Founded On The Rock?

Matthew 7:24-27

Message No. 0712 | Twitter @GodandUs | www.wisdom-speaks.ca

When a salesman tells you that his product is tried and tested, you may have some doubts. We always do. With the same attitude we have towards politicians, we believe that the salesperson would say anything just to sell. However, when a user of a product tells you the same, you are happy and are confident that the product works the way it was designed, or at least, the flaws are known and can be managed.

Sadly, in Christianity, when an individual tells you he or she is a Christian, the attitude of the world is to exhibit the same doubts as they do the salesperson. Why? The reason is because there are too many people out there who claim to be Christians but are just imitations. The experience of people around them shows that they are either no Christians at all, or they have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). While some people are intentionally fake, others have gotten mixed up with the world so much that they rise today and fall tomorrow; there is no root from which their faith can draw and grow.

When Jesus was speaking to His followers in Matthew chapter 7, after teaching them many things, He gave them the antidote for failure in verses 24-27:

"Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The reason why many people fall is because they heard the Word but did not allow it to germinate at all. They come to church on Sunday, listen to the preacher, yell ‘Halleluia, preach it pastor!’ but even before they leave the church compound, they have started to forget what the preacher said. It is as though the Word came in through one ear and went out through the other. It’s just like the Parable of the Sower. In Mark 4:16-17, Jesus explained that the seed that fall on the rock are like the people who hear the Word and at once received it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short while.

The way to be an established Christian is to found your faith on the Rock. You need to not just hear the Word, you need to obey it as well. This means that you need to do what the Word says. It is of no use attending training if after the training you discard your training materials and never reference them again, or after the training you simply erase from your mind all that you learned or heard in the class. The wise person who sits in training will take notes, and when he or she comes back from training, will review the notes, and map out a plan of actions to utilize what was learned in the course.

What is your action plan to ensure that your faith does not shake in the days of adversity? Jesus said those who hear His Words and do them are like wise men who built their houses on the rock, and when the rain descended, the floods came and the wind blew and beat on that house, it did not fall, because it was built on the rock. Are you a reliable Christian? Upon what are you building your own house? Will your Anchor hold when temptations come? Can you be said to have been tried and tested?

PLEASE ACT NOW:

If you are yet to give your life to Christ, you do not have a covenant with God and His promises do not apply to you. To come under these promises, please surrender your life to Christ today, by praying this prayer:

Lord I know that I am a sinner and I am unable to save myself. I am sorry for my sins and I pray that you please forgive me. I am aware that Your Son Jesus died for my sins and I accept Him as my Lord and savior. I surrender my life unto you from this moment. Please take control of my entire being and help me to be obedient to your Word, going forward. Thank you, Lord, for hearing me. I have prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you prayed the foregoing prayer, you have just been born again. Please find a Bible believing church in your area and ask to see the pastor. Let him or her know that you have just given your life to Christ and s/he will guide you on next steps in your journey as a child of God. The Lord bless you!

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