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Psalm 127:1-2 (A Song of degrees for Solomon.) 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.

Before we start, the Scripture has nothing to do with building a Church building. The word “house” used by Solomon – the wisest King Israel ever had – is not a reference to a stick and mortar building. It is a reference to a family, or by extension a kingdom. You see the word used in:

Genesis 20:17-18 17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare [children]. 18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

Genesis 28:16-17 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

Exodus 2:1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

It is God Who builds the “houses” or families. It is God Who sets up kings and presidents to rule. If someone has established a “house” on this earth it is because our God has allowed it, and blessed it. The Apostle wrote:

Romans 13:1-3 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

God is the Builder of His House. The Christian is a member of the House of Christ. We are told in:

Hebrews 3:4-6 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

We who are saved by faith in Christ are of the house of Christ. Our God builds that House, placing people into the Family of God. Our God is building this little family we call “Riverview Baptist”. If you are a member of this family, you are here because God has called you here. Each one of you has value in God’s House. You are His people. You are the Church that God shed His Blood for:

“the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood”. (Acts 20:28)

God brought us together for His glory – not for ours. We are ..

1 Corinthians 12:27 … the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 12:14-18 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

The Blood of Christ purchased our salvation. We are of Christ’s House. We are members of His Church. And we each need each other, and need to glorify Him Who saved us at such a high price. What did the Apostle say in another place?

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

We belong to the House of Christ. We belong to the Body of Christ. We live to glorify our Lord, the One Who gave so much for us. The Bible declares:

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

John 15:5 … He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

When we come together as Christ’s Church and as Christ’s House we unify in seeking to do as He leads us to do. We can do nothing. On my best day, I can do nothing. Christ must do it. God’s people can cross the Red Sea if Jesus is leading them. God’s people can cross the Jordan and defeat the Canaanites if God is leading them. God can take a few, like Gideon, and destroy thousands with clay pots and candles. God can shut the lion’s mouths for Daniel, or protect Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo from a fiery furnace. When we stand with God, the Lord can bring fire from Heaven to destroy the worshipers of Baal on Mount Carmel. There is nothing our Jesus cannot do.

The question we often face in life is not whether I can do it or not, but whether God wants us to do it or not. If God leads us there, God will lead us through. But we have no power within ourselves. Solomon said:

Psalm 127:1 (A Song of degrees for Solomon.) 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.

Several years ago we put a camera system in place around this building because of all the craziness that has infested America. The cameras are supposed to be monitored by Ron in our sound booth. But no matter how careful Ron is to watch the monitor, it is Jesus that has kept us safe. God must keep us. We can prepare in every way possible – but if God is not in it then we labor in vain. Folks, that literally means we are working for nothing. Solomon said:

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.

Too often we say “Well, if I get up earlier, and work longer days, things will get better”. Beloved, it is God Who builds the house. It is God Who blesses our families. It is God Who is in control. You can try your hardest. You can eat the bread of sorrows, believing that, if I suffer a little harder then God will look down and bless it. No, these things are vain, empty. I hear people say “well, when you pray, you need to put feet on your prayers”. That sounds good, and holy, and right. But if God does not lead you there, you can put all the feet on your prayers that you want – and still you will fail. Consider Israel. God told them to enter the Promised Land. They disobeyed, and refused to go. After God told them that they would wander for 40 years and die in the wilderness, then they decided to go. What happened?

Numbers 14:40-42 And {Israel} rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the LORD hath promised: for we have sinned. 41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye transgress the commandment of the LORD? but it shall not prosper. 42 Go not up, for the LORD is not among you; that ye be not smitten before your enemies.

Israel went anyway, and was thoroughly beaten. Why? Because God was not in it. If God is not leading, we need to wait. But if God is leading, we need to go. The Book of Hebrews tells us:

Hebrews 3:17-19 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

It is God that builds the house. It is God the Son Who bled and died for His Church. We are therefore under obligation to seek His Presence. Let us be like Moses, that grand old Saint of God, to whom God said:

Exodus 33:14 … My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

And to Whom Moses said:

Exodus 33:15 … If Thy presence {O Lord} go not with me, carry us not up hence.

God needs to be in it. It is He that should guide us into all that we do, and we must do all that we do for His glory, not for ours. Only in this will we be blessed, and will Christ be lifted up. The last line of our Psalm can be rendered as:

For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

God protects us who love Him even when we are asleep. May God give us the heart to live for Him and do as He says – ALWAYS. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.