Eternal Growth Group, Inc.

There is a lot of dirt-related work that is required before a good foundation or tree can be built or planted. Some things have to die to give way to both. And both require the ground to be dug and prepared specially before being established or planted. There’s a lot of work and sacrifice to be put into establishing a foundation or planting a tree. Even Christ Jesus our Lord had to sacrifice and die before being glorified. So what about us? Why should we be left out of the dying and sacrificing? Do you want a great n good harvest?

John 12:24
24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels–a plentiful harvest of new lives.

Luke 14:27-29
27 And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
28 “But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
29 Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you

We can compare our foundation to the deep roots of a tree. The deeper the roots, the more nutrients and better survival that tree has. Both the house on a good foundation and a very deep rooted tree will remain standing after great storm.

God has called us trees. So your homework is to find out all the benefits of a good and fruitful tree and text that back to me. Please read below:

Psalm 1:1-3
1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the lawb of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a TREE PLANTED by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

To build a solid or strong house you definitely want a good foundation. Now, the higher the structure, the deeper the foundation needs to be. The same applies to our faith and our Christian walk. We cannot lay a shallow foundation and expect a strong powerful walk with Christ. So let’s go deeper or better said let’s build deeper.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NLT)
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have–Jesus Christ.

Foundation is key to our strength as Christians, the faith by which we live by or our fall if it is not solid. If you find cracks on the walls of a house or see that it is tilted to one side, would you not check the foundation? This week, we will read about the foundations of a Christian and hopefully why its important. My plea to you, please examine your foundations now if problems in the house exist and fix the foundation. Please read:

Psalm 11:3
3 When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

My response, I say we stop the destruction and rebuild the foundations.

Five important things have stood out through out all the verses we have read and last week that we as Christians need to be masters of and/or very knowledgeable in. Those things are 1. Foundation/Roots which establishes our faith, 2.Patience/Endurance/Perseverance, 3.Persecution/Trials/Temptations, 4.Fruits/ Character which brings pleasure to God, and 5.Glory/Rewards. This week we will tackle #1 and below if our foundation verses:

Colossians 1:9-12
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,
10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified youf to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.

The only example or standard we must follow is our Lord Jesus, The Christ. He knew that His temptations would be temporary and because He never lost sight of His purpose, God’s will, He was not dissuaded. Trials and temptations, are only temporary. They will only be here for a season and seasons come and go. Please stay strong

Luke 4:12-13 (KJV)
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a “SEASON”.

The world says, “if it does not kill you, it’ll make you stronger.” But, the word of God says it better. The issues/circumstance/trials we encounter will not only make us better, they’ll help deliver God’s promise to us if we don’t give up. Just like gold is purified and perfected in a very hot furnace or diamond is perfected under pressure so we are to be perfected for God’s glory through persecution. So dig ya heels in, brace yourself, stick around until God is done with His process. You’ll be glad u did.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. (NIV)
5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. (NLT).

Romans 5:3-4
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (NIV)
4 And endurance (perseverance) develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. (NLT).

May our lives today be pleasing to our one true and living God who, without a doubt, loves us so incredibly much and holds “NOTHING” against us.

Could we, maybe, learn to be like Him In this respect and hold nothing against others? Would this please Him? We Dont have to associate with anyone who is unremorseful for the wrong they’ve done to us, but God still expects we forgive them. Here’s something else that pleases God:

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NLT)
Instructions about Worship

1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
3 This is good and pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

Hopefully, we have moved on from the woes of the past, licked our wounds and are back on our feet ready to walk with God again. So what can we do to keep pleasing God? For the next couple of days, we will see verses that focus on pleasing God. Here’s #1:

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

No looking back now. Focus on our Lord Jesus, press forward and gun for the prize. Looking back hurts as it either implies you want to return to your old ways (like Lot’s wife who was turned to salt for looking back) or that you are unsatisfied with God and where He has you now. I pray neither of this is the case for you. Here are words you can live by:

Luke 17:32-33
32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! (NLT)
33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. (ESV)

Philippians 3:14 (NLT)
14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Luke 9:62
62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Hebrew 10:36-39 (ESV)
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Hebrew 12:2 (NLT)
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.