1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,720 Well, listen guys, I am I, I am really excited. 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:07,840 I'm glad that you guys came and and joined us here this morning. 3 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:11,640 Before we get at the. The message Let me start off by 4 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:14,040 by reading the passage. That that we're going through. 5 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:16,400 We're finishing up. The Sermon on the Mount. 6 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:18,640 So if you have your. Bibles, feel free to. 7 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:23,480 Turn to Matthew Chapter 7, verses 24 through 29, and this 8 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:25,000 is like I said, this is what we're going to be looking at 9 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,400 today. It says everyone then who hears 10 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,080 these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who 11 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,240 built his house on the rock. And the rain fell and the floods 12 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,760 came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did 13 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,920 not fall because it had been founded on the rock. 14 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:42,960 And everyone who hears these words. 15 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,360 Of mine and does not do them. Will be like a foolish man who 16 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,640 built. His house on the sand and the. 17 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:51,400 Rain fell and the floods came and the winds. 18 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:52,880 Blew and beat against the house and it. 19 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,840 Fell, and great was the fall of it. 20 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,040 And when Jesus finished these things, the crowd, the crowds 21 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,000 were astonished at his. Teachings for he was. 22 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:04,879 Teaching them as one who? Had authority. 23 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,840 And not as their scribes. So like I said. 24 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:13,400 I'm really glad that you guys. Came and joined us this morning. 25 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,640 I know that today, maybe throughout the year, today's. 26 00:01:16,960 --> 00:01:20,120 For some people, you know, maybe it's a harder day to get 27 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,360 motivated to. To to go to church. 28 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:24,080 I mean, I'm a. I'm a sports. 29 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,520 Fan myself and so. You guys that are sports? 30 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,760 Fans, you know that. The sports world is is electric 31 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:32,160 today. You probably have. 32 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:33,720 Plans. Maybe you're going to go to a. 33 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,560 You know, a a, a sports pub or you're going to go home, make a 34 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,320 bunch of snacks, Tuck. In and and and and. 35 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,040 Prepare to watch. As you know the. 36 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,160 The US and Estonia take on each other in that. 37 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:50,600 Curling quarterfinal match that we've all been just. 38 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:55,400 Waiting for and. I I tell you what, I this is 39 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:56,800 like the 4th. Time I've gotten to preach on 40 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:58,880 Super Bowl Sunday. I always use that joke, it 41 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:01,120 always makes me laugh. And feel like I'm funny. 42 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,440 So thank you for for. Laughing. 43 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:06,720 Anyway, so this is the the last week that we're going to. 44 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,600 Spend on the Sermon on the Mount. 45 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,520 Now we started this back in July, so. 46 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:15,440 For seven months, we've been going methodically through the 47 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:19,120 greatest sermon ever preached by the greatest teacher that ever 48 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,320 lived. And one thing has become crystal 49 00:02:22,320 --> 00:02:26,520 clear in this study, the standard that God demands is 50 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:29,160 righteousness. That's something we've seen 51 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,320 throughout all of these months of this of of this Sermon on the 52 00:02:34,320 --> 00:02:36,800 Mount. Now if you weren't here for all 53 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:42,440 of it, Jesus said in chapter 5, he said, for I say to you that 54 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,760 unless your righteousness. Exceeds the. 55 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:49,400 Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means 56 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:52,280 enter the Kingdom of heaven and. And I'll tell you, I think some 57 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,920 of us as we. Read that as we learned that it 58 00:02:54,920 --> 00:03:00,960 seemed like a an impossibly cruel and and unfair standard 59 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,840 because what we also learned was that God views hatred in our 60 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:10,920 hearts equally to murder and he views our lusting after someone 61 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:17,160 the same as committing adultery. But then we learned that Jesus 62 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,320 also said the the reward in heaven was great, and said 63 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,200 blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for 64 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:28,920 they shall be filled. So we understand that the 65 00:03:28,920 --> 00:03:34,360 standard for heaven is perfection, which none of us can 66 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:40,160 attain, and yet true righteousness is available, but 67 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:45,840 can only come from Jesus. And then for the last few weeks, 68 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:48,720 Jesus has laid out some comparisons. 69 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:50,800 In in these last three or four weeks. 70 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:56,880 We saw so these comparisons of an easy path and a hard path we 71 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,960 a tree that bears good fruit and one that bears no fruit. 72 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,600 One that was people that that believe they know Jesus and 73 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:08,360 people that Jesus himself says get away from me. 74 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,680 I never knew you. So through the totality of the 75 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,600 Sermon on the Mount, we see that that Jesus is telling people to. 76 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:20,120 Live a life. Centered on God, a life that 77 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:26,200 that honors him because it's full of love and and grace and 78 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:30,440 wisdom and not hypocrisy or selfishness. 79 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,960 And so that's where we will end this Sermon on the Mount with, 80 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:39,480 with Jesus giving us a final comparison to. 81 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:44,840 Potential ways to build. That life on a solid foundation 82 00:04:44,840 --> 00:04:47,120 or a foundation of shifting sand. 83 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:52,400 But although although he compares them as two different 84 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:56,840 foundation options, both are facing the same situation. 85 00:04:56,880 --> 00:04:59,680 Powerful floods and and storms of. 86 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:03,360 Life Now Jesus is a masterful teacher. 87 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:08,120 He he brilliantly uses imagery that we can relate to and I 88 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:11,840 think this is one of the best. In fact, John was He was telling 89 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:14,200 me about a trip to India that he went on years ago. 90 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,320 Where they shared. This passage with the the. 91 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:21,000 Locals who could. Genuinely grasp the dynamic. 92 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,040 That they were teaching about. Because they. 93 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,600 Could. Truly relate to the imagery here 94 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:31,280 of wind and water changing the the structural dynamic of of 95 00:05:31,280 --> 00:05:35,200 buildings right this makes sense to people because societies have 96 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,160 have always spawned near water and it's crucial to life and. 97 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,840 Society a solid foundation. Right, a solid foundation must 98 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:45,720 be achieved. For anything built. 99 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,440 Upon it till to last and and so you know these people that 100 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,400 related to them they could relate to it because they knew 101 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:56,240 that it would be terribly unwise to put your effort and resources 102 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,640 toward building somewhere that would easily. 103 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,240 Collapse and so as a good. Teacher. 104 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,160 Jesus. Doesn't skip over something so. 105 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:06,880 Important. See we. 106 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:10,560 Can't ignore in these passages today. 107 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,280 What we can't ignore in these passages today is that. 108 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:18,800 Whatever kind of builder you. Are whatever kind of foundation 109 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,520 you build upon the storms and the. 110 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:26,240 Floods are coming. I worry. 111 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,400 I worry that often we. We talk so much about how 112 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,280 wonderful eternity with Jesus will be that we might forget to 113 00:06:35,280 --> 00:06:38,920 tell the the new people that we're sharing our faith with 114 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,160 that being a Christ follower does not insulate us. 115 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:48,560 From facing trouble in this. Life, in fact, as believers 116 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:51,760 were. Promised trouble right in John. 117 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:56,240 1633 Jesus says. In the world you will have 118 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,280 tribulation. Christians just like everyone 119 00:07:00,280 --> 00:07:01,400 else. Will face. 120 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:04,520 The storms in in life, the difference is. 121 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:08,160 How we are equipped to? Weather the storms based on the 122 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:10,880 foundation. That we have built. 123 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:17,120 See, we are the builders. We get to choose to be a builder 124 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,280 who? Concerns himself with a solid 125 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:24,760 foundation or a builder who ignores the issues and builds on 126 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:25,840 sand. And that's what we're going to 127 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:28,040 look at today. That's our our first point here 128 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:33,440 today is the builder. That obeys. 129 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:37,360 And so again, our our, the passage that we're in is Matthew 130 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:41,120 7, verses 24 through 25. This is well, this is the. 131 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:42,400 Passage. We're in for this point. 132 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:44,840 Goes on to 29 for our for today but. 133 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:48,960 It says everyone then who hears these words. 134 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,120 Of mine and does. Them will be like a wise man who 135 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:52,480 builds. His house on the rock. 136 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,600 And the rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and 137 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,480 beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been. 138 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:03,640 Founded on the rock. So when Jesus refers to in this 139 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:08,080 passage, these words of mine, he's specifically talking about 140 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:12,120 the totality of his of, of his Sermon on the Mount, all of 141 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:15,840 these things that we've been studying since Matthew 5, these 142 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:18,600 these principles for Kingdom living that we've been going 143 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:22,920 through. But then in in James 1/22 it 144 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:28,200 says but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving 145 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,000 yourselves, and that's referencing. 146 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:33,320 All of. God's Word, because all of it is 147 00:08:33,320 --> 00:08:36,240 immensely valuable. Now we've shared this passage 148 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,919 from the sage many times because we love God's Word and we and we 149 00:08:40,919 --> 00:08:44,840 love that how how useful it is. But here's what it says in 150 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,720 Second Timothy 3. 16 and 17, it says. 151 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,840 All scripture is breathed out by God. 152 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,800 And it's profitable for teaching, for reproof, for 153 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,400 correction, and for training in righteousness that the man of 154 00:08:57,400 --> 00:09:01,560 God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 155 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:03,840 So. All. 156 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:08,360 Of his clarifications on sin that we've looked at in. 157 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,080 In the the. The book of of Matthew. 158 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,320 And his specifically in the Sermon on the Mount, all of his 159 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,000 clarifications on sin, his feelings on. 160 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,280 Divorce How we should treat our neighbor. 161 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:25,440 How we should approach things like prayer and giving, All of 162 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:29,480 it is good and. Profitable, but he's telling. 163 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,800 Us that that these difficult, challenging things that he's 164 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,520 just preached. About are to be obeyed. 165 00:09:36,560 --> 00:09:40,320 By his disciples. Now often we might read through 166 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,360 a chapter and and then. Go on to the. 167 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:46,760 To the next one, but this this comment. 168 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,520 Here I hope will. Prompt us to be mindful of the 169 00:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,200 importance Jesus. Put on. 170 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:55,640 His message to us and and, and so he makes this this very 171 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,000 direct point in his first sentence. 172 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,440 Where he tells us. To to not only be hearers of the 173 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:07,720 word, but doers of it as well. So we cannot skip over the 174 00:10:07,720 --> 00:10:10,800 obedience. Factor in this right? 175 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:15,000 See, we have a tendency when we look at this, at this passage, I 176 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:19,800 think we have a tendency to focus on the foundation in the 177 00:10:19,800 --> 00:10:22,360 story which. Of course, that's good, right? 178 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:26,360 The foundation is great, but sometimes we we gloss over the 179 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:30,120 the the issues of obedience or rebelliousness. 180 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:34,400 Of the hearer. And back in chapter 6, we saw 181 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,840 Jesus make it plainly clear that he does not. 182 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:40,680 Want us to be hypocrites, people? 183 00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,680 Who who hear him and say that we believe and follow him but don't 184 00:10:44,680 --> 00:10:46,480 actually? Live it out in our. 185 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,840 Lives. He wants us to truly follow Him. 186 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:57,240 It's also plainly clear that we are unable to live perfectly and 187 00:10:57,240 --> 00:10:58,720 yet. Guys, we are. 188 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,840 Expected to strive to live. Righteous lives. 189 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,640 There's this this. This book, it's it's like a 190 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:09,600 we'll. Call it an instruction book 191 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:13,200 called the Didichy that was written in the in the late 1st 192 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,560 century, early 2nd century and it's believed to have been 193 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:19,000 written. By the apostles themselves, 194 00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,440 However, it's not scripture, right? 195 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,720 It it's not it's not the same as the Bible, though it is very 196 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:28,800 helpful for believers to to read, to negotiate how 197 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:31,600 Christians would conduct themselves. 198 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,440 This is This is what the apostles wrote about how to. 199 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:39,200 How to how to do these things that that they are teaching and 200 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:45,200 so a couple of excerpts. That we have from it here. 201 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,880 We a couple of excerpts that we have here. 202 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,560 Are in in Part 1 it says. There are two ways, one of life 203 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:55,600 and one of death. But the difference between the 204 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,080 two ways? Is great, and I believe that 205 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:01,160 great difference is at the. Heart of our. 206 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,800 Lesson here today. It goes on in part 4. 207 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:06,880 It says You shall hate all hypocrisy and everything which 208 00:12:06,880 --> 00:12:10,560 is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not in any way forsake the 209 00:12:10,560 --> 00:12:13,520 commandments of the Lord, but keep what you have received, 210 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,440 neither adding there to nor taking away therefrom and then 211 00:12:16,440 --> 00:12:17,600 in. Part 6 it says. 212 00:12:17,840 --> 00:12:22,080 See that no one causes you to err from this, from this way of 213 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,680 the teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. 214 00:12:25,160 --> 00:12:28,480 For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you 215 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,040 will be perfect. So we could see. 216 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:33,880 From the. From from what they wrote. 217 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,200 There, and from what we are looking at in scripture, there 218 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:40,960 is no room for us as. Believers to ignore or. 219 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:46,120 Or disregard the expectation. That we would be obedient. 220 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:51,440 To what Jesus tells us to do. In fact, disobedience has 221 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:57,560 significant consequences. So in our passage today, Jesus 222 00:12:57,560 --> 00:12:59,800 is saying. That when we. 223 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,440 Hear his words and. Obey them we are. 224 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:07,320 Wise in that we are like the man who builds his house. 225 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,840 Upon the rock. Well, what does that mean? 226 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,520 To build your house upon the rock? 227 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:20,680 I think it would be safe to say that a man's house in this 228 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:23,720 context could be considered. The the whole. 229 00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,200 Of his life, his family, his trade. 230 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,240 It's the centerpiece of his lived existence. 231 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:32,880 More importantly, it's the. Core of his. 232 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,040 Belief system What his principles? 233 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:41,760 Are what he holds to. The rock could be nothing else 234 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,520 than the firm foundation of repentance and obedience, the 235 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:50,120 submission of our will to Jesus Christ, and our faith in. 236 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:52,160 Him alone for the forgiveness of our. 237 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:58,280 Sins in Ephesians 2, verses 19 through 21. 238 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,120 It says so then you are no. Longer strangers and. 239 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:04,880 Aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the Saints and 240 00:14:04,880 --> 00:14:07,120 members of the household of God built. 241 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,920 On the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. 242 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:12,720 Christ. Jesus himself being the 243 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:16,160 cornerstone in whom the whole structure, being joined 244 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,800 together, grows into a holy temple. 245 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,080 In the Lord a cornerstone as. As you are probably aware. 246 00:14:23,080 --> 00:14:27,480 Is the first stone set in the construction of a of a masonry 247 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:30,320 foundation. It's the point everything else 248 00:14:30,320 --> 00:14:34,000 is is measured and positioned off from. 249 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:40,720 So what we're talking about is a man who orients his life on 250 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:45,360 Jesus and the teachings of the disciples and and Jesus says 251 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:51,960 that approach is wise because that life oriented in Jesus does 252 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,840 not fall when the storms come and beat on the House and and 253 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,560 blow violently against it. And when we. 254 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:03,320 Consider in the context. Of that verse that we. 255 00:15:03,640 --> 00:15:08,240 Read a few minutes ago from John 1633 that in this life. 256 00:15:08,240 --> 00:15:17,160 We will face tribulation, guys. We, we, we will face some. 257 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:19,240 Terrible hardships in life, we'll. 258 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:23,320 Face sickness. Terminal illness We're going to 259 00:15:23,480 --> 00:15:25,760 face death. Marital. 260 00:15:25,760 --> 00:15:29,040 Strife we're going to face. Job pressures and, you know, 261 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,640 money. Problems we're going to face 262 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:38,920 riots and Internet vitriol and. And just hate all and, and 263 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:40,760 things like that all the time, right? 264 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,920 And, and when we see the rest of the world facing these things, 265 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:49,440 we see them. Continue to break down and. 266 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:51,120 Things. Get worse. 267 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,040 We, we. We. 268 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:55,520 Always seem to be. Able to see a progressively 269 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,160 worse side of people no matter. How they, how bad they get, we 270 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:03,480 can see progressively worse sides of them and and people are 271 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:09,400 unsure of what to expect and they're full of fear and anxiety 272 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:14,920 and anger. But that shouldn't be the case. 273 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:19,080 For God's church, not when we have Jesus Christ as the 274 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:23,240 cornerstone. Of our belief system, here's 275 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:26,280 this this. Odd this Christian author Jean 276 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:30,920 Edward Beth. He says one of the greatest 277 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:35,280 paradoxes in Christian history is that the church is most pure 278 00:16:35,280 --> 00:16:38,720 in times of cultural hostility, when things are easy and good. 279 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,880 That is, when the church most often goes astray, when 280 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:45,480 Christianity seems identical with the culture, and even when 281 00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,640 the church seems to be enjoying its greatest earthly success, 282 00:16:48,640 --> 00:16:52,080 then it is weakest. Conversely, when the church 283 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,360 encounters hardship, persecution, and suffering, then 284 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:59,600 it is closest to its crucified Lord, then there are fewer 285 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:03,400 hypocrites and nominal believers among its members, and then the 286 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:07,160 faith of Christians burns most intensely. 287 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,319 The. Closer that we are as a body of 288 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:15,280 believers to the. Foundational cornerstone, the 289 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:23,400 more secure we are. Now we'll talk about why Jesus 290 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,560 is the foundation here in a few minutes, but before that, I want 291 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:27,560 to. Look at what? 292 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:29,960 Jesus says about those who hear his words. 293 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:34,440 And don't obey. That's our second point here 294 00:17:34,440 --> 00:17:37,440 today is the. Builder that ignores. 295 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:40,360 And and again continuing on in Matthew 7. 296 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,720 Now to verses 26 and 27. This is and everyone who hears 297 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,680 these words of mine and does not do them will be like a. 298 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:51,440 Foolish man who built his. House on the sand and the rain 299 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:54,480 fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against 300 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,760 the house and it. Fell and great. 301 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:02,760 Was the fall of it, Matthew Henry in his in in his 302 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:06,160 commentary, said some build their hopes upon. 303 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,840 Worldly prosperity. Others upon an outward 304 00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:16,040 profession of religion in this passage in Matthew 7 in 26. 305 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:20,240 The word foolish. In this verse is the. 306 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:26,400 Greek The Greek word morose, which is the root word for the 307 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:27,320 word. Moron. 308 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:30,920 But in this case it's it's it's. Closer to. 309 00:18:30,960 --> 00:18:38,520 Heedless or blockhead, as in lacking care and attention, See 310 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:45,040 building your hopes upon world prosperity, as Matthew Henry 311 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,200 said. Is is foolish in this manner 312 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:50,840 because it should be plainly obvious to mankind that we 313 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:55,400 cannot count on our social status to keep us from 314 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:59,920 experiencing heartache. Our fancy sports car doesn't 315 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:04,120 alleviate us of the the pain of seeing a a loved one struggle 316 00:19:04,120 --> 00:19:08,400 through addiction. Our job title or our lavish 317 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:13,280 lifestyle doesn't allow us to. Skip over family problems or. 318 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:16,560 The death of a loved one. And yet. 319 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:20,560 We see that kind of thought, that kind of thing all the time. 320 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:25,200 This idea that when we finally achieve a certain dollar amount 321 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,520 in our in our. Bank account or when we. 322 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:31,600 Get past a a. Particular number of. 323 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,920 Followers on social media, we get this new job. 324 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:38,760 Title or. Promotion or or job prospect 325 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:43,200 even that that somehow life gets all figured out and that and and 326 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,680 the the problems are much smaller because we could throw 327 00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:51,720 money at it or or something. 2009 Sports Illustrated article 328 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:56,720 said that 78% of NFL players face bankruptcy or financial 329 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:58,760 hardship within two years of retirement. 330 00:19:59,680 --> 00:20:03,280 And 60% of. NBA players face a similar. 331 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:06,600 Problem and I think that we can all. 332 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:11,360 See evidence that the status and fame of Hollywood doesn't have 333 00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:14,200 a. Fix to the storms of. 334 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:18,200 Life these things. This this. 335 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:23,880 World, this worldly prosperity always fails to fulfill the 336 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,040 actual. Needs people have when the 337 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,120 storms of of life Rage Against us. 338 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:34,680 Another commentary on this. On this passage that we're. 339 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:37,800 In that I was looking at this week made the point that the 340 00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,520 lack of care and attention. That this builder gave. 341 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,760 Means that he that he did not intentionally. 342 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:49,720 Choose to build on the. Shifting sand, but did so 343 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:54,680 because he was simply unconcerned about the value of 344 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:57,240 an educated decision. See, it's not that. 345 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:03,640 He's stupid this this builder. Isn't simply making the wrong 346 00:21:03,640 --> 00:21:08,400 choice, he is willfully neglecting to even consider that 347 00:21:08,400 --> 00:21:15,440 it matters at all. He hears about Jesus, and he 348 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,760 hears about. Heaven and and an afterlife and 349 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,920 he just kind of shrugs his his shoulders and is like, whatever. 350 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:30,120 I guess we'll figure that out. Someday, you know, for many. 351 00:21:30,120 --> 00:21:34,760 People today, they are so. Utterly unconcerned about the 352 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:37,560 moment after their death that they. 353 00:21:37,560 --> 00:21:42,400 Completely ignore the fact that that decision truly matters. 354 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:48,120 And I say from this pulpit all the time that the decision. 355 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:54,920 That you personally make about Jesus Christ and who he says He 356 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:59,040 is and what He. Did in his life the examples 357 00:21:59,040 --> 00:22:06,000 that he set the decision you make about him is the most. 358 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,840 Important decision that you will ever make. 359 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:15,360 It's I'm telling you guys, it's more important than than what 360 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:16,680 you're going to do with your life. 361 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:18,760 Think about this. We always ask our, you know, 362 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:20,440 little kids, what are you going to do when you grow up? 363 00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:26,880 You know, things like that. Or we we have a tendency to put 364 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:32,000 so much importance on on these trivial worldly things. 365 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,360 This is the most important. Thing it is more important than 366 00:22:34,360 --> 00:22:36,760 what you're going to do for the rest of your life, what what 367 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:39,000 career you're going to chase, what school you're going to go 368 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,320 to. It's more important than the 369 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:43,240 than the person that you're thinking about marrying. 370 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:45,920 It's more. Important about then, then what? 371 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:48,400 Interest rate you get on your. Loan or where you're going to 372 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:50,680 Where are you going to buy a house? 373 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:52,040 What neighborhood you're going to live in? 374 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:56,320 This is the single most. Important decision, any of us. 375 00:22:56,840 --> 00:23:02,880 Will ever make now for. Many I think they fall into. 376 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,120 The the. Category of agnosticism, which 377 00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:09,200 in the in the plainest of terms means that they don't know. 378 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:13,520 What? To think about God or or that 379 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:15,920 they don't believe that we can know. 380 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:22,960 About God and yet. Psalm 19 verse one says the 381 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,200 heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above. 382 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:29,480 Proclaims his handiwork guys you. 383 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:33,840 Can know and you must make a decision. 384 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:40,000 See this. This means that. 385 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,960 A person can simply look up at the stars or look at the things 386 00:23:43,960 --> 00:23:50,840 in nature and see evidence of God's glory, and that glory is 387 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:54,000 evidence of his existence and so. 388 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,960 If we could see that. God exists, then we can know 389 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:01,480 that an all powerful God would also want us to know him and to 390 00:24:01,480 --> 00:24:07,520 know about him. A similar passage to that one we 391 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:14,160 just read in in Psalm 19 is in Romans chapter one, verse 20. 392 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,960 And it says for his invisible attributes, namely his. 393 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:22,240 Eternal power and divine nature. Have been clearly perceived ever 394 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:25,880 since the creation of the world in the things that have been 395 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,480 made. So they are without excuse. 396 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:35,880 The they in that last sentence are are the people who ignore 397 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:40,400 the need to make this decision. The ones who say I don't, I 398 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:42,040 don't know that we can know. God or I just. 399 00:24:42,040 --> 00:24:46,400 Don't know what to believe. They're without an excuse you. 400 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,520 Have to make a decision about him. 401 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,120 So the evidence of Him is plain that we can see in this in this 402 00:24:53,120 --> 00:24:55,200 passage, the evidence of Him is plain. 403 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,960 But then it goes on to let us know in the in the next two 404 00:24:57,960 --> 00:25:01,640 verses that we have. A decision to make. 405 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,440 In verses 21 and 20. Two it says for although. 406 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:07,800 They knew God, they did not honor him as God. 407 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:11,840 Or give thanks to him. But they became futile in their 408 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,760 thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 409 00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:25,120 Claiming to be wise, they became fools that that passage. 410 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:29,040 There in in Romans it goes on and it says that they traded. 411 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:33,680 The glory of the immortal. God for the temporal things. 412 00:25:34,280 --> 00:25:38,560 Of the world. And what happens? 413 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,440 What happens? When you build. 414 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:47,960 Your house upon the sand, our passage says at the at the end 415 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:53,040 of it is said or of of that. About the guy who who who 416 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:58,600 ignores it, it says great. Was the fall of it of his house, 417 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:01,800 and in Luke 649 it says. But the one who? 418 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:06,120 Hears and does not do them is a lot is like a man who. 419 00:26:06,360 --> 00:26:08,560 Built a house. On the ground without a 420 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:13,200 foundation, when the streams broke against it, immediately 421 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,440 it. Fell, and the ruin of that house 422 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:19,160 was great. Placing our. 423 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:23,600 Our trust in vanity. You know, placing our trust in 424 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:30,840 finances and like prosperity and health, social status in in the 425 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:33,960 in the temporal things of culture in the world not only 426 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,600 fails guys, but. According to this it fails. 427 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:42,520 Big Proverbs 10 verse 25. I don't have it up on the on the 428 00:26:42,520 --> 00:26:45,960 screen it says when the whirlwind passes. 429 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:52,080 The wicked is no more. That's a there's a sense of 430 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:57,080 finality. There, who remembers the footage 431 00:26:57,120 --> 00:27:02,520 from Hurricane Katrina back in? In 2005, some. 432 00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,160 Of you guys, I'm sure you, I'm sure you do. 433 00:27:04,160 --> 00:27:06,120 Right, for those of you who who don't. 434 00:27:06,120 --> 00:27:10,360 Remember Hurricane Katrina? Was a a Category 5 hurricane 435 00:27:10,360 --> 00:27:18,720 with 175 mile per hour sustained winds and a storm surge of nine 436 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:20,640 meters. Of water. 437 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:26,200 Right, 9 meters of of water and that storm smacked directly into 438 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,880 New Orleans, LA which. Happens to be a city that's 439 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:31,600 built on the coast and and through the use of dikes. 440 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:35,560 And and levees. The city actually sits 6 feet 441 00:27:35,560 --> 00:27:38,640 below sea level, and so now we're. 442 00:27:38,640 --> 00:27:43,880 We're talking, we're talking like 11 meters of water on top 443 00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:49,200 of this city, 11 meters of water that's blowing at 175 miles an 444 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:52,880 hour. When the stream broke against 445 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,880 it, immediately it. Fell and the ruin. 446 00:27:55,880 --> 00:28:00,120 Of that. City was great, the ruin. 447 00:28:00,120 --> 00:28:03,840 Of that house was great, guys. That's the imagery that Jesus is 448 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:07,720 using. To warn us to choose wisely the 449 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,040 Foundation. That that we're going. 450 00:28:10,040 --> 00:28:13,760 To that, we're going to. To to make. 451 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:19,000 That's what we face when the storms of life come and and we 452 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:21,480 don't have our foundation in Jesus. 453 00:28:21,840 --> 00:28:24,120 Now, some of our storms might not. 454 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:28,400 Look like a category. Four or five hurricane with 30 455 00:28:28,400 --> 00:28:34,400 feet of storm surge, right? But some of them do you know? 456 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,280 2000 people, nearly 2000 people died in in Hurricane Katrina and 457 00:28:39,280 --> 00:28:43,320 some of those 2000 people that that died in that storm. 458 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,760 Had lived through. Other storms previously in their 459 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:55,000 life, but they weren't prepared. To withstand this storm 1st. 460 00:28:55,000 --> 00:29:03,760 Call of my law enforcement career was a juvenile suicide, a 461 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:08,600 young man who faced a storm that he didn't feel that he could 462 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:13,480 withstand my entire career was. Full of people facing. 463 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:18,160 Crises that didn't have a proper foundation to withstand the the. 464 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,120 Rain. And the, and the wind and the, 465 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:23,360 and the, the flood of life's storms and they were often 466 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,520 overwhelmed and, and many of you guys can relate either in your 467 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:30,840 own lives or in the lives. Of your loved. 468 00:29:30,840 --> 00:29:35,240 Ones our society is is. Full of people who've. 469 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:40,360 Chosen poorly in how to. Build their foundation. 470 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:44,240 As I pointed out the beginning of. 471 00:29:44,720 --> 00:29:48,560 Of of this today both. Of the builders in the story. 472 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:53,760 Faced the storms. The difference was in the 473 00:29:53,760 --> 00:29:57,960 foundation determined in their obedience in following Jesus. 474 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,240 Now a few minutes ago I said that I would talk about why 475 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:06,400 Jesus is the foundation so. So let's look at that for our 476 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:10,960 Third Point today. Jesus is the foundation because 477 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:15,040 He is the one. Who speaks with authority? 478 00:30:16,240 --> 00:30:20,000 We continue on in our. Last two verses of. 479 00:30:20,000 --> 00:30:23,200 Our of our passage today and and of the Sermon on the Mount. 480 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,880 It says. And when Jesus finished these 481 00:30:26,880 --> 00:30:29,640 sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for 482 00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:30,600 He was. Teaching them. 483 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:35,720 As one who had authority. And not as their scribes. 484 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:40,000 It says that the audience was astonished at his teaching 485 00:30:40,560 --> 00:30:43,600 because he taught as one with authority. 486 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:48,360 So what does that mean that Jesus and, and his message has 487 00:30:48,360 --> 00:30:52,760 authority? Well, you know, in my life as a 488 00:30:52,760 --> 00:30:57,280 as a pastor and as a boss, as a police officer and as a father. 489 00:30:57,280 --> 00:31:05,200 I've I've wielded. Authority when I, you know, have 490 00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:09,880 had to, you know, yell at my my kids to stop forcing each other 491 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:12,160 to smell their feet. They know I'm the dad, I'm the 492 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,440 boss, right. That you recognize my authority 493 00:31:14,640 --> 00:31:16,400 when I was a police officer and I'd show up to a. 494 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:19,920 A bar fight and I'd. Jump out and I'd, you know, yell 495 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:21,320 at everybody to stop. Fighting. 496 00:31:21,320 --> 00:31:25,320 They didn't always obey. But they, they, my authority was 497 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:26,000 clear. And it was. 498 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:30,560 Pretty much in your face. Margaret. 499 00:31:30,560 --> 00:31:33,920 Thatcher, who is a A. Former Prime Minister of 500 00:31:33,920 --> 00:31:38,120 Britain, she had this famous saying that said I love this. 501 00:31:38,120 --> 00:31:41,000 It said being in charge is like being a lady. 502 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:48,680 If you have to tell people you are, you aren't Jesus. 503 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:53,320 Doesn't need to tell anyone that he is God of the universe and 504 00:31:53,320 --> 00:31:56,680 worthy of submitting. To we can. 505 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:03,120 Know we can know about Jesus and his and his teachings because of 506 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,800 scripture. The entirety of the Bible is 507 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:09,440 about Jesus. The Old Testament predicts and 508 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:11,920 and set the stage for his arrival in the New Testament 509 00:32:12,160 --> 00:32:14,560 tells about his life and the fulfillment. 510 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:17,320 Of, of of. Prophecies through Him. 511 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:22,680 It's 66 love letters to mankind about God's plan for us for 512 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:28,120 about about our falling away from Him and into sin, about His 513 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:34,400 desire and His plan to reconcile with us and how we should 514 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:39,400 approach our relationship with Him and with our fellow man. 515 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:47,560 Whenever God's Word is presented as it truly is, with its 516 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:51,960 inherent power, it will astonish people and set itself. 517 00:32:52,040 --> 00:33:00,640 Apart from the mere opinions. Of man the gospel is a life 518 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:04,480 changing story unlike anything else here's something that 519 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:06,760 Charles Spurgeon said and I just. 520 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:08,480 Love this quote many of you guys. 521 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:12,240 Have read this before. He said the word of God is like 522 00:33:12,240 --> 00:33:14,880 a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. 523 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:18,120 All you have to do is let the lion loose. 524 00:33:18,120 --> 00:33:24,600 And the lion will defend itself, the Gospel of John says. 525 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:27,880 That the word became. Flesh and dwelt among us. 526 00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:31,160 Jesus is the word of. God and His authority is 527 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:36,040 established and evident in His life and message. 528 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:41,520 Jesus is the foundation that we should build upon because it is 529 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:46,880 only through His life, death, and resurrection that we even 530 00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:48,920 have any hope of withstanding the storm. 531 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:53,360 We. Obey Him when we repent and 532 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:57,280 believe that His death on the cross and His victory over sin 533 00:33:57,280 --> 00:33:59,920 and death in his resurrection. Broke. 534 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:08,000 Death's claim on us. So this audience of his was 535 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:13,960 astonished because they had sat and listened to religious 536 00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:17,760 leaders speak before, right? It it said he wasn't like the 537 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,960 scribes, The scribes and. Pharisees, as we can see. 538 00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:24,280 Throughout, the Gospels misunderstood much of what 539 00:34:24,639 --> 00:34:26,880 they'd read in the Old Testament. 540 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,320 They misunderstood the heart of God. 541 00:34:30,280 --> 00:34:34,520 And so, as they taught, their message carried no authority, 542 00:34:34,520 --> 00:34:40,600 and the people could often see that Jesus is. 543 00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:43,679 The authority, he was different. There are two authoritative 544 00:34:43,679 --> 00:34:50,040 statements made in this passage. About each builder for the one 545 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:53,639 obeying Jesus. Teaching is wise, and obeying 546 00:34:53,679 --> 00:34:58,560 Jesus teaching leads to eternal blessing for the other. 547 00:34:59,920 --> 00:35:04,840 Ignoring Jesus teaching is unwise, and ignoring Jesus 548 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:08,800 teaching teaching. Leads to destruction. 549 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:18,680 Here's another quote from Charles Spurgeon says if any 550 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:23,400 soul will be lost emphatically, it is he who has been for years 551 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,960 a hearer only a hearer where thousands of others have 552 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:32,960 believed unto eternal life over the cell of such a man, right? 553 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:35,920 He knew his duty, but he did it not. 554 00:35:37,640 --> 00:35:41,080 And that cell will be built in the very center of Gehenna. 555 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,800 It is the innermost prison of hell. 556 00:35:47,280 --> 00:35:53,840 Willful rejection of Christ ensures woeful rejection from 557 00:35:53,840 --> 00:36:04,560 Christ. So what then for us, Jesus 558 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:07,840 authority is readily. Apparent to us as well. 559 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:12,120 So what is the? Application for us in our lives 560 00:36:12,120 --> 00:36:17,680 today. Guys, it's the very same we. 561 00:36:17,680 --> 00:36:22,640 Can either choose to submit and obey him, or we can ignore what 562 00:36:22,640 --> 00:36:27,640 should be plainly. Obvious to us, remember. 563 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:33,080 The the wise and the foolish man were both engaged in precisely 564 00:36:33,360 --> 00:36:38,440 the the same. Job they had the same. 565 00:36:38,720 --> 00:36:42,360 Goal and and and to a considerable extent achieved the 566 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:45,120 same design both of them undertook. 567 00:36:45,440 --> 00:36:46,560 To build. Houses. 568 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:50,680 Both of them persevered in building. 569 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:53,880 Both of them finished. Their houses. 570 00:36:54,120 --> 00:36:57,880 The likeness between them is very considerable. 571 00:36:58,640 --> 00:37:01,520 The two houses likely look similar. 572 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:06,760 The difference, though, is their unseen foundation, right? 573 00:37:06,760 --> 00:37:10,240 What's what's in the heart for the wise builder? 574 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:15,920 It looks like submission and. Obedience, let me give you a 575 00:37:15,920 --> 00:37:17,640 just a couple of sort of clinical. 576 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:23,440 Definitions of that submission means internal, willing attitude 577 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:27,800 of surrendering one's will and honor, usually rooted in love, 578 00:37:27,800 --> 00:37:29,920 respect, and trust. We talked about this in Sunday 579 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,600 school just this morning. We had a great conversation 580 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:34,880 about it. The other definition of 581 00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:38,840 obedience is it's it's generally an external action of complying 582 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:43,120 out of obligation or fear. That fear in this situation is 583 00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:47,240 is a is a. A rightful respect and fear. 584 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:51,600 Of God and and what disobedience brings. 585 00:37:54,080 --> 00:37:57,000 It's both. Of these because we should. 586 00:37:57,360 --> 00:38:02,120 Want to submit willingly and we should know that we are. 587 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:10,160 Required to obey Jesus is the authority, but for the foolish 588 00:38:10,160 --> 00:38:13,080 builder, it's. Business as usual, ignoring the 589 00:38:13,080 --> 00:38:17,240 gathering clouds and the and the signs of the storm, settling for 590 00:38:17,240 --> 00:38:21,800 unfounded hope based on luck or chance while knowing that. 591 00:38:22,240 --> 00:38:31,360 That neither of those is real. When the storm comes, church, 592 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:36,720 withstand the storm because your foundation is already. 593 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:39,280 Built. On the rock, I think that's the 594 00:38:39,280 --> 00:38:44,520 concept that Paul. Really understood when he. 595 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:46,840 When he wrote in in Romans chapter. 596 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:47,920 Eight, he said. For I. 597 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:51,600 Consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth 598 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:56,800 comparing with the glory. That is to be revealed to us. 599 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:02,920 Sermon on the Mount came with some some. 600 00:39:02,920 --> 00:39:08,680 Tough topics as we faced the reality of of sin, right? 601 00:39:09,880 --> 00:39:14,360 I know that for for a lot of you, just like me, we sat here 602 00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:21,720 listening to to Jesus clarify what sin is and we had to nod 603 00:39:21,720 --> 00:39:25,040 our heads knowingly, right? Because we knew he was right. 604 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:30,480 We knew that we had committed atrocious sins against him when 605 00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:31,880 we sort of passed him off in our. 606 00:39:31,880 --> 00:39:35,320 Flesh as being something that. It wasn't such a big deal. 607 00:39:37,600 --> 00:39:39,320 He well, the last. Couple weeks we talked about 608 00:39:39,320 --> 00:39:42,480 false teachers and. False believers and those things 609 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:45,200 were a gut punch to us, that was. 610 00:39:45,200 --> 00:39:49,640 Hard to listen to and to and to apply in our life and to 611 00:39:49,640 --> 00:39:52,160 consider. That he could be talking about 612 00:39:52,160 --> 00:39:56,120 us. It's. 613 00:39:56,120 --> 00:39:59,280 Been tough because this foundation must. 614 00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:07,120 Be set properly once Jason the the the the perspective. 615 00:40:07,120 --> 00:40:09,440 Church planter in our in in Tremont. 616 00:40:09,600 --> 00:40:11,960 When we were sitting in our on our teaching meeting earlier 617 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:15,040 this week, we were talking about how tough these things were and 618 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:19,040 he referred to him as spiritual. Rebar and I thought, man, that 619 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:21,960 is that is good these these. Things are very hard. 620 00:40:21,960 --> 00:40:25,640 For us to to deal with, but they're important part. 621 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:31,120 Of our foundation they give it rigidity to withstand the storm 622 00:40:31,640 --> 00:40:33,080 and we. We benefit. 623 00:40:33,080 --> 00:40:35,320 Greatly from doing this. The proper. 624 00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:39,240 Way in desiring to follow Jesus example, he told us blessed are 625 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:41,800 those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. 626 00:40:42,120 --> 00:40:49,680 For they shall be filled. This means guys, this this means 627 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:53,680 that God himself is at at work in your heart. 628 00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:56,920 It means that our trials and grief and suffering in this 629 00:40:56,920 --> 00:41:01,040 life. Are not the full story the glory 630 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:04,080 of. God that He wants to share with 631 00:41:04,080 --> 00:41:06,680 us for eternity. Is the whole story. 632 00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:11,560 Our foundation for that, our hope, is built on nothing less 633 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:14,440 than Jesus, blood and. Righteousness will you guys pray 634 00:41:14,440 --> 00:41:23,760 with me Lord God I I again I stand in awe that. 635 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:26,720 I know that. All of us in our. 636 00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:30,720 Humanity have. Ignored plain truths from you. 637 00:41:32,600 --> 00:41:36,480 There are times in my own life for everybody here in this room 638 00:41:36,480 --> 00:41:39,560 today listening. There's times when we knew. 639 00:41:40,320 --> 00:41:42,520 The way to to. Conduct ourselves. 640 00:41:42,520 --> 00:41:47,600 We knew the choices to to make, and we knew that choosing a 641 00:41:47,600 --> 00:41:50,880 certain way would honor you. And yet in our flesh, in our 642 00:41:50,880 --> 00:41:56,720 sinfulness, we we knowingly and intentionally chose something 643 00:41:56,720 --> 00:41:58,440 selfish. We chose to go a different, 644 00:41:58,520 --> 00:42:01,120 different way. Lord, I'm thankful that you've 645 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:04,880 given us your, your, your word here that we can look at these 646 00:42:04,880 --> 00:42:09,320 contrasts and that you are, that you've told this, this, this 647 00:42:09,320 --> 00:42:11,960 information. This story to us in such a way 648 00:42:11,960 --> 00:42:14,160 that we. Can have understanding that we 649 00:42:14,440 --> 00:42:17,080 that that there are plain and simple truths that we can 650 00:42:17,080 --> 00:42:21,080 observe about you and that we can then go and learn more. 651 00:42:21,080 --> 00:42:23,640 About you from your word. What an amazing. 652 00:42:24,400 --> 00:42:28,240 Situation that we. Have all of that going. 653 00:42:28,240 --> 00:42:31,560 For us, Lord, after we've. Never earned any of it. 654 00:42:32,160 --> 00:42:37,440 Only by your goodness do you give us the ability to make. 655 00:42:37,440 --> 00:42:39,760 Those choices. And and give us that information 656 00:42:39,760 --> 00:42:42,680 that we can come to know you and know about your heart and the 657 00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:47,280 reason why that you are the way you are or help us to have that 658 00:42:47,480 --> 00:42:50,840 perspective as we understand how distant we are from you in our 659 00:42:50,840 --> 00:42:56,840 sin and wreck our hearts, Lord, wreck our our our the the 660 00:42:56,840 --> 00:43:00,840 foundation, the home that we've built on on nonsense on the 661 00:43:00,840 --> 00:43:04,760 things of the world. Lord, when those store if if it 662 00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:08,320 takes storms to come and crumble that so that we. 663 00:43:08,560 --> 00:43:10,880 We. We rebuild on the foundation of 664 00:43:11,040 --> 00:43:17,480 of you then then by all means, Lord, send the storms because if 665 00:43:17,480 --> 00:43:20,600 it glorifies you and in the process. 666 00:43:21,240 --> 00:43:23,680 We are. Redeemed in it because we come 667 00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:24,920 to know you and. Put our full. 668 00:43:24,920 --> 00:43:27,680 Faith in you, Lord, and then it is for your. 669 00:43:27,680 --> 00:43:29,360 Glory, and for our good and for that. 670 00:43:29,360 --> 00:43:32,880 We are thankful and so we give this day to you, Lord, in the 671 00:43:32,880 --> 00:43:35,160 name of your precious Son Jesus, Amen. 672 00:43:36,800 --> 00:43:38,520 Amen. Would you stand and sing with 673 00:43:38,520 --> 00:43:40,240 us? As we sing of. 674 00:43:40,240 --> 00:43:41,880 Christ the solid rock.