 Weekly Devotional |
Returning to the Foundation |
September 22, 2026 · Anne Barkley |
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” |
This week’s message calls us to return to the foundation God has established—in our faith, in the Church, and in our lives. Jesus Christ is our Chief Cornerstone, God’s Word reveals Him to us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to continue the work Jesus began. |
As we pray for our nation and the Church, we are reminded that lasting unity, peace, righteousness, and spiritual strength cannot be built apart from Christ. God is calling His people back to prayer, repentance, His Word, and dependence upon the Holy Spirit so that we may stand firmly upon the foundation He has laid. |
This year as America celebrates our 250th year and the rededication of our nation back to God, September is designated in Alabama as a month of prayer and fasting for the nation, the state and the Church. |
The American government was built upon a deep foundation. It’s deeper than law and deeper than the Constitution. It is built upon Christianity and Christian ethics. |
The terms the founders used were “religion” and “morality”, but these are synonymous terms with Christianity and Christian ethics. |
The Bible uses foundation as a metaphor for the basis of faith, spiritual stability, and divine establishment and we as a nation and as a Church must return to that foundation. |
The Foundation of America: |
The foundation can be seen clearly in the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” |
Jefferson knew, along with the framers of the Declaration, that the rights of people did not come from the State. God gave the rights to the people. |
Two books were best sellers in the American colonies. The Bible was the best seller, and the second-best seller was the New England Primer. |
This Primer was thoroughly saturated with biblical truths from the introduction of the alphabet to its inclusion of the Christian doctrinal catechism. |
Many early American statesmen suggested that they tied the success of our country to Christianity and Christian ethics. Here are a few of those quotes: |
Gouverneur Morris: “Religion is the only solid basis of good morals; therefore, education should teach the precepts of religion, and the duties of man toward God.” |
Noah Webster: “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed.” |
George Washington: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.” |
It was June 16, 1858, that Abraham Lincoln, before he was even nominated to run for president, gave a profound speech that said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” |
Lincoln understood that division leads to destruction. The enemy fosters division wherever he can—in families, communities, schools, workplaces, cities, nations, the world, and of course, the body of Christ. |
Our country has experienced a tremendous Christian legacy throughout our history. However, we have lost and continue to lose much of that heritage as we are witnessing lines of division and opposition on every hand to God, faith and Christians. |
It is time for all Alabama and our nation to pray for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace to be restored to our nation, state and church! |
The Foundation of the Church: |
The Church was birthed in an upper room when Jesus’ disciples and others close to Him gathered with one mind continuing together in prayer for 10 days when the Holy Spirit came upon them. |
The Book of Acts could be entitled “The Acts of the Holy Spirit.” This Book could be seen as Volume 2 in the ongoing story of the life and ministry of Jesus. |
What Jesus began in the Gospel of Luke in a limited physical body, He continues in Acts through the unlimited power of His Spirit working in and through His followers. |
The activities of the Book of Acts have never ended. It’s a story of what Jesus “began to do and teach.” |
Now, over 2000 years later, we are asked to continue the work that Jesus and the early church began. |
Dr. J. Vernon McGee, a preacher from past decades predicted that at the last of the Church Age we would experience a return to the foundation laid in Acts—the Acts of the Holy Spirit! |
A foundation is the basis or groundwork of something. The Christian faith has the person and work of Jesus Christ as its foundation: our faith is built upon Christ, the Rock of our salvation (Psalm 62:1) and the Chief Cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16–17; 1 Peter 2:6). |
Jesus, God in the flesh, is a real person who came to earth at a specific time in history. His death and resurrection are historical events. |
At the same time, the person and work of Jesus cannot be understood apart from God’s Word, the Bible. |
Ephesians 2:20–21 tells us that our faith is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the Chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.” |
Christ is the cornerstone of our faith, and our understanding of this is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. |
The entire Bible points to Jesus (John 5:39): the Old Testament reveals our need for a Savior, predicts His coming, and sets the stage for the significance of His sacrifice; and the New Testament describes His coming, His death and resurrection to bring salvation to our sinful world, and His ongoing work as we await God’s kingdom and the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21; Revelation 21:1). |
The Bible sets Jesus as our foundation and leads us to understand salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). |
Romans 10:17 reveals that our faith comes from hearing God’s Word: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” |
Likewise, 1 Peter 1:23 tells us that we are born again “through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” |
What saves us? First Corinthians 15:3–4 indicates that it’s the gospel and then spells out what the gospel is: “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. . . . For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”. |
Notice how the work of Christ is linked to the Scriptures. |
We cannot have saving faith or believe the essentials of the faith without the Bible, because we would not know who Jesus is and what He did for us without the Bible. |
In that way, the Bible is the foundation for our faith. The Bible reveals to us who God is and points to the object of our faith: Jesus Christ. |
Christ lives in the believer’s spirit through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. |
This truth is called the “hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27) and signifies that while Jesus remains distinct in His divine and human nature, His Spirit dwells within Christians, making us one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). |
The baton has been passed to us. Relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, we too are asked to pass on to others what Jesus began. |
It appears that the Church Age is entering its final days, and we have been empowered and commissioned to “Be witnesses of Jesus throughout the world.” |
God has placed us where we are to be salt and light to those in our circle of influence for the great final harvest of souls and completion of the Bride. |
We have been chosen by Jesus at such a time as this to join Him in the work He began! Like the early Christians, we are to share the Good News of Jesus with boldness and love. |
God has called us to run the race and finish well! |
From the beginning to end, the Holy Spirit is the operative agent in the outworking of God’s will, the communication of God’s Word, and the accomplishment of God’s purpose. |
God is calling us back to the foundation He has laid in this nation and in the Church. |
Psalms 127:1 reminds us that unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. |
Are we building on the foundation laid by Christ or is it upon people and our interests, upon social events and popular worship? |
We all have to do a better job in understanding that the foundation of the Church is the Lord and worship of and Communion with the Lord. |
Just like in our regular lives, our families, our jobs and our hobbies are nice wings, but the foundation has to be Christ. |
Because when a wing is destroyed, there still has to be something holding up the building. |
And when all of the building is stripped away, as it will be at the end of life, we will stand in front of Christ without our impressive structure, but with only our foundation. |
We must make sure the foundation is solid and make sure that that foundation is faith in Jesus Christ! |
A first-century church lost something just one generation after it was planted. |
Jesus spoke these words to the church in Ephesus, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:5). |
These same words spoken to the Ephesians could be well spoken to American Christians as well. |
It is time for us to repent and return to our foundation in God and Christ our Lord! |
On September 11 at sundown, the Jewish new year 5787 began—the head of the year. |
The numbers in Hebrew correspond to letters and words. Accordingly, they reveal a joining of heaven and earth. |
We are familiar with the words of the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” |
In Hebraic thought, kingdom is not primarily a place—it is reign and speaks of kingship, rule, dominion and royal authority. |
It is to pray, “Father, let Your reign be revealed. Let Your rule break into what is broken. Let every rival kingdom bow.” |
It is a time of trust in God for He gives victory when resting in Him. |
It is a time of pruning and cutting of our will as new things are reshaped for the future and old things removed. |
Man’s peace gives way to global unrest but those founded in Christ will stay in peace. |
We are to step more fully into being the hands and feet of Christ. |
We are called to do what Jesus did in Scripture—heal the sick; confront darkness, and preach the Kingdom, but from a place of inner rest, not inner turmoil. |
Our weapons of warfare in this season are rest and righteousness, and this resting is forged in what Jesus has already accomplished. |
It is a time of Joel 2:23: “So be glad, children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD, your God. For He gives you the early rain for prosperity, Yes, He will bring down rain for you, the early and latter rain as before.” (Read Acts 2: 17-21) |
As we are empowered by an outpouring of God’s Spirit, we can rise in our restful place of fullness in Christ and dismantle the strongholds of the enemy over the nations. |
May this head of the year 5787 mark a turning point, where fear, trauma, and striving will break, and we will step into righteous and rested authority to partner with God in a global, righteous revival and harvest of souls! |
We must be in agreement with the heart and Spirit of God. This is true in the Church as well as in the nation. |
This is why there is a rising need with the Body of Christ for oneness of heart. |
We must remember Who it is that truly unites us! |
The legacy of this next generation is at stake! |
Father, we ask that you would give us Your eyes to see rightly and judge accordingly. |
Help us to put away our own opinions and preferences in order to align with heaven’s purposes in this hour. |
Remind us of Your truth in order to divide soul from spirit, and truth from error. |
We pray especially for those who are on the frontlines and contending for truth, justice and righteousness. |
For those who are being judged unfairly, we ask for vindication. |
For those who are hiding their sins and fooling the masses, we pray that the veil would be removed and the works of darkness brought into the light. |
We speak blessing and favor to those who are paying a price for taking a stand and refusing to yield to the fear of man or earthy gain. |
We pray supernatural grace and favor on those You have appointed and anointed at this time to model godly leadership and walk in the fear of the Lord. |
We declare that Your Body will walk in oneness of heart and unified purpose. |
We desire to walk in our call and contend for the hope you’ve given us. |
We declare there is one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. |
Remember the LORD who is great and awesome…Our God will fight for us! (Nehemiah 4: 10, 20) |
The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church! (Mt. 16: 18) |
Foundation in Christ
Psalm 62:1 · Isaiah 28:16–17 · 1 Corinthians 3:11 · Ephesians 2:20–21 · 1 Peter 2:6 |
The Word & the Gospel
John 5:39 · Romans 10:17 · 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 · 2 Timothy 3:15 · 1 Peter 1:23 |
The Holy Spirit & Our Calling
Acts 2:17–21 · Colossians 1:27 · 1 Corinthians 6:17 |
God’s Kingdom & Restoration
Acts 3:21 · Revelation 21:1 · Joel 2:23 |
Returning to the Foundation
Psalm 127:1 · Revelation 2:5 |
Unity, Courage & Victory
Nehemiah 4:10, 20 · Matthew 16:18 |
Preserving Betty Jo Hardy’s devotional legacy and continuing the ministry through Anne Barkley. |
| From The Throne Ministry | A weekly devotional ministry continuing the legacy of Betty Jo Hardy through Anne Barkley. | You are receiving this devotional because you subscribed to From the Throne or previously requested to receive these messages. | |
|  |
|