A FIRM FOUNDATION
Matthew 7:24-27
On what have you built your life? What exactly does your faith, family, and future rest on ? Have you built on a firm foundation that’s unshakable ,unmoveable , or shifting sand that’s shifts with every storm?
Today we live in a world were many are DEMORALIZED, DISHEARTEN, DEFEATED. They have been overcome by sin, sorrow and the storms of life all because they built on Shifting sand.
They built they’re lives on career, wealth, power, relationships, self worth , self sufficiency and when a crisis came, their world fell and great was the fall!
As Christians we know that the foundation of our life is to be Jesus Himself.
Paul writes I Cor. 3:11:
“For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is
laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Isaiah writes 28:16:
“Therefore thus says the lord God: Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tired stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; whoever trust in Him will never be dismayed.”
Tonight as we ponder this question “On what have you built ” ? I want us to consider what Jesus himself had to say on this subject. My prayer is that you and I might gain some insight on just what is a firm foundation ? and how we can stand no matter the storm.
Matthew 7:24-27
24) “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I 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.”
Let me set the scene for you... Chp. 5 Vs 1 we read
1) And seeing the multitudes, He went up on the mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2) Then He opened His mouth and taught them,saying....
And Jesus goes right into the Beatitudes. He teaches on Marriage, prayer, service, loving your enemy, pleasing God, Fasting, Worry, Judging, Salvation and much more! Chapters 5,6,7, He’s sharing with the multitude the word of God. As He get to the end of His message He basically says NOW THAT YOU’VE HEARD YOU HAVE ON OF TWO CHOICES. Obey or Disobey!
And in Vs 24-27 He paints a vivid picture that depicts the significance of that choice.
Notice if you will.....
I. THE WISE BUILDER: Vs 24
HERE IN VS 24&25 JESUS SPEAKING TO THE MULTITUDE SAYS... HE WHO LISTEN AND OBEYS IS WISE.
PSALM 111:10
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM; ALL WHO FOLLOW HIS PRECEPTS HAVE GOOD UNDERSTANDING.
AS CHRISTIANS OUR RELATIONSHIP W/ JESUS SHOULD GO BEYOND JUST CLAIMING HIS NAME!
*WE SHOULD LOVE HIM *MEDITATE ON HIM
*BE DEVOTED TO HIM * BE IN TUNE W/ HIM
BEING WISE IS SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING
-WHO JESUS IS - WHAT HE HAS DONE- WHAT HE WILL DO
0UR WISDOM AS CHRISTIANS REST IN GOD; NOT MEN !
IF YOU FEEL YOU LACK WISDOM THEN TAKE JAMES ADVICE
JAMES 1:5
IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, HE SHOULD ASK GOD, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL ...
THE WISE BUILDER IS A CHILD OF GOD AND NOTICE THE PROCESS THAT LEADS TO WISDOM AS IT RELATES TO BUILDING ON A FIRM FOUNDATION.
A. ACCEPTS THE WORD OF GOD:
IT SAYS...
- HE HEARS - HE LISTENS -HE’S IN-TUNE W/ HIS MASTER
-HANGING ON EVERY WORD
IT IS THROUGH THE WISDOM , GIVEN HIM BY GOD HE UNDERSTANDS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WORD. AND UPON HEARING THE WORD OF GOD HE IS REMINDED OF...
THE PERSON OF THE WORD
JOHN 1:1 IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, AND THE WORD WAS W/ GOD AND THE WORD WAS GOD.
VS 14 THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US.
THE POWER OF THE WORD
VS 12 TO ALL WHO RECEIVED HIM, AND BELIEVED ON HIS NAME , HE GAVE THE RIGHT TO BECOME THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
VS 13 CHILDREN BORN NOT OF MAN, BUT BORN OF GOD.
THE PROMISE OF THE WORD
ROMANS 10:17 FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD
PSALM 119:105 THY WORD IS A LIGHT UNTO MY FEET AND A LAMP UNTO MY PATH.
THE PROVISION OF THE WORD
ISAIAH 55:11 SO IS MY WORD THAT GOES OUT FROM MY MOUTH; IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY/VOID BUT WILL ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DESIRE
JOHN 14:1 DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. TRUST IN GOD; TRUST ALSO IN ME. IN MY FATHERS HOUSE ARE MANY ROOMS; IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I AM GOING THERE TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. AND IF I GO...I WILL COME BACK AND TAKE YOU TO BE W/ ME THAT WERE I AM YOU MAY BE ALSO.
THE WISE BUILDER THE CHRISTIAN ACCEPTS THE WORD FOR HE UNDERSTANDS
THE PERSON POWER PROMISE AND PROVISION
IT REPRESENTS
BUT NOTICE NOT ONLY DOES HE HEAR , HE ALSO...
B. ADAPTS TO THE WORD OF GOD
- ITS A PROCESS OF LISTENING INTENTLY TO GODS WORD
- PRAYING & MEDITATING , SEEKING INSIGHT UNDERSTANDING KNOWLEDGE.
- THEN HE ADAPTS AND APPLES IT TO HIS LIFE.
IN OTHER WORDS SANCTIFICATION, GROWING IN OUR FAITH, MATURING IN THE LORD. ITS THE PROCESS IN WHICH GOD IS INCREASINGLY CHANGING US, MOLDING US, FORMING US INTO
WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE IN CHRIST JESUS!
PAUL WRITES IN I CORINTHIANS 6:9,11
DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE WICKED WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD?...AND THAT IS WHAT SOME OF YOU WERE. BUT YOU WERE SANCTIFIED, YOU JUSTIFIED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND BY THE SPIRIT OF OUR GOD.
AS WE ACCEPT THE WORD OF GOD, APPLY IT TO OUR LIVES WE ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY BEING FORMED & FASHIONED INTO THE CHILD HE LONGS FOR US TO BE; FOR HIS GLORY & HONOR!
ILLUSTRATION: CHILDRENS SONG- HE’S STILL WORKING ON ME.
WE’RE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. HE IS WORKING IN AND THROUGH US WHY?
EPHESIANS 2:22
... IN HIM YOU TOO ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER TO BECOME A DWELLING IN WHICH GOD LIVES BY HIS SPIRIT.
EPHESIANS 2:10
FOR WE ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS TO DO GOOD WORKS, WHICH GOD PREPARED IN ADVANCE FOR US TO DO.
THE WISE BUILDER ACCEPTS & APPLIES AND AS JAMES THE LORDS BROTHER WOULD SAY...
“BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD AND AND NOT HEARERS ONLY.”
WHEN WE LISTEN AND OBEY NOTICE WHAT HAPPENS....
C. ABIDES IN THE WORD OF GOD:
IF WE TRULY UNDERSTAND THE....
*THE PERSON OF THE WORD----JESUS LORD OF ALL
*THE POWER OF THE WORD-----SALVATION/ NEW LIFE
*THE PROMISE OF THE WORD---NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE
*THE PROVISION OF THE WORD--HEAVEN I’M COMING BACK
THEN AND ONLY THEN CAN WE STAND LIKE A FLINT WHEN THE STORMS, STRAIN, STRESS, SORROWS, OF LIFE COME.
ABIDING IN IN THE WORD IS LIVING IN JESUS AND ALLOWING HIM TO LIVE THROUGH YOU. TOTAL SURRENDER OF YOUR LIFE, WANTS, WILL, DESIRES. ITS THE ATTITUDE THAT JESUS HAD IN THE GARDEN WHEN HE PRAYED “FATHER NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE”!!! ITS REALIZING THAT HE ALONE IS YOUR....
SALVATION STRENGTH SECURITY
SOURCE SUFFICIENCY
JESUS SAID HIMSELF. TURN WITH ME TO JOHN 15:4-8
THE WISE BUILDER LISTEN, OBEYS, STANDS, AND AS A RESULT NOT ONLY IS HE BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE...THE FATHER IS GLORIFIED. VS 8
BUT NOTICE THE SECOND EXAMPLE...
II. THE UNWISE BUILDER:
IN VS 26 & 27 JESUS TELLS OF ANOTHER WHO HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD A FIRM FOUNDATION YET CHOSE NOT TO.
NOTICE WANT HAPPENS UPON HEARING THE WORD...
-HE WAS DECEIVED----IT WASN’T TRUTH TO HIM
-HE WAS DISOBEDIENT----HE DID NOT ACT ON IT
-HE WAS DEVASTATED----GREAT WAS HIS FALL
THE UNWISE ARE PEOPLE WHO REJECT THE LORD AND HIS WORD. THEY DON’T THINK THEY NEED GOD AND ATTEMPT TO BUILD THEIR LIVES ON THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, CAREER, WEALTH, RELATIONSHIPS . IN OTHER WORDS THEY’VE BUILT ON SHIFTING SAND, AND WHEN THE STORMS COME AND THEY WILL COME GREAT WILL BE THEIR FALL!
TONIGHT I PRAY YOU TRULY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS MESSAGE. I PRAY THERE’S BEEN A TIME IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU NOT ONLY HEARD THE GOSPEL, BUT YOU ACCEPTED IT , APPLIED IT, AND EVEN TODAY YOU ABIDE IN IT. I HOPE YOU’VE BUILT YOUR LIFE ON A FIRM FOUNDATION!
ILLUSTRATION: EDWARD MOTE GREW UP IN THE 1800
PARENTS OWNED AND OPERATED A PUB IN ENGLAND. HE GREW UP NEVER KNOWING THERE WAS A GOD.
AS A YOUNG MAN HE TOOK A JOB AS A CABINETMAKER. HIS BOSS A STRONG CHRISTIAN LED HIM TO JESUS. LATER IN HIS LIFE EDWARD MOTE BEGAN TO WRITE HYMNS. ONE I SURE
YOU KNOW IS “THE SOLID ROCK”
LISTEN TO THE WORDS...
MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS THAN JESUS BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS; I DARE NOT TRUST THE SWEETEST FRAME, BUT WHOLLY LEAN ON JESUS NAME.
ON CHRIST, THE SOLID ROCK I STAND;
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND.
