SPEAKER_00: When we get up together, experience of love.
SPEAKER_00: Give the love back.
SPEAKER_01: First Corinthians chapter 3, verses 9 to 15.
SPEAKER_01: Reading from the New King James Versions, for we are God's fellow workers.
SPEAKER_01: You are God's field.
SPEAKER_01: You are God's building.
SPEAKER_01: According to the grace of God, which was given to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.
SPEAKER_01: But let each of you take heed how he builds on it.
SPEAKER_01: For no other foundation can anyone lay that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Now, if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, tea, straw, each one's walk will be clear, will become clear, for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire.
SPEAKER_01: And the fire will test each one's walk, of what sort it is.
SPEAKER_01: And if anyone's walk which has been built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
SPEAKER_01: If anyone's walk is born, he will suffer loss.
SPEAKER_01: But he himself will be saved yet so as through fire.
SPEAKER_01: Wish to speak to us on the next few moments on the subject in the form of a question.
SPEAKER_01: How do you stand?
SPEAKER_01: Has anyone here has constructed a home?
SPEAKER_01: That's where the show of your hand, you have built a home or you were involved in the building of a home.
SPEAKER_01: You don't find it a lot of stress, in a lot of stress, and a lot of headache, and a lot of disappointments and and and so much in dealing with building a house.
SPEAKER_01: And I have found that this construction industry a very interesting one.
SPEAKER_01: It's a lot of hard work, energy draining because most times you're out there walking in the sun.
SPEAKER_01: And to you guys that work in the construction field, I salute you for working in that sun.
SPEAKER_01: The construction work is also very precise and detailed.
SPEAKER_01: There is a saying in construction that you measure twice and cut once.
SPEAKER_01: Because one bad measurement can throw off the entire project.
SPEAKER_01: And if a person wishes to build or buy a house, there are some very important factors to take into consideration.
SPEAKER_01: First, you must ask yourself, can I afford to buy or build this house?
SPEAKER_01: It's not like going to the supermarket and buying groceries.
SPEAKER_01: Even though these days now you have to consider when you're going to the supermarket.
SPEAKER_01: If you're gonna buy a decent structure, you have to be prepared to spend some money.
SPEAKER_01: We're talking about 250,000 of them things and more.
SPEAKER_01: Depends on how lavish you want your house to be.
SPEAKER_01: You must have a plan or a design.
SPEAKER_01: You want to see what this house looks like.
SPEAKER_01: Some folks want all the bells and whistles, the glitch and the glamour.
SPEAKER_01: Well, others just want a simple two by four box where they can put their head to sleep and won't get wet in case it rains.
SPEAKER_01: Once you're ready to bail or purchase this dream home, your house can have all the fancy curves and arches, mahogany cabinets and marble countertops.
SPEAKER_01: You can have the latest technology throughout the house where all you have to do is speak the word and the lights come on and the toilet flush itself and all those fancy things.
SPEAKER_01: But nobody never really took the time out to consider that the house must have a solid foundation.
SPEAKER_01: If your house is not on a solid foundation and it comes stumbling down, ain't no command you could say to stop that house from falling.
SPEAKER_01: The foundation is the most important part of the structure.
SPEAKER_01: Anyone constructing a house or a building or any structure must ensure that the foundation is firm and steady.
SPEAKER_01: The reason why we must ensure that the foundation is firm is because anything that goes on that foundation must be able to stand and withstand any peril that may come against it.
SPEAKER_01: Now we live in a jurisdiction where we are very prone to hurricanes, and we all have that experience a couple years ago when Washington passed through her.
SPEAKER_01: And even though, yeah, I don't call her name at all.
SPEAKER_01: And so all of us, we went through that terrible hurricane, and even though the roof probably came off, or some of the walls were battened down or broken down, your foundation was still there.
SPEAKER_01: So how do we set a foundation?
SPEAKER_01: Now, in construction, for what I understand, you have to make sure that the surface is prepared accordingly.
SPEAKER_01: So you have your steel and you also put rocks in between.
SPEAKER_01: So when the concrete comes on top of it, it's solid and it's form and it's secure.
SPEAKER_01: But I submit to us today that if we're going to go any further in life, our foundation, our footing must be built on the solid rock, which is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: With all sorts of ideology and philosophy and theology and technology that's out there, you cannot afford to be doubting as to how solid and firm your foundation is in order to build your house or your own life.
SPEAKER_01: The foundation was established first and conform based on Peter's confession in Matthew 16, 18.
SPEAKER_01: And he says, And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades or Hell shall not prevail against it.
SPEAKER_01: Now, how did this come about?
SPEAKER_01: Now Jesus asked the disciples a question: Who do men say that I am?
SPEAKER_01: And so they responded by saying, Some of them say that you are a prophet, either Isaiah or one of them other prophets.
SPEAKER_01: And then he said, Well, okay, well, that's what they say.
SPEAKER_01: But who do you say that I am?
SPEAKER_01: And Peter, being the spokesman that he was got up in confidence and said that he is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
SPEAKER_01: And because of his confession that Jesus is the Christ, he said, Upon you and upon upon your confession, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
SPEAKER_01: Listen, it doesn't matter what the enemy tries to do when we are building our foundation, which is Jesus Christ, it doesn't matter what the devil tries to do, he cannot conquer you.
SPEAKER_01: Because you are planted and you are formed in Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Jesus is the rock in which we build our foundation.
SPEAKER_01: So Jesus is the rock.
SPEAKER_01: The rock is the foundation which is also Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: So we have a solid rock, firm foundation.
SPEAKER_01: Our foundation is Jesus Himself.
SPEAKER_01: Our text tells us, 1 Corinthians 3 verse 11, for no other foundation can anyone lay that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Only one foundation is required for a building.
SPEAKER_01: A building has one foundation.
SPEAKER_01: Once it is laid, it is never repeated.
SPEAKER_01: This foundation, which is Jesus Himself, speaks to the work and power through the gift of salvation.
SPEAKER_01: The ultimate sacrifice that he made by dying on the cross for the entire world.
SPEAKER_01: This foundation also consists of his teachings and principles he laid out when he was with his disciples and he has left them for us to follow.
SPEAKER_01: So Jesus established his foundation when he died for us on the cross.
SPEAKER_01: There are so many other gods out there that try to take the place of Jesus Christ, but you check their graves and their bones are there.
SPEAKER_01: But if you check where they try to lay Jesus, his bones are not there because he is alive and he has risen from the dead.
SPEAKER_01: We serve a risen Savior.
SPEAKER_01: We serve a savior that has conquered death and the grave.
SPEAKER_01: And so because of this power that he has, he has laid the foundation for us so we can build upon it.
SPEAKER_01: If we go back to Matthew 5 to 7, we see Jesus speaking to the multitude, and he was teaching and explaining about laying the foundation.
SPEAKER_01: And in verse 24 of Matthew 7, he says, Therefore, whoever hears these saying of mine and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man who builds his house upon the rock.
SPEAKER_01: And the rains descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock.
SPEAKER_01: So who builds on this foundation?
SPEAKER_01: Anyone who is wise builds on this foundation.
SPEAKER_01: One who has considered wise is one who has put their faith and trust and confidence in Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: A person who has accepted the gift of salvation and walking in the will of the Master is a wise person and builds upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Our text tells us in verses 10 and 11 in 1 Corinthians 3, according to the grace of God, which was given to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it.
SPEAKER_01: But let each one take heed how he builds on it, for no other foundation can anyone lay that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: And so being a wise builder doesn't exempt you from the elements.
SPEAKER_01: Being a wise builder does not exempt you from the elements.
SPEAKER_01: The rains of trials and testings and temptation will fall.
SPEAKER_01: But because you are building on a foundation established by Jesus Christ, when the rain falls and the wind blows, your house will stand firm.
SPEAKER_01: In the times in which we live, we need to know how we stand and who we standing on.
SPEAKER_01: Because everybody has an opinion and everybody thinks that they're right, and everybody has a uh a way of discrediting the word of God.
SPEAKER_01: But when you know that you know that Jesus is the one who saves you, and he's the one that's keeping you, and he's the one that goes before you and behind you and beside you, no matter who try to tell you fairy tales and and and other sorts of ideas of what they think happens and who is in charge.
SPEAKER_01: You tell them, listen, Jesus rules and he reigns, and he is the one that I stand upon, and it doesn't matter what you say, but I say that Jesus is the Son of God.
SPEAKER_01: So anyone who builds on this foundation, you are wise.
SPEAKER_01: Anyone who has put their trust in Jesus Christ, you are wise.
SPEAKER_01: Anyone who builds on Jesus Christ as a firm foundation, you are considered to be wise.
SPEAKER_01: So what do we use to build on this foundation?
SPEAKER_01: We see this in verses 12 to 15 of our texts.
SPEAKER_01: Now, anyone who builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's walk will become clear.
SPEAKER_01: For the day we declare it.
SPEAKER_01: Because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test each one's walk of what sort it is.
SPEAKER_01: If anyone's walk which has been built there endures, he will receive a reward.
SPEAKER_01: If anyone walk is born, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved yet so as through fire.
SPEAKER_01: Now we must note that this particular part of this passage was speaking to pastors and preachers in terms of building the foundation and then to believers who are called to build the church through faithful ministry.
SPEAKER_01: Now, these six verse, these verse gives us six different types of materials to use to build on the foundation.
SPEAKER_01: So gold, silver, and precious stones are quality material which represents dedicated spiritual service to build the church.
SPEAKER_01: The other three materials, wood, hay, and straw, are considered inferior, employing shallow activity with no eternal value.
SPEAKER_01: So I will encourage all of us to use the materials of gold, silver, and stones.
SPEAKER_01: It shows that you are dedicated.
SPEAKER_01: It shows that you are spiritually alive to what is happening around you.
SPEAKER_01: I would not suggest building your home, your house, your life with wood, hay, and straw.
SPEAKER_01: Y'all remember the story of the three little pigs?
SPEAKER_01: The three little pigs, one belly house with straw.
SPEAKER_01: And the bad wolf came around.
SPEAKER_01: Little pig, little pig let me in.
SPEAKER_01: And when he said, I huff and I'll puff and I blow your house down.
SPEAKER_01: He huffed and he puffed and he blew the house down.
SPEAKER_01: Then the little pig had to run to little pig number two who built his house out of wood.
SPEAKER_01: And the little and the wolf came, little pig, little pig let me in, and he blew the house down.
SPEAKER_01: But when he went to the house with the bricks, he huffed and he puffed.
SPEAKER_01: And he huffed and he puffed.
SPEAKER_01: And he huffed and he puffed, but he couldn't get the house down because the house was built with stones, with bricks.
SPEAKER_01: It shows that these are the this type of house has value.
SPEAKER_01: It shows that he was precise in what he was doing.
SPEAKER_01: He was wise in building his house.
SPEAKER_01: And so I encourage all of us to use the materials to build our house because one of these days, we're not gonna stand before the big bad wolf, but we're gonna stand before the great God that we say that we serve.
SPEAKER_01: And one of these days, he's gonna put our walks to the test.
SPEAKER_01: And if your for if your work withstands the test by fire, you will be rewarded.
SPEAKER_01: There's a rewarding day coming.
SPEAKER_01: Listen, you don't do what you do because Pastor asked you to do it.
SPEAKER_01: You don't do it because you feel like you do it because of what Christ did for you on the cross many years ago.
SPEAKER_01: It is only your reasonable service that you give of yourself and you give of your total being because when somebody does something for you out of the ordinary, you are indebted to them.
SPEAKER_01: I always use the analogy.
SPEAKER_01: If someone was to call you today and ask you for the balance on your mortgage, and they say, All right.
SPEAKER_01: And they call you back after you give them the figure for your mortgage, and they in return give you a check of the balance of your mortgage.
SPEAKER_01: I am telling you, every time you see this person, you will hug them, you will kiss them, you will do anything for them because they paid a debt that was over your head for what 30 years, and they come and they pay off this debt.
SPEAKER_01: And Jesus Christ did the same thing for us.
SPEAKER_01: He took a debt that was hanging over our heads, and he went to the cross, and his journey to the cross was terrible.
SPEAKER_01: Man, they they they whipped him and they they splat on him, they mock him because he said he was Christ, he was the foundation, he was a rock.
SPEAKER_01: And because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross, all he asks is us to live holy.
SPEAKER_01: All he asks for us to live a life pleasing unto him that others may see Christ in us and come to call him blessed.
SPEAKER_01: All he asks is to give you all, to give your best.
SPEAKER_01: He never called us to be perfect, but he called us to be holy.
SPEAKER_01: And so the real question is what are you building your house with?
SPEAKER_01: What are the materials you're using to build your house?
SPEAKER_01: Well, let me ask you this way.
SPEAKER_01: Are you adding any value to this wall?
SPEAKER_01: Or are you just existing?
SPEAKER_01: Are you adding any value or are you just existing?
SPEAKER_01: Now, this reminds me, there's a sign that says under construction.
SPEAKER_01: Now, when you see this sign, it usually means that our building or a road or even a website is in the process of being created or built, and it is not finished yet.
SPEAKER_01: The phrase signifies active work is happening to complete the project.
SPEAKER_01: It also informs that the project is not ready, but it is expected to be finished at some point in the future.
SPEAKER_01: Now, listen, as you continue to build upon and set this and build upon this foundation, I'm here to tell you that every day you're under construction because the project is never finished.
SPEAKER_01: Because none of us have arrived, none of us have reached perfection.
SPEAKER_01: And so every day we are building upon this foundation, every day we're under construction, every day we're adding value to ourselves, we are taking our lives to another level.
SPEAKER_01: So you never stop building on this foundation.
SPEAKER_01: So build your house with quality materials because there's coming a day that it will be tested by wind and not by wind and rain, but by fire.
SPEAKER_01: The foundation was laid and established by Jesus Himself, but the responsibility is on us to what we use to construct on this foundation.
SPEAKER_01: The foundation is not going to be tested because it's already established and tested and tried.
SPEAKER_01: When you and I stand before God at the judgment seat of Christ, every born again believer, the Bible.
SPEAKER_01: Tells us each one of us walks to become clear for the day we declare it.
SPEAKER_01: Because it will be revealed by fire.
SPEAKER_01: And the fire will test each one's walk of what sort it is.
SPEAKER_01: And anyone who walks, which has built endures, he will receive a reward.
SPEAKER_01: Anyone walk that is born, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved.
SPEAKER_01: Yet so as through fire.
SPEAKER_01: So basically, once you build your house with good stuff, you will hear well done, thou good and faithful servant, you will receive your crown.
SPEAKER_01: And there are a whole lot of heap of crowns to be received.
SPEAKER_01: And I thank God that on that day when we get up there, we'll be changed.
SPEAKER_01: We'll be changed.
SPEAKER_01: And this mortal ain't going up there.
SPEAKER_01: Because if we see certain people up there with a crown on their head, we will want to know.
SPEAKER_01: Well, how she get that.
SPEAKER_01: And she does me all kinds of things.
SPEAKER_01: And unfortunately, I have some of their past that ain't got any crown.
SPEAKER_01: They're gonna just get in there because they are saying yes to Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: They never built upon the foundation, they never established any building.
SPEAKER_01: But I must sound a warning and let you know that there is a danger for not building on the foundation that is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Everyone who hears this sign of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand, and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house, and it fell, and it was a great fall.
SPEAKER_01: A foundation we establish is built on a rock.
SPEAKER_01: A foundation cannot be established and built on sand.
SPEAKER_01: As you pick it up, it falls through your hand.
SPEAKER_01: But when you pick up a rock, the rock is in your hand.
SPEAKER_01: It is dangerous and foolish to build your house and it is not built on the foundation which is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: You are not safe and you need to secure your house.
SPEAKER_01: You need to secure your soul.
SPEAKER_01: There is a storm coming, and if your house is not sitting on a firm foundation, the house will have a great fall, and there is no guarantee you can rebuild it again.
SPEAKER_01: Building on the bare sand is not wise.
SPEAKER_01: The house has no footing, it is not grounded.
SPEAKER_01: If you have never trusted Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior, today is the day.
SPEAKER_01: Now is the time.
SPEAKER_01: Build your house on the solid rock that is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: And for those of us as believers, the wind will blow, the rain will fall, but we are building on a foundation that is already established, tested, and tried.
SPEAKER_01: We will endeavor to keep building with quality materials.
SPEAKER_01: For that day will come and it will stand up against the fire and will receive a reward.
SPEAKER_01: But until then, I remind you that we have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure as the billows move, grounded, passing to the rock that cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
SPEAKER_01: When we build with the quality materials, we can say with confidence.
SPEAKER_01: My hope is built on nothing less but Jesus' blood and righteousness.
SPEAKER_01: I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but holy lean on Jesus' name and Christ, the solid rock I stand all on the ground, all on the ground is sinking sand.
SPEAKER_01: There's gonna come a day where your house is gonna be tested.
SPEAKER_01: So the question is, how do you stand?
SPEAKER_01: Do you know Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior?
SPEAKER_01: Have you built your house on the firm foundation which is Jesus Christ?
SPEAKER_01: I beg you today, please.
SPEAKER_01: The way how things are going in this life, we just don't know.
SPEAKER_01: These days now we're realizing that people ain't really living to see three score and ten.
SPEAKER_01: That's 70.
SPEAKER_01: These days we're hearing people getting buried under 50, under 40, and you just don't know.
SPEAKER_01: Every day that you live is another opportunity for you to say yes to Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: And so I beg of you, please, if you don't know how you stand, make sure before you leave this place that you know that you can say, I have decided to follow Jesus and I'm not turning back.
SPEAKER_01: I want to build my house and a form foundation which is Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_01: Bow your heads with me, please.
SPEAKER_01: Father in Jesus' name, we give you thanks, we give you praise, we honor you, we glorify your name.
SPEAKER_01: Lord, we pray for that one that doesn't know you as a Lord and personal Savior.
SPEAKER_01: We pray, Lord, that you will speak to their hearts even now.
SPEAKER_01: We thank you for the sacrifice that you made so many years ago that has established our foundation, that today that we can say with assurance on Christ, the solid rock we stand, and all other ground is sinking sand.
SPEAKER_01: Lord, that one that needs to build on the firm foundation which is Jesus Christ, I pray, Lord, that you will knock on their heart's door.
SPEAKER_01: Pray that you will speak to them in that still soft voice.
SPEAKER_01: And I pray that they will say yes.
SPEAKER_01: All to Jesus.
SPEAKER_01: I surrender.
SPEAKER_01: For those of us, God that continue on this journey, God, I pray that you will help us, that we will live a life pleasing unto you.
SPEAKER_01: Help us, God, that we will continue to build, continue to establish, continue to take our lives to another level in you.
SPEAKER_01: For Lord, we thank you that you're still walking on us.
SPEAKER_01: You haven't given up on us.
SPEAKER_01: We have failed you many times, God, but we have never failed us.
SPEAKER_01: And so we thank you for what you have done.
SPEAKER_01: We thank you for what you're doing, and we thank you for what you will continue to do in Jesus' name and everybody say.
SPEAKER_01: Amen.
SPEAKER_01: God bless you.
SPEAKER_00: Thank you for worshiping with us today.
SPEAKER_00: If you'd like to go deeper in your work with Christ, we invite you to contact us at 284 442 4222.
SPEAKER_00: And then at CDBBC.com.
SPEAKER_00: Visit our website at CDBBC.com.
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