WHEN THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR LIFE IS BUILT UPON THE WORDS OF JESUS

A FIRM FOUNDATION ! It is the KEY ELEMENT of everything that is built. A house without a strong foundation underneath it is but a structure waiting to collapse. Anything being created must have a true foundation that gives it strength and stability. Foundations go beyond the idea of simply STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY. Foundational values come to mind; Foundational Beliefs; Foundational Principles and Guidelines; Law and Order; Foundational Concepts and Truths. The Foundations that WE build our lives upon must be Solid and Trustworthy. They either Hold Us Steady, and help us through challenges and trials, or they crumble, leaving us lost and undone. JESUS had an amazing way of describing this to His Disciples and those in the crowd who chose to listen to HIS WORDS. He often spoke in Parables, using these “stories” to be both a Window, and a Mirror. A Window that allows us to SEE GOD AND HIS TRUTH, while also a Mirror that allows us to see OUR LIVES AND WHERE WE ARE FOCUSED. Jesus came to mankind to show us what our LIFE FOUNDATION must be built upon, and expose the false priorities that the world would see as foundational. JESUS TRULY ROCKED THE WORLD AND IT”S FOUNDATION ! His Focus was on the Father and Eternal Truth. He came with a set Mission, and He literally gave His Life for it. US. We were His Life Mission in His time as a man on earth. Restoration of Relationship with the Father through Our Sin being taken onto Him. God’s wrath for us being justly delivered upon Him, in our place. The world does not want to accept or even consider that as Truthful or important. WHY ? Deep down, it means that we must see ourselves as we truly are….dead in our sin. It is really hard to face that reality. Can’t I just be a “good person” most of the time ? Can’t I make a few “mistakes” and be OK ? Looking through the Window into God’s Truth and Ways is indeed daunting. WHY ? Because on our own, we are not able to meet His Standards. Only by letting ourselves surrender and give our lives to Jesus will we be TRANSFORMED. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE BUILT UPON ?

THEREFORE, EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE AND ACTS ON THEM WILL BE LIKE A WISE MAN WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON THE ROCK. THE RAIN FELL, THE RIVERS ROSE, AND THE WINDS BLEW AND POUNDED THAT HOUSE. YET IT DIDN’T COLLAPSE, BCAUSE IT’S FOUNDATION WAS ON THE ROCK. BUT EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE AND DOESN’T ACT UPON THEM WILL BE LIKE A FOOLISH MAN WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON THE SAND. THE RAIN FELL, THE RIVERS ROSE, THE WINDS BLEW AND POUNDED THAT HOUSE, AND IT COLLAPSED. IT COLLAPSED WITH A GREAT CRASH. WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED SAYING THESE THINGS, THE CROWDS WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS TEACHINGS. Matthew 7:24-28

THEREFORE THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD, “BEHOLD, I AM THE ONE WHO HAS LAID A FOUNDATION IN ZION, A STONE, A TESTED STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNERSTONE, OF A SURE FOUNDATION: ‘ WHOEVER BELIEVES WILL NOT BE IN HASTE.’ Isaiah 28:16

FOR NO ONE CAN LAY A FOUNDATION OTHER THAN THAT WHICH IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 3:11

The Cornerstone of Our Foundation can only be JESUS CHRIST ! It can’t be “ourselves”, and it surely cannot be laid upon the words of mankind and the world. People often say to me, “ you are pretty religious aren’t you ?” I laugh and say “Not Really”. I’ve laid My Foundation upon Jesus Christ. I Follow Him. His Way. His Truth. His Life. Striving to be on the narrow path; falling down and getting up; confessing and repenting. Moving FORWARD in His Mercy and Grace. HIS WILL, NOT MINE. HIS PATH AND PURPOSE. I know my failures and weaknesses. I know my sin and stupidity….but IT doen’t own me, because HE DOES ! When Jesus spent His time on earth, the Religious Leaders of the time did a lot of work developing a whole list of things to do and believe…but it was not in God’s Word. Governments and Rulers tried their best to be the center of power and authority, but every single one is simply in the dust bin of History. God’s Word today is often added to, mistranslated, changed, and incorrectly interpreted and applied. It was true in early Christianity, and it is true today. WHY ? Jesus made it very clear in His Words. There would be False Prophets and Teachers. There would be those who would not understand His Words because the Spirit of God was not in them. His Words and Parables to His Disciples are a constant reminder and focal point for us as well. Romans 12:2 states : DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. God surely has His Standards, and through Jesus we can actually meet them and have relationship. Is that a part of Your Foundation ?

TEACH ME GOOD JUDGEMENT AND KNOWLEDGE, FOR I BELIEVE IN YOUR COMMANDMENTS. Psalm 119:66

WHOEVER IS WISE, LET HIM UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS; WHOEVER IS DISCERNING, LET HIM KNOW THEM; FOR THE WAYS OF THE LORD ARE RIGHT, AND THE UPRIGHT WALK IN THEM, BUT TRANSGRESSORS STUMBLE IN THEM. Hosea 14:9

THE WORDS OF JESUS. Let them transform your mind. Let them become your heart’s Foundation. Finally, let them Manifest in your Actions ! Our pastor, Jason, at Illuminate gave an amazing sermon on Parables this last Sunday, and it truly made it abundantly clear how important it is to soak in ALL JESUS HAD TO SAY ! The Sermon On The Mount was truly life changing for those who heard it. It pushed aside all the ideas that they had considered foundational and for some, REBUILT THEIR FOUNDATION ON THE CORNERSTONE OF JESUS CHRIST. Put your trust in Him. Seek Him. Meditate on His Words. Pray deeply unto Him, and WATCH YOUR LIFE CHANGE AND YOUR FOUNDATION BECOME STRONG ! HE IS OUR ROCK:)

ROCK NOT SAND/JAA

BUT THE ANNOINTING THAT YOU RECEIVED FROM HIM ABIDES IN YOU, AND YOU HAVE NO NEED THAT ANYONE SHOULD TEACH YOU. BUT AS HIS ANOINTING TEACHES YOU ABOUT EVERYTHING, AND IS TRUE, AND IS NO LIE-JUST AS IT HAS TAUGHT YOU, ABIDE IN HIM. 1 John 2:27