Wednesday 6 August 2014

HOW STRONG IS YOUR FOUNDATION

INTRODUCTION
When the foundation is good the building will be able to stand, no matter the storm that comes against it. Our lives are spiritual structures. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We need to build it up strong to be able to stand firm in trying times.

1. In our Christian lives we should not build anything unless it is founded on Jesus Christ.
   It becomes important then to use his teachings to shape our lives in all areas daily.
   It is wrong to introduce a new foundation, teaching or doctrine because of how you feel,
    what you think or circumstances which have come your way.

Scriptures:
 Heb 6:1-3
1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

1 Cor. 3:10-15
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Luke 6:46-49
46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47 As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. 48 They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation
on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete."

I Peter 2: 5-7
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"

INTRODUCTION
When the foundation is good the building will be able to stand, no matter the storm that comes against it. Our lives are spiritual structures. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. We need to build it up strong to be able to stand firm in trying times.

1. In our Christian lives we should not build anything unless it is founded on Jesus Christ.
   It becomes important then to use his teachings to shape our lives in all areas daily.
   It is wrong to introduce a new foundation, teaching or doctrine because of how you feel,
    what you think or circumstances which have come your way.

1 Cor. 3:5-11
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.
10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

2. Jesus is our rock, our spiritual rock. The best foundation for a building is the bedrock. We should not start building anything he is not supporting. In his word he has provided all we need for a good and sure foundation.

1 Cor. 10:4
4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
3. As believers our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Christ Jesus teaches us in His word how we can use our bodies to honor him

1 Cor. 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Application:
1. How solid is your foundation in Christ?
2. Anything that prevents us from building on this foundation must be removed.
On your sheet, make a long list of things and situations that have the potential to derail our foundation.

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