Matthew 7:24-25 (NKJV) “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.
A wise man is someone who builds the foundation of their life on the Word of God. The Word of God is how God reveals Himself to us; it belongs to us in Christ. When we build our life’s foundation on it instead of the opinions of men, no storm or flood that come against us during our lifetime can shake or destroy it.
Basing our self-worth on our achievements puts us on a constant performance treadmill to gain man’s praise and acceptance out of our fear of rejection, but once we have chosen to have a paradigm shift and made God our only cheerleader, it liberates us from having to perform for man’s approval and acceptance. Even losing our position of significance won’t affect emotionally. We have nothing to prove because God has already approved of us based on Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. Hidden in Christ, we have come to a position rest from people and God. It is from this foundation that we can purposefully live our lives for the Lord. It gives us a picture of a very stable man who has chosen to establish His foundation on Jesus Christ the rock.
These “new creation” realities form your foundation of faith and identity in Christ: –
- God showed me that I am worthy and priceless when He sent Jesus to die for me (John 3:16)
- In Christ, I do not perish but have eternal life. (John 5:24, John 3:15)
- In Christ, I am a child of God. (John 1:12, Galatians 3:28)
- In Christ, I am an heir of God, joint heir with Christ and will glorify with Him. (Romans 8:17)
- In Christ, I am accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
- In Christ, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
- In Christ, God shall supply all my needs according to His glorious riches. (Philippians 4:19)
- In Christ, I am His workmanship, therefore He has a good plan for me. (Ephesians 2:10)
- In Christ, I have this confidence that He hears my prayer when I am praying according to His will for my life. (1 John 5:14)
A wise person would want God as their sole cheerleader in life. He is the master craftsman who has given us all our gifts and talents, which makes us a steward of everything He has given us. We will be faithful with the little that He has given us, and won’t run ahead of Him making our own decisions but follow closely behind His Lordship. This is how we live a consecrated life where we intentionally yoke ourselves to Him.
Sermon Series: He Came to Give You a New Identity (Part 2)
智者
马太福音 7:24-25 “所以凡听见我这话就去行的，好比一个聪明人，把房子盖在磐石上。雨淋、水冲、风吹、撞着那房子、房子总不倒塌，因为根基立在磐石上。”
智者将自己生命根基建立在上帝的话语之上。神透过祂的话语向我们启示祂自己，我们是属于基督的。当我们将生命的根基建立在祂的话语而不是他人的看法之上时，我们一生中遇到的任何洪水或风暴都将无法动摇或摧毁它。
以成就决定自我的价值使我们在表现跑步机上不停地奔跑，出于害怕被拒绝，我们竭力争取人的赞许与接纳。但是一旦我们明白并使上帝成为我们唯一的啦啦队长，便不再纠结于为了获取人的赞许与接纳而努力表现。即使失去我们的重要地位也不会影响我们的情绪。我们无需证明自己的价值，因为上帝已经根据耶稣在十字架上的救赎认可了我们。隐藏在基督里，我们来到人与神的安息之处。正是在这个基础上，我们才能有目的地为主而活。我们由此可以看到一个非常稳重的人，他已选择在耶稣基督这磐石上建立他的根基。
以下这些“新造”的事实构成了你在基督里的信仰和身份的基础：-
• 当上帝派耶稣为我而死时，上帝向我表明我是配的上且无价的显明我是配得且无价的（约翰福音 3:16）
• 在基督里，我不至灭亡，反得永生。 （约翰福音 5:24，约翰福音 3:15）
• 在基督里，我是神的孩子。 （约翰福音 1:12，加拉太书 3:28）
• 在基督里，我是神的后嗣，与基督同为后嗣，并将与祂一同荣耀。 （罗马书 8:17）
• 在基督里，我被所爱的人接纳在爱子里蒙悦纳。 （以弗所书 1:6）
• 在基督里，我靠着那加给我力量的、凡事都能作。 （腓立比书 4:13）
• 在基督里，神必照祂荣耀的丰富、使我一切所需用的都充足。（腓立比书 4:19）
• 在基督里，我是祂的工作，因此祂对我有一个美好的计划。 （以弗所书 2:10）
• 在基督里，当我按照祂对我生命的旨意祈祷，我深信祂会垂听我的祷告。 （约翰一书 5:14）
一个智者有智慧的人会希望上帝成为他们生活生命中唯一的啦啦队长。祂是一位工匠大师，赐予我们所有的天赋和才能，这使我们成为祂所赐给我们的一切万物的管家。我们将忠于信实地管理祂给我们的那一点点，不会跑在祂前面做出我们自己的决定，而是紧紧跟随祂的主权。这就是我们如何过一种献身的生活我们活出分别为圣的生命的方式 – 我们特意将自己刻意地与祂同负一轭。
讲章系列：祂来给你一个新的身份（第二部分）
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