Sunday, October 22, 2006

When The Foundations Are Destroyed

When The Foundations Are Destroyed
Kato Mivule
October 14, 2006

A shaking going on…
There is a shaking going on in Christendom and everyday here in Uganda, Africa, we have evangelical leaders appear front page on Newspapers because of scandals in marriages, pastors endorsing divorce and unforgiveness, greed, materialism, pastors being exposed because of Voodoo practice and witchcraft enchantment, Christian leaders being exposed because of the material wealth they have secretly acquired while hypocritically using the name of Jesus Christ…the list goes on and on…

Hebrews 12:26-27
(26) Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
(27) And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

In the Western world, it is the same, you read stories of Pastors and so-called Christian leaders and “apologists” suing fellow Christians in secular courts, “Christians” calling on America to go to war with Iran, “Christian” warmongering pastors on TV, greed, materialism, divorce, pedophile pastors, and the list goes on and on…

Brethren, this shaking will continue going on until what cannot be shaken will remain. All pastors, churches, Christians, denominations will be shaken and the shaking is only going to become furious until The Lord separates those who are truly His from those who are not…

The Foundations are destroyed…
The truth of the matter is that the foundations on which these churches, ministries, pastors and Christians have built is sand and not the Rock. Therefore the foundations are destroyed so what have the righteous to do?

Psalms 11:3
(3) If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

Yes, the foundations on which Christendom in Uganda is built are destroyed, the foundations of Western Christianity are destroyed but this is all fulfillment of the warning by the Apostle Paul to us in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 about the end times Apostasy (falling away) where men would walk away and depart from Truth even while still naming themselves Christians. So, now that the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous to do?

2 Thessalonians 2:3
(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Brethren, I take this opportunity again to remind you that we are truly in the last days and the foundation of your Faith matters greatly. Foundations are very important when it comes to buildings. Depending on where one builds and on what type of ground one builds, foundations determine the strength and durability of that building.

Psalms 11:3 is not Americanism and “Christian” Nation Building…
Many have quoted this verse out of a spirit of patriotism and love for America…it is interesting to find many articles written about the “foundations” of America basing on this verse by the Religious Right, so-called Christian Coalition, and “Restore” America Back Movements.

Yet this verse speaks in context to one’s individual relationship with Jesus Christ and obeying His Holy Word… It has nothing whatsoever to do with Americanism and all the ‘false patriotism pseudo Christian nation building spirit’ out there among the Religious Right of the West.

This verse in psalms 11:3 speaks of us as individuals and where we choose to base our faith…it is a rhetorical question placed forward to us as individual Christians today…where do we base our faith? Is it in Christ Jesus, gold, silver, material wealth, fame, nations, politicians, the once mighty dollar, man, or mammon?

Do you still stand in The Faith?
The same verse calls us as Christians to examine our faith, to see if we still stand in the faith…it calls for us to scrutinize, check, critique, examine our faith based on God’s Holy Word if we truly still stand in the faith in Christ Jesus. The sad story is that many Christians choose to stay naïve and become very insincere with themselves by pretending that they are “holy” and with out sin as long as they go to church and pay a tithe…

2 Corinthians 13:5-6
(5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(6) But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

Secondly the same verse in Psalms 11:3 calls us to take action based on God’s Word to get back to the True Foundation – Jesus Christ for all other foundations are already destroyed and worthless so to speak even before the shakings come.

Simply reading Psalms 11:3 and letting it go without re-examining oneself, repenting and taking action to the truth known is simply of no help and will still leave one on a foundation of sand. We must be doers of God’s Word otherwise we have built on sand and the end thereof is destruction.

When one looks at the foundation that most evangelicals have chosen to build, one clearly sees a foundation that has been destroyed even before the house falls. The foundations are destroyed and what is the righteous to do?

The foundations of Christendom today have been destroyed simply because they are not based in Christ Jesus…

Some of the foundations on which Christianity Today is built include...
Foundation of Prosperity Gospel
Foundation of Man and exaltation of Man
Foundation of Mammon – love for money
Foundation of being like the world – Purpose Driven Life
Foundations of Feminism – exaltation of Women and Usurping of Men’s Authority
Foundations of Political Christianity – Dominionism and so-called Christian Presidents
Foundations of Sin – calling good evil and evil good in church
Foundations of Rebellion against God’s Word
Foundation of the Pre Tribulation Rapture
Foundations of not suffering for Jesus Christ
Foundations of Hate and Despise for the poor
Foundations of Deception – False Doctrines
Foundations of Denominations – Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Catholics etc…
Foundations of trust in self – So-called Christian Self Help Positivism Thinking
Foundations of Church Growth Movement
Foundations of Purpose Driven Life (Purpose Driven Lies)
Foundations of Multi Million Mega Church Building Projects
…And many more…
All the above foundations are prophetically destroyed and what is the righteous to do? Should the righteous continue in churches and fellowships whose foundations are such as above? All such foundations as above are foundations of sand and what has the righteous to do with such? The end of such who build on foundations of sand is sure…it is a great fall and destruction…

We are to forsake ALL foundations of Sand and get to the foundation of The Rock, that is Christ Jesus regardless of the price we might have to pay in that. It is the late hour brethren; the devil is out as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We cannot afford to continue building on sand.

A furious Storm in the horizon…
Remember that the storm is coming, and the storm will test both houses, the one built on a foundation of sand and that built on The Rock. The storm is the Tribulation period prophetically speaking. This will be a time that both houses are tested and that storm has begun forming in the horizon…it is a furious storm and no Christian house will survive this tribulation storm unless they are built on The Rock, which is Christ Jesus.

The time of testing is now and The Lord is asking that “what are you doing building on a foundation of Sand; such foundations are destroyed and what is the righteous to do with such?” the answer clearly is in God’s Holy Word. God has given us instructions for this hour and we are to come to the Cross and examine ourselves if we still stand in the Faith.

Yes, we are to allow The Holy Spirit to examine the intents of our hearts and lives basing of God’s Holy Word. We are to root out deception and all doctrines that are not based on the Whole Counsel of God’s Holy Word… This is a call for death to self and death to the love for the things of this world; that Christ Jesus will fully dwell in us.

Galatians 2:20
(20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

So, the question remains, who is the foundation of your Faith…on what foundation are you basing your faith? Is it your pastor? Is it your church, denomination, job, ministry, and all the things in this perishing world? If your foundation is not Jesus Christ, then your foundation is already destroyed, it is sinking sand…your faith is derailed and what has the righteous to do with such foundations?

The Wise Man and Foolish Man…
Jesus Christ warned us through parable of the wise man and foolish man, both who built their houses with the wise building on The Rock and the foolish building his house on sand. Jesus Christ told us in this parable how both houses were tested and only one was found standing after the test by a furious storm and tempest.

Matthew 7:24-27
(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.

We see from this piece of scripture that those who HEAR the Word of God and DO IT are those who build on the rock otherwise those who HEAR but DO NOT DO the Word of God are building on Sand… So, what has the righteous to do with building on Sand?
The question then is, do we do God’s Word?

Many so-called Christians, pastors, churches, and denomination don’t obey God’s word. They instead water down the Word of God. They mock Jesus Christ, they scoff at His Second Coming, and they detest the suffering of Jesus Christ such people are only interested in physical buildings, organizational structures, tithes, money and pleasing man while hypocritically holding to the Name of Jesus Christ… Such is a foundation of sand and that house will surely fall. So, what has the righteous to do with such doomed foundations?

Obeying Jesus Christ will cost you…
However, so-called Christians choose to build on sand because they don’t want to deal with the price that comes with obeying Christ Jesus. They don’t want to do God’s Word simply because it might cost them their relationships, best friends, loose jobs, be hated of this world and suffer pain for obeying Jesus Christ. Obeying God and doing His Word, means suffering for Jesus Christ and death to friendship with this world.

It means carrying your cross daily and following Jesus Christ. It means denying ALL and carrying your cross to follow Jesus Christ. Without denying ALL and carrying your cross to follow Jesus Christ, you cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ and that means your foundation is NOT The Rock but Sinking Sand. So, what has the righteous to do with building of foundations that are already destroyed?

Last Days Deception…
Jesus Christ is The Rock, and our Foundation; all other ground is sinking sand so to speak as sang in a popular hymn. Sad to say is that Jesus Christ warned us in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 that we watch and be not deceived. In the last days men would come proclaiming Christ Jesus but would deceive many. They would speak about Jesus Christ but would deceive many. They would not be doers of The Word of God.

Matthew 24:4-5
(4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
(5) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mark 13:5-6
(5) And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
(6) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Luke 21:8
(8) And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

2 Thessalonians 2:2-4
(2) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
(3) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
(4) Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

The Bible warns us that in the last days before Jesus Christ comes back again, there would be a ‘Great Falling Away’ or ‘Apostasy...this is happening right before our eyes. Many Christians, churches, and pastors are giving in to a gospel of deception, a gospel of friendship with the world, a gospel of money, so-called inclusiveness, a gospel of pleasing man, denominations, ecumenism and many other evils baptized with Christian names.

This is a gospel of easiness and convenience, one that has nothing to do with suffering for Jesus Christ. Such is the apostasy or falling away from grace and from Christ Jesus…it is building on a foundation already destroyed – sand… Brethren, what has the righteous to do with such foundations?

The Lord is going to test ALL Peoples…
A careful look at Psalms 11 show us that The Lord will surely test both the righteous even the wicked…He will send the storm to test both houses, the one built on sand and that built on the rock.

For His eyelids test the children of men…and the Lord test the righteous…and at the end of the test, the righteous are before the Lord for his countenance behold the upright.

So, this Psalms is very prophetic in regards to the last days in which we live. Those who build on The Rock and those who build on the foundations of sand will both be tested and only those who will remain standing are those who OBEY and DO God’s COMMANDS in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 11 is not an Americanism Christian Patriotic Psalms like some from the West would want us to believe…it is certainly a Psalms directed to all who truly love Jesus Christ. So, if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? What has the righteous to do with foundations marked for destruction?

Psalms 11:1-7
(1) In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
(2) For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.
(3) If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?
(4) The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.
(5) The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
(6) Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
(7) For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Building a house outside Christ is useless…
House built on a Foundation that is not Christ Jesus is built in vain…

Psalms 127:1
(1) A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Calling Jesus Christ Lord means TOTAL Obedience…
Calling Jesus Christ Lord, Lord and not doing His word is surely building on a foundation of sand…
We are to obey Jesus Christ and not Man, we are accountable to Jesus Christ and His Holy Word and not Man and their religious institutions…

Luke 6:46-49
(46) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
(47) Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
(48) He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
(49) But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Count the cost of Obedience To Jesus Christ…
If you build on the Foundation of Christ Jesus, there is no turning back…
There is a cost and a price to pay, which is suffering for Jesus Christ and you, should count the cost before you begin building, there is to salvation without sharing in the sufferings of Jesus Christ…
We are called to suffer for Him as we obey Him and submit to His authority

Luke 14:28-30
(28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
(29) Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
(30) Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Our Foundation is Jesus Christ
Our Foundation is Jesus Christ…yet even after choosing the right foundation o which to build, we are warned that we use the right material otherwise our building might not stand the test though we might be saved.
What are you using to build, is it wood, timber, paper, hay, precious stones, silver or gold? Will your works stand the test of fire at the end…that prophetically speaks of these end times when the testing comes?
The Apostle Peter refers to our faith as Gold, and so the material we use should be Gold that will stand the test of the fiery furnace – the fires, the trials, sufferings and tribulations. Our faith being much more precious than Gold, will have to stand the test.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15
(9) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
(10) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
(11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
(13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
(14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1 Peter 1:7
(7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets…
We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone.

That means we must walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and live the life Jesus Christ lived on us remembering He lives through us even today.

We follow the example laid by the apostles and prophets, their live and zeal for God in obeying God. This is our True foundation.

Sad to say is the fact that many churches, so-called Christian leaders and “church fathers” of today don’t follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ and they don’t live like He lived and don’t walk as He walked, neither do they emulate the examples laid by the Apostles and Prophets in their total obedience to God regardless of the price they paid.

Today’s church leaders, pastors, denominations, churches and so-called Christians are only interested in money, fame, popularity, power, authority, control, love for the world, and materialism, buying airplanes, New Model SUV, designer clothing, million dollar homes, fat bank accounts, and all the good the world has to offer.

They surely don’t follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and they despise the examples set forth by the apostles and prophets in the bible…such have built on a foundation of sand and for sure, whatever they do will fall apart and crumble to the ground when the storm and time of testing come and which has begun now in the last days…

Jesus Christ is the Foundation and the chief cornerstone. It is He that holds the whole building together…for with out Him, you accomplish nothing…

Ephesians 2:19-22
(19) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
(20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
(22) In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

God’s Foundation Stands For Sure…
God’s Foundation Stands for sure…those who hear and do the words of Jesus Christ build of the rock and for sure that house will withstand any storm that even the gates of hell will not be able to prevail against it…

It is the revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of The Living God…and that means listening to Him and obeying His commandments regardless of the cost…

2 Timothy 2:19
(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Matthew 16:13-20
(13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
(14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
(15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
(16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
(17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
(18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(20) Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

A City whose Builder and Maker is God…
Abraham our father in Faith looked for a city whose foundations are built and made by God, and that is through Jesus Christ.

We too must live our lives looking for the city whose foundation is built and made by God in Christ Jesus…

Hebrews 11:8-10
(8) By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
(9) By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
(10) For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

For the Heroes of Faith in Hebrews 11 ‘died in faith without receiving the promises’ but afar off, they looked to a city whose foundation is built and made by God in Christ Jesus…

Hebrews 11:13-16
(13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(14) For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
(15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
(16) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 12:22-24
(22) But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
(23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
(24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Jesus Christ, The Chief Corner Stone – The Rock of Offence…
Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone and those who rebel against Him; He is the rock of offence and stone of stumbling for all who refuse to obey Him.

Brethren, let us build on the sure foundation, which is Jesus Christ for without Him we can do nothing.

Make no mistake about it, rebellion against Jesus Christ does not pay at all. Disobedience against His word is worthless because Jesus Christ certainly will become a rock of offence to you and a stone of stumbling and sure know that you will be crushed…

1 Peter 2:4-8
(4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
(5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
(6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
(7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
(8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Brethren, we are in the last days and I ask again….
When the foundations are destroyed what do the righteous do?
What have you to do with foundations of sand?
What have you to do with foundations doomed for destruction?
What is the worth of rebellion against Jesus Christ?

What you can begin to do?
Go before Jesus Christ at the cross
Acknowledge you are a sinner (I am speaking to Christians here)
Repent of all sin in your life
Examine your life according to God’s Word
Repent of all sin and doctrines not based on God’s word
Renew your commitment with Jesus Christ to hear and obey His commands
Read and study God’s Word daily…
Let your Faith in Christ be based on God’s Holy Word
Remember Salvation is personal and not a ‘group thing’…
Work out your Salvation in fear and trembling before a Holy God…
Walk Holy before God
Be filled with The Holy Spirit (You must be filled with the Holy Spirit)
Obey Jesus Christ and His Word regardless of the price, even unto death
Seek to please Christ Jesus Daily
Seek out those True Christians of like mind who you can fellowship…
Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ the author and finisher of your Faith in Him…
Forsake those churches, fellowships, pastors, so-called Christians who walk contrary to God’s Holy Word and only desire to be like the world, Christians who are materialistic, scoff at God’s Word, seek to please the world and Man…
Seek likeminded Christians with whom you can fellowship and encourage one another in God’s Word…remember we are in the last days and deception is rampant and the devil is out deceiving the world including Christians.
So, seek out likeminded Christians who are focused on Jesus Christ and you will grow together in Holiness, love for Christ, Purity and encourage each other in Christ Jesus as we endure sufferings and persecution for Jesus Christ, because for sure it is coming…
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
(14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
(15) And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
(16) And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(17) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
(18) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Revelation 18:4
(4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

In Christ Jesus
Kato Mivule
Uganda, Africa

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