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…Last year we witnessed the effects of a terrible hurricane in the Gulf of
Mexico. This powerful storm destroyed many homes and caused 10,000s of people
to evacuate the region. Today, the whole region is rebuilding hoping…
…Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount with a final warning to all who hear
His words. It is the warning to build your house upon the Rock. For, if you
build your house upon the sand it will be completely destroyed. Jesus
stressed the importance of an adequate foundation. What is your foundation?
On what do you build?
THREE INSIGHTS WARNING YOU TO BUILD YOUR LIFE UPON THE
FOUNDATION THAT WILL ENDURE FOREVER.
…For, “all other ground is sinking sand.” Jesus tells of two very
different builders…
I. Both
Of These Builders Have Many Similarities…Alerting Us That It Is Not Easy To
Know Which Is The Genuine Believer. (vv. 24,26)
A. Both
of these “builders” have heard the Lord and His Gospel. “these words of mine…”
…today, they are those in the church. He is not referring to those outside
who have not heard.
B. Both
builders build a house after hearing the Gospel.
1.
This building of a house, is Jesus powerful
way of saying, the building of a life. He is talking about your life.
2.
Both of these houses are thought to be
secure. In the sunshine of life, they both appear to be so. One does
not
build a house he knows will fall.
3.
Both builders are confident that his house
will stand...
…One has His confidence in the Lord: the finished work of Christ.
…The other man’s confidence is in himself: his abilities, wealth, education,
works, etc.
C. Both
builders build in the same general area. They are neighbors, who were hit by
the same terrible storm. Perhaps they sat in the same church together…
D. Both
built the same type of house, for both looked safe.
...both were religious, seemingly
moral, and found in
the church body.
II.
Both Of These Builders Do Have
Differences Which Are Fundamental And All Important. (vv. 24,26)
Yet, the
differences could not be seen by the human eye.
A. The
greatest difference is found in the foundation each laid.
1.
“Rock,” this word refers to the large
outcropping rock. It was stable, solid, and immovable. This builder dug down
deep to find this rock. This Rock is Jesus Who requires obedience to His
Word. (Matthew 16:16-18)
2.
“Sand,” loose, unstable and extremely
movable. This builder could not be bothered with digging deep to build upon
the rock. A. W. Pink tells of these builders, “these bring their bodies to
church, but not their souls.” Jesus calls him, “the fool”…
…Jesus’ point: the factor that determines what will remain and what will not
remain is the foundation. The foundation is the most important part of any
building!
…true believers are engaged in being doers of the Word… building with God’s
specs…
…
Jesus tells that one may profess to know Him, but he is lost if there is not
obedience to Christ. His experience with the Gospel is shallow, superficial,
and short-lived.
B. The
wise builder built his house the hard way. He took the time and pains to dig
deeply. The foolish builder went the easy way. To build upon sand is the
ultimate deception of
Satan, which causes one to think he is saved and secure, when he is not.
III.
Both Of These
Builder’s True Nature Was Exposed By the Storm. (vv. 25,27)
…”the
rains fell, the rivers flooded, and the winds blew.” Remember, the days of
ease are deceptive!
A. Storms
are the sorrow, pain, suffering, disappointment, and eventually death we all
experience. These things reveal the true nature of our lives. A life built on
the obedience of Christ will never fall. The end for all who build apart from
obedience to Christ is total destruction…
B.
Finally, what are you building dear Christian? It is possible for you
to be on the rock foundation and yet go through life building many things that
are worthless and will not remain as fruit for eternity. 1 Corinthians
3:12-15…”wood, hay, and stubble.” William Borden: “no reserve, no retreat,
no regrets.” 1 John 2:15-17 “but he that
does the will of God abides
forever.”
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1. The only
validation of salvation we can ever have...is a life marked by obedience to the
word!
2.
The storms of life are valuable, for they reveal the true nature of things!
3. To know
Christ and confess Him is essential, but can never substitute for obedience.
4.
Dear Christian, build upon your true foundation, the eternal things that will
last.
5. If
you are not saved, today, repent and confess Christ as your Savior!!!!
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