Greetings in Jesus’ Most Holy Name!
Everything is built on a FOUNDATION; kingdoms, nations, ministries, families, marriages, building structures, careers, jobs, businesses and even the very life that we live! Foundations are nothing but ‘principles’ or a ‘set of values’ that act as a base for us to grow. Our foundation will determine how successful we become and how far we will move on in life.
Building a good and solid foundation is necessary and takes time. Our real attitudes are displayed during testing times when our foundations are shaken. The trials and problems that come against us are the very things that will test our foundations! It’s the foundation that keeps a house where it should be. In the Gospel of Matthew verses 24-27, Jesus speaks about setting foundations based on ‘hearing’ His Word and ‘doing’ what He says, which simply means to abide in Him in obedience! – ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell – and great was its fall!’
3 types of tests will be used to test our foundations – rain, flood and wind, which are nothing but life experiences of trials, sufferings and persecutions. And God conducts these foundational tests to prepare and strengthen us for executing His plans through us. For example, in the OT, we read about Joseph who went from the pit to the prison and finally to the palace. Elisha, who was successor to Elijah’s prophetic ministry, served Elijah for many years as his humble servant.
In Acts 16: 25, 26 we read – ‘About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.”
Amazing! Just TWO people were praying and worshipping God in a prison, and the very FOUNDATIONS of that prison were shaken and ALL doors were opened and EVERYONE’s chains were unfastened!
What caused God to shake the foundations of the prison of Paul and Silas? I believe it was their complete trust and faith in God to get them out of there and also their prayer of agreement where the two of them agreed and believed that God would set them free. Paul and Silas certainly must have prayed according to Matthew 18:19, 20 and more significantly, they must have definitely interceded for all the other people (prisoners and jailer) around them in that prison, because we see God’s plan of salvation manifested in the life of the jailer and his entire family – Acts 16: 30 – 34.
Even God’s throne has a foundation – that of righteousness and justice! God always shakes and tests foundations. Throughout the generations, we have been witnessing the acts of God through worldwide events as He continues to shake the foundations of nations, kingdoms, religious cults, false ideologies and even individuals across the universe. In recent times, we’ve witnessed tsunamis and earthquakes across nations, the growing turmoil in the Middle East, the fall of immoral and corrupt leaders, the crackdown and toppling of terrorist leaders and groups.
In the Old Testament, we know that the walls of the city of Jericho fell because they did not have a Godly foundation! Anything that is not built on a Godly foundation will surely fall! JESUS CHRIST SHOULD BE OUR ONLY FOUNDATION in life, not people or false values - 1 Corinthians 3: 10, 11 – ‘According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ.’
 |
| Jesus Christ - our ONLY foundation! |
JESUS CHRIST will continue to shake foundations until ‘His kingdom’ is established in the hearts and lives of all those who believe in Him, repent of their sins and accept Him as their only Lord and Savior. Hebrews 12: 26-29 speaks of God’s sure promise to shake earth and heaven – “At that time, His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, ‘Yet once more’ I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ This phrase ‘yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.” Jesus Christ’s first message of proclamation was - “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” – Matthew 4:17. “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” – 1 Peter 4:17.
As we build our foundations in life, it’s also important NOT to destroy what God has built and NOT to re-build what God Himself has destroyed. Anyone who tries to build what God has destroyed and tries to destroy what God has built will be cursed. Why? Because His Word says so! Let us read Joshua 6:26 – ‘Cursed before the LORD be anyone who tries to build this city – this Jericho! At the cost of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest he shall set up its gates!’ In 1 Kings 16: 34, we read – ‘In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho; he laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which he spoke by Joshua son of Nun.’
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, are you in a prison? There is a famous quote – “We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking only to learn that it is God shaking them!” Is God shaking the foundations of your life, your family, your business, your marriage or ministry? Some of us, including our families may be in prisons of fear, pain and bondages, sickness and suffering, trials and frustrations for months, years and even generations. Some of us may have been placed in our prisons by others. Perhaps your home or marriage has become a prison. Some of us walk into self-made prisons due to our sins and addictions and become so accustomed to the environment there that we do not wish to get out or we could be struggling to come out of these prisons!
Do you want God to shake the foundations of your prison and set you free? Jesus Christ, the Living Word is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He tells us in John 8:31, 32 – “If you abide in My Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.” The right attitude towards God and His people will enable us to shake the very foundations of any prison! To build Godly foundations in life, we need to practice love, forgiveness, truth and justice as Jesus Christ teaches us.
Therefore, let us set our hearts and minds on becoming Spirit-filled persons of prayer, praise and worship. Even the evil one tries to lay foundations and strongholds if we grant him access into our lives. Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, but when the Word of God directs our lives and we abide in Jesus as our only foundation, he may shake us for a while but once he sees us firmly rooted in Christ, he will flee!
Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for being my rock and stronghold. In the Name of Jesus Christ and through His Precious Blood that was shed for me, I uproot every evil foundation in my life and family. Beloved Lord Jesus, lay Your foundations in my life, so that I will be rooted and grounded in You. AMEN.
Blessings,
Monisha Rebello
Monisha Rebello
You may submit your prayer requests, which will be treated with absolute confidence. Remember to glorify our Lord as soon as He blesses you. You can email your testimonies with permission to publish them online at www.heavensmission.witnesstoday.org
No comments:
Post a Comment