Building a Powerhouse
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1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest?
Introduction
Introduction
I think all of us would agree that we are building something here. We’re in a season of revival and growth, but what exactly are we building?
Paul writes to a Corinthian church that seemed to be building a powerhouse, people coming in constantly, miracles, signs and wonders, an abundance of gifts. Yet all was not well, because they were building faction.
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
10 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.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
We’re not building an organization. I’m not here this morning to build an organization. Christ never sent me to build organization.
Christ sent me to build individuals to the stature of Jesus Christ, that they might be the powerhouse and the dwelling place of the Spirit, by His Word.
By His Word, see, build up the individual to that place. Not build an organization to a greater denomination, but build the individual to sons and daughters of God. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
We’re not building a denomination, a program or even a church, we’re building people.
The church cannot be a powerhouse unless the people are powerhouses.
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
οἰκοδομή, (a) abstract, building, the operation (process) of building, sometimes transitional, without being strictly concrete, 1 Cor. 3:9, 2 Cor. 5:1, Eph. 2:21, 4:12, 16, 29 (here perhaps = improvement); met. upbuilding, edification; (b) concrete, a building, Mk. 13:1, 2, Mt. 24:1.
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The church then is a construction zone and each one builds according to the gifts he has to bring the individual from one state to another.
Each one of us is a builder, and each one is being built.
The Builders:
Apostles and Prophets
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Parents
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Gifts and helps in the Body
1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Ministry Gifts
All of these are building the individual from one stage to another.
Building the Stature of a Perfect Man. A Powerhouse.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Stages of building:
1. Foundation
1. Foundation
The foundation is Christ.
The very first of the virtues is faith.
Notice, you must be born again. And when you’re born again, you can’t be born again without having faith. That’s right. So, you see, on my chart here, I got the very foundation, faith is the foundation of all of it. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
(Show Stature of a Perfect Man)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
How do I help build faith?
This is for your faith. Now, faith cometh by hearing the Word of God. That’s right. Now, that’s why, how we build faith. Now, faith is not based upon shifting sands of man’s theology, but it rests upon the Eternal Rock of God’s Word. 57-0106 - "Jehovah-Jireh"
Build faith in your children by teaching them the Word. Read the Bible. Go to church. Live what you preach.
If you teach your children church isn’t important you are not building, you are destroying their faith.
And that’s the reason I’ve been trying to keep the Message just as simple as possible... Maybe some of you might be wondering why I’m not calling prayer lines each night.
Here’s my purpose: In doing this, I want to build faith in the people in a resurrected Jesus, so that you don’t have to wait till some…a special gift passes through the neighborhood. You just believe Him wherever you are, because He is God. 62-0720 - "A Testimony On The Sea"
Faith is built by the simplicity of hearing the Gospel.
I pray tonight, Lord, that somehow You’ll build faith in these peoples’ hearts, that every one of them will be delivered, all these sick and afflicted people.
May it be so simple, Lord, just let us, as we try to teach the Word. Let the Holy Spirit take my mistakes, Lord, and correct them in the hearts of the people. And make it a real, real night that He can bed Himself into the heart of each believer here.
We set this night for that purpose, Lord. May those who are not saved, above all things, be ready; get ready now, while the doors of mercy still open. 65-1126 - "Works Is Faith Expressed"
Add virtue to your faith.
Then when we get true virtue, we can add it to our faith. That’s the next foundation wall. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
Virtue is strength or power.
But Peter said here, “Add virtue.” Now, Peter is talking about building the House of God, see, the Temple of God, fixing it to a place. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
Rev. Mr. Lily
Bro. Branham talks about a man coming along, trying to find salvation, and goes to a church that believes the days of miracles is past.
(Jack Coe and T-Bone)
Might as well lay the menu down and get out, see, that’s right, ’cause they ain’t got nothing to eat, anyhow. So you might as well go where a restaurant has got something to eat.
And the spiritual man, growing, needs something to eat on. That’s the Word of God. I believe every Word of It. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
2. Framing
2. Framing
Knowledge
And then, thirdly, you add knowledge. Knowledge, now, that don’t mean worldly knowledge, ’cause that’s foolishness to God; but knowledge to judge, judge (what?) right from wrong. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
In a day when everything is relative, lets make sure our children have a knowledge of right and wrong.
To judge, judge right. Judge whether it’s right or wrong, to believe God’s Word. Judge whether it’s right or wrong, whether I should serve a creed or serve God.
Judge whether it’s right or wrong, I should be born again or join a church. Then you’re beginning.
Judge right, when the preacher says, “The days of miracles is passed.” The Bible said, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Now which you going to believe? 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
Teach your children to judge between right and wrong, to know the difference.
Kids do better when there are fences on the playground.
Set boundaries and expectations.
12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: For if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from hell.
That’s real Godly knowledge.
(Illiterate Kentucky momma)
Come to this knowledge. When God said, “He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever,” say, “Amen.” Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Not to the twelve; it’s for all.
When you get that kind of a faith, when your faith punctuates it, every bit, with an “amen,” then you say, “All right,” add that to it. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
Temperance
That means, how to control your tongue, not be a tattler; how to control your temper, not fly off every time anybody speaks cross to you. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
Self control
Build self control, in yourself and your children.
Add temperance to it. Oh, temperance, how to answer in kindness when wrath is spoke to you. Somebody say, “You bunch of holy-rollers down there!” Don’t jump out and roll up your sleeves now.
Not that. But talk with godly love, temperance, kindness. Is that the way you want to be? When you’re riled upon, rile not back. Let Him be your example.
When they said, “If Thou be the Son of God, turn these stones into bread,” He could have done it, and show He was God. But He had temperance.
When they called Him, “Beelzebub,” He said, “I’ll forgive you for it.” That right? They pulled handfuls of beard out of His face, and spit in His face, and said, “Come down off the cross!”
He said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t even know what they’re doing.” 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Patience
Patience with what? What kind of patience? First thing, is have patience with God. If you’ve got real, genuine faith, you’ll have real genuine patience, because faith worketh patience.
When God says anything, you believe it. That’s all. You got patience. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
How do you build patience?
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
And we should have patience with one another, too. See? One time…We get so much impatient with one another’s.
(Moses)
Like, I’ve tried to get this Message over at the tabernacle, to see that each member of the tabernacle become This. It’s hard to do. I’ve tried to have patience; this is thirty-three years.
Have patience. Women still bob their hair, still just the same. But just have patience. See? Just have patience. Wait. Have to. If you ain’t got it, don’t try to build on this down here. Have patience. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
3. Finishing
3. Finishing
Godliness
To be like God
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
You got way up here now, before you’re asked to do that. All these things has to be added first. Then when you get up here, He’s asked you now to be perfect, godliness, sons and daughters of God.
(To Be Like Jesus)
That’s godliness. When He was smite on one side of the face, He turned the other. When He was spoken rough to, He didn’t speak. He didn’t rile back.
Godly, always looking for one thing, “I always do that which pleases the Father.” See? Yes, sir. Always. That’s godliness. See? 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
(Black bird with peacock feathers)
Brotherly kindness
All right. When we get to that, brotherly kindness, put yourself in his place, on the matter. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Brotherly kindness. Now, you see, if a brother is all out of tune, don’t be impatient with him. See? No. See? Be kind to him. Go, anyhow.
Somebody said, not long ago, said, “How can you believe these things the way you do, and still go to the Assemblies of God, and the Oneness, all the rest?” Then put, see, brotherly kindness.
Hoping, someday, see; patient with him, see; temperant, enduring with him; knowledge, to understand what he believes, remember, it’s in his heart, that’s what is; virtue, in yourself, to let it go out with kindness, meekness, to him; having faith that someday God will bring him in. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
Now we’re adding the finishing touches.
Now what does it do? Then they’re waiting for the Headstone, which is love, for God is love. And He controls, and He is the strength of every one of these things. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
These are divine attributes. The only way this powerhouse will be built is for Him to live through you. Let Him build others through you.
So when you surrender your complete being, then the Holy Spirit just pours through you, in these virtues, then you’re a living tabernacle.
Then people look out and say, “That’s a man full of virtue, knowledge (he believes the Word), temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, full of the love of the Holy Ghost. See, there he is, walking around.”
What is it? A stature that unbelievers can look at and say, “There is a Christian. There is a man, or a woman, who knows what they’re talking about. You never seen a kinder, sweeter, godlier person.”
You’re sealed. A seal shows on both sides. Whether you’re going or coming, you see the seal just the same. There you are. See? When a man or woman possess this, then the Capstone comes down and seals them into the Kingdom of God, which is the Holy Ghost.
Then the Word, coming from Here, manifests Itself through each one of these beings, see, and makes this complete Being a Tabernacle of the living God, a walking, living example of Christianity.
What Christ was, these people are, because His Life is in here. They are in Christ. And their life is dead and hid in Christ, through God, and sealed in there by the Holy Ghost.
You reckon yourself dead, then you’re born of faith. Then virtue and these other things is added to you till you’re a perfect, living image of God. 62-1014M - "The Stature Of A Perfect Man"
Conclusion
Conclusion
All I want to see is Jesus
Baptism of Ella Stender