🏋️‍♀️The Foundation 😬

 A wise man builds upon a Rock

Without a foundation, all crumbs, there must be a foundation for anything that stands. Remember the story in Matthew chapter 7:24  where we read about a wise man “a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:” Then we read of a foolish man 

Matthew 7:26 “a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:” Read the first verse of how we are taught to Pray. Matthew 6:9 (KJV) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

This foundation hangs on one word. “Father” and where “Father” is “in heaven” He’s not on His way, or some day He might be, oh no He, our Father is in Heaven right this very moment. Here is what I know about God our Father. Exodus 3

• Our Father has seen
• Our Father has heard
• Our Father knows our sorrows 

Exodus 3:7 (KJV) And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;

God sees your affection (misery) 

God knows your sorrow; but has God heard your prayer?

God knows what was going on:

Exodus 1:7 (KJV) And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

The New King

Exodus 1:8 (KJV) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 

This New King saw a problem that needed to be addressed.  

The Problem

Exodus 1:9 (KJV) And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

The Soulusion 

Exodus 1:11 (KJV) Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

Exodus 1:12 (KJV) But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

Then they started killing their male babies. You might say that’s awful. I would agree and you think we would never do such. That’s not the case.

In the first three months of 2024, there were an average of 98,990 abortions each month in the United States. This is about 14% higher than the average from the same period in 2023, or about 12,000 more abortions each month.  In 2022, there were 609,360 abortions reported in the United States.Our Heavenly Father is Different from you and I. Isaiah 55:8 (KJV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Isaiah 55:9 (KJV) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.         

My Thoughts: “Preserve the body;                                                      

God’s Thinking, Save the soul.                               

My Thoughts: pay raise.                                                                  God’s Thinking raising the dead.                       

 My Thoughts: avoid pain and seek peace.                        

God’s Thinking uses pain to bring peace.           

My Thoughts:  live before I die                                            

God’s Thinking Die, so you can live,                    

My Thoughts: rejoice at my success                                    

God’s Thinking rejoices at our confessions.

🗣️¿You Talkin To Me?👀

Are You

Prayer is no more than talking and talking is communication. Question? How does one build a relationship? By talking and that is what? Communication. Just because you communicated doesn’t mean you are building a relationship. 

I want to teach about Prayer for a little while. Prayer is something we all need to do. Most don’t pray until there is a reason to pray. Remember communication comes by talking. Relationships come by talking often. Have you ever heard someone say “you can ask them but they aren’t going to do that.” Do you know how they knew that? 

Because of the relationship they had. I worked for a man and we became good friends. We did that by our communications. The more we talked to each other the more we knew about each other. Over time we built a relationship. We were at a conference getting educational hours for our state license. There were also others that worked for Joe. When we broke for lunch some of his men came and asked Joe if he would take them to Hooters for lunch. Joe said sure if Wayne will go? Joe knew I was not going to Hooter! How was he so sure I wouldn’t go? He knew me because of our relationship. 

• We read of Jesus Praying all night;  
• We read of Daniel praying 3 times a day. 
• The Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing.

Is this what Jesus teaches us to do? Well let’s look at what Jesus said as He taught His disciples to pray. 

We will start in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 5. In verse 5,6 and 7 three phrases jump out at me. I see the word WHEN in verse 5. That interested me. It didn't say that we shouldn’t pray all night or three times a day but Jesus says WHEN you pray; not IF you pray.

Jesus tells us how to pray “when thou prayest” DON’T be like the  “hypocrites” let’s refresh our thinking on what a hypocrite is Webster say this “one who assumes a false appearance.” In this case one who wants you to think they pray all the time when they don’t pray much at all. Jesus is teaching I want you to pray but what I don’t want is that you make others think you pray when you don’t. It’s not what others think of you, it's what God knows about you. We aren’t praying to impress others, that should never be our purpose. Jesus says, don’t do that. 

Matthew 6:5 (KJV) And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

When you pray don’t be like a hypocrite.

When you pray you can be private. 

Matthew 6 (KJV) But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

• When you pray don’t be like a hypocrite.
• When you pray you can be private.
• When you pray, don't keep repeating yourself. 

Have you ever been around others that just kept repeating themselves over and over? Have been around others that might say I know you have heard this before but I want to tell it to you one more time. Which would you rather listen to? 

Matthew 6:7 (KJV) But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

It’s not about how many words we use in our praying, it's what we say when we pray. Sometimes our prayer needs to be Clear, simple and straight to the point. Remember the night Peter walked on water? All was good until he let the fear of the storm overtake him. There was no time for him to go to his place of prayer. There was no time for him to spend an hour in prayer. Oh no he was sinking and sinking fast so he prayed a short prayer.

Matthew 14:30 (KJV) But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. It was clear, simple and straight to the point. Here is another short prayer.  Matthew 15:25 (KJV) Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. Clear, simple and straight to the point. Break our day down into 5 minute segments, know how many we have every day? We have 12 every hour which means we have 288 5 minute segments a day. How much of a 5 minute segment does it take to say “Lord, help me” “Lord, save me” May I say there probably isn’t a day that goes by that we shouldn’t be praying short prayers. 

🚩There’s A Flag On The Play 🤢

 Do not follow the majority, follow the right way.

John 14:5 (KJV) Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

 

Thomas asked a good question that many have on their mind. “how can we know the way?” 

Many think they have it all figured out. Basically I’m a good person. You know what? they probably are. The only problem with that type of philosophy is where do we find the definition of being a good person? You see, if there were an outline for being a good person we could easily tell if we ourselves and others were good people. All that sounds good and we do have a simple outline and it’s found in the Bible.   

5- Matthew 19:16 (KJV

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

Matthew 19:17 (KJV And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Well there’s the outline ”keep the commandments”

Then he asked “WHICH?” Do what? You don’t do that in sports. One would never say to the referee “you are right #16 did do some unnecessary roughness but we have played a clean game up to this point. How bout we just forget about this? You think that would happen? So what a dumb question 

Matthew 19:18 (KJV)

He saith unto him, Which?

Which? You may think like I did, that's a strange question. But after giving it some though isn’t that what people really think? I don’t have to keep them all do I? Reminds me of a poster in the dentist office I saw one time. Do I have to floss all my teeth? No! Just the ones you want to keep. 

9- Matthew 19:18 (KJV)

He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

10- Matthew 19:19 (KJV) Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 19:18 (KJV) The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

What do I lack? Jesus told you to keep the commandments and you said you had and now you are asking what do I lack now.

Living with my  girlfriend or boyfriend doesn't count as ADULTERY. We are going to get married when we get the time. How bout we just forget about this?

That ½ truth wasn’t bearing false witness, just stretching the truth a bit.

How bout we just forget about this?

Now I haven’t killed anyone, I try not to use the Lord's name in vain.

Well how are you doing on the outline for being a good person? I can’t speak for you but as for me it's not too good. Then Jesus' First request for being good was Keep the Commandments. Jesus second request was 

Matthew 19:21 (KJV)

Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

 Jesus didn’t care what this young man had, instead he was showing him his problem but like so many he didn't see it. We aren't as good as we think.

Romans 3:12  (KJV) They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Gone out of the way? What way?

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

I can’t come by being good? I guess you could but the problem with that is There’s none that do good. 

17- Romans 3:12 There is none that doeth good, no, not one. But there is a way. Jesus said I am the way. If a person needed to get to New York but his car was headed toward Miami what would you say? Would it be “you are going the wrong way?” The same is true by being a good person, they are going the wrong way. 

Proverbs 14:12 (KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

The Good Way may seem like the Right Way but it’s not the God Way!

What is the right way? Simply understand the good way and realize you have messed up. Guilty! Have you ever in your life told a lie? Let me answer for you “YES.” You stepped outside the outline for being good and a red flag was thrown. All God needs from us is not How bout we just forget about this? No! Admit it, tell God you are a sinner and He will forgive you. 

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The buck stops here. I'm guilty so let’s not say how bout we just forget about this, this time and do what is right. 

Romans 3:20 (KJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

🦶One Step🚶🏻‍♂️‍➡️

If we do not step forward, then we step backward.

Notice what the Apostle Paul says in

2 Thessalonians 3:6  about this withdrawing or separating. We know that we are to separate ourselves from evil things and people, that’s a 

no- brainer. That’s not what Paul is saying, read closely what this verse says. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. Oh “every brother” It’s about the way one walks. Pauls says the Child of God must walk differently. Here is a brother, one who has accepted Christ as their savior but they have become lazy in their walk. Walk is moving forward as the saying goes “The journey of a 1000 miles begins with one step.” What direction are we walking? Paul says withdraw yourself from those that are walking without proper order or disposition; those walking irregularly, walking confused. Then Paul gives these examples. 2 Thessalonians 3:11 (KJV) For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

What’s a busybody? Someone who finds out the information of others and shares it with others. Paul says you need to separate yourself from them. Why? because that will keep you from your journey of a 1000 miles. Pauls says but don’t separate yourselves so far that you can’t help them “exhort” build them up in the Lord Jesus Christ.  

2 Thessalonians 3:12 (KJV) Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

Paul continues and encourages those who are walking and living before others that they may see the goodness of God. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 (KJV) But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. We are to reach those who know not God and we can’t do that fussing and fighting amongst ourselves. Paul says to distance yourself but don’t distance yourselves so far that you can’t help your brothers and sisters in Christ. I never want to get the attitude that I am better or think I’m more Holy. What an awful attitude to have. Let us never forget what we were.  Paul says it like this.  

1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV) And such were some of you: 

Don’t forget what you were?? fornicators, idolaters, adulterers,  effeminate, abusers of themselves with mankind, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners. Now something happened that changed all that. but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Help those that need help spiritually for they are your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. What would you do if your brother or sister in our early family needed help would you not help them? Sure you would. Do the same with your heavenly family. Just remember you can’t change them but the Lord can so don’t get “weary in well doing.”