Unless the Lord Builds the House

 

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on June 22nd 2025 by Donald. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here. 

Unless the Lord Builds the House

Why Dedication to God Changes Everything

In a world that runs on ambition, deadlines, and self-made success, the ancient wisdom of Psalm 127 reminds us of a deeper truth: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.”

This verse, shared during a recent Sunday sermon, reveals a profound and often overlooked principle — true significance is found not in what we build, but in who builds with us. Whether it's our careers, families, dreams, or homes, when God isn’t at the foundation, all our striving is ultimately empty.

Dedication Is More Than a Ceremony

We often associate “dedication” with a one-time event — a child’s dedication, a wedding, or a church service. But real dedication is daily. It’s choosing to say, “God, take my time, my resources, my talents — all of it is Yours.”

That dedication ripples through generations. It’s not just about the present moment, but about planting seeds for a legacy built on God’s truth.

The Illusion of Control

Modern life tempts us to believe that we’re the masters of our fate. We are encouraged to optimize, hustle, and “build our brand.” But as the speaker pointed out, “The lives we create for ourselves may keep others out,” boxing us into small, self-centred worlds.

Yet storms will come. And when they do, no amount of wealth, skill, or strategic planning will sustain us unless we’ve built on the unshakable foundation of God.

When God Builds, There’s Rest

Psalm 127 also speaks of God giving His beloved sleep. Not just physical rest, but peace of heart — a gift in a world full of anxious toil.

Rather than chasing vanity or success for its own sake, we’re invited to hand our ambitions to God. Like the boy who gave his five loaves and two fish, what we offer may seem small, but in God’s hands, it multiplies beyond our imagination.

A Call to Rethink What Matters

Is our life centred around God, or have we subtly adopted the world’s “me-first” ideology? Are we pursuing success in things that, in the end, don’t matter?

William Carey once said, “I’m not afraid of failure. I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.” That’s the invitation: to shift our focus from vanity to purpose, from self-building to God-building.

So today, pause. Reflect. Ask yourself — who’s building your house?

In a world rushing toward success, wealth, and recognition, there is a quiet yet powerful truth that echoes from the words of Psalm 127: “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain.”

This message was at the heart of a recent sermon — one that not only challenged the ideals of modern life but called us back to a life of eternal significance, centred on God, relationships, and legacy.

Don’t Just Build — Let God Build

We all build something: careers, homes, reputations, and dreams. But the speaker reminded us that unless God is at the centre of it, all our labour ends up in anxious striving. True rest comes not from what we accomplish, but from knowing that God is in control.

“Rest is a weapon,” he said. “The enemy hates it because he wants you stressed and occupied.”

When we trust God, we gain more than peace — we gain purpose. Even in chaos, we don’t have to act out of control, because our anchor is secure.

From Vanity to Value

In the age of likes, hustle, and superficial wins, the question we must ask is: What truly matters?

• Are we giving our best hours to work while our children receive our leftovers?
• Are we present with those we love, or simply performing life beside them?
• Are we building for ourselves, or leaving behind something worth inheriting?

True wealth isn’t in assets — it’s in relationships, in time invested, and in a life marked by faithfulness.

Children: Not Just Our Future, But God’s Gift

Psalm 127 describes children as “a heritage from the Lord… like arrows in the hands of a warrior.” They are not interruptions to our legacy — they are our legacy.

“Every child has the potential to inherit the kingdom of heaven… and it’s our responsibility to prepare them for it.”

Too often we treat children as background noise, burdens to manage, or projects to fix. Instead, the speaker challenged us to see every child as a carrier of God’s vision — one who must be shaped with love, not just correction.

• Do you notice the children in your life?
• Are you building a legacy they can build upon?
• Are you training them in the way of the Lord — not just with your words, but with your life?

Because in the end, children learn more from what we are than what we say.

Legacy Isn’t Luxury — It’s Discipleship

We spend our lives trying to leave behind fortunes and fame. But let us always remember this:

“The world leaves behind materialistic and atheistic ideologies. But God calls us to leave behind moral and spiritual foundations.”

What are we really passing on? Wealth that fades, or a faith that lasts. Are we raising kids who know how to calculate price — or value?

Let’s teach them what matters:

• How to walk with integrity.
• How to love deeply.
• How to seek God above all else.

Final Reflection: A Life Dedicated to God

It is not just about children or parenting — it is about living a dedicated life. A life where every relationship, every choice, and every dream are laid at God’s feet.

“Life is not all about children. But it is all about living for God.”

And in doing that, we will leave behind more than memories. We will leave behind a legacy of faith — one that shapes generations.

Are you building a house God can dwell in? Or one built in vain?

As we return to our daily routines, let us pause and pray:
“Lord, build my life. Help me invest in what matters. Let my legacy be shaped by Your hands, not mine.”

 Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Dedicated Fathers

 This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on Sept 5th 2021 by Lasya D via zoom. For the audio & video please click here.  To listen to the worship please click here.

 What exactly is a baby dedication? Where does it come from?

 

I'm going to go one step back and first explain that we at Word of Grace Church are Evangelical Christians. By that, I mean that the final authority for faith and doctrine is the Bible - the Word of God. The Bible stands above every Pastor, Bishop, Pope, authority, or even Christian Tradition. What that means is that every Christian teaching and practice must be compared with the bible and where the teaching or practice contradicts the Word of God, that teaching or practice needs to be brought in line with scripture or discarded.

 

In Acts 17 - The great Apostle Paul came to Berea and began teaching in the Synagogue.  The Bereans were described as noble because they received Pauls message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11).

 As you listen to the word preached or you engage in Christian practices like worship, baptism, giving, etc - do you examine the scriptures to see if what is preached is in line with God's word - or do you blindly take it in. So we at Word of Grace aim to be Evangelical Christians.

 Even when Jesus taught the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24:27 - He didn't just tell them to believe. He took them to the Scriptures. And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Our Lord Jesus himself upheld the authority of Scripture and pointed to scripture to validate events.

 So what is baby dedication?

 

1. The dedication of babies is a Preference and not a command in scripture. So why are we doing it? Well, it's a good thing and does not contradict scripture. e.g. All those who are married - you must have had a wedding reception. Where is that commanded in scripture? Or you have celebrated your birthday. Where is that commanded in scripture? But wedding receptions and birthday parties are a good thing. The 2 ordinances that Jesus explicitly commanded in scripture are water baptism and the breaking of bread. We will come to them a little later.

 

2. The Purpose of dedication. What is happening here? Christy and Esther are so thankful to God for blessing them with baby Jason, that they want to publicly thank God for this blessing and want to present him to the Lord, and commit themselves to raise him up in the ways of God. The purpose of child dedication is really to be found in the purpose of the parents. Rightly understood, the ceremony is one of parental dedication. The parents are pledging themselves to obey the command of Paul, who in Ephesians 6:4 (NIV), tells parents, to “bring them up (your children) in the training and instruction of the Lord.” 
3. The Precedent of dedication is found in Jesus being presented to the Lord in Luke 2:22 ²² When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Jesus as an infant was presented to the Lord. Here it was the faith of the parents that were at work. At age 30 Jesus was Baptized. Here it was Jesus who chose to be baptized. 2 distinct events. One carried out by the parent's decision and one carried out by the individual deciding.

4. The Process of dedication - what exactly are the steps that are prescribed in Scripture. Well the answer is found in Hezekiah 3:16. There is no Hezekiah 3:16 and there is no process prescribed in Scripture for dedication or for that matter a marriage ceremony or a worship service. We take our tradition and make it gospel truth when the reality is that Scripture gives us much freedom in choosing how we celebrate, what instruments we use for worship or even a traditional white gown and vows at a marriage service. There is no prescribed format! For a marriage, the only two conditions are that they should be male and female and both should be believers. But the white wedding gown, the vows and the ceremony etc. are more tradition than explicitly mandated in the bible.

 

So what about the baptism of babies?

 

1. If you read the Bible from the index to the maps you will find exactly zero instances of babies being baptized. Zero, none. There are several accounts in the NT of adults being baptized - Jesus, the Ethiopian eunuch, the 3000 on the day of Pentecost, Cornelius and his household, the Samaritans, Ephesian disciples, the Philippian jailer and his household. In all these instances, they heard the word being preached, they believed and as a sign of their repentance and faith they were baptized.  Acts 16:31 ³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.

The pre-requisite for being baptized is belief and repentance - Acts 2:38 Peter replied - Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...

So that is why biblical Baptism is also called Believers Baptism.

Babies cannot believe and they cannot repent. So if you were baptized as a baby - it was probably more a dedication than Christian baptism. 

 

2. Baptism - means immersion. Like a tea bag dipped in water.  In every instance where a baptism account is detailed in the New Testament - there is a body of water to get into like a pool or a river.  John the Baptist - did not sprinkle people - Mt 3:6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Mt 3:16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water...

3. Baptism is a command of Jesus - Mt 28:19-20 Go and make disciples, baptizing them    At Word of Grace Church, we dedicate children rather than baptize them. Just as Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord and Joseph and Mary dedicated the infant Jesus to the Lord according to the Jewish custom. We believe dedication more closely follows the biblical pattern than baptism, of which we have no precedent of an infant being baptized in the Bible. Thus, this dedication does not impart faith or forgiveness of sins to JASON. Rather it is CHRISTY and ESTHER’S public acknowledgement that JASON is a gift from God to them, and that they have a spiritual responsibility for the Christian nurture and training of JASON.

 The precedent for child dedication may be found in Scripture, as in the presentation of Samuel to God by JASON in 1 Samuel 1:28 and the presentation of Jesus to God by Joseph and Mary in Luke 2:22.

 1 Sam 1:28 ²⁸ So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”

 Luke 2:22 ²² When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

Ps 127:3 Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him

 Paul reminded Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:15 (NIV), “how from infancy (he had) known the Holy Scriptures.” Jesus considered children to be infinitely precious, and in Mark 10:14 (NIV) said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” 

 

Charge to the Parents:  Let us hear the Word of the Lord as it comes to us in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV): “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

 1 John 3:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.  It is the command of God that we should diligently seek to raise our children in such a way as to lead them to trust Christ as Savior and serve Him as Lord. In response to this command, these parents bring their child today to present them to the Lord and dedicate themselves to this task.  

 A DEDICATED FATHER

I am going to share why a father is so important and why, if you are a father, you are important. In America, 90% of the prisoners are male. 75-90% of those prisoners grew up without a father. Suicides – 60 % of suicides take place where there is no father. 90% of homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes. 80% of all people who commit rapes are from fatherless homes. A father is a very important person. Our role is vital. There can be another instance, you can have an absentee father. When you remove a father from a home, society becomes sick.

 

Fathers are needed even with animals. In Kruger national park in South Africa, the elephant population was growing so much that they were endangering other animals. They moved some elephants to another park where there is more space. Moving elephants is a problem. So they only moved only the mother and baby elephants. At that other park, the white rhino was becoming endangered because they were being killed. So they set up cameras to find out who is killing the rhinos. They found that the young male elephants were going on a rampage and killing the rhinos. SO they moved some of the adult male elephants to that park. These elephants fixed the problem! If you’re a father this morning you are the adult male elephant that will shape the life of your children.

 

Q. What is your role as a father?

 

1.      To protect your family: Men and women are different. Sadly the world is trying to go into a genderless society. They are confusing function with equality. We are equal but we have different functions. Men are more aggressive. Women say let's understand one another. When the person who is supposed to defend the family starts attacking the family, it is not okay. We protect the family by taking on the heavy-duty work.

 

2.      To be the provider: in Genesis when God created men and women, God said the men had the duty to tend the garden and to bring food to the table. Sadly, in our Indian society, women are working and husbands are gambling. Your wife may or may not work, but you are responsible to provide for the family. 1 Tim 5:8 “if anyone does not provide for his family, he has denied his faith and is worse than an unbeliever”. Looking after the garden was the primary job of the man. Earn the right to lead your family by

 

3.      To be the promoter: Your job is to take your children and train them up to become the best that they can be. Proverbs 22:6 “train your children in the way they should go and when they are older they will not depart from it.” The first part is overwhelming love. Discipline is also needed. Either extreme is difficult. Eph 6:1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” These are the 2 things sons and daughters are called to do. The command to fathers is this – in verse 4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” So you discipline out of love and not to exhaust them. You exasperate children when you promise and don’t show up.

a.      Hug your children and tell them I love you. Communicate love. Daughters who don’t get love from their fathers seek love out there. So beware of that.

b.      Love is spelt T-I-M-E. No matter what age they are, make sure you’re spending quality time with them.

 

4.      To be a priest for his family: it often happens that the women in the home are more inclined to follow God and the men want to do something else. In Joshua 24:15 “And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul says imitate me as I imitate Christ. So, fathers, your behaviour will determine the outcome of your children.

 Today we know better and we can strive to be better fathers. We have been given an amazing privilege and responsibility from God to lead our families.

 

   Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

Biblical Parenting

 

 This message was preached by Colin DCruz via zoom at Word Of Grace Church on  January 10th 2021. for the audio please click here.  TO listen to the worship please click here

If I was to ask you what your gender is, would you think? Why did I ask this? These days, the gender question is assaulted. This morning, I want to state what establishes the fact about gender.

6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ – Mark 10:6

God made them male and female. There are no 100+ gender identities. But there are only 2 – male and female.

27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

-        Gen 1:27-31

God’s Word outlines that there are only 2 gender identities and the mankind is made in His image. And it was very good. Let us look into a few important truths.

 

Family is from God

Are all families equal? Let us look into a real life example.

There was a man name Jonathan Edward. A study was made on the lineage of his family tree. This is what was found –

Out of approximately 1,400 known descendants:

 

·                  "practically no lawbreakers";

·                  more than 100 lawyers and 30 judges;

·                  13 college presidents, 100+ professors;

·                  100 clergymen, missionaries and theological professors;

·                  62 physicians;

·                  80 elected public officials, including 3 mayors, 3 governors, several congressmen, 3 senators and 1 vice-president (Aaron Burr);

·                  60 authors or editors with 135 books to their credit; and

·                  75 army or navy officers.

 

Let us now look the lineage of Max Dukes family tree.

Of the total group of related individuals, this is what was found -

·                  310 were paupers who spent a combined 2,300 years in poorhouses;

·                  130 were convicted criminals;

·                  50 women were prostitutes;

·                  7 were murders; and

·                  these paupers and criminals cost the state of New York $1.5 million to pay for their incarcerations and $1.25 million in public welfare and other costs to society apart from incarceration.

 

What is the difference? Bringing up the children according to God’s Word is the difference. We have choices to make. We need to make the right choice. The legacies we leave go onto many generations and impact the world.

How do we bridge the gap between starting and leaving a legacy?

 

1.     Material Provision

 

As parents, it is our responsibility to provide for our children.

 

8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. – 1 Tim 5:8

 

 

 

 

2.     Faithful Instruction

 

8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. – Eph 6:8

 

We may provide with everything but without faithful instruction, they may get spoilt. Children however young, they do understand. So read to them the God’s word. Read the Bible stories. As they grow up, they would come to know the love of Jesus

Training them includes discipline in love.

 

3.     Giving a godly example

 

People should be able to see us training our kids.

 

 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. – 1 Cor 11:1

 

We should be a living example. Our walk must match our talk.

 

4.     Showering love upon our children

 

It is very easy to see our kids doing wrong. We should remember to give them affirmation, love and encouragement. Remember to shower love. Sometimes we wait for them to perform well. But our love should be unconditional just as our Father in heaven showers His love upon us.

 

Family is very important. It is not man’s idea, but God’s. The gender is male and female. What we do have repercussions in the next generations till Christ returns. So, we need to stay rooted in the Word of God.

   Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org. 

 

Dedication | Colin D'Cruz

This message was preached by  Colin D Cruz at Word of Grace Church  Pune, on the 21st  of September 2014. You can listen/download the  audio by clicking here

What legacy will you leave behind?  Who on their death bed said that they wished that they spent more time at the office? 

 Today we are going to have a dedication.What is dedication? What does it mean? Let’s look at God’s word.

Gen1:29 God created Adam and Eve. God put Adam to sleep and created Eve out of his rib. Gen1:23-24. When God created them He said that it was “very good”. This was before children. There was a perfect unit, complete. Children did nt complete them. God’s pattern for marriage was that this unit would start a family.

V25- One flesh-  an intimacy and connection that is to be shared with no one else. The man has to be the head of his family and home. The leaving and cleaving is emotional, physical, and financial.

Gen1:28 the first command he gave Adam and Eve was to be fruitful and have children. Today sadly men and woman are exchanging career for children. DINK couples – double income no kids.  People find children are inconvenient.

Ps127 :2 Children are a reward from God. We may have the desire for children but its God who blesses us. A husband and wife are complete without a child.

When we have children what are we supposed to do? We are to bring them up in the ways of the Lord as moral, responsive and responsible individuals.

This does not happen automatically. Just like a garden does not just happen. Parenting is so important and requires a lot of attention and intention.

We all leave a legacy behind. Mostly it is money, property. But to leave behind a spiritual legacy is a great thing.

A study of two families was one. One was Max Jukes and the other Jonathan Edwards both who lives in the 1700s..  Jonathan and his wife Sarah left a great godly legacy for his 11 children.

At the turn of the 20th century, American educator and pastor A.E. Winship decided to trace out the descendants of Jonathan Edwards almost 150 years after his death.  His findings are astounding, especially when compared to a man known as Max Jukes.  Jukes’ legacy came to the forefront when the family trees of 42 different men in the New York prison system traced back to him.

Jonathan Edwards’ godly legacy includes: 1 U.S. Vice-President, 3 U.S. Senators, 3 governors, 3 mayors, 13 college presidents, 30 judges, 65 professors, 80 public office holders, 100 lawyers and 100 missionaries.

Max Jukes’ descendants included: 7 murderers, 60 thieves, 50 women of debauchery, 130 other convicts. 310 paupers (with over 2,300 years lived in poorhouses) 400 who were physically wrecked by indulgent living.

It was estimated that Max Juke’s descendants cost the state more than $1,250,000.

This is a powerful example showing how a parent’s leadership can have a profound effect on their children.

The most important thing after your marriage is your children. At the job you can be replaced and nobody will miss you. Nobody on their death bed said “I wish I spent more time at work” A godly family can reap amazing results.

Deut 6:4-7 impress them upon the children. Talk about the Word of God when you walk, sit, lie down. The primary responsibility of bringing up children and spiritually nurturing them lies with the parents. Sunday school is only an add on.

Eph6:41 Children ought to obey their parents. Folly is bound up in the heart of a child but the rod of discipline drives it away.

As adults we are expected to honour our parents but you are not required to obey. The Bible has instituted Two sacraments i.e. Water baptism and breaking of bread.

So where does dedication come in? It’s not as command but a good practice. Luke 2:22-24. Sons were presented before the Lord in the temple. This is not a law but a good practice. We come with thanksgiving and the parents commit themselves to bring up the child in God’s ways. Infant baptism is not even baptism because it is only sprinkling. There is no evidence of this in the New Testament. Baptism always followed repentance.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.