Standing Firm in a Firm Foundation
OPENING
This morning I’d like to talk to you about Standing Firm in a Firm Foundation. What it means to have a firm foundation and how do we know when we have one.
PISA
The leaning tower of Pisa, as you all know, is an amazing piece of architecture. The Tower of Pisa was a work of art, performed in three stages over a period of about 174 years. Construction of the first floor of the white marble tower began on August 9, 1173, a period of military success and prosperity for Italy.
After a phase of structural strengthening, the tower is currently undergoing gradual surface restoration, in order to repair visual damage, mostly corrosion and blackening. These are particularly strong due to the tower’s age and to its particular conditions with respect to wind and rain
But did you know that the tower of Pisa will eventually fall.
Scientists actually predict that it will fall sometime within this year - The year 2007. They report that the 179-foot tower moves about one-twentieth of an inch per year, and is now 17 feet out of plumb.
When Pisa does fall the 810 year old tower will have leaned too far and will collapse onto a nearby restaurant, which happens to be where Scientists now gather to discuss their findings about Pisa.
Time isn’t the main cause of Pisa’s dysfunctional architecture. Many other buildings the same age are still standing fine to this day. It isn’t so much weather and decay, either. The tower began to sink after construction progressed to the third floor. In an effort to compensate for the tilt, the engineers built higher floors with one side taller than the other. This made the tower begin to lean in the other direction. Because of this, the tower is actually curved. Pisa’s problem lies within the foundation. It is built on a swamp and its foundation is only 10” feet deep.
This means that from the day Pisa was built it was destined to fall.
Luke 6:46-49.
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck the house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck the house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Powerful words that Jesus spoke. He’s illustrating a person that truly does call themselves a Christian. This morning I want to talk to you about how to build a firm foundation and to truly put Gods word into practice.
DIG DOWN DEEP
The previous verse says we need to dig down deep when we lay our foundation if we truly call Jesus our Lord. What does that mean? How do we dig down deep for our foundation?
We need to go beyond the surface-level of Christianity.
- Not just showing up for church, but making our lives a worship to Christ.
Romans 12:1
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship.
- Not just faith, but deeds that reflect our faith.
Luke 8:22-26
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let’s go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we’re going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
- Not just reading the bible, but sharing it with others.
- Not just fellowship, but hospitality and true relationships with those in the church.
- Not lip service, but doing what God asks of us.
John 14:15
15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
We need to examine ourselves.
We need to take an honest look at our faith, our lifestyles, our relationships with others, and most importantly our relationship with God. We need to apply the teachings of Jesus in our lives.
James 2:18-19
18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
It’s not enough just to call Jesus our Lord. It doesn’t take much to proclaim Jesus as Lord. If that’s all you can say about your faith in God, then James says you have the same religion as the demons.
So what does a church with a strong foundation look like?
Each member would be:
- Active
- Faithful
- Encouraging
- Sound in the faith
- Committed
- Bearing Fruit
We need to dig down deep to make sure our foundation will last.
CORNERSTONE
Wikipedia says this about a cornerstone. It is set in a prominent location on the outside of a building, with an inscription on the stone indicating the construction dates of the building and the names of architect, builder and other significant individuals. The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire foundation.
Ephesians 2:19-21
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
Here in Ephesians Paul says that our foundation should be built on the apostles and prophets with Christ as our cornerstone. We understand that we are not only to abide by the words in red but also the words of God’s messengers – the apostles and prophets. We obtain this foundation by reading the bible. By studying… By understanding what God asks of us and how we need to live a fruitful life. We need to build our foundations on these things.
Through the studying of God’s word we begin to understand God’s character. We learn how to love our neighbors, how to create lasting marriages, how to seek the lost, and how to live fulfilling lives here on earth.
We also learn how to endure trials in this world. We are constantly surrounded by sin and ungodliness. Peter says that our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Without a strong, firm foundation we will not last in this world.
MATURITY
James 1:2-5
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
It is inevitable that we will face trials throughout our life. If Satan truly is Prince of this world then we need to be able to stand firm against him. James says that we should consider it pure joy when we face various trials because our faith is being tested. When our faith is tested and we have a strong foundation, we begin to mature.
Maturity is a vital part of a foundation. We mature by putting God’s word into practice. That means showing hospitality, showing up for church, encouraging others, learning, teaching, praying, growing in God, and spending time with others of like mind.
In order for us to mature, we need to make sure our original foundation is still intact. We need to keep studying, but always push on to make our foundation spread out further so we can build our faith upwards.
Hebrews 6:1-3
1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will do so.
We need to always press forward by pushing ourselves to do more for God. There is a benchmark we have in Christianity. And that benchmark is Jesus. Although we will never be perfect like him, we must strive to do so. Until we have become like Jesus we should never be content with our spiritual growth. We always have room to grow. Maturing is such an important part of the Christian lifestyle.
WE NEED TO BEAR FRUIT
If we have a strong foundation, then we should not fear the world. Nothing should shake us of our firm standing in our savior, Jesus Christ. The world is lost and God has given us the task of being lights in this world…the salt of the earth.
We call ourselves the Vineyard church of Christ. We need to live up to that name. Jesus says in:
John 15:4-6
4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
How many lost souls have you talked to about Jesus this last week? This last month? Or even in the last several years?
What has stopped you from spreading the gospel? Is it fear of not being able to have the right answers to the questions? Is it fear that people will persecute you?
If this is true, you have built a poor foundation. Jesus says we will bear much fruit if we remain in him. And when the storms of this world come, we should not be shaken.
CLOSING
When the storms of this world beat upon you and sin comes knocking at your door, do you shake? Does your faith stand firm when sin and doubt are in your life? During hardships and trials do you know where your stronghold is? Have you made Jesus your cornerstone? Have you made the scriptures and your relationship with Jesus your reference point for building your life? Do you know where your weaknesses lie? Satan does. He is always looking for cracks in our foundation. Years may go by before we realize Satan slipped in through a crack.
It’s been 810 years since the tower of Pisa was built. It’s beautiful. It truly is. But it’s useless. The bells that used to ring in the tower of Pisa cannot be rung any more. Nearly 100 years ago it was decided that the swinging motion of the bells was too dangerous for the tower.
How long will you stand? How long will your foundation hold? We’ll never know when the storms of this life will be cast upon us. We need to be ready. We need to be strong. We need to stand firm.
Jesus Christ wants us to stand fast. He doesn’t have to be our foundation, but he wants to be. He wants to give us life and hope and freedom from this dark world. In him we cannot fall.
I’d like to leave you with some of the most beautiful words I believe Jesus ever spoke.
John 15:10-12
10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Jesus wants us to have joy in our lives. To have love. He came to this world because he knew we needed help from this dark world. He knew we needed a foundation to keep us safe.
INVITATION
Today if you aren’t a Christian and you don’t have Jesus as your foundation, then today can be a new day for you. God is our father and he looks after his children. There are so many things in my life that have made me wonder where I would be if Jesus wasn’t my foundation. He has given me strength, patience, hope, love, and assurance that when this world is over there will be a victory for those who do as he asks.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
I urge you to come stand on this rock with me. This Rock that is Jesus Christ our Savior. It takes only a step to start changing your life.
