Building The Right Foundation Series

Title: Building the Right Foundation

Theme:

Text: Matthew 7:24-27

Matthew 7:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Introduction

Matthew chapters 5 - 7 is called the sermon on the mount. It is the most extensive teaching of Jesus found in one place. It was probably not one day but over many days as Jesus was teaching his disciples and those who followed him the truths of the scripture. What you find is some challenging scriptures that show the practical side of Christianity. You have the spiritual side, which is very important but you also have the practical side. It is awesome when you balance the two.

As we come to chapter 7 Jesus is closing out this teaching. Now understand he has been teaching this for days. But he makes a very important statement.

Matthew 7:24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,

Notice there is more than just hearing them but there is a doing.

James 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble!

Later on Jesus teaching us an important principle about what happens when he shares the word. Or we could say what happens when people hear the word or when they read the word.

Parable of the Sower

Matthew 13:3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 "And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 "Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 "But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 "But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Matthew 13:18 "Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 "But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 "yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

Yet notice that there is an important correlation between hearing the word and doing it.

I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Notice that storms come

Thought 1. All kinds of rain and storms come. There are storms of...

• sickness

• sorrow

• nervous stress

• neglect

• loneliness

• sin

• suffering

• disappointment

• disease

• emotions

• tension

• poverty

• pain

• rejection • accidents