So, a few weeks ago we started a new sermon series called the Sermon on the mount. I love this series because we honestly get to see Jesus’ ministry at it’s core…we see Him speaking to His followers, His people, and we hear exactly what He is all about…we also get a glimpse into the type of teacher He was…when we began this series, I asked everyone what they could remember about His teachings…and many said that he had a way of making the scripture come to life…a way of making it plain, and understandable…the scripture itself says that there was nothing special or unusual about his appearance, but that people were drawn to him…he just had a way about him…
Jesus taught the people in a way that they could understand…he used scenarios that they had been in before…a lost coin, or a lost sheep…they understood how important these things were…he used metaphors and jargon that were familiar to the group…he got on their level and spoke their language…
The scripture we are going to speak about this morning…is one of my favorites…because it is so simple, but so deep…
And when Jesus begins to tell the short story…the audience becomes lost in it…the scripture says that they were amazed at how he taught them…because he was not like the others…he taught them in a way that they could understand…
He uses imagery that is so descriptive, that when he tells the story, we can see it happening in our minds…we know the characters, because we have been them before, or we know someone like that…the situations are relatable, and we can see it playing out as the story unfolds…and when Jesus turns the story on its head and says, “don’t be like this, or this is how we should be…” we are able to see and understand exactly what he is saying to us, and we get it…we don’t forget it…it becomes a part of us…
I’ve met some good story tellers in my life, some good preachers…and sometimes they tell a story that just becomes a part of you, that you never forget it…
Pastor Chuck Swindell tells a story about a man named Frank he met who had a hound dog…you know hound dogs are great hunters, and one evening, while sitting around the house, the man heard a scratching at his door, and knew his dog was ready to come in for the night…so he goes to open the door, and he sees his beloved dog sitting proudly, with the neighbors beloved pet bunny proudly displayed in his mouth…the bunny was covered in dirt and slobber and quite obviously dead…
Dreading any repercussions with his neighbor, the man took the bunny inside…cleaned it up, washed it, and for good measure, even blow-dried so that it would be nice and fluffy…and in the middle of the night, crept over to his neighbor’s yard, and put the bunny back into its cage like nothing ever happened…
The next morning, the man heard his doorbell ring and was quite shocked and embarrassed when he realized that it was his neighbor at the door…the neighbor was quite upset, and said Frank, we’ve got ourselves a sicko in the neighborhood…
Shocked and confused, the man said, what do you mean…
The neighbor replied, well frank, our pet bunny died three days ago, and someone dug him up and put him back in the cage…
Now, you will always remember that story!
Christ’s stories are the same way…and here, at the end of his sermon on the mount, we hear another story about foundations, that stick with us, and hopefully help others to see the light…
Matthew, chapter 7, and we are going to read it together…
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Here…Jesus gives us two different people, who do two similar things, with two different outcomes…
How many of us know the song that goes with this story? “Oh the wise man built his house upon the rock…”
It gets into your head… I guarantee you later, when you are eating your lunch or dinner, that you will sing this…its memorable, its something that stays with you…
In this story, there are two men, a wise man, and a foolish man…each builds a house, on different foundations…one on rock, and one on sand…
We know who these people represent right? Do we? The first man…the wise man…who begins his project on a firm foundation…on a rock…he isn’t interested in location per say, but he looks to the future…and what that location can become…he is prepared…he is ready…he is secure…
The second man…the foolish man…doesn’t seem foolish to start with…he is all about location, location, location…right there…on the beach…perfect for those days when its sunny and bright and beautiful…maybe he even puts in a pool in case he doesn’t feel like swimming in the ocean…he isn’t worried about the hurricane season, he doesn’t care that that location during half of the year is normally underwater…he is only looking at the now…
It reminds me of the many times I have gone on disaster assistance, and seen the devastation where a huge storm has come in and completely wiped out communities…and there are some places, not all, but some, where this has happened time, after time, and people come back in, and rebuild again…because, there are times of the year, when it’s just plain beautiful to live there…they don’t care that for some parts of the year its absolutely scary to live there…I’ve seen houses, and I’m sure you have seen them as well, but they look like bird houses, because they are literally built on top of telephone poles, way up above the sandy ground…to keep away from the floods that always come into the area…location, location, location…million dollar homes…
Now, I’m not saying these people are foolish to build their houses there…I’m just saying…that if someone came up to me and said…hey, just so you know…where you are building your new beach house at, it gets really bad storms there a lot of the time…it’s probably not secure…I might think twice about if it’s worth it or not…
That’s just what Jesus is saying here…and that’s one of the things I love about this scripture…I don’t have to break it down for you…its simple…you get it…
Jesus is talking to his people…and he is giving them awesome information…he is laying it all out for them…and he says…anyone who hears my words and applies it to their lives…is like a wise man who builds his house on a firm foundation…
He is saying…listen…this is good stuff…these things I’m telling you…will help you out…they will keep you safe and happy…it will make your life better…use these things…remember them…be wise…
But if you don’t…then, I’m sorry to say it…but you would be like a foolish man…who built his house on the sand…and when hard times came…when the rains came…and the floods came…the house didn’t stand a chance…
Floods and rain came our way this past week, didn’t it?...nowhere near as bad as some places…but I’m telling you…I don’t mind saying…it was scary at times…storms…can be crazy…the rain and the wind and the thunder and lightning…all combined together, can cause massive devastation…
guys…I know you know this…but life…life can be messy…no, not can be…it is…it’s messy and hard, and it can thrash us around…but if we have a firm foundation…we can weather any storm…
I love watching those reality shows, where they take people out in the middle of nowhere and basically say, ok! Survive…and they people who talked a big game before they got out there…they to put three sticks together and call it a shelter…they aren’t prepared…they aren’t ready…and the first time it rains…everything falls apart…
This morning…we can come here…to hear the word of God…and to leave here changed…
I’ve never considered myself to be a great public speaker…I honestly…it’s not my favorite thing to do…because I get nervous, and I never know if what I’m saying will have an impact…. but guys…it has nothing to do with me…it has everything to do with you…
You…have to decide if you are going to take the scripture that we talk about…and apply it to your life…You have to decide what to do with it…don’t be like the person who looks at himself in the mirror turns away, and then immediately forgets what he looks like…hear the scripture…use it…make a difference…be wise…
We are going to take a few moments to pray…and if you feel led, the alter is always open…their isn’t any special time where you have to come…but if you feel like coming to the altar, please come…pray, spend some time with God this morning…leave here changed…come as the music plays…and ill close this time in prayer
