Firm Foundation, God First. - RJ
Notes
Transcript
Don’t build your house on the sandy land song
Firm Foundation
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
2 Houses - both seem look relativley the same
2 very different foundations
2 very different outcomes
OUR HOUSE - We know that this scripture is refering to Jesus Christ as being the foundation of our lives
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Both the wise and foolish builders had no problem with building…
1. THE FOOLISH BUILDER.
He was not a neglecter of religious things altogether.
He heard the teachings of Jesus.
He heard well enough to understand.
He was greatly influenced by what he heard.
He felt the importance of making provision for the future. - To building a house to protect himself, and his family.
He selected a site, started building, and didn’t quit until he
was finished.
THE THINGS THAT HE NEGLECTED IF YOU CONTRAST HIM
TO THE WISE BUILDER.
He neglected to calculate the trials his house would have to endure.
He thought only of the present, and fine weather.
He was satisfied where he was , and didn’t see a
need for anything else.
He forgot to select a sure and safe foundation.
The sand in the dry season appears to be solid and strong.
2. THE WISE BUILDER
Heard the teachings of Jesus
Began to dig DEEP
He hit the bedrock & found the firm foundation
He built with the future in mind, calculating the trials he would have to endure
His house was secure in the storm
Its like you here the Holy Spirit speaking to you and you grab a shovel
Some are digging in the sand building in the shallows - saying thats good enough!
When you dig into sand you hear nothing - surface (Insta worthy)
Depending on our own works
When you dig soil and hit the rock - you hear something
When you hit rock you know!
When you hit rock you come to an ubrupt stop
You are confronted with the sound & reality of who Jesus is and your identity in Him.
YOU REALISE YOUR LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
Like the woman with the issue of blood
She heard about Jesus and pushed her way through the crowd to get to HIM
When she touched His robe, her whole life changed, her whole reality!
Your foundation has to be Jesus Christ.
Everything we build from our encounter with Jesus, must be based on the foundation of our revelation of Jesus.
3. The Keys: Listen & Obey
3. The Keys: Listen & Obey
I’ve been challenged in this season to “Listen” and not only listen, listen & do what He says to do
Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Listening, reading, studying His word
Allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus more and more
Cultivating time & space to pray & listen
Enjoying time with others & being encouraged in faith
Being obedient, being proposeprous in all that we DO
4. Our Foundation is exposed when the storm comes.
4. Our Foundation is exposed when the storm comes.
Waves & torrents will come - that’s a given
Its our revelation of Jesus Christ that will keep our life from collapsing
Everything is experienced through the foundation we have built upon
The foolish builder experienced storms he had not anticipated & He perished with the building he built.
The wise builder’s house was tried by the same storm and withstood
MY LIFE TRIALS -When Mum died I was glad I knew the rock
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Jesus instructing Peter in Mathew 16, said the church would be built on the revelation of who He is:
Speaking about Himself to Peter He said “UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH AND THE GATESOF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT”
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
A collection of lives being built on Jesus Christ!