Are You Building Without The Presence Of The Lord

Don't Build Without God. - Psalms 127:1

Psalms 127:1 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.


It seems that today there is a lot of talk about the BBD. What is the BBD you ask? It is the bigger better deal. Our culture is consumed with this fast paced, ever evolving ideology of give me the BBD. While there is nothing wrong in itself with desiring excellence or improvement there is however an issue of being presumptuous, irreverent, and even unappreciative of the accomplishments and resources that are available to us today. Today's blog is an attempt to take an honest, unbiased, and comprehensive look at how the BBD mentality is trying to invade the fabric and culture of the church of Jesus Christ.

Defining the Presence of God - Proverbs 15:3

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

God is omnipresence or simply stated his presence is everywhere and at all times. There is just as much of God's presence in the casinos, beer joints, and strip clubs as there is in our churches and homes, however there is a distinct difference in these places. For those of you who are offended by that statement please allow me to explain. For starters God's omnipresence doesn't necessarily mean God's approval of all of the activities that are occurring. Another point that must be understood is that although God is omnipresent that doesn't mean that his presence is always manifest in all places. In the house of God where the people of God worship and praise him his presence becomes more manifest because the Lord inhabits the praises of his people (Psalms 22:3). There are different degrees of God's glory or of his presence. In the glory or in his presence is all of his goodness (Exodus 33:18-19). The Lord manifests his glory where he is welcomed, loved, and honored.

Perceiving His Presence - Job 9:11

Job 9:11 Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

The Holy Spirit will manifest the presence of God, but it is up to us to perceive his presence. In scriptures the right hand is always the place of honor, preeminence, and authority. The right hand of God is reserved for Jesus Christ who is the head of the church. If you have ever read of the plight of Job in the Bible then you can understand his anguish whenever Job cries out that he can not perceive God's presence in the midst of his pain. We have access to inside information that Job wasn't privileged to. We read how God and the devil were having a conversation about righteous Job. God is ever present in the story of Job but he is at work on the left hand and not on the right hand. In other words even when I don't perceive it in my circumstances God has never abandoned me and he will continually defend me in the midst of trouble. God works all things together for good whenever I perceive it but also when I can not perceive it. He is ever faithful.

Building Without the Presence - Genesis 4:16

16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.


Most of us are familiar with the tale of Cain and Abel. Many ministers have brought forth great truths and revelations from within the pages of this classic saga. There are lessons of jealousy, warnings against rage, and even the great forgiveness and long suffering of God are all found within the fourth chapter of the book of Genesis. A truth that we will consider is the fact that Cain was banished from the presence of the Lord yet continued to exist on the planet. A few verses later informs us that Cain built cities in the land of Nod. Nod means wanderings. It is fascinating to me that whole entire cities were built before the flood without the presence and approval of God. One can only imagine the wickedness that must have prevailed there. It is also very apparent to me that if God doesn't build it then there is no guarantee that it will stand the tests of time. I am encouraging all to build within the boundaries and blessings of God's blueprints. No matter what we build whether it be a ministry, family, or a project we should always first seek the presence of God and move within his timing and will. Remember Psalms 127 doesn't say that they didn't build, it just says that what was built was in vain or a waste of time. Remember it doesn't have to be big to be great and just because it is big doesn't automatically mean that it is great or approved of by God. Blessings be upon you in the name of the Lord.

In Christ,
Apostle James Willis

© 2013 James Willis Ministries. This work may not be duplicated or copied for personal monetary gain or commercial purposes. It may be freely shared, displayed, and reused for the furtherance of God's kingdom only.