Under Construction: After the Dust… II 

The scenery on the altar is awesome! It is a construction site with concrete blocks, barricades, caution tapes and best of all, young adults dressed in construction clothes. In the midst of this, Pastor Frank comes in a crane elevated above the crowd! It looked awesome!

Now to the word…

There are so many promises but many times we think it isn’t time for them to come to pass, but it is. Your time has come. But understand that you must first go through a process.

1 Corinthians 3:1-11 (New King James Version)
 “1And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?  5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10According 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. 11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Are we ready to receive what God has for us?

There are many things God wants to give us, yet we complain and behave like children. The Apostle Paul could not speak to the Corinthians of revelations and many other powerful messages he had because there were still “babies.” They were always quarreling. Just like that, God cannot give us things, bless us or take us to other levels because we behave like babies; we behave in an immature way. God withholds all the beautiful things He has for us because of our immaturity. Understand that immaturity holds back God’s hand.

God then must deal with our heart. He is more concerned in working with your character than having your gifts and talents shine. Your level of maturity and character will sustain and be the rock base for your gifts. We all want to climb that mountain and shine but fail to realize that the Almighty is more concerned with your maturity level. Our character sustains our gifts.

Can you tell the difference?

Many times there is a thin line between how you live your life and how the world lives it. At times the only thing that makes you different from those in the world is that you go to a Friday night service and they don’t. You still do what the people from the world do. You deal with things like the world does. God wants us to mature and deal with things in life like He wants us to.

How can others tell the difference?

Now, how do we mature and learn to deal with things the Kingdom way? I’m glad you asked. God will allow circumstances in your life to deal with you. He will use the closest people to offend you. Circumstances will hit you hard and criticism will come before you. God will put you in a place called “under construction”. You will then find yourself among dust, among voices saying you’re not going to make it.

Are you willing to allow God to mature you? To do what He wants in your life? Do not get satisfied. Desire to see what you have not seen. When you lose it all, you’re going to gain it all. When you give your life up, you will find it. So many are inspired to serve Him but God wants more than inspiration and fire, He wants passion. Desire is “I don’t really want to do it but I will” and Passion is, “I really can’t afford not to do it.” God is tired of people who only have inspiration.

Will I stay standing?

You have to think, “It doesn’t matter what I have to go through, I am still here.” Passion has to do with commitment. Fire, inspiration, and desire are good but God wants commitment. No weapon formed against you will prosper so understand that you will still be here. A warrior doesn’t stay down. The question is, can you still stand after the dust settles? The devil wanted to wipe you out, but you’re still here. Many of you may say, I have never touched a miracle; look at yourself, you are a miracle.

Sum it up..

God wants the following:
1) For you to mature and no longer be a baby.
2) Understand that He is the one that makes you grow; He will allow things so you can live in your purpose and then be ready to inherit.
3) He wants to develop your character so you can stand after the dust settles.