THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHURCH
AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD
THE BUILDING WORK MUST BE CARRIED
OUT ON THE PROPER FOUNDATION
For the Lord to continue advancing in these last days, we cannot merely talk about the church’s foundation. If we desire to have building, we must be certain we are on the proper foundation. As long as our foundation is insecure, nothing can be practiced. We also need to recognize the enemy’s scheme. Without the proper foundation, we may be spiritual, but we are in Babylon. We may be as spiritual as Daniel, yet unable to build the holy temple.
If we desire to be built together to become the holy temple, the holy city, we must return to Jerusalem. Therefore, we must be sure about the foundation; otherwise, we will not know where to build. We may be spiritual in Babylon, Aram, Syria, or Samaria, but in a scattered way. However, the temple of God is not built in Babylon, Aram, Syria, or Samaria. It is built in Jerusalem. We cannot build according to personal opinions. We must return to the foundation on which our forefathers built the temple: Jerusalem.
This matter has nothing to do with our opinion. It has to do with the light given to the apostles. We must return to the same foundation on which they built the churches. Everything concerning the church’s foundation must be according to the Bible. This is like baptism. It is not about being baptized by sprinkling or immersion, but about returning to the initial practice. In the beginning, the saints were baptized in water. They were buried with Christ. In the same way, the practice of the Lord’s table is not about using a large or small cup, but about returning to the original practice. The apostle Paul said: “Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17). Though many, we are one bread. We need to return to the initial practice.
In the beginning, there was only one foundation for the church: the city. We need to return to the Bible. It speaks of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1; 11:22), the church in Antioch, the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1), and the church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:1). This shows the church’s foundation. We cannot follow other proposals.
We need to have a definite foundation so that we can work without reserve in building up the house of God. We can then focus on the work of building. We cannot speak of the work of building if the foundation is uncertain. We may speak of the salvation of sinners and of spiritual matters, but not of building.
We must see both aspects. We cannot have only the church’s foundation. We must also have the building. However, if we lack the Lord’s presence and His authority, if we lack prayer and the operation of the cross, we will have only the local foundation and nothing more. We need spiritual reality as well as the foundation and the building. This is a double principle to which we must hold firmly.
The Lord has raised us up with a great purpose. The foundation of the church that we have assumed has a great impact on God’s children. We cannot lose the goal or forget our ministry and the work we are doing. If we remain faithful to the foundation in order to receive greater transformation and learn new lessons, trusting in the Lord’s grace to work in the building, we will have a great impact. We will not only have the foundation but also something solid and spiritual built upon it. The impact of such a testimony in the church of God is priceless, and it is even greater on the children of God.
We believe that it is for this purpose that the Lord has raised us up. Therefore, with enlightened eyes and a clear goal, we must see what the Lord wants us to do. We must see that in this age and in the universe, God intends to carry out a work of building, and this work must be done on a foundation. We must remain on this foundation and follow God’s direction today.
Enjoy more: Hymn 377
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