Life or destruction
Notes
Transcript
Dumb ways to die…
Dumb ways to die…
The dumbest - not doing what Jesus says.
Don’t be a fool.
Jesus is a bit Moses like - on a mountain, telling people God’s ways
A bit like Solomon and the proverbs - presenting the wise way of life
An authority (you have heard it said, but I tell you:
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.
But not just as a better understand-er of God’s ways:
Matthew 7:21 (NIV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:23 (NIV)
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
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.
Jesus decides your future. What you do with his words is critical.
He’s spoken on lust, anger, marriage, truth speaking, neighbours, enemies, religion from the heart or for show
And not everything is at it seems in this world:
flourishing are:
poor on spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted because of Jesus.
Doesn’t look like flourishing. Hurts. Hard.
So now, at the close, on the lips of the one who will decide your fate and future is a warning: don’t be a fool, appearances can be deceiving - don’t be deceived:
the easy way will destroy you
the false prophet will lead you to destruction as you discover he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing
the path of following Jesus can’t happen without him truly knowing you - no matter how impressive
your foundation matters - even if nobody sees
4 sets of word pictures: roads, sheep-wolf, good/rotten fruit, houses on rock or sand.
Standley chasm - death
Don’t be fooled - seek the narrow road
Don’t be fooled - seek the narrow road
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Enter. Looks are deceiving. It is hard. Don’t be fooled. Don’t go strolling on the way to destruction - seek. It does take work. And you’ll be a minority.
grandma, what sharp teeth you have!
Don’t be led astray
Don’t be led astray
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
If you want to quote Jesus on ‘do not judge’, understand he said these words only sentences later.
Sneaking in, playing like one of Jesus’ sheep but actually acting for themselves.
False prophet because they are leaders - with a message - who will mislead you.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Not everything that baas like a sheep is a sheep. Not every leader (formal informal) in Christian circles can be trusted. Watch out. Be careful. Don’t be gullible.
Fruit takes time to grow. Some sins are not obvious until later.
Hot on the heels of the narrow and easy roads - don’t let a CHristian leader say it’s easy, nobody is excluded, someone who is soft on sin and judgment and suffering. Or someone who is hard on judgment except in their own life - and this only comes out later.
[there are bishops who are wolves - and influential Christians in churches]
Fruit - not success… most likely character.
Not everything is as it seems.
// autopilot - clever brain, except for relationships
Don’t fool yourself going thru the Christian motions
Don’t fool yourself going thru the Christian motions
Whether big, or small - be perfect- whole - inside to out
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
Jesus doesn’t deny their actions and results.
He points to two things:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
The things asked for in the rest of the sermon - these heart-based deeds
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
What is missing from the resume - a real relationship with the Lord Jesus.
None of these amazing deeds is proof of that!
Ask, seek, knock - hunger and thirst.
[This should spur you on to make sure - does Jesus know me?]
Don’t be fooled - Jesus words are to be obeyed
Don’t be fooled - Jesus words are to be obeyed
“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.
Do them. Being saved by grace also means being changed by grace - the grace of God that teaches us to say no to ungodliness and yes to what God loves.
Can’t pick and mix Jesus - can’t ’know better’ because of science or modern morality, or sensitivity to other religions - Jesus is the key. Can’t sit in pews and ignore his words.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
This is not just life trouble. Not just that living Jesus’ way is better (though it is)
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Destruction or Life.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
False prophets thrown into the fire. Presumably also the people they led to destruction too.
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Get away - I never knew you. ON THAT DAY.
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
This is the end of the world.
Following Jesus will give you a u-turn shaped life - repenting, changing, at every age and stage of following Jesus.
don’t only be amazed at Jesus’ teaching - put it into practice.
Make it your life’s work - saved by his cross - shaped by his words.