PASTOR (MRS) ADEBOLA OSANYINBI
ECCLESIATES 9:11: “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”
We can only fulfil the purposes of God if we cooperate with Him and move according to His ordained timing. Anything you do outside of God’s appointed time amounts to nothing.
EPHESIANS 2:16-22: ” And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”
[biblegateway passage=”I CORINTHIANS 3:8-12″ display=”I CORINTHIANS 3:8-12″];
The Lord has laid certain foundations in our lives and as co-builders with Him, we must be mindful how we build upon our godly foundations. God has an assignment for every one of us and we have to be mindful enough to build according to His pattern. When you build according to your own understanding you will not last. God is expecting a kind of finishing from each one of us and we have to make conscious efforts to not disappoint Him. We are God’s habitation built together by the Spirit. The foundation of the apostles is being built upon by God, the Master Builder, Himself. No one can lay any other foundation apart from the one God has laid through the apostles and prophets.
EPHESIANS 4:4-6: ” There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”;
I CORINTHIANS 3:13-15:Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.;
I CORINTHIANS 8:9-10: ” But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;”
Christ is our foundation and He is all that we represent. In Him, we are united in one purpose and one calling. We need to know the foundation and build upon it with the right materials. We have to build with enduring materials so that we can stand the test of time. We have to build with precious stones that will not get consumed by fire. Building with wood, hay and stubble is an exercise in futility. Building requires taking heed. We need to pay attention to the way we build not being stumbling blocks to others. We have to follow God without casting shadow on others. If we follow God’s pattern circumspectly, we will not deviate from His will. The days are evil and the time is very short, so we have to follow God through to the end.