Standing on the solid rock

Luke 6:47- 48: “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like. 48: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

In recent times, the nation, especially Lagos State, has witnessed buildings collapsing and killing people working or living within them. Houses collapse when the builders fail to observe laid down construction rules or use substandard materials or if the foundations are weak. Houses constructed according to specified standard usually stand the test of time. They will never collapse during storm.

Also, any individual who does not have the basic academic qualification or foundation will fail in the corporate world. A child without the right moral values will bring shame to both the parents and his or her community. Solid foundations are necessary in every field of human endeavour, even in the service of our Lord and creator, and in our preparation to meet with Him hereafter.

As Christians, running the heavenly race, good foundation is paramount in our every day life. In Matthew 16:13-18, Jesus Christ emphatically told His disciples where their base should be. When He asked: “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples: ‘Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?’ 14: And they said, ‘some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.’15: He saith unto them, ‘but whom say ye that I am?’ 16: And Simon Peter answered and said: ‘Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. 17: And Jesus answered and said unto him: ‘Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18: And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The foundation of the church is upon Jesus Christ, the sSon of the Living God who has come into the world to die for the sins of mankind, so that, they will have eternal life in heaven. The foundation of the church is on Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter’s answer goes to say that the church is not built on Peter. There is a play of word here. The name Peter is derived from the Greek word, ‘Petros,’ meaning stone or a massive rock. The word church is a translation of the Greek word ‘ekklesia’ meaning to call out. The Church is the assemble of separated people; it is built on Jesus Christ. These called out or separated people are focused to heaven. The church is the body of Jesus Christ made up of people who believe in Him and His message. Jesus Christ is alive in heaven. He is coming back to earth to take His disciples, the people who believe in Him and the church to heaven. This is His message and this is what the Church is preaching today.

Those that believers in Jesus Christ must be obedient to His words and behave like Him, which is the reason; they are called Christians, meaning Christ-like people. Their faith and hope are in Jesus Christ. They are running a race to meet Jesus Christ at His second coming. They believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him, irrespective of any unfriendly conditions before them. Believers trust and look up to Jesus Christ to lead them to heaven after death. They go to church to seek for Christ and not for material blessings. Their trust on Jesus Christ has given them a solid foundation. This is why Jesus Christ, Himself, told us in the lead scripture that anyone who hears His words and does them is like a man who built his house on a solid foundation; the wind cannot blow it down or flood destroy it.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who are in the Church for material blessings. When crisis hit them and the material things are no longer flowing, they will drop their Bibles, forget their earlier profession of Jesus Christ and begin to seek for places where their fleshly demands can be met.

God’s word is clear and emphatic. We are to seek God for Who He is and not for any material benefits. Material blessings are both earthly and temporal; they will one day cease, while spiritual benefit is eternal and in heaven. Our focus and foundation, therefore, should be on Jesus Christ and the kingdom of heaven. If it is only in this earth that we have hope in Jesus Christ, then we are of all men most miserable. We should not allow this to be our portion because it will reduce the value placed on the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary to a mere exercise.

Ephesians 2:19-22 says: “Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God. 20: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Corner Stone. 21: In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord. 22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” When our foundation is in Jesus Christ, even though we are still on earth, we will be heaven-conscious, as we look unto God as our Father and Jesus Christ as our joint heir of God’s kingdom and not shaken by the difficulties or pleasures of this earth. The things of heaven will matter most to us, hence nothing separates us from the love of God and from following our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are people who have missed the focus and are more interested in God’s blessings than God, Himself. To this group of people when trials and temptations come, they will withdraw their love for God and His Son Jesus Christ. Their foundation is not on Jesus Christ, but on the blessings that come with the name. It is, therefore, better to put our love, faith and trust on Jesus Christ, Himself; so that, when crises hit and the blessings cease, our foundation will not be shaken.

John 21-15-17, made the emphasis on love and emphasis on material things clearer, when it states: “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, feed My Lambs. 16: He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love Thee. He saith unto him, feed My Sheep. 17: He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the third time, lovest thou Me? And he said unto Him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love Thee. Jesus saith unto him, feed My sheep.” The death of Jesus Christ was, indeed, a big crisis for the disciples; it opened them up their love for Jesus Christ and also on their foundation. Apostle Peter had to sacrifice the preaching of the gospel at the altar of his fishing business. The other apostles did the same thing as well. Our Lord Jesus Christ had to appear again to call him to order by asking whether he, Apostle Peter, loved Him more than food.

Apostle Peter knew he had abandoned the preaching of the gospel for his personal business and made amends. The Epistle of John would have been concluded in Chapter 20, if not for Peter’s weakness. However, it was after this encounter that Apostle Peter actually stood firm on Christ, the foundation of the church, preaching and manifesting love both for the gospel and for our Lord Jesus Christ.

Will you be among the professors of Christ who will sacrifice the gospel at the altar of their businesses, engaging more on what they will eat and drink? Such preachers will back out when the goings become tough for a more comfortable venture. It is important to bear in mind that it is when we seek God first and His righteousness that all other things will be added unto us. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God. Joshua 1:8, says: “This book of the law shall not depart from thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” We should stand for the Lord at all times seeking His will through the Bible and doing according to His instructions. It is when we continuously do the will of God that we will have good success and make heaven hereafter.

Testimony Of The Lord’s Doing

God Of Chosen, The Vindicator Of The Righteous

My name is Brother Marcel Chukwu. I am a serving Inspector of Police in Delta State. I joined the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Ministries in 2014. Serving in the Department of Operations (DoP), I was posted to a company, where I have been working with my colleagues without any problem until June 11, the church held the crusade titled: “…And The Enemies Submitted.” I took permission from the office to visit my family and also follow the programmes online. On Monday, June 13, I resumed work I was arrested for a crime I never committed. However, before then, unknown to me, the security man on duty and the company’s driver had connived to steal my colleague’s rifle. The matter got to the police authorities and my colleague, the security man, the driver and l were arrested. We were detained for 17 days, in the prison with hardened criminals.

The situation became an opportunity for me to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to criminals, who listened, accepted and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Seeing me do this, the security man called my colleague and l and confessed that he colluded with the driver to steal the rifle. To God be the glory, I was brought out of the prison and set free.

I give God the glory for delivering me from this problem. May His name be glorified forever in Jesus’ name…Amen!