1 00:00:00,900 --> 00:00:10,700 Holy Father. the words that we have proclaimed together and the 2 00:00:10,700 --> 00:00:15,500 words that we have listened to and received Saved the word 3 00:00:15,500 --> 00:00:19,200 Jesus and the Holy Spirit, who illuminates, those words, 4 00:00:19,900 --> 00:00:23,800 father, they're in our midst. You've given us these means of 5 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:28,700 Grace. Our heart beats harder and 6 00:00:28,700 --> 00:00:34,000 faster, as we listen to that Anthem as we reflect upon the 7 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,200 truth of that love. So amazing. 8 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:43,500 So Divine of Love Like No Other a love that we as people would 9 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:49,400 never give and could never give you gave us your savior, Our 10 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:55,200 Savior Jesus, your son. He did everything that was 11 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:59,000 necessary. Fulfilling all that was 12 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,000 required, that all who would trust in him will have eternal 13 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,600 life and we have gathered as your people today. 14 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,400 Jesus, we've gathered to bring you praise, we are seeking to 15 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,800 build our life on you. The true foundation. 16 00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:23,300 Father, we know the temptation. To build on something else on 17 00:01:23,300 --> 00:01:27,400 someone else. So today, we pray, holy spirit 18 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,600 that you would make it clear for all who are here, all who are 19 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:35,200 listening or watching watching even at a later date, this 20 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,800 service. That all who come all who listen 21 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:45,100 could leave this day knowing where they stand with you. and 22 00:01:45,100 --> 00:01:49,400 what that means and why that matters now and for all 23 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:54,000 eternity, The Holy Spirit. Do what only you can do. 24 00:01:54,900 --> 00:01:57,700 Change each of us. We pray in. 25 00:01:57,700 --> 00:02:00,400 Christ's holy name. Amen. 26 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:04,800 Please stand for the reading of God's word. 27 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:11,200 We are coming to the final words that Jesus preached in his 28 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:17,700 Sermon on the Mount. And as a preacher, we along with 29 00:02:17,700 --> 00:02:21,300 Paul been in this series for over a year. 30 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,800 And I don't know how many years the Lord will keep me on Earth 31 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:29,100 and how many years he will Keep Me In a Pulpit, but I don't know 32 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:31,700 if I'll ever have the privilege of preaching. 33 00:02:31,700 --> 00:02:35,200 The Sermon on the Mount again, this series, maybe, maybe not, I 34 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,500 don't know. So to come to this place where 35 00:02:38,500 --> 00:02:41,600 this is the last hour we're going to look at this, passage 36 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:50,000 is pretty sweet and tender. Jesus spoke these words over a 37 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:53,700 year ago we shared with you, the very first beatitude and we've 38 00:02:53,700 --> 00:02:58,300 walked slowly through it. The way Jesus Christ sends this 39 00:02:58,300 --> 00:03:03,800 sermon is profound, he is making it very clear to those who were 40 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,900 listening then and to those who are listening today, even in 41 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:14,500 this very Sanctuary that you are either in Christ and eternally 42 00:03:14,500 --> 00:03:20,800 secure or you are not in Christ and not eternally secure. 43 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:27,000 There is no hybrid. There is no mix Jesus wants 44 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,700 there to be no confusion. So he gives us these final words 45 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:34,000 that are so powerful in the image. 46 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,000 So great. So listen as I read and then 47 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:45,000 preach verse 24 of Matthew 7, everyone then who hears these 48 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,800 words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his 49 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:54,600 house on the rock, the rain fell and the floods came, and the 50 00:03:54,608 --> 00:03:58,900 winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall 51 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:03,000 because It had been founded on the Rock and everyone who hears 52 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,800 these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish 53 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:10,400 man who built his house on the sand and the rain fell and the 54 00:04:10,408 --> 00:04:14,300 floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. 55 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,700 And it fell and great was the fall of it. 56 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,500 When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were 57 00:04:22,500 --> 00:04:27,800 astonished at his teaching for he was teaching them as one who 58 00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:31,200 had Authority. And not as their scribes. 59 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:36,400 This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God, please be 60 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:43,400 seated. Is Jesus moves towards the end 61 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:45,600 of his sermon recorded in Matthew 5, 6. 62 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:47,500 And 7. It's not a very long sermon. 63 00:04:48,100 --> 00:04:51,000 He gives us several. Chronic contrast. 64 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,600 They begin earlier in chapter 7. When he says there is, there are 65 00:04:55,608 --> 00:04:59,700 two gates and these two gates lead to two different roads. 66 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,800 There is a narrow gate. That gives entrance to a narrow 67 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:09,000 road that leads to life. That is life now and life for 68 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:14,000 eternity and there is a wide gate that leads to a wide road. 69 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,600 That leads to destruction destruction now and then 70 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:22,100 ultimately in eternity. He then goes on to speak of the 71 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:26,300 wise or true prophet, and the false prophet, and the good 72 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:30,100 tree, and the bad tree and then where we were last week, he 73 00:05:30,100 --> 00:05:33,100 speaks of the one who gives a fuck. 74 00:05:33,100 --> 00:05:37,300 False Proclamation. Lord Lord. 75 00:05:38,700 --> 00:05:40,300 But it's false. They've not ultimately 76 00:05:40,300 --> 00:05:42,000 surrendered their life to Christ. 77 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:46,700 And Jesus tells us he will say to them on that day of judgment 78 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,900 away from me. I never knew you. 79 00:05:50,700 --> 00:05:54,300 That's a frightening Passage. I preached it last week, I 80 00:05:54,308 --> 00:05:58,300 encourage you to listen. and then he comes to this place 81 00:05:58,300 --> 00:06:03,100 where he says now, there are two builders These contrasts that 82 00:06:03,100 --> 00:06:06,000 Jesus is making a really important because they have to 83 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,000 do with judgment. They have to do with eternity 84 00:06:08,700 --> 00:06:12,800 and living in the culture. The Bible Belt, we have a grave 85 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:16,000 Temptation and that is to have false assurance. 86 00:06:17,300 --> 00:06:20,700 False Assurance looks so much, like, the real thing that many 87 00:06:20,700 --> 00:06:24,600 people are deceived at, Jesus was protecting against this then 88 00:06:24,900 --> 00:06:28,300 and the same word protects us against it now. 89 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,400 And one thing that we have to understand is that these two 90 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:36,200 pictures, the wide Road, the narrow road, the true Prophet, 91 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,200 the false prophet the good trees, a bad tree, the one who's 92 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:42,600 building on the Rock and the one is building on the, on the sand. 93 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,300 These two pictures represent only two types. 94 00:06:46,700 --> 00:06:52,700 You You are either in Christ or you are not in Christ. 95 00:06:53,100 --> 00:06:55,900 There is no hybrid and where we live. 96 00:06:55,900 --> 00:06:58,400 And the Buckle of the Bible Belt, where there's so much 97 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:02,000 cultured cultural Christianity or nominal Christianity, where 98 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,400 people might say the right thing, even make a profession of 99 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:07,100 Faith but never truly surrender to Christ. 100 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:09,200 These words are important. Here's one example. 101 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,400 Many people tend to think that the wide Road and the narrow 102 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,900 road are parallel paths, I can be in the narrow road. 103 00:07:17,100 --> 00:07:21,800 Sunday or whenever my weekly Bible study meets but the rest 104 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,500 of the week I'm in the wide Road and I'm just kind of walking 105 00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:28,300 this path. One foot in the narrow road, one 106 00:07:28,300 --> 00:07:30,400 foot and the wide Road, they go side by side. 107 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,600 So it's possible. That is a lie. 108 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,400 These roads are not parallel roads. 109 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:38,100 They're not parallel paths, the wide road. 110 00:07:38,100 --> 00:07:40,200 Goes that direction and the narrow road. 111 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,100 Goes that direction. Try walking both. 112 00:07:43,300 --> 00:07:46,400 You can't do it. I'm not trying to be silly. 113 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:52,400 It's Impossible, you are either on the narrow road and you're 114 00:07:52,400 --> 00:07:57,900 moving in Christ towards eternal life or you are on the wide 115 00:07:57,900 --> 00:08:02,000 Road, leading towards destruction and ultimately 116 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,500 Eternal destruction. If you never turn. 117 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:11,000 There's not a hybrid. There is not a I can do both, 118 00:08:11,700 --> 00:08:14,900 that's one of the great deceptions of Satan particular 119 00:08:14,900 --> 00:08:19,600 in a culture like this. Last Sunday. 120 00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:21,600 I know many of you were gone on spring break. 121 00:08:22,500 --> 00:08:26,600 I read something written by Arthur W pink, want to read it 122 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:31,700 again because it's so powerful. And describing his perspective 123 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:35,200 as a theologian is what he was really thinking deeply about 124 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,799 culture and the word of God in the midst of culture. 125 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:43,100 He said this never were there. So many millions of nominal 126 00:08:43,100 --> 00:08:46,300 Christians on Earth and nominal means non-believer. 127 00:08:46,300 --> 00:08:49,000 Ultimately, it means cold syrup. We might say. 128 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:52,600 Yeah, I am this but it's not a True Believer. 129 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,400 It's the ones who would say Lord Lord. 130 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,200 And Jesus say you never surrendered your life to me. 131 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,700 I never knew you never were there. 132 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:03,600 So many millions of nominal Christians on Earth as there are 133 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:07,400 today and never was there. Such a small percentage of real 134 00:09:07,400 --> 00:09:10,200 ones. We seriously doubt, whether 135 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,600 there has ever been a time in the history of this Christian 136 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,700 error. When there were such multitudes 137 00:09:16,700 --> 00:09:22,500 of deceived Souls, Within the churches who verily believe that 138 00:09:22,500 --> 00:09:25,800 all is well with their souls. When in fact, the wrath of God 139 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:30,900 abideth on them and then he added this and we know of no 140 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:36,600 single thing better calculated to undeceive them than a fool 141 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:41,500 and faithful exposition of these closing verses of our Lord's, 142 00:09:41,500 --> 00:09:45,200 Sermon on the Mount, And he's right. 143 00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:49,500 I was three years old, when he wrote that. 144 00:09:50,500 --> 00:09:55,000 It Was Written in 1969, have things gotten better. 145 00:09:56,600 --> 00:10:00,600 Have people really taken Jesus more seriously, have they really 146 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:03,300 surrendered all of who they are to the one who really is the 147 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:07,400 Lord. Those who follow Jesus to that 148 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:10,100 mountain side, who were listening to that day, were 149 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:14,500 listening audibly to the voice of God. 150 00:10:15,300 --> 00:10:19,500 They were listening audibly as their eyes set sight on the 151 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:21,600 Living. God, who is the word? 152 00:10:23,200 --> 00:10:27,200 And even at the end of that sermon, Jesus gives these very 153 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,800 profound illustrations. And he's the one who says, many 154 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:36,000 of you will say, Lord, Lord. And I will say, I never knew you 155 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:40,900 Jesus doesn't want anyone to be deceived. 156 00:10:40,900 --> 00:10:48,800 He doesn't want anyone to know. Or think that they are in him 157 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:51,600 when they're really not. And so, he gives us these 158 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,800 incredible illustrations and he ends with us 12. 159 00:10:56,000 --> 00:11:03,200 Builders two houses, two foundations two, radically 160 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:10,400 different responses What I want to do this morning at first is 161 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,900 focus on the similarities between the two. 162 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:19,100 They're easy to see but also very easy to miss. 163 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:23,600 The first similarity is this. They're both building houses now 164 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,200 because of the world we live in and the kind of houses that are 165 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:28,700 all around us, you might be building your own, maybe you've 166 00:11:28,700 --> 00:11:30,400 built your own, maybe have a dream house. 167 00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:32,600 Think about how they're listening to this. 168 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,300 These are simple homes that are coming to their imagination. 169 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,600 Even if those who are present have money, they would never 170 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:42,600 build much more than a two-story, very functional 171 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:46,000 house. It was not ornate unless you 172 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,400 were royalty. It was simply to meet the needs 173 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:52,900 that you have Add provision, so, Jesus closes illustration by 174 00:11:52,900 --> 00:11:56,600 saying there are two Builders and their building to house, has 175 00:11:56,900 --> 00:12:00,200 picture of these houses. As being very, very similar to 176 00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,300 one another. In the minds of those listening, 177 00:12:03,900 --> 00:12:07,000 these two, Builders building, two houses have this in common, 178 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:13,000 they heard the very same thing verse 24. 179 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,900 Jesus says this, everyone then who hears these words of mine 180 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:19,800 and does them will be like a wise, man. 181 00:12:20,100 --> 00:12:24,200 Who built his house on the rock. Now, look with me at verse 26 182 00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:28,300 and everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do 183 00:12:28,300 --> 00:12:31,300 them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 184 00:12:31,500 --> 00:12:36,800 These two Builders heard the same words from the same mouth 185 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:40,200 from the same, man. When Jesus says these words, 186 00:12:40,300 --> 00:12:44,700 he's talking about the words of his sermon, that began with the 187 00:12:44,700 --> 00:12:48,200 Beatitudes blessed are the poor in spirit. 188 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:49,900 For theirs is the kingdom of God. 189 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,200 God. These are the words, Jesus is 190 00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:55,000 talking about. So the builders that you 191 00:12:55,008 --> 00:13:00,900 Builders building to house has heard the same message, second, 192 00:13:00,900 --> 00:13:05,400 or thirdly, the two, Builders building, two houses, having 193 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:11,400 listened to the same message are now going to experience the same 194 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:13,700 realities. They're going to experience 195 00:13:13,700 --> 00:13:16,800 storms, there is going to be rain. 196 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:20,400 There is going to be flooding, there's going to be winds, look 197 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,300 with me at verse 25. Five of the wise Builder and the 198 00:13:24,300 --> 00:13:28,700 rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on 199 00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:32,900 that house. And then in verse 27, and the 200 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:37,500 rain fell and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat 201 00:13:37,500 --> 00:13:43,200 against that house, these Builders building to house has 202 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,000 heard the same words from the same man. 203 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:54,100 And now have experienced, or will experience the storms last 204 00:13:54,100 --> 00:13:56,800 thing. They have in common, they both 205 00:13:56,900 --> 00:14:01,600 have built on foundations, the foundations are mentioned. 206 00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:06,400 And as the foundations are mentioned, the similarities end 207 00:14:07,900 --> 00:14:10,200 The differences in the foundations are described by 208 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:11,900 Jesus. Look with me at verse 24. 209 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:17,100 Again, everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will 210 00:14:17,100 --> 00:14:21,400 be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 211 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:27,100 And everyone. Verse 26, who hears these words 212 00:14:27,100 --> 00:14:32,800 of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who 213 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:39,000 built his house on the sand. So above The line. 214 00:14:40,300 --> 00:14:46,900 Above-ground these two homes. Look exactly the same. 215 00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:53,800 And that's the danger in the church in churches. 216 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:58,300 There are people who look exactly the same above the 217 00:14:58,300 --> 00:15:02,000 ground, as others. Who are not true. 218 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:08,100 Believers, that's the warning. For when you look underneath, 219 00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:11,500 when you begin to examine the foundation, you begin to see the 220 00:15:11,500 --> 00:15:15,700 truth. And the truth is some built on 221 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:21,600 the Rock notice. It says the rock not Iraq Twice, 222 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,300 The Rock, that's referring to Christ himself. 223 00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:29,700 And the words that he proclaimed, The other built on 224 00:15:29,700 --> 00:15:34,000 sand. So when the reality of those 225 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:37,400 storms came, do you experience storms? 226 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:43,400 Not just physical rain, physical Rivers, physical wins. 227 00:15:44,700 --> 00:15:48,400 Emotional health, relational. Mm. 228 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:51,800 Oh, you know, psycho all of it, we experienced so many things 229 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:55,700 that come against us, when those storms the world, The Flash, the 230 00:15:55,700 --> 00:16:01,700 devil came against those two structures, those two houses one 231 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:09,300 stood, And one did not. You are one of these two 232 00:16:09,300 --> 00:16:12,100 Builders. There is no hybrid. 233 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:20,900 The foundation, Jesus mentions here is himself, it is the rock. 234 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:24,200 The application of that Foundation, is that those who 235 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:28,100 hear, and they both heard the same thing, these words the one 236 00:16:28,100 --> 00:16:33,100 who does them in other words obeys, what he's hearing is the 237 00:16:33,100 --> 00:16:36,000 one who builds on the Rock in the rock. 238 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:38,800 This is the one who says in order for this house to 239 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,900 withstand all that can come against it. 240 00:16:41,000 --> 00:16:43,800 I know I must build. On the Rock. 241 00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,800 I must dig down deep. I must go to the place where 242 00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:49,900 nobody else will see it and make sure it's strong. 243 00:16:51,500 --> 00:16:55,800 In the word of God that I heard. That's what I'm going to build. 244 00:16:55,800 --> 00:16:59,600 That's who I'm going to build on the foolish, man. 245 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,600 He heard the same things. But he did not obey. 246 00:17:04,900 --> 00:17:08,200 He simply said, I'm not digging to the Bedrock. 247 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:10,700 I'm going to do it the way I want to do it. 248 00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:18,599 And that includes many people. in a book titled making all 249 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:24,500 things new, the late Henry now on talked about living an absurd 250 00:17:24,500 --> 00:17:30,600 wife, and he connected it to being deaf and to listening and 251 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:35,700 obedience, listen to this being deaf to God's word, Our Lives 252 00:17:35,700 --> 00:17:42,200 become absurd, in the word absurd, we find the Latin word 253 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:48,000 sir, deuce, That word means death. 254 00:17:49,500 --> 00:17:56,100 A spiritual life requires, learning and listening to God's 255 00:17:56,100 --> 00:18:02,900 word when we learn to listen, truly, listen not just here when 256 00:18:02,900 --> 00:18:07,300 we learn to listen, Our Lives become obedient lives. 257 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:13,600 The word obedient comes from the Latin word of DeRay. audible 258 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:20,000 hearing the Latin word ID array, which means listening when we 259 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:26,500 listen Truly listen. By God's grace, we obey. 260 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:31,900 And when we do our lives, move from the Absurd. 261 00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:38,400 To the obedient. From the foolish. 262 00:18:39,700 --> 00:18:44,100 To the fruitful. Rowdy in his prayer. 263 00:18:44,100 --> 00:18:50,200 Mentioned Syria and turkey. It's amazing how quickly we can 264 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:55,600 move on. From a story, with thousands 265 00:18:55,600 --> 00:19:03,700 upon thousands have died. It's heartbreaking. to deceive 266 00:19:03,700 --> 00:19:07,200 those images and know that the death count continues to climb 267 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:15,800 and will In 1994, on January 17th, our country experienced at 268 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,200 that point. It's most expensive natural 269 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:24,000 disaster. It was an earthquake called the 270 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:27,000 Northridge quake in Los Angeles County. 271 00:19:27,900 --> 00:19:30,300 Most people, when I say that immediately go to the San 272 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:33,600 Francisco earthquake which took place in the fall during the 273 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:35,500 World Series. It's not the one I'm talking 274 00:19:35,500 --> 00:19:39,600 about. This one happened at 4:31 a.m. 275 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:47,000 on Martin Luther King jr. Holiday January, 17th, 94. 57 276 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:52,300 people died. Right now, you're thinking only 277 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:57,600 57 people. I get that but 57 people died. 278 00:19:58,900 --> 00:20:03,200 they said, if it had not been a federal holiday, And if it had 279 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:08,100 not been at 4:30 in the morning, they estimated thousands, maybe 280 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:13,600 even Beyond 10,000 people would have died in this country in 281 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,900 that earthquake and the reason was because of all the 282 00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:19,900 structures that collapsed maybe you remember it. 283 00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:23,400 Now the freeways that collapse bridges, that collapsed. 284 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:29,400 I was there. My wife and I had gone with my 285 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,600 mother to visit my sister and her husband, and my nephew 286 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,300 Cameron. I've never been in an 287 00:20:35,300 --> 00:20:38,400 earthquake. The Sunday before. 288 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:40,800 I wish I could tell you. I was in church. 289 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:46,100 I was not. I was enjoying a la, the 290 00:20:46,100 --> 00:20:49,400 sunshine. The weather in January, I was 291 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,500 literally wearing shorts and running shoes. 292 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:56,300 Not even a shirt, I know that's gross running. 293 00:20:57,700 --> 00:21:01,600 Overwhelmed by the beauty of this place even thinking, maybe 294 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:10,400 God would call us here for 31 the earthquake hit and lasted 32 295 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:14,800 to 33 seconds and 32 to 33 seconds. 296 00:21:14,800 --> 00:21:17,900 The most expensive natural disaster that took 57 lives 297 00:21:18,200 --> 00:21:21,600 happen when it hit. I had no idea what was going on. 298 00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:25,700 My wife had lived in California and Palm Springs for a while, 299 00:21:25,700 --> 00:21:29,500 she was aware of earthquakes. She said, it's an earthquake I 300 00:21:29,500 --> 00:21:32,800 rolled over on top of her and a ceiling fan. 301 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:34,600 These ceiling fan fell on my back. 302 00:21:35,100 --> 00:21:39,000 It was violent and then it was over until the aftershocks. 303 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:44,300 It was unbelievable. How violent it was, as soon as 304 00:21:44,300 --> 00:21:46,600 it ended. All you heard were animals 305 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:48,500 barking. Dogs barking? 306 00:21:49,100 --> 00:21:52,500 Car alarms house alarms going off and explosions? 307 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:54,400 I mean, you could hear them all over. 308 00:21:54,800 --> 00:22:01,800 There were no lights. 57 people died and it could have been a 309 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:07,500 lot worse. But of the 57 who died 16 died 310 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:12,100 in one location, the Northridge Meadow Apartments. 311 00:22:12,900 --> 00:22:16,300 And the reason those people died there was because the fourth 312 00:22:16,300 --> 00:22:19,900 floor, became the third floor, became the second and flattened. 313 00:22:19,900 --> 00:22:24,800 The first in this apartment complex, these apartments had 314 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,100 been built according to code, that's called earthquake. 315 00:22:28,300 --> 00:22:32,400 A proof Engineers have designed buildings. 316 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:37,200 That can withstand pretty substantial earthquakes. 317 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,800 In this case, the buildings that surrounded that were part of 318 00:22:41,808 --> 00:22:46,300 this complex, they survived, but this one unit did not. 319 00:22:47,100 --> 00:22:49,800 And as the years would follow the investigators, would try to 320 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:54,000 understand why and this is what happened, human are 321 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,600 intentionally or unintentionally, I don't know. 322 00:22:59,700 --> 00:23:03,500 The blueprints. What was prescribed? 323 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:06,900 What have been used to build all of these buildings? 324 00:23:06,900 --> 00:23:11,100 And those that stood, this earthquake did that in this one 325 00:23:11,100 --> 00:23:14,300 section? They did not they had the same 326 00:23:14,300 --> 00:23:18,700 blueprints, they read the same blueprints, they heard the same 327 00:23:18,700 --> 00:23:23,600 blueprints, but someone decided to make a compromise or simply 328 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:26,400 did it out of air. Whatever the case, when the 329 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:30,000 earthquake hit, when that storm came that That building 330 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:38,600 collapsed in 16 people died. Knowing what you're supposed to 331 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:44,500 do. And not doing it is absurd. 332 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:50,900 Knowing what you can do and what you can prevent and not doing as 333 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:56,100 foolish. It's building on a Sandy 334 00:23:56,100 --> 00:24:00,400 Foundation. And what Jesus Is Telling those 335 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:06,200 who are listening then and now is that there is one rock and 336 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:11,500 there's one Foundation. There is not a hybrid, there's 337 00:24:11,500 --> 00:24:17,800 not more than to you or either a person in Christ, building your 338 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:21,800 life on the Rock, which means you by his grace and for his 339 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:29,200 glory are seeking to obey his words, his sermon him who is the 340 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:35,200 word or you are not doing that, you've heard it if you're here. 341 00:24:37,700 --> 00:24:42,100 You've heard it. And if you decide to reject it, 342 00:24:42,100 --> 00:24:47,500 you're building on so oil that is Sandy that will not withstand 343 00:24:47,500 --> 00:24:51,900 the storm that you have already encountered and will ultimately 344 00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:56,400 encounter. Ultimately encounter meaning 345 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:02,800 this, that in Antiquity, when an illustration was used for storm, 346 00:25:03,300 --> 00:25:08,100 it often was connected to the idea of judgment, the ultimate 347 00:25:08,100 --> 00:25:12,500 judgment, the day of judgment. That's what Jesus is talking 348 00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:17,300 about. On that day, which we all will 349 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:20,300 face. There are those who will be in 350 00:25:20,300 --> 00:25:25,500 Christ and there are those who won't be in Christ today. 351 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:33,500 March 19th 2023, whether you're here or watching and listening 352 00:25:33,500 --> 00:25:35,700 online or listening at another date. 353 00:25:36,500 --> 00:25:42,300 You, as a human being created by God can have the assurance that 354 00:25:42,300 --> 00:25:46,300 you are building your life. Life on the Rock Christ, Jesus. 355 00:25:47,500 --> 00:25:49,800 If you are, I'm going to repeat last week. 356 00:25:49,800 --> 00:25:55,600 Now, it will be because you have made a true profession in Jesus. 357 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:59,600 You have rested and received him alone for salvation. 358 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:05,000 Secondly, your life is a life that has the presence of fruit 359 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:10,100 in it, what that means is, you are taking Jesus at his word and 360 00:26:10,100 --> 00:26:14,000 you're taking him, seriously, it does not mean Perfection, you 361 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,900 can't be perfect, but you have a desire that He's given you as a 362 00:26:17,908 --> 00:26:21,700 new person and that desire that he's given you as a new person. 363 00:26:21,700 --> 00:26:26,000 As you saying, I hunger and thirst for righteousness in the 364 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:27,900 last hour. A young man came up to me at the 365 00:26:27,900 --> 00:26:31,000 end of the service and he said, can you pray for me? 366 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:34,600 I said, yes. He said we had spring break, 367 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,800 West week, I slipped. I sin. 368 00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:41,400 I did what I said I wasn't going to do. 369 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,600 I feel sick, I feel sad. I am scared that. 370 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:49,500 I'm not truly a believer. Have you professed faith in 371 00:26:49,500 --> 00:26:50,900 Christ before? Yes. 372 00:26:52,600 --> 00:26:54,800 You wouldn't be here talking to me. 373 00:26:55,700 --> 00:26:58,900 I don't think if your faith isn't real. 374 00:27:00,100 --> 00:27:02,100 Friends. Do you have that kind of 375 00:27:02,100 --> 00:27:04,500 Courage? Do you have that kind of 376 00:27:04,500 --> 00:27:07,400 assurance? Do you know that? 377 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:13,700 You know that, you know, He wanted to know that it was a 378 00:27:13,708 --> 00:27:18,700 delight to pray over him. To encourage him to resist to 379 00:27:18,700 --> 00:27:21,800 stand strong, to continue to turn away. 380 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,500 Not only now, but the rest of his life until heaven. 381 00:27:27,300 --> 00:27:30,000 True Believers profess faith in Jesus. 382 00:27:30,500 --> 00:27:34,100 They have the presence of fruitfulness in her life, 383 00:27:34,100 --> 00:27:37,300 according to God's word and they persevere. 384 00:27:38,100 --> 00:27:44,600 Jesus shows us that if you are building your life on Christ, 385 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:50,000 the foundation, the true Rock, no matter what storm you face, 386 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:55,900 storms of Doubt, storms of depression, storms of anxiety 387 00:27:55,900 --> 00:27:58,800 story. Terms of relational Strife, 388 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:03,000 losing a job losing, a loved one loneliness. 389 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:11,200 Whatever it is in Christ. You will stand because he is 390 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:17,400 your foundation. Ultimately, you will stand the 391 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:20,700 day of judgment and be with him forever. 392 00:28:22,300 --> 00:28:26,100 Those who are not in Christ, that is not your promise. 393 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:33,000 Jesus is very last words were this. just like he said about 394 00:28:33,100 --> 00:28:36,100 the foolish man, the wise man, he said this about the foolish, 395 00:28:36,500 --> 00:28:43,900 the rain fell, The floods came the winds blew and beat against 396 00:28:43,900 --> 00:28:46,900 that house. And it fell. 397 00:28:48,200 --> 00:28:51,900 And great was the fall of it. I actually prefer the 398 00:28:51,900 --> 00:28:57,400 translation that says and it crashed and great was the crash. 399 00:28:58,700 --> 00:29:05,100 Friends, that's the Eternal reality to those who reject the 400 00:29:05,100 --> 00:29:08,000 words of Christ and build on the sand. 401 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:13,400 Matthew chapter 7 doesn't end with Jesus's words. 402 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:20,200 Quoted by Matthew instead Jesus. Finishes his sermon. 403 00:29:21,100 --> 00:29:25,300 Matthew picks it up, and here's what Matthew says, verse 28 and 404 00:29:25,300 --> 00:29:30,300 29, and when Jesus finished these sayings the crowds were 405 00:29:30,300 --> 00:29:35,200 astonished, I love that word. They were astonished at his 406 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:39,200 teaching for he was teaching them as one who had Authority 407 00:29:39,500 --> 00:29:44,100 and not as the scribes but I want to make something very 408 00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:52,100 clear being astonished at Jesus and that his teaching is not 409 00:29:52,100 --> 00:29:58,800 enough. Trusting in Him. 410 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:02,700 Who is astonishing? Who does astonishing things? 411 00:30:03,300 --> 00:30:10,600 That is the key. It's resting and receiving him 412 00:30:10,600 --> 00:30:16,800 alone as The Rock. If you have professed faith in 413 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:20,100 him. If that fruit is present in your 414 00:30:20,100 --> 00:30:22,400 life than your persevering, praise God. 415 00:30:23,500 --> 00:30:27,200 If not today may be the day we're in his sovereignty, he 416 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:31,800 brought you here. The you might hear the truth of 417 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:40,300 his word, what he said, I want to end with this illustration. 418 00:30:41,300 --> 00:30:46,700 I want you just to listen. Jesus finished the sermon. 419 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:53,200 It probably took less than 15. 16 17 minutes to speak. 420 00:30:55,500 --> 00:31:00,500 He came down the mountain. Matthew tells us the crowds were 421 00:31:00,500 --> 00:31:04,900 astonished. And then he meets someone. 422 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:10,800 Matthew 8, picks up. And here's what Matthew says, 423 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:15,700 just listen picture this when he came down from the mountain, the 424 00:31:15,700 --> 00:31:21,000 great crowds followed him. They were astonished. 425 00:31:22,500 --> 00:31:29,700 And behold a leper came to him and knelt before him. 426 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:36,200 Remember that when a leper entered into public space they 427 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:40,400 were commanded to shout out. Unclean unclean. 428 00:31:41,900 --> 00:31:46,200 This man finds his way. Through the crowds. 429 00:31:47,700 --> 00:31:52,200 Near the proximity of the one who was just preaching, very 430 00:31:52,200 --> 00:31:55,700 close to Jesus. So close that he kneels down 431 00:31:55,700 --> 00:32:01,000 before him. And he says these words, Lord, 432 00:32:01,900 --> 00:32:07,000 if you will, you can make me clean. 433 00:32:09,700 --> 00:32:17,300 Jesus stretched out his hand. He didn't have to He did not 434 00:32:17,300 --> 00:32:19,700 have to, he could just said the word. 435 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:29,500 He stretched out his hand. and he touched the leper, saying I 436 00:32:29,500 --> 00:32:36,100 will Be clean. And immediately, his leprosy was 437 00:32:36,100 --> 00:32:39,700 cleansed. Jesus said to him, see that you 438 00:32:39,700 --> 00:32:43,600 say nothing to anyone but go show yourself to the priest and 439 00:32:43,600 --> 00:32:47,300 offer the gift that Moses commanded for a proof to them. 440 00:32:48,100 --> 00:32:50,300 Jesus is telling him to obey the word of God. 441 00:32:52,600 --> 00:32:58,500 Those who truly listen. And build on the Rock seek to 442 00:32:58,500 --> 00:33:02,100 obey the word of God. Those who don't live absurd 443 00:33:02,100 --> 00:33:07,200 lives. The same hand that touched that 444 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:11,800 leper. Would soon receive nails. 445 00:33:13,700 --> 00:33:16,500 The within a couple of years of Christ's life. 446 00:33:18,900 --> 00:33:23,100 Those hands that touched so many others would be nailed to a 447 00:33:23,100 --> 00:33:29,700 cross. So that your hands and mind so 448 00:33:29,700 --> 00:33:33,600 that all the Wrath that we all deserved would not come on us, 449 00:33:33,600 --> 00:33:37,200 but would come on him. And the Very one who spoke to 450 00:33:37,208 --> 00:33:40,300 this sermon with his name. Hands nailed to the cross as 451 00:33:40,300 --> 00:33:42,300 feet. Nailed to the cross spoke final 452 00:33:42,300 --> 00:33:48,700 words from the cross saying it is finished. 453 00:33:50,500 --> 00:33:54,600 Jesus Christ. The one who spoke these words is 454 00:33:54,600 --> 00:33:57,600 the word. He is The Rock. 455 00:33:58,700 --> 00:34:05,800 You are either building on him who is the foundation, The Rock. 456 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:13,300 Or you're not. May the Lord today have mercy. 457 00:34:14,300 --> 00:34:17,900 And if you have surrendered your life to Christ already, may you 458 00:34:17,900 --> 00:34:21,300 leave this place celebrating the Assurance. 459 00:34:21,300 --> 00:34:27,000 You have And if today you're sitting here saying, I'm not 460 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:32,699 sure. I might not be in Christ, or I 461 00:34:32,699 --> 00:34:36,000 know I'm not. I'm so grateful that you're 462 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:39,100 here. And I pray that you will take 463 00:34:39,100 --> 00:34:43,300 seriously these words that Jesus spoke. 464 00:34:44,300 --> 00:34:48,800 Two thousand years ago. And will reflect deeply. 465 00:34:50,199 --> 00:34:53,600 What it means to build a life apart from him. 466 00:34:54,800 --> 00:34:56,900 You may not see the need for it right now. 467 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:02,500 I'm sure many didn't then. But listen to the god of the 468 00:35:02,500 --> 00:35:11,000 universe and what he is saying. To reject him to ignore him to 469 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:17,100 say, I don't care. It's absurd. 470 00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:23,900 Friends. This is the word. 471 00:35:25,100 --> 00:35:28,900 From the Lord, the word of the Lord. 472 00:35:30,100 --> 00:35:36,700 Father in heaven. Thank you for opening your 473 00:35:36,700 --> 00:35:42,800 mouth. For creating us for creating 474 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:47,800 this time in the space and for giving us your holy word. 475 00:35:49,400 --> 00:35:52,900 My Heart Lord is. To do nothing that would 476 00:35:52,900 --> 00:35:57,000 distract from the clarity of what you have proclaimed. 477 00:35:57,900 --> 00:36:02,700 Lord, Jesus, I don't want anyone to be falsely assured. 478 00:36:03,600 --> 00:36:07,300 I also don't want anybody to live in shame when they have 479 00:36:07,300 --> 00:36:14,900 been set free, Only You, Holy Spirit can make that clear. 480 00:36:15,900 --> 00:36:18,900 If there are those in our midst, who don't know you, but today 481 00:36:18,900 --> 00:36:23,500 want to rest and receive Jesus alone for salvation friend. 482 00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:28,600 Pray to him now, simply tell him your need for him as a sinner. 483 00:36:29,900 --> 00:36:33,900 and ask him to save you and tell somebody if you were praying 484 00:36:33,900 --> 00:36:37,700 that prayer today, Lord for others. 485 00:36:38,300 --> 00:36:42,100 We are in you and the storms of this life are overwhelming us. 486 00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:45,300 The water is rising the World, the Flesh, and the devil are 487 00:36:45,300 --> 00:36:48,400 coming against us. And sometimes we begin to wonder 488 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:51,500 what we persevere. One of the signs that we belong 489 00:36:51,500 --> 00:36:54,800 to you, is that we will and we praise you for that. 490 00:36:55,600 --> 00:37:00,200 So, Lord touched deeply. Those in this body who are 491 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:04,500 feeling the effects of the storm, and let them hear your 492 00:37:04,500 --> 00:37:06,100 voice through your word and spirit. 493 00:37:06,300 --> 00:37:11,400 It that they are secure Lord as we close in a very familiar 494 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:14,500 song. Please Don't Let It Be us. 495 00:37:14,500 --> 00:37:18,100 Just checking a box. Let us think deeply of these 496 00:37:18,100 --> 00:37:22,500 words that were offering to you who has given us everything. 497 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:26,100 You indeed, are the rock. Lord Jesus. 498 00:37:26,600 --> 00:37:32,400 We pray this in your Holy Name and All God's people said, amen, 499 00:37:32,500 --> 00:37:09,200 please stand. It that they are secure Lord as 500 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,300 we close in a very familiar song. 501 00:37:12,900 --> 00:37:15,900 Please Don't Let It Be us. Just checking a box. 502 00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:20,700 Let us think deeply of these words that were offering to you 503 00:37:21,000 --> 00:37:25,200 who has given us everything. You indeed, are the rock. 504 00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:28,700 Lord Jesus. We pray this in your Holy Name 505 00:37:29,100 --> 00:37:33,200 and All God's people said, amen, please stand.