This morning, we

continue our new message series entitled, “Habits.”   Through this message series, we’re learning

about how to do small things consistently, which ultimately leads to an

abundant life of integrity.

Small habits lead to

big change!

So far, we’ve been

encouraged to develop the habit of seeking God and the habit of

reconciliation.  Last week, we learned

that since we are creatures of habit, God set us up for success!  Opposition only makes us stronger if we

choose to rise up to meet it and not shy away from it.

This week, we’re

being encouraged to make a habit of building.

Now if you’re like

me, getting into a huge building project doesn’t sound all that exciting, it

sounds stressful.  When it comes to

carpentry, I know enough to make something functional that gets the job done.  Some people out there have incredible skill

and talent when it comes to the work of carpentry, though.  My table is some 2×4’s with a sheet of

plywood on top.  It gets used for a

while, then gets disassembles for another purpose.  Their table is a carved, oak work of art that

will likely be passed down through generations to sit around and enjoy.

Interestingly

enough, the very first time that God chose to fill someone with the Holy Spirit

was to give them these exact gifts and skills!

Exodus 35:30-35

30 Then Moses said

to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of

Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God,

with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—

32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and

set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34

And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the

ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of

work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and

fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

God is a master

craftsman when it comes to building.  He

has an eye for beauty.  He’s a creative

Creator as we can obviously see from the work of His hands all around us.  You, yourself are included in that

artisanship, too!

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s

handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in

advance for us to do.

You are God’s

handiwork.  Sure, you might still be a

little rough around the edges in some areas, but that’s OK.  He’s just not finished yet! 

Not only are you

God’s handiwork, but He created you for a specific purpose, too.  You were created as a good work to do a good

work.

You were

hand-crafted with the intent that in return, you would become a tool to be used

by God to continue the building process. 

Like Bezalel and Oholiab, God has filled us with the Holy Spirit for

many reasons, but also for the purpose of teaching  and training others and to build them up.

God has given us

gifts and skills to be used to do all kinds of good works.  Although we all are uniquely designed with

unique purposes, we also work together to build something incredible. 

You may or may not

be skilled when it comes to the area of carpentry, but regardless, you have

exactly what it takes to get the job done that God has created you for.

Let’s team up with

God and develop the habit of building:

1. Yourself

Yes, that’s

right.  God wants you to work on

you.  God wants to build you up and shape

your life until you reach your full potential. 

No, it’s not out of a selfish or prideful motive, though.  It’s a motive of our lives best glorifying

God and showing off His work and also so that we can more effectively serve

others.  Sure, a shovel can move some

dirt, but a dozer can do far more work far better and with far less effort!

Jude 20-23

20 But you, dear

friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the

Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselve