House On The Rock Series

Amy Simpson, from Wheaton, Illinois, collected the following warnings she found on various consumer products: On a Duraflame fireplace log: Caution—Risk of Fire. On a Batman costume: Warning: Cape does not enable user to fly. On a bottle of hair coloring: Do not use as an ice cream topping. On a cardboard sun shield for a car: Do not drive with sun shield in place. On a portable stroller: Caution: Remove infant before folding for storage. (www.PreachingToday.com)

It makes you wonder how foolish some people can be to warrant such warnings.

As Jesus finishes His Sermon on the Mount, He describes such fools in contrast to those who are wise. Their whole lives falls apart when the storms come, but that doesn’t have to happen to you.

If you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to the conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. You’ll find it in Matthew 7, Matthew 7, where Jesus shows you how to weather the storms of life.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (ESV)

If you want to withstand the storms of life, Jesus says 1st...

HEAR HIS WORDS.

Listen to what He has to say. Pay attention to His message.

Jesus urged people to “hear these words of mine” (vs. 24 & 26). Now, the rabbis in Jesus’ day urged people to hear the words of God, to pay attention to God’s Law. Only Jesus urged people to pay attention to His own words. He taught with all the authority of God Himself, because Jesus is God!

Matthew 7:28-29 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (ESV)

Jesus didn’t quote God’s Word; He spoke God’s Word, so you better pay attention! It could mean the difference between life and death.

The movie War Horse tells the story of a boy and his horse. The film begins in 1912 when a teenager named Albert witnesses the birth of a thoroughbred on a farm in Devon, England. Later, Albert's father buys the thoroughbred at an auction, and Albert vows to train the colt to be a workhorse for his family’s farm.

Albert forms a special bond with the horse, named Joey, which includes a distinctive whistle. Albert cups his hands and blows through his fingers, creating the sound of an owl; and when Joey hears that whistle, he comes to his master.

When World War I breaks out, Joey is sold to the British army to become one of eight million horses employed in the war effort. Albert also enlists but has no idea where his beloved horse is. They are separated by hundreds of miles.

As the war draws to a close, a group of soldiers discover Joey brutally tangled in barbed wire. After the soldiers untangle Joey and bring him to a British encampment, a military doctor determines Joey's wounds are so bad that he should be put down. As a sergeant raises his pistol and takes aims at Joey's head, a commotion is heard among the troops. Take a look (show War Horse – Whistle video clip)

Albert, with bandaged eyes from an explosion, hears his fellow soldiers talking about a horse. He wonders if it is possible that this war horse could possibly be his horse. Cupping his hands to his mouth, Albert begins his special whistle. Immediately, Joey's ears perk up and his head turns toward his master. With the recognition of the whistle, Albert is able to save Joey's life. (War Horse, DVD, directed by Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, 2011; www.PreachingToday.com)

Joey was saved because he heard his master’s call. In the same way, you must pay attention to your Master’s words. He’s been through the war with you. Satan bruised Him on the cross, but there Jesus dealt the fatal blow over Satan, sin, and death. He won the victory for you, dying on the cross for your sins and rising from the dead. Now, He calls you to a new life. Please, pay attention to what He has to say. Hear His Words. It could mean the difference between life and death for you, as well.