15.
EXCEPT THE LORD BUILD THE HOUSE, THEY LABOR IN VAIN WHO BUILD IT.
We want to talk to you about building the house of the Lord or the church. Jesus in Matt. 16, I will build my church, and in making mention of it in many places, He has referred to it under many names. It is called the Kingdom of God, the Sheepfold, the Kingdom of Heaven, The House of God, the Church of God, the Church of Jesus Christ and several other titles are used to illustrate the church. A strange thing indeed Jesus said, I will build my church. We surely think He was capable of building it. The pattern or blue print was given of God. He built it exactly by the plan and specification. He followed the pattern to the letter. Read Luke 22:29. A beautiful description of it is in I Cor. 12:28 or Eph. 4:10-14.
Now this is just the beginning. It is the foundation upon which the whole body or membership is inducted or received into the church. They must be received by one having authority. Read John 15:16. I have called you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain.
That’s why no one could take this honor unto himself. When the minister is called of God as was Aaron and they administer the ordinance of baptism or the laying on of
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hands, God’s promise to the baptized believer is fulfilled, and the people receive the seal of their adoption. Hence the statement of Paul in Eph. 1 :13-14. In whom also ye trusted, after you heard the Gospel of your salvation in whom also after ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (evidence) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession. Now having the foundation of the apostles arid prophets, and Jesus Christ as your chief corner stone, how could you go wrong?
Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone elect and precious and he that believeth on Him shall not be con founded. You remember the stone which the builders rejected became the head of the corner. And although you may shout your prayers long and loud and leave out the foundation that Jesus Christ laid you are as sounding bras-s or a tinkling cymbal. God so loved the world. (He loved them so much). He gave them His Son. He not only gave His Son but lie sent Him with authority to minister to those broken-hearted people who were doomed to eternal woe, if the ransom was not paid. That ransom came in the person of Jesus Christ. He offered to the people the terms of salvation and those terms are that they must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the Kingdom and then grow up unto Him which is the head even Jesus Christ from whom the whole body (which is the church) fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth.
As a Holy Priesthood He gave to them first, apostles; second, prophets; third, teachers; fourth, miracles, helps, governments, tongues, healing, etc., for a blessing to them and perfecting them in the work of Zion and build them up, so they could not be tossed about by some sectarian preacher telling them they could get the job done an easier
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way. Just hire a good evangelist and a good deacon and give them a good salary and see them fellows work.
Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain, who build it. Those gifts from Heaven put life into the church and their work will stand the test.
The wisdom of men may endure for a while, but the wisdom of God will endure for eternity. The church of Jesus Christ came by way of the wisdom of God. That’s why Paul said, “No man taketh this honor unto himself.” The doctors of the law, the Sanhedrian of the Jews could not supply material for the building of His house. My Kingdom is not of this world. The wisdom of men is foolishness with God. Find the way on to “The Ship of Zion and get acquainted with the crew. Jesus Christ put them there to man the ship. He laid the keel of that ship and gave the plan and specifications for her structure, so she could weather the storms of infidelity and unbelief. Didn’t you read in John 14, I go to prepare a place for you that where I am, there ye may be also? It took a great-master mind to prepare that place and the means of transportation to that Heavenly home and He loved them so well (I mean those who sail on the Ship of Zion) that he chose to call the church His bride the Lamb’s wife. (Not wives).
Now you think that sermon through and tell me your conclusion. I can arrange for you to get on board “The ship of Zion.” I’d like to introduce you. So you will not be a stranger and you will enjoy the trip, and what a harbor. There never was one like it.
Write to: Oscar Case, 215 East Walnut Street, Independence, Missouri.
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AN EXPERIENCE THAT COULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN
During the first years of my ministry while I lived Moorhead, Iowa, Sister Grace Vredenburg lived about nine miles west of town. Her little girl, about two years old, fell backwards into a tub of hot water. Scalded her from head to foot. They sent for my brother Hubert and I to come to administer. It was winter and very eol Late in the evening we drove over there. Got there after midnight. We administered. I saw a blister on the baby’s back as large as my hand. If I can remember I think it was Tuesday night. She was healed and they had her over to church next Sunday. I saw that mother here in Independence over 40 years after that and I asked hcr if she had forgotten it. She replied, Forgotten! who could forget anything like that?
THE MIMEOGRAPH
When I was presiding over the Spokane District i Washington, a very serious problem came up, to minister to the scattered groups. It was 500 miles across the District. It included the eastern half of Washington, northern neck of Idaho and part of British Columbia. and Alberta in Canada. It was difficult to find time to reach all those small groups. I thought over the situation and decided I’d ask the district to furnish me a mimeograph so I could write a spiritual message to them and could run off as many copies as I needed and mail to them. So I presented the matter to the District Conference and they talked about it for a half day, but finally decided in favor but gave me the honor of raising the money. I told them
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it would cost approximately $175.00. I wrote to all the groups and received a variety of replies. Some too poor and some would send me some money later on. One old lady promised me $5.00, but died before she gave it to me. It run along for two or three months, I prayed about it. I told the Lord maybe I didn’t need it. But I thought I did. I told him to tell me how I could raise that money. That night a messenger came to me in a dream. He told me to get up and put on my clothes, I did. He said we would go on a little journey. He took me to Paradise. (I never could figure out why he took me to Paradise, but He did. He said to me this is Paradise and you will not be permitted to go any farther, but there will be a man here to see you in a few minutes. So I stood there and I saw a man in tile short distance coming. He walked up to me and said, “So you want a mimeograph do you?’’ I re plied, ‘‘I do.’’ He said, ‘‘‘Why don’t you ask for it?’’ I replied, “Who will I ask?” He said, “You go back home and write a letter to B. F. Tignor at Wenatchee, Washing ton, and he will send you the money to buy one.” I said, ‘O. K.” This other man that brought me there stepped up and said, are you ready to go home? I said yes, I am. He brought me home and told me I could go to bed. I did and just as I laid down again I was wide awake. (That was my dream) and I had that dream on Tuesday night. When I got up the next morning I said to my wife, do you know what I am going to do? She replied, you are liable to do most anything. I said, I am going to write a letter to B. F. Tignor at Wenatchee and ask him for the money to buy that mimeograph. She said that’s asking too much. When breakfast was over I sat down to my desk and wrote the following letter:
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Spokane, Washington
B. F. Tignor,
Wenatchee, Washington
My Dear Brother:
I write you on a very important matter.
I have given years of time and hundreds of dollars in money in the work of the church and done it gladly and don’t regret a thing. But I want others to share in this joy of giving.
I need a mimeograph to publish a pastoral letter and spiritual uplift to the Saints of the Spokane District and I ‘in coming to you for the money. I ‘in not asking you to loan this money, I’m asking you to give it to me.
Please answer by return mail.
In Bonds,
Oscar Case
I went to prayer meeting that night and told the saints my dream. I received a letter next day saying if I’d wait till next week he’d give it to me. Then next day I got a card asking me to come down, he wanted to make arrangements to give me the money. I send him word I’d be there on a certain train. I went. Got there at 1:00 A. M. He met me, and one of the first things he said was, Brother Case, isn’t that asking a lot? I said yes, it is. But I done just what I was told to do. He said, what was that? I told him my dream. He said it will never work. My wife and I have never agreed on anything. I said I can’t help that, it will not be my fault. The next morning we were at breakfast and I could see that he was uneasy about something, but finally he said to his wife, ‘‘Well, Mag, what will I do about giving Brother Case that money?’’
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She replied, “Give it to him of course.’’ So after breakfast he said let’s go down town. We started and he said, “Brother Case I have a safe deposit box with two one hundred dollar bills and there isn’t a soul in the world, not even my wife, knew they were there. I’m just going to give them to you.” I said, “the mimeograph only costs $195.” He said I could have the other $5.00 to buy material.
When the books are opened that generous act will be on record in favor of B. F. Tignor.
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