Skin Deep

Morning Service, 18th August 2002
Keith Trout

Vanity Fair

A company called 'Vanity Fair' offer various remedies for the skin - to beautify, preserve, repair it etc. Here we offer a Free makeover to a willing (and very giggly) volunteer, (well, a free sample sachet of face pack!!)

But, important though it is, it's only skin deep. The remedies aren't going to deal with the deeper issues.

Foundations, foundations, foundations.

Jesus spoke about the superficial and the deep. What appeared sound, but lacked foundations, and that which was well built.

Bible:Matthew 7:24-27

"Therefore, everyone who hears what I say and obeys it will be like a wise person who built a house on rock. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not collapse, because its foundation was on rock. 2 "Everyone who hears what I say but doesn't obey it will be like a foolish person who built a house on sand. Rain poured, and floods came. Winds blew and struck that house. It collapsed, and the result was a total disaster."

As with house, so with your life. What remedies do you have for the deeper issues? What is sustaining your life, and what foundation is it built upon? Jesus told us His words provide the Ultimate, lasting foundation for any life.

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Have you got dry rot?

The story tell us that the rain poured down on the two houses

- and at times we experience storms, and downpours, and troubles of various kinds.

At times it not only rains, it buckets it down upon our life.

Words: They can Build or break.

Words have great affect upon us. They have power to build and encourage, or undermine and destroy. They can be like the rain in the parable that Jesus told:

• Negative, undermining words
• Accusations
• Sarcasm
• Cutting remarks
• Verbal Abuse
• Insults – name calling

If these words come 'Raining down on us' they will

Cause wrong growth

• Dry Rot – Fungus – resentment, grudges, butterness, self hatred
• Ruin decorations – rob of colour – steal joy, creativity
• Rot solid things – confidence, care, trust.

Water can creep in

Affect Cellar/Foundations

• Problems and past hurts
• Rising damp – water creeping in
• We can end up a bit 'soggy'!

Damp will

• Cause ill health, trouble mind & emotion & body
• Crumble wood & plaster – give up & give in, back off expect nothing.
• Blur our focus
• Comes up against the dry, so we lose focus & sharpness.

Are you plumb?

Have you developed a tilt?

• Lose heart, become despondent, get discouraged, lack expectation, lose sight of truth
• Past issues/ baggage
• Problems, especially that last a long time
• Persecution
• Persevering – waiting and waiting

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Get a survey!

First thing when buying a house - get a survey. It it sound? Has it got a good roof, and a damp course, and solid foundations?

The Word of God brings the truth to us.

What does God say about his children?

• Positive words
• Healing words
• Truthful words