WHO IS YOUR FOUNDATION?

INTRODUCTION

Our Lord Jesus is the foundation upon which we should build our lives as His disciples. Anything that prevents us building our lives on Jesus as the foundation should be removed by the help of teachings from scripture, prayer and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus desire for every believer is that we grow into maturity in Him. If we lay the right foundation, he will take us from spiritual milk to solid food.

Scriptures:

Luke 1:80

 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke2:40, 52

40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Eph 4:13-16

13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

MATURITY IN THE FAITH

After we become born again, there is still some work to be done to mature us in the faith.

In 1 Tim 3:6 Paul commented on this " He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil" .

Scriptures:

Heb 5:11-14

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

1 Peter 2:1-5

1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.4 As you come to him,

MOVING ON TO MATURITY

 INTRODUCTION

One has to make a conscious effort to mature. Many of us who should be teaching and training others in the word are still spiritual babies in Christ still in need of spiritual milk instead of solid food.

How will you know if you are still a spiritual baby in the church?

1. Immature Christians are unwilling to commit themselves in any way to the vision of the local church.

2. They are not responsible for anyone or anything in the church

3. Immature Christians do not contribute much to church growth.

4. They do not know how to distinguish good from evil. Their counsel to other members brings bitterness, resentment and pain to the church.

5. They have difficulty in taking instruction from the leadership of the church. Undermining those put in leadership positions is normal with them.

6. "Spiritual butterflies" is a good description of immature Christians. They are always flirting from one church to another.

7. Every problem or challenge knocks them down. Murmuring and complaining about everything and nothing.

Scripture:

Heb 5:11-14

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers,

BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION

INTRODUCTION

Our Lord Jesus describes two ways we can build:

a. On sand; An unstable foundation.

b. Upon a rock; A stable foundation.

1. Why must the house be built on the rock?

2. How can you build your Christian life on the rock?

Scriptures:

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."

 1 Cor. 3:10

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.

James1:19-25

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

BUILDING A SURE FOUNDATION IN CHRIST

INTRODUCTION

Many Christians are building their lives on unstable foundations. The only stable bedrock foundation is our Lord Jesus Christ who is the living word of God. Unstable foundations will not stand the test of time. Soon depression, disappointment and frustration will be part of your daily life. If we build on the sure foundation, our Lord and Master Himself will captain our ship.

Scriptures:      

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.

Heb 4:12

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,