WHAT DO YOU BUILD YOUR LIFE ON: Matt 7:15-27

INTRODUCTION:

Matthew 7:24–27 NASB95

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

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The Sermon on the Mount is not a message on how one is justified/ adopted/ reconciled to God but, rather, the sermon on the mount is a message on moving from outsider to true sons and daughters of God. How do we go from homelessness to looking the part of a royal child of the King of kings?

You have heard it said, you can take the girl out of the trailer but you can never take the trailer out of the girl?

So, the question must be asked; if Jesus can redeem us from sin and death (Take us out of the trailer), how does he remove sin and death from us and cloth us in His glory(Take the trailer out of us)?

This is the purpose of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is describing who is invited into the Kingdom, and then describes the character and nature of Kingdom people. It is by entering the small gate, and living on the narrow path, that we experience transformation.

He is describing the process the ancient Church called Theosis and we today call Sanctification.

In Gen 1 God created humanity in His image and likeness – In other words man was not created in the essence of God but in the image of God’s divine nature and character or what the ancient church called His energies. – Use candle as the example.

But this image was marred by sin, the sickness of sin and death has infected us all, all sons and daughters of Adam, share the family disease and this disease of sin and death has marred and even twisted the image of God in humanity. We went from sons and daughters that lived rightly in the throne room, reflecting his glory to all creation and growing in his nature, to rebellious, sickly trailer trash.

Not only does Jesus through his life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension redeem us from the trailer of sin and death but the Trinity is also concerned with making us sons and daughters who image Him in absolute divine glory. Theosis / Sanctification.

2 Peter 1:3–4 NASB95

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

Romans 8:29 NASB95

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

THIS IS OUR VISION QUEST –

THE SMALL GATE AND NARROW PATH. THIS IS OUR JOURNEY TO PUTTING ON CHRIST, TAKING ON THE DIVINE NATURE.

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THEREFORE, JESUS WARNS OF FALSE PROPHETS

Who desire to entice us off the quest towards Christ-likeness.

Matthew 7:15–20 NASB95

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

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WHO ARE THESE DANGEROUS PEOPLE

2 Peter 2:1–2 NASB95

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

2 Peter 2:17–19 NASB95

These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

They look the part while destroying those who will listen and live by their false teachings.

They are the ones who offer words that appeal to our lusts of the flesh.

They are the ones who make the way of Jesus hard to see and understand.

They are full of words yet say nothing that gives real life / storms and destruction follow them

they look pious but are vain, live to follow their own fleshly desires.

They promise you freedom but enslave you and themselves with their lusts.

THEY DESIRE NOTHING MORE THAN TO TAKE YOU FROM THE NARROW PATH AND PLACE YOUR EYES ON POWER, FAME, AND PROSPERITY.

THEY DESIRE YOU TO CONFUSE THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITH THE KINGDOM OF MAN.

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FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS PRODUCE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION.

Matthew 7:21–23 NASB95

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

WHEN WE LIVE THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF OUR CULTURE WE WILL SEEK POWER, SECRET KNOWLEDGE, AND FAME OVER THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT AND THE CHARACTER OF GOD.

The false teachers create a people group who rely on power as evidence of their sonship

While Jesus taught us the evidence of our sonship is the Character and nature of God flowing through our lives.

THESE FALSE TEACHERS OFFER AN EASY WAY A WIDE WAY THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.

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THEREFORE, JESUS ENCOURAGEOUS US: BUILD YOUR LIFE ON HIS TEACHINGS

Matthew 7:24–27 NASB95

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

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CONCLUSION

IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT JESUS GIVES US THE WAY TOWARDS HOLINESS, THEOSIS, SANCTIFICATION, SONSHIP! THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IS THE WAY TOWARDS CLEANSING THE FILTH OF THE WORLD OFF OUR SOULS SO THE BEAUTY OF THE IMAGE OF GOD MAY SHINE BRIGHT FOR ALL CREATION TO SEE AND GIVE GLORY TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.

The narrow path is hard but you have been redeemed to walk in it. Empowered to strive through it. This way of life is our Vision Quest, it is the very path that leads to you and I taking on the nature of God, transforming from animalistic lusts to shining like sons and daughters of God for all the heavens and earth to see the Glory of Jesus, who is our savior, redeemer, and King of Glory.

I encourage you, to take the path of Jesus, live out his teachings, and when you fall, stand, rise, and continue to walk. When persecution comes, do not wilt or fail but lift your head and bare your cross as our Lord did. Take heart and be courageous, there is a Prince or Princess of the King of Glory in you and as your days on the narrow path build so shall the image of God in you shine.

BUILD YOUR LIFE ON THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND YOU WILL SHINE AS SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD.