I AM UNDER CONSTRUCTION
by
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
TEXT:- Philippians 1:1-6 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this, that he who begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.
SUBJECT:- “I AM UNDER CONSTRUCTION”
Depending on who you talk to, construction zones are not the places of peace and contentment. They are chaotic and dangerous. Most people will say that they are messed up places, dangerous places, and oftentimes unsightly places to look at. Construction zones have lots of bumps, lane changes, starts and stops, backed up delays, and falling hazards, they are dirty, noisy, disorganized confused untidy hectic and disgusting places. However, if you are talking to the Architect they will say that the construction zone is beautiful despite of all of the chaos that is going on because they envision what the end product is going to be they know that what they are looking at is the process of progress.
My wife and I watch a show called Property Brothers and they take a couple and show them a house and how they can transform that house into their dream home. Most of the people will say I can’t see how you are going to take this space and turn it into my dream home, but the Property Brothers envision what the end product will look like and then they work to bring that vision into reality. The process of bringing that vision into reality is construction the house is the construction zone. I am under construction.
OPENING:- Contrary to how it may look to you right now. In-spite of what it may appear like to you. Regardless of the smile I may have on my face and prayerfully the delightful, compassionate, and loving disposition I try to portray. Beyond the suit and tie - I don’t have it all together. You see me standing here and I pray that what you see is good. However, what you don’t see and don’t understand is that what you are looking at standing here behind this sacred desk is a work in progress you are looking at a construction zone. There is some hazardous material that is falling here there is some hammering and drilling going on. There is some stuff that is taking place in the construction zone that actually should cause me to wear a sign around my neck that says Danger Construction Zone Keep Away. I am under construction I don’t have it all together but please be patient with me God is not through with me yet. Paul said it like this “I count not myself to have apprehended…” in other words I’m not there yet, yes I am better than what I was but I am not yet what I shall be and in some people’s eyes I may even seem like a chaotic mess. But 1 John 3:2 says “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” I am in the process of progress - I am under construction. As I said I am better than what I was but I am not yet what I shall be.
Truthfully we are all in the process of progress. We are at different levels in the process and our progress is different, however, we all are under construction!
CONSTRUCTION:- the process of putting something together, building something for the purpose of something else. People build houses to live in, stores to shop at, stadiums to have sporting events etc.
PROGRESS:- a movement toward a goal or to a further or higher stage: growth or development; continuous improvement: the development of an individual or society in a direction considered more beneficial than and superior to the previous level, for example there is good, better, best.
WATCH THIS:- good is o.k. but it is not as great as better, and better although is greater than good fails in comparison to best. If you have been sick and then one day you feel good, the next day you feel better than yesterday, and the next day you are at your best that is the process of progress.
The problem with progress is that progress can be fatal until the process is completed or finished. Finished always seems to be so far away. In our house in the basement next to the washer and dryer we have a table, this table collects all the clothes as we pull them out of the dryer. Because we don’t often fold the clothes the moment they come out of the dryer this table builds up until the clothes are almost up to the ceiling. My wife and I hate when we finally decide it’s time to fold the clothes because before we are finished – finished seems to be so far off.
Let me tell on myself - Sometimes I will fold the clothes (saying I am helping out cause I will do my part) so I will fold the clothes to the point that they are not falling off of the table onto the floor any more then I will stop, I didn’t finish the clothes but it is better than what it was a little while ago; however, it’s not complete/finished. What I have settled for better than what it was but it’s not the best it could be. Because I settled for incompleteness and mediocrity when I go and try to get dressed for work or church and I am going to wear brown I can’t find the brown socks because I settled for better instead of striving for the best and the brown socks are still scattered in that mess on the table, but if I would have strived for best and finished folding the clothes the brown socks would have gotten folded and placed in the drawer where they should be and I wouldn’t be wearing green socks with brown pants.
WATCH THIS:- during the process of progress because we have moved from good to better we often times will become complacent and settle for better instead of reaching and striving for the best. Because better is greater than good so we become comfortable with better; however, compared to best better is mediocre.
Sometimes in this spiritual walk people progress from a world of sin to coming to church and they settle because things are better than they were before, but they are not striving for the best and seeking the kingdom of God and all His righteousness. WATCH THIS:- They have a form of godliness, but the first time the wind blows contrary against them they end up right back out there in sin again WHY because they settled for better instead of reaching for the best.
Thank God that we are not doing this Christian Journey all by ourselves.
BACKGROUND:- We find here in our text that Paul is writing to the church at Philippi. Paul is in prison in Rome and all the churches that Paul started and helped have not supported him while he is in prison only the church of Philippi. Understand that prison in that day and age is not like prison today, it wasn’t run by the state and the prisoner’s rights were non-existent. If you wanted a pillow, a blanket, shoes, and a change of clothes someone on the outside had to supply that for you. The people of the church of Philippi did just that for Paul while he was in prison.
Therefore what we have here in Philippians we are privy to basically a thank you letter to the church of Philippi and the concern and encouragement Paul has for them.
Let’s Look at a portion of this letter.
Vs 1-2 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. “
This is the salutation or greeting.
Vs 3 “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you”
Paul says every-time I think about you I thank God for you. Apostolic Glorious Church every-time I think about you I thank God for you and the progress that we are making in Christ Jesus. When I remember where we were 3 years ago and how far we have come. We have had good days and we have had some hills to climb, but when I look around and see all that the Lord has done for us and the process of progress that is being done in us I just have to thank God for you.
Vs 4 “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,”
Paul says not only do I thank God for you because in my time of imprisonment you supported me, but I pray for you and it gives me joy to pray for you. Hebrews 13:7 says “Obey them that have rule over you and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that is unprofitable for you”.
Apostolic Glorious Church I pray for you, when I don’t see you I pray for you. I pray Lord bless them as they travel on this road of progress. While under construction give them the ability to be able to stand and having done all to stand. Be a fence of protection around them, open doors no man can close and close doors no man can open. Lord fix it for them. Jesus told Peter the devil desired to sift him as wheat but I have prayed for you. Apostolic Glorious Church the devil desires to destroy you and your progress but I have prayed for you.
Vs 5 “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now”
Fellowship:- your state of being in relationship with God, your position in the gospel, this Christian walk, your progress from the first day, your start until now. Paul is saying I understand the process of progress and I am praying for you that you don’t become complacent in the process and settle for less than the best God has for you.
So many times you may wonder way does Pastor Maughmer always stress about coming to church so much, why is he always telling me he wants to see me in Sunday school and Bible class. Why is he saying that I don’t have an excuse not to be in church and to give God Praise. Why does he stress that I should be in every altar call that is made. Why is he on me about letting go of this one thing that I do after I have given up all this other stuff.
It is because I am concerned about your progress while under construction. I don’t want you to settle for mediocrity but press toward the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, I want you to reach for and grab hold of the best.
Vs 6 is the key to this message. There are 5 key points I want to bring out in this verse so bear with me. “Being confident of this, that he who begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
Paul says being confident of this.
WATCH THIS:- Confident means full assurance, sure, without doubt, there is no uncertainty.
I know that I know that I know. I know that you will make it you are going to be finished. You are under construction now but you will be completed, it may seem like it is a long way off, but be encouraged you will be finished. it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
SAY I AM UNDER CONSTRUCTION BUT I’M NOT DOING THE BUILDING HE IS.
“he who begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
Can I stay right here and dissect this for a little while!!!!
WHO IS THE HE:- He is not Elder Maughmer, He is not Bishop Pace, He is not any other man, but He - is the Alpha and Omega, He is the Beginning and the End, He is the First and the Last. He is the One that made Heaven and the Earth. He is the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the Valley. He is the Bright and Morning Star. He is the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the World. He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings. He is the Lord Strong and Mighty. He is the Lord Mighty in Battle. He is the Root out of dry ground. He is the Lamb that taketh away the sins of the World. He is ElHaGadol – the Great God. He is ElHaKodesh – The Holy God. He is ElHaNeeman – The Faithful God. He is Jehovah Jireh – The Lord my Provider. He is Jehovah Tzidkaynu – the Lord Our Righteousness. He is Jehovah Shalom – the God of Peace. He is my Battle Ax. He is my strong tower. He is a wheel in the middle of a Wheel. He is the Rock of my Salvation. He is my Joy in the time of Sorrow. He is my Deliver. He is Love, Joy, Peace, Goodness, and Mercy. He is Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory. He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, He is Jesus - Jehovah O’saynu the Lord our Maker. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.
It is He that is doing the construction. We are under construction, but it is He that is doing the work. He is the architect, He is the master builder.
The 1st point is:- This work is Providential. Jesus is in control. I like HGTV they have a show on HGTV called Divine Design. You and I are UNDER CONSTRUCTION and it is a DIVINE DESIGN of God. He is doing the work; therefore Paul says I am confident that you will be finished. WATCH THIS:- not that you will finish, but that you will be finished. You and I are Under Construction it’s a Divine Design for we are being formed into His image and likeness.
He is the master builder and it is His design. He told Jeremiah in Jeremiah 18 “The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” We are under construction, we are clay in His hands and He is the one who decides what the outcome is to look like.
Go with me for a minute if you will in your spiritual imagination. We are a piece of marble or a block of stone. Jesus said to us I am going to make you into a wonderful master piece. We as stone and marble said yes Lord I want to be made into something wonderful. All of the sudden Jesus turns grabs a hammer and a chisel and begins to chop and slice away at us. We scream wait a minute you said you were going to make me into something wonderful why are you hitting me with the hammer and chisel and knocking stuff off of me. Jesus said what I want to make you into I have to get rid of some stuff. You have some malice I must get rid of. You have some jealousy I must cut away. You have some bitterness that needs to buffed out. There’s some lust that must be taken away. So He cuts and chisels, buffs, and grinds – Remember it a process. He puts the chisel and hammer down for the night (somebody say a night season). Then we get excited and put our hands into what He is doing and get all messed up. In the morning time Jesus comes and sees us He sees what He has done is now messed up because we put our hands on it. Jesus says what happened, we confess our sins and say Jesus I messed up I’m sorry renew in me a right spirit. So Jesus turns picks up the hammer and chisel and begins to cut away, grind, buff out so impurities in our life trying to make us into His image and likeness.
WATCH THIS:- The reason why you have been going through that trial and that tribulation is because you are Under Construction. It’s Providential - Jesus is in control. See if we were in control we would do things differently. There wouldn’t be any struggle there wouldn’t be any hard times. But let me tell you it is because of the struggle that you are going to be what God intended for you to be. LET ME TELL YOU A STORY:- A man was sitting on his porch one summer day and in the corner of his porch a caterpillar had made a cocoon. While he sat there and looked at the cocoon he noticed a butterfly beginning to break through the cocoon. As the man watched the butterfly struggle trying to exit the cocoon he said I know what I will do I will open the cocoon so the butterfly can get out and won’t have to struggle. So he open the cocoon so the butterfly could get out, when he open the cocoon the butterfly came out and stay on the porch. The man tries to pick up the butterfly to help it fly, but all the butterfly did was fall back to the ground. The man did all he could do to help the butterfly fly but the butterfly would not fly. So the man took the butterfly to the vet to see why the butterfly wouldn’t fly. The vet looked at the butterfly and noticed that the butterflies wings were coated with old molten skin from when it was a caterpillar. The vet looked at the man and said what did you do. The man said I saw the butterfly struggling trying to get out of the cocoon so I opened (he put his hands in it) the cocoon so he could get out. The vet said that was mistake see when the butterfly struggles to get through the cocoon its wings cause it to be bigger than the hole it is trying to escape, the struggling you witnessed was actually the process of progress. See as the butterfly struggles through the cocoon, the cocoon actually scrapes all the dead old molten skin off of the wings which enables the butterfly to fly. See the struggle is divinely designed it Providential to help make you what God Envisioned. I.M.A.G.E. – Imagine Me As God Envisioned.
You and I are UNDER CONSTRUCTION and HE GOD IS IN CONTROL.
1st - This work is Providential!!!
The 2nd point is: - this work is Progressive. WATCH THIS:- begun is the past participle of begin. He, God begun this work in eternity past. He told Jeremiah in 1:5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations”. Before you were even born God started working on you for salvation, forming you into His image and likeness. He begun the work before you mother and father had a spark in their eye He was working on you. He said o.k. I am working on Mel and he is good, but since this is a Progressive work I need to cause him the process of human life so I will cause Melvin and Sharon to come together as the vessels I will use to place Mel into the human realm. I already showed him that in this flesh he can overcome the world and as long as he is in me he will overcome the world as well. So I will cause Melvin and Sharon to bring this master piece into the human realm to shape and develop his character to be like me. I have orchestrated some events to take place in his life to mold his character like mine. WATCH THIS:- everything he goes through he needs to ask the question what would Jesus do,( YOU THOUGHT THAT WAS JUST A SAYING THAT YOU WORE AROUND YOUR WRIST) because I have envisioned him a certain way. It’s a process and it’s going to take a lifetime, but if he will just trust Me and know that it is I that is Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure – Isaiah 46:10. 2nd Corinthians 3:18 says “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, (THAT’S THE PROCESS OF PROGRESS) even as by the Spirit of the Lord”. Fred Hammond said it like this “glory to glory to glory to glory to glory to glory to GOD”!!!! Process of Progress.
2nd point – This work is Progressive!!!
The 3rd point is:- This work is a POSITIVE work – Positive Measured or moving forward or in a direction of increase or progress Characterized by or displaying certainty, acceptance, or affirmation.
a good work. This work is good meaning - Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing, in the image and likeness of Christ. Good work - Serving the desired purpose or end. Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the thoughts I have toward you thoughts of good and not of evil to bring you to an expected (good) end”. Your struggle is good for you like the struggle the butterfly goes through is good for him. This is a good work it doesn’t always feel good to you but it is good for you. It is good because He that is doing the work is good and He knows what the end is going to be in His I.M.A.G.E. and likeness.
3rd point – This work is Positive!!!
The 4th point is:- This work is PERSONAL. in you. He is working in me and not just on me.
WATCH THIS:- if the work is only being done on me then I will only have a form of godliness and deny the power thereof. Matthew 23:27 says “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness”. If the work is only done on me I will look holy but inside I will still be a dead, decaying, putrid mess.
I can’t understand how people are always trying to take off this and put on that. Take off the make-up, take off the pants, take off the jewelry, and put on a black suit or a long dress look holy but on the inside they are still rancid and reprobate filled with jealousy, envy, malice, bitterness, hatred, fornication, lust, drunkenness, and Homosexualism. My father would always say “I rather drink from a cup that was dirty on the outside and clean on the inside then drink from a cup that was clean on the outside and dirty on the inside.
WATCH THIS:- If the Lord is working in me then that which will come out of me will be changed. The Bible says Matthew 15:11 “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man” WATCH THIS:- If the work is done on me if you get on my nerves and curse me out I might try to knock you out, but if the work is done in me and you curse me out I will do as the Bible says in Matthew 5:44 “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. Because the work is being done in me and what is coming out of me is not retribution or retaliation but a desire to see your soul saved. Romans 10:1 says “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel (YOU) is, that they (YOU) might be saved”.
He is working in me therefore my desire is being transformed into His desire, the same mind that is in Christ Jesus is working in me. I am UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
WORK IN ME JESUS!!!
4th point – This work is Personal!!!
So we have Providential, Progressive, Positive, Personal and we are going to talk about the 5th point. The number 5 in the Bible represents Grace.
The 5th point is:- This work is Promised. will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. That’s a promise – Promise - A declaration ASSURING that one will or will not do something; a vow Indication of something favorable to come; an expectation Jeremiah 29:11 expected end. God is not like man he doesn’t settle for mediocrity He only works in the best. He doesn’t get tired and say well that’s good enough. He is going to finish what He started in you before He formed you in your mother’s belly. God cannot lie. Someone asked the question once is there anything that God cannot do and the answer is HE CANNOT LIE. Therefore if He started a work in you He will finish it and on that you can rest assured.
5th point – This work is Promised!!!
I said the number 5 in the Bible represents GRACE, these 5 points shows the Grace of God working on you and me.
1 Providential Work that’s Grace for He is doing the work.
2.Progressive Work that’s Grace because He is taking me from glory to glory.
3.Positive Work that’s Grace because He is a good God and He is doing a good work in me.
4.Personal Work that’s Grace He is not just working on me but in me to shape me into His image and likeness.
5.Promised Work because He will complete what He has started in me and bring me to that expected end.
There’s 1 more point I must bring out. The first 5 points are all on God’s part, its providential because it is He that is doing the work, its progressive because He is taking us from glory to glory, its positive because He is doing a good work, its personal because its inside of me, its promised because He is faithful to complete it.
The 6th point:- 6 is the number of man Revelation 13:18 says “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six”. Man was created on the 6th day. The 6th point is your part in this construction process.
The 6th point is Praise
WHAT IS PRAISE:- Praise - (verb): 1. To express approval and commendation of; applaud, eulogize. 2. To express adoration of; glorify (God, etc). (noun): 1.Commendation expressed, as of a person for his virtues, or concerning meritorious actions; utterance of approval; honor given; also, applause. 2. Thanksgiving for blessings conferred; laudation to God; worship expressed in song. 3. The object, ground, reason, or subject of praise. In summary, praise is a form of worship, which involves the whole aspect of our awe, reverence, love, and respect for Almighty God.
Psalms 150 says “Praise ye (That’s you and me – that’s our part) the LORD (THAT’S HE WHO IS DOING THE WORK). Praise God (He) in his sanctuary (That’s another word for Temple – WATCH THIS:- 1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?) praise him in the firmament of his power. (That’s heaven, earth, the sea that entire He created)
2 Praise him for his mighty acts (The construction work He is doing in me and in you right now): praise him according to his excellent greatness (He is ElHaGadol – the Great God).
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet (that’s your voice): praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance(your feet): praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that hath breath (YOU, YOU, YOU, and I) praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Pastor is there any benefits to Praise?
Let’s just name 5 quick benefits of Praise! REMEMBER 5 represents GRACE!!!!!
1.His Presence: When you praise God, you are bringing down His presence, because he inhabits the praises of His people Psalm 100:4.
2.His Power: When you praise God, He manifests his power Acts 16:30-31. His power saves, heals, and delivers.
3.His Glory: When you praise God, the Glory of God comes down 1st Kings 8:10-11.
4.His anointing: The anointing destroys the yoke of bondage Isaiah 10:27 “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing”.
5.His deliverance: When you praise God, the deliverance power of God comes into play 2nd Chron 20:1-20). God comes down to deliver His people as they praise and worship Him.
CLOSING:- Apostolic Glorious Church I am confident that the work He has begun in you and me He will carry to completion. Until we are conformed into His image and likeness, until He brings us into eternal life with Him.
It is then and only then will the work He begun in us before we were formed in our Mother’s belly will be complete. So until I will bless the Lord at all times and His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Oh magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.
It is said that Ruth Graham, the wife of Billy Graham has on her tomb stone these words
“End of Construction Thanks for your Patience’.
Tell somebody Please be patient with me God is not through with me yet, but when God gets through with me I shall come forth in His image and likeness. But in the mean-time you are looking at me, but it doth not yet appear what I shall be because right now I AM UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!!!!.
Pastor M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Apostolic Glorious Church
