LAYING STRONG FOUNDATION

1. Paul lays a foundation as an expert builder

a) 10By 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. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:10, 11 NIV)

2. Every building requires a solid foundation

a) The higher is the building, the deeper is the piling to secure a strong foundation. Why? Because the building can still firm and being prevented from being collapsing.

b) So many people attempt to lay other foundations for their lives;

i) Some turn to earthly riches.

ii) Others hope in human wisdom.

iii) Others put their confidence in personal power and influence.

c) Our lives need a rock foundation. We know that if we do not build upon a rock foundation, we are actually constructing our building upon shifting, sinking sand.

i) David experienced this;

@1. 2From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (Psalms 61:2 NIV)

@2. 6Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. (Psalms 62:6 NIV)

@3. David stood on the Lord alone as his solid spiritual ground. Standing by faith he would not be destroyed.

3. The wise and foolish builders

a) Jesus made a comparison between the wise and the foolish builder in Matthew 7:24-27.

i) 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. 25The 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. 26But 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. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7: 24-27 NIV)

b) A wise builder. Everyone who hears these words of mine and put them into practice is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. The rock foundation! 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. Great!

c) A foolish builder. Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat agasinst that house, and it fell with a great crush. How sad!

i) The rain speaks about blessings such as wealth, power, fame etc...

ii) The streams speak about demonic activities, persecutions etc...

iii) The winds speak about change!

4. Water from the rock

a) 1The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

2So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?”

3But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

4Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.”

5The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

i) 6I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. (Exodus 17: 1-6 NIV)

b) What does water from the rock mean?

i) Water from the rock reveals about Holy Spirit being the streams of living water that will flow from within a believer in John 7:38.

@1. 38And let anyone drink 38who believes in me.” As Scripture has said, “Out of him (or them) will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38 NIV)

ii) The rock reveals about Jesus Christ being the Word in the Gospel of John 1:1.

@1. 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1: 1 NIV)

5. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we lay our solid foundation on the rock, Jesus Christ? He is the only one who can secure us a strong foundation. He is the rock and the Word. So read his Word to keep on laying our foundation on the rock!