How to Stand Firm When the World doesn't.

We are living in a troubled time. It’s the worst period in my life time, but not the worst ever. There have been several Pandemics, wars, depressions, etc.

I want us to learn to stand firm when everything else collapses.

Matthew 7:21–23 NLT

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Write this down…

To build a strong foundation, you can’t fake it. (Matt 7:21)

Matthew 7:21 NLT

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

Not everyone who claims to be a Christian… is. You can’t fake it. Too many people think that if they go to church (which is a good thing) they are ok. Other’s think that if they do enough good stuff, they will be ok.

You have to come to God on His terms. Look at vs 23

Matthew 7:23 NLT

23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

Jesus said he never knew them. Wow. I don’t want anyone to fall into either one of these categories.

I have found that people who didn’t have a strong foundation, have not done as well during this time as those who do. Some people look good, but this pandemic has revealed weak or maybe no faith.

You have to come to God through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:13–14 NLT

13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Describe wide gate activities and narrow gate activities.

The gate is narrow because there is ONE way to God… through Jesus. In our culture, people try to find all kinds of crazy ways to feel like they are ok with God w/o going through Jesus.

Wise people build their lives on the ROCK while foolish people build their lives on Sand

Matthew 7:24–27 NLT

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Foolish people build their lives on sand

Too many people today are like the foolish builder who build his building on the sand. Sand washes away… blows away… will not hold up weight. You can’t build anything on the sand.

They build their lives on temporary things like: kids activities; jobs; friends, money, popularity, social status ...

Building on sand is easy. You just build something. You don’t have to dig or anything else. People often look for the easy way of living. Jesus called this the wide road.

It takes a lot of work to build your life on the Rock… Bible study, prayer, church, Zoom bible Studies, etc. It’s work.

Listen to me!

Storms will come

Matthew 7:27 NLT

27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Storms happen. We are in a storm: Virus; financial crisis…

The Bible says,

To build a strong foundation you must build your life on the Rock

Matthew 7:24 NLT

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

If you build your life on the Rock of Jesus… on the rock of your personal relationship with Jesus, you will stand.

Think about it. Rocks don’t wash away… don’t blow away… don’t sink.

How do you build your life on the Rock?

1. You must personally receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.

God loves you and created you to have a personal relationship with him.

2. Our sin keeps us from having a personal relationship with God

Romans 3:23 NLT

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 6:23 NLT

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. You must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

1 Peter 3:18 NLT

18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

Jesus is the only way.

4. You have to personally respond by receiving Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

John 1:12 NLT

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Here is how you do that

Turn from your way of living - repent

Invite Jesus to come into your life...

Allow God to direct your life

5. You have to develop habits to help you grow stronger in your faith

Quiet time… Read Bible, Study Bible, Meditate on WOG, Memorize WOG, Witness, attend church, Attend Bible Studies… Connect groups

Salvation prayer

Prayer

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