Are You Building on the Rock
The Bible tells us that God is our rock (Psalms 18:2,31) “the Lord Yahweh is my
rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God my strength, in whom I will trust;
my buckler, and the horn of my salvation and my high tower. For who is God save
the Lord Yahweh? Or who is a rock save our God”.
Jesus is the chief corner stone (Matthew 21:42 which comes from Psalms 118:21)
“Jesus says to them, did you never read in the scriptures. The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the chief corner stone; this is the Lord’s
doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”. I Corinthians 10:4 says “the rock is Christ”.
Obeying God is like building a house on a strong, solid foundation that stands firm
when crises come. When life is calm, our foundations don’t seem to matter, but
when crises come, our foundations are tested. Be sure your life is built on the
solid foundation of knowing and trusting, Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21-27) Jesus
says “not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father. Many will say to Me in that day
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast
out devils? And in Your name have done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity.
Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him
to 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 hears these sayings of Mine, and
does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon the
sand. And the rain descended, and the floods cam, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it”.
Why would people build a house without a foundation? Perhaps to save time and
avoid the hard work of preparing a stone foundation, but those with no foundation
are shortsighted, and they will be sorry. When you find yourself listening, but not
obeying, watch out.
James warns you to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only deceiving
yourself. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
beholding his natural face in a mirror. For he beholds himself, and goes his way,
and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into the
perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:22-25).
Salvation is a free gift, but what are you doing with it? Paul tells us to work out
your own salvation (Philippians 2:12) which says “wherefore my beloved, as you
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work our your own salvation with fear and trembling”.
When you come to Jesus, it is not the end of all, but it is the beginning (Ephesians
2:10) says “for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works,
which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. As we receive our
salvation, we are supposed to show forth good works. Jesus spoke containing the
parable of the talents in Matthew chapter 25, we are supposed to produce fruit.
My greatest desire is to hear Jesus say to me “well done good and faithful
servant”.
The foundation of our life is Jesus Christ; He is our base, our reason for being.
Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern provided by Him. Any
foundation apart from Christ will not last. Christ will evaluate each of our works
and the day of judgment will reveal the sincerity of each person’s work. God will
determine whether or not they have been faithful or Jesus’ instructions. Good
work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be burned up (I Corinthians 3:
13-15) “every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what
sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire”. That unfaithful workers will be saved, but all
their possessions (accomplishments) will be lost.
Developing a dependable foundation is our personal responsibility. Jesus gives
us all the key, in John 8:31-32 He said “if you continue in My word, then are you
My disciple indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free”. And in John 15:4 we are told to “abide in Me, and I in you, as the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you, except you
abide in Me”.
The Bible gives us a clear guideline to follow, remember that the word of God is
the truth. We are to establish a thing by two or three witnesses. We are told to
study to show yourselves approved to God, a workman who is not ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15); in chapter 3 verse 16-17 the
Bible says “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works”. So let us make
the Bible the final authority, believe it as the true word of God.
We are supposed to obey the words of Christ (II Thessalonians 1:8-12) Jesus is
coming back “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with
eve lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His
power. When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all
them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day.
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith
with power. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
you in Him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Remember knowing God is having a personal relationship with Him; and thank
God that this is available to us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Many claim
to be Christians, who do not obey His words. That is a dangerous thing to do. In
fact the word Christian means a follower of Christ.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 22, 2009
The Bible tells us that God is our rock (Psalms 18:2,31) “the Lord Yahweh is my
rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God my strength, in whom I will trust;
my buckler, and the horn of my salvation and my high tower. For who is God save
the Lord Yahweh? Or who is a rock save our God”.
Jesus is the chief corner stone (Matthew 21:42 which comes from Psalms 118:21)
“Jesus says to them, did you never read in the scriptures. The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is become the chief corner stone; this is the Lord’s
doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes”. I Corinthians 10:4 says “the rock is Christ”.
Obeying God is like building a house on a strong, solid foundation that stands firm
when crises come. When life is calm, our foundations don’t seem to matter, but
when crises come, our foundations are tested. Be sure your life is built on the
solid foundation of knowing and trusting, Jesus Christ (Matthew 7:21-27) Jesus
says “not every one that says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of
heaven, but he that does the will of My Father. Many will say to Me in that day
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in Your name have cast
out devils? And in Your name have done many wonderful works? And then will I
profess to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity.
Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him
to 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 hears these sayings of Mine, and
does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which built his house upon the
sand. And the rain descended, and the floods cam, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it”.
Why would people build a house without a foundation? Perhaps to save time and
avoid the hard work of preparing a stone foundation, but those with no foundation
are shortsighted, and they will be sorry. When you find yourself listening, but not
obeying, watch out.
James warns you to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only deceiving
yourself. For if any be a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
beholding his natural face in a mirror. For he beholds himself, and goes his way,
and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into the
perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the word, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:22-25).
Salvation is a free gift, but what are you doing with it? Paul tells us to work out
your own salvation (Philippians 2:12) which says “wherefore my beloved, as you
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my
absence, work our your own salvation with fear and trembling”.
When you come to Jesus, it is not the end of all, but it is the beginning (Ephesians
2:10) says “for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works,
which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. As we receive our
salvation, we are supposed to show forth good works. Jesus spoke containing the
parable of the talents in Matthew chapter 25, we are supposed to produce fruit.
My greatest desire is to hear Jesus say to me “well done good and faithful
servant”.
The foundation of our life is Jesus Christ; He is our base, our reason for being.
Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern provided by Him. Any
foundation apart from Christ will not last. Christ will evaluate each of our works
and the day of judgment will reveal the sincerity of each person’s work. God will
determine whether or not they have been faithful or Jesus’ instructions. Good
work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be burned up (I Corinthians 3:
13-15) “every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it,
because it shall be revealed by fire, and the fire shall try every man’s work of what
sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself
shall be saved; yet so as by fire”. That unfaithful workers will be saved, but all
their possessions (accomplishments) will be lost.
Developing a dependable foundation is our personal responsibility. Jesus gives
us all the key, in John 8:31-32 He said “if you continue in My word, then are you
My disciple indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free”. And in John 15:4 we are told to “abide in Me, and I in you, as the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can you, except you
abide in Me”.
The Bible gives us a clear guideline to follow, remember that the word of God is
the truth. We are to establish a thing by two or three witnesses. We are told to
study to show yourselves approved to God, a workman who is not ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15); in chapter 3 verse 16-17 the
Bible says “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works”. So let us make
the Bible the final authority, believe it as the true word of God.
We are supposed to obey the words of Christ (II Thessalonians 1:8-12) Jesus is
coming back “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and
that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with
eve lasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His
power. When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all
them that believe because our testimony among you was believed in that day.
Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of
this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith
with power. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and
you in Him, according to the grace of our God, and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Remember knowing God is having a personal relationship with Him; and thank
God that this is available to us through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Many claim
to be Christians, who do not obey His words. That is a dangerous thing to do. In
fact the word Christian means a follower of Christ.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: February 22, 2009
