I heard the Lord say these words recently:
"Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it. Keep building what I've called you to build! Keep doing what I've called you to do! For those who sow in tears shall reap with songs of joy!"
Psalm 127:1 says, 'Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it...' This word 'build' is 'banah' in Hebrew, literally meaning 'begin (to build) something, set up something'. Indeed, what the Lord has begun (to build) in you and through you, no one can take it away. But it is important to build only what He builds, lest you labor in vain.
Let Scripture interpret Scripture. In Philippians 1:6, apostle Paul wrote, 'Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ'. See the word 'begun' here? Apostle Paul, a spiritual father and mentor to many in his days, knew the importance of building what the Lord builds! In Philippians 2:13-16, he wrote further, 'For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain'.
You see? It is God who works in you both to will and to do. And as you 'hold fast' to what He has spoken for you to do, whatever you build (or do) will not be in vain. This word 'works' is 'energeo' in Greek, literally meaning 'to actively work, to effectively work, to mightily work, to powerfully work, to fervently work'. And you guess it right! This word 'energeo' is where the English word 'energy' comes from!
And if He is the One who starts it, He is also the One who sees to it that it is completed! Your part is simply to allow and let Him work His work in you! Keep blessing people! Keep ministering to people! Keep praying for people! Keep building lives (whoever the Lord has sent to you)! In short, be faithful in all that He has called you to do!
And do not grow weary while doing good, for in due season, you will reap if you do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him (Psalm 126:5).
Even when you are faced with critics or 'naysayers', do not lose heart! Keep building what the Lord builds! Keep doing what He has spoken for you to do! Look at Jesus in the Scripture. He was severely criticized by the 'religious establishment' during His days on earth. But He never reacted. He never fought back. Neither did He strike back. Instead, Acts 10:38 says He simply went about doing good, and continued doing the will of His Father!
The way to silence your critics is not by arguing with them or striking back! But to continue doing the good works the Lord has called you to do! Any proof in the Bible to back this up? Yes! 1 Peter 2:15 says, 'For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men'. In 2 Timothy 3:14-15, apostle Paul wrote these to his spiritual son Timothy, 'But you must CONTINUE in the things which you have learned and been assured of... and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus'.
The enemy's main purpose for your life is to steal, kill, and destroy! (John 10:10) The enemy wants to make you fail (ineffective) for God's kingdom! And one way is by getting you so 'wrapped up' in criticism! Don't fall into this trap! Ignore him! The enemy wants to distract you, and 'get your mind off' whatever the Lord wants you to do. His modus operandi is through 'nasty words' that 'bear down on you'. Why? Because the enemy wants you to quit!
But in Christ, you are no quitter! In Christ, you are made more than conquerors! People of God, keep building what the Lord has called you to build, and keep doing what the Lord has called you to do! It will be a matter of time before those critics fade away, and you'll still be standing strong in the end! Hallelujah!
