Ephesians 2:19-22

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, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Psalm 118:22 – The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

Acts 4:10-12 – let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

The church is the only thing Christ called His.  He borrowed a manger, a coin, a book, a boat, a donkey, and a tomb.  But He called the church, “My church.”

Jesus is the chief corner stone of the church.  Many lively stones are in the building, though some act like tombstones instead of lively stones.  You are a strategic stone.  God wants to use you in His building process. 

Absolutely no force will prevent the building of the church.  The message to you is that Christ’s church is alive and well, for it is filled with eternal life!  Isaiah states “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.”   If the “you” in that verse is part of the church…then no weapon formed against the church will prosper either.

We cannot remodel the world. 

No man-made rhetoric can revive it.

No political pronouncement can restore it.

No educational enlightenment can redeem it. 

The world’s problem is a spiritual problem of the greatest magnitude; therefore, only a spiritual solution of the greatest magnitude will save it.

While we are called as Christians to do what we can to make this world a better place to live and many social and political programs are commendable, these activities alone will not change the heart of man.  

The greatest good the church can do is to do what Christ intended for His church to do:

                        Take the bread of life to a hungry world!

                        Give the Water of Life to a thirsty world!

                        Carry the Healing Message to hurting people!         

                        USE YOUR P.H.D. (PREACH, HEAL, DELIVER)     

Politics and social life have invaded our pulpits.  Major ministries have reversed to a political and social pulpit.  They talk more about the president than the Prince of Peace, more about senators than the Savior, more about governors than God, more about the White House than about the house not made with hands.

Politicians promise to remodel this world.  They promise, they grandstand, they kiss babies, they make back-room deals, and do anything for a photo op or a vote.  Men who promise to make this world a better place to live based on their own abilities alone will never accomplish remodeling the world.  The world is reproducing the same sinful corruption of Noah’s day, Lot’s day, of Sodom and Gomorrah’s day.

Timothy 3:1 states “In the last days perilous times will come.”

God wants us to build His church rather.  Christ said, “I will”—not maybe, not perhaps—but “I willbuild my church.”  Christ has a plan for building His church and you can be a part of that divine plan. 

HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO BE IN ON BUILDING CHRIST’S CHURCH?

We must be a Team!  It is amazing what people can do when they work together for a common goal.  Genesis 11:6 tells the story of a people who aspired to build a tower to the heavens.  When God looked down upon the handiwork, He said, “Behold, the people are one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” 

                        They had one language—they all spoke the same thing.

                        They had one purpose—building the tower of Babel.

                        They were one—together in unity.

The result was that God said of them, “Nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”  There would be nothing they could not do. 

WOW!  Wouldn’t it be great if the church were like that—what could we not do?

The early church was in unity – in one accord.   At one point over 3,000 had been saved, another time over 5,000, another time the descriptive word was multitudes had been added to the church.

They had the opportunity for unlimited results.  God said they could do whatever “they have imagined to do.”  The final result of their unity would be beyond imagination.

Together we can build a church – not a tower to the heavens—not a tower of Babel built on carnality and personal objectives, but a tower of spiritual, Holy Spirit-anointed achievements reaching into the harvest, impacting the world, doing exploits that defy imagination because we are united as one.  In this unity of purpose and determination, there will be no confusion of tongues, no superstars, but just godly men and women who want to make a difference, who want their lives to count. 

DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?  DO YOU WANT YOUR LIFE TO COUNT?

We can do beyond anything we have ever imagined if we are one, speaking the same language, and focusing on the same mission.  We must not settle for just the survival mode or the comfort zone.  We must reach others for Jesus.  We will not be satisfied until lives and families are changed.  Let us go forth and make a difference.  What we need in our churches is for everyone to get pregnant with the love and word of God and begin having babies…spiritual babies.  In other words, get busy producing baby Christians.  Quit trying to come up with all the reasons why you cannot be a soul winner for Christ.  Get up and do something for the Lord.