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Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock (Matthew 7:25, NLT).
Walking on a beach recently, my wife and I noticed this house. . .
The previous summer, a hurricane with torrents of rain, winds exceeding 130 MPH, and a storm surge knocked the house off its foundation. The house, recently built and sitting on top of 12-foot tall concrete pylons, looked sturdy before the storm.
But the wind, the rain, and the flood of a hurricane revealed a faulty foundation. The pylons weren’t anchored correctly into the ground — and they toppled like dominoes.
A few weeks ago, the former pastor of one the largest churches in America was charged with sex crimes — what looked substantial and successful — had fallen. Unfortunately, not only religious leaders but all types and sorts of leaders, and even “us” or the more common followers of Jesus, often fall suddenly during wind, rain, and flood.
We looked okay previously, but why do we fall? Jesus said. . .
Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock (Matthew 7:24).
Then He said. . .
But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash (Matthew 7:26-27).
We should check our foundation. Is it cracked or unsubstantial? Through years of walking with believers (and in my relationship with Jesus as well), I’ve noticed four foundational disciplines of the Christian faith. . .
Prayer — Bible — Fellowship — Evangelism/Disciplemaking.
Jesus says, “When you pray. . .” (Matthew 6:5).
James writes, “Receive the word implanted which will save your soul” (James 1:21).
Hebrews encourages, “Let us not neglect meeting together” (Hebrews 10:25, ESV).
Jesus also says, “Go therefore and make disciples!” (Matthew 28:19).
Let’s ask ourselves these questions. . .
- Do we pray daily?
- Can we list three specific answers to our prayers from the last month?
- Do we regularly read the Bible?
- Do we memorize verses of the Bible?
- Do we have accountable relationships with other believers?
- Do we know our spiritual gifts?
- Have we ever led someone to Christ?
- Are we discipling others regularly?
How many times did you say “yes?” If you said “yes” to all of them, go and do great works of faith. If you said “no” to even one question, this indicates a crack in one of your foundation of faith walls.
Christians with the disciplines of prayer, Bible, fellowship, and evangelism/discipleship remain stable and growing. However, one missing discipline creates a potential for devastating consequences during the next storm.
Our house needs four solid and secure walls.