What is Your Foundation

Introduction

Before diving in the Word I would like to ask you all a question, What is your spiritual foundation?

We are all trusting in something, or someone. It is just a matter of identifying what that something or someone is to determine whether or not it is trustworthy or not.

No matter the life, every life is standing on something.

What is it?

Is it strong enough to get you through life’s trials?

Is it strong enough to withstand the heat of Judgement Day?

If your foundation is weak, Christ has a promise of hope for your today.

Matthew 7:24-27 ““Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.””

Jesus institutes a very simple principle: everyone who will hear His words (that is believe) and seeks to do them will have a strong foundation in this life and in the life to come.

Context:

Jesus has just preached his famous sermon on the mount. He is in the region of Galilee, and has made his way up a mountain to preach the characteristics that future disciples of the Kingdom of God must walk in.

In His sermon on the Mount, Jesus invokes many new teachings about certain topics that the Jews were acquainted with from the Torah. Among these topics included: Anger, lust, divorce, oaths, prayer, fasting, etc.

The sermon is a condensed version of all of Jesus’s teachings outlining how disciples of Christ are to conduct their lives.

The Text:

Looking at the text we see:

1 Message. 2 Groups of people. 2 Reactions to the Message. 2 Outcomes. 2 Foundations.

1 Message:

Both groups heard the same message.

Jesus was on the mountain preaching the Kingdom of God, He told the people how to enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:13-14), how to walk as a disciple (Matthew 5-7), warnings to keep His followers on the straight path (Matthew 7:13-23), and even blessing and hope to all who follow Him(Matthew 5:3-12; 6:33; 7:24-25)

The message is summed up with the Scripture that our attention is pointed towards today.

We too have recieved this same message, and with knowledge comes the responsibility of choice. Once you know something you can no longer live under the protection of ignorance. You are now subject to that new knowledge.

2 Groups:

In this world you will either choose to walk in wisdom or walk in foolishness. There really is no in between. You will fall into either category.

The truth is that each of us has a say so in which category we fall into. God has given each of us the freedom of choice.

We cannot blame anyone but ourself for kind of life we lead.

Group 1:

- Jesus labeled the first group as being wise. But it wasn’t that they were already wise in themselves, but it was their decision that made them such. They chose to believe and obey the words of Jesus, thus they were called wise.

Group 2:

The second group we see in Matthew 7 is the group labeled as being foolish. Again it was by their decision that they were labeled foolish. Instead of being like the group that was wise they chose to hear the words of christ but they didn’t care to follow them.

The greek word for hear as used in Matthew 7 is “akouo” which entails listening to someone with the emphasis on understanding what that person is saying. So in other words they did more than just sit during the sermon, no they in fact probably understood what Jesus was saying, this includes the 3 dire warnings that He issues just prior to this conclusion(Matthew 7:13-23), yet they still chose not to listen.

Which group will you be in?

2 Reactions of the groups:

Reaction 1 was obedience to Jesus’s words:

The wise group was labeled wise because they trusted and obeyed the words of Jesus. This group made it a point to follow Jesus, above all else they were determined to follow Him.

Reaction 2 was disobedience to Jesus’s words:

- recieved instruction and more than likely understood it, yet they explicitly chose not to follow Christ.

Why would someone choose to not follow someone who gave their life to save them? Despite the rewards, promises, and hope that is carried with devotion to Jesus, it appears this group didn’t want to be apart of it, or if they did, perhaps it was the humble act of submission that kept them from entering?

Which practice will you incorporate?

Would you submit yourself to humbly follow Jesus and receive His blessing of eternal life and forgiveness or would you choose this day to deny all that and continue your life the way it is?

If you decision is the latter, is this decision worth the outcome?

2 Outcomes of the Groups:

Each group was faced with the same trials and tribulations of life. Both groups were faced with the heavy blows of wind and rain. Both groups felt the powerful effects of the waves of life, yet only 1 group was left standing.

Both the followers of Christ and the non-followers will face struggles in this life, but not each group will have victory.

The non-disciples outcome:

For the unbeliever there is a sure promise of devastation at the end of life, and yes even during this life.

Disciples outcome:

For every disciple of Christ there is a promise of Victory and triumph. Though the waves and winds of life will try to knock us down, we have victory through Jesus.

2 Foundations:

Each outcome was benefited to the foundation to which the groups of people had.

The wise group had a foundation of rock, which was laid by a devotion to Jesus Christ.

The foolish group had a foundation of sand, which was laid by a careless decision to not follow Christ. Their outcome was devastation.

Do you know the foundation to which your life stands on?

The creator of the world says there is only one foundation to which man can be saved.

Conclusion:

What is the condition of your foundation today?

Are you tired of being beat down by the winds and waves of this world? I know comforter.

Are you sick of satan’s attacks against your life and family? I know a physician.

Are you hurt by the pains and heartaches of life? I know a healer.

Are you lost in this world and you just don’t know which way to go? I know a bright morning star.

Is your spiritual house about to fall down? I know a carpenter.

What is your need, I know somebody and His name is Jesus and Church if you will humbly commit your life to Him He has promised to meet your every need.

Do you need a fresh start today? Jesus wants to give you a new birth.

Do you need healing today? Jesus wants to heal somebody.

Do you need forgiveness of your sins? Jesus wants to cleanse you.

He loves you so much church, don’t think that you are alone in this world. The devil is a liar, though the waves of life will try to sink your boat, you have a true anchor and He will protect you.