We are GOD'S building."
Brethren,
Do you recall learning of the ancient Mayan empire, and their magnificent structures? Or what about the Aztecs, and La Gran Tenochtitlan, which was one of the Aztec cities, that showcased a number of Pyramids?"
Pyramids, that still stand today, and are as impressive as any modern day structure.
Well, in like manner, when explorers entered Peru, they found huge, impressive buildings, that may have been standing for thousands of years. These ancient Inca structures were built of hand-hewn stone of different size and shape. The stones of these structures, were all so tightly fitted together, that you could not slide a piece of paper between the stones. Every stone, Beloved, was tightly fit together." Yet, they were all different." Some stones were 3-sided, some 4-sided, and some 7-sided. Yet, they were fitted together so perfectly that they withstood great earthquakes.
Now, I'd like you to consider a great parallel, because in much the same manner, GOD is building HIS church.
The WORD of The LIVING GOD pictures the church of JESUS CHRIST as HIS building, and each and every Believer, is a block in HIS building.
And because we are, HE, is placing each of us, "strategically in HIM;" Saying, and speaking these WORDS from Mathew 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of MINE, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on The ROCK:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall for it was founded on The ROCK.
"But everyone who hears these sayings of MINE, and does not do them, will be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand, and the rain descended the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Brethren,
The LORD, our GOD, said through the apostle Peter, that we, “as living stones, are being built up a SPIRITUAL house.” Therefore, 1st Peter 2:5-8 reads: You also, as living stones, are being built up a SPIRITUAL house, a HOLY priesthood, to offer up SPIRITUAL sacrifices acceptable to GOD through JESUS CHRIST.
Therefore it is also contained in The SCRIPTURE,
"Behold I lay in ZION
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who Believes on HIM will not be put to shame."
Therefore, to you who Believe, HE is PRECIOUS; but to those who are disobedient,
"The Stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,"
and "A Stone of stumbling
And ROCK of offense."
"But why do they stumble, and are they offended?"]
They stumble, being disobedient to The WORD, to which they also were appointed.
[Beloved, we are appointed to do the will of GOD, and to share The GOSPEL of HIS Son; "without finding it odd."]
For the apostle Paul, said, that by our obedience to The WORD of GOD, we are “being joined together.” And Ephesians 2:21-22 assures us, that we who are Trusting in CHRIST, Believing in CHRIST, thus, we are in CHRIST; “are being "built together" for a dwelling place of GOD in The SPIRIT.”
Consider how it reads: In Whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into A HOLY TEMPLE in The LORD, in Whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of GOD in The SPIRIT.
[Brethren,
Though we are people with a variety of backgrounds, abilities, interests, and needs." We make up CHRIST’S church, and we are the called to a common purpose." To GLORIFY our GREAT GOD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
Yes, to be The LIGHT of GOD, as JESUS shines through us, and illuminates this lost and dying world, by our obedience to share The GOSPEL.
We are to allow The LORD, to do HIS work through us, shaping us and assigning our place in HIS structure, "HIS building," that is become a strong, "ROCK solid" edifice!"
And so, Brethren,
Though we are all different, we are "One in CHRIST."
GOD’S building, an HIS enduring church. The magnificent buildings of the Aztecs, Mayan, and Inca empires, will eventually crumble to the ground, and become obsolete." But The WORD of The LIVING GOD, will abide "FOREVER!"
We, Beloved,
"the church of CHRIST JESUS," are built to last.
JESUS
OK