Growing and Building ..

One of the most dangerous and detrimental presumptions that I see present in the body of Christ today is this idea of stagnant discipleship. Can we be Christians and yet remain idle? Are we to merely sit back and wait for the heavens to welcome us, idly passing each day, waiting, waiting, and waiting some more? I do not believe so. Ephesians 2 tells us what we're expected to be doing during our stay upon the earth: GROWING AND BUILDING..

Ephesians 2:19-22 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

What wonderful truths these verses convey to us..

vs. 19 - Paul assures us of our salvation and inclusion in the "household of God", the true "Israel of God", the "one new man". This household is not a physical structure, but rather a spiritual habitation of God, through the Spirit (Heb 3:6).

vs. 20 - "and are built" - piece by piece.. Peter too tells us that we are built as living stones into a spiritual house (1 Pet 2:5). Did this building all occur at once? No. Is it now complete? No. Rather, we are BEING BUILT; we are growing up into a complete habitation, being changed even from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18).

vs. 20 - "Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone" - He is the foundation of this growth. Aside from a passionate pursuit of Him our building is in vain. Why should we become a glorious dwelling for One whom we do not love?

vs. 21 - "fitly framed together" - This is to be a description of this temple.. we are to possess a unity of purpose. We can have diversities of gifts, but we should realize that we operate via the same Holy Spirit. What happens when such Godly unity is present?

vs. 22 - "groweth unto an holy temple" - this is to be the FRUIT OF ALL THAT PRECEDES! Growth. Ps 92:12 says that the righteous shall grow as the cedars of Lebanon. We are growing as the lily (Hos 14:15), and as the vine (Hos 14:7).

vs. 22 - "for an habitation of God" - this is the kind of temple Jesus wants to dwell in - ONE THAT IS BUILT!