Building Structures & Systems that last

Proverbs 24:3–4 AMP

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation], And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Everything God builds has to have a deep foundation or root system

Matthew 13:5–6 NKJV

Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away.

When things aren’t rooted well or foundationally strong, They tend to be wash away as soon as the storm comes.

Our lives

Our ministries

Our purpose and destinies in Christ

To build a lasting structure the foundation has to be stronger than the structure itself

Jesus gives us this example when it comes to our response to His message

Matthew 7:24–25 ““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.”

The Lord Jesus Christ being a builder and a tecton not only a carpenter, understood that anything that would last would have to have strong foundations, or the structure would not stand

Our Churches & Ministries are subject to the same standard

Church planting & Ministry work are rooted on the ROCK Himself (and that’s Christ)

Matthew 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

So as Christ has told us He’s building the church on Himself, He Himself has given us a system of growth, & a structured order to follow.

These systems & structures should be able to replicate themselves. To be able to multiply

Ephesians 4:7 NKJV

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

This grace allows the church, the body of Christ to grow

Each person Jesus has given this grace to plays a part in the growth of The Church

The grace that was given by Christ to every believer achieves growth in different ways

Ephesians 4:11 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

Each of these gifts allow us to build Gods church in various ways, with the foundation always being the same.

All these gifts operate differently with the main goal of building the body of Christ, which are Gods people for the work of ministry

Apostles: The term apostle is derived from the word to send/ or sent ones

We have 12 foundational apostles that wrote scripture & saw the risen Christ.

There were other kinds of Apostles that were part of the 12, these apostles or sent ones, were of the messenger kind in the new testament

Believers gifted with an apostolic gift or missionary minded people, are believers with vision from The Lord to plant churches start different ministries & break into new ground & territories with the Gospel

Those that move in an apostolic gift can and sometimes exercise all 5 fold ministry gifts. (Teaching, sheperding(pastoring), evangelism, and even prophetic)

Today they don’t have to hold the title apostle but their gifts make room for them.

The Bible says in Ephesians 2:19–20 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,”

The placement of the cornerstone on a building, which we know is Christ, allows the building to be leveled & straight.

The apostles and prophets Paul is referring too are the foundational NT apostles and prophets, which are not here today, but these gifts are still in use & in effect by the Holy Spirit for the growth of the church in each generation.

What were talking about today has nothing to do with titles but a function, we also want to say this as we continue, we aren’t endorsing the doctrines of the new apostolic reformation.

Usually when an area gets new churches planted & ministries birthed and others are being multiplied from them this is a sure sign of the apostolic gift in operation.

Ephesians 4:16 AMP

For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.

All Believers play a role in sustaining these churches or ministries with the gifts The Lord has given them.

There should be no spectators at all

If there is then why?

This is where the structures & systems should be put into place

Acts 14:21–23 NKJV

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

As Paul and Barnabas finish their 1st missionary journey, they retrace there steps to put in the proper leadership to make sure the local churches have the right structure.

The Bible is filled with structures and buildings, that God gave His people to build throughout History, showing us that God not only cares about our spiritual lives but His dwelling place & how we build it.

Examples of this in scripture is the tabernacle, the ark of Noah, Solomon’s temple, each structure carried its own set of building principles and systems that allowed them to carry out their given task.

Hebrews 8:5 NKJV

who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”