- Building Great - Building On The Foundation - Planning Series

The Cost of Building .Proverbs 16:3Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

1 Corinthians 3:9-17New King James Version (NKJV)

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Building on the foundation.

Getting the plans

Last week we talked about how important it is to build our lives on a firm foundation

1 Corinthians 3:9-17New King James Version (NKJV)

9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building

Once our foundation is right then we need a plan.

When we commit everything to God then Proverbs says our plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.

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I know in the life of Johnathon Goforth that he began walking with the Lord in Canada and as he ministered faithfully it was then that God’s plans for him became clear.

Here is a story about him He exhibited a fervent zeal for souls. At the opening of a new fall session at college the principal asked Jonathan how many homes he had visited during the summer vacations. "Nine hundred sixty," was the reply. "Well, Goforth, if you don't take any scholarships in Greek and Hebrew, at least there is one book that you are going to be well versed in and that is the book of Canadian human nature." Indeed, not only were many souls saved but many valuable lessons learned, for, as he discovered later, there is no essential difference between Canadian and Chinese human nature. During his years in college and in slum work he was often down to the last penny but God proved faithful in every test. Like George Mueller and Hudson Taylor, he learned to trust God utterly for all his needs.

He also learned to trust the Spirit's guidance in all circumstances. On one occasion when scheduled to speak at a certain place on Sunday, he found he had only sufficient money to buy a ticket one station short of where he was to speak. After praying for divine guidance he bought the ticket and rode to that station, then began to walk the remaining ten miles. When he had covered approximately eight miles, he came upon a group of men repairing the road. He engaged them in friendly conversation, pointed them to the only "name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" and invited them to the service the following day. To his great joy several of them turned up and at least one of them was saved. In referring to this later he would say, "I would gladly walk ten miles any day to bring one lost soul to Christ." He was indeed a missionary long before he reached China. It was said of him, "When he found his own soul needed Jesus Christ, it became a passion with him to take Jesus Christ to every soul."In my own life as I committed my life to the Lord that then the Lord established my path and it lead to this place.

What does this mean for you?

Begin doing what the Lord requires and God will establish your plans. I can see certain people in this parish doing what God requires and I have no doubt that as they move forward God will establish their plans.

Foundations laid and as you move forward God reveals his plan for you.

You never know what God is going to reveal and you never know where he will lead you. You possibly never expected to end up here but here you are.

You never know what God might have you frame up take for example Sometimes people come up with all manner of projects but the great projects are well founded on Christ.