Bible Study: Building a Rock Solid Foundation in Christ

Feeling safe in God's presence

Building a life on God's foundation

Why trusting in God is crucial during trials

The importance of not building life on worldly things

I feel safest here. Why do I feel safe here? Because this is where Jesus resides. This is where God resides. This is where the Holy Spirit resides. This is where his, this is his house. This is God's house. We just come to visit. This is God's house, okay? And when I come to God's house, I feel safe. I feel safe from all the trials and tribulations of life. For just a few moments, on a Sunday morning, I can feel like I can put everything else aside and I can just focus on Him. And it feels like all the trials and all the stuff kind of fades into the background. We all go through stuff. There's not one of us that has not gone through tough and difficult times. And I'm not even talking COVID-19 and Delta variants and all this stuff. I'm not even talking about that. Although that's been a very, very difficult thing for people. I'm not even talking about that. I'm talking about Christians go through things. Physical problems, spiritual problems, emotional problems, financial problems. We go through things. It happens. And sometimes we just don't know what we're going to do. I know I've been there. I've been there. when things have gone bad for me and I've gone and I've gone, what am I going to do, Lord? What am I going to do? Well, what can you do when things are bad? What can you do when things are going backwards? What can you do? Trust in Him. That's what you can do. And I want to share with you something that Jesus told people that they need to do to be blessed by God. In Matthew chapter 7, starting in verse 24, he says these words, Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him unto the wise man which builds his house upon a rock. Really, if you get right down to it, when you read this, it could say something a little different. it could say who built his house upon the rock, the rock Christ Jesus. That's what it could say. See, the rock Christ Jesus is the only foundation that is really going to matter. See, we can build our lives on financial things. We can build our lives on our health. We can build our lives on all of it, but they're all going to fail. See, for years and years I thought, boy, I'm healthy. I'm good. I've got no troubles. And as I'm getting older now, things are starting to break down, you know. Back issues that I had when I was in my 20s that was a little bit bad now that I'm getting way up there are starting to feel worse and worse every day. Two torn ligaments in the knees, and they're getting worse every single day. Every so often I've got to pop my knee back into a joint, because it'll pop out. Shoulders ache. How if the hernia gets bad? Things like that are happening, and that's why I'm trying my best to eat healthier and trying to be healthier, trying to eat more foods that are good for inflammation, to kind of keep down the inflammation in the back and the knees and all that type of stuff. Trying to be a little more healthier. But see, the point is we can build our lives on our health, but our health will fail eventually. We cannot be healthy forever. It's just not going to happen, you know. But people do. people will build their lives upon their bank accounts and they'll say well I got this amount in the bank account I'm good yeah well what if God forbid something would happen like happened with the Great Depression all the banks failed and then nobody's got nothing then you built your life on that and that's all gone then what do you build your life on then where do you stand you know the idea here is Jesus was saying you've got to build your life on God it's the only thing that's going to matter because that's the only thing that's going to stand when everything else fails I like that verse 25 says and when the rains descended and the floods came and the winds blew and it beat upon the house it fell not because it was founded on the rock and I love that the old trials and tribulations will come in and believe me when trials come it seems like one after another after another after another after another have you ever gone through that? yeah it feels like that sometimes we go through things just like Job went through we can see Job Job was the example for us Job had disaster after disaster after disaster and Job had disasters of every kind think about it every kind of disaster you can think of Job experienced it all in a matter of moments he lost family, he lost wealth he lost health and he had spiritual battles what do I mean by spiritual battles? his wife came and she said God has forsaken you, he doesn't care anymore Why don't we just curse God and die? That's a spiritual battle. Job experienced everything in a matter of moments yet in all this. Job sinned not. Nor charged God foolishly. Why? Even though Jesus had not yet come, his life was founded upon the rock. His life was founded upon God. And that's why Job didn't sin. That's why Job didn't give up, even in all the trials. And when we have all the trials come in and just hit us one after another after another after another, the old statement, when it rains, it pours, right? We've heard that, right? That's what it is. When it rains, it pours. And when trials come, it just seems like it just comes and goes. just after and after. And it's like, is there ever going to be an end to this? That's when you've got to just stand on the rock, Christ Jesus, and realize that even though the trial's coming, even though it may beat against the house, even though it may make the house kind of you know wobble a little bit it not going to fall because it founded upon the rock of Christ Jesus Verse 26 says, Everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does them not is like unto the foolish man which built his house upon the sand. And that's exactly what we do sometimes. We build our lives, and we'll see this so much, we'll build our lives on, people will build their lives on the hopes of government. Worst thing you can do. Worst thing you can do is build your life on that, oh, the government's going to be okay. This government is not going to be okay. All you've got to do is look at the government situation. And all they do is bicker and banter and fuss and fume and fight and carry on like children. I don't apologize for that. I don't apologize for that. Now, some people may sit there and say, oh, that's a blowpad. I don't think it's harsh at all. You look at them, they act like children up there. They're supposed to be the example for us as a nation of how we are to act and how we are to conduct ourselves. And they act like children. They act worse than kids on a playground sometimes. I mean, I've never seen grown adults act more stupid. Pardon me. But, I mean, they do. They act more stupid up in Washington than children on a playground sometimes. Sitting there screaming, and I ain't getting my way. Well, bless your heart. We'll pat you on the head and sit in your hole. You know? I mean, it's terrible. It's terrible. What we do, we put our hope and our trust in government. The government's going to fail us. It's going to fail us. Politicians will fail us every single time. It's going to happen. It's going to happen. But Jesus will not fail you. God will not fail you. And see, that's the point. But we put our trust in the sinking sands of this world. And I go back to it. Every time I think about the sinking sands of this world, I think about the psalm that says, this world is not my home, I'm just passing through. Why? Because my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. You know, that's what we've got to do. This world, all the things that we have, we all have things that we love. I mean, there's things that we, you know, collections we have. We all collect things, probably. Some of us, I'm sure, will have stuff that we like to collect of some sort. But the idea is we're not taking that with us. We've taken nothing with us when we leave. When we leave this world, everything that we own stays here. We've taken nothing with us. You've got a fancy car and you love it. Well, good for you. You ain't driving it into heaven. you got a beautiful house and you love it well it's not going to be transported from here up to heaven and then you're going to live in it there that's not going to happen it's not going to happen you got all your favorite little things that you enjoy to putting things on the shelf like maybe figurines or whatever you ain't putting them in a case or putting them in the U-Haul it's not going to happen we ain't taking nothing with us the only thing that we can take with us is a blood-bought experience. An experience that is with Jesus. That's the only thing that we can take with us. That's it. That's it. But so many people are putting their trust in this world, in their finances, in their health, in the government, in the things that they own. Oh, this is... It's all going to fail. see because the Bible talks about the rain falls upon the just and what does it say the unjust the rain falls upon everybody ain't nobody that gets away from trials and tribulations ain't nobody gets away with this type of stuff it happens to everybody oh well my let me tell you something Christians bodies break down and we get sick. It happens to sinners too. It happens to sinners too. So we can't sit there and say that. It happens to everybody. But the difference between the sinner and the saint is the fact that the sinner doesn't have nothing to lean on where the saint has Jesus to lean on. Hallelujah. That's the difference. And the rain is going to descend and the flood is going to come and the winds are going to blow and they're going to beat upon the house of mortal plague and the one that doesn't have Jesus is going to collapse and say, why is this happening to me? And the one that does have Jesus is going to be able to say, you know what? Like Joe, naked came I out of my mother's womb, naked shall I return to the Lord gave and the Lord take us away, blessed be the name of the Lord. because Job knew it wasn't about what we own here, it's about what we have here that's all that matters and if God be for us who can be against us amen, that's the point and see, God is for us continuously making intercession on our behalf when we pray. See, this is the thing. This is good. The Lord just told me something this morning. I didn't have this. This is awesome. Why do we pray? You ever wonder about that? God knows everything. God knows our heart. God knows what we have need of. God knows it before we know it. So why do we pray? Why do we pray? Why do we say, Lord, you know, this is my need? Why do we pray? If God already knows about it. God just spoke to me and revealed something to me that is so cool. God is the righteous judge. You ever notice that? You ever watch a judge show? You ever watch one of those? And the plaintiffs and the defendant come in and they have to present their case before the judge, and the judge has to rule and all that type of stuff. That's kind of what it is. We bring our desires, our problems, our cares, our worries, our fears to the Lord, and we say, Lord, here it is. This is what is bothering me. And Jesus, as basically like a lawyer, if you will, takes and presents our case to the judge. Then the judge looks and says, okay, do they really need this? You think, Jesus? Yeah, I do think they need it. And God says okay granted That awesome That why we pray That why we bring our petitions to the Lord It's because Jesus is the one that brings them to God. And then he decides, okay, they do need it. He is the one making intercession on our behalf. Isn't that awesome? Isn't that amazing? That's, oh, that is so cool. That is so cool. That is why we pray. That is why we go to the Lord in prayer. That's beautiful. That's all God right there. That's beautiful. I love this. Verse 28 says that it came to pass. When Jesus had ended this saying, when he had finished telling this story of the wise man and the foolish man. Something interesting happened. The people were astonished at his doctrine. At what he had said. They were literally awestruck at what they had just heard. Why? Verse 29 says, For he taught them as one having authority. and not as a scribe. Whoa. Okay, that's a little harsh. But it's true. Okay, so what's the difference between Jesus with the authority and the scribe? Well, a scribe was just someone that felt they had all the answers. That's basically what it was. They had studied the law of Moses and they felt they knew everything. I'm not too big-headed to sit there and say, I'm not going to sit there and say that. Oh, I know this. I'm still learning this. I'm still learning the Bible. I'm still learning every single day. I'm going to tell you something. I will probably still be learning this Bible, but if I lived to be 120, I'd still be learning more about this Bible, because you can't exhaust it. Amazing, there was a Native American, I've told this before, but it's so cool. My dad would tell us when he was growing up, when he first got into God and got into being a Christian, in his teenage years, later teenage years, he would go to church, and they would have a Native American preacher that would come, but he never carried a Bible. He never carried a Bible. And they were so amazed about this, but they had him come all the time because they literally called him the walking Bible because he could quote a Bible from Genesis to Revelation. And I'm not kidding. My dad told me they pulled him. They tested him on this all the time. They would say, Jude 3, quote it. Okay, try, let's say, Psalm 5, verse 3. Quote it. Ezekiel, Daniel, Proverbs, and they called out, he'd quote it and they'd watch it, and he would quote out verses every single time. It's amazing. thy word have I hidden my heart that I might not sin against thee right that man was amazing quoting the scripture that's why he didn't leave the Bible it was all here it was all here he could quote it in a moment's notice and I'm going to tell you something when a government comes and they may when a government comes to close up the doors of the house and to take files out of our hands and burn them, there is one thing they can't take from us, and it is what we have planted in our heads and in our hearts. Because they can't take that away. They can't take that away. And that's what's going to matter. That's what's going to matter. What we've planted in our minds and in our hearts, they can't take that away. And I'll go a step further. when you have these words planted in your mind and in your heart when the rains descend and the floods come and the winds blow against you and you feel the trials and tribulations of Satan coming in on you so heavy and you don't know if you're going to make it that's when you can pull out those beautiful words of comfort out of your mind and your heart and you can quote them against Satan And when Satan hears those words of the Lord, you know what he's going to do? He'll run. Satan's going to run. Because Satan cannot stand God's holy word. Satan can't stand it. So I'm saying this this morning to you, and that is simply this. when all the trials come, when all the tribulations come, when everything is so tough and you just don't know if you're going to make it, build your house on the rock, Christ Jesus. Because everything may be going wrong, but the rock just stands strong. We may tremble on the rock. We may tremble on the thing that all the stuff that's going on in our lives. We may sit there and go, well, I don't know if I'm going to make it, but if we have the rock Christ Jesus as our cornerstone of our life, there is nothing that this world can throw against us that is going to make us tremble and make us fall because the rock just stands strong. Hallelujah. Before we conclude this morning, I feel like I need to do this. yesterday was the anniversary of 9-11 20 years and that's hard to believe can you believe it's been 20 years but I said yesterday on my radio show I said we all remember where we were when 9-11 happened right and I remember I was in my studio recording music and I came up mom and dad were gone they were out doing work for the church and I was in the studio recording music and came up out of the studio and television was on and as I came up and I looked and I saw all this going on I said what in the world is happening here so I stopped and I just watched for a few moments and I sat down and I went what in the world is happening here And I watched and I saw. And then before long, mom and dad pulled in the parking lot and came in and they said, we have to come home and see what going on And we sat and we watched this And it was amazing to see what was going on It was hard to believe that this had even happened I couldn believe it I would never have dreamed it. But the thing that made it so amazing to me was the night before. I've told this story before but it's so true. at midnight 9-11 midnight before the attacks would happen the next morning something in my mind and it had to be God said get a guitar and start writing well okay so I got my my pad out, I got my guitar out, I started playing, and this came before me. And this song, every time I think about it, it's an inspiration to me, and I hope it's an inspiration to other people. And it simply says, the rock just stands strong. So I'm going to sing that song for you this morning, and I want you to just put your trust in Him. Maybe you're going through something today. Maybe something is bothering you today. Realize that if you stand upon the rock, you may tremble. But the rock just stands strong. I hope you get a blessing from this today. Troubles come and troubles go All of the time They come no matter Rain or shine When troubles come my way I just sing a gospel song I'm a tremble on the rock But the rock just stands strong Well, I'm in my house On the rock And that's where I abide I just stay real close to him And he's right there by my side Well, the waves seem so high Wait, it just seems so long, don't you know that? Well, I may tremble along the rock, but the rock just stayed strong. Well, there are days I feel I don't have a friend. I feel as if I'd be friendless to the end. Well then I realized that I, well I couldn't be more wrong. Cause I'd be trembling on the rock, but the rock just stands strong. Well I built my house upon the rock, and that's where I abide. I just stay real close to him, and he's right there by my side. When the waves seem so high and the waves just seem so long Don't you know that I've been trampled on the rock But I'm proud to stand strong When the waves seem so high and the waves just seem so long Don't you know that I've been trampled on the rock Yes, I've been trampled on the rock Oh, I may tremble on the rock, but the rock just stands strong. Stand strong. And that is so true. Let's bow our heads before the Lord this morning. As we bow our heads before the Lord this morning, maybe you are going through something this morning. Maybe there's something that is, you're just looking and you're saying, God, I don't know if I'm going to make it through this today. I don't know if I can handle it. I don't know if I can make it. Would you be honest to God and say, Lord, I need help today. Would you be honest to God and raise up the hand and say, Lord, help me today. Oh, hands going up this morning. Hands going up this morning. Father God, you saw hands in this house this morning. Maybe you're watching the video this morning or this afternoon or this evening, whenever you're watching it. And you're saying, I'm going through something too. I want you to raise your hand wherever you're at watching this as well. Father God, you saw hands going up today. People saying, I need something. I'm going through something, God. And I need the strength of the Lord. I need to have the strength of the rocked Christ Jesus in my life. I need that strength to strengthen me. to stand strong with the Lord and in the power of His might. Father God, I pray for those ones that raised up their hand this morning. I pray, Father God, you will strengthen them from on high, that you will open up the windows of heaven this morning, Father God, that you will pour that down upon them, Father God, that they will have strength in their bones, that they will have strength in their souls, that, Father God, that they will feel the strength of the Lord empowering them right now, then nothing, absolutely nothing that they see from Satan will discourage them because they will know that they may tremble on the rock, but the rock just stands strong. And they, because they stand on the rock, they are going to be coming through more than a conqueror. I pray it right now in Jesus' name, Father God. I pray that you will strengthen your people today, Father God that they will be strengthened from on high and will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you care and you are concerned. I pray for them right now in Jesus name. And now Father God I just want to thank you for today. I want to thank you for the blessing that it is to be in your house. I want to thank you Father God that we can be together. I pray Father God your continued protection upon us. Father God we already prayed about it but I pray your continued protection upon us, that we will be saved from all the evils of this world, that Satan cannot destroy what you have built and we will be more than conquerors because of you. Father God, as we dismiss, Father, don't dismiss us, but Father God, go with us, keep us safe, and then Father God, bring us back safe into your house next time that we might be able to worship you together one more time. Father, for all that you are, for all that you do, we praise you and thank you for all for it's in Jesus name we beg these blessings we say a hearty amen Thank you.

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