What if I aspired to commit time, energy and resources to the task of building a brick wall: no expense is spared in obtaining the materials necessary in its construction. The bricks are without flaw, the mortar is carefully mixed to the proper consistency. A plumb bob is used to assure that the wall stands perfectly erect. Each brick is meticulously set in place; the trowel in my hand is as the hammer and chisel of the sculptor, or the fine camelhair brush of the artist. I step back for a moment to admire my handiwork. “How strong, how veritably immovable you are!” I choose a brick at random. It shall not be shaken, for there are others above, below, and on either side. Surely it is invincible!
However, one most important factor is yet without consideration: it is that of the foundation. Perchance the earth beneath is unstable, that it is subject to shifting. If that mound of ground on which I built my wall should suddenly give way - then what of the bricks? Shall they not utterly fall, even as the massive walls of Jericho fell, because the Lord God saw fit to jerk the foundation out from under them? Laugh aloud you citizens of Jericho, but the God who laid the foundations of the earth shall surely move them from beneath you!
May we not say then, that the security of the brick, that the strength of its position in the wall, ultimately lies in the firmness of the foundation upon which it is built?
“For other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ” I Cor. 3:10.
“Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great” Luke 6:47-49.
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rains descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” Matt. 7:24-27,
In Matthew chapter 7, one man is declared to be “wise” while the other is deemed “foolish.” This man is said to have built his house on the sand, but in Luke his folly is plainly exposed: his house was builtwithout a foundation. Once again our Lord denounces the Pharisees: who boast themselves of many great works, who bask in their self proclaimed righteousness, whose conceit is multiplied in wordy prayers directed toward themselves. These religious professors arrogantly parade about commending each other; and all the while, publicly condemning the wicked, vile, contaminating “sinners.” It is these who engage themselves in much “building” who are to watch their “marvelous works” crumble into a heap.
Let there be no misunderstanding! It is Christ who is the Rock, the sure Foundation. We either acknowledge Him as the only foundation or we have no foundation at all! “For other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ”
When man fell from the foundation of righteousness and plummeted downward in sin, he did not ultimately reach “another foundation.” No indeed! Man continues to fall, for there exists no other foundation. How suitably do we find Satan chained and cast into the “bottomless pit” for a thousand years just prior to the glorious reign of our Lord. The “man of sin” in the place of sin, where there is no foundation! Satan is deemed the “prince of the powers of the air:” again, no foundation is afforded! Well might the fowls of the air find a perching place upon the wind! Though we speak metaphorically of the “gates of hell,” yet we have no reason to assume that it has foundation. Those who go there are fallen and doubtlessly will fall for Eternity without end.
“For other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Almost a century ago men were found to be writing of a malady that has invaded even the most fundamental churches: that many might, by human persuasion, succumb to an “easy believism,” a very painless way in which to “get saved” whereby they need only “accept Christ.” Does not nature reveal the sorrows of childbirth? Our thoughts turn to the mother, but should not the crying out of the new-born indicate that it, too, has gone through a harrowing experience and has suffered pain? Admittedly, a youth whose heart is yet tender and in whom sin has not yet taken its toll, is not likely to experience all that the older teen or adult will confront. The heart is not so hardened nor the will so rebellious as is theirs. I think of Jacob, who struggled, who wrestled with the Lord until He touched his thigh, rendering him without strength. Startling is the sudden change that is beheld in Jacob’s attitude and behavior. Jacob now clings to him; He presses him: “let Me go.” To which Jacob declares, “I will not let thee go, except Thou bless me.”
Oh the glorious touch, the quickening of the Holy Spirit. He that can take one who is at enmity againstGod; who is dead, yes willingly so, in trespasses and sin; who absolutely resists all that pertains to godliness. And suddenly - his heart is changed; his will is changed; he ceases to wrestle; he throws down the weapons of war; he becomes willingly submissive to the Presence of the Holy One. So overwhelmed is he by the sense of who God really is, that he cries out, “I will not let You go!”
Grievous is the folly of those who embrace some religious experience and are for a time joyfully exuberant; yet who remain without that needful quickening of the Holy Spirit. Is He not well able to bring them into despair: that they might own themselves as destitute of any kindness from the Lord God; deserving condemnation, judgment, and everlasting punishment? But apart from responding to His effectual call, their houses shall fall, their foundations shall crumble beneath them. Indeed, they are without foundation.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it” Psalm 127:1.
When we earlier beheld the “wise man” and the “foolish man” in the building of their houses, our attention was naturally drawn to the foundations in question. However, there is another aspect that we would do well to consider. It may be rightly assumed that the two houses were very similar in appearance - at least to the natural eye. The scriptures tell us that the wise man’s house withstood the onslaught of the storm. But this should further instruct us that he was indeed wise: not only in choosing to build upon the rock, but wise also, in the building of his house. In contrast, the other man was foolish in building upon the sand, “without a foundation.” May we then not also conclude him to be equally foolish in his planning, and of the materials in which he used to build his house? Could this man’s house have withstood the winds, the rain, and the flood?
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
“And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Un, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding,and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and insilver, and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them. . .And in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;” Exodus 37:1-6.
When God would have a tabernacle constructed in the wilderness, he gave command to Moses: not only was He the Author who planned it and the Architect who designed it. but was likewise the Contractorwho built it! So exacting, so meticulous was the Lord that he personally called out and set apart for Himself those whom He would have labour on his house. So particular was He, that He would have them to “be filled with the Spirit of God” that they might have “wisdom, understanding, and knowledge” as they worked His work and built His house.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
“Furthermore David the king said unto all the congregation, Solomon my son, whom God alone hath chosen, is yet young and tender, and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the Lord God. Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for things to be made of gold, and the silver for things of silver. . . onyx stones, and stones to be set, glistering stones, and of all manner of precious stones. Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the Holy House, even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the house withal: And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?” I Chron.29: 1-5.
See then, the King himself will supply the material; gold, silver, precious stones; but who is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? “My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory. . .but who is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?” (May it he noted that our God is likewise the Creator, the Maker of all He supplies; that nothing exists of itself.)
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
“for we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it” I Cor. 3:9-13.
If Christ has gone to prepare a place for us, then the Holy Spirit is come to prepare us for the place. If Jesus was a carpenter by trade, then His Spirit also: He is under Contract, the Eternal Covenant, to build Spiritual houses; even one Glorious and Eternal house, and that, being upon the Foundation that is laid, the Lord Jesus Christ!
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” I Cor. 3:9,16, l7b.
“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (peripoiesis - an aquired purchased possession, preserved; to make around oneself,) that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” I Peter 2:3-5,9.
Observe, the believer as a priest: “an holy priesthood,” “a royal priesthood.” As priests of God we are duly authorized to “offer up spiritual sacrifices,” and they are to be accounted “acceptable unto God,”not by the merits nor the abilities of man, but “by Jesus Christ.” It is in light of this scripture that we draw a comparison: “I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable (logikos - logical, using sound judgment) service” Rom. 12:1.
If God has called us, if He has set us apart for his purpose and glory, if He has indwelt us with His Holy Spirit that we might have wisdom, knowledge and understanding, if He shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus: “And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?”
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
We have observed from the Old Testament how the Lord carefully and meticulously guarded the building of the tabernacle and king Solomon’s temple and how He exercised a Divine Jealousy over the same. (Actually it was the temple of the Lord but we do no harm in calling it Solomon’s temple if we consider him to be a figure of Christ, also the “Son of David).” However costly the temple may have been in its construction, there remained the building of one other. So inestimable is its value that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” for its purchase. It is the body of Christ, of which He is Head. It is built of lively stones. Of this temple also, it may he said: that God is the Author who planned it, theArchitect who designed it, the Contractor who built it, the King who provides the materials “according to his riches in glory.” If God be so exacting that He personally chose those who should build earthly tabernacles; if He would “fill them with the Spirit of God” that they might have “wisdom, understanding, and knowledge” in order that they might “make all that I have commanded thee”. . .Do you see it? “Ye are God’s building; ye are the temple of God; the Spirit of God dwelleth in you; the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are!” If the Lord God exercise such a holy jealousy concerning those earthly tabernacles, then how exceedingly greater must be His desire toward that Spiritual Temple of which Christ is Head; which was purchased by the offering of His blood and the giving of his life on the tree?
“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit” Eph. 5 17,18. “And be not drunk with wine” we compare to “be ye not unwise;” “But be filled with the Spirit we relate to “But understanding what the will of the Lord is.” By rightly comparing these verses, we are to perceive that he who is drunk with wine is unwise; while he who is filled with the Spirit ought to “understand what the will of the Lord is.” I know I shall be charged with being repetitious, but let us recall once again Exodus chapter 37 where God “called men by name,” “filled them with the Spirit of God” that through him they might have “wisdom, understanding, and knowledge,” that they might be craftsmen in their working with “gold, silver, precious stones,” that they might “make all that I have commanded thee.”
“Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breathe of His mouth.” “For He spake, and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast” Psalm 33:6,9. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters. . . And Godmade the firmament. And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven. . .And God madetwo great lights. . .and set them in the firmament of the heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature. . . and God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply. May it not well be said that the creatures both heard the voice of God and responded in obedience to His Word? So God created man in His own image. But man would be God: he refuses to hear and will not obey! What Godwilled He spoke, and what He spoke, He moved into existence. God said, Let there BE, and it WAS!
Now the same God who said, Let there BE, is the invariable Sovereign who commands us in Ephesians 5:18: “BE FILLED with the Spirit.” God commanded beast and man to “replenish” the earth. Dare we call it coincidental that the Hebrew word for “replenish” is mala, to fill or be full of! The world that God created He called “good;” it was His Temple, the place where He could tabernacle with man; where He could come walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. Now are we the temple of God: by His ownchoosing; being called by His Voice; being made in the eternal likeness of His dear Son!
The “filling of the Spirit:” it is the command of God, by the Voice of God; and certainly cannot know fulfillment unless the Spirit of God moves upon the face of the waters of our hearts! And yet may Exodus 37 be accomplished in us: to be filled with the Spirit; that He may work in us; wisdom, understanding, knowledge, in all manner of workmanship; that we may “make [build] all that I have commanded thee;”
Returning to I Cor. 3:12-15 we find that which has caused men to experience spiritual “heartburn:” “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones.” All would be well if we might stop right here! But without pause the verse continues: “wood, hay, stubble.” Listen saints! God made no provision for such in the building of the Old Testament tabernacle! And it is certain that He will not allow such to remain in His Church [house]. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.”God will supply all our need: the spiritual materials; gold, silver, precious stones. The Holy Spirit is standing along side that we may know what the will of the Lord is. He is the Comforter: com, with; fort,strength. Despite all this, we are prone to be found trusting the arm of the flesh, depending on human reasoning, and desiring to help God build His house, using the corruptible materials of wood hay, stubble! In Ephesians 5:25-27 we are told that “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” God will not allow our wood, hay, and stubble to remain! All that is built of the materials provided by the Lord and according to Divine Design, will receive a reward: all that we attempt to build with the wood, hay and stubble of self effort will be “burned.” It is not that God desires to pass judgment, to punish us: rather that we might be purified, brought to perfection; that we may ultimately be made without spot, wrinkle, or blemish! God forbid that the Christ dishonoring works of the flesh should be present to haunt us for all eternity! No, they shall be manifest, the day shall declare it, it shall be revealed, it shall be burned up!
In II Timothy 2:19-21 we find an excellent summation of our present study: “Nevertheless thefoundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. (glorious assurance for the believer!) And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth; and some tohonour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel untohonour, sanctified, and meet (euchrestos, Gr.- easily used, useful, profitable) for the master’s use, andprepared unto every good work.” It is interesting that the word used for vessel in this text is skeuos,Gr.- a vessel, implement, equipment or apparatus, specifically a wife as contributing to the usefulness of her husband. A like comparison is given us in I Peter chapter 3, concerning the wife: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning,” not the wearing of gold, “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” The husband likewise is exhorted to give “honour unto the wife, as unto the weakervessel.” Surely we are to understand the design afforded us; a further comparison of Christ and His church: that the gold, silver and precious stones consist not of the “outward adorning,” that which is corruptible - wood, hay and stubble. Rather that which is of the heart, a meek and quiet spirit of submission, “which is in the sight of God of great price.” May reader and writer be encouraged to search these passages; to meditate upon them; to allow the Spirit of Wisdom to reveal much Truth.
I can think of no better way to bring this chapter to a close than by asking you to look with me into a beautiful prophetic picture. The scripture lessons are to be found in I Chronicles 17 and II Samuel 7. I prayerfully urge you to carefully study these in their entirety.
The occasion. David is sitting in his house conversing with Nathan, the prophet. “Lo, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.” The word of the Lord came to Nathan during the night: (The two accounts differ slightly at this point, but that only serves to give us a fuller picture.) “Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the Lord, Shalt thou build Me an house for Me to dwell in?” II Sam. 7:5. “Go and tell David my servant, Thou shalt not build Me an house to dwell in” I Chron. 17:4. It almost appears that the Lord is amused that David might consider the God of the universe, being built an earthly house by the creature of His own creation! “Whereas I have not dwelt inany house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt.” “spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, saying . . .Why build ye Me not a house of cedar?”
“Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me?” Acts 7:48-49. Shall man indeed build a house for God? May we recall the word of our Lord as recorded in John chapter 14: “In my Father’s house are many mansions!” “I go to prepare a place for you” “Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place. “I Chron. 17:9.
“I go to prepare a place for you.” “Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house!” I Chron. 17:10.
“I go to prepare a place for you.” “I will raise up thy seed after thee. . .and I will establish his kingdom.He shall build me a house and I will stablish his throne forever!”
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom forever!” I Chron. 17:14.
“And his throne shall be established for evermore” I Chron. 17:14. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” Rev. 3:21.
See then, that Christ is the fulfillment of the covenant/promise made to David!
“And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God” I Chron.l7:16. It would be well worth the time for the reader to meditate upon verses 16 through 27, for here is to be found one of the most beautiful prayers in all the Bible; as David enters into a state of praise, adoration and worship before the Lord.
Solomon the son of David, would build a house for the Lord. But David rejoiced when he saw by faith what God would do. There is no building big enough nor so adorned with exquisite beauty that it can house the Eternal God. O the wonder of it all; that He should desire to indwell the hearts of men!
“I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies [tabernacles, temples, as lively stones] a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
“And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord?”
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