Building a Firm Foundation on God's Promises
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of building our lives on the right foundation, which is provided by God. He uses the analogy of following directions to reach a destination, explaining that we cannot expect to walk in God's promises if we do not listen to His plan and follow His instructions for our lives. The pastor shares a personal example of how sometimes we may feel disappointed with God's apparent inactivity, but it is often because we are not listening to His instructions and waiting for Him to act.
The pastor then reflects on the importance of having a solid foundation in God. He shares a personal experience of going through a difficult season in life. Prior to this season, everything seemed under control, but the pastor admits to living a self-sufficient life, relying on their own abilities and ideas. However, when the storm came, the pastor had to make a choice: to stand on the solid rock of God's faithfulness or to get angry and question God. Despite the shaking ground and the challenging moments, the pastor chose to stand upon the firm foundation they had built over the years.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accepting God's grace. He acknowledges that many people strive to build their lives on a foundation of self-sufficiency and control, only to realize that this foundation is rooted in sin. However, God offers a firm foundation, one that is freely given and does not require striving or earning. The pastor encourages the congregation to embrace humility, explaining that humility is not a weakness but a source of strength. By humbling ourselves and acknowledging our need for God, we open ourselves up to receive His wisdom and grace.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of accepting Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior. He explains that this acceptance begins with believing that Jesus went to the cross, was buried, and was raised by God on the third day for the forgiveness of sins. The pastor highlights that all individuals are born into a condition of sin, and only Jesus can save them and provide a firm foundation for their lives. The congregation is invited to pray a prayer of acknowledgement, surrender, and commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior.
The pastor concludes the sermon by emphasizing the importance of building a firm foundation on the solid rock. He compares building a solid foundation to eating an elephant, stating that it is done one bite at a time. Similarly, building our lives on a solid foundation is done one brick at a time, by choosing to trust in God and placing each brick on His sure foundation. The pastor uses the analogy of building a house to illustrate the significance of every decision we make. Just as every brick matters in constructing a house, every decision we make in our lives matters in building a solid foundation.
Key Takeaways:
- Building our lives on the right foundation, which is provided by God, is crucial. We cannot expect to walk in God's promises if we do not listen to His plan and follow His instructions for our lives. Sometimes, we may feel disappointed with God's apparent inactivity, but it is often because we are not listening to His instructions and waiting for Him to act. [12:45]
- When faced with storms and challenges in life, we must choose to stand on the solid rock of God's faithfulness rather than getting angry and questioning God. Despite the shaking ground and the challenging moments, standing upon the firm foundation built over the years will help us weather the storm. [24:30]
- Many people strive to build their lives on a foundation of self-sufficiency and control, only to realize that this foundation is rooted in sin. However, God offers a firm foundation, one that is freely given and does not require striving or earning. Embracing humility and acknowledging our need for God opens us up to receive His wisdom and grace. [36:15]
- Accepting Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior is the first step towards building a firm foundation in God. This acceptance begins with believing that Jesus went to the cross, was buried, and was raised by God on the third day for the forgiveness of sins. All individuals are born into a condition of sin, and only Jesus can save them and provide a firm foundation for their lives. [48:00]
- Building a solid foundation is done one brick at a time, by choosing to trust in God and placing each brick on His sure foundation. Every decision we make in our lives matters in building a solid foundation. Just as every brick matters in constructing a house, every decision we make in our lives matters in building a solid foundation. [59:30]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 4:6: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
2. Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
3. Matthew 7:24: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Observation Questions:
1. In James 4:6, what is the contrast being made and what does it imply about our relationship with God?
2. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 suggest about our reliance on our own understanding versus trusting in God?
3. What is the significance of the analogy used in Matthew 7:24 about building a house on the rock?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the contrast in James 4:6 between the proud and the humble relate to our understanding of God's grace?
2. In Proverbs 3:5-6, what does it mean to 'submit to God in all our ways' and how does this relate to the promise of God making our paths straight?
3. How does the analogy in Matthew 7:24 of building a house on the rock apply to our lives and our relationship with God?
Application Questions:
1. Can you identify a recent situation where you relied on your own understanding instead of trusting in God? How could you have handled it differently?
2. Think of a time when you felt proud or self-sufficient. How did this affect your relationship with God and how can you cultivate humility in such situations?
3. Reflect on your life's foundation. Is it built on the rock of God's word and promises or on the shifting sands of self-sufficiency and control? What steps can you take to strengthen your foundation in God?
4. What is one decision you can make this week that reflects your trust in God and contributes to building your life on His solid foundation?
5. Can you think of a person in your life who doesn't know Jesus as their Lord and Savior? How can you share the gospel with them this week?
Devotional
Day 1: Listening to God's Instructions
God's promises for our lives are contingent on our willingness to listen to His plan and follow His instructions. It's easy to feel disappointed when we perceive God as inactive, but often, this is because we are not attuned to His instructions and are impatient for Him to act. [12:45]
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt God was inactive. Could it be that you were not listening to His instructions or waiting for His timing?
Day 2: Standing on God's Faithfulness
When life's storms hit, we have a choice: to stand on the solid rock of God's faithfulness or to question Him in anger. Despite the shaking ground and challenging moments, standing on the firm foundation built over the years will help us weather the storm. [24:30]
Psalm 62:6 - "Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken."
Reflection: What is one storm you are currently facing? How can you choose to stand on God's faithfulness during this time?
Day 3: Embracing Humility and God's Grace
Many strive to build their lives on self-sufficiency and control, only to realize that this foundation is rooted in sin. God offers a firm foundation, freely given, requiring no striving or earning. Embracing humility and acknowledging our need for God opens us up to receive His wisdom and grace. [36:15]
James 4:6 - "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: 'God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.'"
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you have been striving for control? How can you surrender this to God and embrace His grace?
Day 4: Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior
Accepting Jesus Christ as one's Lord and Savior is the first step towards building a firm foundation in God. This acceptance begins with believing in Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. All individuals are born into a condition of sin, and only Jesus can save them and provide a firm foundation for their lives. [48:00]
Acts 4:12 - "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Reflection: Have you truly accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? What does this acceptance look like in your daily life?
Day 5: Building a Solid Foundation
Building a solid foundation is done one brick at a time, by choosing to trust in God and placing each brick on His sure foundation. Every decision we make in our lives matters in building a solid foundation. Just as every brick matters in constructing a house, every decision we make in our lives matters in building a solid foundation. [59:30]
1 Corinthians 3:11 - "For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one decision you are facing today? How can you ensure this decision contributes to building a solid foundation in God?
Quotes
"Following God's instruction leads to wisdom, but this is not just any wisdom, this is his wisdom because our own wisdom leads again to pride." [24:15]
"Self-sufficiency is the antithesis of trusting in God. Godly humility is the antidote to self-sufficiency. When we acknowledge our need for God, we become less self-reliant and fully reliant on him." [25:37]
"I could choose to stand upon the solid rock, my firm foundation, because I truly believe that it's not just the decision that I made then that mattered, it was the years of decisions that I made leading up to that moment that every brick that I placed on his firm foundation made it easier that when the storm came, that I could lean on him." [33:22]
"We can trust God because he has our best interests at heart we can turn away from cynicism turn away from our own knowledge our own experiences and learn to lean on him on his foundation not our own understanding because we build upon his Firm Foundation by placing our trust in God rather than our own understanding." [29:00]
"Humility is found when we realign our understanding that we need God, that we're not self-reliant... God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." [15:15]
"The truth is that we can't wait for the storm to start to frantically start building the house... today is the day for us." [16:47]
"We can't expect to get to all that God has promised to us if we don't follow the directions... God's instructions for us require action." [22:13]
"Today is the day to build a firm foundation...one brick at a time...choosing to trust in him and placing it on his Shore Foundation." [18:10]
"Every brick matters, every decision matters...am I going to place this brick on the solid rock or am I going to place it on my own foundation?" [19:25]
"Accepting Jesus Christ as your lord and savior it starts with believing that he went to the cross the grave and God raised him on the third day for the Forgiveness of your sin because ultimately the condition that we're all born into is that condition of sin and it's only Jesus that can save us so that we can be on the Firm Foundation amen." [40:23]
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