FOLLOW THE BLUEPRINTS

When I lived in Florida, we had hurricanes come through with fierce winds. One hurricane that hit south of Miami was particularly deadly and demolished hundreds of homes. But some houses stood up to the storm. Afterwards, they discovered these homes had been built with fasteners joining the rafters and studs, not just nails. Tight connections kept the homes intact.

The airplanes which crashed into the World Trade Center generated intense fireballs, melting the steel support girders. While the girders remained strong and straight, the building's weight was transmitted down to the concrete foundation which went into the bedrock deep in the ground. When the girders melted, the floors collapsed under the enormous weight falling from above. Foundations are designed to carry the weight of the building.

Is. 43:10 "...describe the temple to the house of Israel..." Three temples named in the Bible:

Each believer's individual body (1 Cor 6:19)
The Church, God's people assembled and in community (1 Cor 3:16)
Solomon's Temple (built on the pattern of the Tabernacle shown to Moses (Ex 25:40)

Ex 33:12-23 Moses, unlike most prophets, was a builder. In that regard, he was apostolic. His prayer went beyond the Prayer of Jabez (1 Chron 4:9-10) He prayed: "Show me your ways." 1. To know You; 2. Find favor; 3. God's presence; 4. Interceded for God's people; 5. Sought to see God's glory, but got goodness. (Glory awaited the NT revelation of Jesus- (2 Cor 4:6)

Psalms 103:7 Moses knew God's ways; Israel knew God's deeds. Leaders have to know more than what God can do. They must know how God wants it done- God's apostolic ways.

But we have a problem: We've lost the blueprints for the church! We have 20 centuries of tradition laid on top of the original foundation. How do we recover the original blueprints?

1 Cor 3:9-10-15 Paul was a wise master-builder, an architect. It was his job to lay the foundation. Each foundation is tested. The foundation he built was based on relationships, not buildings. Apostolic Christianity is not dependent on big buildings or big budgets.

1 Cor 4:14-17 Paul taught his ways to the churches. Those ways were imparted through fatherhood. Timothy, as a son, reminded them of his ways, apostolic principles for building.

We have to make a choice: Do we build for expediency? Or, build according to the pattern?

Eph 4:15-16 Relationships of covenant love knit the body of Christ together.

Eph 2:20-22 God's house is a temple designed for His presence to dwell in. It must be built according to His specifications, else He will revoke our building permit or refuse to occupy it.

1. God's house has a cornerstone: Jesus, the Son of God, the Word incarnate.
2. God's house has a foundation: apostles and prophets
   • These are contemporary apostles and prophets, not historic (Eph 3:5- "now")
   • These ministries are "set in the church" (1 Cor 12:28- "first")
     Ex- 1^st chair, 2^nd chair, 3^rd chair, etc.

   1 Peter 2:5-6 We are living stones being fitted together. Christ- choice, precious. (Rom 10:11)

   Isaiah 28:16 Tested; Costly; Firmly placed. Results? Established= not disturbed, confounded, ashamed, make haste, disappointed. What happens if the foundation is missing or wrong?

   The apostolic ministry is a function of grace. Grace enables effective labor. (1 Cor 15:10)

   Jesus said we are to pray for laborers, not office holders, positions, or titles. (Mt 9:38)

   Apostles are ranked first, but restored last. Pastors have born the heat of the day. (Mt 20:16)

© 2001, Ron Wood, Touched By Grace, Inc.