Firm and Sure Foundation

 

Firm and Sure Foundation

Colossians 1: ²³ You must, of course, continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation, and must not allow yourselves to be shaken from the hope you gained when you heard the gospel. It is of this gospel that I, Paul, became a servant—this gospel which has been preached to everybody in the world.

 

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Things were finally going well at the time. After rededicating myself back to the LORD, it seemed like many of my worries and fears were drying up. I felt that I could speak about GOD freely in praise and pay bills at the same time! But as more and more money came in, I ran into some people who were wealthy. “Let’s go to a strip club” one of the rich and powerful married men said.

 

• I wondered If I was going to become an outcast if I did not go.
• I immediately tried to think of excuses versus saying “no.”
• I wanted to remain on the foundation of “wealth” and was almost willing to compromise.

 

Paul tells everyone that the Gospel is the only firm and sure foundation. All other philosophies, learnings, accomplishments or desires outside of CHRIST can present the possibility of discouragement. This would lead to having the “hope” shaken away.

 

My Observations

• JESUS wants me to remember HIM each and every day so I will not forget the hope HE provides.
• GOD wants me to let go of the thing that is causing me to feel discouraged and be willing to go HIS path.
• GOD wants me to stand on HIS firm and sure foundation which is CHRIST’s salvation.

 

“Complicated” is an understated word these days. I mean, anyone with a computer or smartphone can immediately become a philosopher who obtains a great following. BUT GOD  wants the following. HE sees those who dwell in the land of pride and cannot pull him or herself from the philosophy of the day.

 

These wanderers drift from thing to thing with no rest and no peace. GOD wants to provide rest, not more work. HE gives peace through the Gospel of JESUS and wants everyone who is willing to experience HIS love. I gladly give up the philosophies of the world to speak about JESUS and I will not be embarrassed. By GOD.

 

Challenge

• What “must” you do according to the writer?
• Have you ever been excited about GOD and later been discouraged?
• Will you “continue faithful on a firm and sure foundation” of JESUS, so you will not waiver when difficult or plentiful times come your way?

Faith Stands Firm

Faith Stands Firm

1 Corinthians 15: And now I want to remind you, my friends, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm. ² That is the gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the gospel if you hold firmly to it—unless it was for nothing that you believed.

 

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Does GOD love me when I don’t get my way? This is the question I pondered many times. When I didn’t get healed a certain way at a certain time, I wondered if HE could hear me, then I wondered if what I believed was even true or not.

 

• I questioned GOD many times when I got scared during certain situations.
• I tried to fix people, situations and relationships using “my” own thinking.
• I wondered if the part of me that did not believe would some day overtake the part of me that does.

 

Paul switched over from addressing issues written to him to speaking of the main reason we all exist, namely the Good News about CHRIST. Paul makes this statement personal to everyone who reads the letter. He states “You are saved by the gospel” but he qualifies his statement with “if you hold firmly to it”. Wait. Can I lose something precious because of my fickle faith? No!

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to know that HIS salvation of me is permanent.
• GOD wants me to understand that when HE placed the HOLY SPIRIT in me, it sealed my salvation with HIM eternally.
• GOD wants me to trust that no one can pluck me out of HIS hand once HE wrote my name in it.

 

Believing in JESUS’ death burial and resurrection is the foundation of faith. I mean, when I believe that all humans fell when Adam sinned it is the start of a good foundation. I can then understand it took a sinless human to save humanity. That human was JESUS who was / is also GOD.

 

HE was murdered by HIS creation and was raised from the dead. Anyone who believe in this will have everlasting life. But what about this life? HE sent the COMFORTER to live inside me to keep me from straying away from this belief. The HOLY SPIRIT makes my faith stand firm, not me. I am glad GOD gave me salvation that is permanent and to those who also believe it is permanent for them.

 

Challenge

• What do you really believe about salvation?
• Do you think salvation has nothing to do with your finances, relationships, health or happiness?
• Wil you relax and know it is alright to question GOD and your relationship with HIM?
• Will you also know the Good News can only be “Good News” if you can depend on the promises JESUS made?

Power to Remain

 

Power to Remain

1 Corinthians 10: ¹¹ All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come.

¹² If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. ¹³ Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

 

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“Why is this happening to me!” I exclaimed many times. Each time I screamed this out, I was going through yet another trial. Which direction would I go? Would I stay with GOD or choose to sin and ask HIM for forgiveness?

 

• There have been times when I wanted nothing but peace.
• There have been times when I sought peace from what the world had to offer.
• There have been times when I wanted to complain about the current trial versus thank GOD.

 

Paul talks about tests or trials. He explains that every human will go through something that will cause questions to arise about the super solid relationship a person can have with GOD. He explains that GOD knows what the test is and is using this test to grow each person to choose “a way out.”

 

• GOD wants me to know HE is growing me when trials arise.
• GOD wants me to know HE loves me but need to rid me of some things that hold me back from having a great relationship with HIM.
• GOD wants me to choose “HIS way out” versus the flimsy plan I can come up with.

 

Having the power to remain in GOD is something else. I mean, humans will come up with solution after solution, never once asking GOD to provide HIS all powerful strength. Yes, we may pray, but when we don’t see the prayer answered in the time or way we want, we easily throw out GOD and turn to something we can see.

 

GOD wants me to “remain firm.” This means letting go of anything that I think is a solution and allow HIS deliverance in the time and way HE wants it. I am glad HE takes me through trials so I can choose HIS way, little by little.

 

• Are you going through a trial?
• Does this seem like the same trial you have been in over the years?
• Will you open your heart to GOD and allow HIM to give you “HIS way out” this time so you can remain firm in HIM today?

Concerned about the Circumstance

Concerned about the Circumstance

Acts 7: ⁵⁴ When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

⁵⁷ Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ⁵⁸ and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

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With only one block to go, I felt relief as I neared my neighborhood. I had taken an exploratory route and wound up in a neighborhood known for its thugs. Driving through the intersection, someone hit my car. When I got out, the person, knowing they were I the wrong, wanted to fight. Neighbors who knew me came out to see if everything was alright.

• There have been times when people helped me when I was in need.
• There have been times when people protected me when I was threatened.
• There have been times when people showed their concern over my safety.

Stephen was not scared of his safety when he accused the church leaders, who murdered JESUS, of rejecting the HOLY SPIRIT. When he looked up, he saw JESUS standing next to GOD rather than sitting.

JESUS was concerned about the situation and showed Stephen HIS glory. HE did not stop the evil actions of HIS murderers towards Stephen. More blood was added to their hands.

• GOD wants me to understand there is a spiritual battle.
• GOD wants me to know HE has already won the battle.
• GOD wants me to trust that HE is concerned with every situation I may face, even when it seems like evil is winning.

JESUS won. This is a past tense statement. HE has overcome the world. But we are still in the world waiting for the victory to be revealed someday. Our life on earth is short compared to eternity.

GOD knows there will be some who hate me just because I love HIM. HE also knows there will be some who purposefully try to harm me because of HIM. HE fills me with HIS SPIRIT because HE is concerned about me. I am grateful to serve the living GOD who cares about me.

• Are you facing a difficult situation that someone else caused?
• Is your faith being tested because of your trust in JESUS?
• Will you stand firm and pray for your enemies that they may also be saved even though they are persecuting you?

Giving In

Luke 23: ²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’

²² For the third time he spoke to them: ‘Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.’

²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

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Tired of being alone in the small town, I decided to hang out with coworkers. When we traveled, we ate together and I gave in to drink with them. “C’mon, have a little more” they said. After twenty two pitchers of beer between the three of us, I had to drive back to the hotel. Somehow I made it there but upon arrival the front desk person said “You have a message…The system is down you are being requested to come in.”

• In the past I gave in to what the crowd wanted.
• In the past I gave in to fit in.
• In the past I gave in to something I was against.

Pilate tried to wash his hands of sentencing JESUS to death, but the church leaders had stirred up the crowd so much that he had to acquiesce. He gave in to the crowds wishes and sentenced an innocent man to death and released a murderous rebel.

• GOD wants me to stop comparing my sins in terms of size.
• GOD wants me to do what is right when the time comes to make a decision.
• GOD wants me to stand up for what is right rather than giving in to the crowd.

Standing firm on GOD’s word is sometimes difficult. I mean if the crowd says one thing and I am the only one standing firm on following GOD, then it can feel uncomfortable. BUT GOD protects me and gives me the right words and actions to follow HIS ways. I am grateful for HIS guidance.

• Are you facing a difficult decision?
• Would the decision make you unpopular if you follow GOD’s ways?
• Will you decide to follow what GOD is telling you to do anyway, no matter the human consequence?

Endure with Delight

Psalm 1: ¹ Blessed is the one
    who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
    or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.

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“Trust in the LORD and lean not unto your own understanding” is what my mother would say to me. “Yeah, yeah” I thought to myself. I did not ponder these words until I had to experience them myself. Soon real trouble came and I was on my own with no one to turn to. “What was she trying to tell me?”

• Words in the Bible were more “poetic” to me than experience.
• Words in the Bible were more “mysterious” to me than fact.
• Words in the Bible were more “interpretive” to me than a means to grow.

Now that the waters of trouble have pounded against me for years, I can say “I understand.” Each day is faced with new challenges and I need something to hold onto. What should I delight in?

• GOD gave me a path that I can choose to be on each day.
• GOD gave me relationships that I can show HIS love.
• GOD gave me HIS Word that if I believe and trust in HIM I will have everlasting life.

Trouble comes in waves pounding against my soul, BUT GOD gave me a way to endure. If I pay attention to what HE says through my Bible, my church and my relationships, I can hear HIM clearly. I can delight and meditate on HIS deliverance in spite of what’s going on around me. This plants my soul deep in trust and absorbs the nutrients of faith, love and hope that is provided by GOD’s river.

• Is your mind troubled?
• Do you have situations that seem utterly impossible?
• Can you meditate on GOD’s ways?
• Will you look at HIS word and read peace into your soul today?