As the people migrated to the east; they found a plain in the Land of Babylonia and settled there. They began saying to each other
“Let's make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks were used instead of stone, and tar was used for mortar).
Then they said “come let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky (heaven). This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” But the Lord came down to look at the city and the towers the people were building. “Look!” He said, “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let's go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other.” In that way, the Lord scattered them all over the world, and they stopped building the city. (Gen.11:1-8)
In Building Engineering, most of the work that involve the use of stones can also be done using bricks depending on how solid the bricks or the concrete is. The fact however is that, bricks and stones do not have the same durability and value. A land valuer usually does more of internal than external examination when trying to determine the monetary value of a building. Jesus also laid much emphasis on the fact that our works shall be tested. It means that no matter how beautiful our works are from afar, what actually matter most are the materials, which they are made of. It also implies that the church today had been designed long ago by Jesus and the pattern and materials involved in the building had also been described without provision for an alternative. The structure of the church must either be built to conform to Jesus' pattern otherwise it will conform to the Babylonian pattern- the system of this world, which represents the operations of the kingdom of darkness. It is not enough to have the zeal to build for God. One must build according to His laid down principles and patterns. We would analyze both Jesus' pattern, which is Zion and the Babylonia pattern of building. We will examine the principles and the materials involved in these two kingdoms and see how they differ.
Looking through the scriptures from Genesis 11 to the book of Revelations, we would see by principles and operations that Babylon is described as being oppressive, manipulative, enslaving, selfish, intimidating and self-aggravating. It encompasses every part of the existing sector of today's world system. Babylon is not just a location; it is a system of operation. You find the Babylonian system in industries, businesses and governments. Unfortunately, this system is waxing stronger in the churches today. It is an anti-Zion system that promotes man rather than God.
WHICH SYSTEM CONTROLS YOUR OPERATIONS?
Beloved, pride and ignorance are part of the greatest weapons of the enemy against the church of God in these last days. The fact that you have what Babylonia system describes as success by her parameter does not mean it is success from God's perspective. The emphasis in the spirit now is not just success but fulfillment, which can only be measured by God. Whatever you are building must align with the purpose and exact plans of God for your life.
Everything you are building must be according to the measurement God requires from you. God gave Noah the exact measurement He wanted for the ark. He even described the kind of wood he should use for building it. For the Solomon's temple, He also gave precise details of how the temple should be built (1 Kings 6). Beloved,
I have a great burden and concern for the body of Christ. It causes me deep pain and tears. I pray that the eyes of our understanding will be opened the more. Are you aware that a lot of work will be burnt by fire as the Bible describes in I Corinthians 3:13-15. It doesn't matter how beautiful what you have built so far may be; it doesn't matter the financial cost involved or the crowd it has attracted; if it is not the exact picture of what God has designed for you then you have to quit building. It doesn't matter how far you've gone, you can still make a “U” turn and switch to God's pattern and say farewell to Babylon.
To be continued.
http://www.sukkotcall.blogspot.com/2014/01/jesus-pattern-for-church-building-by.html
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