Psalms 127: 1

''Except (unless) the LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOUR IN VAIN THAT BUILD IT'' (Partial).

The above verse describes the vast majority of the church of Jesus Christ in the earth today about as well as is possible.

This is a sad but true fact. This same 'vast majority' will more than likely be offended by the words of this article.

To begin with, there was ever only intended to be 'ONE' church.

Jesus described it thusly:

Matt. 16: 18

''And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build 'my' church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against 'it' .''

This verse is almost always misunderstood to mean that Peter was the 'rock' upon which Jesus' church would be built. This is an excellent example of how God's Word will almost certainly be misunderstood when one verse is taken out of context.

You will 'never' understand what Jesus said in verse 18 unless you take into consideration also verses 15,16, and 17. Jesus had just ask Peter who did he (Peter) say that he (Jesus) was. Peter's answer in verse 16 was that Jesus was, 'THE' Christ, THE Son of the living God. Verse 17 reveals to us the fact that apparently Peter's answer was the 'right' answer because Jesus said that Peter was 'blessed' by God because Peter's answer was revealed to Peter 'by God himself'. Now the part you must not miss is this. The 'ROCK' on which Jesus' church would be built was FAITH in God's revelation that Jesus is 'THE CHRIST'. There is a vast difference between God revealing something to someone and that 'same someone' believing it, than believing the exact same thing because some 'man' said so. You may hear the gospel of Jesus Christ from some 'flesh and blood person' and probably in fact did. When you do hear the gospel however, 'only God' can reveal (cause you to KNOW) it is 'THE TRUTH'. TO 'KNOW' it's THE TRUTH because God said it, not because some man 'said ' God said it. The difference may seem so minor but in truth is most important. If you believe anything because some man said it, you'll 'stand for it' until that man falls. When and if that happens, you'll fall right along behind him.

Salvation and the New Birth can only come after you believe and “KNOW” that the gospel you've just heard and received came from God. Having said all that we can now return to verse 18.

First notice the word 'MY' in front of the word CHURCH. How many churches does this indicate? The word 'my' is singular as is the word 'church'.

Question: How many churches are there suppose to be and 'to whom' are they suppose to belong?

The answer should and can only be, 'one' and 'THAT ONE' can only belong to Jesus.

Explain something to me then. Why are Christians running all over this earth saying come to 'my' church? Pastors inviting people to come to 'their' church?

Bad news people! It's not nice to call anything 'mine' , when it clearly belongs to someone else. At this point, I feel it important to point out this is not 'spiritual baby food'. The words of this article are called 'STRONG MEAT' in Hebrews 5: 13-14. Remember now the words of Jesus. He said, “Upon this ROCK 'I' will build 'MY' church. Answer for yourself this question. If it's Jesus' CHURCH and he is the one building it, what strange compulsion causes men to claim the ownership to be theirs, as well as believing 'THEY' are the builders of it?

Why do men do this? The answer is both simple and obvious. Men think, 'I built it, that makes it right to call it 'mine' . News flash!

Don't bother inviting me to 'your church' . If it's yours and you built it, I have no desire or need to go there.

By their own words they have just identified themselves and this 'thing' they've built as 'BRICKS WITHOUT STRAW'.

Could you venture a guess as to what purpose mixing straw in with clay when making bricks would serve? Let me give you a modern day example. When pouring concrete what do you suppose is gained by putting 're-bar' inside the concrete? How about: “for strength for holding the structure together as 'one' unit”?

God is building a house. A house not built with (human) hands. Although built with MANY stones (bricks), He intends for that house to be 'ONE'. I said ONE, not two, and not many. Do you prefer being a part of the house (CHURCH) Jesus is building, or one of the MANY being built by men of flesh and blood?

Paul described this perfectly in 1^st Cor. 1 : 10

''that there be 'no', (No', 'NO'), divisions among you (partial).”

How many divisions did God say there should be? He said none!!!

The reason 'the church' is so divided is simply because almost every man wants to lay claim to his having built it, his little piece of the pie.

News for all those who think this is alright with God. It's God's pie!

It's ALL His! Jesus bought and paid for HIS CHURCH, so stop putting men's names on that which belongs to God and God alone.

“My congregation, my sheep, my church!! My, My, MY.” To speak the words “you ought to come to pastor do-dad's church” is an abomination unto God.

Question: Have you ever heard any mega church mentioned without the pastor's name (the supposed builder of it) attached?

I didn't think so.

Catch number one is: Let 'brother do-dad' fall and 'his' church will fall with him.

Catch number two is: When God shakes both heaven and earth again (Heb 12: 26), and the shaking's over, that church will 'not' be standing.

Catch number three is: If that church doesn't belong to 'brother do-dad', why do you insist on calling it by 'his' name?

Catch number four is: If copying some man's success formula is the way to go, why not copy Jesus' way?

Preach 'God's Word' . Preach the Truth rather than 'smooth words' which offend neither saint nor sinner.

Follow anyone's example other than Jesus' and you will end up building a house using 'bricks without straw' .

The leader of this earth's largest denomination, was asked by the leaders of Israel whether or not it was necessary to believe in Jesus to go to heaven. Can you guess the answer he gave?

His answer was No!

Why would this so-called leader of one and a half billion Christians (so called at least) make such an ungodly statement? That answer also is as plain as the nose on your own face. The Cross is an offense to those who perish. All who seek to build 'their own house' will strive to offend NO ONE. (A reminder here that Jesus-THE TRUTH-said 'many shall be offended' and Luke 7:23-'Blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me (THE TRUTH).”

The world wept at the passing of this (so called) great man of God. I said 'the world' wept at his passing. Nothing like it since the passing of Elvis Presley. The main difference being that Elvis made no claim of being anything for God.

John 15: 18-19

''If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because (rather) ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.''

Because the 'world' mourned the passing of this afore mentioned leader of the earth's largest denomination, you can rest assured that this man was 'NOT' sent by God. Had he been 'of God ' and sent 'by God' the WORLD would have rejoiced, not wept, at his passing. You can be sure and certain that 'any' so called prophet, evangelist, apostle, pastor, or teacher who's words do 'not' offend 'the world' , well, there's just no nice way to say this, they were 'not' sent by God, they are 'not' of God. They are 'not' to be believed, or followed.

Any person who claims to be sent by God, called by God, and speaking for God, but are 'LOVED BY THE WORLD', they can be 'nothing more' than wells without water and bricks without straw. They seek building their kingdom not God's. They were 'sent', but not by God. They can only lead their followers unto the broad way which leads to destruction.

They are 'many' , and they speak 'only' smooth words. They are the majority, NOT the minority. They craft everything they do and every word they say 'NOT' to offend. Unfortunately, they forget to consider their offense to God.

Their only desire is to be loved 'by the World'.

My advice to anyone who reads these words is simple.

Heed the words of the one who paid 'your' price for 'you'.

Matt. 24: 5

“For 'MANY' shall come in my name, saying I (Jesus) am Christ; and (they) shall deceive Many.”

My advice to you is for you to choose this day 'who' you will believe! Choose you this day 'who' you will follow!

The only thing depending on your decision is, 'your' eternity.

Learn to listen very closely to 'every' word that comes out of your mouth.

Who's name is it that you speak most often? Is it Jesus? Or is it the name of some builder of 'brick without straw'? Is it the name of 'your' pastor of 'your' church?

After the resurrection, who's name did God exalt above every name that is named? (Philippians 2: 9-10)

My bible says it's Jesus. There is no “brother DO-dad” exalted in God's Word.

One of the greatest weaknesses in the church today is to make gods out of men and then treat God like he was just someone who's opinion matters very little 'IF AT ALL'.

Listen to yourself. “Brother do-dad said this”and “brother so-and-so said that.” Big deal. We all need to be finding out what God said and then begin repeating that. What's wrong with giving credit where credit is due? The Wisdom of God says there will be NO “Brother Do-dad” builders of 'their own' churches in God's Kingdom.

I'll go even further than that and say

there will be NO 'speakers of smooth words' there. No bricks without straw either.

Let each of us examine ourselves. Do we love the world and the things of the world?

Are we loved 'by the world'? A 'yes' answer to these last 2 questions should be clear indication that something is seriously wrong.

The hour grows late and the day is soon past. Today is the day of Salvation. So the best advice I can give is this- Give serious thought to 'what' you believe and why you believe as you do. Do you believe the things you do because God said it or because some “Brother Do-dad” said so?

There's always great danger in following any man. There's only 'ONE' man worthy of your trust and that would be the only 'ONE' who was willing to die for your salvation.

His name is JESUS!

Praise His Holy Name Forever and Forever.