Building Up Yourselves - 3/1/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

sure to subscribe, follow, and share

with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

>> Amen. If you have a Bible tonight, I

invite you to turn with me to the book

of Jude.

The book of Jude.

And I hope that sigh back there wasn't

about us turning to Jude. Amen. And uh

if it wasn't, Amen. that was very

timely. Amen. But uh

want to be back here tonight. We'll

finish out uh this portion of the book

of Jude. not finish out the book, but

going to transition over into another

section of the book tonight. And uh it's

what I had on my heart today. Just try

to be obedient to the leadership of the

Holy Spirit. And I want to begin reading

tonight. You find your place if you

would stand.

We'll begin reading verse number 14.

And

Jude verse number 14.

The Bible says, "And Enoch also, the

seventh from Adam, prophesied of these,

saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with 10

thousands of his saints, to execute

judgment upon all, and to convince all

that are ungodly among them, of all

their ungodly deeds which they have

ungodly committed, and of all their hard

speeches which ungodly sinners have

spoken against him. These are murmurers,

complainers, walking after their own

lust, and their mouth speaketh great

swelling words, having men's persons in

admiration because of advantage. But

beloved, remember ye the words which

were spoken before the apostles of our

Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told

you there should be mockers in the last

time, who should walk after their own

ungodly lust. These be they who separate

themselves sensual having not the

spirit. Notice verse number 20. He says,

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves

on your most holy faith, praying in the

Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love

of God, looking for the mercy of our

Lord Jesus Christ unto

eternal life." Now, Father, I come

before you tonight and I ask you, Lord,

please that you would help us. God, I

realize tonight that in my flesh there

dwelleth no good thing. And so, Lord, I

pray you'd remove the flesh far from us

tonight. And I pray you'd help us to

preach and power and demonstration the

spirit of God tonight. I pray give us

liberty, clothe us in our calling, and

Lord will for whatever hindrance, Lord,

there would be to try to stand in the

way of this message, I pray that you

would remove it tonight. And God, I ask

that you would help us to receive with

meekness the engrafted word. Pray you'd

help me to say nothing, God, that would

hinder the work of the Holy Spirit, but

God to say everything that you want me

to say. And God, I pray, Father, that

the Holy Ghost would have free course

and reign in every heart. And Lord, I

pray for the needs in our church. Lord,

we've got many that are hurting. Lord,

right now, for many different reasons.

And God, I pray tonight somehow some way

we could be an encouragement to them as

a result of this message. And God, I

pray most of all that you'd be glorified

and exalted, Lord, because you alone are

worthy of all praise and glory and

honor. And we thank you for what you're

doing, for what you're going to do, for

what you have done, but most of all for

who you are. We give you praise and we

ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen. You can

be seated. Thank you for standing

tonight. Of course, we've dealt several

messages out of the book of Jude here.

Kind of lost count at this time, but

I've been looking at this text for some

time. We took a break there on last

week. Just didn't have liberty to come

here. But I want to pick up where we

left off there in verse number 16 on

last time. Introduce the text and I want

you to be encouraged tonight. We're

headed to verse number 20. And that's

where I want to end up tonight. Uh but I

want to get through these verses tonight

and look at what's here. We've been

dealing with the subject of apostasy.

And I really believe that uh it's been

very beneficial to us. I'll say this.

We're seeing this an alarming rate in

our day and time. It's infecting our

good churches. And I want you to be

aware of things. Amen. And I'll tell you

this, if the watchman on the wall keeps

his mouth shut, he's not much of a

watchman, is he?

>> Right.

>> He sees the enemy coming, but if he

refuses to alert those that are within

the wall about the distress and about

the affliction that they'll soon be

under, he has failed as his job as a

watchman. And so, I want to tell you the

truth tonight. And I want to say, don't

let me be your enemy because I tell you

the truth. Amen. I want to tell you the

truth. And I notice here in this text

tonight, we considered there last time

Enoch and what the Bible says concerning

him. We talked about that a little bit,

but I want you to notice how he

continues tonight in verse number 16

here. He he labels really four things in

verse 16. We'll kind of use this as the

launching pad here concerning this

matter of apostasy. And I notice what he

says first of all about these people.

He's giving a description of who they

are. He's given Bible descriptions

throughout this chapter. He's dealt with

many different illustrations from the

pages of scripture. Now, he's giving a

literal description of how they act. He

note, you note there in verse number 16,

the Bible says that he labels them as

murmurers, complainers. And I would say

that number one, they're seen they're

they're despite they're they are uh this

murmuring here that literally means that

they speak against God. It's not so much

publicly as it is privately. They

complain about their lot in life and how

God has dealt them a bad hand of cards,

so to speak. And these complainers here,

when you think about that word

complaining there in the text, it

literally has to do with the subject

that they complain to others. They are

murmuring before God, but they're also

complaining to others. And I don't know

about you, but I've been around some

people in my lifetime that can do some

pretty good complaining. Amen. And I'll

say this, if they'll complain to you,

more than likely they'll murmur in their

private place. Amen. And there'll be

things that whisk over in their mind and

their their despite. What what that

simply means is is that they're against

everything that God's for. Amen. And I

notice in this text, not only their

despite, but I note their direction in

verse 16. They're walking after their

own lust. And so clearly, they are

desiring to fulfill the pleasure of

their flesh. And out of that there is

their dialogue in verse 16. Their mouth

speaketh great swelling words. And those

uh we talked about that a little bit

there uh on the last time that those

words that they'll speak that really

nobody understands and they themselves

don't understand but they'll just speak

it just to be loud and boisterous. And

let me just say this. Just because

somebody's loud don't mean they're

right.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. Just because a ministry or a

messenger is big in the eyes of the

world and has a large platform does not

vindicate them. That does not uh make

them a messenger from God. And so you

note their dialogue. But then you see

their deception in verse 16. The Bible

says they speak great swelling words

having men's persons in admiration

because of advantage. And so they are

constantly trying to woo on those that

are above them. and they will use you

and anybody else if it will get them a

higher rung in the ladder. Really, all

they're looking for is an increase in

authority and an increase in in in their

financial pocketbook. That's really all

they're looking for. And so, he is

dealing here with these apostates. And

notice what he says in verse 17. He

says, "But beloved, remember ye the

words which were spoken before of the

apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ." So,

there's a prophecy here that's given.

And in verse 17, he says, "Remember the

words which were spoken before." Now, of

course, he's talking to those that are

saved. In verse 17, it's the beloved.

It's the brethren. It's those who belong

to the body of Christ. And this prophecy

here in the text has to do with the

message that the apostles gave. Now, we

know Peter and Paul dealt with these

apostates. Paul told young Timothy,

"Then the last days, perilous times will

come." You know the verses. He said that

they'll heap to themselves teachers

having itching ears. Amen. They'll turn

their ears from the truth and be turned

unto fables. And Peter deals with these

truths. And and he's saying here in this

text, you need to remember what the

apostles had to say. Let me say this.

You need to go back sometimes and look

at what the old man of God had to say

about where we're living at.

>> A lot of these new these new guys, Amen.

They're not staying with the old past.

>> You're right.

>> They claim the name, but they don't

operate under the same banner that you

and I do. Amen. And I notice here this

prophecy leads into a pattern in verse

number 18. The Bible says how that they

told you there should be mockers in the

last time who should walk after their

own ungodly lust. And he gives the

description again of these people. How

that they said these apostles, the

authentic ones, those that saw the Lord

Jesus Christ, Paul being the apostle

born out of due time. This pattern first

of all is they're mockers in verse

number 18. They're mockers. What do they

mock? They mock the truth,

>> right?

>> They speak against the truth. They

downplay the truth as if it's not

relevant. Well, let me say this. There's

one thing in life that never changes,

and that's the truth.

>> Amen. This Bible never changes. And we

can rest assured tonight that heaven and

earth will pass away. But God said, "Not

one jot or one tit shall pass away.

Heaven and earth will fall to the

ground." But let me say this, God will

not ever let his word fail to come to

pass. It's forever settled in heaven.

The Bible says, "And these men, they

mock at the truth." He said they would

there should be mockers in the last

time. They speak openly against things

just as he said earlier in this text in

verse number 10, he said they speak evil

of those things which they know not.

They mock at the truth and they mock at

the teachers of the truth. And he

noticed not only their mocking but their

moral decay is seen in verse number 18

that they should walk after their own

ungodly lust. They're doing whatever

fills their flesh. Verse 19, the Bible

says, "These be they who separate

themselves. They're mockers. They're

morally decayed, but they're always

moving." Beware of a work that's always

changing.

>> Right?

>> Beware of a church. Beware of a

preacher. Beware of a pastor that's

always moving to the next thing.

>> Amen. Now, I want to say this. There's

room to improve in all types of things.

>> Amen.

>> But I'll say this, every most most new

things coming down the pipe that we

ain't got no business handling.

>> Amen. That's just the truth tonight. And

so these, he says, these be they who

separate themselves. And so what that

simply means is is that they cause

division. They're always leaving

something. You're

>> right. Well, I've got new liberty and

I've found a new opportunity here. And

they're always looking for that next

step. Amen. And they'll do whatever it

takes to move on and they'll divide

whoever they have to divide to get

there. And you say, "Preacher, why are

you dealing with this?" I'm getting to

verse 20. Stay with me. All right?

They're mocking. They are morally

decayed. They're always moving. But then

they're marked in verse number 19. And

this is where I really wanted to get to

tonight. Look what he says. These be

they who separate themselves

sensual

having not the spirit. You know what the

number one problem with this crowd is?

They're not saved.

>> Amen.

>> That word sensual there literally speaks

that they are controlled by their human

nature.

>> They're controlled by flesh. They have

no leadership of the Holy Ghost in their

life. There is no operation of the

spirit of God in them. And so

consistently and constantly they always

follow the leadership of the flesh

because they do not have the spirit of

God on the inside.

>> Amen.

>> Now notice what Jude says in verse 20.

But ye

but ye beloved building up yourselves on

your most holy faith. Now I know tonight

the service is a little bit different.

I'd love for it to be high but here's

what I know tonight. There's many of you

in here it's hurting.

>> Amen. And I'll tell you this, there's

help.

>> Amen. I preached that message there a

few weeks ago on Wednesday night that

there is hope for the hopeless. Amen.

Wherever you're at in this life, there

is help that you can find. And I'll say

this, as long as you desire help, you

can find help. Somebody say amen right

there. Those that can't get help, the

ones that don't want it. Amen. But I

noticed in this text here, Jude changes

the tide. and and six more verses he

gives us in this chapter. And I'm going

to take my time with these. A lot of the

truths that he reveals in these verses

prior are somewhat redundant, but these

truths here will help you if you allow

them to. He says, "But you, beloved,

building up yourselves on your most holy

faith, praying in the Holy Ghost." And I

want to I want to look at that phrase

there in verse number 20 on building up

yourselves. Now, I I was thinking this

afternoon, I was thinking about the

building process, and I I don't like to

get too outside of the Bible with my

illustrations. I'll give you four points

right out of verse 20 in just a minute.

But I was thinking about a building. And

you know what we build buildings for? We

build buildings for cover, don't we? We

build those things so that ourselves,

our home, it's a place where we can stay

out of the rain and stay out of the

heat. And it's a covering. But I thought

about this. It's also a place of

strength. You're right.

>> It's a place where we can find ourselves

when the winds begin to blow.

>> Right?

>> You know what to keep us out of the

wind.

>> But you know, I thought about this in

this text. He's not really just talking

about a building here in verse number

verse number 20. That building there is

not in the noun sense, but it's in a

verb sense. And he says building up

yourselves. And I begin to think about

the building process. Know the Bible

talks about the church is three things.

means we're the body of Christ, the

bride of Christ, and what else? We're

the building of God. Amen. Paul talks

about that one of these days that we we

have a building of God, a house not made

with hands. It's eternal in the heavens.

It's that inheritance that's

incorruptible and undefiled, Peter said,

that's reserved in heaven for you.

That's our building, the house that we

are soon to have. But you understand

what we're doing in this life. We're not

we're not building the church, so to

speak,

>> right? Let me tell you what we are

doing. We're building ourselves

>> to be Christians that God has called us

to be.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "What is that?" Well, notice

Ephesians chapter 2. We'll get back to

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

the text tonight.

Ephesians chapter 2,

Ephesians 2 · chapter mention

verse number 20.

You see, we're not building the church.

Christ is building the church. Our job

is to build ourselves.

Verse 20, the Bible said, verse 19, "Now

therefore, you're no more strangers and

foreigners, but fellow citizens with the

saints and of the household of God, and

are built upon the foundation of the

apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ

himself being the chief cornerstone, in

whom all the building fitly framed

together groweth unto holy temple in the

Lord, in whom ye also are builded

together for inhabitation of God through

the spirit."

So, when I was thinking this evening

about the building process, I was

thinking about everything that takes

place in that process. You think about a

building, when it starts out, you really

don't know what it's going to be, do

you?

>> Right.

>> I thought about this, Brother Leon. It's

real simple. I'll give you the text in a

minute, but I was thinking about this.

You know, when somebody gets saved, you

really don't know what's going to

happen.

>> You're right.

>> I've been thinking about that. people

we've had come through the doors of this

church since I've been here and they've

gotten saved and it seems like it's been

all kinds of different outcomes has come

out of that. You're

>> right.

>> We don't know what's going to take

place, but the foundation's been laid.

Amen. That's what it is. Jesus Christ,

that chief cornerstone. Amen. And uh the

Bible teaches us, Paul said, "Let him

every man take heed how he buildth upon

that foundation." Amen. You're going to

be judged by what you do with that

foundation. Right?

>> And so there's that process. And and let

me say this, every building's different.

You can take two homes that's built off

the same plans. But you know what?

They're not built off built with the

same wood, are they?

>> Right?

>> And the difference is this, that we're

all unique.

We get in our mind so many times, and

y'all loosen up a little bit. I know

it's different. It'll be all right.

Okay? We get in our minds sometimes that

we've got to have this cookie cutter

religion.

>> You're right.

>> Now, I do believe in Bible Christianity.

>> Amen.

>> And to some extent, we will all operate

and look the same if we follow the

Bible. But that does not take away from

the fact that God has called us to be

unique as Christians.

>> Amen.

>> He said, "What did Peter say? You're

peculiar people." Amen. We're different.

We're called out from the world. And the

thing is, where you're called to serve,

where I'm called to serve may not be the

same place,

>> right?

>> That's why there's missionaries in

foreign fields and preachers and other

churches. The reason is is because God

has put us all given us all a different

command in this life. But the command

for all of us is the same. And that is

that we are to build.

>> Yes.

>> To build. And what we've lost in this

day and time is is we're waiting on

somebody to build us up.

>> Amen.

>> But look what Jude says. Building up

yourselves.

I thought about this first of all. I

thought about the task of building.

Verse number 20. Number one, I would say

the task of building is personal.

Look what he says in the text. Verse

number 20. But ye beloved, building up

yourselves.

Now Paul said in the book of

Philippians, he said he he talked about

he told the church there, he said in my

he said much more now my he said you

work out your own salvation.

You see I can preach to you three I can

preach to you five times a week. Amen.

If you wanted to and I'd love that. I'll

do it. Amen. If you want to come we'll

have five services a week and

everybody's like no no no let's not do

that.

But I could preach to you 10 times a

week. But if you do not have a personal

walk with Jesus,

>> you're right.

>> You will not build anything.

>> You're right.

>> And here's what I'm afraid of. I'm

afraid so many churches are riding off

the coattails of the pastor.

>> Amen. I've seen it time and time again.

You go to churches and churches that

that are doing well. They have great

numbers, but the pastor and his family

does everything

>> right

>> now. Don't get quiet on me right there.

I'm thankful that it's not that way

here. Amen. What I'm telling you tonight

is this is that you cannot ride off of

our spirituality because if you do,

you're not you're gonna be in bad shape.

>> Amen. I'm saying it's a personal thing.

Your salvation when you dealt when you

were dealt with by the Holy Ghost OF

GOD. YOUR MOM AND DADDY couldn't lead

you to God. Your parents, your friends,

YOUR PASTOR COULD NOT LEAD YOU TO GOD.

Jesus himself drawed you to himself. AND

YOU HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION FOR

YOURSELF. YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> AND IN ORDER for you to grow, TO BE

BUILT UP IN HIM, YOU have to choose it

yourself.

>> You're right.

>> It's personal.

>> The task. It's a personal task. But you,

beloved, building up yourselves. What

are we building for? We're building for

cover.

>> Cover from what? The enemy.

>> He will attack you.

>> Right.

>> If you put the shield of faith down,

just know the fiery darts are coming

after you.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. If you choose to lay down the

armor of God and not build yourself up

in the Lord, what you'll find out is is

that the devil will take you out faster

than you ever could have imagined.

You're

>> right.

>> Here's what I see so many people in this

damn time. Y'all remember the commercial

for airheads?

People walk around, they would eat the

airhead, and you know what it do? Make

their head go and it would blow up,

wouldn't it? That's the way Christians

are. We walk around cisified, lint-

wristed

>> as Christians

>> and our heads so big we can't hardly

hold it up. We think we're the most

spiritual thing that's ever walked on

the face of the planet. And you know

what your problem is? You've never

exercised faith in your life.

>> What what Paul say in book of Hebrews? I

just preached this some time ago.

Hebrews chapter number six. Hebrews

chapter 5:E 13. For everyone that useth

milk is unskillful in the word of

righteousness, for he is obeyed. But

strong meat belongth to them that are

full age, even those who by reason of

use have their senses exercised. Notice

this, to discern both good and evil.

You know what we're lacking in this day

time is discernment.

>> The reason you can't be built up is

because you're building with straw

>> and sticks.

>> You can't build your life on temporal

things of this world.

>> Amen. You can't take the music and the

operation of society as it is and expect

to have a decent Christian life. It

requires separation.

>> It's personal separation.

>> Right?

>> We believe in ecclesiastical separation

of the church of God. We do not believe

in yoking up with every denomination and

saying kumbaya with everybody that comes

down the road and and wants to yoke up

with us. But I'll say this, it's got to

be more than just the church. It's got

to be personal.

>> You're right.

Not every person in your life ought to

be your best friend.

>> Amen.

>> I know. I know you don't like that, but

it's the truth tonight. You say,

"Preacher, what? I'm friends with

everybody." You can be a friend to them.

>> You're right.

>> You know what's going to happen to you,

though?

>> If you allow them to be around you long

enough, you'll become like them.

>> Alan Barker said, "You are soon will be

who your friends are."

>> You're right.

>> And I believe that.

>> You say, "What does that have to do with

this?" It does away with the TASK AT

HAND. THE TASK IS BUILDING. WHAT ARE WE

BUILDING? WE ARE BUILDING UP THE FAITH

in our life to trust Christ and to serve

Christ. The operation of the Christian

number one, listen to me. It is not to

win souls. The operation of the

Christian is to glorify God. And that is

first and foremost. You say, "How is

that, preacher?" WELL, JEREMIAH PREACHED

HIS ENTIRE life and far as I know, never

saw a single convert. But you know what

he did do? He preached the message God

gave him. And let me say this to you. If

there's never another soul that gets

saved in Metis Baptist Church, YOU JUST

KNOW I'M GOING TO PREACH WHAT GOD PUTS

ON ME UNTIL THE DAY THAT HE TAKES me

home. AMEN. AND I'M going to lay it OUT

THERE STRAIGHT BECAUSE THE BIBLE'S

STRAIGHT. AMEN. AND THE PLUM LINE DOES

NOT BEND OR BREAK FOR NOBODY. AMEN. And

what I'M SAYING TONIGHT IS THIS. IF

YOU'RE GOING TO BE BUILT UP, YOU'RE

GOING TO HAVE TO GET IT STRAIGHT FROM

HERE. BUT LET ME SAY THIS. IT'S going to

HAVE TO BE STRAIGHT AT HOME, TOO.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

Your religion outside these doors NEEDS

TO BE THE SAME AS it is inside the

doors.

>> Amen.

>> If you're going to be built UP IN HIM,

IF YOU'RE GOING TO become who God wants

you to be, let me tell you, you're going

to have to operate by the same

principles outside of the church that

you do in.

>> You're right.

>> The task it's personal. Let me say this.

It's for those who are saved and

empowered. Look what he says in verse

20. What's the first three words? But

ye, beloved, here's what I'm convinced

of. The people trying, many people

trying to build a Christian life aren't

even saved.

>> Good.

>> They have no foundation. You ever seen

somebody try to build a house without a

foundation?

Believe it or not, I've seen Amen. You

know what it does? It sinks up in the

mud.

>> You're right.

>> That man that built that foolish man

built his house upon the sand. What's

the Bible say? that the floods came and

the winds blew and the storm descended.

And what happened? It beat upon that

house just like it did the house that

was founded upon the rock. And what did

your Bible say? Great was the fall of

it.

>> Right?

>> It was destroyed. And so it must be

personal. You must be saved. But ye

beloved, it's powerful to those who

believe. Notice this. I'm moving on.

There is the task of building. But then

there is the truth of building in verse

20. But ye beloved, building up

yourselves, notice this, on your most

holy faith. I don't say this, the task

is personal, but let me say this, the

truth is preeminent

in your building.

Nothing is more important, number one,

than what you're building on. You're

>> right.

>> Number two, what you're building with.

>> You're right.

You see the thing about it is Jesus is

the foundation but it's his word

the truth. Notice that in the text verse

number 20 building up yourselves on

that's the foundation. Amen. Your most

holy faith. Now what does that mean?

That the most holy there has to do with

what is most precious. It's preeminent.

It's before everything else. And what

does he say? The faith. Now that's not

just simply your belief. The Bible says

talks about have not the faith of the

Lord Jesus Christ with respect to

persons. When you think about that word

faith, it has more to do than just, you

know, I'm placing my faith in the Lord

Jesus Christ. No, let me be real honest

with you. Except you have the faith of

the Lord Jesus Christ, you cannot be

saved.

>> You're right.

>> Because he gives you your faith.

>> We believe that.

>> Amen.

>> He gives you your faith to place in him.

>> You're right. And so what is what I what

the truth is I'm giving you here is that

salvation is first and foremost. But you

notice this truth that we're built upon.

You cannot operate outside of that. You

say preacher, how is that? Well, the

imagery would be the same as if there

was a foundation laid and then we go 20

ft beside of it and start rearing a

building.

>> What good's the foundation?

>> You see, you got to build it on.

>> You're right.

>> It has to be on the foundation. Right.

>> What is that, preacher? Well, that's

within the bounds of the scripture.

>> You know what we're trying to do? We're

trying to make our opinions and our

ideas our presuppositions. Amen. To use

a a a word of biblical terminology, we

use our preconceived notions about the

scripture.

>> Instead of what it actually says.

>> You're right.

>> That's right.

>> You say, "Preacher, what's an example of

that?" Well, many people in the church

today say it's okay to drink. Jesus

might turn water into wine. But let me

ask you, is that scriptural?

>> No, it's not scriptural. What does that

have to do with? Well, it's it's rightly

dividing the truth.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "Preacher, well, that that

that's just your preference." No, it's

not. It's precept,

>> right?

>> The standards of this Bible, you cannot

build aside from that. You can't build

within it. You can't build OUTSIDE OF

IT. YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD ON IT.

>> You're right.

or it will surely fall. The truth must

be preeminent. Building up yourselves on

your most holy faith. The task of

building is personal. It is left up to

you to do it. But you are only given one

one truth, one foundation. For other

foundation can no man lay. Peter said it

this way. There's none other name under

heaven given among men whereby you must

be saved. And then after you get saved,

you live the Christian life the rest of

your days upon that salvation. You're

right.

>> Salvation is not just a one-time deal

and then I go about my merry way. We

know that.

Notice this. All right. There is the

task in our text. There's the truth. The

task is personal. The truth must be

preeminent. But notice this. Thirdly,

notice the tool in verse 20. The Bible

says, "But you love building up

yourselves on your most holy faith."

What's the next word, church? Praying.

Praying in the Holy Ghost. The tool here

is given as prayer. The operation of the

life of a child of God cannot be

functional without the spirit of God or

without prayer. It can't you cannot

follow God without speaking to him.

>> No more than a man can be married to a

wife and supply her needs without them

conversating.

>> You're right.

>> There's no You can't raise children

without being able to conversate and see

their needs. IF THERE IS NO

COMMUNICATION, THERE IS NO LIFE.

>> You're right.

>> Amen.

communication the Christian life's not

one-sided.

>> It's not when we just go in and we say,

"Well, I'm going to read God's word and

he's going to speak to me." No. Here's

what's going to have to happen. You

going to have to talk to him.

>> You're right.

>> And say, "Lord, I'm coming to your word

because I know that I need this

>> and I need you to speak to me. Lord, I

have these needs, but God, more

important than anything, I just want to

talk to you."

>> Amen.

>> You know what? The best conversation

you'll ever have is when you just start

reading God's word and as you're reading

it, he's speaking to your heart through

that scripture,

>> right?

>> And you just talk back to him.

>> Lord, thank you.

>> Thank you for that truth you shared with

me today. What is that, preacher? That's

building up yourselves. That's that's

gaining strength. You know what that

building process? I didn't say this

earlier, but you know what? That

building process through all the stages,

it begins to look different, doesn't it?

>> Right. When that home starts out and

it's just a foundation, you don't know

what it's going to be. You can kind of

have an idea of what it's going to look

like, but you know what it's meant to

be? It's meant to be as we go further,

it's supposed to see the definition of

what the building was truly meant to be.

>> Amen.

>> And don't miss what I'm fixing to say.

You know what I'm seeing a lot in this

den time is that there's buildings,

there's foundations everywhere. people I

believe that are saved, but they're just

buildings

scattered all over the place, half

built, some not even started. You've

been by those projects. If you know

anything about contract work, you see

all the lumber in a pile, rotted up. God

supplied you every need to build your

Christian life and you've left it

sitting on a shelf. That's

>> right.

>> Foundations laid, you refuse to build.

>> You're right.

>> You say, "Preacher, is that indictment

against me?" Let me say this. This is an

indictment against me. Cuz the truth

about every one of our lives is is that

we are not done building until God takes

us home.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. And do not think that you've

arrived just because you're here on a

Sunday night. Just realize that every

one of us HAVE GOT SO FAR TO GO BECAUSE

THE GLORY OF GOD, IT DOES NOT END IN

this life. WE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT

WE'RE GOING ALL THE WAY FOR GOD. IT IS A

PATH THAT IS ENDLESS UNTIL THE TIME WE

TAKE OUR LAST BREATH. WE ARE TO JOURNEY

FORWARD AND TO BUILD ON BECAUSE WE HAVE

NOT ARRIVED YET.

>> AMEN.

>> Prayer is a constant daily conversation

with God. And it's not just three times

a day, but it should be all day.

>> You're right.

>> At any point in time throughout the day,

you ought to be able to bow your head

and close your eyes and say, "God, thank

you."

>> You say, "Preacher, but I can't do that

all the time. I'm too busy." Well, maybe

you're too busy.

>> Amen.

You say, "Preacher, I got to work." I

know that. Hey friend, if face anybody

for working, this preacher is.

What I'm trying to tell you is you got

to be in a place where constantly at any

point in time. You say, "What does that

mean, preacher? It means you got the sin

out of your life." That's

>> right.

>> It's not that, you know, I got to stop

work or stop what I'm doing, get off and

go, you know, find a a holler somewhere

and get on my hands and knees. No, I'm

saying a Christian can look up look up

to heaven at any point in day. Don't

even have to close your eyes. Say, "God,

I I just just want to talk to you for a

minute. Lord, could I speak with you? I

want to thank you for being who you

are." IT DOES. IT'S NOT ABOUT all of

that other stuff. IT'S ABOUT HAVING A

SIN OUT OF YOUR LIFE.

>> RIGHT.

>> And if we'd be real honest about it, the

work that we do in this day and time, it

ain't nothing to what it was 100 years

ago.

>> You're right.

>> I mean, let's be real. We've got easier

jobs now than we've ever had before.

You're

>> right.

>> Some of you don't. Amen. And I I

appreciate hardworking men in this

church and I thank you for doing that

and stick with it and stay with it. I'll

tell you this, many many people lose

their character because they quit

working hard jobs. I think that's the

problem with the laziness in this

country is jobs got too easy.

>> You're right.

>> Boy, you won't hear that preached across

the pool pits of America, will you?

>> But the truth is this. What I'm saying

is we've got it easier than we've ever

had it.

>> Amen.

>> We've got more opportunities than we've

ever had. Yeah.

>> to pray, to talk to God. It is the

bottom line. It's what we build with.

The the the truth is what we're given

here to build upon. And it's the the I

guess you would say the raw materials

that were given. But prayer is the

hammer that drives the nail truth.

>> Amen.

>> In our life.

Notice this tonight.

Talking about building up yourselves.

It's personal.

The task is personal. The truth must be

preeminent. The tool was prayer. But

notice this. All right, don't miss this.

You say, "What what do you got you got

to say?" Well, there's one more thing in

verse 20,

>> right?

>> You see, there's a thread that runs

throughout all of this.

Just like in every home, I I I was

thinking about this. You know, every

home is held together, you know, by

nails or screws or whatever. And

throughout the entire house, there's

some top some type of fastener that

holds it all together.

You think about a garment, there's a

thread that runs through the entirety of

that garment. And I was looking at this

text. You notice the wording there in

verse 20. Building up yourselves on your

most holy faith. Praying. What's that

last phrase?

In the Holy Ghost.

Now, in one sense of the word, the only

way that you can praise is in the Holy

Ghost. We know that Romans 8 tells us

that it's the spirit of God in our

hearts that we cry aba father.

>> We cry unto him because the spirit of

God bears witness

>> to him. Amen. But when you think about

this truth in verse number 20, of course

the tool is prayer, but you understand

the thread that runs along this entire

process of building

>> from start to finish. You know what that

is? It's the Holy Spirit of God,

>> right?

>> You say, "What is that?" Well, that's

the one that does the building.

>> Amen.

>> You see, cuz here's the thing about it.

You say, "Well, preacher, you're telling

me that I've got to put the effort in."

And you do. But it's just like, you

know, the imagery of this. You you got a

tool in your hand. Everything's

automated in this day and time. You

know, screwdrivers used to be a little

round thing with a head on the end of

it. But now screwdrivers got a big old

battery on the bottom of it and you

press a button. You know what it does?

It winds that thing in there.

>> The man doesn't really do the work.

You're

>> right.

>> The tool does the work.

>> Right.

>> In your life and mine, the Holy Ghost,

you see, we can't do spiritual work in

oursel.

>> Y

>> we can't earn it. We can't attain it. We

can't complete it oursel. And so the

Holy Ghost has to do it in us, for us,

and through us.

>> You're right.

>> But he'll only do it at your will.

>> Amen.

>> Notice that in the text. Praying in the

Holy Ghost. There's a lot of prayers

that were made today.

I'll say this, probably less than a

third of them were made through the

power of the Holy Spirit.

>> You're right.

>> Say, what does that mean? Well, I'm

saying there's people praying all over

this country for all types of things. If

you want to look over to the Middle East

tonight and see all the prayers that's

being lifted up to some foreign god

somewhere that they don't even know who

he is, where he is, or what he come

from,

>> you're right.

>> Not reaching anything. But even in the

heart of children of God, wonder how

many prayers that are being prayed, but

they're not anointed prayers.

>> Say, "Preacher, what's a prayer that's

anointed?" It's a prayer based upon the

truth.

>> Right?

>> It's a prayer that comes along the turns

of the will of God. I'm saying the

building in your life. THE ONLY WAY THAT

IT TAKES PLACE IS IF you line up

and then you got to ask.

I feel like I've been seemingly so

redundant here lately. I don't know what

that is. Let me tell you this tonight.

We cannot operate as a church

without building ourselves up.

>> You're right.

>> We've said it this way, brother Matt.

We've said it this way. As goes the

home, so goes the church.

>> You're right.

>> But it's more narrow than that.

>> It's as goes the people.

>> You're right.

>> Each person individually.

>> Yes.

>> You have a responsibility to build up

yourselves. You say, "Preacher, well,

isn't that isn't that implying that we

build up each other?" Maybe if you

stretched it a little bit, you could say

that. But I really believe the personal

the personality of the text. He says

building up yourselves. It's a

collective thought that everybody needs

to be personally doing the work. You're

right.

>> Do you see that? He says, "Building up

yourselves." The admonition is to the

entire church,

>> but the truth is personal.

>> Building up yourselves.

And if we're going to have revival, this

is what's going to require,

>> right?

>> I don't want to have a week of meeting

here in the next next couple week. I

don't I don't want to have just a week

of meeting. Okay? I don't want to have a

preacher come in here for a week and me

pay them to come in here and spit and

slobber and you not get anything out of

it.

>> That's right. You say, "Well, that's

going to depend on them.

>> That's going to depend on you.

>> It's going to depend on me."

>> Building up yourself.

>> Yes.

>> Every head bowed and every eye closed

tonight.

The task is personal.

The truth must be preeminent. That's the

foundation.

The tool was prayer.

But the thread that holds it all

together is the presence

of the Holy Spirit of God.

>> And here's what you need more than

anything else, church. You need to be

filled with the Holy Ghost.

>> You can't afford to operate without it.

Your marriage won't function without it.

>> Right?

>> Your children won't survive without it.

>> Yes.

>> This church won't go forward without it.

>> Let me ask you, if you love this church

tonight,

are you willing to build up yourself?

Say, "Preacher, what's that going to

require?" It's going to require some

time.

Some time. Building is a lengthy

process, isn't it? Takes a while. Nobody

ever built a house in a day. It was any

count.

Let me say this. Your house

requires an entire lifetime to build.

How much have you already wasted?

Child of God, let me ask you again.

How much have you already wasted?

Let me say this. You can redeem the

time.

Paul said the days are evil. You need to

be redeeming the time. You say,

"Preacher, would you help me pray that

this week God will Preacher, I I really

just want to take I want to take 10

steps for God this week, preacher. I I

don't know how long it's been since I

took a step, but preacher, I'd really

like to just go forward with God.

Just go a long ways. Anybody be that

honest?

Yeah, God sees that.

Tell you what, that gives me hope.

Here's what I know. If you're willing to

build up yourself, this church will be

built.

You said, "Preacher, but we're not

building up the church." And I I I'm

You're exactly right. We're not. But

I'll tell you this, if we'll build up

ourselves Christ, we'll build his church

and make it what he wants it to be.

Only heaven knows what Meta's Baptist

Church could be next year at this time.

But it's going to depend on you doing

the will of God. Father,

Lord, I pray God that you'd help us all

be obedient. These altars are open

tonight. Some's already praying, Lord.

Others need to come.

Lord, it's where it starts. It starts

with prayer.

God, you've given us the foundation.

You've given us the truth to build with.

The tools are there,

tool of prayer,

and the Holy Spirit's there to help us.

that thread that holds it all together.

And Lord, I pray, Father, that you

would, Lord, help us resolve in our

hearts and minds, God, that we're going

to do the will of God personally

to embrace the task that's at hand.

And Lord, I pray for these days of

meeting that are ahead. I pray that you

would give us strength and boldness

to do your will, say what needs to be

said, and to uh live for you. Lord, I

sure love you and I thank you for loving

us. Thank you for this church. We ask

you to help us tonight. We pray in Jesus

name. God's children say it.

>> Amen.

>> Thank you for joining our service today.

We'd love it if you join us in person

the next time you are able at Meadows

Baptist Church. Our physical address is

2988

Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. Our service times are Sunday

school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning

worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening

worship at 6:00 p.m., and Wednesday

evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more

information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.