Matthew 7:24-29

24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

What we are on the inside makes all the difference. When there is hardship, pain, heartache, when storm of life comes, if you build your life on strong foundations you have a strong life, you can stand against the storm.

LORD Jesus speaking of 2 lives a strong life or weak life. When the storms come it reveals our foundations. If you don’t have a strong life you cannot respond correctly. Be strong and courageous enough in life with everything, in everything you do. You only know how strong enough if you know your weaknesses.

A strong life;

< Has trusted LORD Jesus Christ as their Saviour and LORD of their life.

< You are guided by the Holy Spirit. When a person is saved LORD Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to indwell in you for us to live adequately and do what LORD Jesus called us to do. Holy Spirit will guide us and lead us on the path we should take and the wisest decisions for us to make. A wise person listens the prompts of the Holy Spirit. GOD speaks very clearly and strongly in you.

“And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

< Spends time alone with God in prayer. Strong connection with GOD, talk to Him, listen to Him, bring your joy, heartache and everything else to Him. Teach your children, pray with them every day. It is a daily discipline in your life He is the most important in your life above anything else.

< Be built upon the teachings of the Word of GOD and their applications. Feed on the Word of GOD. GOD placed upon on our hearts to take us though the difficult times. This isn’t about my opinion. This is about Holy GOD who created us. He has a plan, will, purpose for our lives. He will call us to judgement. That’s why we hold the Bible up, and carry your Bible with you.

< Consistently obeys GOD and leaves the consequences to Him.

< Views LORD Jesus as the source of strength. Apostle Paul says I can do all thing through Christ who strengthens me. His foundations were so solid, no matter what they did, tried to stop him, they failed because He was strong in his relationship with God, he was strong in obedience to God and he knew in his heart the strength of his life is in relationship with LORD Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit enables you, strengthens you, encourages you, does not let you quit because with Him you can accomplish anything GOD set out for you to accomplish.

< Be disciplined. If you live a disciplined life, you are in control of your life. If you live a Godly life, GOD is building strength, the truth, and sense of discipline in your life. It is a daily constrain in our life for our own good.

< Has direction in your life. What is you are trying to accomplish? Every day of our lives is a gift from GOD.

< Withstands the storms of life and learns from them. GOD allows the storms in order to build Godly strength in us to accomplish His purpose in your life. Apostle Paul gone through many storms because it’s through the difficulty, hardship and pain he learned the awesome message and written some of the books of the Bible. I wouldn’t change a thing in my life, what I have gone through, what GOD thought me through them. From the moment you submit your life to Christ, He will use your life to accomplish His purpose for your life, to accomplish His will. Without a storm won’t be a strong life. It’s not how long you live what you do with your life. GOD wants us to be fruitful and strong all through our lives.

< Has strong faith. Tough times build faiths. Through every heartache, trial, and pain GOD has a lesson for us brings us close to Him.

< Has courage. Joshua was a man of courage. Courage something you grow in your life by trusting in GOD, and answering your petition.

< Be optimistic. Look your best, do your best, you represent the LORD, and we are messengers of the LORD.

< Develops friendship with people who enrich your life, you laugh, you love, you care each other. A person who loves is encourager. Godly people find something good.

< Loves, lives and serves GOD out of their spiritual gifts. Spiritual gift is a gift of GOD in area of your life enables you to do well. When you have the gift there is a sense of inner strength and you will be able to do better.

< Be quick to forgive.

< Has inner peace. In spite of all that you have peace. GOD you carried me through all the other storms you will carry me through this one. Because GOD is faithful.

< Uses money wisely. GOD gives us what He desires to give us.

< Includes belonging to a Bible teaching church.

< Works to build a strong family.

< Has a servant spirit. You want to serve others, give yourself to other people, and give yourselves to somebody else.

< Be goal oriented. GOD is great, powerful, set goals in our lives and trust Him. GOD will help you to reach your goal if you live in obedience, faith and optimistic spirit.

< Be confident. You have self-assurance based on your relationship to GOD whatever He called you to do it you could do it.

< Be fruitful in your life. Character, conduct and conversation needs to be strong.

< Impacts the lives of others. You will have influence on other people.