Is Your Foundation Firm?

Good morning and welcome to CCC. To anyone who has a graduate in the family either here at NHS or somewhere else, Congrats! What a wonderful time of year!

This past Thursday was my last day of being at NEVC, I am still on call through the 27th of this month but am not in a position where I have to go to the building any longer. What a blessing it was to serve there and I will continue to pray for those kids and staff but I have to admit it was very nice being able to spend part of the day on Friday up here at CCC. With that said I will be up and around the church more since it is summer so if you need to talk or need to meet with me it will be much easier.

You all know I love coffee and I love you guys if you just want to meet and get a coffee some day, please let me know

Two quick announcements before we get going this morning

Next week May 28 Micheal Bertels, whom we support in his work on the campus of KU, will be here to give us an update about this past school year and all the wonderful things God has been doing through his ministry.

Also the sr high group leaves for camp next week. We will leave from the church parking lot at 2 pm. Check in starts at 3 pm and camp starts at 4 pm and is set to be dismissed by noon on Friday so we should be home around 1:30 or 2 pm on Friday

Please be in prayer for our campers and sponsors this summer as well as all of the camp workers and worship leaders and teachers. Pray that God moves in mighty ways and many come to Christ as a result of camp!

We are going to start a new series in June called The Bait of satan. We will look at temptation and the ways that satan tries to kill you, steal from you, and destroy you. He is the father of lies and we will look at his lies and develop a biblical response based upon truth to overcome evil. We will officially start that on June 4th but before we get there I felt led to bring to you a message about your foundation this morning followed by a message about how to know if you truly are abiding in Christ the following week

This morning came from a gospel tract that my new brother Dr. Art shared with me last week. As I was reading that tract and looking at the scriptures he used in that tract God really began to move in my heart bringing me to the message for this morning.

We just spent about 10 weeks looking at the God that. We looked at God’s character and truths. We looked at His promises and heart

As that series was wrapping up I felt God leading me to attack the lies of satan but before we do that we must make sure foundation is solid

Here we go.

Let’s Pray

Start OBS

This world is evil

There are countless storms beating down upon every one of us, Christians and non-christians alike

By the way those are the only two options Christian or non-christian.

Labels are for and by men not from God.....God never calls you a baptist, pentecotal, lutheran, catholic, protestant, reformed, non-reformed

Nope saved or not saved

Child of God or not a child of God

Good

Loving

Good hearted

Those don’t matter it is saved or unsaved

Christian or non-christian

Jesus is the only way and all that matters

Everyone, Christian and non-christians alike face this evil world and all the attacks and trials and temptations it brings with it everyday

Don’t care who you are

Trouble has come, maybe it is now here and it for sure will come in the future

The strength of a foundation is only truly revealed in the storm. No one builds a home or building with the thought

Boy, the first storm that comes along this thing will come crashing down.

No

You build it to last

to withstand the storms of the area

Our foundations are much different here in Nevada Mo than the west coast where they face earthquakes

Our foundations here are different than the east coast and gulf coasts where hurricanes come along every season

everyone builds to withstand the storms but until the foundation is tested it is all just theory

Through Jesus you have a battle, storm tested and proved foundation to build upon

God is faithful

He has never

Won’t now

Will never leave you nor forsake you

Jesus was beaten and nailed to a tree

Willingly mind you

so you and I can be forgiven and have eternal life in heaven and walk this earth as a true child of God

The question is not will the foundation withstand the storm and evil of this world.

Not that is not the question

In fact Jesus the chief cornerstone has already defeated the storms and evil of this world

The question is are you truly building your house on the foundation of Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone????

1. Jesus is the one and only way

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John 14:6

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“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

You can’t work to earn salvation

There is no religion for you to follow to heaven

You can’t confess your way to heaven

You can’t buy your way to heaven

You will never deserve heaven

This world says there are many way to heaven and salvation

Mother Mary

Priests

Popes

None of them can get you there

Buddha

Muhammad

Nope they can’t get you there either

The Bible in and of itself can’t save you

I can’t save you

The elders can’t save you

Your parents can’t save you

Your kids can’t save you

Your spouse can’t save you

Only Jesus can save you

Romans 10:9

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“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart and you are saved. That is truth and that is scripture and that is how you are saved through Jesus Christ

The problem is that scripture has been cheapened and softened today

Today many claim coming forward at a concert or big event because you are caught up in the moment and emotion saves you

Many say saying the sinners prayer saves you

That is not what saves

In Romans 10:9 thou shalt confess comes from a greek word hom-ol-og-eh-o

It is a verb and means to confess, to declare openly, speak out freely, to profess one’s self to the worshipper of one

This is more than a statement

More than saying a sinners prayer out of emotion

homo-ol-og=eh-o is a compound word that comes from hom-oo which is an adverb meaning at same place or time together

and

Logos which is a masculine noun that means of speech, a word uttered by a living voice, doctrine, teaching

Again points to the fact that in Romans this is much more than a statement or prayer

This is all in

Committment

Repentance, changing your mind and direction

That is what you are doing when you confess

Shalt believe comes from greek verb pist-yoo-o which means to think to be true, to be persuaded, to entrust anything to one

Again more than intellectual knowledge.

The demons believe and shudder

It is more

This shalt believe is placing your faith in Jesus not just understanding in your mind but understanding in your heart that leads to action!

Can you do this when saying the sinners prayer.

Absolutely. It is all about heart and action

This is the first brick of your new life being placed on Jesus as your new foundation

2. Salvation means time to build

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You truly accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior

You have confessed and believe with all your heart

You are now a child of God

Great now it is time to get to work

Matthew 7:24-27

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“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

Getting saved is the starting point not the ending point

Sadly so many Christians, including some here and online stop right there at salvation

If salvation was the end goal the moment you accepted Jesus you would be transported directly to heaven

No salvation is the beginning the first brick in the new you built upon Jesus

You can’t just hear…believe....and confess and then go on about your day or week or month or year or life

Look at what Jesus says

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them. I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock”

Salvation is the beginning

Obedience builds upon the rock

I have heart it said

I love Jesus

Jesus loves me

I don’t have to obey Him

I don’t have to read His Word

Your right you don’t have to but if you willingly choose to not obey do you really know and love Jesus?

John 14:15

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“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Jesus speaking here.

You don’t obey then you don’t love

Church this is huge

One reason society is where it is at is because churches quit preaching to love Jesus requires you to obey Jesus

Obey His commandments

You will fall without obedience

Jesus just said so!

Jesus also said “And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand, and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and if fell; and great was the fall of it”

Some of you are sitting in a pile of rubble

angry at God

But the fall was your fault because you built your house upon the sand because you refused to obey God’s Word!

How you withstand the storms depends upon your obedience and relationship with Christ

3. What is your foundation?

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Matthew 6:19-21

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“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

So many today miss the point

I saw a comment to a post on facebook this week that said “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good”

Now the person who made this comment meant it as an insult but what a complement for a Christian to receive and what a sad and horrible thing for a Christian to say

Now I am not saying I agree with the person who received this comment as I do not know either person but the comment really hit me in the heart

This world, even Christianity is so removed form God

His Word

and a true relationship with Jesus that “Christians” make statements like that and mean it

I have news for you that should be our goal......so focused on Christ

So focused on heaven

So focused on eternity we are of no earthly good!

Praise God if someone can truly say that about you!

Saying one is so focused on heaven that they are no good on earth is like saying there is too much Jesus

or there is too much Bible

Or talk with that person but don’t do it as a Christian or pastor just as a friend

Listen if that is you you miss the point

There is no other way to talk!

It is all about Jesus or it is useless at best and sinful at worst!

Church look at Jesus’ heart on display as He teaches us where our treasures should be therefore showing us what our foundation must be!

“Lay up treasures in heaven”

“Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”

What does your treasure say about your foundation?

This is a question that you should......no you must wrestle with constantly.

It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race

Keeping up with the Jones’

Storing up treasure here on earth

Now I am not saying that to have Jesus as your foundation and build upon him that you can’t have nice things or even work for nice things, but I am saying if they have your heart you are wrong!

Jesus must be 1st

Jesus must have your heart

He died to set you free

You owe Him everything!

That leads to our final point here this morning

4. Who has your love and affection?

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I John 2:15-17

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“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Where is your love?

Not the emotion love

The act love

The choice to love

The dedication

the commitment

The devotion to love

Where is your heart?

God doesn’t mince words here

God is so very clear

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him”

The lust of the flesh

The lust of the eyes

the pride of life

What your body wants......what makes you feel good

YOLO

Living your best life

These things fall right here

Sexual lust

Your eyes cause you to sin sexually everyday

Your eyes cause you to covet or be greedy or desire things in a sinful way everyday

Pride of life....it is not a coincidence that the LBGT whatever community uses pride as one of their main rally cries…pride movement.....that means satan movement

Pride is a sin.....who are you......Adam was made from dirt and dirt is where you will return

The only good in you

The only good in me is Jesus

What do we have to be prideful about....NOTHING

Love the world and hate God

Love God and hate the world

That is the only choice

Colossians 3:1-4

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“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

If you are building upon Jesus as your foundation

you are dead to the world

Your affection must be set above

You are dead to the world and alive in Christ

Church truths such as this must shake you to your core

The closer I get to Jesus the more of a dirtbag I realize I truly am

Look at the rest of the scripture

Colossians 3:5-8

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“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

Put to death your members...

Sex outside of marriage

uncleanness in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living

inordinate affection whatever befalls one, whether it be sad or joyous; specifically, a calamity, mishap, evil, affliction. a feeling which the mind suffers, an affection of the mind, emotion, passion; passionate desire

This is letting your emotions control you instead of controlling your emotions

Covetousness greedy desire to have more, covetousness,

God’s wrath is coming for these things and society even those within the church celebrate these things

Put off anger

Wrath

Malice

Blasphemy

Filthy communication

Put them off

Die to them

Get rid of them

Stop building your house on these things.

Your foundation matters

If your foundation is Jesus you will build upon that foundation through obedience!

Where are you this morning?

If you need Jesus come

If you need prayer come

If you need to give somethings to Jesus because you realize you have been building upon the wrong foundation come

STOP OBS

Invitation song