January 3, 2002
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)
Are you like the wise man or the foolish man? I have heard that all there is to salvation is accepting the free gift and going on about your business. However, we are told that in the last days there shall be a falling away of those who have come to the Lord and have heard his word. Now, we must build upon the rock of Jesus. We must not only read his word, but also do what his word says! Look closely at what you have read above. Here is the falling away that the Lord taught about in Matthew 24. The falling away comes from not doing what we are told to do in his word. We must learn to seek truth and pursue it. We must learn that no matter what our eyes see, the Lord is faithful. Jesus is the rock upon which the wise man builds his house. Jesus, the Rock, is our hope, he and he alone. There are some that will be trusted with wealth for the sake of those who are in need. However, contrary to the teachings of many churches, not all in the kingdom shall have earthly wealth.
Not only will not all have earthly wealth, contrary to much of what you hear today, hard times come, trials, tribulations, things that we would not wish on our worst enemy, lest on ourselves, and we shall endure hardship. We are not better than our Lord and he endured great hardship. When the rains come, the streams rises, and the wind batters at you, know that the Lord is with you. He has not left you. He is only chipping away at what does not resemble him. Pursue the lessons that come. Seek to know his word and to put into practice what you find there. Then you have built your house upon the rock and you shall not be shaken when you see the abomination that causes desolation standing where he should not be standing. Then you shall not be shaken when those who do not know Jesus torment you. Then you shall not be shaken when the trials come in your life. Stand firm to the end. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ. He has been there before you and will not let you fall.
Father, let me teach truth and truth alone. Father, help me to stand on the Rock of Jesus. Father, for the sake of the name of your beloved son, let me build my house upon him. I need you to give me strength in the times at hand. I need you to be my sword and my shield. I need you to be my legs, my hands, and my voice. For the sake of the name of Jesus, do not let me fall away. Let me stand firm to the end. Put within me the spirit of the overcomer, Jesus. Holy Spirit, you speak to me and teach me the ways that I do not understand. Pray when I am too weary or confused to pray. Pray with the groanings that are in accordance with the good and perfect will of the Most High God. In Jesus name, do not let me stumble on the things of the spirit, rather let me see with the eyes of the spirit that I might understand what is and what is to come. In Jesus name let me never falter. In Jesus name, I praise you that you are the Rock upon which I am built, amen.
All rights reserved: Amy Seelbach
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