Are you Building With or Without the Lord?

1. Are you Building With or Without the Lord? Psalm 127:1-5

2. With the Lord - Success!

3. Without the Lord – Vain, Useless

4. They labor in vain that build it.

5. Listen to God… • Psalm 127:  1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. • 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

6. The Psalmist is writing a truth concerning • Building houses, or cities, or families. There are 2 words we want to notice carefully: • Except…unless the Lord is involved in the building 2. Vain…It is vain, useless and to account.

7. Why? • Would you want to be a member of a church that does • not wear the name of Christ? (Rom. 16:16) • Why would you want to use instrumental music in • worship when God tells us what to do? Eph. 5:19; Col.3:16 • Why would you want to engage in parties, feasting • and all kinds of social activities when the Lord says plainly, • If any man hunger, let him eat at home? I Cor. 11

8. Jesus said: Upon this Rock I will build my • Church. Matt. 16:18 • No church is His unless He builds it. • No doctrine is His unless He states it. 2 John 9 • Speak where the Bible Speaks I Pet. 4:11 • Remain silent where the Bible is silent.

9. Except the Lord build the house • The work of man has its place, but is of • Little use without the work and blessing of God. • a)No house-building is successful which leaves • God out of account. “I’ll do it my way”. Wrong. • I’ll do it God’s way! And succeed. • Morgan has said: “..We have seen men build them • houses, with care and at great cost, only to see • them crumble to pieces because God was forgotten!”

10. A Latin motto says “Nisi Dominus Frusta.” • What does it mean? Where did it come from? It came from • Psalm 127:1 which means’ • “Without the Lord, Frustration” • This is the motto of city of Edinburgh, Scotland, • Appearing on its crest, and is affixed to the city’s official • Documents. • This could be attached to many churches, or many • People who are trying to live their lives without the Almighty”

11. Illustration: Some house builders drove into their local lumber yard. • One of the men walked into the office and said, “We • Need some four-by-twos. The clerk asked, “You mean two-by-fours, don’t you?” • The man said, “I’ll go check,” and went back to the • Truck. He returned and said, “Yeah, I meant two-by-fours.” • All right. The clerk then asked? How long do you need them? • The man paused a minute and said, ”I’d better go check.” • After a while ,the customer returned to the office,and • Said, “A long time. We’re gonna build a house.” • How could any builder be that dumb? I don’t think you • Would want those guys to build you a house, would you?”

12. What does it take and how long does it take to build a solid spiritual house? • Live to make a life, not just a living! • I Cor. 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever • You do, do it all for the glory of God.”

13. Singing: Love to hear good singing. “Hear”… • Singing is an act that each Christian • needs to engage it. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 • Listening to other people sing might • Make you feel good, lift your spirits, but when we • Sing to God, it must be us offering the sacrifice of • Praise to the Almighty. God wants to hear your • Voice as you sing and make melody in your heart • To the Lord!

14. Praying: When someone is leading a prayer, • we need to be very careful to listen …because we • are all praying…and so at the end of the prayer , • in our hearts we can truly say Amen. I Cor. 14:15; • I Thess. 5:17; Acts 2:42 • When you pray to God at home, what does he • hear? You. Your voice. What you are saying to • Him. No use to pray ‘vainly’…without meaning • what you say or not doing what you tell him you • will do.

15. Giving. What a joy to hear of a group of Christians • that has given an offering to God…Last Sunday: • over $5,000.00. But how much did you give? • “did you give joyfully? Did you give as you are • prospered. ? What amount did God see you give • to Him? I Cor. 16:1-3; Acts 20:35; • It is all about remembering: Except the Lord build the • House, you build in vain. It won’t do you any good except • You do what God says!.

16. When you eat the Lord’s supper… • Did you do it on the day that God has appointed? • Did you participate? Did you offer thanks with the • brother who led the prayer? For the bread/for the • fruit of the vine? Acts 20:7; Matt. 26:26-28 • What did God see you thinking about , and doing • When you observed the Lord’s Supper?

17. Preaching/ teaching/ Was your mind on the sermon… • did you listen to find information that will help you to • draw nearer to God? To worship Him and work for • Him more acceptably? Acts 20:7 ; 2 Tim. 4:2-4 • Harold Young said: True worship is the most difficult • thing you will ever do. Keeping your mind on what • you are doing and doing exactly what God wants in • your worship to Him!

18. When you are baptized? • Why? Except you do what the Lord says, it is all vain…it is • Useless. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 22:16; I Pet. 3:21 • a) Did you realize you were a sinner, lost , doomed forever • from salvation because of YOUR sin.? • b) Did you obey the Gospel because the Lord wanted you • to do it, or did you do it because your wife wanted you to, • or your husband wanted you to…or because a lot of other • People were being baptized? • Why were you baptized? Have you Really been baptized?

19. Working? Working for the Lord? James 1:22 • Matt. 5:16; John 12:48 • 1. How do you appear at work? • Do others see in you a truly godly, Christ-like person? • 2. How do you appear in your family? • Can your husband/wife see in you one who is • truly devoted to God. You are serving God with • or without your spouse? • 3. How do you appear at Wal-mart? Wendy’s? Dollar • General? Dollar tree? What do others see in you?

20. Your life and my life are all in vain, except the Lord Build them…unless we pattern ourselves after The example of Jesus. I Pet.2:21 There will come an end to it all… • a) Sometimes it comes suddenly • b) Sometimes it comes abruptly • c) Sometimes it come when you are young/middle age/old) What then? Except the Lord build the house… • the short life we have lived will all be in vain…(Matt. 7:21-23)

21. This sermon is preached for you, for me, to take a • Serious look at ourselves. • What shall a man profit, if he shall gain the whole • world, and lose his own soul…Or what will a man • give in exchange for his soul? Matt. 16:24-26

22. 1. How do we know what God wants us to call • His church? He tells us! • 2. How do we know what God desires us to do • In worship to Him? He tells us • 3. How do we know what the work of the church • Is ? He tells us.

23. Without love---It is all vain…useless Your labor avails you NOTHING! • 13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. • 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. • 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. • 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

24. The Word “Except” - Unless • Except you be born of water and the spirit. John 3:5 • . Gen. 31:41-43 Jacob to Laban 41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. • 42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight. • Except Joseph to his brothers Genesis 42:15 • Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither

25. Joshua 7:12 • Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. • Psalm 127:1 • Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

26. Daniel 6:5 • Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. • . Amos 3:3 • Can two walk together, except they be agreed? • Matthew 5:20 • For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

27. . Matthew 12:29 • Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house • Matthew 18:3 • And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. • Matthew 19:9 • And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery

28. Matthew 26:42 • He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. • Mark 7:3 • For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders

29. Luke 13:I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise Perish. • John 3:2 • The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him

30. John 3:3 • Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. • John 6:44 • No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

31. John 12:24 • Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. • John 15:4 • Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me

32. John 20:25 • The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. • Acts 8:31 • And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

33. Acts 15:1 • And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. • Acts 27:31 • Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

34. Romans 10:15 • And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! • 1 Corinthians 7:5 • Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

35. 1 Corinthians 14:7 • And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? • 2 Corinthians 13:5 • Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

36. 2 Thessalonians 2:33 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; • 2 Timothy 2:5 • And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

37. Revelation 2:5 • Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. • Rev. 2:22 Revelation 2:22 • Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

38. They labor in vain that build it.

39. Psalm 127:1Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. • Exodus 20:7 • Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. • Leviticus 26:16 • I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it • Work , plant, grow…all in vain…useless..no good.

40. 1 Samuel 12:21 • And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. • Job 9:29 • If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain? • Job 11:11 • For he knowethvain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

41. Job 16:3 • Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? • Job 35:16 • Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge. • Psalm 2:1 • Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

42. Psalm 60:11 • Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.

43. Psalm 89:47 • Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

44. Psalm 108:12 • Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. • Psalm 119:113 • I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. • Psalm 127:1 • Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

45. Psalm 127:2 • It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. • Proverbs 12:11 • He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followethvain persons is void of understanding. • Proverbs 30:9 • Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

46. Proverbs 31:30 • Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. • Ecclesiastes 6:12 • For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?

47. Isaiah 45:18 • For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. • Isaiah 49:4 • Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.

48. Jeremiah 4:14 • O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? • Jeremiah 10:3 • For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe

49. Jeremiah 23:16 • Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. • Lamentations 2:14 • Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

50. Ezekiel 13:7 • Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken? • Malachi 3:14 • Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?