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Not in their own power did the apostles accomplish their mission； but in the
power of the living God。 Their work was not easy。 The opening labors of the
Christian church were attended by hardship and bitter grief。 In their work
the disciples constantly encountered privation； calumny； and persecution；
but they counted not their lives dear unto themselves and rejoiced that they
were called to suffer for Christ。 Irresolution； indecision； weakness of
purpose； found no place in their efforts。 They were willing to spend and be
spent。 The consciousness of the responsibility resting on them purified and
enriched their experience； and the grace of heaven was revealed in the
conquests they achieved for Christ。 With the might of omnipotence God worked
through them to make the gospel triumphant。
Upon the foundation that Christ Himself had laid； the apostles built the
church of God。 In the Scriptures the figure of the erection of a temple is
frequently used to illustrate the building of the church。 Zechariah refers
to Christ as the Branch that should build the temple of the Lord。 He speaks
of the Gentiles as helping in the work： 〃They that are far off shall come
and build in the temple of the Lord；〃 and Isaiah declares； 〃The sons of
strangers shall build up thy walls。〃 Zechariah 6：12； 15； Isaiah 60：10。
Writing of the building of this temple； Peter says； 〃To whom coming； as unto
a living stone； disallowed indeed of men； but chosen of God； and precious；
ye also； as lively stones； are built up a spiritual house； an holy
priesthood； to offer up spiritual sacrifices； acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ。〃 1 Peter 2：4； 5。
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In the quarry of the Jewish and the Gentile world the apostles labored；
bringing out stones to lay upon the foundation。 In his letter to the
believers at Ephesus； Paul said； 〃Now therefore ye are no more strangers and
foreigners； but fellow citizens with the saints； and of the household of
God； and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets； Jesus
Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone； in whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord： in whom ye also are
builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit。〃 Ephesians
2：19…22。
And to the Corinthians he wrote： 〃According to the grace of God which is
given unto me； as a wise master builder； I have laid the foundation； and
another buildeth thereon。 But let every man take heed how he buildeth
thereupon。 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid； which is
Jesus Christ。 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold； silver；
precious stones； wood； hay； stubble； 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。〃
1 Corinthians 3：10…13。
The apostles built upon a sure foundation； even the Rock of Ages。 To this
foundation they brought the stones that they quarried from the world。 Not
without hindrance did the builders labor。 Their work was made exceedingly
difficult by the opposition of the enemies of Christ。 They had to contend
against the bigotry； prejudice； and hatred of those who were building upon a
false foundation。 Many
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who wrought as builders of the church could be likened to the builders of
the wall in Nehemiah's day； of whom it is written： 〃They which builded on
the wall； and they that bare burdens； with those that laded； everyone with
one of his hands wrought in the work； and with the other hand held a
weapon。〃 Nehemiah 4：17。
Kings and governors； priests and rulers； sought to destroy the temple of
God。 But in the face of imprisonment； torture； and death； faithful men
carried the work forward； and the structure grew； beautiful and symmetrical。
At times the workmen were almost blinded by the mists of superstition that
settled around them。 At times they were almost overpowered by the violence
of their opponents。 But with unfaltering faith and unfailing courage they
pressed on with the work。
One after another the foremost of the builders fell by the hand of the
enemy。 Stephen was stoned； James was slain by the sword； Paul was beheaded；
Peter was crucified； John was exiled。 Yet the church grew。 New workers took
the place of those who fell； and stone after stone was added to the
building。 Thus slowly ascended the temple of the church of God。
Centuries of fierce persecution followed the establishment of the Christian
church； but there were never wanting men who counted the work of building
God's temple dearer than life itself。 Of such it is written： 〃Others had
trial of cruel mockings and scourgings； yea； moreover of bonds and
imprisonment： they were stoned； they were sawn asunder； were tempted； were
slain with the sword： they wandered
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about in sheepskins and goatskins； being destitute； afflicted； tormented；
（of whom the world was not worthy：） they wandered in deserts； and in
mountains； and in dens and caves of the earth。〃 Hebrews 11：36…38。
The enemy of righteousness left nothing undone in his effort to stop the
work committed to the Lord's builders。 But God 〃left not Himself without
witness。〃 Acts 14：17。 Workers were raised up who ably defended the faith
once delivered to the saints。 History bears record to the fortitude and
heroism of these men。 Like the apostles； many of them fell at their post；
but the building of the temple went steadily forward。 The workmen were
slain； but the work advanced。 The Waldenses； John Wycliffe； Huss and Jerome；
Martin Luther and Zwingli； Cranmer； Latimer； and Knox； the Huguenots； John
and Charles Wesley； and a host of others brought to the foundation material
that will endure throughout eternity。 And in later years those who have so
nobly endeavored to promote the circulation of God's word； and those who by
their service in heathen lands have prepared the way for the proclamation of
the last great message these also have helped to rear the structure。
Through the ages that have passed since the days of the apostles； the
building of God's temple has never ceased。 We may look back through the
centuries and see the living stones of which it is composed gleaming like
jets of light through the darkness of error and superstition。 Throughout
eternity these precious jewels will shine with increasing luster； testifying
to the power of the truth of God。 The flashing light
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of these polished stones reveals the strong contrast between light and
darkness； between the gold of truth and the dross of error。
Paul and the other apostles； and all the righteous who have lived since
then； have acted their part in the building of the temple。 But the structure
is not yet complete。 We who are living in this age have a work to do； a part
to act。 We are to bring to the foundation material that will stand the test
of firegold； silver； and precious stones； 〃polished after the similitude
of a palace。〃 Psalm 144：12。 To those who thus build for God； Paul speaks
words of encouragement and warning： 〃If any man's work abide which he hath
built thereupon； he shall receive a reward。 If any man's work shall be
burned； he shall suffer loss： but he himself shall be saved； yet so as by
fire。〃 1 Corinthians 3：14； 15。 The Christian who faithfully presents the
word of life； leading men and women into the way of holiness and peace； is
bringing to the foundation material that will endure； and in the kingdom of
God he will be honored as a wise builder。
Of the apostles it is written； 〃They went forth； and preached everywhere；
the Lord working with them； and confirming the word with signs following。〃
Mark 16：20。 As Christ sent forth His disciples； so today He sends forth the
members of His church。 The same power that the apostles had is for them。 If
they will make God their strength； He will work with them； and they shall
not labor in vain。 Let them realize that the work in which they are engaged
is one upon which the Lord has placed His signet。 God said to
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Jeremiah； 〃Say not； I am a child： for thou shalt go to all that I shall send
thee； and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak。 Be not afraid of their
faces： for I am with thee to deliver thee。〃 Then the Lord put forth His hand
and touched His servant's mouth； saying； 〃Behold； I have put My words in thy
mouth。〃 Jeremiah 1：7…9。 And He bids us go forth to speak the words He gives
us； feeling His holy touch upon our lips。
Christ has given to the church a sacred charge。 Every member should be a
channel through which God can communicate to the world the treasures of His
grace； the unsearchable riches of Christ。 There is nothing that the Saviour
desires so much as agents who will represent to the world His Spirit and His
character。 There is nothing that the world needs so much as the
manifestation through humanity of the Saviour's love。 All heaven is waiting
for men and women through whom God can reveal the power of Christianity。
The church is God's agency for