“The future doesn’t just happen. we are building it, and we are building it all the time”. Hannah Fry

 

Key Verse: a time to break down and a time to build up.Ecclesiastes 3:3(GNT)

It is a good thing to build homes, lives, relationships, businesses, ministries, and nations, but most times, we have to break up the existing structures to lay a solid foundation for a permanent one. The strength of a building rests on its foundation, and a faulty foundation will bring down a building.

Many of us have grown up with faulty spiritual foundations; building our faith on this structure would eventually lead to frustration, confusion, and failure. Gideon had faith, and God chose him to be an instrument of deliverance for Israel during his time. The idol in his father’s house threatened the foundation of his faith in Jehovah. God commanded him to break them down.

Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. And it came to pass the same night that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father’s young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. Judges 6:24-26(KJV)

Altars are a gateway, providing access to God or demons into our lives. To build an altar to God, you need to identify and break down existing altars that will inhibit the flow of fellowship and communion with God. These altars may no longer be physical, but their sacrifices still speak. Just as the presence of God honors our sacrifices of praise, demons dwell in places where they have been given access through altars and oppress the people until they are broken down. (Genesis 15,28:11-22)

Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire, and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Deuteronomy 12:2-3(KJV)

God breaks down systems, dynasties, institutions, and kingdoms that do not serve his purpose, but he will use people like me and you. God raised up different Judges in Israel and used them to judge heathen kings and kingdoms. He raised the apostles to break down the false teachings and beliefs that kept the people away from the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Today, he wants to use you as a battleax to break down everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God in your center of influence. 

When he breaks something down, it can’t be rebuilt; when he imprisons someone, he can’t be released. Job 12:14(CJB)

“Thou art My battleax and weapons of war; for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms. And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider. With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid. I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. Jeremiah 51:20-23(KJV21)

Before God can use you to break up others, you must break your own unplowed heart. God uses broken vessels so that his glory will be revealed through them. Are they areas of our lives not yet yielded to the Lord? A broken and contrite heart the Lord will always receive.

“Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will reap a crop of my love; plow the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower salvation upon you. Hosea 10:12(TLB)

 But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own. 2 Corinthians 4:7(TLB)

These days, we must cultivate the habit of regularly breaking bread with other believers. By this, we are reminded of the sacrifice of the Lord as his body was broken and his blood was poured out on the Cross for our sins. The breaking of bread releases the power of healing for our broken bodies, emotions, and lives.

When we ask the Lord’s blessing upon our drinking from the cup of wine at the Lord’s Table, this means, doesn’t it, that all who drink it are sharing together the blessing of Christ’s blood? And when we break off pieces of the bread from the loaf to eat there together, this shows that we are sharing together in the benefits of his body. 1 Corinthians 10:16(TLB)

We all have a lifetime opportunity to build something, but David admonishes us to recognize that it is pointless, except God is the originator of the building project.; This is so because many lives, marriages, families, businesses, and even ministries are built on sand without proper foundations, and their buildings crash when life challenges come. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Unless it is the Lord who builds the house, the builders’ work is pointless. Psalm 127:1a(CEB)

It is time to build an altar to the Lord and build your faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. Return to the Lord to review what you have been building for him or yourself. What is the point of spending your life on something without eternal significance because you are living another man’s dream?

But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Jude 1:20(KJV)

We cannot stop building up ourselves mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Focus on physical health without paying attention to other areas leads to imbalance and emptiness. Spiritually growth and strength come from feeding on fresh revelations, insights, and wisdom. Jesus was the son of God, but he sat down with teachers to ask and answer questions. 

God is building his kingdom, and we are welcome to be a part of that mission. The reward is excellent and starts here till eternity. What tools do you have to join the work, and what materials will you build with? God is the master builder and has the blueprint for every life, Don’t be a copycat; spend time seeking his face till you are equipped to build according to the pattern. (1 Corinthians 3:9-15)

For every house is builded by some man, but he that built all things is God. Hebrews 3:4(KJV)

Prayer

Father, thank you for your words that build up and inspire. Please show me what l need to break up in my life and help me build according to your plan for my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor Ada

Photo by kerry rawlinson on Unsplash