We can and should learn some lessons from the Old Testament. A light bulb turned on for me, this morning, concerning bricks.
The first mention of bricks in the Bible is in Genisis 11:3,6
“And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.”
The building of the tower of Babel, they had the tools, the materials, the skills, one language and unity of purpose.
“To reach heaven.” Nothing could stop them, they could do anything they image.
Until the Lord stepped in.
The next mention is in Exodus 1:14:
“And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.”
The Hebrews, 400 years after Joseph saved the land from drought, a new king, had put them into slavery.
Moses, sent by God, came to set them free, we see the Pharaohs immediate response.
Exodus 5:7
“Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.”
This was a major problem, making bricks was hard work and time consuming already.
I think I found this at Eastons Bible dictionary, long ago… If from somewhere else, I apologise, for the lack of mention.
Their efforts produced great results, and although time-consuming, their procedures can be followed to create mudbricks of your own:
1. Mix topsoil and water to create a thick mud.
2. Add straw. While the composition of the mud will affect the exact proportions, as a general rule, add a half pound of straw for every cubic foot of mud mixture. If you have access to grain chaff (a byproduct of threshing), you can use that as temper. If not, chop straw into very small pieces—called straw chaff—and use that.
3. Knead the mud mixture with your bare feet for four days.
4. Once it has fermented (after four days of kneading), leave the mixture alone for a few days.
5. Knead the mixture again on the day you plan to form your mudbricks.
6. Pour the mud mixture into molds (the shape of your choosing) and let them solidify in the molds for at least 20 minutes.
7. Remove from molds and deposit on a drying floor layered with sand and straw to prevent the bricks from sticking to the floor itself.
8. Let the bricks dry for a week.
After the bricks have dried, they are ready to be used—whether to build something new or to reconstruct ancient walls!
Exodus 5:14
“And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?”
Exodus 5:19
“And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.”
So tell me, how or what are the bricks of our Faith?
Look again, at the first mention.
➢ One language
➢ One purpose
➢ The materials
➢ The Skills
We could have all these things if we would just do that which the Lord requires.
Skills, the Holy Spirit will lead, guide and direct us to all truth, He will teach us, comfort and dwell within us.
John 14:17
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
Materials, “My God shall supply all my need, according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Purpose, leading the lost to Christ. Building His Church.
Language:
Jude 1:20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”
1 Corinthians 14:2
“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”
Romans 8:26-27
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
When we reject the Gifts of the Spirit, as not being for today, or God didn’t give them to me, we are not using the Straw the Lord supplies for the building of His Church.
Please, take off your Denominational glasses, read the Word anew, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you.
It is hard work making bricks, (building His Church), wirhout the Straw of the Holy Spirit, it only leaves rigour, bitterness and failure.
Allow the Lord to equip you for His service, Speaking in Tongues is the One Language… Gods language.
Lord, help us to build Your Church. Lord, teach us to PRAY. Amen
theunfetteredpreacher 