How Solid is Your Foundation?
Notes
Transcript
A Firm Foundation
A Firm Foundation
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”
Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
When you look at foundation you expect it to be solid, sturdy, and strong. When we sit in a chair we expect it to hold us up. When we sleep in a bed we expect it to hold us through the night. When we buy a house we expect it not to have a cracks in the foundation and that it will stand through heavy rains and possible a tornado. Foundation is important in relationships, family foundation and anything that we feel should be kept upright through any pressure. My question for us today is, how solid is your foundation? Do you have a firm foundation with Jesus Christ? Here in the passage today Jesus is talking to his followers and his disciples as part of his on sermon on the mount just not far from Capernaum. He teaches them about hearing what he has to say through parables and that once you hear you now know better and must do.
As I studies this passage and the structure of a house and how wise or foolish one could be in building or finding a house quickly on unsturdy ground could cause some serious problems. I ask you again, how solid is your foundation? The foundation I am speaking of is the one with our Lord and Savior. Is it firm or is it weak. Do you hear God speaking to you to strengthen you and you obey or at least try your best to obey. Or do you ignore God’s teaching and voice and do what you want to do?
Here are a few things the Lord gave to me as I was thinking about the foundation of my relationship with Jesus, as well as those whom he has me proclaiming his Word to.
1. God produces a steadfast faith and life he is building a foundation with us of his love and gift of life. When we are steadfast in God it means we are unwavering and anchored secure in him. Our faith in him makes us wiser when he gives us directions to follow and obey.
2. Dig your spiritual foundation deep. When you dive into the Word of God and walk in the way that Jesus taught your spiritual foundation becomes solid and firm. When you dig a house the dig deep down in the ground and place pipes and connect them together to hold the house down in place. They then lay the foundation right, a mixture of cement that have several ingredients to make is strong and solid. The most important in this mixture is lime or calcium oxide. Then there are other chemicals that produce a bonding agent like silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide , and iron oxide. Just as this makes something solid, when you dig deep in your spiritual foundation, this contains the Word of God, Jesus as Savior, the Holy Ghost for its power. This is your cement and what a wise man would use to have a firm foundation in him.
3. Develop deep faith. This type of faith will help you weather the storms of life and become steadfast in what you have heard and what you have been taught to do by Christ teaching. Faith is the key in having a solid foundation in God. A deep faith helps you to reach down within and rely on the Holy Spirit that is within you from the day you accepted Jesus into your life and was saved. In life’s vicissitudes of life check out your foundation and see if you have some cracks in it that may need filled with the love of God. Let God come in a reseal those areas where your foundation began to sink like the house that was built on sand. The Bible says in Proverbs to trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not unto your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways and he will direct your path. This is deep faith that only comes through having a firm foundation in the Word and his teachings.
When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the Lord with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel; and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,
“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”
And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
When the foundation of the Lord is laid in your life it is firm and solid. Just as the hymn says, On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. The best thing in life is a solid foundation in Jesus. It is worth being built up by God in his Word, faith and love so that we can stand when the rain falls, the floods come and he winds blow and beat up against the vessel he created in his image.
When the firm foundation was laid for your life on Calvary Jesus had
-investing interest in us
-inspecting what was created in his image was made solid through the sacrifice he made on the cross
-foundational maintenance to help keep us in line with his teachings. Your spiritual maintenance is needed to make it to the end. Some parts of your vessel may get some cracks in it and the water seeps in, but when you have a solid relationship with Jesus Christ your foundation will be firm and solid like a rock. And the rock I am speaking of is the Rock of Jesus Christ.