Daily Devotion

 With Pastor Ancel Presnell

“BUILDING UP YOUR PERSONAL FAITH”

1 Corinthians 3:10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

Every sermon applies first to the preacher and then to the people. Scripture never exempts the pulpit from its authority. God always begins His work in the pulpit before He addresses the pew. Paul begins this passage by pointing to grace so there is no confusion about where usefulness in ministry originates.

Paul refers to himself as a “wise master builder.” The Greek word architektōn means master builder or architect (Strong, Greek Dictionary, 2001). Paul emphasizes grace to avoid any appearance of self-exaltation or pride. Salvation has no place for pride. The fact that anyone is saved and used by God is a gracious and humbling experience.

This principle is seen wherever God builds something eternal. God called me, Ancel Presnell, Jr., in 2010 to plant Strong Tower Baptist Church. Fourteen years prior to that, I walked across the stage at Daniel Boone High School with no high school diploma, much baggage, and a broken life. My life was gloriously transformed on February 25, 2001. God gifted me with ministry training under the late, Pastor Donnie Humphrey. God allowed me to earn my GED, attend Bible Institute while working, and later earn a BA and MA in Theology. In 2024, the Lord allowed me to earn my Doctorate of Pastoral Theology. I have been twenty-five years sober—by the grace of God. If God can build something eternal with a man like me, He can build something enduring through any life.

Faith originates with God, and if we are going to build ours up, we had better stay close to the source. Remember, your faith began when God came by your way and called you out of the grave! Never fall for the trap of the enemy in thinking that you did it, and you can keep doing it! Stay close the very one that gave you a faith to build up!