Prepared for preaching in Pakistan
Translated by Rev. Ravi Daniel
3:30AM PST Friday – 4:30PM Pakistan Friday
25-35 Minute Sermon with Translation
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whom has attained salvation for sinners, through cleansing by faith. We are blessed, because Christ is in us and we are in in Christ. We walk by faith, not by sight. When we walk by faith, we follow Jesus to where he leads us, because unless we have faith, we can’t make it there.
Greetings to Pastor Ravi Daniel whom God is using as a powerful vessel of the gospel. He continually pours out the cup of grace upon you all as He gives his life as a servant of Christ. How beautiful are the feet of those who share the gospel! May the Lord bless our pastor with more love, peace and grace in the Holy Spirit.
Greetings to Miracle Presence Church! I greet you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Even though we are on the other side of the world, our hearts are together, because of our Love for Jesus Christ! The presence of the Lord is here. God is working on your hearts and molding you into the likeness of Jesus Christ. This isn’t, because of Pastor Ravi or Brother Don, it’s because God is doing it. Continue to thank the LORD for the blessings of this ministry.
The message from God comes from Luke 6:48-49, we will read it for you.
“Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock, and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
Jesus makes a comparison with a person who has faith in the gospel to a well-built house next to a stream.
It’s important for a house to be well built. Jesus places the most importance on the foundation. The reason why the foundation is important is because this house is next to a stream of water.
Houses next to streams of water are known as flood areas. As the seasons come and go, when there is heavy rain there is possibility of a flood. A flood area is a danger zone, because when the water rises the home can be destroyed.
Of course, we don’t normally build a home in a danger zone, but as Christians we are like homes next to a danger zone. Wherever we are, we are around trials and persecution. This is something that we must accept about this life. As a Christians, we must always know that there is a chance of damage by others.
Persecution, trials and tribulations will come.
The flood waters will rise and streams break.
When this happens, it doesn’t matter how beautiful you are.
When this happens, it doesn’t matter how handsome you are.
When this happens, it doesn’t matter how rich you are.
When this happens, it doesn’t matter how smart you are.
At that moment, when the flood waters rise.
At that moment, when the streams are on your house.
At the moment the world attacks you
At the moment the devil speak lies to you
Instead of collapsing, the foundation keeps you up.
Instead of destruction, the foundation keep you still.
When the persecution, trials and tribulations come, you may be scared, but you aren’t moved.
Why?
Those who come to Jesus, hear His words and do them, they are prepared for anything.
Please say this with me, “We are prepared for anything!”
You have heard the voice of Shepherd who called you by name and said, “Follow me!” You recognized His voice and wherever He goes, you are with him.
When Jesus Christ is the foundation of our life, nothing can defeat us.
Now, Jesus also gives us a picture of a home with no foundation. He teaches us what happens to those who claim to know Jesus, but don’t follow Him.
Luke 6:49, “But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”
There are those that don’t truly love God, but claim they do.
There are those that don’t truly have faith in Jesus, but they claim they do.
These people are also like a house built next to a stream. The problem is, because they don’t really have faith in Jesus Christ, when the flood comes up on all the Christians, these false believers won’t be able to handle the trials and tribulations.
Instead of standing firm in their faith, they will give into what the world wants.
Instead of being a light in the darkness, they will give into the darkness.
What is the difference between the well built house and the weak house?
One has Jesus as the foundation,
the other didn’t have Jesus Christ as the foundation.
The well built house is one that has faith in Jesus Christ, dying to self and obeying the word of God.
The weak house is one that claims to have faith in Jesus Christ, but denies Christ and disobeys the word.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, those of you who have faith in Jesus Christ. Let us be thankful to God for building us up on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Let us be thankful to the Father, for sending his only begotten son to die on the cross for us. Let us be thankful to God, when we are able to stand in trials and tribulations. All these things are made possible, because of the gift of faith that has been given to you.
Let us not take our faith lightly.
Let us not take our trials lightly.
May we realize the amazing strength of the faith given to us by Jesus Christ. We walk by faith and not by sight. Even when we see how hard it is to be a Christian in the world. Even when we see many of our Christian brothers and sisters suffering. Even when we experience persecution in the world. We are may be attacked, but we are not destroyed.
This strength isn’t because we are so strong.
This power isn’t because we are so powerful.
All of this is because, Jesus Christ is the true God!
We have salvation, because of Jesus Christ!
We have faith, because of Jesus Christ!
We have strength, because of Jesus Christ!
We have perseverance, because of Jesus Christ!
Therefore, may we realize the great truth in the gospel. While we had no foundation, Jesus Christ came and built one for us. This foundation protects us from the trials and tribulations of the world. This foundation gives us the hope of eternal life. When Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, He became our foundation. He became the foundation to defeat sin and death. He became the foundation of eternal life. He became the foundation of our lives.
There is no earthquake.
There is no flood.
There is no lightning strike.
There is no tornado.
There is no hurricane.
There is nothing that can break you away from your Savior!
Jesus Christ is our foundation!
Let us pray!
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for being a master builder. We thank you for protecting us. We know that we are constantly around trials and tribulation, but our foundation, Jesus Christ is our strength. Even when we are weak, Jesus Christ, is still strong. Please help Miracle Presence Church realize that the faith that they have is powerful. Please help them realize that Jesus Christ can’t be moved. May this church be filled with praise and glory to God!
In the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray AMEN.