Unless the Lord Builds the House

Opening

This is a very silly question but I’ll ask it anyway… Do you trust me? (Trust is earned)

I don’t trust myself as much as I trust Jesus.

Relationship is built on Trust. Leadership is built on Trust.

Am I rocking the boat too hard? Am I making a lot of changes in the church too fast?

Am I rocking the church

Jesus calms the storm ()

Are you familiar with the navigational terms such as Bow, Stern, Starboard & Port? (To have reference)

Our reference is JESUS

Do not be afraid to rock the boat if Jesus is the captain - (Tell your neighbors, “Rock the Boat!”)

Factors to the success of a church:

Location - I already had my confirmation from God that this (CADS) is not the Lord’s location for Agape;

Leadership - I am investing my time and energy, and my life to raise up leaders in Agape;

Longevity - I think I am the 8th Pastor of this church, and I don’t blame you for not trusting me enough.

This July we started the series iTeach and we talked about:

Thrust - Vision from God ().

The need to be EQUIPPED - Skills will Bring Success ().

Can we build the church with just vision & skills?

Today let God clarify to us who & how to truly build His house (church).

Text:

Psalm 127:1 NIV

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

I am the vine, you are the branches, apart from me you can do nothing

But, we must avoid the error that there is nothing we can do to help a church grow;

Churches grow by the power of God through the skilled effort of people

Some Pastors & Theologians believe that planning, organizing, advertising or effort is presumptuous, unspiritual or even sinful, and that our only role is to sit back and watch God to do His thing;

We cannot do it without God, but He has decided no to do it without us;

Joshua-God told the Israelites to take possession of the land, He did not do it for them, He offered them partnership;

We cannot do it without God but He has decided no to do it without us.

When God called me to come over, I took a flight coming over;

When God called me to go back to my family, I took a cab and knocked on my wife’s door;

While we wait for God to work for us, God is waiting to work through us;

God works in co-operation with people’s work

Psalm 127:1 NIV

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

See also ;

God often works through human means (consciously or unconsciously)

Psalm 77:20 NIV

You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Romans 13:6 NIV

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

Acts 9:15 NIV

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.

God gives the gifts needed for work

Exodus 31:3 NIV

and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—

God creates and people cultivates

Deuteronomy 8:18 NIV

But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.

2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

God creates and people cultivates

1 Corinthians 3:7 NIV

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

Human workers should acknowledge their dependence upon God

2 Corinthians 3:5 NIV

Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

We are God’s fellow-workers

1 Corinthians 3:6–9 NIV

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

1 cor 3:

See also

1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV

For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Examples of divine and human co-operation in work

Philippians 2:12–13 NIV

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Application

1 Corinthians 3:7 NIV

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

God gives and people are generous

;

God speaks through prophets’ words

2 Peter 1:21 NIV

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Application

While we wait for God to work for us, God is waiting to work through us;

Who wants to Partner with God?

Pass on the sign up sheet to those who raise their hands

My Personal Testimony when I partnered with God