373 - A Solid Foundation, Fearless in Storms#
373 - A Solid Foundation, Fearless in Storms
(JP Text Group - shalom 整理)
Dear brothers and sisters, peace in the Lord, welcome to your arrival.
Matthew 7:24-29:
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. 25 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. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for preparing such a wonderful time for us to receive your words together. We are willing to lay down our roots in your words, so that when the storms come, we can rely on your words to overcome everything. Holy Spirit, help every brother and sister to know you more, and let us hold onto the truth in our lives. In receiving your words, let us have a humble heart. Bless the following time, and especially bless every brother and sister who comes to seek you. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.
The topic we share today is: A Solid Foundation, Fearless in Storms
God's words are a real help in our lives and serve as a guide for our lives. From the moment a person is born until the end of life, everyone's experiences are different. There is no book in the world that can tell you how to achieve complete victory, unless you meet Jesus. In Jesus Christ, we not only receive His life, but He also teaches us how to overcome in life.
Do not treat the Bible as just a book; it is life, it is our guide in life. God has placed eternal life in the Bible, and those who seek will find it. We do not know how to overcome, we hope for wisdom, we hope to handle interpersonal relationships well, we hope to overcome various bad habits. God has already placed the methods of victory in His words. When you see God's truth and often meditate on it, you will gain wisdom.
This is like the foundation of a house. When the foundation is solid, the house can be built up without collapsing during storms. People who hear the truth but do not believe it, and act according to their own will, do so because their foundation is not solid, or they do not fully believe God's words. When problems and tribulations come, they collapse like a house with an unstable foundation.
The first point I want to share is: The foundation of the righteous is to believe in Jesus.
This passage records that two people went to build houses, but they chose different locations, resulting in completely different outcomes. This is like our life's journey; it is equivalent to saying that we are all building houses, but because the foundations are different, the future outcomes are also different. On the surface, it seems similar; both are building houses. Believers also have daily meals, various social interactions, and will encounter tribulations; non-believers will also face such situations.
It is like both are building houses, and sometimes non-believers build their houses quickly and magnificently, which can lead some Christians to question, "Look, I believe in Jesus, why is my situation not as good as theirs?" Think about it: if someone builds a house without a foundation, they will definitely build it faster than someone who builds with a foundation! Dealing with the foundation takes a lot of time, and it is all underground, so many people cannot see what you are busy with. Only when the house is built can people see how much has been constructed!
The taller the house is built, the higher the requirements for the foundation. The words of Jesus Christ are the foundation of our lives and the principles for victory in our lives. Only by believing in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross, being justified by faith, memorizing these truths, and applying them in our lives can we rely on these truths to overcome when storms come! Many people, when faced with problems or when their prayers are not answered, begin to doubt whether God exists or whether He has abandoned them. The reason is that their foundation is not solid.
We are not just learning knowledge or theory; we need to make these truths a part of our lives. Unless we believe, God has made a covenant with us that will never change. Otherwise, when difficulties arise, we will inevitably doubt. We must believe that Jesus loves us, that the Heavenly Father loves us, and will never abandon us! Having such a conclusion proves that your foundation is already solid. Many people do not understand this principle; when they first believe, they blindly pursue various gifts or are eager to serve, which is like trying to build a house without a foundation. When storms come, it is easy for the house to be blown down or washed away by rain.
Psalm 11:1-3:
1 In the Lord I take refuge; how then can you say to me: "Flee like a bird to your mountain." 2 For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart. 3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?
David encountered many difficulties and tribulations in his life and had moments of weakness. He wondered, "I trust in the Lord; why do those people always bully me?" They even told him, "Go, fly to your mountain!" The wicked seemed to always be bending their bows to shoot at him. David did not understand, but every time he encountered trouble, he would rely on God. When he turned his gaze to our God, he understood. He once saw the wicked in the world without trouble, living well, and dying without pain. He did not understand until one day, in the house of God, he saw their end, and David understood everything!
Brothers and sisters, when the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? If, when trouble comes, we begin to doubt God or even say we do not believe God's words, it is equivalent to saying that the foundation has been destroyed, and the righteous can do nothing. If you do not believe in God, how can you rely on Him? Denying the Bible and not believing God's words, how can you have faith? Therefore, these foundations must not be shaken. Hallelujah! This is why we always encourage everyone to read God's words more, to place these words in our hearts, and not to analyze them but to believe. The extent to which you can believe is the extent to which you receive.
Isaiah 28:16: Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic."
We should understand who this verse refers to. The stone laid in Zion refers to our Lord Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ is the rock, the tested stone. What does this mean? The wind blows and the rain falls, but the stone does not change; no matter how strong the wind and rain, this rock will not change direction, and it is deeply rooted in one place, a tested stone, a sure foundation.
If a person finds a solid stone to build a house, that house will stand on the rock, and when the wind blows and the rain falls, it will not be shaken because of the solid foundation! This is why many people dig deep into the ground to build their foundations on the rock, using steel bars or concrete to create a stable and solid foundation, ensuring that the house will not collapse. Jesus Christ is that solid foundation, the precious cornerstone!
Do you know what a cornerstone is for? If a house does not have a cornerstone, there is no standard to refer to, and the house may become crooked as it is built. Without the wind and rain, it may collapse on its own. The construction of the house is based on this cornerstone, and it is always built up from it. We should take God's words as our standard and Jesus Christ as our direction. No matter how much work you build on top, it will not collapse, and the foundation is on Jesus Christ, and God will take responsibility! When the wind blows and the rain falls, the foundation will take effect; those who rely on our God will never be stricken with panic! In the New Testament, another term is used: they will never be put to shame. When the foundation is solid, we will not fear when storms come.
1 Peter 2:4-9:
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," 8 and, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Jesus Christ is not only the rock; He is also the living stone that gives life. Therefore, when we build our works in Jesus Christ, it is not like the dead construction of the world; we are building a living soul project! Jesus Christ was once rejected by people because they felt that Jesus did not act according to their wishes, so they discarded Him. However, what Jesus did was in accordance with God's will and is considered precious by God! Therefore, when we come to Jesus Christ, we are like living stones. Many of the things we do may not be understood by the world, and many may even despise you, but what we are doing is building a spiritual house, not a worldly construction. We are building a palace for souls, a living one, serving as holy priests.
In the Old Testament, the work of the priests was to connect God and people. When someone sinned, they would bring a sacrifice to the priest, who would offer the sacrifice on their behalf, transferring their sins to the sacrifice, reconciling them with God. Once reconciled, their prayers would be heard by God. As holy priests, we are different from other priests; we are to tell the world what Jesus has done, to declare that Jesus is the living stone and the rock, the unchanging foundation.
We can build on that, and this work will exist permanently. Through Jesus Christ, we are accepted by God! Therefore, our prayers in the name of the Lord Jesus are pleasing to God. When we do good deeds in the name of Jesus and help others, this is considered a spiritual sacrifice that God accepts. Hallelujah!
Earlier, we read Isaiah 28:16, and Peter quoted that verse: "See, I lay a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion."
Why mention Zion? Mount Zion corresponds to Mount Sinai; Mount Sinai represents the law because God gave the Ten Commandments there. But what about Mount Zion? It is where Jesus Christ was offered, the place where we receive life! Therefore, Mount Zion represents God's grace. We do not rely on Moses' Ten Commandments; we rely on Jesus Christ. Those who trust in Jesus Christ will never be put to shame. In other words, whatever you build on this rock, whether it is a house or a project, you will not be put to shame. When storms come, this foundation is trustworthy. When the rain falls and the waters rise, you need not worry that the house will be washed away because everything depends on the foundation.
Those who believe are precious in God's sight. We have merely changed the location of our work; some build on sand, while we build on the rock of Jesus Christ! Many people also hope to bring glory to their ancestors, to be famous in the world, to achieve great things and make contributions. This is good! However, we merely wish to do our work on the rock of Christ, giving glory to our Heavenly Father. On the surface, there may not be much difference because what we do is also beneficial to the world. Amen!
It is just that we build on the rock of Christ, which is recognized by God, and there will be eternal rewards! Sometimes our building is not understood by others, just like when Jesus Christ, the rock, came into the world, people did not want Him. He was the stone rejected by the builders, seemingly insignificant, perhaps not looking very good, so the builders discarded Him. However, He is very suitable to be the cornerstone! Because He is solid, because He is stable, Hallelujah! Because He does not change!
1 Peter 2:8 also says, "A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall."
What does this mean? If you do not believe in Jesus, you may think that what Jesus says has no effect at all, and you may even find His message distasteful. His message can easily cause you to stumble. I believe many people who read the Bible say that this set of teachings is outdated, and they do not like some of the things in it. Many people are very resistant, which means they think Jesus Christ is a stumbling block to them, causing them to fall because they do not understand the importance of this rock!
Many people are unwilling to live according to the truth and stumble over it! The way to stumble is simply to be unwilling to obey. Just like we read at the beginning of this passage, if Jesus says you must build a house, you must dig deep and lay the foundation on the rock. When the wind blows and the rain falls, you need not worry. Some people say, "I do not believe you; digging a foundation is too much trouble. Who can see your foundation? When the house is built, people can only see the upper part. Who can see the foundation?" Many people do not believe these words; they would rather beautify the visible parts than spend time on the foundation.
When there is no wind or rain, everyone may pay more attention to what they have built because it is splendid! Just like I have told everyone many times, you must solidify the foundation of the words! After solidifying it, pursue some gifts and serve, and you will have a continuous supply of strength. Many people do not believe these words and are particularly anxious. This is equivalent to neglecting the part of digging the foundation and establishing the foundation. Many people are unwilling to do this, unwilling to spend too much time. Brothers and sisters, if there is a problem with the foundation, no matter how high the house is built, one day it will collapse, and everything will be ruined. That is truly regrettable! This is why many people say they have believed for many years and pursued various gifts, but when they encounter problems, they suddenly fall and cannot get up!
What if there is a problem with the foundation? Return to the words and take root, and start learning! Because at the beginning, they did not obey these truths, stumbling is inevitable! Peter has also told us that they stumble because they disobey the message, which is also what they were destined for! God has seen this long ago; if you do not believe this truth, stumbling is inevitable! Do you all understand now?
1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen people.
You are different from them. We know the importance of the foundation, so we often want to work hard on it. I encourage everyone to read a little bit of the Bible every day; even if it is three chapters a day, you can finish it in a year. Make this a part of your daily life. This is equivalent to saying that every day, you put God's words in your heart and then build on that foundation to do other things, using these words as the foundation to adapt to today's life. When problems arise, the words may immediately take effect. Every day should be like this, Hallelujah! This is equivalent to a small project; the large foundation is Jesus Christ. Every day we build up, relying on this rock and taking Him as our cornerstone, taking Him as our standard. Amen.
You are different; you are a chosen people, willing to believe in God's words, willing to obey the truth, and are a royal priesthood! At the beginning, God mentioned that you are a holy priesthood, and here it is mentioned again that you are a royal priesthood, a priesthood as noble as a king! Amen! Have you realized that you are a priest of royal dignity? Your dignity is not because you are inherently noble, but because the foundation is different!
For example, to build a hundred-story building, the foundation must be very solid. Once this building is constructed, everyone will say it is impressive and magnificent! But have you ever thought that the reason this building can stand firm is entirely dependent on the foundation? Amen! The glory we will receive in the future is determined by how much effort you put into the foundation now! Hallelujah! Do not rush to pursue other things; do not be too eager to serve. First, let your heart settle down, stabilize, and solidify the foundation. After that, when you build your project upward, once it is built, it will be very solid!
When storms come, you will use these truths and the words of God to overcome. You are a holy nation, and your supply comes from above. Hallelujah! The people of God are different, so when we do things, we will also be different from others. However, the matter of the foundation cannot be taken lightly. Others may not see it, but when the wind blows and the rain falls later, it will be revealed. Amen!
Colossians 1:21-23:
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This gospel is that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Through this passage, we see that there is very important information to share with everyone. In the past, we were alienated from God and were enemies with Him. This mainly refers to the fact that our thoughts and actions were very different from God's, even completely opposite! But now, what does it mean? It means that we believe in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and shed His precious blood, and rose from the dead three days later, cleansing our sins. When we believe these things, we are reconciled with God, and our relationship with the Heavenly Father is restored. From then on, we become holy, without blemish, and free from accusation, which means we are seen differently in the spiritual realm. Amen.
Moreover, we are brought into the presence of God. After believing in Jesus, we still need to live; it is just that the foundation and reliance have changed. As long as you continue in your faith, what does it mean to continue? It does not mean learning for a day or two, nor listening to the word once or twice; it means continuously making it a part of your life. This is perseverance. A little bit every day, learning every day, receiving every day—this is perseverance!
Many people cannot persist in learning God's words for various reasons. Yes, this is a fact. If you treat these words like eating, would you feel that eating is a waste of time? "I eat every day; it is really painful! From today on, I decide to never eat again!" Is that possible? You will always set aside time to eat, which is perseverance. No matter how big your tasks are or how important they are, you will always set aside time for this. God's words are the same! Our spiritual food needs time to supply you! You cannot always fast spiritually; otherwise, you will become weak.
Just like if you do not eat for a day, you will have no strength the next day and will not be able to do anything. You must first make up for what you have not eaten, and your strength will be restored. Many brothers and sisters say they feel weak; where is the problem? Go receive God's words, and you will not be weak. You must persevere in God's way, always taking time to prioritize God's words. Amen! If you can set aside one or two hours a day to listen to God's words, to read and meditate on God's words, your life will be immediately different! Because if you persevere in doing this for three years, your life will definitely be different from before, and you will be joyful every day.
Everyone is busy now, with many things to do. Because of this, we must persevere in our faith, because this is the foundation. Amen! Look at Jesus; when He preached, He had many ministries! Every day, Jesus still went to pray with the Heavenly Father. This is our example. Amen. When the foundation is solid, building the house is reassuring! If the foundation is unstable, when the wind blows, everything starts to sway, and you will be afraid. Let alone living inside! If the foundation is built on the rock, every day you receive supply from Christ, and your building is also solid. Hallelujah!
Every day, receive God's words, and when storms come, our faith can remain steadfast. Otherwise, when faced with tribulations, many people will fall because their roots are not planted in the soil. Therefore, when the wind blows, the rain falls, or other tribulations come, they will immediately fall. But if we persevere in God's way, with a solid foundation, we will have hope. Hallelujah! No matter how others around us are, we always have hope.
And the hope of the gospel is related to our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel is something everyone can receive; these truths are not hard to grasp. As long as you are willing to receive them every day, you can obtain them. Living a victorious life as a Christian is not difficult. What is difficult? Many people cannot persist. Many prefer excitement, such as miracles, prophecies, visions, and dreams, because they can see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They focus a lot on these things but neglect the foundation, which is God's words. This is what guarantees that no matter how high you build your house, it will not be shaken!
The hope of the gospel is not miracles; the hope of the gospel is God's words! It is Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross, and this is the gospel that Jesus commanded us to preach to all creation. Hallelujah! Paul was a servant of this gospel, and so are we. Amen. The reason Paul could stand firm in various tribulations is inseparable from his solid foundation. Many people hope to be like Paul, to have joy and peace in any situation, but Paul continuously believed and took root in the truth of the gospel. This is something we should learn.
The second point I want to share is: A solid foundation will become a guarantee when storms come.
Matthew 7:24-25:
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. 25 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."
Jesus spoke many truths. Hearing and obeying these words refers to two aspects: first, believing; second, acting on it. You must first believe in Jesus' words before you are willing to act on them. If you do not believe these words from the beginning, it is impossible to put them into practice. Therefore, when Jesus says, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice," it refers to fully believing His words. What is a wise person? It is someone who believes and acts according to God's words, building their house on the rock, spending a lot of time laying a solid foundation. This initial work may seem insignificant and invisible to others, but they believe in Jesus' words and act accordingly, reaping the benefits later! Laying a foundation may take a lot of time, and it may be unnoticed at first, and there may be no visible results or effects, but it is necessary. This foundation determines whether the house can withstand storms when they come. Jesus spent more than three years teaching the disciples the truth. Jesus acted on the truth, and the disciples observed, and then Jesus sent the disciples out to exercise His authority.
During these three years, the disciples received and laid a solid foundation of the words, using the authority of Christ, until the Holy Spirit filled them at Pentecost. Some people did not understand and said, "You always want us to lay a foundation; this is so much effort! Why not teach us how to be filled with the Holy Spirit, how to prophesy and see visions? That would be great! We would not need to read the Bible every day; we could just pray when something happens." Why did Jesus not fill the disciples with the Holy Spirit from the beginning and then send them out to do greater works?
My answer is that without a foundation in the words, if Jesus gave them these gifts, it would not take long for the disciples to be left with only Jesus, while the others would become masters. Do you understand what I mean? Because they would not know themselves. Jesus' power is the greatest; Jesus is as stable as a mountain, doing things calmly and with great power, and He is not proud!
Brothers and sisters, this is the foundation of the words that is already in Jesus Christ. He is the Word made flesh, showing us that this Word is powerful. Amen! The disciples followed Jesus for more than three years, continuously learning and receiving these words. When persecution came, they did not shrink back, and in the end, they still completed the mission entrusted to them by God. If they had not laid the foundation of the words in those first three years, it would have been very difficult for them to persevere because the external environment was too terrible! They could not see any hope. However, with the foundation of the words, they had the hope of the gospel, and with the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were reminded of Jesus' words. The disciples carried this hope, looking up to Christ, and lived victorious lives every day. Without these, they would have no discernment and could not continue to be spiritual infants.
Let us look at a passage, Hebrews 5:12-14:
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Brothers and sisters, the author of Hebrews tells us that if there is no foundation, according to his stature, he should have been teaching others. Yet, when encountering problems, he still falls and is still entangled in questions like whether God loves him, whether God will listen to his prayers, or whether he is saved. How can he teach others? This is an infant who cannot eat solid food.
Why are such people infants? Because they are not familiar with the teaching about righteousness. The teaching about righteousness refers to the truth of justice concerning Jesus Christ. They are not unfamiliar; they are just not proficient. The process of laying a foundation is actually to help you become proficient in applying these truths of justice. You have trained yourself to be discerning; for example, can you use Jesus' authority in everything? Always use it; do not think it is repetitive or that God does not delight in it. At any time, when you use it, God's power can be manifested every time you believe. Amen.
When you are proficient, you have assurance in your heart. This is like the foundation being solidly laid. You have grown up and can distinguish right from wrong immediately. You can discern whether it comes from the Holy Spirit or from evil spirits at a glance. This is absolutely related to the foundation of the words. If the foundation of the words is not solid, you cannot distinguish whether it comes from the Holy Spirit or from within yourself. Is this God's will or just your own thoughts? You cannot tell! But if the foundation of the words is solid, you are very certain it comes from God, and you do not need to deliberately discern; you can just know. Hallelujah!
Just like an adult wants to step onto a step, they do not need to measure the height of the step and then lift their foot; they can easily step onto it. Children are different; they may need to try many times to climb up or sit down and then move up. Their lives are small, and they have to use this method. The step seems to be a hindrance. But if they grow up, they do not need to measure; they can easily overcome it. Amen.
When the rain falls, the waters rise, and the winds blow against that house, this symbolizes the storms we encounter in life. When storms come, it is not you standing up to shout at the storms; rather, the house protects you from the wind and rain. If the house's foundation is solid, even if the storms are fierce, you need not worry; the impact on the house will not be great.
Now, what is the purpose of building this house? So that when storms come, you need not worry. Otherwise, why build a house? You might as well live in a straw hut. When the wind blows and the rain falls, just put on a raincoat, right? That would be such a hassle! Building a house is to create a shelter so that when storms come, you do not have to bear it yourself; rather, you rely on the house to overcome these storms. Brothers and sisters, faith is the same. If the foundation is solid, when storms come, persecution comes, and tribulations come, it is not you shouting loudly in the storm: "Lord, save me..." The house will take effect. The truth within you will tell you not to worry; this is temporary. I will give you strength to overcome, and immediately a word will come to comfort you, and you will be at peace. Amen!
When storms come, the house becomes a shelter for people. The foundation of the house determines its sturdiness. Many believers, because their foundation in the words is unstable, are eager to work or spend a lot of time pursuing other things. When trials come, they fall and can no longer stand up. This is because their foundation is unstable and weak. Even more people say they do not believe anymore. All of this is because the foundation is not solid, and when trials come, they fall, and the house collapses.
Just like we read at the beginning of this passage, some people do not believe these words and want to build houses quickly. Yes, building on sand is indeed much faster than building on a solid foundation. But when storms come? When the waters rise? It collapses quickly. Building a reinforced concrete house takes time to lay the foundation, while building a mud house can be done in a day. However, when the wind blows and the rain falls, the effects are different. Therefore, when trials come, the true faith of believers is revealed.
Proverbs 24:10: If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!
Proverbs is a principle for our lives that we can refer to and follow, which will greatly help us. When in trouble, if you are afraid, first believe that fear and cowardice do not come from God. It is because you have lost reliance and hope in danger and circumstances that you become afraid. If you are afraid in a time of trouble, you will have no strength. Do you all understand this? But if in a time of trouble, you are still filled with God's truth, your strength will not diminish, just like Caleb. Forty years ago, he was strong, and at eighty-five, he said to Joshua, "Give me that mountain! Although there are enemies there, I am not afraid. I will fight to take that land!"
How he was in the past is how he is now! Why is he not afraid? Even in the face of difficulties and troubles, he is not cowardly, and his strength is strong! This is directly related to having a solid foundation. Jesus also encountered difficulties while preaching, but He never panicked or worried. When the disciples faced a great storm at sea, they were very afraid, but Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the waves, saying, "Be still!" and the storm stopped! Jesus knew His authority and knew that what was in Him was greater than what was in the world. This is the solid foundation of the words.
1 Corinthians 3:9-14:
9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
This passage talks about the rewards we will receive in the future. After believing in Jesus, everyone is a co-worker with God in building a house. You do not need to look for a foundation; Jesus Christ is the foundation. Therefore, no matter what your house looks like, you must take Jesus Christ, this rock, as your standard. If you take something else as your standard, your work may not endure. Some people build with gold, silver, and precious stones on the rock, putting the best things on the foundation of Jesus Christ. The work of gold, silver, and precious stones will endure. Others build with wood, hay, and straw, which represent human works.
What does this mean? Wood, hay, and straw all come from trees, and the materials are not very good. This symbolizes that everyone lives relying on Jesus, but some treat Jesus' words as treasures, using them like gold, silver, and precious stones, while others do not take Jesus' words seriously, relying on their own ideas and using their own things to build on God's words, which is like building with wood, hay, and straw.
Take the situation of the Corinthian church as an example. The Corinthian church was filled with human ideas, putting God's words aside. They managed the church and established relationships between people in their own way, which were all wood, hay, and straw, things that did not align with God's will. These personal works will inevitably be revealed. What does this mean? One day, at the judgment seat of Christ, these works will be tested. How will they be tested? They will be revealed by fire.
The fire passing over them represents God's judgment! How do we understand that the works will be tested in the future? This is equivalent to saying that the house built on the earth will be tested when the wind blows, the rain falls, and the waters rise! Therefore, how much faith you have, how solid your foundation is, when trials, dangers, persecutions, or even bad things come, these will test your work.
If the foundation is solid, the work built on it will become your protection. When danger comes, God's words will show greater power, and when tribulations come, God's words will reveal greater hope. This is different! Just like in the end, each person's work will be revealed; when the fire passes over, the wood, hay, and straw will disappear, while the works of gold, silver, and precious stones will remain, and these will receive eternal rewards! Hallelujah.
This is the work we are to build on earth! If we rely on the Lord every day, when the wind blows, the rain falls, and the waters rise, these will become your strong guarantee! Moreover, your work will stand firm, and relying on God's words will help you overcome this crisis, and God will also reward you. This is such a good thing! Therefore, I encourage everyone to take root in the words. When the foundation is solid, you will not fear when storms come!
Finally, let us look at a passage from Psalm 34:6-10:
6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
The poor man called, and the Lord heard him because there is a covenant between God and them. We build our works on the rock of Christ, connected to this rock. When storms come, the rock will take effect, able to withstand the wind and rain and save you from all troubles. Therefore, we must store these truths in our hearts regularly, which is equivalent to building a house. The purpose of building a house is to create a shelter to withstand the wind and rain. Therefore, regularly store God's words in your heart, often meditate on them, and when problems arise, when tribulations come, you can rely on these words, just like a house that can shield you from the attacks of the wind and rain.
You must taste and see that the Lord is good, which means believing in God's words and using God's words. You will know that He is powerful, that He is a God who is willing to bless and is good, and your heart will be filled with joy. Those who take refuge in God are blessed. Amen. Holy people of the Lord, you must fear Him. What does it mean to fear Him? It does not mean to act recklessly before God, losing even the most basic rules. To fear Him means we know He is our Lord, our shelter, and we worship, praise, and honor Him from the heart. If you have such a heart, you will lack nothing! What does this mean? Such people are humble and will rely on God in everything, and naturally, they will lack nothing. God will supply everything that such people need.
Verse 10: The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
What does this mean? The young lions, as symbols of strength, are kings in their own right. They can easily catch whatever prey they want; no animal is their opponent. Yet even so, they may still grow weak and hungry because relying on their own strength does not guarantee they will find prey every time. Therefore, brothers and sisters, our strength is not as great as that of lions. Do not struggle; do not build houses on sand; do not rely on your own wisdom to live. Rely on God's words! Lay down the roots of these words in advance. Seek the Lord, and you will lack no good thing. God desires for us to rely on Him for our lives. Do not wait until storms come to think about fixing the foundation of the house. The foundation cannot be repaired; once it is damaged, it can only be rebuilt, and the foundation must be laid anew.
If you see that the load-bearing wall of a house is damaged, you cannot just patch it up temporarily and use it; that is very dangerous, brothers and sisters. Therefore, the load-bearing wall cannot be destroyed because it directly determines the stability of the house. If we do not have God's words in our hearts and still expect to be strong, how is that possible? It is equivalent to saying that you have destroyed all the load-bearing walls and still hope that this house will be stable and not collapse when storms come. That is impossible! Therefore, I hope everyone pays attention to the foundation of the words. When the foundation is solid, you will not fear storms. Hallelujah!
Finally, I leave you with these words:
If the foundation is solid,
Then there will be abundant branches and leaves, and much fruit.
If the foundation is shallow,
It is inevitable that the branches will wither, and the leaves will weaken, unable to withstand the wind and rain.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you. Thank you for giving us such words. We are all building our works on the rock of Christ. Every day we rely on your words to live. You are the unchanging rock and the cornerstone of our houses, the standard of our lives, and the standard of our faith.
Lord! Please give me a heart that longs for you, a heart willing to receive, to place your words in my heart every day; to lay a solid foundation in your words. When storms come, I can rely on your words to overcome. You teach the people, not like the scribes who only teach theories, but with authority. We believe in your words, which are not just theories but are alive and powerful.
A new week has begun. Apply your words to life and live out what you have received. Please give me strength to see the power of your words in my life, to experience your presence, and let me be a good witness to those around me! Thank you and praise you; all glory belongs to you. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.