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.
OUR NATURE IS TO THINK WE DO NOT NEED GOD, THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY ON OUR OWN.
I THINK WE APPROACH CHRISTMAS LIKE IT IS A BIG SALAD BAR.
WE TAKE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE LIKE TO EAT AND PUT IT ON OUR PLATES, BUT THE THINGS THAT WE DON’T LIKE WE JUST DON’T BOTHER TO PICK UP.
IF WE ARE GOING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS DID, WE HAVE TO APPLY ALL THAT HE HAS TOLD US.
“AN UNREAD BIBLE IS USELESS TO US”
SAYING THAT WE ARE BELIEVERS DOESN’T MAKE US A BELIEVER, WE ARE ONLY BELIEVERS WHEN WE ARE COMMITTED TO CHRIST TEACHINGS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE DOING GOOD THINGS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.
ILLUSTRATION-
LADY WHO PAINTS PICTURES OF FALLEN SOLDIERS, YOU SEE HER ON T.V., YOU SEE THAT SHE HAS A VERY SENSITIVE HEART FOR THOSE FAMILIES, BUT WHEN INTERVIEWED, SHE WAS TAKING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN AND HARDENED FOR THE THINGS OF GOD.
LUK5 E 6:45 “ OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF HIS HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS”
ATTITUDE PLAYS A BIG FACTOR IN HOW YOU WILL LIVE OUT CHRISTMAS/LIVES.
YOU ARE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU ARE DETERMINED TO GET OUT OF CHRISTMAS
QUOTE-
THERE COMES A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT IF YOU STAND STILL, YOU WILL REMAIN AT THIS POINT FOREVER. YOU REALIZE THAT IF YOU FALL AND STAY DOWN, LIFE WILL PASS YOU BY.
SOME KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. IT IS TIME TO CHANGE, AND IF YOU DON’T CHANGE, YOU WON’T. YOU CANNOT PRETEND THAT EVERYTHING IS OKAY ANYMORE. YOU HAVE TO BE DETERMINED AND INTENTIONAL
ROBERT FROST-
“TWO ROADS DIVERGED INTO THE WOODS, AND I TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED BY , AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DOING IT, DOESN’T MAKE IT RIGHT, AND BECAUSE NOONE ELSE IS WITH YOU DOES NOT MAKE IT WRONG.
THERE ARE MULTITUDES OF PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS, BUT THEY ARE NOT.
THE REASON THEY ARE NOT IS BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FOLLOW THE LORD, AND THE REASON THEY DO NOT FOLLOW IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NEVER MET HIM.
JUST LIKE THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR HOUSE ON THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
IT WAS A FANTASTIC VIEW
IT HAD ALL THE GADGETS
IT WAS LUXURY AT IT’S FINEST
BUT WHEN ONE TOO MANY STORMS FLOODED AROUND IT, IT COULDN’T TAKE ANYMORE-
IT GOT SUCKED INTO THE SEA
WASHED AWAY
IF THE FOUNDATION IS NOT THE SOLID ROCK- JESUS CHRIST...IF WE DO NOT BUILD ON THAT FOUNDATION- IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST MADE A PUBLIC STATEMENT THAT CHRIST IS THEIR LORD AT ONE TIME, BUT WHEN THEY (AND US) DO NOT DO WHAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED, THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN THEIR WORDS AND THEIR ACTIONS.
THEY DO NOT MATCH UP
THE FOUNDATION IS THE SUBSTRUCTURE OF OUR LIVES. THE FOUNDATION IS THE SUPPORT BASE FOR OUR VISIBLE DAILY LIVES. IT IS ALSO THE INVISIBLE STRENGTH WHEN WE GO THROUGH LIFE’S STORMS.
SPOUSES WHO MADE A COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER IN A WEDDING CEREMONY, YET AFTER THEY ARE MARRIED, THEY FIGHT AND YELL AND ARE NOT LOVING TO EACH OTHER. THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT THEY DID NOT MAKE A COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER, THE PROBLEM IS IN APPLYING THE COMMITMENT TO THEIR LIVES.
ILLUSTRATION-
A PILOT CANNOT DEPEND ON HIS FEELINGS, EYESIGHT, OR THE OPINION OF OTHERS. THOSE INSTRUMENT GAUGES ARE THE ONLY RELIABLE SOURCE FOR DETERMINING ONE’S TRUE POSITION. IF WE DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THEM AS A PILOT YOU’LL MOST LIKELY CRASH. NOW MOST OF US ARE NOT CLAIMING TO BE PILOTS AND THEREFORE WE DO NOT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AIRPLANE INSTRUMENTS BUT MOST OF US DO CLAIM TO BE DISCIPLES OR FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST. WE CLAIM AND THINK OUR LIVES ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BUT ARE THEY REALLY? HOW WOULD WE KNOW? LIKE A PLANE HAS INSTRUMENTS TO INDICATE IT’S TRUE POSITION THERE ARE ALSO THE SPIRITUAL INDICATORS OR GAUGES THAT WE LOOK AT SO THAT WE KNOW OUR TRUE POSITION AS TRUE FOLLOWERS.
A FOUNDATION THAT WILL STAND IN ANY STORM IS JESUS CHRIST
QUESTION- ARE WE WHAT WE SEEM TO BE?
WITHOUT CHRISTMAS, THERE WOULD BE NO EASTER, AND WITHOUT EASTER THERE IS NO REDEMPTION, AND WITHOUT REDEMPTION, THERE IS NO BEING A CHRISTIAN.
WITHOUT JESUS YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
WE ARE OKAY TO SING FROSTY THE SNOWMAN, AND ALL THE WINTER WONDERLAND SONGS, BUT WHAT ABOUT PRAISE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOR JESUS CHRIST THE LORD
WANT TO MAKE THIS THE BEST CHRISTMAS EVER , JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON
MAKE SURE YOUR FOUNDATION IS NOT GOING TO COLLAPSE- MAKE SURE IT IS MADE UP OF MATERIALS FOUND IN WHAT GOD NOT MAN SAYS
CLOSE-
THE SONG HIGHER GROUND GOES LIKE THIS
“I WANT TO LIVE ABOVE THE WORLD. THOU SATAN’S DARTS AT ME ARE HURLED;
FOR FAITH HAS CAUGHT THE JOYFUL SOUND, THE SONGS OF SAINTS ON HIGHER GROUND.
CHORUS-LORD, LIFT UP AND LET ME STAND, BY FAITH, ON HEAVEN’S TABLE LAND,
A HIGHER PLANE THAN I HAVE FOUND. LORD, PLANT MY FEET ON HIGHER GROUND.
YOU CAN HAVE THAT THIS MORNING, YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT YOU HAVE PLANTED YOUR FEET ON SOLID GROUND, THAT THE LORD DESIRES TO PUT YOU ON A FIRM FOUNDATION.....HIM
SOME HERE THIS MORNING NEED TO STAND UP AND TAKE THEIR STAND. IF THEY WERE TO DIE THIS MORNING THEY DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WILL MAKE HEAVEN.
THE DEVIL HAS JUST BEAT YOU INTO THE GROUND, YOU NEED TO TAKE A STAND THIS MORNING.
IS TODAY THE DAY YOU WILL GET VICTORY?
