Built on the Rock
Series on value messages for the believer
Luke 6:46-49
Mt 7:21-27
46. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47. Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48. He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49. But he that heareth and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
This is the conclusion of Sermon on the Mount. Value messages for the believer.
I. I never knew you: Mt 7:21-23
21 ¶ not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
a. Not every one of these disciples will be saved
1. Cry Lord, Lord- and call them-selves Christians
2. Telling us not all can or will enter the kingdom of heaven.
3. Criteria is those that will do the will of the Father.
James 1/22
22. But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, are deceiving your own selves.
• Not saved by works- faith without works is dead
• As believers of the word we must commit to doing what the word says.
• Some call him lord. Lord, but does not do what he says
Titus 1:16: They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.
II. Call him Lord- in that day
1. Works are insufficient
a. Lord-lord- have we not prophesied in you name
b. Have we not cast out devils in your name
c. Have we not done many wonders in your name
Jesus said depart from me you workers of iniquity I never knew you. It seems that once they did great works for him, but yet in their hearts love him not.
The Lord knows them that are his: John 10:14-15
14. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Knowledge of a holy and heavenly love and by his grace know the Good Shepherd.
III. Parable of hearing and doing
1. Whosoever comes to me
2. Hearing my sayings
3. And does them
Parable:
In certain seasons the rain would fall heavily washing stones on the shore inland. A builder might see the stones and in saving time (easy way) would build on the rocks and deprive that overflow the banks. But the rains would return and wash out the rocks and strong winds wash away any foundation built.
Ezekiel 13:10-16
10 ¶ Because, yea, because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace; and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets daub it with whitewash;
11. say to those who daub it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, great hailstones will fall, and stormy winds break out;
12. And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the daubing with which you daubed it?’
13. Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath; and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to destroy it.
14. And I will break down the wall that you have daubed with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare; when it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
15. Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall, and upon those who have daubed it with whitewash; and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who daubed it,
16. The prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, says the Lord GOD.
Explanation, - The prophets tried to build the wall and foundation by using material that would hold the foundation and walls. Foundation—as the "wall" represents the security of the nation, so the "foundation" is Jerusalem, on the fortifications of which they rested their confidence. The "foundation" refers to the false principles on which they rested; whitewash the gospel and build on principles not of God.
IV. Two builders
On the Plain of Sharon there is a lot of clay. Jars are made of this clay. These jars of clay are worthless and bricks made from the clay show little resistance to the storms, wind and torrents of rain.
The priest on the Day of Atonement offered special prayer that the houses built would not become a tomb. Not only were the structures of these houses; but the foundation it built upon.
1. First builder
Called a wise man- build his house on the rock
a. Dug deep- demonstrating a deeper life in word, prayer
1 Cor 2:10
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Dan. 2:22
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
PS 1:22
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
b. Laid the foundation on the rock- Jesus told Peter to build the church upon the rock and the gates of hell could not prevail against it. Our religion if I may use that word is a house which the soul is sheltered.
House of refuge: from the
• Storms of adversity
• The house of death and judgment.
Obedience is a real, deep and true faith that rests upon the rock, which is tried and tested.
We build on a sure foundation of faith which is faithful to dig deep below the surface of mire words and profession and reach the rock of ages Jesus Christ is that rock.
We can rest on him. We are then safe from temptation that might come, suffering and persecution that might come: pain of the body and anguish of our soul. But on this rock we can not be shaken. When the flood arose and the winds beat against us we where safe in the storm and house still stands.
2. Careless builder
• He heareth and did nothing
• He heard good words- no depth- no sinking in
• Like a foolish man who built his house on sands
• Shifting and wavering on unstable foundation
• Not resting on the rock
His house is mere confession of religion:
• Outward worship
• No change of life
• No reality
• No obedience
• No self denial
• Only words with no meanings
• A house can not stand on mere deeds and mere words- must be linked to a solid foundation.
Conclusion to Sermon on the Mount:
Lesson 1: Words will not save us; faith with obedience od the heart- Thy will be Done.
Lesson 2: It will not help to hear the greatest preachers unless we try to live as we are taught.
Lesson 3: Build upon the rock: think of the end; the sand will not bear the house; the rock of ages will.
