The Only Sure Foundation

BY KENT SPARKS

Matthew 7:24-27
I THINK IT'S fairly safe to say that most people rely on the wrong thing upon which to build their life. Predominant to a great many, for example, is job security. Men and women alike give themselves nowadays to intense labor at work. Yet, many have found in the recent wave of corporate down-sizing that what they have relied on was not stable at all. They got laid off.

Others seek to find security in the accumulation of money. It's a fool's game. Remember the man who built bigger barns to store his crops? God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you."

Then there are those who look to family relationships. A strong family is a wonderful thing, but it's far from a sure foundation to stand on. Just talk to the parents who can't control their children and you'll know what I mean.

Religion. Still others rely on religion. They invest themselves in all the ceremonies, the rituals, the do's and don'ts of a religious system. But salvation is found only in Christianity, which is a loving relationship that originates from God.

These are just four of the more common places in which people have misplaced their trusts. Others include psychology, education, self-improvement. The fact is, there's only one sure foundation upon which to build our lives. Jesus gives it to us in Matthew 7:

Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which


built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock (vv. 24,25).

Yes, the only firm foundation on which to build a successful life is the word of God as it is properly understood and diligently applied.

I. The authority of God's word

In II Timothy 3:16, we read, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." It is declaring there that everything that falls into the category "scripture" must necessarily be inspired of God. Put another way, if it's not inspired of God, it's not scripture.

What does the word "inspiration" mean? Like a painter inspired to paint a beautiful painting? No. The word literally means to be "breathed out"the breath of God. Every scripture is given to us from the very soul of God.

In Genesis 1, God breathed out the words of creation and the universe took form. Well, the scripture comes from the same powerful breath of God. People can argue and disagree, but the word of God remains the only thing that's true and right. It is the fact of the case.

II. The adequacy of God's word

Verse 16 of II Timothy 3 continues, "is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

What for? "That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (v. 17). The point is, God's word is adequate; it is the complete outfit for the believer. Equipped with it, the believer has all that he needs to do every good work. Note that God does not outfit us to
do any bad work.

Unequipped. Why, then, are so many Christians looking in other places for security? Answer: They have not been properly equipped with God's word.

Most of these Christians simply haven't taken the time to mine the riches that are in the word of God. Others think they know the Word, but their knowledge is too shallow to uncover the resources hidden therein, let alone apply them practically in their own life.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about the unsearchable riches that belong to Christians because they're in Christ. And he prays that God may so enlighten the eyes of their hearts that they may comprehend all of the glorious riches that God has for them.

Yes, everything that you need to be an effective Christian is in the word of God. Other than the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit, you lack nothing.

III. The power of God's word

In Isaiah 55, God talks about the power of His word in accomplishing what He intends it to accomplish. After having pointed out that His thoughts are far higher than our thoughts, He declares in verses 10 and 11:
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Just as the rain that God sends down never fails to water the earth and make it productive, the divine word that God has sent down to us by way of the Bible will accomplish the tasks for which God sent it. And one of those tasks is to completely equip the believer so that he may do all good works .

Is that a blessing or what? The power of God's word is such that as we read and apply it, we become completely equipped to be the person God wants us to be. Isn't that awesome?

IV. The completeness of God's word

In Psalm 19, God gives us a great description of this awesome nature and working of His word. He starts by saying in verse 7, "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."

The word "law" there is the Hebrew word torah, which is better translated "instruction". The word "perfect" means to be complete or mature. And the word "converting" could also be translated "regenerating".

Because God's word is the complete and comprehensive instruction, this verse is saying, when it is embraced by the soul of a believer, it radically transforms the essential nature of that believer.

You see, if you are a true child of God indwelt by the Holy Spirit, you can't open up God's word with a sincere desire to seek the truth and apply it to your life without it transforming your soul, regenerating your heart, and making you a different person.

Trustworthy. Psalm 19:7 continues: "the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." The point is, God's word is trustworthy and, as such, it gives us insight for wise living.

We live in a world where we are bombarded with all kinds of conflicting opinions. When we have to make a decision, we just don't know what to do. But because the scripture is complete, it has the answer to every problem we face. And once we apply God's word to the situation, we'll begin to see things more clearly.

Now, verse 8: "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."

The principles that you find in God's word are always correct. When they're applied, joy comes into your lifenot because you'll get the outcome that you have expected to emerge, but because you have a game plan that is now in harmony with the truth of God.

Moreover, because the word of God is pure, it gives us direction in the midst of moral confusion and ignorance. It gives us light in a world of spiritual darkness, showing us what's right and what's wrong for us to do.

Eternal. Verse 9: "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

"The fear of the Lord" is used here in the sense of obedience. The point is, as the guide we follow for flawless reverence and worship, the word of God is eternal. It never becomes obsolete no matter how the world changes. And the judgments of Godthat is, His declaration of what is right and wrongare always correct. They are righteous altogether.

Psalm 19 concludes its remark about God's word in verses 10 and 11:

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
God's word is invaluable. It brings us security much more than money can ever do. It warns us against disobedience and rewards us for diligent application. So, we ought to seek it more eagerly than we seek worldly riches. And because it's sweeter than honey to our soul, we ought to hunger for it.

V. The reliability of God's word

II Peter 1:16-19, a passage that underscores the reliability of God's word, is often misunderstood as to what God is really saying. It begins:

For we (John, James and Peter, that is) have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

In other words, we didn't get together and make up this deal that we call the gospel. It is the truthwe've seen it with our own eyes.

Next, we read in verses 17 and 18:

For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
Peter is saying, we were there the day that Jesus put on His heavenly majesty on the Mount of Transfiguration; we heard the very voice of God the Father coming out of heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

More certain. Before I go on with verse 19, which is the clincher, let me first point out that in some translations, the NIV for instance, it begins like this: "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain." Actually, the word "made" was added by the translators, and it takes us off the track.

The King James translation is more accurate. It says: "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed."

Peter is saying: while we saw Jesus in His glory and we heard God declaring out of heaven that Jesus is His beloved Son, you've got something even more reliable than that. You have the word of God's prophecy. And so, you do well to pay attention to it and apply it to your life.

Why? Because no prophecy of scripture originated from a human's own will; rather, holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (v. 21).

The Christian Response

In light of all that about God's word, what should our response be? First, we need to study the Bible. God says in II Timothy 2:15, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

We need to rightly divide God's word, the word of truth, so that we can accurately determine what it means.

Once we understand the principle set forth by God in the Bible, we tore it in our hearts. Psalm 119:11 says, ěThy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.î We need to have a treasure chest of Godís promises and commands buried in us so that whenever we need clear direction from God, we can find guidance from the appropriate scripture.

Finally, we need to apply it. This goes back to what Jesus says in Matthew 7: whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them is a wise man (v. 24), whereas whoever hears these words of mine and does not act upon them is a foolish man (v. 26).

Thereís your contrast. Donít be a fool. Start building your life on a sound foundation. Study Godís word to learn what it means, memorize it so you have it at your fingertips, and then apply it diligently so that it changes your life, making you the man God wants you to be. o

Rev. Kent Sparks is pastor of Beach Cities Community Church, 20422 Beach Blvd., Suite 310, Huntington Beach, CA  92648.

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