When we do an in-depth study of the foundation, then our hearts will be tested and scrutinized. We cannot skip the foundation phase and jump to the building project. You first must make sure that your foundation is built on the Rock of Ages and nothing else before you erect the walls, the windows and the gates. Therefore, we must follow the Plumb line, which is symbolic of Christ. He is our pattern.
YOU MUST INTERNALIZE THE WORD TO BE TRULY ALIGNED WITH
CHRIST.
This is an accurate location for this season.
The building will begin once this phase is completed.
The final responsibility to your spiritual and personal
growth rest with you. It’s not the responsibility of the pastor to get you
there. It’s your responsibility.
You must be purposeful in your pursuit of God and your
mandate and what you stand for. Don’t be double minded in your actions.
Likewise, you must be aware of whom you are in a relationship with. This string line is a very important measuring stick. Where
you sit and with whom you are in covenant, with determines your position and
growth. If you sit at the wrong table, you will miss out on what God wants to
do.
In part eight, we looked at our fellowship with God and the
spiritual truths it conveys. I have also pointed out the benefits when you have
a relationship with the Father.
But let’s delve into what fellowship means. Especially with your brothers. (In this context, it’s not gender based but refers to mature people within the church.)
Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,
and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Fellowship with other Christians enhances spiritual growth, especially under the
following conditions:
1. ASSOCIATING
WITH WISE BELIEVERS
Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion
of fools will be destroyed.
Proverbs 11:30b
And he who wins souls is wise.
2. ASSOCIATING
WITH THOSE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST
Elisha received the anointing by associating with
Elijah.
3. ASSOCIATING
WITH STRONG BELIEVERS
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of
his friend.
Psalms 92:13-14
13Those who are planted in the house of the LORD shall
flourish in the courts of our God.
14They shall still bear fruit
in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, (NKJ)
4. FELLOWSHIP
THAT INVOLVES HEARING THE RHEMA (PRECEDING WORD)
Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of
God.
The writer of Hebrews encourages frequent fellowship.
Hebrews10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is
the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more than you see
the Day approaching.
When we associate with loyal brothers, we minimize strife and contention. This doesn’t mean that there won’t be problems but when mature people come together, they have learned to overcome strife. They have learned to deal with the complex issues, allowing them to be themselves without any fear of rejection or fight.
When you have died to yourself, you will not be in
competition with each other, but enjoy a healthy relationship without any strings
attached.
Your validation will not be in who you know, your
accomplishments or titles, but your validation will be In Christ.
BUT WHAT CAUSE THIS LOSS OF FELLOWSHIP?
LOSS
OF FELLOWSHIP AMONGST BROTHERS
Prov. 16:28
A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the
best of friends. (NKJ)
Prov. 26:20
Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there
is no talebearer, strife ceases. (NKJ)
Prov. 6:19
A false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord
among brethren. (NKJ)
Prov. 26:22
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down
into the innermost parts of the belly. (KJV)
Prov. 22:10
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; yes, strife
and reproach will cease. (NKJ)
The following must be dealt with immediately.
· Perversity
· Whisperer
· Talebearers
· Liars
· Those who sows discord
· False witnesses
· Scoffers
When such a person enters the circle, it must be dealt with immediately. If you give them time, they will do more harm than good. Many of us can attest to that. It is painful, disrespectful and causes enmity, bitterness and envy and brings harm to the body of Christ. There must be a bone-to-bone and a heart-to-heart connection.
And if you are one that falls into one of these categories mentioned above, repent and turn away so that you, too, can be a true brother that builds according to the string line.
We need to come into a position where we are exact representations of our plumb line, Christ. This is our overcoming position, which will give us the courage to stand as one.
Here are a few directives for how you should continue with your building. As it’s true in the natural, so it is in the spiritual. The Word is our compass, our datum level and Christ the plumb line of our building. When all instructions are followed, we can be sure of God’s swift return.
1.
TO MARK OUT THE TRENCHES FOR YOUR FOUNDATIONS.
Who is our datum point again?
Refer to part one of this study.
A quick recap to the scriptures we had begun with.
1 Corinthains 3: 14-18 Amplified Edition
If the work which any person has built on this Foundation
[any product of his efforts whatever] survives [this test], he will get his
reward.
15 But if any person’s
work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing
his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed]
through fire. [Job 23:10.]
16 Do you not discern
and understand that you [the whole church at Corinth] are God’s temple (His
sanctuary), and that God’s Spirit has His permanent dwelling in you [to be at
home in you, collectively as a church and also individually]?
17 If anyone does hurt
to God’s temple or corrupts it [with false doctrines] or destroys it, God will
do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For
the temple of God is holy (sacred to Him) and that [temple] you [the believing
church and its individual believers] are.
18 Let no person deceive
himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him
become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as
dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may
become [really] wise. [Isa. 5:21.]
1 Corinthains 11:1-3 Amplified Edition
PATTERN
YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the
Messiah).
2 I appreciate and commend you because you always remember me
in everything and keep firm possession of the traditions (the substance of my
instructions), just as I have [verbally] passed them on to you.
3 But I want you to know and realize that Christ is the Head
of every man, the head of a woman is her husband, and the Head of Christ is
God.
John 10:27-28 Amplified Edition
The
sheep that are My own, hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and
they follow Me.
28 And I give them eternal
life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all
eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to
snatch them out of My hand.
According to these scriptures, Christ is our Datum Point.
Never assume that your
building is square. You must work at it by setting up a line, then square off
that line exactly according to the scriptures.
God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you.
Dr Sagie Govender
Once you become a Christian you should no longer look at
other Christians from a human point of view but from God’s view. You should be
your brother’s keeper.
“The easiest way to do this is using Pythagoras’s theorem (the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the square of the other two sides). If you measure the length of your first wall and then secure a tape measure at each end, by working out the length of the hypotenuse you can use both tapes to give you a third point exactly 90° to your first line.” Bruce Bendall
Building Foundations: A Step-By-Step Guide |
Homebuilding
Our entire life should be measured against Christ. He is the
same yesterday, today and forever. He is the template against who God measure us.
If we don’t align, then we need to begin again. Making sure your plumb line is horizontally
aligned, and your string line is vertically exact is a continues work of
labour, otherwise you will continue to build inaccurately.
2 Peter 3:17
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care
that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your
own stability.
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am (God) the
one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious
cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’”
Many believers fail in
this area more often than we care to admit. Because we are too hasty, we become
unstable and is easily swayed or carried away to follow others who is not from
God. We must make sure our foundation cannot be washed away by every false
doctrine or trail. We must learn to stand our ground amid our enemies.
2. MARK ALL CORNERS OF THE BUILDING FOUNDATIONS.
Once you have two lines set up at 90°, all other measurements can be taken
from this point, with all corners and junctions marked. Then use a
string line as a guide to mark the trenches with marker paint.
The string line will
always be the guide to mark the building. You must examine yourself daily to
make sure that this guide is true in your life. Since you will become the
temple of God, these measurements must be according to the same Biblical
pattern. You cannot deviate from this plan. If you do, you are busy with a
false church.
Ezekiel 42:15-20
15 Now when he had
finished measuring the inner temple, he brought me out through the gateway that
faces toward the east, and measured it all around. 16 He measured the east side
with the measuring rod, five hundred rods by
the measuring rod all around. 17 He measured the north side, five hundred rods
by the measuring rod all around. 18 He measured the south side, five hundred
rods by the measuring rod. 19 He came around to the west side and measured five
hundred rods by the measuring rod. 20 He measured it on the four sides; it had
a wall all around, five hundred cubits long and five hundred wide, to
separate the holy areas from the common. (NKJV)
FACTS, OR
FAIRLY CERTAIN DETAILS
The complete Temple compound is a square of 500 x 500 cubits (250 x 250
meters) (42:16-20; 45:2). It is surrounded by a wall 6 cubits (3 meters) thick
and high (40:5). This forms the outer court. In its center, there is the inner
court. It is a square of 100 x 100 cubits (50 x 50 meters) (40:47; 41:14). For
comparison: a soccer field is about 100 x 70 meters big.1 The terrain has three
levels: from outside the compound wall, 7 steps lead up to the outer gatehouses
(40:22), another 8 steps lead up to the inner gatehouses (40:31), and another
10 steps lead up to the Temple building (40:49). There are altogether 25 steps
to climb. Translation aids by Peter Schmidt
1 Corinthians 3:10
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled
master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let
each one take care how he builds upon it.
The number 25 represent grace upon grace, or double grace.
This is derived from the fact that 5, which is the number of God’s grace, is
multiplied by 5 to yield 25. As such, 25 is often seen as a symbol of God’s
abundant grace and blessings.
2 is also the number of witnesses. You become a grace carrier who imparts
grace to others as you continue to build and witness about God’s Kingdom.
Where two or three
gather in His name, there He is.
50 is the number of the Holy Spirit.
- Unity, completeness, and new beginnings
- Jubilee, a time of restoration and freedom
- Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended
upon the disciples
- Completion of cycles or seasons
Our measurements must
be exact in every area to be truly a witness and disciple of Christ. Nothing
else will matter but Christ.
3. START DIGGING THE FOUNDATION TRENCHES.
Now you’re ready to start digging. Have your
site level set to the depth you need to dig and check it often. Ultimately it
is down to the building control inspector to decide how far down you need to go;
they will inspect at this stage and advise.
The building inspector is the Holy Spirit. He leads us to
all truths. He knows the Father’s heart for our lives therefore, he will
determine the depths each one must surpass to fulfil God’s mandate on our
lives.
The Holy Spirit will continually inspect and advise us
during each phase. He knows how far he can go to come to that place where we
die to ourselves. Therefore, when we remain connected, nothing could separate
us from Him.
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor
things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth,
nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 13:5
Some fell on stony
places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up
because they had no depth of earth.
We must have depth.
Our roots must be planted deep within the very bedrock of Christ to remain
steadfast. Only He knows our hearts. As kings we will be tested, our hearts
searched and God’s glory that will conceal us in Him.
Proverbs 25:2-3
It is the glory of God
to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
4. INTRODUCE DEPTH PEGS AND POUR.
Once Building Control has
visited, you are ready to pour the footings. You should place depth pegs in the
trenches to show you how deep to fill, but you may find that marking the sides
of the trenches with marker paint also works well, with a final onceover with
the site level and a concrete rake to get them spot on — the more accurate you
can be with your levels the easier (and cheaper) the next stage will be.
Luke 6:48
“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid
the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against
that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”
Have you ever seen a swallow trench? I haven’t.
Just an average house’s trenches can be unnerving and
intimidating if you are fearful of those depths.
When you pass a construction site and look through the
peepholes (they fence it for safety purposes) you will notice the deep trenches.
Especially, when a ten or twenty story building is built. The higher the
building, the deeper the foundation. The taller the tree, the deeper its roots.
To help you with this digging is the fruit of the Spirit which
is our depth pegs. These pegs determine the depth your roots will grow before a
building will be raised.
Gal 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (NIV)
As we remain in Christ, overcoming
the enemies as seen in Rev 2:1-3:19 becomes
a vital part of our walk:
·
Apathy
·
Tribulations
·
Mixtures
·
Jezebel
·
Religious spirits
·
Lukewarmness
Phil 4:15-18
15Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the
gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning
giving and receiving but you only.
16For
even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.
17Not
that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that
abounds to your account.
18Indeed I have all and
abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you,
a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (NKJ)
2 Kings 19:29-31
‘This shall be a sign to you:
‘You shall eat this year such as grows of itself,
And in the second year what springs from the same;
Also in the third year sow and reap,
Plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them.
30 And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah
Shall again take root downward,
And bear fruit upward.
31 For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant,
And those who escape from Mount Zion.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.’ (NKJV)
5. KEEPING THE SITE TIDY WHEN LAYING BUILDING FOUNDATIONS.
Before you fire up the digger,
you’ll need to decide what’s going to happen to the spoil. If it’s staying
on site, you may need to hire in a dumper so that it can be stored in a
suitable place where it won’t interfere with the build. Otherwise, you’ll have
to organise lorries to take it to a tip. The turnaround time, or distance to
the tip, will dictate how many lorries are needed to maintain continuity on the
dig. You will also need to decide whether you’ll be able to load the
concrete directly into the trenches or whether a pump will be needed. If you do
decide on a pump — always a good idea if more than three loads are anticipated
— then it will need to be booked, and the concrete suppliers advised so that
their mix and turnaround time can be adjusted to facilitate a continuous pour.
More about this when
we discuss the Quarry.
My prayer is that you
will truly come to this place where your string line is on par with God’s word.
That you will continue to measure yourself and make sure that you are a true
witness of a grace carrier.
I pray that your
trenches will be deep and that you will have the fruit of your life as you
overcome the enemies that tries to hinder you of entering in fulness God has
planned for you.
At times it will feel
like a slow process, and nothing is happening but as you remain connected and
consistent you will become the tree that has fruit every month of the year.
Grace and peace to you
all.
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