Only One Foundation Stands
Lakeview Baptist Church of Kannapolis, February 2026
Text
Matthew 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Prayer
Introduction
This morning we will conclude our teaching on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In our text today, Jesus moves from a focus on teaching the truth to a focus on our response to the truth. Knowing the truth is purposeless unless we act upon that truth. Knowledge is power, but unless we use that power it adds no value to our lives.
Electricity only helps if you turn on the switch.
“Therefore” points back to Jesus' entire sermon..
Chapter 5…., Salt and light, Building on law and prophets.
Jesus pointed out that right actions aren’t enough, that our hearts are the problem and sin is rooted deep.
Murder is wrong, but anger in our hearts is the root problem.
Adultery is wrong, but lust in our hearts is the root problem.
Divorce, Oaths, Retaliation come from a bad heart. We are even called to love our enemies….love like God(Agape).
Chapter 6 Moves from right responses to right motives.
We should obey, not because we are commanded, but because our hearts have been changed….Giving, Prayer, fasting, work should be motivated by a changed heart and because of that changed heart, we should trust God and seek His kingdom above our own and His righteousness imputed to us.
Chapter 7 moves us to mature Christianity.
Mature Christians can judge properly because they look at themselves first. Mature Christians ask God to cleanse their eyes so they can see clearly how to help others have clean eyes. Mature Christians treat others like they want to be treated. Mature Christians understand God’s truth so that they are not easily deceived. Mature Christians understand that the way they live matters but that works wont get you to Heaven. Now Jesus is summing all of these things up and pointing to the truth that knowing all this doesn’t really matter unless you respond.
Our response to these teachings of Jesus change everything, temporally and eternally, not just for us, but for everyone.
“whoever” includes everyone.
John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:11-13 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME." (12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. (13) For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED."
1John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
So, Jesus is summing up His sermon and the rubber s hitting the road. Therefore points back and whoever points to everyone.
Now let’s look at the choices we all have to make………
I. Choices of How to Respond to God’s Word
There are two possible responses to the truth.
A. Respond Positively v.24
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them
B. Respond Negatively v.26
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them
Negative responses can manifest in many ways
1. Disbelief
2 Peter 3:3-4 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, (4) and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
2. Head Belief
James 2:19-20 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (20) But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?
3. Superficial Belief
2Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4. Procrastination
Matthew 25:1-13
10 virgins
Even for those who respond positively to God’s Word, many approach His word negatively. Let's look at the….
II. Core Approaches to Life
There are two core approaches to life and one is much more successful than the other.
A. Wise
whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man
Wise= application of knowledge
Proverbs deals with wisdom and encourages us to acquire it at any cost, because knowledge without wisdom can be a very dangerous thing.
B. Foolish
everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man
III. Cornerstone Makes all the Difference
A. Rock
wise man who built his house on the rock
That rock is Jesus
1 Peter 2:6-8 For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." (7) This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," (8) and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
Psalm 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken.
1Corinthians 10:4 and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.
Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
B. Sand
foolish man who built his house on the sand
Anything that is not rock, might as well be sand
Religion, works, law, goodness, etc. are sand.
IV. Certainty of Storms v.27
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house;
A. Rain
Common trials that beat down and don’t do a lot of damage at once, but over time can erode away your foundation.
B. Floods
Uncommon trials that come unexpectedly and can wash away homes not built on a firm foundation.
C. Wind
Wind can be so strong that you cannot stand causing you to take shelter in the life that you have built, but if that life is built on a shaky foundation, you can be swept away with your life’s work
The storms are coming, are you ready?
V. Consequence of Our Choices
A. Foundation will Stand and Support Us
and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock
B. Foundation will Fail and Leave Us Devasted
and it fell. And great was its fall."
Closing
If you are under the sound of my voice this morning, you have heard God’s Word.
Most of you have been in the storms of life, or maybe you are in one right now.
If not, rest assured, the storms are coming.
We are all building with our lives, but the question is, on what foundation?
Is your life built upon the rock or Jesus?
Will you be able to stand when he storms come, or will there be a great fall?
It’s time to stop playing church and start being the church. It’s high time we stop settling for acquiring knowledge and become wise stewards of that knowledge.
The world is full of fools, let’s become wise.
We have all heard God’s message this morning, now I ask you, what are you going to do with it?
