A Solid Foundation
Luke 6:46-49
The leaning tower of Pisa in Italy is going to fall. Scientists travel yearly to measure the building’s slow descent.
They report that the 179-foot tower moves about one-twentieth of an inch per year, and is now 17 feet out of plumb.
They estimate by the year 2007 the 810 year old tower will have leaned too far and will collapse onto the nearby restaurant, which happens to be where Scientists now gather to discuss their findings.
Pisa = marshy land
This gives us a clue why the tower began to lean even before it was completed.
Also, it’s foundation is only 10’ deep!
A solid foundation is important to the longevity of a building’s life.
It is also crucial to the life and health of a church and our life in Christ.
This morning we going to talk about our foundation. We are going to take a look at it from God’s perspective and see what we can do to patch up the cracks and make sure it is solid!
PRAY
Most of us are probably familiar with the Sermon on the Mount in chapters 5 through 7 of Matthew‘s gospel, but in Luke 6 we have what’s known as the sermon on the plain, (not in a plane!) on a level ground.
There are many similarities between these two sermons, but there are some main differences. The most notably is that Matthew states that Jesus was on a mountainside when he gave the sermon, whereas Luke’s account states that he was on a level place.
It’s clear that he went up on a mountain to pray all night, chose his twelve disciples and then came down to a level place to preach.
In Luke’s gospel, he left out the Jewish sections which would not pertain to the gentiles.
Jesus preached this sermon to the multitudes as well as to His apostles, and His message applies to us today.
When we get to verses 46-49, our key scripture verses today, Jesus turns his focus to obedience and he rebukes those who claim to be his followers but do not obey his teachings.
Let’s read LUKE 6:46-49
The Wise and Foolish Builders
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. 49 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Jesus’ words in verse 46 cut to the core. He’s basically saying to them,
“Why do you call me Lord, but do not obey me?”
He is talking to his followers. What kind of faith and trust is this?
You call me Lord, you call me master, and yet you will not do the things I tell you? How much this sounds like our world today. People like being called Christians as long as it does not inconvenience them.
The Barna Research group gathers statistics on Christian America and reported the following information in 2002:
85% of Americans claim to be Christian
8 out of 10 people consider themselves to be Christian
It’s apparent that many do not really have a relationship with Christ
A majority of these do not agree with the teachings of the bible
Many do not believe in spiritual beings, or in hell
How many people who don’t agree with the bible are going to do what is expected of them?
Dr. B.J. Miller once said, “It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it!”
It’s one thing to disregard the teachings of the bible, but these people in Luke were calling Jesus Lord.
To call Jesus Lord means we have made a commitment to Him as master of our lives.
Why would these people call him Lord, but then refuse to obey his teachings?
The things he taught were meant to help them. His true followers applied His teachings to their lives.
This reminds me of a story about a great athlete.
Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to the Superbowl in 1971 admitted that he struggled with accepting his assignment. Coach Tom Landry called in every play and the only time Staubach was allowed to call a play was in an emergency.
Even though Staubach knew that Coach Landry had a genius mind for the game, pride told him that he should be able to run his own offense.
Roger later said, “I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment and victory.”
The issue in verse 46 of Luke was obedience. Jesus expected it of them, and he expects it of us today!
Remember in JAS 1:22 we read a few weeks ago:
“Do not merely listen to the words, DO WHAT IT SAYS!”
Jesus is basically saying the same thing here.
In verse 47 he offers them an example, a parable of what it is supposed to be like when we hear his words and apply them to our life.
“I will show you what he is like who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice.”
Jesus gives them a visual picture of what a God-exalting life is supposed to look like.
He uses the example of a man building a house.
house
Gr: oikia or oikos
Translated as:
House of God
Christian Church
Dwelling place or Spiritual body
He says that this person “dug down deep” and laid the foundation on rock.
If we are going to have a strong foundation we need to dig down deep. What does that mean?
To dig down deep is to get beyond surface-level Christianity.
Not just church attendance, but service in and to the church
Not just faith, but deeds that reflect our faith
Not just reading the bible, but discovering it’s truths
Not just fellowship, but strong heart-level relationships
Not lip service, but TRUE obedience to Christ as Lord
So we need to dig down deep to make sure our foundation will last.
V:48 “Like a man... who laid the foundation on the rock.”
The word rock used here is from the Greek word PETRA.
Jesus in 1 Cor. 10:4 “and the rock was Christ.”
Peter in Matt.16:18 “you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church
(note: who will build the church? Christ)
Rom. 9:23
“See I lay a stone in Zion, that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And the one who puts his trust in HIM will never be put to shame.
Jesus is the rock upon which God builds his church. He is the ONLY solid foundation upon which we should build.
When things are good, it doesn’t seem so important to build on the rock. We see houses that are like a laid on a slab foundation.
What’s wrong with that? What happens when times are not going good??
With no foundation in a marriage, we have divorce.
With no foundation in our relationship to Christ, we have backsliding
With no foundation in our church, we lack faith and vision.
With no foundation under a house, we have a mess!
So a solid foundation is crucial in all aspects of life!
V:48b “When a flood came, the torrent struck that house, but could not shake it because it was well built.”
Because the hills in Palestine had little vegetation on them, the winter rains produced violent floods that swept away any building in their path. Those built on the marshy or sandy ground would go quickly, but those built on the rock would remain.
Christ used this metaphor to teach that the only solid foundation for enduring life could be found in his teachings and truth.
In verse 49 he shows us what happens when we claim to know him, but do not have that deep and solid foundation.
But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
In contrast is the person who listens but doesn’t obey.
Two houses. May have looked the same on the outside!
The difference is in the foundation.
Without a solid foundation, when hard times come, when things don’t go right, when we face struggles at home, on the job, at school...
we will not have the strength to endure!
So how do make sure that our foundation is on the rock?
Self examination!!
We need to take an honest look at our faith, our beliefs and our trust in the rock.
We need to apply the teachings of Jesus in our lives. Not enough to say Lord.
What does a church which is built on a solid foundation look like?
Each member would be:
- mature
- spiritually sensitive
- doctrinally sound
- committed to Christ
- bearing fruit
Isaiah 33:6
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure!
1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Closing
If we try to live the Christian life on a foundation other than that of Christ Jesus, we will not remain steadfast and committed to true Christian living. We will fail to bring God the glory.
We need to reevaluate our beliefs and level of obedience to God’s commands so that we are not deceived by the devil. He wants us to think that everything is fine.
Each of us know in our heart of hearts if everything is really fine.
John 8:32
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples
then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
I want to encourage you all to pray for one another and for our church, that during the next several weeks God would reveal any cracks in our foundation so that we can work on getting them strengthened.
Pray
Benediction -
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2C13.14
Rev. Nick Scarpa
12/30/2002
