The Need For Stability

1
The Need For Stability
2
It is crucial that each of us build a proper
foundation.

• What is the application of Jesus on foundations?
  (Mt 724-27)

3
It is crucial that each of us build a proper
foundation.

• Matthew 724-27 - " Therefore whoever hears
  these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will
  liken him to a wise man who built his house on
  the rock 25 "and the rain descended, the floods
  came, and the winds blew and beat on that house
  and it did not fall, for it was founded on the
  rock.

4
It is crucial that each of us build a proper
foundation.

• 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of
  Mine, and does not do them, will be like a
  foolish man who built his house on the sand 27
  "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the
  winds blew and beat on that house and it fell.
  And great was its fall."

5
It is crucial that each of us build a proper
foundation.

• Our children love to sing the song about this.
  What does it mean?
• Have you dug deeper and asked about the
  applications of this?
• Our God has provisions to help us build a
  foundation so that we can be stable.

6
It is crucial that each of us build a proper
foundation.

• As we come to better know God, His character and
  his provisions, we will find ourselves active and
  consistent in His work. (2 Thess 216-17)

7
It is crucial that each of us build a proper
foundation.

• 2 Thessalonians 216-17 - Now may our Lord Jesus
  Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has
  loved us and given us everlasting consolation and
  good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and
  establish you in every good word and work.

8
It is crucial that each of us build a proper
foundation.

• This is a process of growth that we must choose.
• Look back and remember those who truly made a
  difference in the lives of many. What were they
  like?

9
Our God is in the foundation building business

• He built the earth to last as long as the
  universe. (Ps 10225 Heb 110)

10
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Psalm 10225 - Of old You laid the foundation of
  the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your
  hands.

11
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Hebrews 110 - And "You, LORD, in the beginning
  laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens
  are the work of Your hands.

12
Our God is in the foundation building business

• When He lays a foundation then His work will stay
  in place.
• Our God is a stable God who works with absolute
  consistency. (Heb 138)

13
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Hebrews 138 - Jesus Christ is the same
  yesterday, today, and forever.

14
Our God is in the foundation building business

• This certainty is the basis of our comfort,
  patience and hope. (Rom 154)

15
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Romans 154 - For whatever things were written
  before were written for our learning, that we
  through the patience and comfort of the
  Scriptures might have hope.

16
Our God is in the foundation building business

• How does God build a foundation in us?
• He gives us a logical, defendable faith in Him.
  (1 Pt 315)

17
Our God is in the foundation building business

• 1 Peter 315 - But sanctify the Lord God in your
  hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
  everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that
  is in you, with meekness and fear

18
Our God is in the foundation building business

• He gives us a clear path to forgiveness. (Acts
  238)

19
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Acts 238 - Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and
  let every one of you be baptized in the name of
  Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you
  shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

20
Our God is in the foundation building business

• He gives us a clear path to follow. (Acts 242)

21
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Acts 242 - And they continued steadfastly in the
  apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the
  breaking of bread, and in prayers.

22
Our God is in the foundation building business

• He gives us an identifiable people to associate
  with. (2 Cor 614, 17-18)

23
Our God is in the foundation building business

• 2 Corinthians 614 - Do not be unequally yoked
  together with unbelievers. For what fellowship
  has righteousness with lawlessness? And what
  communion has light with darkness?

24
Our God is in the foundation building business

• 2 Corinthians 617-18 - Therefore "Come out from
  among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not
  touch what is unclean, And I will receive you."
  18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be
  My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

25
Our God is in the foundation building business

• He gives us a certain expectation of eternal
  salvation. (Rom 824-25)

26
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Romans 824-25 - For we were saved in this hope,
  but hope that is seen is not hope for why does
  one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we
  hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for
  it with perseverance.

27
Our God is in the foundation building business

• God exhorts us to carefully build such a
  foundation!
• It takes time after one becomes a Christian! (Lk
  648)

28
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Luke 648 - "He is like a man building a house,
  who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.
  And when the flood arose, the stream beat
  vehemently against that house, and could not
  shake it, for it was founded on the rock.

29
Our God is in the foundation building business

• I remember the effort spent in building my
  foundation. I wanted to ask questions and
  challenge the religions of the world.
• The world hates the certainty of this foundation
  and seeks to discredit it.
• Real security and happiness is found when you
  have such a foundation.
• There is a time for instability while a
  foundation is being built. (Eph 413-15)

30
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Ephesians 413-15 - till we all come to the unity
  of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
  God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the
  stature of the fullness of Christ 14 that we
  should no longer be children, tossed to and fro
  and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by
  the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of
  deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth
  in love, may grow up in all things into Him who
  is the head -- Christ

31
Our God is in the foundation building business

• Until that foundation is built the Christian is
  in danger.
• If they maintain the right relationship with his
  people then maturity will come. Here is where
  Satan will strike.
• Most false movements within the church have 3
  prongs of attack.

32
Our God is in the foundation building business

• 1. Bitterness towards brethren
• 2. Pride towards brethren
• 3. A learned dishonesty.

33
Characteristics of the Unstable

• You cannot depend on them. (Jn 223-25 Mk 417)

34
Characteristics of the Unstable

• John 223-25 - Now when He was in Jerusalem at
  the Passover, during the feast, many believed in
  His name when they saw the signs which He did.
  24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them,
  because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that
  anyone should testify of man, for He knew what
  was in man.

35
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Mark 417 - "and they have no root in themselves,
  and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when
  tribulation or persecution arises for the word's
  sake, immediately they stumble.

36
Characteristics of the Unstable

• They cannot maintain long-term relationships.
• They are easily upset and influenced by others
  (Used by others).
• They are quick to complain. (Israel and Moses)

37
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Reality changes easily.
• Did those who rejoiced at the Lords entrance
  stand for Him? (Mt 219-11)

38
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Matthew 219-11 - Then the multitudes who went
  before and those who followed cried out, saying
  "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who
  comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the
  highest!" 10 And when He had come into
  Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who
  is this?" 11 So the multitudes said, "This is
  Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee."

39
Characteristics of the Unstable

• They are easily swayed by hurts and gossip.
• They are often uncertain in things they can know
  but certain in things they cannot know (Col
  218-19)

40
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Colossians 218-19 - Let no one cheat you of your
  reward, taking delight in false humility and
  worship of angels, intruding into those things
  which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his
  fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the
  Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit
  together by joints and ligaments, grows with the
  increase that is from God.

41
Characteristics of the Unstable

• They are ego-centered.
• It is all about them. As an example, the need for
  originality.
• They can use the faults of others (real or
  imagined) to build self up. (Lk 189, 11)

42
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Luke 189 - Also He spoke this parable to some
  who trusted in themselves that they were
  righteous, and despised others

43
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Luke 1811 - "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus
  with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not
  like other men -- extortioners, unjust,
  adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

44
Characteristics of the Unstable

• They are driven by relationships. (Jn 544)

45
Characteristics of the Unstable

• John 544 - "How can you believe, who receive
  honor from one another, and do not seek the honor
  that comes from the only God?

46
Characteristics of the Unstable

• They cannot handle rebuke.

47
Characteristics of the Unstable

• They have no doctrinal core. (2 Tim 37-10)

48
Characteristics of the Unstable

• 2 Timothy 37-10 7 always learning and never
  able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8
  Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do
  these also resist the truth men of corrupt
  minds, disapproved concerning the faith 9 but
  they will progress no further, for their folly
  will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. 10
  But you have carefully followed my doctrine,
  manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
  love, perseverance,

49
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Many have never learned to reason from
  scriptures. (Jn 545)

50
Characteristics of the Unstable

• John 545 - "Do not think that I shall accuse you
  to the Father there is one who accuses you --
  Moses, in whom you trust.

51
Characteristics of the Unstable

• Emotion drives what they perceive to be true.
• They are spiritual marshmallows they refuse
  to stand and pay a price.
• They are fearful of solid truth and of those that
  hold them. (2 Tim 18)

52
Characteristics of the Unstable

• 2 Timothy 18 - Therefore do not be ashamed of
  the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His
  prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for
  the gospel according to the power of God,

53
Characteristics of the Unstable

• They are often excited by things that they cannot
  explain!

54
How to become stable

• Be established in the revealed love of God. (Eph
  316-17)

55
How to become stable

• Ephesians 316-17 - that He would grant you,
  according to the riches of His glory, to be
  strengthened with might through His Spirit in the
  inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your
  hearts through faith that you, being rooted and
  grounded in love,

56
How to become stable

• Grounded - literally provide with a foundation,
  found, lay the foundation of (MT 7.25)
  figuratively, as providing a firm basis for
  belief or practice establish, strengthen,
  settle, cause to be firm and unwavering (1P 5.10)

57
How to become stable

• The love of God is principled and revealed. We
  must learn it.
• Major in thanksgiving and praise to God! (2 Thess
  35)

58
How to become stable

• 2 Thessalonians 35 - Now may the Lord direct
  your hearts into the love of God and into the
  patience of Christ.

59
How to become stable

• Learn how to stand and suffer. (Col 123 1 Pt
  510)

60
How to become stable

• Colossians 123 - if indeed you continue in the
  faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved
  away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
  which was preached to every creature under
  heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

61
How to become stable

• 1 Peter 510 - But may the God of all grace, who
  called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
  after you have suffered a while, perfect,
  establish, strengthen, and settle you.

62
How to become stable

• Get away from the scoffers and the peddlers of
  uncertainty.
• Stand with those who are the focus of the
  scoffers! (Heb 1032-34)

63
How to become stable

• Hebrews 1032-34 - But recall the former days in
  which, after you were illuminated, you endured a
  great struggle with sufferings 33 partly while
  you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and
  tribulations, and partly while you became
  companions of those who were so treated 34 for
  you had compassion on me in my chains, and
  joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods,
  knowing that you have a better and an enduring
  possession for yourselves in heaven.

64
How to become stable

• Those who stand on principle will be your real
  friends! (1 Thess 312-13 Heb 137)

65
How to become stable

• 1 Thessalonians 312-13 - And may the Lord make
  you increase and abound in love to one another
  and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He
  may establish your hearts blameless in holiness
  before our God and Father at the coming of our
  Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

66
How to become stable

• Hebrews 137 - Remember those who rule over you,
  who have spoken the word of God to you, whose
  faith follow, considering the outcome of their
  conduct.

67
How to become stable

• Insist upon the sound doctrine of the apostles!
  (2 Thess 33-4 215)

68
How to become stable

• 2 Thessalonians 33-4 - But the Lord is faithful,
  who will establish you and guard you from the
  evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord
  concerning you, both that you do and will do the
  things we command you.

69
How to become stable

• 2 Thessalonians 215 - Therefore, brethren, stand
  fast and hold the traditions which you were
  taught, whether by word or our epistle.

70
How to become stable

• Taking all that was delivered to the apostles and
  standing in that alone is not legalism.
• The whole council of God produces stability. The
  positive preaching of the world lets you be
  swayed by the doctrines of the day.
• Blessed are those who Gods word has taken root
  in them! (Prov 123, 12)

71
How to become stable

• Proverbs 123 - A man is not established by
  wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot
  be moved.

72
How to become stable

• Proverbs 1212 - The wicked covet the catch of
  evil men, But the root of the righteous yields
  fruit.

73
How to become stable

• Do you want God to use you as a tool for His
  purposes? Lets build a solid foundation! (2
  Kings 1930)

74
How to become stable

• 2 Kings 1930 - And the remnant who have escaped
  of the house of Judah Shall again take root
  downward, And bear fruit upward.