What are your Foundations like, and what are you Building with ?

I live in the sea-side resort of Southport ,  Merseyside,  which is located 16 or so miles north of Liverpool,  the land around here is very, very flat because parts of the town are either built on Sand or on Marshy ground. 

In the 1790’s an entrepreneurial businessman/inn-keeper called William Sutton from Churchtown,(now part of Southport, then a community on it’s own) built an hotel/bathing house called the South Port Hotel in an sparsely populated area and that was mostly covered in sand dunes called South Hawes, it was  due to people travelling via the nearby Leeds-Liverpool Canal who would stop at the South Port Hotel and get involved in the new fad of sea-bathing that lead to the creation of Southport.

A few days ago,  I was walking into the town center and I noticed a rather large hole, of some concern despite this hole being some distance  from the sea-front the  hole was full of sand.    I was on my way to my local bank which is on Lord Street,  Southport,  my bank is a grade 11 listed building and has many fine architectural features inside the bank.

I spent my formative years in a small Pentecostal church in South Wales,  and had the privilege of being raised in a Christian home,  so from my earliest years I would hear Bible Stories both at home and at church (chapel) and sing choruses and hymns both in Church including Sunday School and at home with my parents and grandparents,  I used to love the loud action choruses that involved a lot of shouting, I’m sure most boys in Sunday School would too. 

One of my favorite choruses was The Wise Man and the Foolish Man or The Wise Man Build his house about the rock.

The wise man built his house upon the Rock,

The wise man built his house upon the Rock,

The wise man built his house upon the Rock,

And the rains came tumbling down.

The rains came down and the floods came up,

The rains came down and the floods came up,

The rains came down and the floods came up,

But the house on the Rock stood firm.

The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

And the rains came tumbling down.

The rains came down and the floods came up,

The rains came down and the floods came up,

The rains came down and the floods came up,

And the house on the sand fell flat.

So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ,

So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ,

So build your life on the Lord Jesus Christ,

And the blessings will come down.

The blessings come down as your prayers go up,

The blessings come down as your prayers go up,

The blessings come down as your prayers go up,

So build your life on the Lord.

This timeless song is based on the words of our Lord,  and can be found twice in the New Testament and both tell part of the Sermon on the Mount,  although most of us would familiar with the Beatitudes.

Matthew 7:24-29 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Two Foundations

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and [a]acts on them, [b]may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the [c]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not [d]act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, and the [e]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

28 [f]When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Luke 6:46-49 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Builders and Foundations

46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and [a]acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who [b]dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the [c]torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the [d]torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

I became a Christian at the age of 11 in a Children’s meeting in my home town of Neath,  and I thank the Lord for the foundational  truths that would be implanted in me at that time.   It’s just over 30 years ago, that a young boy give his life to his Lord,  and he was walked with his Lord and Savior since then.

The unseen part of all buildings is the foundation, yet it’s the most important part,  you can have the most beautiful building in the World but if there are no foundation or inadequate foundations eventually the building will fall down or collapse,  many buildings can look strong and secure but if you examine them more closely , you see that crack haves started to appear and after years or decades the cracks become larger and larger and whoosh,  the building collapses!

Matthew 16:13-19New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Peter’s Confession of Christ

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, [a]Elijah; but still others, [b]Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are [c]the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon [d]Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 I also say to you that you are [e]Peter, and upon this [f]rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth [g]shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth [h]shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Ephesians 2:19-22New American Standard Bible (NASB)

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the [a]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 [b]temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Isaiah 28:16New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 Therefore thus says the Lord [a]God,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,

A costly cornerstone for the foundation, [b]firmly placed.

He who believes in it will not be [c]disturbed.

1 Peter 2:4-7New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The living Stone and a chosen people

4 As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:

‘See, I lay a stone in Zion,

    a chosen and precious cornerstone,

and the one who trusts in him

    will never be put to shame.’[b]

7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

‘The stone the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone,’[c]

1 Corinthians 3:11-17New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved – even though only as one escaping through the flames.

16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives among you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.

Our foundation is our Lord,  Jesus Christ,  our witness, our words, our work are built on this foundation,  can you imagine if a builder built an amazing  foundation for your new house, but instead of using the best building materials you decide to cut costs and use sub-standard  materials?  What would that house look like ?

1 Chronicles 28:9-20 English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

David's Charge to Solomon

9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. 10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”

11 Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple,[a] and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; 12 and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; 13 for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the Lord; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the Lord, 14 the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, 15 the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, 16 the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables, 17 and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; 18 for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 19 “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.”

20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.

Matthew 5 NIV, The Beatitudes.

 

 Matthew 5 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes

He said:

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

    for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

    for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

    for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

    for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

    for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and light

13 ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

The fulfilment of the law

17 ‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practises and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder

21 ‘You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.” 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, “Raca,”[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23 ‘Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 ‘Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.”[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 ‘It has been said, “Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.”[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 ‘Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not break your oath, but fulfil to the Lord the oaths you have made.” 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply “Yes,” or “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[g]

Eye for eye

38 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.”[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Love for enemies

43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour[i] and hate your enemy.” 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The Bible Panorama

Matthew 5

V 1–12: DESCRIPTION The progressive blessings of a heart in fellowship with God are reflected in the inner qualities shown in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. These ‘blessed’ sayings are known as the Beatitudes.

V 13–16: DIFFERENCE The Christian should be to the world what salt is to food and what light is to darkness—much needed and distinctively different.

V 17–20: DESTRUCTION The whole of God’s Word, in the smallest detail, will endure after the destruction of the heavens and the earth as we know them. God’s law is our guide to entering the kingdom of heaven. The righteousness of mere religious observance, like that of the Pharisees, cannot give entry to it.

 V 21–26: DANGER Those whose sinful and unrepentant hearts reveal their anger and hatred for others, even for those who are close enough to be brothers, are in grave danger of judgement and hell. Bringing a gift to God is no substitute. Repentance will produce a desire to be reconciled to the person offended. Judgement is the only alternative to repentance.

 V 27–30: DRASTIC In our personal fight against sin, drastic action is called for, emphasised here through striking illustrations. This involves self-denial, and recognising that, in the eyes of God, hatred and anger in the heart count as murder, and lust counts as adultery.

 V 31–32: DIVORCE Jesus teaches the permanence of the marriage bond, which He teaches can only be broken in the case of marital unfaithfulness.

 V 33–37: DIRECTNESS Our language and conduct must be such that we need not invoke oaths to make people believe we are telling the truth.

 V 38–48: DOING A Christian must always do good to others, even when he can insist on an enforceable legal right and even when enemies oppose him. His generosity will evidence his desire to follow God’s directions, as far as possible. His perfect heavenly Father is his standard.

Dictionary of Bible Themes

1620 beatitudes, the

The blessings pronounced by Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount on those whose lives exhibit particular characteristics or qualities. These contrast sharply with popular values and outlooks.

The poor in spirit

Mt 5:3 pp Lk 6:20 See also Ps 69:32-33; Isa 61:1; Mt 23:12; Lk 18:9-14

Those who mourn

Mt 5:4 pp Lk 6:21 See also Ps 51:17; Isa 57:18-21; Isa 61:1-3; Jer 31:13; Rev 7:17; Rev 21:4

The meek

Mt 5:5 See also Ps 37:11; Zep 3:11-12; Mt 11:29

Those who hunger after righteousness

Mt 5:6 pp Lk 6:21 See also Isa 55:1-2; Mt 6:33; 2Ti 2:22; 1Pe 3:12

The merciful

Mt 5:7 See also Ex 34:6-7; Da 9:9; Mt 6:12 pp Lk 11:4; Mt 6:14-15; Mt 18:21-35; Lk 6:36; Jas 2:13

The pure in heart

Mt 5:8 See also Ps 24:3-5; Ps 51:10; Ps 73:1; 1Jn 3:2-3

The peacemakers

Mt 5:9 See also Ps 34:14; Mt 5:44-45; Ro 12:18; Ro 14:19; 2Ti 2:22; Jas 3:17-18

The righteous who suffer persecution

Mt 5:10-12 pp Lk 6:22 See also Jn 15:18-21; 2Ti 3:10-12; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 3:14,17; 1Pe 4:12-16

Question: What are the Beatitudes?

A Study of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount

The beatitudes come from the opening verses of the famous Sermon on the Mount delivered by Jesus and recorded in Matthew 5:3-12. Here Jesus states several blessings, each beginning with the phrase, "Blessed are ..." (Similar declarations appear in Jesus' Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6:20-23.) Each saying speaks of a blessing or "divine favor" bestowed upon a person resulting from the possession of a certain character quality.

Answer:

The word "beatitude" comes from the Latin beatitudo, meaning "blessedness." The phrase "blessed are" in each of the beatitudes implies a current state of happiness or well-being. The expression held powerful meaning of "divine joy and perfect happiness" to the people of the day. In other words, Jesus was saying "divinely happy and fortunate are" those who possess these inward qualities. While speaking of a current "blessedness," each pronouncement also promises a future reward.

Am I Blessed Like This?

Blessed are . . . —Matthew 5:3-11

When we first read the statements of Jesus, they seem wonderfully simple and unstartling, and they sink unnoticed into our subconscious minds. For instance, the Beatitudes initially seem to be merely soothing and beautiful precepts for overly spiritual and seemingly useless people, but of very little practical use in the rigid, fast-paced workdays of the world in which we live. We soon find, however, that the Beatitudes contain the “dynamite” of the Holy Spirit. And they “explode” when the circumstances of our lives cause them to do so. When the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance one of the Beatitudes, we say, “What a startling statement that is!” Then we must decide whether or not we will accept the tremendous spiritual upheaval that will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words. That is the way the Spirit of God works. We do not need to be born again to apply the Sermon on the Mount literally. The literal interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount is as easy as child’s play. But the interpretation by the Spirit of God as He applies our Lord’s statements to our circumstances is the strict and difficult work of a saint.

The teachings of Jesus are all out of proportion when compared to our natural way of looking at things, and they come to us initially with astonishing discomfort. We gradually have to conform our walk and conversation to the precepts of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit applies them to our circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations— it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.

Oswald Chambers .  My Utmost for His Highest.