Building the House God’s Way

 Peter 2:5 says that “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood.” Psalm 127:1 informs us that “unless the Lord builds the house they labour in vain who build it.” If we are indeed to see our spiritual houses built then we must work with God and use the tools He has given us to allow Him to effectively do the building.

Some of the tools that God has given us for building are:

• Speaking in tongues

• Prophecy

“One who speaks in a tongue edifies (builds up) himself, but one who prophesies edifies(builds up) the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4).

On 1 August 2007 a bridge in Minneapolis collapsed over the Mississippi River (USA) during rush hour traffic and many were killed. Two weeks later in South China a bridge under construction collapsed, again with tragedy. This shows what happens when the building materials aren’t strong enough to carry the weight that is being transported. If you want to carry the weight of God’s glory from heaven to earth then you’re going to have to be built up to be strong enough. If you don’t want to collapse in a heap causing damage to yourself and others, then speak in tongues more and put yourself in a place to receive prophetic words from those whom God has placed around you. Conversely, don’t hide your prophetic gifting. Others may be collapsing around you because you’re unwilling to speak prophetic edification, exhortation and consolation (1 Corinthians 14:3) into their lives.

God uses pressure to strengthen us. 2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us that “momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.” Again, if you want to be able to carry that weight of glory you’ll need to embrace God’s prophetic tools to enable you not only to endure various afflictions but to rise above them, stronger and better equipped. If you’ve ever had a broken limb you’ll know that your unused muscles waste away inside the plaster. And athletes know that pressure on muscles will build them up to even greater strength. That’s why God allows affliction in our lives. Our faith muscles are strengthened from the pressure, especially as we use the prophetic tools of tongues and prophecy to build us up through those difficult times.

God is pouring out His Spirit in unprecedented ways all over the world in this season. If you want to receive the new wine you’ll need to make sure your wineskin doesn’t break. Although the key point about the wineskin in Matthew 9:17 is that God is preparing new wineskins, it’s still relevant that we must be built up and strengthened to carry the new wine without breaking.

Speak in tongues, receive prophetic words, prophesy encouragement to your brethren! Be a Holy Ghost house builder!

If we don’t seek out, welcome, and embrace the prophetic in our lives then our spiritual houses will not be built according to God’s plan. ~ Alan Taylor (Hamilton, New Zealand).

Bible  Readings:  2 Corinthians 4:7; Revelation 21:2.