Doing What He Said Series

Doing What He Said

Matthew 5-7 – Sermon on the Mount – Living from the Heart

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. 25 The 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. 26 But 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

-As we wrap up our survey of the Sermon on the Mount, I’d like us to focus on Matt. 7:24. “…everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Again, the whole purpose of this series was to take a look at what these words of Jesus are so we can do them with His help.

-So I’d like to journey back over the past 5 months and encapsulate the main truths that came from the heart and mouth of Jesus that day.

1. Reversal of Fortunes: Matthew 5:1-12 – We talked about the Beatitudes (the Blesseds), and rather than making them all prescriptive, we recognized that Jesus is telling His listeners that no matter what they go through in life, no matter how unjustly or harshly others may treat us, we are blessed because of who we belong to. We have entered the Kingdom of Heaven by faith in Jesus and our name is written in the Book of Life. We now belong to the King of the Universe! We may be broken, poor, defrauded, dispossessed, grieving, etc., but our hearts have been transformed by the One who knows us and loves us! We have a blessed life b/c of our relationship with Jesus!

2. Right Side Up in an Upside Down World: Matthew 5:13-16 - Ordinary people with messy lives are invited into the kingdom of heaven. The door is open wide for all who desire to accept God’s rule and reign in their lives. And furthermore, God wants to use our lives to impact those around us. He calls His followers salt and light to a world that needs to taste and see that the Lord is good, no matter how hard this life can be!

3. The Reliability of God’s Words: Matthew 5:17-20 - God’s words are reliable and require our full attention. He came to fulfill the words He spoke ages ago in the Jewish Law. We can never hope to measure up on our own, which is why Jesus came to this earth and provided the way for us. He put obedience within our reach. We can honor God with our lives because Jesus lives in us and the HS is changing us so we can live according to God’s standards and enjoy close relationship with Him. Kingdom life is at work in us! We are a new creation in Christ!

4. Anger Management: Matthew 5:21-26 - If your anger is controlling you, then you are completely out of harmony with the kingdom of heaven. Peacemakers are called sons and daughters of God! Haters and those controlled by anger and rage do not look like sons and daughters of God. But Jesus didn’t just say, “Don’t be angry.” He has already given them new life and new hearts as they have entered the kingdom of God. So they have everything they need to overcome the wrong thinking that can lead to wrong actions. Jesus does not just say to avoid bad actions, such as murder. Deal with the heart issue of anger before it grows into something very sinister and destructive!

5. Fifty Shades of Grace: Matthew 5:27-32 - We all need help to know God and to recognize His image in others. We all need help to keep ourselves away from sin. God helps us learn to close the windows of our hearts to the wrong things, but open them to Him and His love. The help we need comes from above. His grace is enough for us! God wants to come into our lives and help us become more like Him – the way He designed us.

6. Word Breakers & Will Benders: Matthew 5:33-37 - One of the gifts God has given us is verbal communication. We can use it for harm or for good. We can use it to manipulate people to get our own way (swearing/promising), or we can use it to speak truth and life so people can choose God for themselves. Don’t try to be a will bender by being a word bender. Be a knee bender! Surrender yourself to God and speak the truth in love!