When Your Faith Is Rocked
- The Sure Foundation
Now Think On This
Steve Martin
"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: 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. 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: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds
blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV)
We have before us a profound, graphic picture of what Jesus was saying in teaching this foundational truth, every time a fierce Atlantic Ocean hurricane hits the nations, or a Pacific tsunami batters an Asian or American rim. Homes built along and upon those coasts are shattered and washed away. The sandy beaches, with little protection from the mighty winds and roaring waves, provide little security. Even those massive houses sitting atop awesome cliffs, overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean such as California’s coastline, fall into the sea as the rock and soil beneath them give way.
It amazes me when I see the many news stories of
people who have built their houses along the coasts. Have they not read Jesus’
word? I sense they have not. To hear them then speak about losing all can break
one’s heart for them. The foundation they had trusted in, and put their hopes
on, is now gone. They have nothing left.
As realistic as this picture is portrayed in the natural
realm, so it is most certainly true in the spiritual realm. How many of us have
put our trust in those systems, those “ways of men” that so many living in the
world have come to depend on, only to see them shaken and taken out from under
them.
How many of us still trust in the “almighty dollar”, the worldwide banking system, the savings accounts and the 401(K) plans that we, in our human wisdom, have established, believing that when that time comes to have them, they will be there.
How many of us still trust in the “almighty dollar”, the worldwide banking system, the savings accounts and the 401(K) plans that we, in our human wisdom, have established, believing that when that time comes to have them, they will be there.
In these uncertain times, I suggest we make certain
of the foundation we are relying on. Will it stand when the shaking comes,
which in fact has already started? Is our trust in man’s ways going to be
upheld when the Creator begins shake ALL
that can be shaken? What will hold up in that time? What is holding you up now?
Many voices are trying to get our attention to “trust
in me”. Are you believing in the bankers, who conduct their daily, powerful business
in those 30-70 story uptown buildings, proudly proclaiming in their
self-promotion pride, “Look what I have built”? Just a look back on 9/11 should
give you some indication of just how fast those mighty buildings can come down.
And to think, it only took a single plane to do it, after it took decades of
time to build those 100+ stories of steel and cement.
“So don't turn a deaf ear to these gracious words.
If those who ignored earthly warnings didn't get away with it, what will happen
to us if we turn our backs on heavenly warnings? His voice that time shook the
earth to its foundations; this time — he's told us this quite plainly — he'll
also rock the heavens: "One last shaking, from top to bottom, stem to
stern." The phrase "one last shaking" means a thorough
housecleaning, getting rid of all the historical and religious junk so that the
unshakable essentials stand clear and uncluttered.
Do you see what we've got? An unshakable kingdom!
And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with
worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander. He's
actively cleaning house, torching all that needs to burn, and he won't quit
until it's all cleansed. God himself is Fire!” (Hebrews 12:25-29, THE MESSAGE)
This world and its systems, set up apart from the
Creator of the Universe, are being shaken. The Lord Jesus Himself prophetically
spoke it would occur two millennium ago. It is happening now.
Some do and will continue to refuse to believe it.
Continuing on as if all will be well, with our head in the sand, will only cause
the hurt to be more substantial when it happens in your neighbor’s or a member
of your family’s life. Or even yours.
The only faith that will sustain you in these coming
years is the one faith built on the Solid Rock, that which has been established
by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is calling us to wake up, get ready by knowing and
hearing His voice, and then walking in the instruction He will give to us. He is speaking now. Are you one who is listening, and heeding His Holy Spirit's words?
Trusting in anything or anyone else will prove to be
deadly. Trusting in Him will be the salvation of our spirit, soul and body.
Please don’t be led astray by those who would say, “All
is well. We will fly away in the sweet bye and bye.” It will not be well with
your soul if you are counting on that to take you out of here, to be the escape
route at the end.
When your faith is rocked, only faith in The Rock
will stand.
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People, Inc.
P.S. I would be
most grateful if you'd share this encouraging word with your family and
friends. They might need it. You can easily use the social media icons below. Thanks!
Steve
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Now Think On This - In the New Year of our Lord 02.06.16 -
#241 –“Sure Foundation” – Saturday at 8:45 am
All previous editions of Now Think On This can
be found on this Blog, and on the website: Now Think On This
Again, I would be most grateful if you'd share this
encouraging word with your family and friends. You can easily use the social
media icons below. Thanks! Steve
Alignment is a key word this year! Alignment with others for Kingdom exploits is critical. The who is every bit as important as the where and when. (Photo via Pixabay)
We need to make our calling and elections sure (see 2 Peter 1:10). This is a time to secure the foundation that our lives and ministries are built upon. All things that are not built upon the sure foundation of Jesus will ultimately fail. We must be sure that our identity is found in HIM and not in our giftings, talents, or anointing.
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 
Shebna was a servant who was trying to promote himself in the Kingdom. He did this by building a tomb for himself like those of the kings in his day. When one tries to promote themselves, it becomes dead works, and the only thing they are actually building is a tomb.
Watch for true prophetic voices to become even more secure of their position in Christ, causing a greater boldness to minister a more sure word of prophecy. They must remain in holiness and continue to be moved by the Holy Ghost, and not of themselves. They will carry a sure testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy. (Photo via Pixabay)
• Expressions of the Kingdom that look different.
As I was preaching recently, the Lord brought the blue flame before me. He showed me a blue-flame level of revival coming forth. This has many implications, but one of the most simple is a higher temperature of burning and a more pure flame. 
Both cleaning and clarity are coming to the prophetic ministry. There is an urgent need for CLEAR prophetic voices that shun nonsense and give out the unfiltered word of the Lord. It is time for an Issachar anointing to be released upon the prophets in this hour to rightly know, discern, and declare the times. (Photo via Pixabay)
It is a Genesis 13 moment! Lot and Abraham were beginning to experience strife because the land could not provide for them both. Abraham chose the low road and released himself from strife by giving Lot first choice of the land. The blessing of God came mightily upon Abraham. When we release people from offense and let go of strife in our heart, we align with a commanded blessing! Forgiving means "letting it go." It does not mean that we keep aligning or walking where we do not agree. Our alignments are critical.
