CENTRAL THOUGHT: Building on Christ the solid rock guarantees eternal reward.
HYMN: MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS
TEXT: Matthew 16:13-18; 7:24- 27; 1 Peter 2:4-8
INTRODUCTION:
Prophet Isaiah, one of the Old Testament prophets moved by the Spirit of God, revealed over 2000 years ago, God’s plan to lay in Zion a tested stone (solid dependable, reliable), a precious Cornerstone (invaluable) for a sure foundation, and anyone who believes or trusts in Him will never be dismayed. We also find that Apostle Paul while admonishing the Church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 10:1-10, warned against the dangers and consequences of backsliding and unbelief. He reminded them of the Israelites who all ate spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink from the Spiritual Rock that followed them, which is Christ. God was not pleased with the great majority of them, and they were destroyed in the wilderness. They did not believe God nor did they trust in His salvation. God’s mind for His people has ever been for them to build their faith in Christ. He is the tried, tested, proved, solid dependable, reliable Rock and the only foundation laid by the Sovereign Lord Himself. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). A building is only as solid as its foundation. The foundation of our lives is Jesus Christ; He is our base, our reason for existence. Everything we are and do, must fit into the pattern provided by Him. Are we building our lives on the only real and lasting foundation, or are we building on a faulty foundation such as wealth, security, success, or fame? Our faith hope and life must be built on Christ the Solid Rock, and His finished work on the cross of Calvary; not on any other principle or anything else.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this study are:
1.) To know that Jesus Christ is the Solid Rock and sure foundation.
2.) To know how to build upon Christ.
3.) To know that building on any other foundation is futile.
4.) To know the benefits of building on Christ the Solid Rock
BIBLE TRUTH
Q1. WHO IS THE SOLID ROCK AND SURE FOUNDATION OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH?
Isaiah 28:16, 1 Peter 2:5-8, 1 Corinthians 3:11, Matt 16:13-18 The Scripture declares “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). Also “…Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Peter 2:6). Indeed, Jesus Christ, the Messiah is the Solid Rock and sure foundation. He is the source of eternal life and one who provides succor, fulfillment and satisfaction to all those who trust in Him. He is the cornerstone, the tested and firm foundation upon whom we build our faith and hope. Christ is completely dependable and absolutely reliable; he is precious to the believer. Our Lord Jesus Christ is called “stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence” (1 Peter 2:8). Some will stumble over Christ because they reject Him or refuse to believe that He is who He says He is. Ps. 118:22 says that “the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” the most important part of the building, the Church. In the same way today, people who refuse to believe in Christ have made the greatest mistake of their lives. They have stumbled over the one person who can save them and give meaning to their lives and have fallen into God’s hands for judgement. Like Apostle Peter, we must all have a personal revelation knowledge and confession of Christ, as the Son of the Living God. He is our Lord and Savior, our Redeemer and Deliverer. Thus, just as a physical solid foundation is important to a physical building, so is Christ to every believer.
Q2. HOW DO WE BUILD UPON CHRIST?
Matt 7:24-25, 1 Cor 3:9-15 1. We must build in obedience. Anyone who hears the Words of God and obeys (acts upon them), “is likened to a wise and sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against the house. Yet the house remained firm and did not fall, because it was founded on the rock” (Matt 7:24-25). Therefore, to build on Christ means to be a hearing, responding disciple and not a phony, superficial one. Practicing obedience becomes the solid foundation to weather the storms of life. We must be hearers and does of the Word of God (James 1:22-25). Walking in disobedience is like building on sinking or loose sand. Like a pack of cards, the fool’s house crumbles. Most people do not deliberately seek to build on a false or inferior foundation; rather, they just don’t think about their life’s purpose. Many people are headed for destruction, not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness. Part of our responsibility as believers is to help others stop and think about where their lives are headed and to point out the consequences of ignoring Christ’s message. 2. We must build with high quality or durable materials (1 Cor. 3:12-15). We must build with durable materials (right doctrine and right living) that meet God’s standards. Materials that will stand the test of time. Six types of materials namely; gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble are listed in 1 Cor. 3:12. These materials can be classified into two groups. The first three can be classified as durable materials that will stand the test of time (fire). While the last three are classified as perishable materials that cannot stand the test of time. How can we be sure that our services for Christ is the kind that endures? One way to be sure we are building for eternity is to build on the foundation of Christ, and to do all things through Christ that strengtheneth us, to His praise and glory. 3. We must build in sincerity and with pure motives. As we serve the Lord, we should remember that the work that would be rewarded in eternity is one that endures, which is done in faith and with a pure motive. “…For whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). This means, to go against a conviction will leave a person with a guilty or messy conscience. Our Lord Jesus Christ will evaluate each person’s contribution to the life of the Church, and the Day of Judgement will reveal the sincerity of each person’s work. God will determine whether or not they have been faithful to Christ’s instructions. Good works will be rewarded, unfaithful or inferior work will be discontinued.
Q3. WHY MUST WE BUILD ONLY ON CHRIST?
1 Cor. 3:11-12, Matt 7:24-27 The Holy Bible declares that no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. We cannot lay any other foundation than Christ the Solid rock and sure foundation laid by God Himself. Neither can anyone build on any other foundation. Doing so, amounts to building sand. That is acting in disobedience to the Word of God. That person cannot stand the test of time (pressures) as Matt. 7:26-27 illustrates. The right foundation is an invaluable asset and an indispensable factor to the stability of a Christian’s faith. When a Christian’s foundation is shaky, he easily gives way to pressures like a sapping tee under a bulldozer. We must not be tempted to lay, build, or lean on any other foundation as some do in their quest for security, wealth, position, power, fame, and recognition. Many have found themselves in cults, mystic groups and the likes, and have been trapped. We can breakoff the bands from off our necks if we are bound, by believing in Christ, renouncing our involvement with them and breaking all covenants established with them.
Q4. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF HAVING CHRIST AS OUR SOLID ROCK AND SURE FOUNDATION?
Psalm 91 When a believer’s faith and hope are built on Christ the Solid Rock, he is firm and unmoved by the pressures and storms of life. He is rest assured and strengthened by the promises of God through His Spirit (Isaiah 43:1-4). Psalm 91 assures all those who dwell in the secret place of the Almighty and those whose life, faith, and hope are founded on Him; God’s divine refuge, protection, health, deliverance (from fear, anxiety, evil, danger, the enemy, destruction) long life and salvation. Finally, if we build our faith and hope on Christ, we are rest-assured of eternity. We shall then be with the Lord forever and ever (2 Cor 4:17). We shall receive the Crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge shall give to us at that day (2 Tim 4:8). We shall inherit all things (Rev 21:1-7).
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Christ is the Solid Rock. He is the living stone, which men tried and threw away (rejected), but was chosen and precious in God’s sight. To those who believe, He is precious, but to those who reject Him; He is made the Chief Cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence. This is as a result of their disobedience and unbelief in His word. We must build our faith and hope on Christ daily in obedience to His word. We must build with durable materials that can stand the test of time. We must watch our motives as we build and do all things through Christ that strengthens us, to His glory and praise.
MEMORY VERSE:
Isaiah 28:16
“Therefore, thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
Monday: Christ the Solid Rock
Isaiah 28:16-18
Tuesday: No other foundation can be laid
1 Corinthians 3:9-15
Wednesday: Build on Christ the Solid Foundation
Matthew 7:24-27
Thursday: Christ the sure foundation rejected
1 Peter 2:4-6
Friday: Build wisely
1 Corinthians 3:12, Matt 7:24- 25
Saturday: Benefits of having Christ as our foundation
Psalm 91