ON WHAT FOUNDATION ARE YOU BUILDING YOUR LIFE?

1 Corinthians 3: 11   "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,  which is  JESUS CHRIST."

The Lord Jesus Christ,  is the only sure foundation,   that we can safely build our lives upon.  The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the author of eternal life,  but He is the finisher also.  Eternal life,  begins  in  Him when we accept Him as our Saviour and then He begins a good  work  in us and He will complete that  work  because  HE IS FAITHFUL.  We will receive an eternal reward for trusting Him as our personal Saviour,  and we will live with Him in glory for ever and ever.  Through-out eternity,  we will not cease to sing His praises.

ALL HAIL KING JESUS,

ALL HAIL IMMANUEL,

KING OF KINGS

LORD OF LORDS,

BRIGHT MORNING STAR

Every day You give me breath,  I'll sing Your praises

And I'll reign with You through-out eternity.  

AMEN. 

WE CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND THE GOODNESS AND MERCY OF GOD,  WHO IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER BUT HE HAS,  IN THESE LAST DAYS,   REVEALED HIS GOODNESS AND MERCY TO US IN HIS ONLY SON,  THE LORD  JESUS CHRIST WHO WAS WILLING TO DIE ON OUR BEHALF.  HE BORE GOD'S PUNISHMENT FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE.  ALL MY SINS WERE LAID UPON HIM AND I DIED IN HIM ON THAT TREE.

THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAN THIS,  AND THERE IS NO GREATER WAY OF SHOWING THE UGLINESS OF OUR SIN.  THE CRUEL,  HORRIFIC DEATH OF THE LORD JESUS,  ON THAT TREE,  SHOWED US THE WRATH  OF GOD  -  HIS ANGER TOWARDS SIN.  THE LORD JESUS,  PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR REDEMPTION WITH HIS OWN, PRECIOUS BLOOD.  

HE OPENED THE WAY,  TO CALL OUT A SPECIAL PEOPLE TO HIS NAME.  THESE SPECIAL PEOPLE WHOM HE CALLED TO BE A PART OF HIS BODY,  HE PREDESTINATED,  TO BECOME HIS BRIDE.  HE WOULD HIMSELF PREPARE AND ADORN THAT BRIDE  AND ONE DAY,  PRESENT THAT BRIDE,  FAULTLESS  -  WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE,  BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY.

Listen to this lovely verse of praise sung by Losinda.

Jude 25.

Now unto Him who is able to keep,

Able to keep you from falling,

And present you faultless, 

Before the Presence of His glory,

With exceeding joy.

TO THE ONLY WISE GOD,  OUR SAVIOUR,

BE GLORY AND MAJESTY,

DOMINION AND POWER,

BOTH NOW AND FOREVER.

AMEN.    

THE LORD JESUS DOES NOT WANT US TO WORK  FOR  HIM.   HE WANTS TO LIVE HIS LIFE THROUGH US.

Anything that we do for God in our own strength  -  that is in the flesh,  will be burned up. When we operate in the flesh,  WE CAN ONLY BUILD A STRAW STACK.  When we  think  that God should be pleased with our  works,  no matter how praiseworthy they are,  we only deceive ourselves. They will be burned with fire.  We have to work the works of God if we want them to last throughout eternity.  We need to be clean,  because  GOD USES CLEAN VESSELS.

John 6:28   "Then said they unto him,  What shall we  do,  that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered,  and said unto them,  This is the work of God,  that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."   

These folk are asking what they can  do  to be saved.  Man has always felt that he is capable of working out his own salvation. He feels that God must accept his works.  Here we see that the  work  of God is not that which is commanded by God,  but it is that which has been wrought by God.  It is what  GOD HAS DONE  and not what we are able to do.  IT IS THE  WORK  OF GOD,  AND NOT,  THE  WORKS  OF MAN.  God has provided food for us,  and we need to partake of that food. He gives us an invitation,  and tells us to go out on the byways and highways and to invite all who would like to come to His banquet,  the meal is free,  but the food,  happens to be spiritual.  

Zechariah 4:6  "This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel,  saying,  Not by might,  nor by power,  but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts."

Notice that this is God's message to Zerubbabel.  Who is Zerubbabel?  He is the civil head of Jerusalem while Joshua is the religious head. Zerubbabel's great work was that of rebuilding the temple.  He was very discouraged because the work had been difficult and dangerous and the people had become very discouraged.  God gave this message to Zerubbabel  to encourage him,   and to strengthen his faith. This verse has great meaning for Zerubbabel and it has a very great principle for us today.

HERE IS THE MESSAGE.

NOT BY MIGHT,  NOR BY POWER,  BUT BY MY SPIRIT,  SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS.  

The words  might  and  power  are very interesting.

Might,  is a general word for human resources such as physical strength,  human ability,  efficiency or wealth. 

Power,   also denotes mere human strength  -  physical,  material  and mental strength 

Therefore,  the Lord said to Zerubbabel,  that it is not by lean flesh  -  muscle,  sinew,  or robustness,  that He works.  He works by the Spirit alone.  Zerubbabel and Joshua were represented by the two olive trees who were supplying oil to the lampstand.  You see,  it was not by cleverness,  or ability,  or strength,  that the temple would be rebuild. IT WAS ONLY BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD THAT THE TEMPLE WOULD BE REBUILT.  Oh dear reader,  if the Spirit of God is not working through you,  then whatever you are attempting to do for God,  will come to naught. God is not carrying out His work by using our cleverness or our ability.  He does not use mans brain,  or even clever preachers (unwashed) who deliver well composed sermons.  It is quite evident in our day that there are many religious  racketeers,  clever men who are backslappers. They are good public relations officers,  and are very good administrators.  They have nice personalities and a great deal of charisma and they can make a very good appeal. BUT GOD DOES NOT CARRY ON HIS WORK BY THE HUMAN INSTRUMENT.  Anything that we do by human effort,  that appeals to mans way of thinking,  GOD HATES,  AND HE WILL NOT USE IT.  Whatever we do,  if it is not Christ Jesus working through us,  it will come to nothing,  because it is nothing in the world but a  haystack and it will ultimately  be consumed by fire.  Oh dear reader,  this is so important.  It took me a long while to learn this truth.  We must decrease that Christ may increase  in  us and show us the things that He Himself is busy with.  He wants to work  in us and through us  HIS MARVELOUS PLAN OF SALVATION.  We are to be His witnesses,  in this very dark,  and sinful world.  God has a program and He is working everything out according to that program. 

Acts 15:18  "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world."

Ephesians 1:11   "...   who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will."

If we belong to Christ,  that is,   we have accepted Him as our personal Saviour,  because we believe that He died on the cross in our (deserved) place,  then,  we will  be in step with Him because,  He is the One who has called us,  and drawn us to Himself,  by His Word and Spirit and He has bestowed on us,  true faith.   He has justified us and He is in the process of sanctifying us. 

Romans 8:30  "Moreover whom He did predestinate,  them He also called,  and whom He called,   them He also justified:  and whom He justified,  them He also glorified."

The only way that we are able to  do works of righteousness is to cleanse ourselves from  all unrighteousness.  We must humble ourselves before the Lord Jesus Christ and take a spiritual bath.  We need to wash all the filth and the grime of this world from our hearts and minds.  As we read and study the Word of God,  we are spiritually washed and cleansed from all unrighteousness,  because we will confess our sins and He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1 John 1:9-10 "If we confess our sins,  He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,  and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned,  we make Him a liar,  and His Word is not in us."    

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are His workmanship,  created in Christ Jesus unto good works,  which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

WE ARE CHOSEN  IN  HIM,  AND WE ARE TO BE HOLY,  AND BLAMELESS.

Philippians 2:15 "That ye may be blameless and harmless,  children of God,  without rebuke,  in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,  among whom ye shine as lights in the world."

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST.

Hebrews  7:25-26 "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,  seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.  For such an high priest became us,  who is holy,  harmless,  undefiled,  separate from sinners,  and made higher than the heavens;

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WAS NOT ONLY  REALLY MAN AND PERFECTLY HOLY,  BUT ALSO,  HE IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.  HE,  HAS THE SAME ETERNAL AND INFINITE ESSENCE AS THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.   HE HAD TO HAVE THESE QUALIFICATIONS,  TO BE OUR SAVIOUR.

Once we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ,  we will have true faith,  filial fear,  a godly sorrow for sin,   and a hungering and thirsting after righteousness.  Oh dear reader,  if you do not hunger and thirst after righteousness,  if you do not have a godly sorrow for sin,   then perhaps you have not truly in your heart,  accepted the Lord Jesus as Saviour and you have not been born again.  May I ask you very gently,  and earnestly,   in all humility,  to just ask the Lord Jesus right now if you  are  truly in Him?  The Lord Jesus is the One who by grace alone saves us through faith.  Salvation is a gift.  It is not by works of righteousness that we are saved and therefore no one can ever boast,  but those who truly believe,  and are delivered  from sin and destruction through the death of Christ,  are saved for all eternity.  WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE AND WE ARE TO LIVE BY GRACE.

NOW,  AFTER WE HAVE BEEN SAVED,    

THE LORD JESUS HAS APPOINTED US TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT,  FRUIT,  THAT WILL LAST.

John 15:16  "Ye have not chosen me,  but I have chosen you,  AND ORDAINED YOU,  THAT YE SHOULD GO AND BRING FORTH FRUIT,  AND THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN:  THAT WHATSOEVER YOU SHALL ASK OF THE FATHER IN MY NAME,  HE MAY GIVE IT TO YOU."

God accomplishes His good pleasure,  in the elect.  He works in them true conversion.  He not only causes the gospel to be preached to them but He powerfully illuminates their minds by His Holy Spirit,  so that they may rightly understand,  and discern,  the things of the Spirit.  He softens the hardened heart and He circumcises that which is not circumcised.  This is wrought by the supernatural,  most powerful and truly delightful  work of God.  I cannot ever fully comprehend this,  but I know without a doubt,  that,  by this marvelous grace of God,  I am able to believe and love the Lord Jesus Christ who is my Saviour.  Faith is a gift.

Philippians 2:  12-13   "  ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

IT IS GOD WHO PRODUCES BOTH THE WILL TO BELIEVE AND THE ACT OF BELIEVING.

Anyone who becomes the subject of this marvelous grace,  will give Him,  who is the author of their salvation,  praise and thanks forever and ever.  The child of God is a priest and here are  4 sacrifices that as a child of God,  we are able to offer to God.

1)  You can sacrifice your person.

Romans 12:1  "I beseech you therefore,  brethren,  by the mercies of God,  that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,  holy,  acceptable unto God,  which is your reasonable service."

Our total personalities are a living sacrifice.  This is spiritual service.  

2)  You can sacrifice your purse.

2 Corinthians 8:4 "Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints."

That gift that they had taken up was a grace,  it was fellowship,  which means it was sharing Christ.

3)  You can offer the sacrifice of  praise.

Hebrews 13:15 "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually,  that is,  the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."

4)  You can offer the sacrifice of  performance.

Hebrews 13:16 "But to do good and to communicate  forget not:  for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."

The Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of the church,  is up in heaven at the right hand of God,  but His feet,  are down here.  He would like Christianity to be in shoe leather and He would like to walk  in your and my shoes.

WE ARE TO PUT ON THE NEW MAN.

Ephesians 4:24 "And that ye put on the new man,  WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS." 

We are to put off our old garment and we are to put on our new,  clean garment.  We cannot take off or put on the new garment by self effort or by striving to imitate Christ's conduct.

IT HAS BEEN DONE  FOR THE BELIEVING SINNER  BY THE DEATH OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.

Listen to this Sunday school chorus.

ALL THE WAY TO CALVARY HE WENT FOR ME, 

HE WENT FOR ME,  HE WENT FOR ME,

ALL THE WAY TO CALVARY HE WENT FOR ME,

AND HE HAS SET ME FREE.

Can you say AMEN to this chorus?

We are just like babies,  we cannot dress ourselves and as Christians we never reach the place where we will be able to dress ourselves so we DO NOT NEED TO TRY.   IT HAS BEEN DONE FOR US.

Romans 6:6 "Knowing this,  that our old man is crucified with Him,  that the body of sin might be destroyed,  that henceforth we should not serve sin."

We do not get rid of our old nature but we are not to live in it,  that is,  we are not to allow it to control our lives.

WE ARE TO LIVE IN OUR NEW NATURE  -  THE NEW MAN.

This new man is created in righteousness and true holiness  -  we have been declared righteous.  Christ's righteousness is imputed to us and therefore everything that we do should be consistent with the holy character of God.  Our walk down here should commensurate with our position.  God has given us everything  we need for life and godliness.

1 Thessalonians 1:11  "....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."  

 2 Peter 1:3 "According to His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,  through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue."

Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

God works out that which He has worked in.  He has saved us by grace plus nothing.  God is not accepting any kind of good works for salvation. The salvation that He worked in by faith is a salvation that He will work out also.  God knows if our faith is genuine but those around us only see our works of faith.  True faith will work itself out so that those around us will see that we are different,  that we are true Christians.  We will shine as lights in this dark world.

Philippians 2:16   "Holding forth the word of life:  that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,  that I have not run in vain,  neither labored in vain."

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation. We need to rejoice in the fact that the Lord Jesus died for us and that we can serve Him.  Our lives should commend the gospel and if we are walking in humility we will rejoice at the success of others.  We need to have the mind of Christ which will produce joy  in our lives and will bring glory to God.

2 Timothy 2:19  "The foundation of God standeth sure,  having this seal,  The Lord knoweth them that are His.  And,  Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

We are to depart from iniquity.  This is the way that people are going to know that Christ dwells in us.

1 Corinthians 3:13 "Now if any man build upon this foundation gold,  silver,  precious stones,  wood,  hay  and stubble;  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.  

The apostle Paul tells us that we can build on our sure foundation with six different kinds of material.  Gold,  silver,  precious stones,  wood,  hay and stubble.  Fire wont hurt the first three on the list.  It will purify the gold,  silver,  and the precious stones,  but it will soon get rid of the last three on the list. The believer is at liberty to work for a reward with any of these six materials.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15  "If any man' work abide which he hath 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." 

If we are building with gold,  it may not be very impressive right now, but it will last .  And if we are building a haystack,  it will clearly be seen from a distance,  but sadly,  it will go up in smoke.

IN CONCLUSION.

1 Corinthians 3:22  "Therefore,  let no man glory in men.  For all things are yours,  Whether Paul,  or Apollos,  or Cephas,  or the world,  or life,  or death,  or things present,  or things to come;   all things are yours,  AND YE ARE CHRIST'S,   AND CHRIST IS GOD'S.

Oh dear reader, it is marvelous to know that we do not have to be confined to one narrow group or one particular denomination.  Instead of being taught by only one particular preacher or teacher.  We can know,   that all the men of God,   belong to us.  HOW GLORIOUS IT IS THAT WE CAN MEET  AROUND THE PERSON OF CHRIST  WITH OTHER BELIEVERS WHO ARE  ON THE FOUNDATION WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST!

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