Every once in a while, we should self-evaluate and look inside ourselves to see "how we are doing". Today is one of those times. September 23rd, the day some say is the end of the world. Are we still here? Of course we are, because "no man knows the hour"! But what if today it was the end of the world "as we know it"? By that I mean what if today, our leaders changed and our laws changed and we were no longer allowed to attend our churches, preach the Gospel or read God's Constitution (our Bible)? That has already happened in some countries around the world! How long would your foundation be strong without those "crutches"? How much Word is "hidden in your heart"? With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.
Those who grew up in church often heard the parable--and sang the song--about the wise man and the foolish man. But we weren't also taught what led up to that parable. We know they are connected because verse 24 begins with "therefore". Read the whole story in context for greater understanding:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Now, what is your foundation made of? Is it built on attending church and listening to some good teaching, or is it full of God's Word? Is your worship based on "getting your praise on" at church and listening to praise and worship music, or truly worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords? If today your government said that attending church was an "illegal activity against the government" how long would your faith remain unshaken? If they removed all "religious content" from the airwaves, how consistent would your life be with the Kingdom?
I believe the Holy Spirit is warning God's people that NOW is the time to prepare. Now is the time to secure your foundation with His Word. Get it in you and don't use anything else as your foundation. It's time to throw away our crutches because we can't stand on them when those spiritual storms and earthquakes come. They will fall and so will we. Am I saying not to attend a church or enjoy praise & worship music? No! If you go to church, be a light and direct people to the Kingdom of God. Enjoy the music and praise the Lord. But don't believe it is your rock solid foundation. It is merely the shifting sand under your feet. We enjoy the way sand feels under our feet, but you don't want to build your house on it and move your family into that home. Build your house on the Rock, Jesus the Christ, who was the Word in the flesh. Only a house built on the Word of God will stand when the storms and shaking comes. Get ready!
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony."
Psalm 119-10-11 Matthew 7:21-27 Luke 21:10-13
Never stop growing in Kingdom knowledge!
Arlene
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
Those who grew up in church often heard the parable--and sang the song--about the wise man and the foolish man. But we weren't also taught what led up to that parable. We know they are connected because verse 24 begins with "therefore". Read the whole story in context for greater understanding:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Now, what is your foundation made of? Is it built on attending church and listening to some good teaching, or is it full of God's Word? Is your worship based on "getting your praise on" at church and listening to praise and worship music, or truly worshiping the King of kings and Lord of lords? If today your government said that attending church was an "illegal activity against the government" how long would your faith remain unshaken? If they removed all "religious content" from the airwaves, how consistent would your life be with the Kingdom?
I believe the Holy Spirit is warning God's people that NOW is the time to prepare. Now is the time to secure your foundation with His Word. Get it in you and don't use anything else as your foundation. It's time to throw away our crutches because we can't stand on them when those spiritual storms and earthquakes come. They will fall and so will we. Am I saying not to attend a church or enjoy praise & worship music? No! If you go to church, be a light and direct people to the Kingdom of God. Enjoy the music and praise the Lord. But don't believe it is your rock solid foundation. It is merely the shifting sand under your feet. We enjoy the way sand feels under our feet, but you don't want to build your house on it and move your family into that home. Build your house on the Rock, Jesus the Christ, who was the Word in the flesh. Only a house built on the Word of God will stand when the storms and shaking comes. Get ready!
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony."
Psalm 119-10-11 Matthew 7:21-27 Luke 21:10-13
Never stop growing in Kingdom knowledge!
Arlene
www.kingdomcitizens.org
This article may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are included at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
RSS Feed
