1 Corinthians 15:58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
JESUS SAID THE WISE MAN BUILT HIS HOUSE OF THEIR LIVES UPON A ROCK
Matthew 7: 24-27: Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. ( two houses, two different foundations, and two different results)
• The foundation of the house of our lives is spiritual
• Built on the Rock of Jesus Christ and His Word
• The wise Christian hears and responds what they know in the Word
o Obeying the Word of God gives that solid foundation that weathers the storms of life
• The Word can fall on spiritually deaf ears
o Jesus said they have ears, but they don’t hear
o Eyes but they can’t see in Mark 8:18
o That is part of our prayer life to have spiritual eyes and ears
o Some hearers reject the Word right away – Psalm 50:17
• But the house or life of the person that is built on Jesus Christ
o Will stand firm in the storms of life
o You may get knocked down, but you will get back up
o Because of the WORD AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD
o That abides in the spirit part of us
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAY TOUGH IN SPIRIT
Proverbs 24:10-12: If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.11 If thou forbear to deliver [them that are] drawn unto death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it ? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? And shall [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?
• Adversity can sometimes show us where we are spiritually
• It shows us how our Christian Character has developed
• Don’t complain about your trials: The adversity you face today
o Is training you to be strong for more complicated situations in future
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH QUESTIONED GOD BECAUSE OF THE ADVERSITIES HE FACED.
The Lord asked Jeremiah: How he ever expected to face big challenges if the little ones wearied him.
Jeremiah 12:5: If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
• Adversity helps in our growth process
o Could you help us to grow stronger?
o As we learn to trust the Lord
o How are we going to face big challenges?
o If the little ones weary us
• But it is not our strength
• Be strong in the Lord and the Power of His might Eph 6:13
• In the Power of His Spirit – Zech 4:6
• Not our human mind, emotions, will, or reasoning
DEPEND ON GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY IN YOUR LIFE
FROM ITS BEGINNING TO ITS END, THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS DEPENDENT UPON THE GRACE OF GOD.
GOD’S GRACE OFFSETS HUMAN WEAKNESSES
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
BELIEVERS CAN PRAY FOR GRACE
Psalm 25:16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; For I am desolate and afflicted.
CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE CAN BE SUMMED UP IN TERMS OF GRACE
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
BELIEVERS SHOULD DESIRE TO EXPERIENCE MORE OF GOD’S GRACE
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
BELIEVERS ARE EMPOWERED TO SERVE JESUS CHRIST BY HIS GRACE
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in
EXPERIENCING GOD’S GRACE REQUIRES THE BELIEVER’S CO-OPERATION
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Let’s endeavor to be steadfast and unmoveable in the coming days
• Growing in the revelation of the knowledge of God and His Word
• Growing stronger in the Lord through all our Fiery trials and adversities
• God isn’t going to save you from the Fire; He will bring you through it
Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Please, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.