Rock Solid
Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46-49
Pastor Don Jones
West Glendale Baptist Church
Scripture
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 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. 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.”
Several weeks ago I was approached by one of our people with a question. It was a simple one. It was, "Why don’t people who say their Christian act like it?" I thought that if I could answer that one I would be on all the talk shows and have the best selling book in the world. Instead I said simply, "I don’t know." But I did begin looking at what God’s Word says about the subject and want to share some of what I found over the next few weeks. The scripture today comes at the end of a great message.
Cue slide - Two Groups
Jesus was ending what we call the Sermon on the Mount. Those who were in attendance were His disciples and a very large crowd that had come to hear Him speak. He gives us a warning about the requirements of being one of His followers. Most who were there would walk away and forget what they had heard, much like our modern day churches. A few, a very few, would hear His words and follow. For all, He gave a stern warning. Matthew 7:21-23 says,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Look at the last few words of the passages. "I never knew you". What had these people done? Surely their crimes or sins must have been absolutely horrible. Jesus sent them away and called them evildoers. Of course evildoers will not enter the kingdom. But what did He say they had done?
He sent away those who had first, called Him Lord. WHAT? He sent them away because they called him Lord. For us "once saved, always saved" Baptists this is very alarming. But Jesus did say, "I never knew you." By now I hope your alarm bells are ringing.
But wait there’s more. What about the others. They were doing evil, must have been. Jesus said they were prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles all in His name. WHAT? For those who think good works will get you there He says, "I never knew you." WOW!
Surely He didn’t mean it. These people were the honest to goodness church going believing people who are involved just like we have each Sunday morning and Wednesday night. If these people didn’t "cut it" then what can we do to make sure we will be in the Kingdom?
Cue Slide - One Response
First, there are 2 groups approaching Jesus. The first group proclaimed Jesus as Lord, probably said they believed in Him. But, as far as we know that is all they did. I know a lot of people who have come to profess Jesus as Lord. They have prayed the "sinner’s prayer", walked to take the hand of the pastor, and have stood before the church to proclaim His lordship and then, they leave never to be heard from again. The scary part of all that is, we may have led them to believe they were ok. Jesus said to that group, "I never knew you."
The second group did miraculous works. I wish we had a few more of these in our churches. They were busy going about prophesying about Jesus, they even performed miraculous signs by His power, and to top it all off, they even cast out the odd demon or two. You have to admit in the list of things these definitely out score coming to church each week or even twice a week. These people were cooking! The scary part about this group is they would be the ones we appoint as pastors, deacons, and elders. Jesus responds to them with words of disappointment as well. He says, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Frankly, I don’t want to hear either one of the responses Jesus gives in the passages we have read. Was Jesus telling us that there is no one who will enter the Kingdom? I don’t believe so or I wouldn’t be here. In order to tell us what He was talking about Jesus told a story. As a matter of fact He says, "I will show you".
Cue Slide - Two Builders
Jesus told the parable of the two builders. Most of us know it but let’s read it again from Luke 6:46-49.
I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. 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. 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.”
The first builder and second builder have some similarities. Notice that they both built the same house. We don’t read any differences between the two. Both houses were made of Integra block, 2,000 square feet, and cost the same to build. Each owns the same home.
Both encountered the same storm. It simply says, "the torrent came". If there was a difference it would be with the surviving builder for it says a flood came as well. Both builders encounter the same storm.
Cue slide - Two Outcomes
The difference was the foundation. The wise builder dug deep till he hit rock. When he had hit the rock he began building. He laid his foundation on solid rock. The second or foolish builder, built is house without laying a proper foundation. Matthew says he built on the top soil of sand. Didn’t dig, just began building.
I had been to the S. F. area off and on for over 20 years. I would stay from days to weeks depending on the performance schedules of the groups. I toured the city on my off hours and never really took notice of the cities history. Several years later my wife and I were planning our stay at seminary. Before we went, we took the time to acquaint ourselves with the area. When we arrived we were put in off campus housing located in Corte Madera. Our view from our 2nd story apartment consisted of the freeway, San Quentin, and the Richmond refineries, beautiful.
I also took the time to acquaint myself with the fault lines that ran through the area. I wanted to make sure we were on solid rock if, and when, the big one came. I found that we were on one of the safest areas of the bay. Our "point" was on solid rock that went down to the depths of the earth. So far in fact, that we would feel only a shake from a large scale quake.
We left in July of 1989, sensing God’s leadership to come back to the Phoenix area. We left great jobs, good friends, and a ministry. We came back to a house that was damaged from the renters, no jobs, and a church that was encountering difficulty. In October of the same year the quake hit the area. The bridge that Deb drove collapsed dropping the top lanes on to the bottom ones. The area we had lived in received little damage to speak of. The destruction occurred to those houses and business built on the sandy foundations. Many were killed and the cost was high.
Jesus gives us the difference between the builders. The one builder heard the words of Jesus. He then turned and went on with his life as though he hadn’t. He didn’t put them into practice. There was no action on his part.
The wise builder who withstood the torrent did it differently. He heard the words of Jesus and "put them into practice". That is the only difference between the two.
Cue slide - One Decision
I believe most in this room will agree that we al want to be wise builders. I don’t think any rational person wants to suffer and experience loss and pain. Jesus gives us a way to with stand the torrents that life will bring to all of us. He gives us two very simple steps.
First, hear His words. Whether you hear them through personal reading, listening to tapes or CDs, or attending bible studies and worship, He says to hear them. You hear His words this morning.
The second, and most crucial step, is to put them into practice. James 1:6 puts it very simply. He says,
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
Decision Time
Finally, you must begin at the beginning. Start this morning by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord of your life.
Outline
Rock Solid 10-21-2006
Luke 6:46-49 WGBC
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
1. Two Groups
Sayers of Jesus
Doers of Jesus
2. One Response
Away from Me!
3. Two Builders
Same house
Same storm
Different foundations
Sand and Rock
4. Two Outcomes
Sand house destroyed
Rock house stood
Rock house put words into "practice"
