I have been talking a bit about building on Christ, or building in general. I believe that at this time, along with talking about the truth online or wherever you go, building on the LORD is a very important and critical topic to talk about and walk into in this season and time.
So I have a post for you, which will also be sent to various channels, YT, and the podcast, if you’re not a reader.
I believe that the LORD is calling us, and has been calling us to build spiritually and materially, and so I urge you to place this before the LORD, ask the Holy Spirit, and let Him lead you into all truth.
Let’s begin reading the book Hosea 7:9, in which the word says, “Worshiping foreign gods has sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak.”
In the NIV, the word says, “Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.”
As we read the book of Hosea, we understand that God’s people, the Israelites, when they mingled with foreigners, they worshipped false gods. And because they are worshipping false gods, their strength is sapped. How can their strength be sapped?
My brothers and sisters, the things of this world will make you weak, but the things of GOD make you strong. In 1st Corinthians 1, the word mentions that the wisdom of GOD is greater than the wisdom of man, the world. The wisdom of the world is foolish, but the wisdom of GOD is better. Therefore, as the scriptures say, if you want to boast, boast in the LORD, because our thoughts are limited (1st Corinthians 1:31).
Think about this: when we are walking in the wisdom of GOD, in His Word, we are empowered and strengthened. In Ephesians 6:10, the word says to be strong in the LORD and in His mighty power. The power of the LORD is greater than the power of man. The strength that we carry in the LORD is not by might, nor by power, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
So the things you do in the LORD are not by the things of the world, but it is by GOD. So follow GOD and be strengthened, follow the world, and be weakened. The reality you are living today is worshipping GOD in Spirit and in truth, not the world, for the word says that the earth will pass away.
So let’s go deeper. Now that we are being built on the rock, who is Jesus Christ, because any other foundation will not stand or help us be stable when storms and hard things come. In 1st Corinthians 3, the word talks about using the right tools to build on Jesus Christ, the Rock. I discussed something similar to using the Three Little Pigs on the blog and YouTube. If you remember, each little pig built their house on hay, sticks, and bricks.
And which one fell and which one stood? The hay and sticks fell by the blowing of the big bad wolf, but the house with bricks stood and therefore stood. Now, I do want to mention this: the most important part of the story is not the wolf but how you’re building your house so that if a wolf or something else comes, they won’t be able to blow it down or come in.
In 1st Corinthians 3:3, this is what the word says: “’You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?”
In the NLT version, the word says, “or you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world?”
This verse is telling us that when we are like the world, we are controlled by the sinful nature. Remember what was said in Hosea 7:9? The foreigners, the foreign gods the people of GOD worshipped, was sapped of their strength, making them like mere humans, the people of this world, following the patterns of this world. When you are controlled by your sinful nature, you’re associating yourself with worshiping idols, foreign gods.
The apostle Paul talks about how he could not even talk to the Corinthian church about the things of the Spirit, because their minds were still on the things of the world. Being jealous, arguing, and being angry with each other demonstrates that you are still controlled by the sinful nature.
Now let’s go further into 1st Corinthians 3: 12 and forth, where it talks about what materials you build on Jesus Christ the Rock. Remember, how I mentioned the three little pigs and the materials they used? What you build upon the Rock is important; therefore, how you compose yourself as a new creation demonstrates the fruit you have. In verse 13 of the same chapter, and I will use the NLT version, the word says when judgment comes, the fire of the LORD will reveal what kind of work the builder has done, or has used to build on the Rock. “The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.”
So, because we are called to not conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind in the word, walking in the Spirit, how we think reveals what we do, and what we say. As the LORD says, let us consider our ways. Are we growing in strength? Are we growing in the LORD? Because in Him we are strong, but in the world, we are weak.
When we walk in the Spirit, we develop strength. The strength to overcome the world, the strength to be who GOD has called us to be. When we were in this world, we did whatever our flesh wanted to do; therefore, we were weak, unable to say no to the things we should do as children of GOD. But all glory to the LORD Jesus Christ, who showed us what it looks like to be strong, what it looks like to walk in the Spirit, and what it looks like when you belong to the Father.
We are called to build on the Rock with the right materials, the spiritual materials, not earthy and/or sinful materials. This also includes the importance of our spiritual growth with the LORD, which accounts for what we build on Jesus. Are we building on Christ, anger? Are we building hidden pain? Are we building pride? Or are we building kindness, patience, and praying for others?
A thought comes to mind about 2nd Corinthians 10:4-5, where it talks about the weapons of our warfare are not of this world, because we are not fighting with the flesh but the spiritual principalities, the evil spirits in the spiritual realms. So even when we fight, we cannot fight with the earthly tools, the materials of this world, but the weapons that come from GOD, that pull down the stronghold.
Therefore, the WORD of the LORD contains power, spiritual tools that keep us strong and keep us moving forward, fighting the good fight of faith.
And what are these spiritual tools? Galatians 5;22-23, the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are just a few of the various spiritual tools Paul mentions that produce spiritual growth.
So what is the point that I am presenting/teaching you today?
Build your house with spiritual materials. The spiritual materials that will last and that are of GOD. A thought came to mind about the LORD saying not to store up things on earth where moths will destroy, but store up treasures in heaven.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
What do you consider a treasure? What do you think is important? What you value in your life displays in your lifestyle, whether of the LORD or of the world.
The flesh cannot submit to holiness, purity, or the things of the spirit.
How you behave and compose yourself reflects the lifestyle that you have with Christ. We are called to understand things the LORD’s way. Think about the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. The world tells you to hold a grudge against someone, but the LORD says to be merciful. The world tells you to be angry and call someone an idiot, responding to your flesh, but we are called to have self-control and not to let the sun go down on our anger. There are just a few acts that the word instructs and teaches us in, and may the Holy Spirit minister to you concerning these words, so that you are growing spiritually in the LORD.
Crucify the flesh with its passion and its desire. Repent and ask the LORD to search your heart, and see if there are any offenses in you, and that you ask the LORD to lead you in the path everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24). Be controlled by the Spirit so that you live in life and peace.
So today, my brothers and sisters, let us consider our ways, going upward from strength to strength, to the mountain of the LORD with clean hands and a pure heart.
Walk in power, love, and sound mind.
Angolwa Cecilia 
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