Have your foundations been set? You can not start building until after the foundations are laid. A lot of things need to happen before you can lay the foundation, you first need to decide that something needs to be built, then you need to have a plan and prepare the area before you can dig in. Once the foundation is set, the building can start. This is true in construction, and it is also true in regards to your Christian walk. In your Christian walk, obviously, your foundation needs to be in Christ, but after you get that foundation set, there are 5 distinct characteristics that should follow. It is those Characteristics that we want to discuss today.

And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Ezra 3:10-13

Start with a firm foundation

The first thing that you need to understand, is that you need a firm foundation. According to the Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians, once you become a believer, you are in the household of God and are framed together with other believers and like any building, everything must start with the foundation and no other foundation can be laid for that building, except the foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Once you have a personal relationship with him, your foundation is set, then it is time to start building upon that foundation.

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

Ephesians 2:19-22

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. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

1. The People Shouted

The first thing that will happen once your foundations are in place is that you will have a desire to shout about it.

… And all the people shouted with a great shout, …

Ezra 3:11

People shout when they are excited

But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

Psalm 5:11

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Isaiah 12:6

What are you excited about? Do you get excited about the things of the Lord, or are you reserving all of your excitement for the world?

People shout when they want attention

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

Psalm 35:27

Do you shout to draw attention to the Lord and what he is doing? Most people, Christians included, only shout to bring attention to what they are doing or saying. Christians fill the pews, but refuse to shout for the Lord, they think that shouting is undignified, but somehow that thought never enters their minds while at sporting events.

People shout to encourage others

And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

1 Samuel 17:20

Shouting encourages other people to get excited. In the passage above, David is shouting to encourage the army of the Lord. Shouting excites people to keep in the fight, to stay encouraged regardless of how things may look.

2. The People Sang

We also notice in Ezra 3:11, that the people sang for joy when the foundations were set into place. The setting of the foundation gives those who are to build something a sense of accomplishment. With the foundations being set, you can know that what you are endeavoring to build will be able to stand against the sands of time and this will cause you to have a song in your heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

Psalm 33:1-3

A resolve to sing

I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.

Psalm 7:17

As believers, we should have a resolve to sing unto the Lord. To be resolved is to have a purpose or to be determined. There is a purpose to singing, it is not just a time filler in a church service. The music program and all of the singing that takes place in service is an intricate part of the worship of the Lord. We sing and have a song in our hearts, largely as a response to our deliverance.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Revelation 5:11-14

3. The People Praised God

Next, we see in verse 11, that the people praised God. Once you realize that your foundations are set and that there is nothing that can tear them down, you won’t be able to help but to praise the Lord.

He is due praise

We praise the Lord because of who He is. We praise the Lord simply because he is deserving of our praise.

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 4:11

Praise him for his greatness

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Psalm 150:2

Praise him for his righteousness

Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Psalm 98:8-9

Praise him for his faithfulness

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Psalm 57:9-10

Praise him for his strength

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psalm 28:7

He is pleased with our praise

When we praise the Lord, it is pleasing to him because our praise magnifies Him above all else. When you praise the Lord you in effect are humbling yourself, and that too, is pleasing to the Lord.

I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.

Psalm 69:30-31

4. The People Gave Thanks

The next proof that you have your foundations set in the Lord is that you will have a spirit of gratitude. Again, in Ezra 3:11 we see that they not only sang and praised the Lord, but in the process they also gave thanks unto him.

And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good,…

Ezra 3:11

Be thankful for His goodness

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

We are able to have a thankful spirit in all circumstances, because of His goodness toward us. Even while you may be experiencing some diffuculty in your life, you know that you have the promise of God that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28), and through experience you know this to be true; therefore you can give thanks in every thing. That verse does not say that you must give thanks “for” everything, but you do have the ability as a believer to give thanks in every thing. Even in the difficult times, you can have the spirit of gratitude, and this is the hope that lies in you that others will seek to learn more about.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1 Peter 3:15

Be thankful for deliverance from adversity

Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5

Be thankful for His power over death

For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:53-57

Be thankful for answered prayers

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

Psalm 138:3

Be thankful for the people He has placed into your life

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

2 Timothy 1:3

5. The People Were Heard Afar Off

Once your foundations are in place, you will not be able to keep it quiet. You will want to tell everyone that you can about how they to can have assurance that their foundations can be set as well.

So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

Ezra 3:13

When they realized that the foundations were set, they shouted so loud that the noise was heard from far away. The same should be true of you, if your foundations are set in the Lord. You should spread that message abroad, just like the Thessalonians had done.

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

1 Thessalonians 1:5-9

If your foundatoins are set on the Lord and on his words, you will:

• Shout
• Sing
• Praise the Lord
• Give Thanks unto the Lord
• Spread the Gospel

If your foundation is set on anything else, you will lose:

• Your Shout
• Your love for singing
• your ability to praise the Lord
• Your witness

What are your foundations set upon today?

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.