LIVING AND BUILDING ON – “THE SURE FOUNDATION” – IN CHRIST JESUS’ STEAD! 

LIVING AND BUILDING ON – “THE SURE FOUNDATION” – IN CHRIST JESUS’ STEAD! 

“By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the POWER, WISDOM and GOODNESS of God] we UNDERSTAND that the WORLD’S (universe, ages) were FRAMED and CREATED [FORMED, put in ORDER, and EQUIPPED for their intended PURPOSE] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” Psalms 11:3/Amplified. 

The neglect of the foundation of anything will cause harmful effects in anything intended to be built upon that foundation. 

When the Father God laid the foundation of the earth and the built-up of the world in it for humans and all created things, He ensured that the foundation was without question. He ensured and assured Himself that the architectural and structural design could and would withstand the heavy load of the billions of human factors and activities that would be carried out on it, as written in Psalm 24:1-2; Isaiah 45:18; Revelation 4:11; Hebrews 11:3. 

And there is a great lesson to be learnt: to start from the known of God to the unknown, if we follow the principles of His Word as found in the Holy Writ. 

I have, as well as you might have, studied and am still studying, to know; and have grown and am still growing, to say that I have seen natural, human and spiritual devastations in different spheres of humanity. I have seen structural buildings of many sorts — both small and great — reduced to rubble. And the result of any devastating occurrence is always relatively costly in human, natural and spiritual terms. 

And I have, as well as you might have, seen, read, observed and watched the loss of individual and public properties of various segments, cutting across and not limited to: Agricultural lands, Businesses, Ministries/Church buildings, Government Offices, Non-governmental and parastatal establishments, Families and individual residences, and such like. 

In all situations and circumstances, it is always a deeply heart-felt, touching and heartbreaking experience for anyone to go through the metamorphosis of change in various segments — especially in helpless situations, awaiting the worst of both ends: the loss of lives, livelihoods and properties. 

And in some cases, the devastations are really very, very bad and beyond comprehension in terms of human loss, financial cost, spiritual cost and more, to those affected respectively. 

As I prepared to write this, and while recalling and flipping through various accessible multimedia channels not long ago, I could see devastations of human lives, livelihoods and properties, and such like, in various nations of the world. The effects of weather impact in those places, and in some especially, are a cause for tears, pain, hurt and the unimaginable. 

While some could be natural, others are as a result of human negligence over time by those who ought to have put in place a well-thought-out foundation that could have withstood the tests of time, but failed to see reason to get things done as would have been expected. 
Though some of these devastations are of natural causes, most of the time there are human creations and causes that have been undermined — especially in places that ought to have been subjected and scrutinised to proper standards and principles, but have been overlooked and given free leverage. This has resulted in the overwhelming costs of lives, livelihoods, properties, finances and such like, being incurred. 

Now, shifting from natural and human devastations to the spiritual devastating state, you will find that the spiritual devastating state is even more shocking, considering the deception, delusion, indoctrination, adulteration, perversion, falsehood and man-made effects upon people. 
Worst still is when you consider many of those who are called Christians, or followers of Jesus Christ, or Believers answering to the Faith in Christ Jesus, who are without the basic foundation or foundational knowledge and understanding of the Faith they claim to belong to, except to their denominational doctrinal settings — creeds, bylaws, traditional dogmas and such like. 
Philippians 1:15-18; Galatians 1:6-9; Jude 1:3-4; Acts 8:9-24 

While many have sincerely given their lives to God in Christ Jesus and have resolved to both believe and follow Christ Jesus as their foundation, there are others who have found themselves knowingly and or unknowingly on a wrongly laid FOUNDATION — especially in some places of worship. And there are others who have blindly followed the blind, and have been swayed away from the TRUTH in their faith foundation of the Gospel. 
In each case, many are not only wrongly founded, but are also building wrongly upon that same foundation that was wrongly laid. 
1 Corinthians 3:1-17; 2 Timothy 2:19-21 

And it is partly upon the concerns in the above paragraph that the call comes to us: to help some, if not all, to the place of living and building on – “THE SURE FOUNDATION” in Christ Jesus. This is to bring the essence of light out of darkness, into the full knowledge of God in the face of Christ Jesus, as written:  

“For God, who said, “Let LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS,” is the One who has SHONE in our hearts to GIVE us the Light of the KNOWLEDGE of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the FACE of Christ . . . 13 Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, “I believed, therefore I spoke.” We also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present us [along] with you in His presence” 2 Corinthians 4:6, 13-14/Amplified. 

And laying the foundation of one’s FAITH on THE ROCK, and building and living on that same ROCK, which is Jesus Christ — the Foundation and the Builder of His Church — is God’s expectation of us if we must THRIVE in an ONWARD and UPWARD trajectory in Christ Jesus; and to save us from living and building a life of SURVIVAL while we yet acclaim to be God’s own in every sense. Matthew 7:24-27. 

Our Father God, in His eternal plan, laid the unshaken and indestructible foundation of our FAITH in His set plan for human REDEMPTION in His Son Jesus Christ. This He did long before the formation and foundation of the world, the Scripture says — thus indicating that the world, in God’s plan, has a FOUNDATION to keep it stable for purpose. 
Revelation 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Hebrews 9:26; Ephesians 1:4; John 17:24 

I will be taking time to expatiate, segment upon segment, in the course of the month, on what it means to live and build on THE SURE FOUNDATION, which is of God in Christ Jesus, so that you and I can enjoy the fulness and fulfilling life and godly living in Christ Jesus’ stead. Amen.  

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT: 

“If the FOUNDATIONS be DESTROYED, what can the RIGHTEOUS DO?” Psalms 11:3. 

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the FOUNDATION, and another BUILDETH thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 FOR OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY THAN THAT IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST. 12 Now if any man BUILD upon this FOUNDATION gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the TEMPLE of God, and that the Spirit of God DWELLETH in you? 17 If any man DEFILE the TEMPLE of God, him shall God DESTROY; for the TEMPLE of God is HOLY, which TEMPLE ye ARE” 1 Corinthians 3:10-17. 

“Nevertheless the FOUNDATION of God STANDETH SURE, having this SEAL, The Lord KNOWETH them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ DEPART FROM INIQUITY. 20 But in a great house there are not only VESSELS of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to HONOUR, and some to DISHONOUR. 21 If a man therefore PURGE himself from these, he shall be a VESSEL unto HONOUR, SANCTIFIED, and MEET for the MASTER’S use, and PREPARED unto EVERY GOOD WORK” 2 Timothy 2:19-21. 

“Therefore whosoever HEARETH these sayings of mine, and DOETH them, I will liken him unto a WISE man, which BUILT his house upon a ROCK: 25 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. 26 And every one that HEARETH these sayings of mine, and DOETH THEM NOT, shall be likened unto a FOOLISH man, which BUILT his house upon the SAND: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” Matthew 7:24-27. 

“We have also a more SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that SHINETH in a DARK place, until the DAY DAWN, and the DAY STAR arise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” 2 Peter 1:19-21. 

“And I fell at his feet to WORSHIP him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have THE TESTIMONY of Jesus: WORSHIP God: for THE TESTIMONY of Jesus is the spirit of PROPHECY” Revelation 19:10. 

“The EARTH is the Lord’s, and the FULNESS thereof; the WORLD, and they that DWELL therein. 2 For he hath FOUNDED it upon the seas, and ESTABLISHED it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ASCEND into the HILL of the Lord? or who shall STAND in his HOLY place? 4 He that hath CLEAN hands, and a PURE heart; who hath NOT LIFTED up his soul unto VANITY, nor sworn DECEITFULLY. 5 He shall RECEIVE THE BLESSING from the Lord, and RIGHTEOUSNESS from the God of his SALVATION” Psalms 24:1-5. 

“Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have MADE the earth, and CREATED man upon it: I, even my hands, have STRETCHED out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded” Psalms 45:11-12. 

“By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the POWER, WISDOM and GOODNESS of God] we UNDERSTAND that the WORLDS (universe, ages) were FRAMED and CREATED [formed, put in order, and EQUIPPED for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” Hebrews 11:3. 

SUMMARY: 
The message is titled “LIVING AND BUILDING ON – ‘THE SURE FOUNDATION’ – IN CHRIST JESUS’ STEAD!” 
It is a call to examine the foundation of our faith and life, and to intentionally build on Christ Jesus alone, because every life, ministry, family and nation will face storms. Only what is founded on THE ROCK will stand and THRIVE in an ONWARD and UPWARD trajectory. 

KEY POINTS 

1. God Himself Lays Foundations That Withstand
   From creation, God ensured the earth and world were laid on a sure foundation to carry the weight of human activity and purpose.
   Hebrews 11:3 | “By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the POWER, WISDOM and GOODNESS of God] we UNDERSTAND that the WORLDS (universe, ages) were FRAMED and CREATED [formed, put in order, and EQUIPPED for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible” 
   Psalms 24:1-2 | “The EARTH is the Lord’s, and the FULNESS thereof; the WORLD, and they that DWELL therein. For he hath FOUNDED it upon the seas, and ESTABLISHED it upon the floods” 
   Isaiah 45:11-12 | “I have MADE the earth, and CREATED man upon it: I, even my hands, have STRETCHED out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded” 
   Revelation 4:11 | “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast CREATED all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” 
    
2. The Cost of Wrong or Neglected Foundations
   Natural,human and spiritual devastations reveal what happens when foundations are weak, overlooked, or wrongly laid. We see buildings reduced to rubble, loss of lives, livelihoods, properties, and ministries. Spiritually, it is worse — deception, delusion, false doctrine, and man-made religion have left many believers without basic knowledge of the Faith. 
   Philippians 1:15-18; Galatians 1:6-9; Jude 1:3-4; Acts 8:9-24 
    
3. Christ Jesus IS THE SURE FOUNDATION
   No other foundation can be laid. God’s eternal plan of redemption in Christ wasestablished before the world was formed. 
   Revelation 13:8; 1 Peter 1:18-21; Hebrews 9:26; Ephesians 1:4; John 17:24 
   1 Corinthians 3:11 | “FOR OTHER FOUNDATION CAN NO MAN LAY THAN THAT IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST” 
   2 Timothy 2:19 | “Nevertheless the FOUNDATION of God STANDETH SURE, having this SEAL, The Lord KNOWETH them that are his” 
    
4. How We Build Matters
   God expects us to not only be founded on THE ROCK, but to build andlive on Him. The quality of our building will be tested. 
   Matthew 7:24-27 | “Therefore whosoever HEARETH these sayings of mine, and DOETH them, I will liken him unto a WISE man, which BUILT his house upon a ROCK… it fell not: for it was FOUNDED upon a ROCK” 
   1 Corinthians 3:10-17 | “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the FOUNDATION… But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” 
   2 Corinthians 4:6 | “For God, who said, “Let LIGHT SHINE OUT OF DARKNESS,” is the One who has SHONE in our hearts to GIVE us the Light of the KNOWLEDGE of the glory and majesty of God [clearly revealed] in the FACE of Christ” 
    
5. The September Mandate
   The theme is to help believers move from survival to thriving byliving and building on THE SURE FOUNDATION. This brings us out of darkness into the full knowledge of God in Christ, and prepares us for the tests of time. 
   2 Peter 1:19 | “We have also a more SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that SHINETH in a DARK place, until the DAY DAWN” 
   Revelation 19:10 | “for THE TESTIMONY of Jesus is the spirit of PROPHECY” 

CALL TO ACTION 

1. EXAMINE YOUR FOUNDATION — Ask: Is my faith, family, work, and ministry built on Christ, or on creeds, traditions, or human wisdom? 
   Psalms 11:3 | “If the FOUNDATIONS be DESTROYED, what can the RIGHTEOUS DO?” 
2. BUILD WISELY — Hear AND DO the Word. Be a vessel of honour, purged and prepared for the Master’s use. 
   2 Timothy 2:20-21 | “If a man therefore PURGE himself from these, he shall be a VESSEL unto HONOUR, SANCTIFIED, and MEET for the MASTER’S use, and PREPARED unto EVERY GOOD WORK” 
3. THRIVE, NOT SURVIVE — Commit this month to segment-by-segment teaching on THE SURE FOUNDATION so you can enjoy fulness and godly living in Christ Jesus’ stead. 4
4. STAND SURE — Let the Word be your light. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy for your life this season. 

REV. CHUKIE MORSI