Matthew 7:24-29: Listen to the King!

How can enjoy a vibrant Spiritual life in every season? Be sure we have a faith that will weather the storms?

Pause

Coming to end of sermon on mount, what life as citizens of the Kingdom of heaven looks like. How to live faithfully in a world waiting to be transformed. And Jesus closes sermon with perhaps most well known metaphor.

Simplicity to it

Don’t need to be a builder to get it.

Two builders - looking for suitable site for new house.

Wise picks the rock, and foolish picks the sand. Both build houses. Both look great. What proves the quality of the builder? What happens in the storm.

(tempted to get us all to sing kids chorus at this point, but I wont.

House on the rock stands firm, mean while, house on the sand

Picture 2 North carolina beachfront houses collapse into sea

There is a simplicity to it, and yet profoundly challenging.

Are we building our lives on a firm foundation - on the rock.

So challenging about sermon on mount is who its address to. Not to the unbeliever or opposition, but to the dsiciples, those who have already chosent to follow Jesus. He’s speaking to those who sit in church every week.

Where is our assurance found? Is it in the foundation or are we looking to quality of the house.

Leaning tower of PISA

Beatiful monument - have you ever asked why is it leaning? It wasn’t built that way!

Wonder how many of us if we are really honest might have Spiritual life like leaning tower of Pisa. We look great on outside. Go to church Sunday by Sunday, seem to tick all the boxes, but underneath it all is a shakey foundation.

Love to focus on quality of

If I ask you how you are doing Spiritually - straight away I wonder how many will think about you read your bible, how often you pray, how disciplined your life is, or how you are feeling about your relationship with God.

How can we be sure we are built on the right foundation? Where does assurance come from?

Listen to Jesus words. Challenging words. (so well know, close your eyes, let Spirit open this passage afresh to you.

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

As Christians poses great challenge. Do we hear Jesus words and put them into practice? Do we give Jesus total authority in our lives? Are we building our lives on foundation of Jesus words?

Or are there other things that we are tempted to build our lives on? world that offers so many foundations.

Relationships, approval, success, money, sexuality, happiness, comfort, control, discipline.

Reality is live in a world surrounded by things offering us a foundation. A beautiful house by the sea, but build ont he sand.

Jesus says to us this morning is if we want to have a vibrant faith that will weather the storms, experience true assurance, then we to let him rule completely.

How do we do that in world of competing powers?

Know the one who speaks - The perfect King.

Matthew 7:24 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

There is a clarity by which Jesus declares his authority in these verses: in v 24, he says "everyone who hears these words of MINE".

Easy to miss in story we know to well. What Jesus says here so profound and earth shattering and outrageous.

Why Jesus words here so profound, so outrageous. Clue is at end of passage.

Matthew 7:28-29 (NIV)

Matthew 7:28–29 NIV

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Whats difference between Jesus teaching and teachers of the law. Authority.

Not that TofL had no authority - TofL would speak looking to the Torah - OT law given by God to his people. They would look to prophets to whom God spoke about himself. They would look to appointed leaders. All authority, but all of it defered. But here Jeuss is declaring that he is not just the law reader, but the law maker. The words he speaks are not just very words of God but the very mind of God. As Jesus starts his public ministry he preaches all about the Kingdom of heaven. What it’s like, and what life as a citizen will look like. Heart of sermon on mount. And he he says that not only can he tell us what the Kingdom of God is like but in him we meet the King.

The one who has absolute authority.

No wonder crowd was amazed, and not surprising that some were upset!

Why we struggle with this.

Think of authority and perhaps God - think this (angry man picture)

Think of Jesus - think this (lovely dovey hippy)

4 views of Godhttps://abcnews.go.com/WN/book-religion-examines-ways-americans-perceive-god/story?id=11825319

Struggle to reconcile the different aspects of God’s character.

Illustrate famous Indian fable about 6 blind men encountering elephant for first time and try to concepulise it by touching it, but each feels a different part

They then describe the elephant based on their limited experience and their descriptions of the elephant are different from each other. In some versions, they come to suspect that the other person is dishonest and they come to blows. The moral of the parable is that humans have a tendency to claim absolute truth based on their limited, subjective experience as they ignore other people's limited, subjective experiences which may be equally true.

Moral is about humility and tolerance.

World we live in world of your truth. Truth is subjective reality.

But it misses the point. A poet John Godfrey Sac wrote a poem based on the fable and last four lines read:

Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!

How will they know what elephant looks like? Need to see and touch and hear the whole elephant.

If we want to know what God is like, and base our whole life on Him, then need him to reveal himself to us.

If are going to make Jesus words our foundation, we need to be sure of who he is.

We don’t need a Jesus of our own limited imagination, who suits our preferences.

We need to know this Jesus. Jesus of the gospels. Jesus who clamed storms and healed the sick and raised the dead. Jesus who taught with authority and perfect wisdom. Jesus who lived perfect human life that we couldn’t, a life of love and justice and peace and truth. Jesus who went willingly to Cross to demonstrate God’s love and justice coming together, as he bears our sin on his shoulders, and is punished in our place offering forgiveness and life to those who trust him.

Colossians 1:15–20 NIV

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

And in his life death and ressurection we see displayed God’s love and justice, power and humility, wrath and mercy, and through is death life, and we see his Word proved true.

Thousands upon thousands gathered to see Kings Coronoation - though not everyone was there to celebrate. But recognised event of such significance it was worth attention. Because whether like it or not Charles is King of England. And as such carries authority.

In gospel we don’t just meet another political power, but supreme ruler and King, whose authority is absolute. One day every knee will bow, in worship or under judgement. But must make no mistake. He is the King. He’s also a good King. Who is true to his word and works for good of His people - even laying down his life for us.

And his call to us today is there in v24-26

Matthew 7:24–27 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Every year at Christmas millions of people wouold tune in to hear the late queens speech. In 2021 over night million people tuned in hanging on every word. Respect of her character and authoirty.

Here as supreme King speaks about the Kingdom , how can we enjoy firm faith?

Listen to his voice, and do what he says!

2 ways to live. Either we build our house on the rock or we build on the sand.

Loads of sand but theres only one rock.

Seriousness to Jesus words:

Nature of metaphor is eternal. We know from context:

Eternal nature of Jesus words - Life or destruction v13-14

context - about Kingdom of heaven - v23

Warning about bad fruit being thrown into fire v19

Famous line from Gladiator, before the first battle General Maximus looking to his inspire his troops gives famous line

“Brothers what we do in life, echos in eternity”

Not quite right - but close, Jesus says, how we respond to his words, echoes in eternity.

What we do with Jesus words is matter of life or destruction.

It’s inconsistent to say that we trust Jesus and yet not put his words into practice. And it leads to Spiritual disaster.

good indication of where our foundation lies is how we respond to the storms:

pressure

tragedy sadness

temptation, are we battling

exposing is’t it! why do we still struggle

Yet we all struggle. 2 main reasons we struggle.

We want quick fix

Instagram DIy hacks. Shortcuts to fix problems or get jobs done quicker. Most of them are absolute rubbish. Experienced tradesmen have been recording videos of their reactions and explaining why they are asking for disaster.

Why do we struggle to to put Jesus words into practice? Narrow road. We do it because building on the rock is hard, and we just want a nice house bt the beach, so tempting to we look for a quick fix. Live in a world of instant gratification - instagram hacks for the soul. Instead of looking to the experienced master builder and trusting his instruction.

Second because we don’t want to give up control

Like idea of house Jesus is building, as long as its laid on our foundation.

Thomas Jefferson bible

sounds ludicrus. But failing to put Jesus word’s in to practice is doing exactly that. Jesus I want your blessing but I want to stay in control. Struggle with idea of Jesus Kingship because it means we have to recognise we aren’t in charge and taking Jesus at his words might meaning giving up something, so we’ll trust Jesus only as far as he agrees with us. See how easy it is. Infact possible to build an incredibly Jesus foundation looking building on completely the wrong site.

Need to hear warning in verses - however impressive building is if it’s not build on foundation of Jesus loving Kingship, when the storms come it will lead to Spiritual disaster and one day destruction.

But also need to hear a wonderful promise in these verses.

To those who hear these words of mine and put them into practice. Not a salvation by works. Whole sermon is addressed to those who are Jesus disciples. Not obedience that produces salvation, but salvation that produces obdience. To listen to Jesus words and put them into practice is not us striving in our own strength to obey, but rather it’s a letting go of control of our own lives and submitting ourselves to His rule, keeping in step with the Spirit and relying on his grace.

As we understand who Jesus is - the eternal Saviour and King, and what he has done in laying down his life to love us, that we will whole heartedly put out trust in him and religuish any trust in ourselves to build a good house? Take him at his word. accept that we are poor in Spirit, in need of his rescue. Mourn over our sin as he defines it and calls us to repent, as we hunger and thirst for rigtheousness because we see the damage done by disobedience.

As we understand that Jesus is King we place our trust in Him, and as he pours His Spirit into us, he empowers us to live in obedience to Him.

The beautiful news of the gospel is that faith is not a guessing game about who God is, but a decision to trust in His revealed character - person of His Son, with the promise of eternal life.

wonderful promises is that as we hear Jesus words and put them into practice we will experience the blessing of life with a firm foundation. The joy of knowing the one who made us. The assurance of knowing that our life is save in his hands. The peace that comes from knowing that he in complete control and the comfort of knowing he is workign all things for our good and not storm can destroy us.

J.C.Ryle about the one who hears Jesus words and puts them into practice says this

“In the time of trial his religion does not fail him; the floods of sickness, sorrow, poverty, dissappointments, bereavements beat upon him in vain. He soul stands unmoved; His faith does not give way; his comforts do not utterly forsake him.”

What JC Ryle describes is the life of the wise builder. As we get to know Jesus and his word, and by power of Spirit submit ourselves increasingly to his rule, we’ll experience the joy of a vibrant and secure faith that not only withstands great trials but grows in the midst of them, as we cling to Christ and to the Kingdom he has promised to come.

Practically then as we finish. What do you do with Jesus words? Not just his words in sermon on the mount but in all of scripture? A few general implications

Do we hang on Jesus every word as listen to the Kings speech?

...with anticipation opening our bibles regularly expecting Jesus to speak to us by His Spirit?

We should be opening our bible expectant that Jesus wants to change us and grow us.

Are we coming to Jesus on his terms recognising he is the rightful King with hearts open to obey?

Do we come to church with an expectation that the Spirit will confront and challenge and encourage and equip, and do we leave church reflecting on and putting into practice what we’ve heard?

what might it mean for you this week to put Jesus word into practice. A few specific examples - and maybe this might be you this morning and it might be that you need to pray with soemone after the service.

Maybe this morning you are here and there is and inner turmoil. You can feel Spirit pointing at something in your life that’s not right. Maybe its a sin habit, or an attitude. Put Jesus words into practice. Not a self dependent call to stop that and do this. It’s a call to dependence. Recognise our Spiritual poverty andn mourn over our sin, and hunger and thirst for righteousness in depedence on the power of the Spirit to change us. It’s a call to give up control of that bit of life thats not consistent with following Jesus and is robbing you of your assurance. Will you in power of Spirit do whatver it takes to put Jesus words into action in your life? Even if it means sacrifice or vulnerability or letting go of your pride?

Mayeb this morning you are full of anxiety. Maybe you know what its about maybe not. But this morning why not put Jesus words into practice. Come to him. Take his yoke upon. Bind yourself to him and let him carry your burden. Remembering who he is, recognise that whatever you are anxious about doesn’t define you, and isn’t where your real hope lies, and instead let the peace of Christ that surpasses all udnerstanding reign. Not just in your head, let it dwell in your heart.

Maybe this morning you are weighed down by guilt. Put Jesus words into practice. Don’t trust in your own righteousness, but find forgviness at the cross and a new identity in him. There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

Where do you need to hear Jesus words and put them into practice this morning? Maybe you want to speak to Dave or another Christian and pray with them.

Let me close by reading Jesus words again.

WHere do you need to listento your King this morning?

Will you hear his all powerful, wise and loving voice and take his words seriously, by the power of the Spirit submit to him?