The Foundation upon which we rebuild or repair the Walls
The Cornerstone, Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 2:7-8
The Foundations, Apostles and Prophets, Ephesians 2:20
The Gospel revealed (mystery), Ephesians 3:5
Building upon the Foundation with Living Stones
Believers like Living Stones, 1 Peter 2:4-5
Righteous, Faithful Ones
No ordinary stone wall
The Walls are first and foremost to protect the hearts of the people (from a word received 05/25/19)
Vigilance for the Heart, Proverbs 4:23
The Walls are salvations (from a word received 01/03/20)
Salvation à being made a Living Stone
Stones à joined together à a Wall
Salvations are additions of Stones to the Walls
Building up
God provides the Stones
We assist in building them up
Isaiah 26:1 – “He sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks.”
Isaiah 12:2 – “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD God is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.”
All Chapter 12: Joy, Proclaim, Shout, Praise
Isaiah 60:18 – “You shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.”
Ten Gates of Anoka (Gates Project 2016-17)
The Peace Gate
The Prosperity Gate
The Promise Gate
The Hallowed Gate
The Beautiful Gate
The Messenger Gate
The Water Gate
The Righteous Gate
The Gate of His Presence
The Gate of Heavenly Hosts
Purposes of Walls (in the natural)
Establish Boundaries
Provide Security
Defense from Attacks
Prevent Infiltration
Separation
Support (structural)
Restraint or Enclosure
Sense of Safety
The Living Stones being joined together
Being built into the Holy Temple
1 Corinthians 6:19
Ephesians 2:21
Cornerstone: Christ Jesus
Foundation: Apostles and Prophets
Living Stone: Believer; Holiness
Stones = Wall: Body of Christ
Joined
Together
Unity
Plumb Line: Righteousness
Level Line: Justice
Mortar: Love
Love One Another
“Owe to no one anything, except to love each other” – Romans 13:8
“But you shall love your neighbor as yourself” – seven times (at least)
Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:19, 22:37-40; Luke 10:37; Mark 12:29-31; Galatians 5:13-15; James 2:8-9
51 times “one another” speaks primarily to the body
2 of these expand to others as well – 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 5:15
Love your enemies – Matthew 5:43-48
Brotherly Affection; honor one another – Romans 12:9-10
Put on Love – Colossians 3:12-15
With compassion, humility, etc.
Love binds everything together in perfect harmony
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts
Enter His Rest
Profound peace that God gives to those who love and obey Him regardless of circumstances
I must love as I am loved by Christ
I must forgive as I am forgiven by God
It is all possible through the compassion of Christ Jesus
New Commandment: “That you love one another” – John 13:34-35
Our love for one another reveals that we are disciples of Jesus
Stated again – 1 John 4:21
“And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
It is love that binds us together
From God
To God
For one another – in Christ
Again, anchored in Christ, the source – 1 John 4:19
“We love because He first loved us.”
Living Stones Becoming Walls
Fit together – Ephesians 4:15-16
Living Stones being built up together – 1 Peter 2:4-5
God’s temple; the dwelling place of Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 3:16
Knit together in love – Colossians 2:1-3, 19
Set with antimony – 1 Chronicles 29:1-2, Isaiah 54:11
Unique properties
Different in the world
Beauty; Adornment
Growth of the Body – Ephesians 4:16
Growth of the Body
Building up one another
Encouragement – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Pursuit of mutual good – Romans 14:19
Prayer – Jude 1:20
Equipping – Ephesians 4:12
Stimulation to love and good works – Hebrews 10:24
Edification – 1 Corinthians 14:12
Five-Fold Ministry – Ephesians 4:11-14
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
Some believers also:
Kings
Priests – note Malachi 2:7
The Overcomers
Revelation 20:6
Given to equip the saints
Does every believer slot into one of the five?
No, and Yes
Casting the vision of The Kingdom
Declaring the truth of The Word
Sharing the Gospel Message
Caring for the needs of the Body
Instructing in the ways of God
Is this all being done here? – Organic growth?
Each must ask, “Is all this being done by me?”
1 Peter 3:15 – “Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you”
All acts of loving one another
The Body
Together
Joined
Unified
Ephesians 4 :4-6
One Body
One Spirit
One Hope
One God and father
The Body of Christ
I am His – again
Walls
Are only good when manned and maintained (the Pastor?)
= attention given to them (love; unity)
Watchmen on the Walls (the Prophet?)
To see what is coming; what God is doing
To proclaim it to the people
To see how the people react to it
Strong walls
Bound by the mortar of love, and loving one another
Strengthened in ministry; effectiveness of Five-Fold Ministry
Notes from a video of Brian Orme (abbreviated notes)
Apostle: framing up God’s vision
Prophet: hope dealers
Apostle and Prophet ; Foundation
Not the top, but the lowest of the low
A place to serve; for things to be built
Evangelists: conversants, marketers
Proper communication of the Gospel
Pastors: Connectivists; Healers; Disciplers
Teachers: Equippers; Thinkers
Grounding the body in sound teaching
Developing theological depth
We need all of these roles for a healthy body
For Strong Walls
1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
