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Sunday 23 February 2003 - "Build on God's firm foundation" - Wedding of Bonkosi Buthelezi and Thoko Zondi

(Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen)

1 Cor 3:10 - 14

10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 ¶ For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.

2 Tim 2:19

19 ¶ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Paul built as a masterbuilder and laid the foundation, Jesus Christ. This foundation stands firm against all that want to disrupt it, like the fashion and pleasures of the world, etc.

Even though the government legalise homosexuality and promiscuity, yet His foundation still remains firm and unshakable. God hands them over to these lusts, because they do not acknowledge Him.

We read of the seal of this foundation, 'The Lord knows those that are His', and 'let everyone that names the name of Christ, depart from all iniquity'.

Not everything connected to marriage automatically pleases God. Many get married in different ways, but still wear a veil. The veil represents chastity, virginity and purity. The father's removal of the veil symbolises that she is now given in marriage to her husband. Those that take the veil in some other way before marriage are like thieves who brake in, steal and destroy. The Bible says that God has set aside a special day to judge those that are sexually immoral - those who, as girlfriends and boyfriends, pat, touch, flirt and even sleep together before marriage. It is a circus when a girl messed around with men before marriage and then enters with a white dress and veil at her wedding.

Each one of us will have to give account to God for his own life. Do not live before people, for God's fire will one day reveal your works. Even if you live a hypocritical life of purity before people and do deeds of darkness behind closed doors where no one sees you, your works will still come to light and you will be exposed for what you really are. How can you have anger, irritability, grudges and bitterness in your heart and claim to serve Jesus? Make sure that you serve the real Jesus, and not a fake, lest you only wake up once you are in hell!

The older women in the church ought to teach the younger wives to love their husbands. Their life must be a blessing to their husbands and in-laws.

Likewise should the husband live such a godly life, that his wife respects him as a man of God. It is difficult for wives when their husbands are religious, but it is only skin-deep. When it comes to true holiness, they are wanting. Husbands must live a godly life that commands respect.

This seal of God has two sides - God's part and your part. God's part is to know you as cleansed in His blood. The question is not so much whether you know God, but whether He knows you. Your part is to depart from all iniquity - to stand aloof from iniquity and have no fellowship with the works of darkness.