Building Your Foundation
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Recently started a chore list for Christian. Follow the list. Struggles. Literally written down with instructions, but it’s hard to do.
Need: Obedience is tough. Obedience isn’t natural for us. Since the Garden, disobedience is the default of our hearts. Our instructions are written down and we still struggle.
Main Idea: Come. Listen. Obey.
Jesus is ending his sermon in the same way he ends the sermon on the mount in Matthew. He will give an illustration for how people will respond. He begins with a question: Verse 46. For Luke’s audience, “Lord, Lord” was like “Sir, master, teacher.” Why would you give me a title and then not act like you gave me that title?
Ill. Like being a parent. Why do you call me dad and then ignore what I say? Students in class. Why do you call me Dr. Sprinkle if you don’t do what I’ve asked? He’s not spiritualizing this. This is logical.
Exp. It leads to the rest of the section, but I want to focus in on verse 47. Jesus has been comparing two types of people this whole time. He ends it that way as well. Notice the three verbs: Come to me. Hears my words. Does them. These are sequential. Picture of salvation and our growth. He says for those who do all three are like the following metaphor. What did he teach?
Beatitudes and woes. Rejoice when people hate you. Beware of flattery. Poor in spirit receive the kingdom. Rich in spirit receive nothing.
Love your enemies. Do good to them. Don’t reciprocate what they show you.
Don’t judge others. Meaning: don’t condemn them. Take the log out of your eye and remove the speck from theirs.
Bear good fruit. Pay attention to the fruit in your life.
Truth #1: Building a foundation is necessary (46-48)
Exp. Just as in Matthew, he uses a building as the illustration. Verse 47-48. Coming to Jesus, hearing his words, and obeying them is building a foundation that runs deep. Flood arose, stream broke against the house, but didn’t shake it. Those who obey are building the house on a strong foundation.
Ill. During hurricane, our townhouse didn’t budge. Ezra didn’t even wake up. Imagine being so secure in Christ, that when the floods came, you were unshaken.
Arg. Even James mentions something to this effect.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Arg. To hear the words and not do them is preposterous. If you are a doer who acts, you will be blessed. Common in the Old Testament. Deuteronomy 4:1
1 “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live, and go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Their obedience doesn’t give them life. It’s trusting in the one who gives life.
Exp. What is Jesus ultimately getting at? Two things:
You should obey what your faith is in. Child of God? Obey him.
The words of Jesus bring life. Obedience doesn’t bring life. Jesus does. This is why the foundation is necessary.
Truth #2: Building without a foundation is fatal (49)
Exp. Modern code won’t let you build without a foundation because it’s fatal. Verse 49. Same stream, immediately it fell. The house was in ruin. We scoff at this, but this is actually where we struggle. Many of don’t struggle with coming to Jesus. Nor listening to his words. However, we have become used to not obeying. We don’t forgive because it’s too difficult. We judge others for a sense of righteousness. We will critique others while not looking at our own sin. We slap plaster on the cracks by justifying that we are wired that way. We love Jesus’ teaching until he tells us to change.
Ill. Fire inspector. Love what he does. Believe in his process. Until he gives us the report. Then, I don’t like him as much. Do all this work to be compliant. My immediate reaction: Is all this necessary? Is that how you approach Jesus? Do I have to give up earthly things to have Jesus? Do I have to give up my comfort? My possessions? My dreams? My sin? To live this way is to choose ruin.
Arg. How do I know? Harder to spot this illustration. The house is fine until the stream breaks. Life gets hard, and you don’t feel in control. Begin now! Give him everything. Otherwise, why would you call him “Lord, Lord?” A pastor in D.C. says this, “If there is any area of your life where you say ‘no’ to Jesus, then you must cross out the word ‘Lord.’ But if you call him ‘Lord’ of your life, then you must forever cross out the word ‘no.’”
Christ - We can obey because Jesus did. Jesus did the will of his father. Gives us the ability to do what he said. Your obedience is not the foundation. It is building on the foundation. Your obedience doesn’t bring you salvation. Jesus does. Your obedience is proof of salvation.
App. What do we do?
Come to Jesus.
Listen to his words.
Obey his will.
