1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:06,540 This is Sunday evening, February 8th, 1976, in 2 00:00:06,540 --> 00:00:07,360 Richmond, Virginia. 3 00:00:07,860 --> 00:00:10,380 Ministry is being given through Brother Stephen Kong. 4 00:00:15,500 --> 00:00:18,960 We do thank the Lord that we are 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:21,860 here together in his presence. 6 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:28,840 I'd like to read a few passages from 7 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:29,440 the Scripture. 8 00:00:31,009 --> 00:00:43,700 Hebrews, chapter 8, verse 9 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:49,980 5. 10 00:00:52,350 --> 00:00:56,690 Hebrews, chapter 8, verse 5. 11 00:00:58,770 --> 00:01:02,990 Who served the representation and shadow of heavenly 12 00:01:02,990 --> 00:01:09,050 things, according as Moses was oracularly told when 13 00:01:09,050 --> 00:01:11,490 about to make the tabernacle. 14 00:01:12,270 --> 00:01:15,490 For see, said he, that thou make all 15 00:01:15,490 --> 00:01:19,370 things according to the pattern which has been 16 00:01:19,370 --> 00:01:21,790 shown to thee in the mountain. 17 00:01:21,790 --> 00:01:26,590 For see, said he, that thou make all 18 00:01:26,590 --> 00:01:30,690 things according to the pattern which has been 19 00:01:30,690 --> 00:01:33,110 shown to thee in the mountain. 20 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:37,360 Matthew, chapter 16. 21 00:01:46,140 --> 00:01:49,440 Matthew, chapter 16, verse 18. 22 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:01,100 And I also say unto thee that thou 23 00:02:01,100 --> 00:02:05,300 art Peter, and on this rock I will 24 00:02:05,300 --> 00:02:09,639 build my assembly, and Hades gates shall not 25 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:11,660 prevail against it. 26 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:14,580 Go back to Hebrews again. 27 00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:31,220 Hebrews, chapter 28 00:02:31,220 --> 00:02:34,760 11, verse 16. 29 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,160 Maybe we'll read verse 10 first. 30 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,960 Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 10. 31 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,360 For he waited for the city which has 32 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:53,500 foundations, of which God is the artificer and 33 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:54,260 constructor. 34 00:02:55,060 --> 00:02:55,720 Verse 16. 35 00:02:56,380 --> 00:02:58,640 For now they seek a better that is 36 00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:01,820 a heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed of 37 00:03:01,820 --> 00:03:05,020 them to be called their God, for he 38 00:03:05,020 --> 00:03:08,000 has prepared for them a city. 39 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:11,200 1 Corinthians, chapter 3. 40 00:03:13,940 --> 00:03:17,080 1 Corinthians, chapter 3. 41 00:03:21,290 --> 00:03:24,610 We begin with verse 9. 42 00:03:31,630 --> 00:03:33,430 Maybe it's better to begin with verse 10. 43 00:03:34,010 --> 00:03:36,230 According to the grace of God which has 44 00:03:36,230 --> 00:03:38,570 been given to me as a wise architect, 45 00:03:39,230 --> 00:03:42,010 I have laid the foundation, but another builds 46 00:03:42,010 --> 00:03:42,750 upon it. 47 00:03:43,150 --> 00:03:45,830 But let each see how he builds upon 48 00:03:45,830 --> 00:03:46,050 it. 49 00:03:46,050 --> 00:03:49,110 For other foundations can no man lay besides 50 00:03:49,110 --> 00:03:52,070 that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 51 00:03:52,710 --> 00:03:56,270 Now if anyone builds upon this foundation, gold, 52 00:03:56,410 --> 00:04:00,670 silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, the work 53 00:04:00,670 --> 00:04:02,930 of each shall be made manifest. 54 00:04:03,510 --> 00:04:06,370 For the day shall declare it, because it 55 00:04:06,370 --> 00:04:09,310 is revealed in fire, and the fire shall 56 00:04:09,310 --> 00:04:11,950 try the work of each what it is. 57 00:04:11,950 --> 00:04:14,610 If the work of anyone which he has 58 00:04:14,610 --> 00:04:17,850 built upon the foundation shall abide, he shall 59 00:04:17,850 --> 00:04:19,089 receive a reward. 60 00:04:19,769 --> 00:04:22,090 If the work of anyone shall be consumed, 61 00:04:22,610 --> 00:04:25,190 he shall suffer loss, but he shall be 62 00:04:25,190 --> 00:04:28,790 saved, but so as through the fire. 63 00:04:29,750 --> 00:04:31,550 Do ye not know that ye are the 64 00:04:31,550 --> 00:04:34,030 temple of God, and that the Spirit of 65 00:04:34,030 --> 00:04:35,250 God dwells in you? 66 00:04:35,250 --> 00:04:38,350 If anyone corrupt the temple of God, him 67 00:04:38,350 --> 00:04:39,570 shall God destroy. 68 00:04:40,230 --> 00:04:43,030 For the temple of God is holy, and 69 00:04:43,030 --> 00:04:45,070 such are ye. 70 00:04:46,650 --> 00:04:49,370 And finally, Psalms. 71 00:04:51,310 --> 00:04:53,650 Psalm 127. 72 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:58,360 Just the first verse. 73 00:05:00,490 --> 00:05:03,810 Psalm 127, verse 1. 74 00:05:07,230 --> 00:05:12,130 Unless Jehovah build a house, in vain do 75 00:05:12,130 --> 00:05:14,450 his builders labor in it. 76 00:05:15,110 --> 00:05:19,170 Unless Jehovah keep the city, the keeper watches 77 00:05:19,170 --> 00:05:20,570 in vain. 78 00:05:22,310 --> 00:05:22,990 Shall we pray? 79 00:05:26,670 --> 00:05:33,750 Our Father, we have read Thy word, and 80 00:05:33,750 --> 00:05:38,370 now we do ask Thee that Thou would 81 00:05:38,370 --> 00:05:42,570 breathe upon Thy word, and make it living, 82 00:05:43,890 --> 00:05:48,110 real, and operative to each of us. 83 00:05:49,110 --> 00:05:51,570 We ask Thee to give us the spirit 84 00:05:51,570 --> 00:05:55,770 of wisdom and revelation, that we may know 85 00:05:55,770 --> 00:06:00,170 Thee, that we may know Thy mind, that 86 00:06:00,170 --> 00:06:03,310 we may know what Thou art doing, that 87 00:06:03,310 --> 00:06:06,290 we may know what we are doing, and 88 00:06:06,290 --> 00:06:07,470 we may do Thy will. 89 00:06:08,150 --> 00:06:10,770 We just commit this time into Thy hands, 90 00:06:11,310 --> 00:06:12,550 and ask Thy blessing. 91 00:06:13,270 --> 00:06:14,830 In the name of our Lord Jesus. 92 00:06:15,750 --> 00:06:16,110 Amen. 93 00:06:16,110 --> 00:06:25,600 We have read a number 94 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:30,800 of passages, and you will notice that in 95 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:38,300 all these passages, one thought runs through all 96 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:38,660 of them. 97 00:06:39,740 --> 00:06:42,960 And that thought is the thought of building. 98 00:06:45,700 --> 00:06:50,920 And yet you find in some passages, the 99 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:52,300 builder is God. 100 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:54,640 The builder is Christ. 101 00:06:55,900 --> 00:06:59,220 And yet in other passages, you find that 102 00:06:59,220 --> 00:07:03,840 the builder is you or me. 103 00:07:06,290 --> 00:07:07,690 God is building. 104 00:07:07,690 --> 00:07:16,840 The Lord Jesus said, I will build my 105 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,680 church, and the gates of Hades shall not 106 00:07:20,680 --> 00:07:21,920 prevail against it. 107 00:07:24,490 --> 00:07:28,410 God is the builder of the city with 108 00:07:28,410 --> 00:07:28,950 foundation. 109 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:34,180 God himself is building. 110 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,140 And yet you find we also are building. 111 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,220 A foundation is already laid, which is none 112 00:07:44,220 --> 00:07:45,520 other than Jesus Christ. 113 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:49,900 And then each of us are building upon 114 00:07:49,900 --> 00:07:50,820 that foundation. 115 00:07:51,700 --> 00:07:54,460 We are building the temple of God. 116 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,120 The house of God. 117 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:01,780 Are we building the same building? 118 00:08:03,500 --> 00:08:08,080 Or do we build something differently what God 119 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:08,780 is building? 120 00:08:12,660 --> 00:08:18,240 May we say that what God builds and 121 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,720 what we build are actually one building. 122 00:08:22,380 --> 00:08:23,080 One thing. 123 00:08:26,030 --> 00:08:27,490 But are they really the same? 124 00:08:29,330 --> 00:08:31,309 And this is something that we would like 125 00:08:31,309 --> 00:08:35,010 to fellowship this afternoon. 126 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:43,860 After Peter confessed the Lord Jesus as the 127 00:08:43,860 --> 00:08:46,540 Christ, the Son of the Living God. 128 00:08:46,540 --> 00:08:49,900 The Lord said, you are Peter, you are 129 00:08:49,900 --> 00:08:50,320 a stone. 130 00:08:52,020 --> 00:08:55,300 I will build my church upon this rock. 131 00:08:56,380 --> 00:08:58,800 And the gates of Hades shall not prevail 132 00:08:58,800 --> 00:08:59,600 against it. 133 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,240 The Lord said, I will build. 134 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:10,840 He himself will undertake the work of building 135 00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:11,540 the church. 136 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:17,780 And the gates of Hades, even though all 137 00:09:17,780 --> 00:09:19,160 the gates of Hades are open. 138 00:09:20,380 --> 00:09:25,760 And yet, it cannot prevail against what the 139 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:27,180 Lord has built. 140 00:09:29,500 --> 00:09:33,200 In other words, what the Lord is building 141 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:34,880 is so perfect. 142 00:09:38,260 --> 00:09:44,740 That Satan could find no flaw, no loophole, 143 00:09:45,940 --> 00:09:50,240 nowhere that he can prevail over it. 144 00:09:52,130 --> 00:09:56,990 But of course, immediately after, the Lord said, 145 00:09:57,690 --> 00:10:00,550 I will build my church upon this rock. 146 00:10:01,150 --> 00:10:03,050 And the gates of Hades shall not prevail 147 00:10:03,050 --> 00:10:03,750 against it. 148 00:10:04,410 --> 00:10:06,630 And then the Lord began to share with 149 00:10:06,630 --> 00:10:09,410 his disciples how he will go to Jerusalem. 150 00:10:10,330 --> 00:10:12,950 He will be killed, but on the third 151 00:10:12,950 --> 00:10:14,830 day he will be raised from the dead. 152 00:10:15,750 --> 00:10:19,570 And immediately, you remember Peter, out of his 153 00:10:19,570 --> 00:10:22,290 good heart, he took hold of our Lord 154 00:10:22,290 --> 00:10:25,050 and shook him probably and said, No Lord, 155 00:10:25,450 --> 00:10:26,410 don't do that. 156 00:10:27,830 --> 00:10:29,310 Be kind to yourself. 157 00:10:36,140 --> 00:10:38,060 Well, the Lord just said, you are Peter, 158 00:10:38,780 --> 00:10:39,760 you are a stone. 159 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:45,580 I will build you, with others of course, 160 00:10:46,260 --> 00:10:48,780 upon the foundation which is your confession. 161 00:10:48,780 --> 00:10:52,360 And the gates of Hades shall not prevail 162 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:56,440 against it, but only a few minutes. 163 00:10:57,540 --> 00:10:59,500 And you will find the gates of Hades 164 00:10:59,500 --> 00:11:02,260 as if it has prevailed over Peter. 165 00:11:04,340 --> 00:11:08,220 But thank God, it has prevailed over Peter. 166 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,240 But it has not prevailed over the church 167 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:13,860 that Christ is building. 168 00:11:16,060 --> 00:11:18,280 Because immediately you will find the Lord say, 169 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:19,680 Satan, get thee behind. 170 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,620 You have no part in it. 171 00:11:24,910 --> 00:11:29,830 The Lord is building with Peter, yes. 172 00:11:30,990 --> 00:11:34,590 But the Lord is building with himself in 173 00:11:34,590 --> 00:11:34,890 Peter. 174 00:11:36,030 --> 00:11:37,130 Not just Peter. 175 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,940 The gates of Hades can prevail over Peter. 176 00:11:43,860 --> 00:11:47,360 But it can never prevail over the Christ 177 00:11:47,360 --> 00:11:49,080 that is in Peter. 178 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,680 And our Lord Jesus is building his church 179 00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:56,040 with nothing but himself. 180 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:59,760 It is true, it is himself in Peter. 181 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,100 It is himself in you, himself in me. 182 00:12:04,020 --> 00:12:08,960 As we break the bread, you have a 183 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:09,320 portion. 184 00:12:09,860 --> 00:12:12,500 I have a part of that loaf. 185 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,120 You have a part of Christ. 186 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,040 I have a part of Christ. 187 00:12:17,420 --> 00:12:19,920 And it is with that part of Christ 188 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,600 in all of us that he is building 189 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:23,520 his church. 190 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:26,820 And the gates of Hades shall not prevail 191 00:12:26,820 --> 00:12:28,100 against it. 192 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:28,880 Why? 193 00:12:29,860 --> 00:12:33,700 Because the church that he builds is nothing 194 00:12:33,700 --> 00:12:36,220 but an extension of himself. 195 00:12:42,030 --> 00:12:48,910 Whatever the Lord builds, whenever he builds, it 196 00:12:48,910 --> 00:12:50,250 is always perfect. 197 00:12:52,130 --> 00:12:56,890 There can be no spot, no wrinkle, not 198 00:12:56,890 --> 00:12:58,230 of any such thought. 199 00:12:58,230 --> 00:13:03,950 But it will be a glorious church, presentable 200 00:13:03,950 --> 00:13:04,630 to himself. 201 00:13:06,030 --> 00:13:09,210 Can you imagine that the Lord is building 202 00:13:09,210 --> 00:13:12,630 his church and he builds something wrong? 203 00:13:13,630 --> 00:13:14,970 He builds it imperfect. 204 00:13:15,770 --> 00:13:18,030 It has to be corrected and changed. 205 00:13:18,750 --> 00:13:22,030 And there are flaws, there are loopholes for 206 00:13:22,030 --> 00:13:24,770 the enemy to attack and even to prevail. 207 00:13:25,110 --> 00:13:26,250 Can you imagine that? 208 00:13:27,210 --> 00:13:28,750 It cannot be. 209 00:13:30,230 --> 00:13:33,050 Whatever the Lord lays his hand on and 210 00:13:33,050 --> 00:13:35,670 builds, it has to be perfect. 211 00:13:37,130 --> 00:13:40,630 It needs no alteration, no adjustment. 212 00:13:41,430 --> 00:13:44,410 It is perfect, complete. 213 00:13:45,410 --> 00:13:48,770 And the enemy cannot prevail against it. 214 00:13:56,830 --> 00:13:58,750 May we go even a step further? 215 00:14:00,130 --> 00:14:03,510 The Lord said, I will build my church. 216 00:14:04,090 --> 00:14:05,250 That is in future tense. 217 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:11,640 The Lord is going to build. 218 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,740 He is fast to build probably first with 219 00:14:15,740 --> 00:14:19,420 Peter and then with other living stones. 220 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,100 And so far as we understand, the Lord 221 00:14:24,100 --> 00:14:26,440 is still building his church today. 222 00:14:27,420 --> 00:14:28,960 He said, I will build. 223 00:14:30,460 --> 00:14:34,160 And then in Ephesians chapter 5 you find 224 00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:39,180 one day, after he has purified his church 225 00:14:39,180 --> 00:14:42,980 by the washing of the water with the 226 00:14:42,980 --> 00:14:47,000 word, that it will become a glorious church 227 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,920 and will be presented to him as his 228 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:51,300 bride. 229 00:14:52,540 --> 00:14:54,700 So in one sense we will say that 230 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:56,440 the Lord is now building. 231 00:14:57,440 --> 00:14:59,360 The Lord is now purifying. 232 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:03,460 The Lord is now working until the church 233 00:15:03,460 --> 00:15:07,600 becomes a glorious church that is fit to 234 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,600 be presented to himself as his bride. 235 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:16,020 But that is only in relation to us. 236 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:17,820 Why? 237 00:15:17,920 --> 00:15:19,900 Because we are human beings. 238 00:15:21,520 --> 00:15:23,840 And he is working with us. 239 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:28,420 Therefore you find there is the time and 240 00:15:28,420 --> 00:15:30,600 the space factors involved. 241 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:36,480 But so far as God is concerned, he 242 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:37,780 is forever now. 243 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:41,240 There is no past, there is no future, 244 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:42,560 it is always now. 245 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:47,640 In other words, when God conceives a thought, 246 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:49,900 it is already done. 247 00:15:53,190 --> 00:15:58,230 Even before the foundation of the world, God 248 00:15:58,230 --> 00:16:00,810 conceived a thought. 249 00:16:01,450 --> 00:16:04,670 And that thought is concerning a mystery. 250 00:16:05,470 --> 00:16:09,030 And that mystery is called the mystery of 251 00:16:09,030 --> 00:16:09,630 the Christ. 252 00:16:10,130 --> 00:16:11,090 It is the church. 253 00:16:12,290 --> 00:16:16,670 Even before the foundation of the world, God 254 00:16:16,670 --> 00:16:20,550 conceived in his mind the church. 255 00:16:21,550 --> 00:16:24,130 And when is that church completed? 256 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:31,140 It was completed. 257 00:16:32,300 --> 00:16:36,500 The moment he conceived the thought, it is 258 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:39,080 as good as it is done. 259 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:40,540 Why? 260 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:46,440 Because God is not restricted, limited, circumscribed by 261 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:47,900 time or space. 262 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:54,060 In Hebrews chapter 10 you will find even 263 00:16:54,060 --> 00:16:54,720 Abraham. 264 00:16:54,720 --> 00:17:00,200 He was waiting for that city with foundation. 265 00:17:01,140 --> 00:17:04,960 The city which God is the artificer, he 266 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:08,180 is the architect and also the constructor, the 267 00:17:08,180 --> 00:17:08,440 builder. 268 00:17:10,810 --> 00:17:14,369 Even Abraham in his time was waiting for 269 00:17:14,369 --> 00:17:14,970 that city. 270 00:17:16,109 --> 00:17:18,170 Now was it because the city was not 271 00:17:18,170 --> 00:17:20,810 yet built, therefore he had to wait? 272 00:17:21,170 --> 00:17:21,950 Not at all. 273 00:17:23,460 --> 00:17:27,500 Because immediately after that you find in verse 274 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:31,400 16 we are told, God is not ashamed 275 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:33,580 to be their God. 276 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:34,140 Why? 277 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,660 Because he has prepared for them a city. 278 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:40,220 He has prepared. 279 00:17:44,310 --> 00:17:47,550 So far as God is concerned, that city 280 00:17:47,550 --> 00:17:49,790 with foundations is already present. 281 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:56,140 What is waiting for, as Hebrews said, Abraham 282 00:17:56,140 --> 00:17:57,100 had to wait. 283 00:17:57,100 --> 00:18:00,760 He waited not for God to complete that 284 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:02,240 city, but for us. 285 00:18:03,640 --> 00:18:08,840 He will not be completed without us. 286 00:18:09,540 --> 00:18:12,560 So actually Abraham was waiting for us, not 287 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:14,720 waiting for God to complete that city. 288 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:18,040 That city was as good as it was 289 00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:19,100 already completed. 290 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:23,620 Now dear brothers and sisters, I know probably 291 00:18:23,620 --> 00:18:30,100 it is a little difficult to comprehend, but 292 00:18:30,100 --> 00:18:30,880 that's the truth. 293 00:18:31,580 --> 00:18:32,360 That's the truth. 294 00:18:35,100 --> 00:18:38,000 So far as we are concerned there is 295 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,800 always the time factor and the space factor 296 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:42,520 involved. 297 00:18:43,420 --> 00:18:45,860 But with God he is eternal. 298 00:18:48,070 --> 00:18:49,990 He is for forever now. 299 00:18:49,990 --> 00:18:57,750 And because of that, when God conceives something, 300 00:19:01,010 --> 00:19:02,850 it is done. 301 00:19:03,570 --> 00:19:04,890 It is done. 302 00:19:09,490 --> 00:19:14,690 When God commanded Moses to build a tabernacle, 303 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:23,900 God said, See, that you make everything according 304 00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:28,320 to the heavenly pattern that I have shown 305 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:29,480 you on the mount. 306 00:19:31,720 --> 00:19:35,680 In other words, the tabernacle that Moses built 307 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:42,140 was built according to the pattern in heaven. 308 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,960 There was a pattern in heaven. 309 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,560 And Moses was building according to that pattern. 310 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:58,230 Now the problem is, did the tabernacle of 311 00:19:58,230 --> 00:20:02,730 Moses come first, or the pattern in heaven 312 00:20:02,730 --> 00:20:04,430 existed first? 313 00:20:05,170 --> 00:20:05,950 Of course. 314 00:20:07,710 --> 00:20:10,610 If Moses built according to the heavenly pattern, 315 00:20:10,890 --> 00:20:13,530 now that pattern must be there already in 316 00:20:13,530 --> 00:20:13,790 heaven. 317 00:20:14,790 --> 00:20:18,450 What Moses built was just a representation and 318 00:20:18,450 --> 00:20:24,310 a shadow of the reality that is in 319 00:20:24,310 --> 00:20:24,790 heaven. 320 00:20:27,190 --> 00:20:29,950 There is a reality in heaven. 321 00:20:30,710 --> 00:20:32,970 There is a tabernacle in heaven. 322 00:20:33,690 --> 00:20:35,650 There is a pattern in heaven. 323 00:20:36,170 --> 00:20:40,830 And that reality in heaven exists even before 324 00:20:40,830 --> 00:20:42,430 the foundation of the world. 325 00:20:42,670 --> 00:20:43,370 It is there. 326 00:20:43,590 --> 00:20:44,550 Always there. 327 00:20:46,950 --> 00:20:50,450 And one day God told Moses, Now you 328 00:20:50,450 --> 00:20:54,970 build a tabernacle on earth, and that tabernacle 329 00:20:54,970 --> 00:20:59,110 is according to the heavenly pattern. 330 00:20:59,790 --> 00:21:03,430 Because this that you built was just a 331 00:21:03,430 --> 00:21:08,850 representation and a shadow of the things above. 332 00:21:11,990 --> 00:21:17,210 Brothers and sisters, with God there is a 333 00:21:17,210 --> 00:21:17,730 reality. 334 00:21:18,850 --> 00:21:26,140 And that reality exists with God. 335 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:28,380 It is there. 336 00:21:30,060 --> 00:21:35,680 Whenever God conceives a thought, whenever God purposes 337 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:38,400 a purpose, it is already there. 338 00:21:39,660 --> 00:21:41,220 Full and complete. 339 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,200 So far as God is concerned it does 340 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:48,980 not take time to complete it. 341 00:21:50,320 --> 00:21:51,820 It is complete. 342 00:21:52,590 --> 00:21:53,820 It is perfect. 343 00:21:54,300 --> 00:21:55,040 It is complete. 344 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:57,500 That is reality. 345 00:21:58,060 --> 00:21:59,920 That is spiritual reality. 346 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,420 And spiritual reality is eternal. 347 00:22:05,370 --> 00:22:08,170 And it is according to that reality in 348 00:22:08,170 --> 00:22:12,450 heaven that Moses built the tabernacle. 349 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:15,260 Why? 350 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:19,460 Because it is but a representation and a 351 00:22:19,460 --> 00:22:23,660 shadow of the heavenly reality. 352 00:22:24,660 --> 00:22:29,000 And God's word to Moses was, See that 353 00:22:29,000 --> 00:22:32,700 you make everything according to the pattern as 354 00:22:32,700 --> 00:22:34,860 I have shown you on the mountain. 355 00:22:37,730 --> 00:22:38,090 Why? 356 00:22:38,630 --> 00:22:44,210 Because that tabernacle was to be a shadow, 357 00:22:45,010 --> 00:22:50,650 a representation of the tabernacle in heaven. 358 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:58,660 The tabernacle that Moses built was built with 359 00:22:58,660 --> 00:23:08,780 gold, silver, linen, wood, all 360 00:23:08,780 --> 00:23:09,580 kinds of things. 361 00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:12,960 But this is but a shadow. 362 00:23:14,660 --> 00:23:16,860 The physical is but a shadow. 363 00:23:17,560 --> 00:23:18,500 But a representation. 364 00:23:20,020 --> 00:23:22,280 The real thing is in heaven. 365 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:27,740 Not with gold and silver and wood and 366 00:23:27,740 --> 00:23:29,840 stone as we see today. 367 00:23:30,580 --> 00:23:34,600 It is with a spiritual reality that God 368 00:23:34,600 --> 00:23:37,020 has in heaven. 369 00:23:38,560 --> 00:23:43,160 And Moses was warned to build everything according 370 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:43,900 to the pattern. 371 00:23:44,500 --> 00:23:44,840 Why? 372 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:50,100 Because if he did not, he would commit 373 00:23:50,100 --> 00:23:51,840 the sin of misrepresentation. 374 00:23:53,260 --> 00:23:57,720 And the sin of misrepresentation is a great 375 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,160 sin in the sight of God. 376 00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:07,380 You remember once Moses misrepresented God by getting 377 00:24:07,380 --> 00:24:08,020 angry. 378 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:10,840 You remember that story? 379 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,700 The children of Israel had no drink, no 380 00:24:14,700 --> 00:24:15,060 water. 381 00:24:15,540 --> 00:24:18,220 They cried, they complained, they murmured. 382 00:24:18,560 --> 00:24:20,860 And God told Moses, You go there, take 383 00:24:20,860 --> 00:24:24,220 the rod from before the tabernacle, from before 384 00:24:24,220 --> 00:24:29,360 the ark, the rod of Aaron, that budded. 385 00:24:29,980 --> 00:24:33,560 And you go there to the rock and 386 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:34,740 speak to the rock. 387 00:24:35,420 --> 00:24:37,020 And water will come forth. 388 00:24:37,420 --> 00:24:39,800 And Moses was provoked in his spirit. 389 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:41,680 He went to that rock. 390 00:24:42,220 --> 00:24:45,800 He smote that rock twice with that rod. 391 00:24:46,980 --> 00:24:49,460 And the bud and the fruit of Aaron 392 00:24:49,460 --> 00:24:50,640 were all destroyed. 393 00:24:51,060 --> 00:24:53,660 And he scolded the children of Israel and 394 00:24:53,660 --> 00:24:56,080 said, You rebel, I give you water to 395 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:57,500 eat, to drink. 396 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:01,680 Moses committed the sin of misrepresentation. 397 00:25:02,540 --> 00:25:06,400 He misrepresented God and he was not allowed 398 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,000 to enter into the promised land. 399 00:25:11,140 --> 00:25:17,880 Thank God, Moses built the tabernacle just as 400 00:25:17,880 --> 00:25:21,660 he was shown of the heavenly pattern. 401 00:25:22,540 --> 00:25:24,840 To the minutest detail. 402 00:25:26,220 --> 00:25:29,860 There was no misrepresentation in the tabernacle. 403 00:25:30,620 --> 00:25:35,800 And the shadow was the exact shadow of 404 00:25:35,800 --> 00:25:37,880 the reality in heaven. 405 00:25:45,530 --> 00:25:52,610 You know, brothers and sisters, we are all 406 00:25:52,610 --> 00:25:52,910 building. 407 00:25:55,580 --> 00:25:56,480 We are all building. 408 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,360 The foundation is already laid. 409 00:26:00,960 --> 00:26:03,600 Which is none other but Jesus Christ. 410 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,980 We have believed on the Lord Jesus as 411 00:26:07,980 --> 00:26:13,530 our Savior, as Christ, as the Son of 412 00:26:13,530 --> 00:26:14,230 the Living God. 413 00:26:15,150 --> 00:26:18,610 The foundation is already laid in each one 414 00:26:18,610 --> 00:26:19,010 of us. 415 00:26:19,970 --> 00:26:24,910 And after we are saved, we are all 416 00:26:24,910 --> 00:26:26,910 building upon that foundation. 417 00:26:30,820 --> 00:26:34,060 Not in the sense we each are building 418 00:26:34,060 --> 00:26:35,060 our own house. 419 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:40,300 Actually we are building just one house, the 420 00:26:40,300 --> 00:26:41,560 temple of God, together. 421 00:26:42,600 --> 00:26:45,880 You are building on the foundation, same foundation. 422 00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:48,120 I'm building on the same foundation. 423 00:26:48,340 --> 00:26:50,680 And actually we are building the same house. 424 00:26:52,700 --> 00:26:54,800 We are building together. 425 00:26:57,820 --> 00:27:01,840 Paul is like a foreman. 426 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:07,200 Actually that master builder or master architect is 427 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:08,280 not the right thing. 428 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,020 Because the architect is God. 429 00:27:13,670 --> 00:27:14,970 Paul is a foreman. 430 00:27:16,190 --> 00:27:17,010 He is a foreman. 431 00:27:17,930 --> 00:27:19,370 And we are laborers. 432 00:27:19,970 --> 00:27:20,970 We are laborers. 433 00:27:20,970 --> 00:27:25,690 We are all working together, building that house 434 00:27:25,690 --> 00:27:27,810 of God on that foundation. 435 00:27:28,250 --> 00:27:31,110 Now when it comes to us, you find 436 00:27:31,110 --> 00:27:33,850 the time and the space are involved. 437 00:27:37,270 --> 00:27:39,550 We are all building upon that foundation. 438 00:27:41,210 --> 00:27:44,410 But the thing is, be careful as how 439 00:27:44,410 --> 00:27:46,090 we build on that foundation. 440 00:27:49,790 --> 00:27:51,350 Several things are involved. 441 00:27:53,490 --> 00:27:59,340 Number one, how can we build rightly? 442 00:28:00,340 --> 00:28:04,760 If we do not see the reality. 443 00:28:07,140 --> 00:28:09,600 In other words, if you want to build, 444 00:28:10,620 --> 00:28:12,880 you have first to see the pattern. 445 00:28:14,320 --> 00:28:16,940 If you do not see the pattern, how 446 00:28:16,940 --> 00:28:18,100 are you going to build? 447 00:28:18,640 --> 00:28:21,120 You have to build according to what you 448 00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:22,400 think it should be built. 449 00:28:23,620 --> 00:28:25,340 And of course that's a guesswork. 450 00:28:27,750 --> 00:28:33,240 And probably 9.999 out of 10 it 451 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:34,960 will be wrong. 452 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,380 The chance is very slim that you will 453 00:28:40,380 --> 00:28:42,780 build what the pattern really tells you. 454 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:45,480 So first of all you will find you 455 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,380 will need light. 456 00:28:48,260 --> 00:28:50,260 You will need to know what the pattern 457 00:28:50,260 --> 00:28:50,720 is. 458 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,900 And then of course the second question is, 459 00:28:56,700 --> 00:28:59,760 what materials are you using? 460 00:29:00,780 --> 00:29:03,440 You may use gold, silver and precious stones. 461 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,760 Or you may use wood, straw and grass. 462 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,900 And we know gold, silver and precious stones 463 00:29:11,900 --> 00:29:14,900 speaks of that which is of God. 464 00:29:16,300 --> 00:29:18,600 Gold speaks of the nature of God. 465 00:29:19,900 --> 00:29:22,280 Silver speaks of the redemption of Christ. 466 00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:25,380 Precious stones speaks of the work of the 467 00:29:25,380 --> 00:29:26,060 Holy Spirit. 468 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,280 And if you build with such materials, now 469 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:31,760 that's one way of building it. 470 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:37,720 Or you may build with wood, grass, straw. 471 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,280 It speaks of the nature of man. 472 00:29:41,420 --> 00:29:43,680 Man is not like wood, like trees. 473 00:29:44,620 --> 00:29:47,860 The glory of man is like grass that 474 00:29:47,860 --> 00:29:49,480 will soon fade away and wither. 475 00:29:50,260 --> 00:29:52,360 And the work of man is working with 476 00:29:52,360 --> 00:29:52,780 straw. 477 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:55,700 So here you will find you can build 478 00:29:55,700 --> 00:29:57,720 on it with that which is of man 479 00:29:57,720 --> 00:29:58,860 and not of God. 480 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:00,680 You can build on that foundation. 481 00:30:02,660 --> 00:30:12,470 And number three, when you build, where do 482 00:30:12,470 --> 00:30:12,930 you build? 483 00:30:15,290 --> 00:30:17,870 You may build a partition where there should 484 00:30:17,870 --> 00:30:18,810 be open space. 485 00:30:20,250 --> 00:30:22,590 You may build in the wrong place. 486 00:30:23,790 --> 00:30:25,810 And if you build in the wrong place, 487 00:30:25,890 --> 00:30:27,910 even the material is right, it has to 488 00:30:27,910 --> 00:30:30,030 be torn and corrected. 489 00:30:31,610 --> 00:30:35,670 And then lastly, you may build so independently 490 00:30:35,670 --> 00:30:39,090 you are not thinking of the other parts 491 00:30:39,090 --> 00:30:39,670 of the building. 492 00:30:40,710 --> 00:30:43,470 So you may build very diligently and you 493 00:30:43,470 --> 00:30:46,070 may build with the right material, but when 494 00:30:46,070 --> 00:30:48,270 it is finished it just cannot fit with 495 00:30:48,270 --> 00:30:49,090 other buildings. 496 00:30:49,090 --> 00:30:50,710 Part of the buildings. 497 00:30:51,610 --> 00:30:54,250 So you find lots of problems are involved. 498 00:30:55,650 --> 00:30:58,510 Now dear brothers and sisters, when God builds, 499 00:30:59,110 --> 00:31:01,170 what He builds, there is no problem. 500 00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,960 Because whatever God builds is perfect. 501 00:31:09,530 --> 00:31:11,930 And not only perfect, but it is complete. 502 00:31:13,310 --> 00:31:15,950 But when it comes to our building, you 503 00:31:15,950 --> 00:31:18,050 find we have lots of problems. 504 00:31:21,470 --> 00:31:24,170 Now are we building the same building or 505 00:31:24,170 --> 00:31:25,970 are we building some different buildings? 506 00:31:27,110 --> 00:31:29,790 I think this is something that we really 507 00:31:29,790 --> 00:31:31,530 need to consider before the Lord. 508 00:31:39,020 --> 00:31:46,060 You know sometimes I wonder, will God ever 509 00:31:46,060 --> 00:31:55,980 be able to have a holy 510 00:31:55,980 --> 00:31:56,620 habitation? 511 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:01,400 Something that really satisfies His heart. 512 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:05,280 That He can dwell forever as His eternal 513 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:05,700 home. 514 00:32:06,860 --> 00:32:10,260 Will God ever be able to have such 515 00:32:10,260 --> 00:32:10,640 a thing? 516 00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:18,400 The more you know about Christianity today, the 517 00:32:18,400 --> 00:32:21,680 more you know about yourself, the more you 518 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:24,060 know about what we are doing on earth 519 00:32:24,060 --> 00:32:24,440 here. 520 00:32:25,620 --> 00:32:28,720 Probably sooner or later you begin to wonder, 521 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:33,180 Will God ever be able to have what 522 00:32:33,180 --> 00:32:40,650 He has purposed even before the foundation of 523 00:32:40,650 --> 00:32:41,170 the world? 524 00:32:42,490 --> 00:32:45,990 And recently I've been asked this question in 525 00:32:45,990 --> 00:32:48,370 different places where I travel. 526 00:32:49,130 --> 00:32:51,510 All people ask, will God ever get what 527 00:32:51,510 --> 00:32:52,070 He wants? 528 00:32:52,930 --> 00:32:54,170 Is there any hope? 529 00:32:55,070 --> 00:32:57,330 There doesn't seem to be any possibility. 530 00:32:58,370 --> 00:33:02,770 But dear brothers and sisters, may we be 531 00:33:02,770 --> 00:33:05,050 comforted with the thought that God already has 532 00:33:05,050 --> 00:33:05,210 it. 533 00:33:08,460 --> 00:33:12,240 You are afraid that God may not be 534 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:14,360 able to have it, but thank God He 535 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:15,160 already has it. 536 00:33:17,340 --> 00:33:18,440 It is already there. 537 00:33:21,630 --> 00:33:24,870 There is a reality which is already there. 538 00:33:25,930 --> 00:33:27,850 It is always there with God. 539 00:33:29,650 --> 00:33:32,310 You do not be fearful for God, it 540 00:33:32,310 --> 00:33:32,790 is there. 541 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,580 Now the problem is not that. 542 00:33:40,580 --> 00:33:42,000 The problem is with us. 543 00:33:43,360 --> 00:33:44,140 Is with us. 544 00:33:46,510 --> 00:33:49,170 We are supposed to build the same building. 545 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:54,100 But what has happened? 546 00:33:55,420 --> 00:33:56,080 What has happened? 547 00:33:59,410 --> 00:34:04,180 You know, as the sun rises, it begins 548 00:34:04,180 --> 00:34:07,000 to shine upon a substance. 549 00:34:08,239 --> 00:34:14,000 And then casts a shadow on the earth. 550 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:24,360 When the sun rises higher and higher until 551 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:30,320 it reaches its meridian, where is the shadow? 552 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:35,960 The shadow disappears in the substance. 553 00:34:38,739 --> 00:34:40,699 And you know, this is what is happening 554 00:34:40,699 --> 00:34:41,159 today. 555 00:34:42,820 --> 00:34:46,600 Now brothers and sisters, you find in 1 556 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:51,460 Corinthians chapter 13, in that well-known chapter 557 00:34:51,460 --> 00:34:55,080 on love, you know there is something there. 558 00:35:00,170 --> 00:35:05,410 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 12. 559 00:35:07,700 --> 00:35:10,820 For we see now through a dim window 560 00:35:10,820 --> 00:35:14,340 obscurely, but then face to face. 561 00:35:14,700 --> 00:35:18,500 Now I know partially, but then I shall 562 00:35:18,500 --> 00:35:22,040 know according as I also have been known. 563 00:35:24,840 --> 00:35:28,240 We see now through a dim window. 564 00:35:28,240 --> 00:35:33,840 Now some translation is through an opaque glass. 565 00:35:35,420 --> 00:35:38,120 It is a semi-transparent glass. 566 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:40,720 It is not a, you know, in the 567 00:35:40,720 --> 00:35:43,880 old days you don't have transparent glass as 568 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:44,540 we have now. 569 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:46,820 So what they use is a kind of 570 00:35:46,820 --> 00:35:49,600 opaque and semi-transparent thing. 571 00:35:50,460 --> 00:35:53,940 Or even they use a metal to reflect. 572 00:35:53,940 --> 00:35:57,580 So here it says, we see now through 573 00:35:57,580 --> 00:36:00,100 a dim window obscurely. 574 00:36:00,820 --> 00:36:03,160 Because when you see through a dim window, 575 00:36:03,300 --> 00:36:05,180 in other words, it casts a shadow. 576 00:36:05,740 --> 00:36:07,280 It reflects a shadow. 577 00:36:07,940 --> 00:36:11,200 You see somewhat of an outline, but you 578 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,160 see only dimly. 579 00:36:13,740 --> 00:36:14,700 Not too clear. 580 00:36:15,680 --> 00:36:16,420 Not too clear. 581 00:36:16,420 --> 00:36:21,460 But if you receive more light, and probably 582 00:36:21,460 --> 00:36:24,760 when you have the full revelation, full light, 583 00:36:25,080 --> 00:36:27,200 then you see the real thing. 584 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:28,320 Now that's one place. 585 00:36:28,780 --> 00:36:31,240 Another place is in 2 Corinthians chapter 3. 586 00:36:35,260 --> 00:36:40,630 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 18. 587 00:36:41,770 --> 00:36:44,830 But we are all looking on the glory 588 00:36:44,830 --> 00:36:48,630 of the Lord with unveiled face, and in 589 00:36:48,630 --> 00:36:50,970 some version says, as in a mirror. 590 00:36:52,430 --> 00:36:53,610 As in a mirror. 591 00:36:56,700 --> 00:36:59,500 Are transformed according to the same image from 592 00:36:59,500 --> 00:37:03,220 glory to glory, even as by the Lord 593 00:37:03,220 --> 00:37:04,200 the Spirit. 594 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:15,540 First, there is a reality in heaven. 595 00:37:17,860 --> 00:37:19,400 It is always there. 596 00:37:20,420 --> 00:37:23,340 It is always perfect. 597 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:26,440 And it is already complete. 598 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:33,660 Now brothers and sisters, we need to grasp 599 00:37:33,660 --> 00:37:34,340 this. 600 00:37:35,740 --> 00:37:41,740 Because if we don't, we have no anchor. 601 00:37:43,380 --> 00:37:44,000 No anchor. 602 00:37:48,080 --> 00:37:52,440 Everything will be depending upon us, as it 603 00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:52,780 seems. 604 00:37:52,780 --> 00:37:53,980 But no. 605 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:58,700 Everything is dependent on God. 606 00:37:59,580 --> 00:38:02,920 Therefore you find with God there is a 607 00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:03,420 reality. 608 00:38:04,580 --> 00:38:07,760 And that reality is ever-present. 609 00:38:08,840 --> 00:38:10,280 Full and complete. 610 00:38:11,060 --> 00:38:16,340 So far as the church that God conceived 611 00:38:16,340 --> 00:38:19,620 in his mind before the foundation of the 612 00:38:19,620 --> 00:38:22,900 world is concerned, dear brothers and sisters, it 613 00:38:22,900 --> 00:38:24,140 is already there. 614 00:38:25,020 --> 00:38:26,720 Full and complete. 615 00:38:28,260 --> 00:38:29,660 God already has it. 616 00:38:31,040 --> 00:38:31,960 That's the reality. 617 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:35,900 And that's something that we have to grasp. 618 00:38:39,490 --> 00:38:43,010 But how do we see that reality? 619 00:38:45,060 --> 00:38:45,820 We need light. 620 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:47,560 That's the second thing. 621 00:38:47,980 --> 00:38:48,580 We need light. 622 00:38:50,080 --> 00:38:54,260 And as light shines upon the reality, it 623 00:38:54,260 --> 00:38:55,060 casts a shadow. 624 00:38:57,340 --> 00:39:02,420 Strictly speaking, what we profess to see is 625 00:39:02,420 --> 00:39:06,340 probably the shadow of the reality. 626 00:39:12,330 --> 00:39:13,770 Do we say we have seen? 627 00:39:16,070 --> 00:39:18,730 We have seen the purpose of God in 628 00:39:18,730 --> 00:39:19,330 Christ Jesus? 629 00:39:21,220 --> 00:39:21,960 Yes. 630 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:23,940 We have seen something. 631 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:27,000 We have seen that God has a purpose. 632 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:29,940 Which he has purposed in Christ Jesus even 633 00:39:29,940 --> 00:39:31,580 before the ages. 634 00:39:32,760 --> 00:39:34,760 And that is concerning the church. 635 00:39:35,720 --> 00:39:38,320 An eternal home for God and man. 636 00:39:39,140 --> 00:39:40,200 We have seen it. 637 00:39:40,740 --> 00:39:41,280 Do we? 638 00:39:42,860 --> 00:39:45,180 Have we seen the reality? 639 00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:54,120 Probably all we see is the shadow of 640 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:54,860 that reality. 641 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:58,360 We see it dimly. 642 00:39:59,820 --> 00:40:03,360 And because we see dimly, therefore when we 643 00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:04,960 build, we build it vaguely. 644 00:40:07,540 --> 00:40:10,680 You know, there are places where we do 645 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:12,360 not know how to build and what to 646 00:40:12,360 --> 00:40:13,840 build because we don't see. 647 00:40:14,520 --> 00:40:15,320 It is vague. 648 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:16,420 It is dim. 649 00:40:18,880 --> 00:40:24,180 But as the light continues to shine, when 650 00:40:24,180 --> 00:40:28,560 the light comes to its full meridian, then 651 00:40:28,560 --> 00:40:31,940 thank God you find that the shadow disappears 652 00:40:31,940 --> 00:40:32,860 in the reality. 653 00:40:35,330 --> 00:40:35,990 It is real. 654 00:40:36,850 --> 00:40:37,550 It is real. 655 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:42,820 But oftentimes, brothers and sisters, we are playing 656 00:40:42,820 --> 00:40:43,540 with the shadow. 657 00:40:47,920 --> 00:40:49,900 You know, as little children we often play 658 00:40:49,900 --> 00:40:50,500 with the shadow. 659 00:40:50,820 --> 00:40:52,080 We try to catch our shadow. 660 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:53,360 Step on it. 661 00:40:55,990 --> 00:40:58,150 And sometimes I wonder whether we are playing 662 00:40:58,150 --> 00:40:58,750 with the shadow. 663 00:41:00,930 --> 00:41:02,730 There is a reality there. 664 00:41:06,410 --> 00:41:07,490 The light has come. 665 00:41:10,770 --> 00:41:12,850 Dimly we see something. 666 00:41:14,330 --> 00:41:16,210 Maybe it is just a shadow. 667 00:41:18,820 --> 00:41:20,620 And we are playing with that shadow. 668 00:41:21,540 --> 00:41:23,240 We are building accordingly. 669 00:41:27,870 --> 00:41:31,110 And that's the reason why you'll find when 670 00:41:31,110 --> 00:41:34,170 we build, it cannot be perfect. 671 00:41:37,110 --> 00:41:38,470 We make lots of mistakes. 672 00:41:39,730 --> 00:41:41,730 We cause lots of problems. 673 00:41:42,530 --> 00:41:43,930 We have to be corrected. 674 00:41:45,090 --> 00:41:46,410 Torn down sometimes. 675 00:41:46,410 --> 00:41:49,010 And rebuild it. 676 00:41:49,350 --> 00:41:50,030 Why? 677 00:41:52,140 --> 00:41:53,860 Because we see it dimly. 678 00:41:56,780 --> 00:41:57,820 We need more light. 679 00:41:59,160 --> 00:42:02,040 As more light is given, then we come 680 00:42:02,040 --> 00:42:05,360 closer to the reality in our building. 681 00:42:06,380 --> 00:42:10,300 Until, by the grace of God, one day 682 00:42:10,300 --> 00:42:13,120 it disappears in the reality. 683 00:42:16,580 --> 00:42:19,740 So a month ago, I was asked to 684 00:42:19,740 --> 00:42:21,720 speak to a group of Chinese. 685 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:24,380 They are believers. 686 00:42:24,760 --> 00:42:25,540 Most of them. 687 00:42:26,880 --> 00:42:29,500 And they asked me to speak to them. 688 00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:31,460 And they gave me a topic. 689 00:42:34,540 --> 00:42:37,400 Sometimes I was given topics to speak. 690 00:42:38,440 --> 00:42:39,520 Not that free. 691 00:42:40,600 --> 00:42:44,380 And the topic was the perfect church. 692 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:50,440 How am I going to speak on that 693 00:42:50,440 --> 00:42:50,740 topic? 694 00:42:52,820 --> 00:42:55,580 I waited before the Lord and said, Where 695 00:42:55,580 --> 00:42:58,160 is the perfect church? 696 00:43:00,100 --> 00:43:02,020 I cannot find it on earth. 697 00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:05,600 How am I going to speak on the 698 00:43:05,600 --> 00:43:06,340 perfect church? 699 00:43:08,200 --> 00:43:11,140 And the Lord said, The perfect church is 700 00:43:11,140 --> 00:43:11,800 there in heaven. 701 00:43:13,020 --> 00:43:13,980 It's always there. 702 00:43:17,800 --> 00:43:20,000 Even though on earth you cannot find the 703 00:43:20,000 --> 00:43:22,840 perfect church, but in heaven it is always 704 00:43:22,840 --> 00:43:23,180 there. 705 00:43:24,340 --> 00:43:25,800 It is always there. 706 00:43:26,920 --> 00:43:31,000 On earth, the most perfect church that you 707 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,460 can find is the church in Philadelphia. 708 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:37,760 Of the seven churches you know, five churches 709 00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:39,560 were reproached by the Lord. 710 00:43:40,300 --> 00:43:47,160 One church was not reproached, but only one 711 00:43:47,160 --> 00:43:48,960 church was praised. 712 00:43:49,980 --> 00:43:50,840 And no reproach. 713 00:43:51,080 --> 00:43:52,520 And that was the church in Philadelphia. 714 00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:55,500 If you want to find a perfect church, 715 00:43:55,500 --> 00:43:57,980 the church in Philadelphia is the most perfect 716 00:43:57,980 --> 00:43:58,300 church. 717 00:43:58,540 --> 00:44:00,140 But even to that church there is a 718 00:44:00,140 --> 00:44:00,440 warning. 719 00:44:01,840 --> 00:44:03,960 The Lord said, Now be careful lest you 720 00:44:03,960 --> 00:44:05,300 lose your crown. 721 00:44:06,520 --> 00:44:08,500 Yes, you have your crown now, but you 722 00:44:08,500 --> 00:44:09,180 may lose it. 723 00:44:10,540 --> 00:44:12,320 There is a danger of losing it. 724 00:44:12,720 --> 00:44:13,340 Nothing perfect. 725 00:44:14,540 --> 00:44:19,100 Brothers and sisters, wherever our human hands come, 726 00:44:19,780 --> 00:44:21,040 nothing is perfect. 727 00:44:22,770 --> 00:44:25,190 If you are looking for a perfect church 728 00:44:25,190 --> 00:44:26,790 on earth, forget about it. 729 00:44:27,590 --> 00:44:28,790 You won't find it. 730 00:44:30,290 --> 00:44:35,510 I have seen some perfectionists wandering all over 731 00:44:35,510 --> 00:44:37,890 the world trying to find a perfect church 732 00:44:37,890 --> 00:44:41,230 to be identified with, but they cannot find 733 00:44:41,230 --> 00:44:41,630 it. 734 00:44:42,190 --> 00:44:42,870 It's nowhere. 735 00:44:43,170 --> 00:44:44,490 It's nowhere on the earth. 736 00:44:45,930 --> 00:44:47,930 But that doesn't mean that it does not 737 00:44:47,930 --> 00:44:48,370 exist. 738 00:44:48,530 --> 00:44:48,970 It does. 739 00:44:49,830 --> 00:44:53,150 It always is there with God. 740 00:44:56,000 --> 00:45:03,100 And what we are doing here is see 741 00:45:03,100 --> 00:45:07,820 that you do everything according to the pattern 742 00:45:07,820 --> 00:45:10,400 that has shown you in heaven. 743 00:45:13,340 --> 00:45:20,860 Oh, brothers and sisters, one day the shadow 744 00:45:20,860 --> 00:45:24,220 will disappear in the substance. 745 00:45:27,440 --> 00:45:30,340 Even though today it is as if we 746 00:45:30,340 --> 00:45:32,460 are playing with the shadow. 747 00:45:34,090 --> 00:45:37,490 But be careful how you play it. 748 00:45:40,760 --> 00:45:43,540 How we need, first of all, that the 749 00:45:43,540 --> 00:45:45,200 Lord will give us more light. 750 00:45:46,800 --> 00:45:49,000 Oh, do not say that I have seen 751 00:45:49,000 --> 00:45:49,420 it all. 752 00:45:50,960 --> 00:45:52,540 I have known it all. 753 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:53,740 No, we don't. 754 00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:57,900 Today we are just looking through a dim 755 00:45:57,900 --> 00:45:58,580 window. 756 00:46:00,400 --> 00:46:01,000 Vaguely. 757 00:46:02,280 --> 00:46:05,000 Even when we behold the glory of the 758 00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:06,640 Lord, it is as in a mirror. 759 00:46:10,840 --> 00:46:13,800 But thank God, even so, we are transformed. 760 00:46:14,980 --> 00:46:15,800 We are transformed. 761 00:46:16,900 --> 00:46:18,720 The Spirit of God is working. 762 00:46:20,120 --> 00:46:23,280 But dear brothers and sisters, how we need 763 00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:25,020 to be humble before God. 764 00:46:27,690 --> 00:46:31,810 If anyone thinks that he has seen fully, 765 00:46:32,410 --> 00:46:33,770 he is deceiving himself. 766 00:46:35,820 --> 00:46:36,720 The light has shown. 767 00:46:37,060 --> 00:46:38,020 No doubt about that. 768 00:46:39,380 --> 00:46:40,940 It shows on the reality. 769 00:46:40,940 --> 00:46:43,580 It has cast a shadow on earth. 770 00:46:44,400 --> 00:46:45,660 We have seen something. 771 00:46:47,910 --> 00:46:50,170 But dear brothers and sisters, how we need 772 00:46:50,170 --> 00:46:52,970 to be humble before God and ask the 773 00:46:52,970 --> 00:46:54,490 Lord to give us more light. 774 00:46:55,670 --> 00:46:57,210 We need more light. 775 00:46:58,650 --> 00:47:01,610 We see an outline, like what you see 776 00:47:01,610 --> 00:47:02,130 in a shadow. 777 00:47:02,330 --> 00:47:03,210 You see an outline. 778 00:47:03,930 --> 00:47:06,510 But even that outline is not complete. 779 00:47:09,690 --> 00:47:12,370 We need to ask the Lord to give 780 00:47:12,370 --> 00:47:13,250 us more light. 781 00:47:14,110 --> 00:47:16,650 And with more light, we may be able 782 00:47:16,650 --> 00:47:17,950 to see more. 783 00:47:18,790 --> 00:47:21,910 And as the shadow begins to shorten and 784 00:47:21,910 --> 00:47:26,910 shorten and shorten until it fades in the 785 00:47:26,910 --> 00:47:27,410 reality. 786 00:47:28,150 --> 00:47:30,910 And actually, brothers and sisters, that is what 787 00:47:30,910 --> 00:47:31,450 is happening. 788 00:47:34,010 --> 00:47:37,330 So first thing, we need to be before 789 00:47:37,330 --> 00:47:40,710 the Lord is to always be humble and 790 00:47:40,710 --> 00:47:41,230 open. 791 00:47:42,010 --> 00:47:44,570 And asking the Lord to give us more 792 00:47:44,570 --> 00:47:44,990 light. 793 00:47:48,180 --> 00:47:50,840 The Lord gave grace to the humble. 794 00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:54,360 And he resisted the proud. 795 00:47:55,920 --> 00:48:01,960 You know, there is a real danger for 796 00:48:01,960 --> 00:48:04,760 people who have seen something. 797 00:48:06,100 --> 00:48:10,420 If we are totally blind, there is no 798 00:48:10,420 --> 00:48:12,220 way for us to be boastful. 799 00:48:13,140 --> 00:48:15,600 But if we can see a little bit, 800 00:48:15,920 --> 00:48:17,440 now that is the danger. 801 00:48:18,540 --> 00:48:20,520 You see, we are like that man whom 802 00:48:20,520 --> 00:48:21,420 the Lord healed. 803 00:48:22,540 --> 00:48:25,220 When the Lord first touched that man, that 804 00:48:25,220 --> 00:48:26,280 man said, I see. 805 00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:27,960 But what did he see? 806 00:48:28,420 --> 00:48:32,200 He saw man moving around like trees. 807 00:48:33,660 --> 00:48:34,740 He saw dimly. 808 00:48:36,000 --> 00:48:37,140 He saw dimly. 809 00:48:38,020 --> 00:48:41,200 He needed the second touch of the Lord. 810 00:48:41,200 --> 00:48:45,280 And with that second touch, now he saw 811 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:46,680 man as man. 812 00:48:47,720 --> 00:48:48,820 No longer as trees. 813 00:48:49,760 --> 00:48:52,040 You know, sometimes we thank the Lord. 814 00:48:52,360 --> 00:48:53,820 He did give us some light. 815 00:48:54,040 --> 00:48:55,560 And we thank the Lord and say, oh, 816 00:48:55,640 --> 00:48:57,300 praise God, I see. 817 00:48:57,720 --> 00:49:00,760 But brothers and sisters, we are like that 818 00:49:00,760 --> 00:49:05,820 blind who do see, but we see dimly. 819 00:49:07,420 --> 00:49:09,320 Dimly is the shadow. 820 00:49:10,000 --> 00:49:12,580 It is the shadow of the reality, yes. 821 00:49:14,700 --> 00:49:17,820 Something is real there, but it is just 822 00:49:17,820 --> 00:49:18,380 a shadow. 823 00:49:19,360 --> 00:49:19,800 Dimly. 824 00:49:20,560 --> 00:49:23,680 We need the second touch of the Lord. 825 00:49:24,460 --> 00:49:27,300 We need more touch from the Lord that 826 00:49:27,300 --> 00:49:32,460 we may see the shadow begin to shorten 827 00:49:32,460 --> 00:49:36,720 and the substance begin to lengthen until we 828 00:49:36,720 --> 00:49:39,680 really touch the reality. 829 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:42,600 So that is something that we need to 830 00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:43,840 be very careful about. 831 00:49:45,140 --> 00:49:49,920 And of course, number two, how we need 832 00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:54,920 to be faithful to whatever is shown. 833 00:49:55,820 --> 00:49:58,220 If we are not faithful to what is 834 00:49:58,220 --> 00:50:03,080 already shown, how can God give us more 835 00:50:03,080 --> 00:50:03,400 light? 836 00:50:05,550 --> 00:50:08,150 The reason why we do not receive more 837 00:50:08,150 --> 00:50:11,190 light is not because God does not give 838 00:50:11,190 --> 00:50:11,530 light. 839 00:50:12,130 --> 00:50:14,950 It is because God is waiting for us 840 00:50:14,950 --> 00:50:18,590 to be faithful to the light that is 841 00:50:18,590 --> 00:50:19,450 already given. 842 00:50:20,850 --> 00:50:22,950 And if we are faithful to the light 843 00:50:22,950 --> 00:50:25,330 God has already given us, then He will 844 00:50:25,330 --> 00:50:26,290 give us more light. 845 00:50:28,490 --> 00:50:31,270 So brothers and sisters, the second thing is 846 00:50:31,270 --> 00:50:34,990 how we need to be faithful to the 847 00:50:34,990 --> 00:50:38,010 light which has already been given. 848 00:50:39,210 --> 00:50:41,010 Now, are we faithful? 849 00:50:47,190 --> 00:50:50,170 And of course, number three, we need to 850 00:50:50,170 --> 00:50:55,790 be careful as to how we build upon 851 00:50:55,790 --> 00:51:00,830 the foundation with the vision that is given. 852 00:51:02,090 --> 00:51:08,110 Are we building upon it with gold, silver, 853 00:51:08,850 --> 00:51:09,630 precious stones? 854 00:51:10,910 --> 00:51:12,870 Things that come from God. 855 00:51:12,870 --> 00:51:17,430 Are we building it with what comes out 856 00:51:17,430 --> 00:51:18,310 of ourselves? 857 00:51:19,650 --> 00:51:22,210 The fire will test it. 858 00:51:23,430 --> 00:51:27,610 Now, the fire in 1 Corinthians 3, we 859 00:51:27,610 --> 00:51:33,630 believe, is not a physical fire. 860 00:51:36,600 --> 00:51:39,460 The fire in 1 Corinthians 3, we believe, 861 00:51:40,420 --> 00:51:42,340 is God Himself. 862 00:51:42,340 --> 00:51:45,520 Because God is a consuming fire. 863 00:51:46,680 --> 00:51:48,700 In other words, at the judgment seat of 864 00:51:48,700 --> 00:51:53,120 Christ, everything will be measured by God Himself. 865 00:51:54,680 --> 00:51:58,840 Christ will be the rod to measure every 866 00:51:58,840 --> 00:51:59,120 work. 867 00:52:00,280 --> 00:52:02,880 And if it doesn't measure up to Christ, 868 00:52:03,100 --> 00:52:03,880 it will be burned. 869 00:52:05,160 --> 00:52:06,160 It will be burned. 870 00:52:09,760 --> 00:52:14,860 Even though He is saved. 871 00:52:15,720 --> 00:52:17,100 But barely saved. 872 00:52:17,100 --> 00:52:18,700 Barely saved. 873 00:52:22,400 --> 00:52:28,420 How we need to live every day in 874 00:52:28,420 --> 00:52:33,740 the light of the judgment seat of Christ. 875 00:52:35,020 --> 00:52:38,640 Brothers and sisters, one day, we who are 876 00:52:38,640 --> 00:52:41,140 the Lord will appear before the judgment seat 877 00:52:41,140 --> 00:52:41,720 of Christ. 878 00:52:42,440 --> 00:52:45,360 It is true that we will not be 879 00:52:45,360 --> 00:52:50,060 judged on the issue of eternal life or 880 00:52:50,060 --> 00:52:50,740 eternal death. 881 00:52:50,740 --> 00:52:53,260 That judgment is already passed. 882 00:52:54,300 --> 00:52:56,740 The judgment of the great white throne. 883 00:52:57,780 --> 00:53:01,500 That judgment of life and death is already 884 00:53:01,500 --> 00:53:04,220 passed so far as we are concerned because 885 00:53:04,220 --> 00:53:07,860 Christ was judged in our stead on Calvary's 886 00:53:07,860 --> 00:53:08,640 cross for us. 887 00:53:09,220 --> 00:53:11,340 Therefore, anyone who believes in the Lord has 888 00:53:11,340 --> 00:53:13,820 passed out of life and death into life. 889 00:53:14,360 --> 00:53:15,960 And that judgment is already passed. 890 00:53:16,520 --> 00:53:19,220 We will not be judged before the great 891 00:53:19,220 --> 00:53:19,840 white throne. 892 00:53:21,060 --> 00:53:24,140 But that doesn't mean that there will be 893 00:53:24,140 --> 00:53:24,760 no judgment. 894 00:53:25,640 --> 00:53:29,060 Because as a family of God, one day 895 00:53:29,060 --> 00:53:32,380 we shall all appear at the judgment seat 896 00:53:32,380 --> 00:53:33,680 of Christ. 897 00:53:34,700 --> 00:53:36,460 It is not a throne. 898 00:53:37,340 --> 00:53:38,360 It is a seat. 899 00:53:39,360 --> 00:53:39,920 A bima. 900 00:53:41,280 --> 00:53:44,680 A lifted place where the head of the 901 00:53:44,680 --> 00:53:48,320 family will judge the members of the family. 902 00:53:49,100 --> 00:53:51,480 So as a family of God, we will 903 00:53:51,480 --> 00:53:54,020 all appear at the judgment seat of Christ. 904 00:53:54,440 --> 00:53:58,260 And there we will be judged, measured. 905 00:53:59,080 --> 00:54:02,360 We will either receive reward or suffer loss. 906 00:54:03,220 --> 00:54:08,580 Now, brothers and sisters, that's why today we 907 00:54:08,580 --> 00:54:10,500 should not wait until that day. 908 00:54:10,860 --> 00:54:13,100 Because if we wait until that day, it's 909 00:54:13,100 --> 00:54:13,520 too late. 910 00:54:15,730 --> 00:54:20,210 Today, we shall live in the light of 911 00:54:20,210 --> 00:54:22,890 the judgment seat of that day. 912 00:54:24,170 --> 00:54:27,050 Now, if we live today in this manner, 913 00:54:27,650 --> 00:54:31,190 then we will not be judged at that 914 00:54:31,190 --> 00:54:31,530 time. 915 00:54:31,790 --> 00:54:34,190 In other words, it is already judged today. 916 00:54:35,110 --> 00:54:36,650 So how we need to be? 917 00:54:37,110 --> 00:54:40,070 Always before the Lord and let the Lord 918 00:54:40,070 --> 00:54:44,470 judge us today with the light of the 919 00:54:44,470 --> 00:54:45,510 judgment seat. 920 00:54:49,180 --> 00:54:54,960 And that is the manner that we should 921 00:54:54,960 --> 00:54:55,800 build. 922 00:54:58,310 --> 00:55:03,290 There is no guarantee that what we build 923 00:55:03,870 --> 00:55:06,330 will not be torn. 924 00:55:07,090 --> 00:55:07,810 No guarantee. 925 00:55:09,270 --> 00:55:11,810 We may think we are building according to 926 00:55:11,810 --> 00:55:12,290 the pattern. 927 00:55:12,870 --> 00:55:15,170 But when we have more light, we may 928 00:55:15,170 --> 00:55:16,510 see that we are not. 929 00:55:19,140 --> 00:55:20,200 We need to be adjusted. 930 00:55:21,080 --> 00:55:22,180 We need to be corrected. 931 00:55:24,590 --> 00:55:27,630 Some need to be torn and to be 932 00:55:27,630 --> 00:55:28,070 rebuilt. 933 00:55:28,790 --> 00:55:32,530 But dear brothers and sisters, if we will 934 00:55:32,530 --> 00:55:37,150 build in this manner, you will find, so 935 00:55:37,150 --> 00:55:41,410 far as human is concerned, by the grace 936 00:55:41,410 --> 00:55:44,450 of God, we can build as close to 937 00:55:44,450 --> 00:55:46,570 the reality as possible. 938 00:55:48,520 --> 00:55:52,700 Until one day it disappears in the reality. 939 00:55:57,980 --> 00:55:59,580 You know, there is something in me I 940 00:55:59,580 --> 00:56:01,380 don't know whether I should share or not. 941 00:56:02,140 --> 00:56:03,960 Because I'm not too sure about it. 942 00:56:06,520 --> 00:56:08,920 Well, I will lay it out. 943 00:56:09,480 --> 00:56:11,880 And if I'm wrong, please correct me. 944 00:56:12,240 --> 00:56:14,500 It is just something in me. 945 00:56:16,690 --> 00:56:18,570 I wonder if we can put it this 946 00:56:18,570 --> 00:56:18,810 way. 947 00:56:21,230 --> 00:56:23,150 You know, often times we use these two 948 00:56:23,150 --> 00:56:23,630 terms. 949 00:56:24,610 --> 00:56:26,630 Universal church and local church. 950 00:56:27,670 --> 00:56:30,030 Actually in the Bible you don't find these 951 00:56:30,030 --> 00:56:30,590 two terms. 952 00:56:31,690 --> 00:56:33,070 The church is the church. 953 00:56:34,170 --> 00:56:36,330 But the Bible does show us the church 954 00:56:36,330 --> 00:56:37,290 has two aspects. 955 00:56:37,550 --> 00:56:38,070 That is true. 956 00:56:39,070 --> 00:56:42,570 For instance, in Matthew chapter 16, the Lord 957 00:56:42,570 --> 00:56:45,270 said, I will build my church upon this 958 00:56:45,270 --> 00:56:47,170 rock and the gates of Hades shall not 959 00:56:47,170 --> 00:56:47,950 prevail against it. 960 00:56:48,070 --> 00:56:49,430 Of course he is thinking of the church 961 00:56:49,430 --> 00:56:49,950 universal. 962 00:56:50,610 --> 00:56:51,550 No doubt about that. 963 00:56:55,030 --> 00:56:58,370 The Lord himself is building the church. 964 00:56:59,680 --> 00:57:01,020 Universally. 965 00:57:02,020 --> 00:57:04,960 With living stones all over the ages. 966 00:57:06,680 --> 00:57:10,400 He is building all these living stones into 967 00:57:10,400 --> 00:57:12,320 that church universal. 968 00:57:12,720 --> 00:57:13,840 Upon himself. 969 00:57:15,320 --> 00:57:19,280 And it is so triumphant that the gates 970 00:57:19,280 --> 00:57:22,060 of Hades shall not prevail against it. 971 00:57:24,760 --> 00:57:26,020 That is the church universal. 972 00:57:31,130 --> 00:57:32,210 But what are we building? 973 00:57:34,540 --> 00:57:36,940 What are we actually involved with? 974 00:57:36,940 --> 00:57:39,520 Are we building the church universal? 975 00:57:39,780 --> 00:57:40,260 Hardly. 976 00:57:42,500 --> 00:57:44,420 May I say we are building the church 977 00:57:44,420 --> 00:57:44,800 local. 978 00:57:46,720 --> 00:57:48,280 I wonder if that is correct. 979 00:57:49,700 --> 00:57:51,800 You see, we are limited by time and 980 00:57:51,800 --> 00:57:52,240 space. 981 00:57:53,820 --> 00:57:56,860 We are actually involved in the building of 982 00:57:56,860 --> 00:57:57,620 the church local. 983 00:57:59,000 --> 00:58:01,440 Sometimes, you know, we think we are building 984 00:58:01,440 --> 00:58:02,500 the church universal. 985 00:58:02,760 --> 00:58:04,100 You are hanging in the air. 986 00:58:07,610 --> 00:58:09,190 How are you going to build the church 987 00:58:09,190 --> 00:58:09,690 universal? 988 00:58:12,090 --> 00:58:15,650 When you come down to earth, come down 989 00:58:15,650 --> 00:58:18,990 to time, what are we building? 990 00:58:19,930 --> 00:58:22,010 We are building the church local. 991 00:58:24,670 --> 00:58:25,370 Isn't it true? 992 00:58:27,680 --> 00:58:35,500 We are building together, fitly framed, rightly joined, 993 00:58:37,160 --> 00:58:41,780 exhorting one another, loving one another, loving one 994 00:58:41,780 --> 00:58:44,280 another, helping one another. 995 00:58:44,280 --> 00:58:47,180 We are building that house. 996 00:58:48,400 --> 00:58:50,820 It is the church local that we are 997 00:58:50,820 --> 00:58:51,120 building. 998 00:58:53,030 --> 00:58:53,990 That is practical. 999 00:58:55,230 --> 00:58:57,170 If we say we are building the church 1000 00:58:57,170 --> 00:58:59,870 universal and we do not lay our hands 1001 00:58:59,870 --> 00:59:03,370 on the church local, what are you building? 1002 00:59:05,090 --> 00:59:05,710 Nothing. 1003 00:59:07,410 --> 00:59:07,770 Nothing. 1004 00:59:08,950 --> 00:59:11,150 And that's the reason why the church local 1005 00:59:11,150 --> 00:59:12,070 is so essential. 1006 00:59:12,070 --> 00:59:15,750 You are not able to build the church 1007 00:59:15,750 --> 00:59:16,350 universal. 1008 00:59:18,490 --> 00:59:19,590 Christ builds it. 1009 00:59:20,350 --> 00:59:21,470 God builds it. 1010 00:59:22,010 --> 00:59:23,570 He builds the city with foundation. 1011 00:59:23,710 --> 00:59:24,370 He builds it. 1012 00:59:25,170 --> 00:59:27,010 He does not entrust that to you and 1013 00:59:27,010 --> 00:59:27,270 me. 1014 00:59:27,710 --> 00:59:28,750 He does it Himself. 1015 00:59:30,410 --> 00:59:34,070 What we are working actually is building the 1016 00:59:34,070 --> 00:59:34,670 church local. 1017 00:59:35,910 --> 00:59:38,250 And it is only the church local you 1018 00:59:38,250 --> 00:59:39,530 find it is so imperfect. 1019 00:59:41,990 --> 00:59:43,230 Because we are building. 1020 00:59:44,230 --> 00:59:45,910 It is so imperfect. 1021 00:59:46,490 --> 00:59:49,250 It needs to be corrected, adjusted all the 1022 00:59:49,250 --> 00:59:49,550 time. 1023 00:59:52,030 --> 00:59:54,110 But thank God for one thing. 1024 00:59:56,540 --> 01:00:02,040 Whatever we build in the local church that 1025 01:00:02,040 --> 01:00:08,280 is according to the heavenly pattern, one day 1026 01:00:08,280 --> 01:00:09,540 you will find it is there. 1027 01:00:11,000 --> 01:00:14,540 When the local church has disappeared, the universal 1028 01:00:14,540 --> 01:00:16,540 church is manifested. 1029 01:00:17,360 --> 01:00:18,300 And you will find it is there. 1030 01:00:19,940 --> 01:00:23,160 You will read Revelation chapters 2 and 3. 1031 01:00:23,740 --> 01:00:25,720 And you will find in Revelation chapters 2 1032 01:00:25,720 --> 01:00:27,360 and 3 seven churches in Asia. 1033 01:00:28,680 --> 01:00:29,680 Local churches. 1034 01:00:30,840 --> 01:00:32,700 Here you will find the Lord is dealing 1035 01:00:32,700 --> 01:00:34,120 with these local churches. 1036 01:00:34,620 --> 01:00:37,680 And see if these local churches really have 1037 01:00:37,680 --> 01:00:40,440 there the right testimony of Jesus. 1038 01:00:40,440 --> 01:00:43,020 And the Lord is disciplining. 1039 01:00:43,220 --> 01:00:45,560 The Lord is exhorting, encouraging. 1040 01:00:46,200 --> 01:00:48,700 Here you will find all kinds of imperfections, 1041 01:00:48,820 --> 01:00:50,980 all kinds of corrections, how we need to 1042 01:00:50,980 --> 01:00:51,460 repent. 1043 01:00:52,920 --> 01:00:54,120 That is the church local. 1044 01:00:55,040 --> 01:00:57,900 But after you come to the end, when 1045 01:00:57,900 --> 01:00:59,460 you come to the end of the book 1046 01:00:59,460 --> 01:01:02,820 of Revelation, chapters 21 and 22, what do 1047 01:01:02,820 --> 01:01:03,200 you see? 1048 01:01:03,460 --> 01:01:06,540 You do not see the seven lampstands anymore. 1049 01:01:07,280 --> 01:01:09,400 The church local disappears. 1050 01:01:09,400 --> 01:01:09,940 Why? 1051 01:01:10,160 --> 01:01:14,580 Because it is absorbed in the church universal. 1052 01:01:15,080 --> 01:01:18,420 You see the new Jerusalem as a giant 1053 01:01:18,420 --> 01:01:19,360 lampstand. 1054 01:01:20,480 --> 01:01:23,120 The twelve foundations is the base of that 1055 01:01:23,120 --> 01:01:23,660 lampstand. 1056 01:01:24,060 --> 01:01:26,200 The city is that lampstand. 1057 01:01:26,640 --> 01:01:30,000 And the lamp is the lamp. 1058 01:01:30,400 --> 01:01:32,280 And God is the light. 1059 01:01:33,760 --> 01:01:36,800 That is the city that God has prepared 1060 01:01:36,800 --> 01:01:37,900 for us. 1061 01:01:38,920 --> 01:01:42,480 We see it manifested only in the future. 1062 01:01:43,360 --> 01:01:45,580 But so far as God is concerned, it 1063 01:01:45,580 --> 01:01:46,560 is already there. 1064 01:01:46,940 --> 01:01:49,040 It just waits to be manifested. 1065 01:01:49,460 --> 01:01:50,040 That's all. 1066 01:01:50,760 --> 01:01:51,360 That's all. 1067 01:01:52,240 --> 01:01:57,910 Oh brothers and sisters, isn't that a tremendous 1068 01:01:57,910 --> 01:01:58,750 responsibility? 1069 01:02:00,150 --> 01:02:02,770 To see how we build with a local 1070 01:02:02,770 --> 01:02:03,190 church? 1071 01:02:06,180 --> 01:02:07,860 How careful we must be? 1072 01:02:08,600 --> 01:02:11,960 Because if we corrupt the temple of God, 1073 01:02:12,020 --> 01:02:13,160 God will corrupt us. 1074 01:02:13,260 --> 01:02:14,180 God will destroy us. 1075 01:02:15,440 --> 01:02:22,820 And by that it means that we will 1076 01:02:22,820 --> 01:02:25,640 not be able to reign with Him for 1077 01:02:25,640 --> 01:02:29,460 a thousand years in the kingdom, even though 1078 01:02:29,460 --> 01:02:31,900 we are saved in eternity. 1079 01:02:33,840 --> 01:02:35,940 Isn't that a tremendous thing, brothers and sisters? 1080 01:02:39,400 --> 01:02:45,290 Oh thank God, that we are not just 1081 01:02:45,290 --> 01:02:51,070 sitting here passively, say, well, God builds, so 1082 01:02:51,070 --> 01:02:52,030 let Him build. 1083 01:02:52,910 --> 01:02:54,550 We are not involved. 1084 01:02:55,070 --> 01:02:55,990 We are doing nothing. 1085 01:02:56,770 --> 01:02:58,390 And it's better we are not involved. 1086 01:02:58,610 --> 01:03:00,270 If we are involved, we just spoil it. 1087 01:03:01,910 --> 01:03:03,590 Brothers and sisters, that's not it. 1088 01:03:05,030 --> 01:03:06,730 It is true, God is building. 1089 01:03:09,230 --> 01:03:10,850 But we are building too. 1090 01:03:12,150 --> 01:03:13,370 And it is the same building. 1091 01:03:14,170 --> 01:03:17,330 And whether it will eventually merge into one 1092 01:03:17,330 --> 01:03:18,890 or not, that is a big issue. 1093 01:03:19,610 --> 01:03:21,990 And that concerns us very much. 1094 01:03:22,970 --> 01:03:23,650 Very much. 1095 01:03:25,030 --> 01:03:29,430 Therefore, brothers and sisters, my burden this afternoon, 1096 01:03:29,590 --> 01:03:32,010 actually, that is just a burden within me. 1097 01:03:32,130 --> 01:03:37,630 My burden is, what are we doing here? 1098 01:03:42,960 --> 01:03:43,980 We are building. 1099 01:03:46,620 --> 01:03:47,700 We need more light. 1100 01:03:49,260 --> 01:03:51,600 We need to be very careful. 1101 01:03:52,600 --> 01:03:55,280 We need to be very humble before the 1102 01:03:55,280 --> 01:03:55,540 Lord. 1103 01:03:56,480 --> 01:04:00,020 We need to look to the Lord that 1104 01:04:00,020 --> 01:04:04,460 whatever we build, it may one day be 1105 01:04:04,460 --> 01:04:09,540 found in that building which God has prepared. 1106 01:04:13,380 --> 01:04:19,200 In other words, the shadow will disappear in 1107 01:04:19,200 --> 01:04:19,820 the reality. 1108 01:04:21,840 --> 01:04:25,380 And I think probably that's what it amounts 1109 01:04:25,380 --> 01:04:26,000 to. 1110 01:04:26,340 --> 01:04:31,930 So may the Lord have mercy upon us. 1111 01:04:32,370 --> 01:04:33,010 Shall we pray? 1112 01:04:37,480 --> 01:04:41,460 Our Heavenly Father, we do rejoice in Thy 1113 01:04:41,460 --> 01:04:47,360 presence because whatever may happen on earth, that 1114 01:04:47,360 --> 01:04:50,420 reality before Thee is always there. 1115 01:04:51,320 --> 01:04:53,060 Even Satan cannot touch it. 1116 01:04:53,740 --> 01:04:54,660 It is complete. 1117 01:04:55,200 --> 01:04:56,020 It is perfect. 1118 01:04:56,920 --> 01:04:58,620 Oh, we need more light. 1119 01:04:58,620 --> 01:05:01,980 That we may build according to the heavenly 1120 01:05:01,980 --> 01:05:02,480 pattern. 1121 01:05:03,320 --> 01:05:06,720 And may be found to be in heaven 1122 01:05:07,410 --> 01:05:08,800 when it shall appear. 1123 01:05:09,700 --> 01:05:13,380 Deliver us from being proud of ourselves. 1124 01:05:14,420 --> 01:05:15,920 To be self-conceited. 1125 01:05:16,700 --> 01:05:19,820 Oh Lord, keep us always open and humble 1126 01:05:19,820 --> 01:05:20,580 before Thee. 1127 01:05:22,620 --> 01:05:25,860 Permit us to live in the light of 1128 01:05:25,860 --> 01:05:27,220 the judgment seat of Christ. 1129 01:05:27,220 --> 01:05:30,780 Oh, that we may be very careful, very 1130 01:05:30,780 --> 01:05:33,260 faithful, and very practical. 1131 01:05:35,240 --> 01:05:39,680 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builder 1132 01:05:39,680 --> 01:05:41,420 labor in vain. 1133 01:05:42,080 --> 01:05:45,140 So we just give ourselves to Thee and 1134 01:05:45,140 --> 01:05:47,440 ask Thee to guide and lead us in 1135 01:05:47,440 --> 01:05:52,540 such a way that nothing, oh nothing, may 1136 01:05:52,540 --> 01:05:53,080 be lost. 1137 01:05:53,500 --> 01:05:55,160 In the name of our Lord Jesus. 1138 01:05:55,160 --> 01:05:56,360 Amen.