A Reality Check
Part 3

By Iverna Tompkins
As transcribed by Jane Vaughn

We've been talking about building and being built up by the Lord (Psalm 127). We've seen that as important for the Church and churches and for individuals. In Part 2 of the message, we presented 5 poignant statements that re-alert us to an existing problem in mankind today and the only solution - Jesus Christ. Iverna continues here. jv, ed.

How do we build?  We know why we build: just look at our five statements.  “Man” is in a desperate state!  And we need help.  Left to our own devices, we are building a whole generation headed for disaster (if we, in our human culture, have not already arrived there).  We need to build our lives on something substantial – something that will last – something that will bring us fulfillment and satisfaction – and success.  What we need is the grace of God and the intervention of His hand in our personal lives.  We need to build on Christ, the Rock.

So – how do we build?

First, we can see that those who build their lives on Christ’s Word build on the Rock.  You remember the story, or parable, in Matthew 7.  There are two men – each builds a house.  One built on rock; one built on sand.  The houses looked identical from the ground up; they were equally beautiful in appearance.  The one built on sand went up faster – because that builder didn’t bother with establishing any real or firm foundation.  He didn’t blast out anything hard before he raised the structure (Selah!).  It was simply: “Hey!  Put that thing up!  Oooooo-weeee!  That is one gorgeous edifice!”

“Bring in so-and-so – they’ll draw a crowd.”   Ah-hem.  :-) Hear it, now – we have to make these truths practical in application or they don’t help us.

“Keep this going – and keep that going – keep the other thing going.  Be people-pleasers and this thing’ll get bigger and bigger – and people’ll be impressed: ‘WOW!’”

Then there’s the little one over there.  The building looks the same – but: “Man, it took them forever to build that thing!”  [Maybe that’s because they drilled down deep and sank the footings and …]  “Aren’t we glad we built on the flats!  We got this ‘baby’ up quick!” :-)  That’s fine, my friend, until there’s a storm.  “Hey, no problem.” 

The two looked alike.  But when the winds blew and the floodwaters grew higher and higher; when the deep waters and trials of life began to overwhelm them, the house - the life - that was built on sand simply fell apart.  It couldn’t stand up under the stress.  Its lack of foundation easily gave way.  It wasn’t solidly built.  Are you there?  Because the floodwater just goes to the foundation.

If we could get hold of this truth, it’d be worth our whole time together – it’d be worth the four hours that I’m going to preach… :-)     When the storms come they hit the foundation. 

I’m going to say it again and you’re going to get it this time.  Picture what the floodwaters do to a house in the natural.  When the storms come, the first thing they hit . . . (the high waters – the storms of life) . . . they go directly to the foundation.  That ought to make you shout: Hallelujah!  Because nothing can get to me unless it first hits my Rock! 

My life is built on Christ.  I may get hit with the wind, and stopped with the waves, and reel in a few places, but the whole truth is: when you get all through slapping me around, I’m still there – I’m still standing!  “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and His righteousness!”  So, when those storms come, we can say, “Ya gotta hit Him first!”  Glory to God!  Shout it out! 

How do we build?  Believers are built up on the Word of God.  And we’re also built up in Christ. 

Individuals are exhorted to “build themselves up on their most holy faith.”  Jude said that in verse 20.  Jude, the brother of Jesus.  “Building up yourselves….”  Then he adds: “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (vs.21).  Do you know what that actually is saying?  From the original Greek language, basically it means: “Keep yourselves in love with God.” 

“Keep yourselves in love with God and build yourselves up…”  Build yourselves?  We just said we couldn’t build ourselves, but that He did the building. Well, He’s talking to the building now.  The building is up – that’s you.  Now He says, “Build yourself up – on your most holy faith” (paraphrased).  “Keep on growing up.  Get taller.  Get stronger.  Build yourself up.”  On what?  Faith?  “On your ‘most holy faith.’”  But, faith in what?  Faith – that He built the building.  “Lord – this is – of You.”  “This is – the Lord’s work.” 

When we sing “Holy Spirit, Thou art welcome in this place…”  I always gesture with my hand over my heart: “in this place, Lord.”  Welcome Him.  He’ll always show up.  In fact, He lives in you.  He’s just down inside you.  You have to call Him once in awhile: “Holy Spirit, rise up from within!”  “Build yourself up on your most holy faith.” 

I believe God’s going to build us up – for the Church is the sole witness of Jesus Christ.    Really ponder that one.  Your spirit ought to be saying, “WOW!  That’s – amazing!  What a real truth!”  And it is a “WOW!”  We – are His…  What was that?  His Body?  That’s a double “WOW!”  We are His Body – the only way He can reach out to the world.

We cry out in desperation when we observe the condition of our world today: “Where are You, Lord?  I can’t see You!  You need to be down here on earth.  Ohhhhhh, Lord.”  And He so confidently responds, “I’m there!  My whole Body is there!  I’m up here (the Head) trying to get them to do what I say!” 

In the natural, I think they call it Saint Vitus Dance, don’t they?  When you can’t get the body to do what the head is trying to tell it to do? :-)      Hello.

Jesus declares, “You are My witnesses” (Ac.1:8).  That was not a suggestion, my Friends.  It was not a question: “Would you please be My witnesses?”  No.  He said to His disciples, “You go and make other disciples (Mt.28:18).  You are My witnesses.  If they see Me at all, it will be through you.”

There’s so much “woo-woo stuff” going on today, Church – in the church.  There really is.  And I don’t want you ever to even tiptoe toward woo-woo.  Do you know what I mean by that?  Yes, I believe you do.  The crazy stuff that people (even some honest believers!) think has to happen in order for us to know (or experience) the presence or the glory of God.

Let me tell you a story – a true story.  My dentist, who happens to be a Christian, recently related this to me, and I asked his permission to share it publicly.  Do you remember a number of years ago when people were declaring that the Lord was filling their teeth with gold?  Some of you knew about all that.  It was supposed to be “evidence” of the manifestation of God’s mighty presence. 

A lady came in to my dentist’s office and flaunted: “See this gold tooth back here?  The Lord filled that!”  He told me, after looking at it carefully, “I didn’t want to discourage her and say anything negative, so I just looked at it.”  But then he said to me, “Iverna – it was the lowest alloy of gold that there is.”

Oh please!  Do you think, if the Lord really filled a tooth, it would be the lowest kind of gold you could use?  So he said to her, “Well, I do a better job than the Lord!” :-)

I asked if I could share this story because these kinds of testimonies, when given to the world, make us – and Him – look crazy!  If that had been a true manifestation of God – a great miracle – fine!  But it wasn’t a great miracle.  The same thing is true with this sparkly stuff that’s supposed to dust people when they’re more spiritual than others, or supposedly more anointed.  So, tell me, is “the glory” demonstrated by gold teeth or sparkles?

What another story? :-) Yes or no.  Okay – I was the speaker at this particular meeting and the ladies seated in the front just kept staring at me and grinning.  They were just – staring while I was speaking – sort of “dumb-struck.” :-)    Pretty soon I saw – God knows this to be the truth – one of the ministers poke another minister and that minister looked up too, then they both were – well, they were just beaming at me.  Now I thought, “Either I put my lipstick on crooked, or something looks really funny to this congregation.”  :-)

I finished my message – walked off the platform – and sat down in the congregation.  The person who took over at the podium said with all the emotion her quivery voice could muster: “Ohhhh-hhhh-hhhh – the glory is in this place.  How many saw it?”  And hands went up all over the auditorium.  I’m telling you the truth: I could have had anything from that group that I wanted. :-)    They acted like I was some special, holy creature from God Himself.  As I walked through the crowd, it was like I could have said, with great superiority: “It’s okay.  You may touch me.” :-)   They were just  ::Oooohhhhhhh::  :-) 

When I went to the ladies room, in the mirror I could see my whole forehead was sparkling – just – sparkling. :-)     Now, I didn’t know why.  So I took my hankie – and easily wiped it off.  Yep.  It came right off (better keep that hankie! :-))  And I honestly didn’t know an answer or explanation for what the flecks were that sparkled. 

The next time I was getting dressed to speak, I was putting on the same lotion I had used on that earlier occasion and it contained… :-)  yes, you’re right!  Some sort of sparkly stuff imbedded in the lotion.  Mica flakes or some such thing.  Glitter.  Who knows? :-)

I told you that story humorously, but honestly, that’s exactly the way it happened.  And – isn’t that sad?  Sad that I had inadvertently used some lotion with whatever was in it (I have never used that lotion again, I promise you! :-)) but so sad that the visible, tangible sparkles were able to give the impression of – the glory of the Lord.  If you can’t tell that the glory of the Lord is on me (or on others anointed by the Lord) without a visible sparkle – then I will get more lotion … :-)    You know that’s not true!  I’m teasing you!

The point is: all we need to realize is – He’s the head and we’re His Body.  And we’re the only hope of God’s glory filling the earth!  The way that happens (the manifestation of His glorious presence) isn’t by falling off the chair when His presence is here – that’s family.  That’s what we do when we’re together.  Do you understand?  It’s okay – that those things do happen – when we’re the family coming together to worship Him.  But those don’t happen often – and if they began to happen all the time, I’d say, “Sit down.” :-)

But when there’s a visitation of the great power of God, lots of different things happen!  People have been slain in the Spirit while I preached, and one was healed of breast cancer just hearing the Word of God!  Nobody laid hands on her, she just believed.  That’s wonderful!  It truly is!  And that’s the way it ought to be in our meetings – if I live it outside this place! 

We are built with a purpose – and that is to worship God “in Spirit and in truth” (Jn.4:24).  I could spend an hour on that alone: “In Spirit and in truth.”  His Spirit and our true hearts.

Now, there also are some things that God hates.  I love the way the wise man wrote it in Proverbs 6:16-19.  He said, “These six things the Lord hates.”  And then he thought of another one, and added: “Yea, seven are an abomination to Him!”

What are they?  Listen to His list:  First, “A proud look.”  He hates that.  We sometimes wear it in our posture as well as in the expression on our faces: “I’m better than this guy.”  All non-verbal, but we really don’t have to utter a word.  Or, maybe it’s more innuendo: “I just don’t believe what they…”  Or sometimes it simply gets said: “Well, we have some people that we kind of help out, but, you know, I hope you don’t think it represents us.”  God hates that! 

I don’t want anything in me He hates!  I promise I pray that often!  I want nothing in me that He hates!  It’s scary to me!  Because I have the fear of the Lord in my heart and spirit, and I work very hard not to draw His wrath or judgment.

The second thing God hates is this: “A lying tongue.”  He hates lying – in any form.  Now, you may say, “I don’t think I’m a liar.”  Okay.  How about this?  Are the words of our praise – and worship – really truthful?          Think about that before you form a response in your heart.         We sing all the right words: “I trust You, Lord – I’ll live for You.  You’re all I need. . .  (and I want these things too).” :-)    No wonder the Father has to look for worshippers.  The Bible says, in John 4:23, “the Father seeketh” those who will worship Him in truth. 

Now if you’re a parent, you’ll understand this next statement: “Don’t say it to me if it isn’t true. I’d rather not hear it.”  I’d rather not hear the words “I love you” – I really would – than to find out those were words not lived, or not expressed in your living behavior.  That’s double pain.  In fact, in this list, so much does God hate lying that He mentions it a couple of times. 

And then Jesus said, “If you really love me, you’ll keep My commands” (Jn.14:15).  It’s impossible for me to disobey Him six days a week and then come to praise Him in church on Sunday, because my good intentions then – my wonderful words and songs – just don’t go through the ceiling. 

It has become very quiet in here.  Yes, unusually so. :-)

Or, how about this?  Are the “words” you speak to others – remember the title of this sermon?  “A Reality Check.”  Are the words you speak to others – the words that you represent as being from God – are those words really His?  Or yours?

I believe that we are going to come into a realm of the prophetic utterance that is superior to anything this generation has known!  But I also believe we need to be trained in that.  The real prophetic isn’t just a thought that comes into your head that is given the right to be preceded by “Thus saith the Lord.”  It isn’t something you perceive about another individual which gives you a right to say: “I have a word from God for you.”  The fear of the Lord is going to come back to the Church in such a way that you had better be very cautious! 

I love to receive a word from God – but I throw out a few that have been given to me personally as from Him.  Just because someone says to me, “Thus saith the Lord” doesn’t mean the Lord has thus said. :-)   And God as my witness, I often pray: “God, don’t let me minister out of my own thoughts, or my own spirit.  Lord, if it isn’t a word from You, just don’t let it go through me.  Show me, Lord – so I don’t give it out of my mouth.” 

That’s because I want there to be an impact in the hearers – and there will be when it is genuinely a word from God.  I want this message to go clear through to your soul, your mind, your heart – and be the word that cleanses and lifts and lifes and brings hope and faith and knowledge of truth and a commitment from you that says, “Alright Lord, I’m giving myself to You!  I’m changing some things!”  And that won’t happen if it’s just Iverna speaking. 

The same thing is true for you.  You can see someone that needs to change something in her life and you can pretend that it’s a word from God and tell her how to change that thing.  But it won’t bear the right kind of fruit when it just comes from your good intentions.  But if you wait for that word – the authentic Word from Him – when it comes from the Lord, it comes purely and powerfully.