“THE GREATEST CARPENTER EVER”
I Corinthians 3:9,10

“9) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

Introduction

A. “We are laborers together with God.”

• Notice verse 9… “We are laborers together with God”
• We can be an apprentice to the greatest carpenter ever if we are saved.
• We cannot do it without God!

B. A Wise Master Builder

• A wise master builder is nothing without his laborers.
  1) Note verse 9 where it says… “ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” The Church is God’s husbandry, or farm.
  2) In order for the church to be fruitful we must work for the Lord.
  3) If God the Master Builder is going to build a great church it takes work on everyone’s part such as tithing, visitation, praying, soul winning… and etc.
• Paul here in verse 9 is not bragging but merely stating a fact. Paraphrased, this may be said… “Only because of God’s grace given me have I been able to lay a solid foundation, and allow someone else to build upon.”
• I believe Paul can say three things here…
  1) By God’s grace I have built my own personal life.
  2) I have helped build the lives of others.
  3) And I have helped build the life of the church.
  

I. Building an Adequate Foundation

A) The Rock

• In verse 11… “ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
• Paul says here that nobody, no human, can lay a foundation better than the one that has already been laid, and that one is Jesus Christ!
• Paul’s building is founded on Jesus Christ.
• The world’s buildings are founded on human wisdom, personal riches, and worldly acclaim. Verse 19)” For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20) And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21) Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;”

B) Building on cheap foundations

• Some “so-called” Christians believe that good works will get you to heaven.
• Some believe that Baptism will get you to heaven.
• Some believe that their money will buy them into purgatory (for which this doesn’t even exist.)
• Some believe that being a member of an upstanding church will get them to heaven.
• These are cheap foundations and wont last the test of time and won’t be accepted by the master builder come judgment day!

C) We must build on solid foundations

• We must take a stand on the King James Bible.
• We must take a stand on the creation of the world.
• We must take a stand that God is God and not a female.
• We must build on Jesus Christ and not on our own.

II. Follow and Read the Right Blueprint

A) “Let every man take heed…”

• Note verse 10… “But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”
• Why is it so important to “take heed” how we build?
  1) Because, other people’s lives are at stake.
  2) What we do effects ourselves and others.
  3) It will effect the judgment of God upon our lives.

B) Working together

• Just as the general contractor and the architects work together, we must work together with God and his people to make the building strong enough to fight against the devil.
• Without God we are nothing.

C) Our Blueprint must be the Original drawing

• You cannot please the person that wants the home built by using your own drawings with your own version of what they may like.
• You cannot please God with some other version of the Bible. You must use the King James Bible, the closest thing we have to the original Greek and Hebrew text available today.
• What happens when you water down the cement of a foundation wall? It becomes weak and will not withstand the pressure and weight of the walls and will eventually collapse.
• What will happen if you water down the Bible? You will become weak and not be able to withstand the pressures of satan and his demons allowing your home, personal life and church life to fall.

III. Order and Use the Right Materials

A) Expensive and incombustible (Not easy to set afire)

• Here is the first of two types of materials to use… Look at verse 12) “ Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
• Note verse 14… “If any man's work abide (Lasts, withstands the test of satan) which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”
• When you order materials to build a house… You are held responsible for the finish product so therefore you check to make sure they are good materials (“gold, silver, and precious stones).
• Only great carpenters use great materials. The materials God has already given in His word.
• Can you burn up gold, silver, or precious stone. Not easily
• What is gold, silver, precious stone… 1) Keeping sound doctrine, 2) keeping steadfast to the true word of God, 3) soul winning, 4) praying without ceasing, 5) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves. These are materials that God has made and is the ingredient of.
• Verse 14 says… “If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”
• I want God to tell me… “Well done thou good and faithful servant, you have built a good life, a good home, and a good work for the Lord with the materials that I gave you”

B) Cheap, and combustible

• Notice the last part of verse 12… “wood, hay, stubble;”
• These materials will burn up fast.
• Verse 15… “ If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
• What is wood, hay, stubble?
  1) living for self,
  2) not soul winning,
  3) not listening to the convictions of God,
  4) working for personal gain.

IV. Build to be ready for inspection

A) All works must be inspected

• In construction, you must build to suit the owner but it must meet the code requirements to pass inspection. This is done for the protection of all involved.
• Read verse 13) “Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”
• God is going to build a fire and put your works here on earth in it and what you have done will be revealed to God.
• II Corinthians 5:9,10…“9) Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
• We are here on earth to live for God, to work for God and later to be tried by God

B) What have you built?

• Is your life a life of gold, silver, and precious stones. Or is it a life of wood, hay, and stubble?
• Are you ready to meet the inspection of your home with the materials you have purchased and erected?
• Have you built a strong home, or a weak home?

Preached at Shawnee Mission Baptist Temple on June 18, 1997 then revised and taught again at Temple Baptist Deaf Church on January 2, 2005.