Introduction
Some years ago, I took an evening course in Bricklaying. It was offered by the county Community College and was provided at a local High School. We gathered one night a week, in the evenings, for 2-3 hours to learn the bricklaying trade. I spent a whopping $5.00 for the class (this was in the late ‘70s). I also purchased a trowel for use in the class – that I still have! (other than in that class, I’ve never laid a brick in my life!)
The instructor, Mr. Curtis Bennett, provided the information and techniques we would need to construct a bar-b-q pit, made of bricks that would actually draw smoke up the chimney. (I had my doubts about that…..)
Mr. Bennett taught us the foundations of bricklaying and worked with us, corporately and individually to put his thoughts and strategies into an actual, functional bar-b-q pit. In order to pass the class, we had to lay out and build the bar-b-q pit to his specifications, (level, square, length, width, height, and functionality).
IT WORKED!
WHY DID IT WORK? Because I followed Mr. Bennett’s instructions as he gave them, listened to his critique, adjusted my work to correctly fit his requests, and conformed my vision and work, to his vision and process. And I passed!! You see, Mr. Bennett was going to judge the final product by his standards, his vision, his demands and his way of doing things. Did I have other ideas and suggestions? Of course! Did that count for anything for the final grade that Mr. Bennett would assign? NO!! He was the experienced bricklayer and I was the novice. He set the standard, he set the vision, and he set the process. It was his class, his experience, and his grading that determined my success or failure.
It is amazing how that the things I learned in that class also applies to our Christian experience and life.
Let me give you a few examples:
Vision
First, we needed to know WHAT we wanted to build. DUH!!
You can’t just start throwing bricks together without knowing the end product.
Was it a wall, a house, a fire pit, a bar-b-q pit, a flower box, etc.
And then, what were the dimensions, how long, how wide, how tall, did it have a
roll-lock, what color bricks, etc.
Get a vision of the final product.
“You won’t go anywhere if you don’t know where you are going.”
You have GOT to have a vision.
We MUST have a vision!
Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…..”
We as individuals, as a church, as believers MUST have a vision.
We must have a CORRECT vision.
Jeremiah 14:14, “Then the LORD said unto me, the prophets prophesy
lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them:
they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of
their heart.”
Jeremiah 23:16, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that
prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out
of the mouth of the LORD.”
What is the CORRECT vision?
Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;”
Foundation
When laying brick, you need a solid foundation. DUH!
Without a solid foundation, it will be impossible for the brick to be laid correctly.
The bricks will not be level,
the bricks will not be straight,
the bricks will be subject to moving around and,
ultimately, falling.
The finished product will not be dependable,
nor solid – it will be useless, a waste of time, effort and materials.
What solid foundation must we have?
I Corinthians 3:11-12, “For other foundation can no man lay than that
is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
II Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.”
We don’t even have to provide the foundation.
God has already provided it.
It is His foundation,
created by Him (for us),
we just need to make use of it.
Matthew 16:13-18
Who is Jesus Christ to you?
A historical figure, a character in a book, an ideal, a philosophy….
How can you get this foundation?
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”
That decision will place you on God’s foundation and make you spiritually alive.
Tools
In bricklaying, you need certain tools.
A trowel, a level, a tape measure, string, wheelbarrow, sand, mortar, a shovel, mattock, garden hoe, etc.
Luke 6:48-49, “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock:
and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house and could not shake
it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that
without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat
vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
Hebrews 6:1, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”
The tools we need for this Christian life is:
The Holy Spirit – He is with us from the moment we are saved.
I Corinthians 2:13, “Which things also we speak, not in the
words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
The Bible – We have had the complete cannon for many years now.
James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.”
Prayer – That is up to you. God is waiting for us to come to him.
Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let yor
requests be made known unto God.”
Process
Actually begin the bricklaying project, following the vision, keeping to the
measurements and design, evaluate and correct as your go.
Laying the Bricks
James 1:22, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.”
DO - not just listen
DO WHAT – the Word
Evaluate and Correct
The Church at Ephesus
Revelation 2:5, “Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works ….”
The Church at Sardis
Revelation 3:3, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent…..”
To every Church (Age)
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”
Do YOU have a Vision?
Do YOU have and use the tools provided?
Do YOU built, evaluate, and adjust as needed?
