Firm Foundation/ Quicksand

SC 6/20/08

FIRM FOUNDATION/ QUICK SAND

MATTHEW 7:24-29

INTRO-

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS A HECTIC TIME THERE ARE DEADLINES TO MEET. RESPONSIBILITIES /PRESENTS/PARTIES.

LIKE I SAID LAST WEEK, IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL WE CAN MISS CHRISTMAS. OR AT LEAST THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS.

ILLUSTRATION-

TYPICAL OF THE LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS SHOPPERS, A MOTHER WAS RUNNING FURIOUSLY FROM STORE TO STORE. SUDDENLY SHE BECAME AWARE THAT THE PUDGY LITTLE HAND OF HER THREE YEAR OLD SON WAS NO LONGER CLUTCHED IN HERS. IN A PANIC SHE TRACED HER STEPS AND FOUND HIM STANDING WITH HIS LITTLE NOSE PRESSED FLATLY AGAINST A FROSTY WINDOW. HE WAS GAZING AT A MANGER SCENE. HEARING HIS MOTHER’S NEAR HYSTERICAL CALL, HE TURNED AND SHOUTED WITH INNOCENT GLEE; “LOOK MOMMY IT’S JESUS-BABY JESUS IN THE HAY” WITH OBVIOUS INDIFFERENCE TO HIS JOY AND WONDER, SHE IMPATIENTLY JERKED HIM AWAY SAYING, “WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT”

I HAVE GREAT MEMORIES FROM BEING A KID AT CHRISTMAS TIME. FROM LAYING UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE

THE ANTICIPATION OF CHRISTMAS/ AND YES THE PRESENTS

THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE, NOT FORGETTING WHAT JESUS HAS DONE,(AND RELAYING THE TRUE MEANING TO OUR CHILDREN) AND ENJOYING THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS.

WITHOUT JESUS IN YOUR LIFE, NOT JUST KNOWING OF HIM, CHRISTMAS WILL BE JUST A HECTIC AND KAODIC TIME WHERE PRESENTS HAVE TO BE BOUGHT AND YOU RUN AROUND WITH A PASTED ON SMILE WHEN REALLY YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

I HAVE SHARED BEFORE, BUT WHEN I AM LOOKING FOR PRESENTS, I HAVE THIS LOST LOOK THAT TELLS EVERYONE AROUND ME THAT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I AM DOING.

I AM IN NO MANS LAND

MATTHEW 7–IS A CHAPTER OF JESUS LETTING PEOPLE KNOW HIS CHARACTER, WHAT HE IS ALL ABOUT.

THE CREME OF HIS SERMONS, THE SERMONS ON THE MOUNT

HE TELLS US NOT TO JUDGE

LOVE OUR ENEMIES

DO NOT WORRY

TELLS US TO BE A WITNESS

WALK THE WALK/TALK THE TALK

TURN NOW TO MATTHEW 7:24-29

HE TELLS US ABOUT LAYING A FOUNDATION AND BEING A WISE BUILDER OF WHAT WE PUT OUR TRUST INTO.

SO MANY PUT THEIR TRUST INTO THINGS THAT ARE TEMPORARY

1. MONEY

2. PEOPLE

YOU MAY NOT THINK OF THIS AS A ADVENT MESSAGE, BUT I BEG TO DIFFER- WE ARE TO BE TAKING THIS TIME AND PREPARE FOR CHRISTMAS “THE COMING OF JESUS TO EARTH”

MOST OF US SPEND THIS TIME PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS “THE COMING OF PRESENTS”

MATTHEW 7:24-29-READ

READ VERSE 24,

THEN SAY IT IS REFERRING TO HOW WE SHOULD BE STORING UP TREASURES UP IN HEAVEN NOT HERE, CHAPTER 6: VERSE 19

IT IS REFERRING TO NOT WORRYING ABOUT THE BASIC NEEDS WE HAVE, BECAUSE HE TAKES CARE OF US 6:25,26

IT IS REFERRING TO TELLING US NOT TO JUDGE OTHERS, BECAUSE IN OUR QUEST TO TELL OTHERS OF ALL THEIR PROBLEMS, WE MISS THE BIG ONES IN OUR OWN LIFE.

NOW READ IT CORRECTLY V24-29

THE FOUNDATION THAT HAS BEEN LAID IS JESUS

IT TELLS US OF TWO FOUNDATIONS

1. JESUS/ THE SOLID ROCK

2. SAND/ OURSELVES AND IT QUICKLY CRUMBLES...

APPEARS BEAUTIFUL AND STRONG, BUT HAS NO LASTING STRENGTH FOR LIFE’S STORMS.

REMEMBER THE HOUSE THAT SLID OFF THE MOUNTAIN IN CALIFORNIA?

THE HOUSE WAS BEAUTIFUL, SAFE, SECURE UNTIL WHEN?

ONE TOO MANY STORMS, A STORM THAT WAS UNEXPECTED, UNPREPARED FOR, UNFORSEEN, WASHED WHAT LITTLE FOUNDATION WAS LAID AND IT COULD NOT STAND.

IT STRUCK ME THAT IT IS OKAY TO REFLECT ON THE COMING OF CHRIST (ADVENT) BUT TO REALLY APPRECIATE THE LORD, WE HAVE TO DETERMINE AND APPLY THAT THEIR WAS A NEED FOR THE LORD’S COMING IN OUR LIFE.

IF THERE IS NO SPIRITUAL MEANING TO CHRISTMAS, YOU CANNOT APPRECIATE WHAT THE LORD’S COMING MEANS

ILLUSTRATION-

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO HELP SOMEONE WHO DID NOT WANT YOUR HELP. YOU TRY TO HELP SOMEONE YOU THINK IS IN NEED, AND IT IS MET WITH RESENTMENT BECAUSE THE PERSON OR FAMILY DOES NOT THINK THEY ARE IN NEED. SO THEY TAKE EXEMPTION TO YOUR HELP.

PART OF THE PROBLEM TODAY IS MOST PEOPLE DON’T THINK THEY NEED A SAVIOR AND NEED TO BE SAVED... SO THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES LIKE EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

ILLUSTRATION-

A SCORPION, BEING A VERY POOR SWIMMER, ASKED A TURTLE TO CARRY HIM ON ITS BACK ACROSS THE RIVER. “ARE YOU MAD’ EXCLAIMED THE TURTLE. “YOU’LL STING ME WHILE I’M SWIMMING AND I’LL DROWN” “MY DEAR TURTLE, LAUGHED THE SCORPION, “IF I WERE TO STING YOU, YOU WOULD DROWN AND I’D GO DOWN WITH YOU. NOW WHERE IS THE LOGIC IN THAT? “YOUR RIGHT, CRIED THE TURTLE. “HOP ON” THE SCORPION CLIMBED ABOARD BUT HALFWAY

ACROSS THE RIVER GAVE THE TURTLE A MIGHTY STING. AS THEY BOTH SANK TO THE BOTTOM, THE TURTLE SAID, “DO YOU MIND TELLING ME WHY YOU STUNG ME? IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LOGIC, IT IS JUST WHAT SCORPIONS DO... IT IS MY NATURE.