The disciples gathered on the Day of Pentecost to pray. According to the account in the book of Acts, they were not really expecting to experience what came upon them that day. But the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them as prophesied by the prophet Joel and confirmed by the words of Jesus. When that took place, the disciples began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance. You know something; they had no strategy meeting. They didn’t come together and say, “Now what shall we do? Now that the Spirit of God has fallen upon us, what shall we do?” No, that was not the course they took. They spoke as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Another example of the Holy Spirit’s ministry in the early church occurred at Antioch, when Barnabas and Saul were there with the other believers, preaching and ministering daily in the church. As they ministered, according to Acts 13, the Spirit of God spoke to them and said, “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” No record of a strategy meeting here! “What shall we do? How shall we proceed?” The record simply states that the Spirit of God moved upon them. And they moved as He directed.
In both incidents, the believers obeyed the Spirit. They were in touch with Him. They were so open to His leading that He could guide them. They were so open to His speaking that He could communicate with them.
Today we hear a great deal about “planting churches,” strategizing, and trying to learn how we shall do this. What proceedings shall we take? The apostle Paul spoke of “building the church.”
Paul compared the church to a building. His blueprint is found in I Corinthians 3:10-17:
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
In Paul’s blueprint for building a church, I find several SKETCHES of the details.
The first sketch is:
10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Paul said that he was a wise “master builder.” That is the term for an architect. He saw all the details, clearly entwined, as a wise master builder. And he said that he had laid the foundation. That, of course, is first in importance. No lasting building can be built without a foundation, a good foundation, a sturdy foundation, or a well-constructed foundation.
The single foundation is stated. There is no other. Paul sai...
