Beautiful Image Or Precious Foundation

What are you building - a beautiful image or a precious foundation?

Paul Hubbard 25 July 2004

• What House Will You Build For Me?
• A continuation on the 'building' series we are presently looking at

Faith Re-cap:

1. His faith in me. He is the author and perfector of our faith (Hebr 12:1-2).
2. Paul said "it is by the faith of the Son of God that I now live" (Gal 2)
3. This faith in me is toward God. (Hebr 6:1)
4. He believes in all He is and all He has done.
5. All you need to do is "agree" with Him and act on it. (Hebr 4:1-4)
6. As you exercise faith you enter Grace. (Rom 5:2)
7. Grace is Rest. You can rest even when you're busy. A state of being!
8. His faith becomes you faith but it is "tested".

Your faith foundation "more precious that Gold".
9. Tested by "various trials" tribulations and persecutions.
10. The test is likened unto fire which refines Gold.
11. Gold is the foundation, He is in You and He wants to build by using Gold in you.
12. HE WANTS YOU TO BUILD WITH GOLD, SILVER AND PRECIOUS STONES - NOT other materials. (1 Cor 3:10)

See 2 Tim 2:19-2

We then looked at how the "Bride" (the church) in the end is likened unto (Rev 21:9) precious stones, clear as crystal, 12 foundations of various precious stones, Gates of pearl, the glory of God being her light!

• Presently in the church there is a desire to have an "appeal" an "image" in the world which is acceptable.

• I do not believe this to be wrong - we are to be a "sweet aroma" / ambassadors / kings/ royalty/ son and daughters.

• But the question is: Does this "image" find its source in our self-ability and outward appeal or should the "image" on the outside represent and reflect a more wonderful image form the inside.

• Everything that God builds is from inside out, and an appealing outward image comes from a sure and tried foundation on the inward.

Isa 28:16

• Jesus "tried and tested" therefore become the sure precious foundation.
• Gave up His life.
• Tried through various difficulties, "Father not My will, but Yours be done."

• In the natural at the end He was unrecognisable; there was nothing about Him that "appealed".
• And yet on the inside, His character and spirit were shining. Eventually He SHONE!

Rev 1:12

• Because His foundations were of precious gems, gold and silver - His form and countenance in heaven shone as precious things!

• Remember Steven! (Acts)

The fires of testing:-

• The devil would like it greatly if you would stop taking your Christian Life so seriously building from inside out.
• He would be greatly pleased to see you taken up with yourself rather than in the LORD's service.
• He would willingly allow you to find success and prosperity and build yourself a wonderful image for yourself if only you would stop following Jesus.
• More time grooming yourself and building yourself up would suit him.
• And he would love for you not to know the truth about it all, because the truth is - the more you're taken up with yourself, the more you are in truth and reality taken up with him!

(Ephs 2:2/ 1 Jn 2:15-16)

Dan 2:31 ; 3:1 ; 3:10-15

• Neb gave himself over to "his image"
• Once he gave himself over to it, he then imposed adherence to this image onto others.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN IMAGE TO KEEP UP, YOU CAN SOON BECOME VERY CONTROLLING AND MANIPULATING!

Dan 3:12

• What was the issue? Faith
• But "faith" overcomes the world

• 1 Pet 1:6-9
• 1 Pet 4:12-13

• Dan 3:17-27

The "faith" of the Son of God flowed through them to such an extent that the fire of testing showed forth "more precious than gold."

• Isa 43

Related pages: Teaching

Author: Paul Hubbard