When the Winds Blow

When the Winds Blow Matthew 7:24-27

The effects of winds and storms is evident and effectual in every time - as in the first century we experience these often traumatic events and our insurance companies call them acts of God. For example, the damage from Hurricane Helene in North Carolina is estimated to be at least $53 billion: The damage estimate includes direct and indirect damages, as well as potential investments to prevent similar destruction in the future. If confirmed, this figure would make Helene the 10th costliest weather disaster in the United States since 1980.

Many lost family businesses, homes, towns, and and 98 deaths storms can wreak havoc in every part of our lives. And today, we see Jesus wrap up his sermon on the mount with an even higher cost of not listening and doing what Jesus says. Lets read together.

Matthew 7:24–27 “ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””

To the jews, the house built on the rock would often had meant the temple some scholars say.

Augustine said to build on the rock was likened to the profession of Peter in (look) Matthew 16:15–20 “ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.” back to 7.

What does Jesus say? Matthew 7:24 “ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:” A disciple. He hears then does.

Now, over and over in the Psalms, God is the rock. Psalm 18:2 “ The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 31:2–3 “ Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. 3 For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me.” Jesus has been saying that He is speaking from authority which he now compares to rock which to the jewish mind means Jesus is more than a prophet. Because He isn't just repeating and such, he is saying that He is the rock.

The question becomes is, who is Jesus speaking to? Turn with me to

Matthew 4:23–5:2 “ And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. 24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria (image); and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. 25 Great multitudes followed Him—from Galilee, and from Decapolis (10 cities), Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:”

Look at it. First to the Jews then the Gentiles. Jesus is speaking to Israel then to the rest of us. Real quick, hold your finger here and look back at Matthew 7:28–8:1 “ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 8:1 When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.”

Here says his disciples. Not limited to Apostles, but all following Him. The context indicates a great many followed them up.

This sermon on the mount which begins in 5:1-12 told us what true Blessing looked like

5:13-16 Compared those who follow God as salt and light.

in 5:17-20 examining the Law He relates a key thought in 20 “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

in 21-6:4 Sin begins in the heart, we sometimes dismiss how severe sin is. All sin, is evil. “If you hate evil, hate sin.” —Clay Jones— but yet, want to excuse it, dismiss it. To pay for our sins, God didnt require an oops, my bad but blood of His own son, Jesus, given on a cross.

He gave us the manner of prayer & worship with him in 6:5-7:11 which lead to

Matthew 7:12 “ Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Then the two ways of life 13-14

The importance of teaching, correct doctrine. Which todays text reminds us is strict necessity. 15-20.

Then the path we follow. Who we serve. which we saw last time in 7:21-23 where Jesus reminded that the best preaching and flashy miracles don't save us. (Spurgeon) “If preaching could save a man, Judas would not have been damned. If prophesying could save a man, Balaam would not have been a castaway.” and now, Jesus says

Matthew 7:24–25 “ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.”

Whats the “real” meaning of this? To worship Jesus, follow Jesus, is within the realms of obedience. Wiersbe commented the following,

“How can we prepare for this judgment? By doing God’s will. Obedience to His will is the test of true faith in Christ. The test is not words, not saying “Lord, Lord,” and not obeying His commands. How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, and even memorize Bible verses and religious songs, and yet not obey God’s will. When a person is truly born again, he has the Spirit of God living within (Rom. 8:9); and the Spirit enables him to know and do the Father’s will. God’s love in his heart (Rom. 5:5) motivates him to obey God and serve others.”

Again, obedience is a good thing a necessary thing for the Christian. This is obedience doesn't save us, it shows us our faith. Reminds us who’s we are. If we want to save ourselves we have to exceed the righteousness of the most righteous of men, or we can trust the righteousness of Christ alone for our salvation.

Its also a reminder of who we love. John 15:9–11 “ “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” MANY CHRISTIANS DON’T HAVE JOY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD.

He then relates to us what a lost life looks like.

Matthew 7:26–27 “ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.””

So one could say they are all correct. Jesus is quite obviously talking to the Jewish people He came to first. They would reject Him as a nation, and the cost was devastating.

His statement has always been, follow me. Lean on me, trust me. Turn with me to:

John 6:26–29 “ Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” 28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.””

To reject Christ is to reject salvation itself. To twist the scripture to allow us to live in sin (discounting the correct doctrine called for in our bible) is as severe as rejecting it.

Many will virtue signal, major on the minors and pretend at helping the poor, preaching an encouraging message with no exhorting, or real hope because the law isn't given and doesn't convict. The Gospel is a solution and we must see the problem and seriousness of sin and turn from it.

Finally what is the most powerful thing Jesus says here in vv24-27? Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine. Literally Jesus puts his Words as being salvational, authoritative. Scripture. These sayings of mine must be obeyed because the storms are coming. In all of our lives.

Where we live matters. Our foundation, our cornerstone, is Jesus. And His words are eternal - John 8:31–32 “ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”” 1 Corinthians 3:11 “ For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Where we live and who lives in us, matters - 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 “ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.”

When the storms come and they will, be sure you are in Him and He in you. Its the only thing in your life that can stand against these things. When that final judgement comes at the end of all things, where will you be standing?

where are you living? Pray.