BUILDING ACCORDING TO HEAVENLY PATTERN

BUILDING ACCORDING TO HEAVENLY PATTERN

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Exodus 25:40

Key Verse: “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.” — Exodus 25:40

Supporting Texts: Hebrews 8:5; Exodus 25:8-9; 1 Chronicles 28:11-12; Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Corinthians 3:9-11

Description: God expects His people to build their lives, families, ministries, and churches according to His revealed pattern rather than human wisdom.

INTRODUCTION

Every great building begins with a pattern, design, or architectural plan. Before the physical structure is erected, the architect has already determined what the building should look like. In the same way, God does not want His people to build anyhow. He is the divine Architect who has a pattern for our lives, families, ministries, churches, and assignments.

When God instructed Moses to construct the tabernacle, He did not leave him to depend on his personal creativity or imagination. God specifically commanded him to make everything according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain. This teaches us that divine assignments require divine instructions. What God has ordained must be built according to what He has revealed.

Many things fail because they are built on human ideas rather than divine principles. A person may have passion without direction, talent without discipline, ambition without God's will, or activity without divine approval. If we want what we build to endure, we must discover God's pattern and faithfully follow it.

The greatest danger in spiritual building is building from human wisdom without divine direction. Many people build their marriages, ministries, careers and relationships according to culture, personal preferences, popular opinions and worldly standards. However, God's approval is not determined by how attractive a structure appears but by how faithfully it conforms to His pattern.

Heavenly pattern means God's revealed design, principles, order and purpose for a particular assignment. When we build according to God's pattern, we build with divine backing. When we depart from His pattern, we may produce something impressive but lack the presence, power and purpose of God.

1. GOD HAS A PATTERN FOR EVERYTHING HE WANTS US TO BUILD

God is a God of order and purpose. Whenever He gives an assignment, He also has a standard by which that assignment should be carried out.

a) God Gives Divine Instructions (Exodus 25:8-9)
God gave Moses specific instructions concerning the tabernacle. This demonstrates that divine assignments are not to be executed according to personal preference but according to God's revealed will. Before building anything significant, we must first hear from God.

b) God Gives A Divine Blueprint (1 Chronicles 28:11-12)
David gave Solomon the pattern for the temple and explained that the design came by divine inspiration. God can give His servants a blueprint for accomplishing His purposes. What heaven has designed must not be altered by human convenience.

c) God Requires Faithfulness To His Pattern (Hebrews 8:5)
The earthly tabernacle was described as a shadow and example of heavenly realities. Moses was required to reproduce what God had shown him. Faithfulness means doing God's work God's way.

d) God Is Interested In The Details (Exodus 26:1-30)
God gave Moses detailed instructions about curtains, boards, sockets, coverings, and other components of the tabernacle. Nothing was insignificant in God's sight. We must therefore learn to value divine instructions, even when they concern things that appear small.

Biblical Example: Noah built the ark according to God's precise instructions. He did not redesign the ark according to his own understanding; he followed God's measurements and instructions, and the ark became the instrument through which his household was preserved (Genesis 6:14-22).

2. BUILDING ACCORDING TO GOD'S PATTERN REQUIRES OBEDIENCE

Knowing God's pattern is not enough; we must obey what He has shown us. Divine revelation becomes fruitful when it is translated into practical obedience.

a) Obedience Must Follow Revelation (James 1:22)
God does not reveal His will merely to increase our knowledge. He expects us to act on what He has revealed. A person who hears divine instructions but refuses to obey them cannot successfully build according to God's pattern.

b) Obedience Must Be Complete (1 Samuel 15:22)
Partial obedience is still disobedience. Saul lost his kingdom because he did not completely follow God's command. When God gives us instructions, we should not select the portions that are convenient and ignore the difficult ones.

c) Obedience Requires Trust (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Sometimes God's pattern may not make immediate sense to human reasoning. We must trust God even when His instructions appear contrary to our expectations. Faith allows us to obey what God says because we trust the wisdom of the One who gave the instruction.

d) Obedience Produces Divine Results (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)
God connects obedience with blessing and advancement. When we walk according to His Word, we position ourselves within the boundaries of His purpose and promises.

Biblical Example: Abraham obeyed God's command to leave his country and kindred without knowing the complete destination. His obedience positioned him for the fulfilment of God's covenant (Genesis 12:1-4).

3. HUMAN WISDOM MUST NOT REPLACE DIVINE PATTERN

One of the greatest dangers in spiritual work is replacing God's instructions with human methods. Experience, education, intelligence, and expertise are valuable, but none should take the place of divine direction.

a) Human Wisdom Has Limitations (Proverbs 14:12)
A way may appear right to a person and yet lead to destruction. This is why our decisions must be submitted to God's Word rather than based solely on human reasoning.

b) God's Ways Are Higher (Isaiah 55:8-9)
God sees what we cannot see and knows what we do not know. His pattern may sometimes challenge our preferences, but His wisdom is superior to ours.

c) Success Must Be Measured By God's Standard (Galatians 1:10)
Popularity, applause, numbers, wealth, and recognition are not sufficient measures of spiritual success. The ultimate question is whether what we are building is pleasing to God.

d) We Must Avoid Copying Ungodly Patterns (Romans 12:2)
The world constantly presents patterns for success, leadership, family, wealth, and influence. Christians must refuse to conform to patterns that contradict God's Word and allow Scripture to transform their thinking.

Biblical Example: King Saul attempted to solve a spiritual problem through human reasoning when he offered a sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel. His failure demonstrated the danger of substituting personal judgement for divine instruction (1 Samuel 13:8-14).

4. THE FOUNDATION MUST AGREE WITH GOD'S PATTERN

A beautiful structure with a faulty foundation cannot stand for long. Likewise, our lives and ministries must be established on the right spiritual foundation.

a) Christ Is The True Foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11)
No foundation can provide lasting stability like Jesus Christ. Everything we build must ultimately be centred on Him and established upon His Word.

b) The Word Of God Provides The Pattern (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
Scripture equips God's people for righteous living and good works. The Bible must therefore remain our authoritative guide for faith, conduct, ministry, and daily decisions.

c) Character Must Support Calling (Matthew 7:24-25)
Jesus compared those who hear and obey His words to a wise builder who constructs on a rock. Spiritual gifts without godly character cannot sustain a lasting ministry.

d) What Is Built On Christ Will Endure (Matthew 16:18)
Christ is building His Church, and the forces of hell cannot ultimately overcome what He establishes. When our lives and ministries align with Christ, we participate in something that has eternal significance.

Biblical Example: The wise man in Jesus' teaching built his house upon the rock. When the rain, floods, and winds came, the house remained standing because its foundation was secure (Matthew 7:24-25).

5. WE MUST REGULARLY CHECK WHAT WE ARE BUILDING

A wise builder does not simply start a project and walk away. Progress must be examined to ensure that the construction remains faithful to the original design.

a) Examine Your Spiritual Life (2 Corinthians 13:5)
We should regularly examine our faith, character, devotion, and relationship with God. Spiritual self-examination helps us identify areas where we have departed from God's pattern.

b) Examine Your Ministry (1 Corinthians 3:10)
Paul warned that every person should take heed how he builds. Ministers must continually evaluate whether their methods, motives, teachings, and priorities agree with God's Word.

c) Correct What Is Wrong (Revelation 2:4-5)
When God reveals that something has gone wrong, the appropriate response is repentance and correction. We must not defend what God is asking us to change.

d) Continue Until The Work Is Finished (Philippians 1:6)
God is interested not only in how we begin but also in how we finish. We must remain faithful to His pattern until the assignment is completed.

Biblical Example: The people rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem under Nehemiah's leadership faced opposition but continued working until the wall was completed. Their perseverance demonstrated the importance of remaining faithful to the assignment (Nehemiah 4:6; 6:15-16).

CONCLUSION

God has a pattern for everything He has called us to build. Whether it is our spiritual life, marriage, family, ministry, church, career, or destiny, we must not build according to the opinions of people or the standards of the world. The instruction remains clear: “See that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” When God's pattern becomes our standard, our building will have divine approval and lasting value.

Therefore, let us return to the Word, seek God's direction, obey His instructions, and continually examine what we are building. It is not enough to build something impressive; we must build something that God approves. May we have the grace to build according to the heavenly pattern and finish our assignment faithfully, in Jesus' name.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, give me the grace to discover and understand Your divine pattern for my life, family, ministry, and destiny, in Jesus name.

2. Lord, deliver me from every human pattern that is contrary to Your perfect will for my life, in Jesus name.

3. Father, give me a heart that obeys Your instructions completely, even when they are difficult or contrary to my personal desires, in Jesus name.

4. Lord, help me to build my life firmly upon Jesus Christ and the unchanging foundation of Your Word, in Jesus name.

5. Father, expose every wrong foundation upon which I have been building and give me grace to make every necessary correction, in Jesus name.

6. Lord, deliver me from the temptation to substitute human wisdom, worldly standards, and personal ambition for Your divine direction, in Jesus name.

7. Father, give me spiritual sensitivity to recognise when I am departing from Your pattern and the humility to return to Your will, in Jesus name.

8. Lord, establish everything I am building according to Your purpose, and let nothing contrary to Your will destroy the work of my hands, in Jesus name.

9. Father, give me perseverance to continue building according to Your pattern despite opposition, delay, discouragement, or misunderstanding, in Jesus name.

10. Lord, help me to finish my assignment faithfully and let everything I build bring glory, honour, and praise to Your name, in Jesus name.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS

1. You shall receive divine understanding to recognise God's pattern for your life, and you shall not wander into paths that are contrary to His purpose for you.

2. You shall build your life upon Christ, and every storm that rises against you shall not have the power to destroy what God has established in your life.

3. You shall not be controlled by human wisdom, worldly standards, or ungodly counsel, but you shall walk continually in the wisdom and direction of God.

4. You shall receive grace to obey every divine instruction given to you, and your obedience shall position you for the fulfilment of God's promises.

5. You shall not build in vain; the works of your hands shall be established, strengthened, and preserved by the power of God.

6. Every faulty foundation affecting your progress shall be exposed and removed, and you shall rebuild upon the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.

7. You shall have spiritual sensitivity to recognise divine direction, and you shall not mistake human opinion for the voice and pattern of God.

8. You shall overcome every opposition that arises against the work God has committed into your hands, and you shall complete your assignment successfully.

9. You shall experience divine order in your family, ministry, career, and destiny, and everything concerning you shall increasingly align with God's perfect purpose.

10. You shall finish well, finish strong, and finish according to the heavenly pattern, and your life and labour shall become a testimony of God's faithfulness and glory.