What is Your Church Founded On?

The Eternal Rock or Temporary Fleshly Sand?

Eph 2:19-22 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. [NAU]

SUMMONS TO LISTENERS (7:7-29)

Mt 7:24-27 (HCSB)
24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"

Walvoord’s Notes: 7:24-27. (Lk 6:47-49). In conclusion Jesus presented the two options open to His listeners. They were now responsible for what they had heard and must make a choice. They could build on one of two foundations. One foundation was likened to a big rock and the other to sand. The foundation determines the ability of a structure to withstand the elements (rain and winds). The rock foundation represented the Lord Himself and the truths He had been presenting, especially the truth concerning inner transformation. The sand spoke of Pharisaic righteousness which the people knew and on which many were basing their hopes. In storms the first would give stability; the second would result in destruction. Thus hearing and heeding Jesus' words is wise; one who does not is foolish. Only two courses of action are possible - two kinds of roads and gates (Mt 7:13-14), two kinds of trees and fruit (vv. 15-20), two kinds of foundations and builders (vv. 24-27).

Q: what can we learn about this symbol God uses as sand Biblically?
A: it starts out as foolish sounding flesh but ends as a type for Anti-Christ’s church in Rev 12:17; 20:7-10. Those who follow Satan are linked with un-numbered masses that no one loves and they end up in hell.

Rev 12:17 the dragon was furious with the woman and left to wage war against the rest of her offspringi—those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony about Jesus. 18 He stood on the sand of the sea. (HCSB)

Rev 20:7-10 (HCSB) 7 When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heavend and consumed them. 10 The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Hab 1:9 (HCSB) 9 All of them come to do violence; their faces are set in determination. They gather prisoners like sand.

Am 9:9-10 (HCSB) 9 for I am about to give the command, and I will shake the house of Israel among all the nations, as one shakes a sieve, but not a pebble will fall to the ground. 10 All the sinners among My people, who say: Disaster will never overtake or confront us, will die by the sword.

Q: are we without hope when these deceivers come?
A: The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Prov 28:1 (HCSB)

Political Application:
The navy aviator invites Obama to 10 debates but Obama will only submit to 5. McCain is being pictured in the media as a worn out old guy. Why can't Obama match his speed and depth? Proverbs councils rulers, kings, and people in power frequently (28:2-3,12,15-16,28; 29:2,4,12,14,26) because God cares about the way truth and justice are worked out. God loves everyone equally. But God gave us all free will if we are fortunate enough to live in a government having citizens who can still vote. God holds us accountable every time we vote for these reasons. If we study our history we learn sadly how too many nations got wealthy and too busy to care for the way polls were managed. If we vote for folks based on how much they are going to pay us in benefits we too often loose our rights in a couple of generations. Soon “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is only for the elite who can still afford to live like that. The elite always turns out to be govt employees after they close business after business.

Religious application:
If you tell your church some basic Evangelical Truth and they reply if you ever come back make sure our Security Guard is their to protect us from you. My church said they didn’t need me anymore because they wanted to “update” their look while seeking younger new members. After showing them where James’ forbids hiring or firing people in church because they are liked as favorites or not liked they replied we have been hired to manage these things and this is how “God is leading” me to do my work ~ trust me.

General Application:
The guilty consciences of the wicked cause them to run from imagined pursuers (28:1). Knowing they have done wrong, they suspect they are being chased by lawmen. By contrast the righteous are as bold (i.e., self-confident; cf. "confidence" in 31:11) as a young lion. God gives them courage; they have no fear of reprisal from wrongdoing.

Q: are you in a place today where various ones in your life are eating your lunch? How do we respond? Is it safe to keep on with bad behavior like the 12 elders of Israel? Do we respond in anger? Do we respond by being constant whiners or complainers like Israel?

Rom 8:12-17 …we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, 13 for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 All those led by God's Spirit are God's sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—seeing thatl we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (HCSB)

Q: are we in a church today that Jesus would recognize? Are we in God's Household or just another fleshly group doing our own thing with good intentions?

Eph 2:19-22 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. [NAU]

A: if we are twice born we are more than church members we members of a group bigger than anything on this planet. Heaven is a complex place filled with amazing beings.

Eph 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be C holy and blameless before Him In love [NAU]

A: if we are twice born suddenly we have a new life partly here and partly in heaven right now. Jesus is not pie in the sky religion. When we come to Christ we are part of a huge group that no human can fully understand. We have a new ethics from our hearts that cannot be faked. Why are so many today content with leftovers of religion. We have Christ in us our hope of glory right now!!! That's something to pass on.