Caution, Church Under Construction

“And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God…I declared unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved…For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:16; 1Cor. 15:1-4; Matt. 16:18).

Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of the foundation laid out by the apostles and prophets:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens, with the saints, and of the household of God: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone. In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Eph. 219-22.

Even as the Lord told King David He would build him an house, He is building us a house, a habitation for himself. He provides all the material to build us into a holy temple.

• The Holy Spirit–“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth… And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance… But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things… when the Comforter is come…even the Spirit of truth…he shall testify of me… the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (John 14:16,17a; Acts 2:3,4; John 14:26; John 15:26;Acts 2:39).
• The Word–“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me… So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God… BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURETH FOR EVER. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you…As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”(John 5:39; Rom.10:17; 1Pet.1:25; 2Pet. 2:2,3).
• The Body–“for as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit…But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him…Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular… And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (1Cor. 12:12,13,18,27; Heb. 10:24,25).

With the foundation laid and the proper tools, the framework goes up quickly.

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. They that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls…And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:40,41,47.

Half the walls are constructed, when a Gentile man’s prayers are answered and the other half begins to be built.

“…Cornelius, thy prayer is heard…Then Peter opened his mouth, and said Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him…While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they which were of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 10:31,34,35,44,45.

The Church is still under construction but its day of completion draws near.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Rev. 21:3.

How is God using you to build His church?