The Rock of our Foundation
Matthew 7:24-25 “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 wind blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock.”
Ephesians 2:21-22 “In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple unto the Lord:
In Whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
A building is laid on the foundation and attached to that foundation; then built on that attachment.
As Christians, when we are born again, we choose to build our “home” on the Foundation of Christ, as our Rock.
But we are attached to that Rock by faith, and love. We build on that.
Our “home” here, in this world, is the life we dedicate to Christ Jesus. We persevere to the end of our life in obedience to Him by exercising our wills to do His Will.
Then we are building our homes on Christ. This is hearing His Word to us, and doing it.
So let us look at our building, and see how our building stands:
Is it straight?
Have we progressed in the straight and narrow way of God, through His Word? Or have we settled unevenly?
Is our faith giving into doubt? Or is our love turning cold?
All houses settle;….in fact it is a good thing, if it settles together.
It actually firms up the house on it’s foundation.
But a house, when it settles unevenly, is (just a little) down on one side, and straight on the other.
Doorways are affected, strength is lessened.
Sometimes, it is not the winds or storms which hinder our building on Christ; but weariness in well doing, and discontent.
We feel we are not getting “ahead” like we should.
(often this is caused by looking at others, and what we think is happening to them; Instead of looking to Jesus. Hebrews 12:2)
But where has the imbalance come from?
Often is comes from focusing too much on the present,……or the future:
When you get to focusing on the present
(let’s face it, things happen that gets us “out of sort”….because they are not what we intended to happen)
…..then we can, forget that there is a goal to reach out for.
When this happens, we need to heed Paul’s exhortation:
Philippians 3:13-14 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”
For you see, it is always how we deal with what happens that makes the difference: going to God for His Will in it,…..or struggling through yourself, sometimes going nowhere….fast.
There is focusing too much on the future…….the “someday things will be great” attitude…….and forget to see the work done for now.
When we do, we need to:
2 Timothy 1:6-7 “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [or disciplined mind].”
Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence [boldness], which hath great recompense of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
Our lives are a “holy habitation” where the Holy Spirit abides in us, and with us.
We are to face each day with Him, as another chance to:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)
It is when our joy gets silenced,……by doubt, hesitation, anger, guilt, or worldliness;…..then the praise becomes just words….and the emptiness we begin to feel.
Then our peace is attacked…for we feel like God has moved away from us;…….when it is actually us, backing away from Him.
Christ, as our Foundation, our Rock does not move.
Circumstances around us, and the temptations they cause…..make us feel like were in that wind storm….or rain storm;
It is how we deal with those storms; Who we cling to, in obedience to His Word;…..that makes the difference.
And we often waver….
….but He is immovable where we are concerned.
He is a Rock to us…..let us cling to Him….and stand firm.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 