What Are You Building Your Life Upon?

What Are You Building Your Life Upon?

by David Brenneman 

"… Worthy of every song we could ever sing

Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you

… Jesus, the name above every other name
Jesus, the only one who could save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh, we live for you, Holy

… Holy, there is no one like you
There is none besides you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

… Worthy, worthy of every song we could ever sing
Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh, we live for you, Jesus

… Jesus, the name above every other name
Jesus, the only one who could save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for you
Oh, we live for you

… And Holy, there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me (Holy)

… Holy, there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

… Take me in your arms
Leave me in your love

… And I will build my life upon your love, it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken
And I will build my life upon your love, it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken (Holy)

… Holy, there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me

… Holy, there is no one like you
There is none beside you
Open up my eyes in wonder
And show me who you are and fill me
With your heart and lead me
In your love to those around me (I will build my life)

… And I will build my life upon your love, it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I, I will not be shaken

… All my life for you
All my days
You can have it all
You can have it all
You can have it all

… And I will build my life upon your love, it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken (build my life upon)

… And I will build my life upon your love, it is a firm foundation
And I will put my trust in you alone
And I will not be shaken

… I will not be shaken
I will not be shaken" by Housefires

We are born, begin to be taught the basic facets of life. We are sent to schools to learn how to integrate into society. We are building a life for ourselves when we move out on our own. But what is the foundation?

Matthew 7:24-27 NASB "“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and its collapse was great.”

What we choose to build upon is as important as what is being built. 

When someone comes to Christ He begins a new work within them.  They become His workmanship rather than their own.

When we look at our lives do we see His workmanship? Or do we see our wants, desires and ambition in all our glory verses seeing His glory revealed in us?

Psalm 37:4-8 NASB "Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring out your righteousness as the light, And your judgment as the noonday.Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;Do not get upset because of one who is successful in his way, Because of the person who carries out wicked schemes.  Cease from anger and abandon wrath;Do not get upset; it leads only to evildoing."

It amazes me every time I wake up, get ready for the day, sit down with my coffee to a blank page to write something.  From out of nowhere the words start to flow. 

It's the work of the Spirit, of Jesus Christ that brings about the Spiritual happenings in our lives if we but look for them. 

We often get too busy actually trying to separate our Spiritual lives from our personal life.  Go to www.woostergrace.org and under sermons find yesterday's on God and our work. 

We go to such lengths to try to figure out how little we can spare God in our lives yet beg Him to give us our hearts desires!

Be honest! Look in the mirror and see if some part of that isn't so!  We di exactly as the Children of Israel did.  Live so-so lives in accordance with God's Word and cry out to Him to give us things all the while disobedience permeates our existence. 

Many many times we read of why the Lord had mercy and why He sent people to save His remnant.  We also read of exactly what Paul said, judgment begins with the household of God. We go on to read that we the grafted in branch ought not think too highly of ourselves because if He didn't spare the natural branch He can do the same with the grafted in one. 

Disobedience is why so many Christians are often turned into a laughingstock. Of why people mock and attack them.  Oh there's also as many times when the attacks are real because Satan's still trying to win a lost war.  The New Testament is replete with statements telling us to be sure of our walk with Jesus.  

We turned over all building rights and all else to Jesus when we accepted His free gift of salvation.  We indeed may live out much of what our hearts desire, but there's much that won't because it's got no place in the Plans and Purpose of God for mankind. 

Think deeply upon that. Your life as a believer is INTENDED to impact the Human Race. Not just your own idea of a life that's "good".

We are to be lights in a dark world. Which is meant to effect change.  Light changes the perspective of darkness. It's supposed to. 

When we dig in our heels about what Jesus is wanting to do in and through us...realize He lives outside of time. He's got all eternity before Him. You don't. 

There's more than a few times when even the Godly Spirit filled people of the Old Testament were told by Jesus "Enough! Speak no more to Me about it!".  An that big example was Moses himself. 

Our lives are to be just like the song that began this post.  I loved it when Matt turned it into a prayer during yesterday's service before we sang it.

We must choose to step aside and choose to accept what and where the Spirit leads us.  When someone looks to have a house built, once plans are accepted and approved, it's never good to stand over the builder constantly asking "why?".

What was Jesus's plans for each day? Do what He saw the Father doing. Do it the same as the Father.  To look a little bit deeper the insinuation is Jesus set aside His wants in favor of what His Father wanted. The result was His life held everything of greatest importance. 

What kind of life are you looking for?  Health, wealth and prosperity? Happiness? Are you realizing that may not happen because those things might just keep you from being effective in the body of Christ? 

We are told to expect people to hate us who believe because of the light within us revealing the deeds of darkness and those people in the darkness love it more than the light. 

People may not hate you. At least not openly.  But they may resent you because of what and who you represent.  They may be living with misconceptions about Christians.  Your living out your testimony will do more than your words.

Today stop and consider who's plans are at work in your life.  There are only two sets of plans according to what we read about two foundations. 

Are you consumed with making a life that's about you or are you walking on faith with Jesus trusting in what He's building and doing in you?

Are you trying to force a separation between what you want and what God wants of you?  

Ask the Spirit to open your eyes to the truth about nobody else but you.  It isn't about crying out for Jesus to take the wheel.  Jesus should be the only one in the driver's seat.