Weekly Manna: Believer’s Foundation.

I Tim. 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Ezra 6:3 . . ., Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; . . .
Mt. 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

The importance of a genuine spiritual foundation in the life of a Christian cannot be ove-emphasised. A Christian without a solid Christian foundation is like a building without a foundation: it may remain beautiful and standing when there is no storm, but it will surely collapse on the day of storm.

We all have to be sure that our spiritual houses are built on solid foundations. There are many types of storms that will come upon them: the storms of temptation, problems, persecution etc.

Every genuine Christian foundation has three stages: (1) New Birth (2) Purity (3) Power. If any of these three is lacking, the foundation will not be what it ought to be.

I. New Birth. Jh. 3:1-7

To have this one need to do the following things:-

(a) He must hear the word of God and believe it (I Pt. 1:23; Mk.1:15; Acts.15:7; II Cor.4:4).
I Pt. 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Mk.1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Acts.15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
2 Cor.4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

(b) He must forsake all his sins (Prov. 28:13).
Prov.28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

(c) He must accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour (Jh. 1:12-13).
Jh. 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

(d) He must confess his sins to God and pray for salvation (Prov. 28:13; I Jh. 1:7-9).
Prov.28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
I Jh.1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When it is received there will be real evidence (II Cor. 5:17-20).
II Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

II. Purity. Mt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14

To have it,

(a) One must first be sure of his new birth experience (I Jh. 3:1-3).
I Jh. 3:1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

(b) He must separate from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22-23).
I Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

(c) He must consecrate himself to God (Rm. 12:1-2).
Rm. 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(d) He must thirst and pray for it (Isa. 44:3).
Isa. 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

When it is received there will be real peace in the heart of the receiver (Mt. 11:28-29).
Mt. 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

III. Power. Acts. 1:8

To have this,

(a) He must be a true disciple of Jesus (Jh. 14:17).
Jh.14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

(b) One must be living right in the sight of God (Jh. 14:17).

(c) He must have a strong desire to work for God, especially to win souls (Isa. 44:3).
Isa. 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

(d) Strong thirst for power must make him to really wait on God in prayer for it (Acts 1:4; Isa. 40:31; 44:3).
Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
Isa. 40:31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isa. 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

When it is received:

(a) One will speak in an unknown language (Acts 2:1-4).
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(b) One will have power to do his spiritual responsibilities better: prayer, evangelism, etc. (Acts.1:8; I Cor.14:2,4).
Acts.1: 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
1Cor.14:2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Cor.14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.