WHICH FOUNDATION ARE YOU BUILDING ON ?

Matthew 7:24–29 MEV

“Whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. 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 a rock. And every one who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them will be likened to a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it fell. And its fall was great.” When Jesus finished these sayings, the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 7:24–29 AV

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

INTRODUCTION:

1. You may or may not recognize that picture…but that is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

2. Construction began on it in 1173 and it wasn’t completed until 1399.

3. It was designed to be 185 feet tall and be completely vertical…but as you can see, it is leaning.

4. As best I could find out, right now the tower is leaning 17 feet out of plumb…and it will continue to lean until eventually it falls.

5. But why is it leaning – the reason that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is leaning is b/c it’s built on a faulty foundation.

6. The passage we have read this evening is about 2 builders who built 2 houses on 2 different types of foundations with 2 different results.

7. In this passage, Jesus teaches us that the foundation that we build our lives on is of utmost importance.

8. Jesus also says that depending on which foundation we build on determines if we are wise or foolish.

9. I want us to look at this passage & discover what it means to BUILD ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION.

I. THE SIMILARITIES

1. This short story appears to talk about 2 different types of people.

2. The 2 people Jesus pictures here have several characteristics in common.

A. Both Builders Heard the Words of Jesus

1. The 2 people in this story both heard Jesus share His message of faith & repentance, vs. 24,26.

2. This means that both people in this story knew the way of salvation.

3. They both heard the gospel & each one had a reaction to it.

B. Both Built Houses

1. Both of these people built a house based on their understanding of what Jesus said.

2. The house in this story is a picture of a life…in other words, each man built his life based on how he interpreted the message of Jesus.

3. This means that both people believed the message to a certain point.

4. They both applied the words of Jesus to their life as they saw fit.

C. Both Built in the Same Location

1. Verse 27 describes a severe storm.

2. This storm affected both houses, so they must have been built in close proximity to one another.

3. In other words, the outward circumstances of their lives were essentially the same.

4. One had no advantage over the other.

D. Both Built Similar Houses

1. Nothing is said about their houses being different.

2. They probably used similar materials & even used a similar design.

3. From the outside, both homes looked similar…in fact, they probably looked so similar, you might not have been able to tell them apart.

4. The idea here is of people & how they respond differently to the gospel.

5. In other words, people hear the gospel but they respond in different ways.

6. Regardless of how a person may react, they all build their lives based on what they think Jesus is saying.

7. From the outside, you can’t really tell much difference between the 2 hearers.

8. Both seem to believe the same things & live the same kind of lives.

9. They have a lot in common at least on the outside.

10. You could say that they were both religious, theologically orthodox, moral, served in the church, supported it financially, & were responsible citizens of the community.

11. They seemed to believe alike & live alike…but as we look at the passage, we also see some differences.

II. THE DIFFERENCES

1. Even though there are similarities, there are some major differences between these 2 types of people.

2. But the differences between the 2 builders & the 2 houses they built weren’t noticeable from the outside.

A. One man built his house on the sand

1. This man built his house with little preparation.

2. He found a spot for his house & began to build.

3. Now sand is unstable…it’s always shifting & moving & doesn’t offer any stability.

4. Sand isn’t a good place to build a house…sand can’t provide a firm foundation.

5. Now in this context, building on the sand speaks of people who hear the gospel, but instead of believing the gospel & coming to faith in Jesus…they build their lives on the shifting sands of human philosophy, wisdom, self-effort & religion.

6. They are driven by outward, religious appearances & faith in themselves, rather than faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

7. People who build on the sand hear the gospel & choose to save themselves.

8. They hear the gospel & believe its message but they choose to follow God on their own terms.

9. Notice that Jesus says they hear but they don’t obey.

Those who build on the sand know the bible but they don’t obey it.

They hear it but they don’t respond to it…Their life isn’t shaped by the teachings of Jesus.

Those who build on the sand are caught up in works based religion that looks the part, but has no power.

2 Timothy 3:5 AV

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Those who build on the sand are religious but they’re lost.

People who build on the sand believe they can pray a prayer, sign a card, join a church, and everything will be well.

People who build on the sand can be in today & out tomorrow & in again the next day.

Those who build on the sand aren’t committed...and Jesus says they are foolish.

Those who build on the sand are religious but lost.

B. One man built his house on the rock

1. The word “rock” refers to “a large outcropping of rock; the bedrock.”

2. This man dug down deep until he reached the bedrock.

3. The rock doesn’t move…it’s unchanging & stable.

4. The rock offers a good foundation for a house.

5. Building on the rock speaks of people who hear the gospel & believe it to the point that they build their lives on it.

6. The “rock” refers to the teachings of Jesus – “these sayings of mine…”

7. I believe it’s the same rock mentioned in .

Matthew 16:16–18 AV

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

8. The “rock” refers to Peter’s profession of faith in the words of Jesus…iow’s, it refers to faith in the gospel.

8. The “rock” refers to Peter’s profession of faith in the words of Jesus…iow’s, it refers to faith in the gospel.

The rock is God’s Word, His divine revelation...and it’s the only rock on which the Christian life can be built.

Those who build on the rock know that Jesus is the only way to salvation.

They hear His Word & they conform their lives to it.

They hear the Word & they obey it…they are doers of the Word.

They hear the Word & obey it…they are doers of the Word.

Their obedience is evidence of salvation.

Their obedience is evidence of salvation.

The mark of true discipleship is not simply hearing & believing…but believing & doing.

James 1:22–24 AV

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

James 1:

1 John 2:3–6 AV

3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

If someone professes to know Jesus but does not obey Jesus, he is building his life on the sand.

The only validation we can ever have of salvation is a life of obedience.

9. So, there are 2 people who construct vastly different lives based on how they hear & respond to the gospel.

10. One house is built on a firm foundation of faith in the gospel…the other is built on the shifting sand of religion, works, and self-righteousness.

One of those describes how you & I are building our lives right now.

We are either building our lives on a firm foundation or a faulty foundation…and depending on which foundation we’re building on, will determine what happens to us when the storm comes.

III. THE RESULTS

1. The story tells us that the rains came, the floods followed, and the winds of destruction blew…and the story says that one house fell & one stood.

2. So what does that mean?

A. The House that Fell

1. The storm refers to God’s final judgment…iow’s, there is coming a day when everyone will stand before God in judgment...there is coming a day when everyone will face God.

2. Those who are trusting in religion, good works, some prayer they prayed, or some emotional experience or profession they made, will see the house they built crumble & fall before the judgment of God.

3. The person who builds their life on the sand will spend eternity in hell when they die.

B. The House that Stood

1. The house built on the rock experienced the same storm…but it stood.

2. It might have been shaken but it didn’t fall…it weathered the storm.

3. This house stood b/c it was built on the Word of God & the gospel of grace.

4. This builder built on the rock…He built on the finished work of Christ…he believed the gospel & responded & his life was not destroyed.

Those who build on the rock don’t have to worry about being eternally separated from God.

Those who build on the rock will spend eternity in heaven with God.

Lesson:

If you build on anything other than Jesus Christ, your house will not stand.

CONCLUSION:

1. Everybody in this room is building a spiritual house.

2. Every day you’re building & adding on & trying to improve your house.

3. Regardless of what you do to the house you are building, what matters most is the foundation.

4. Make sure that you’re building on the right foundation…

5. There is coming a storm that will test what you have built…and it will only stay standing if you have built on the solid foundation of the Word of God.

6. Notice in verses 28-29, how the crowd responded to Jesus’ teaching.

7. They were amazed & astounded…they were totally dumbfounded by the power of what Jesus said.

8. But what they needed was not amazement but belief…not astonishment but obedience.

9. Jesus had told them what they needed for salvation, but they only watched & listened…the only heard & considered, but did not decide.

10. Let’s not make that same mistake tonight…We have heard the Word of God & now we must respond to it.

11. I believe that it would be good for us tonight to examine our lives & ask ourselves this question - Am I building on the right foundation?

Are you hearing & obeying?

Or are you hearing & not obeying?

Your answer to those questions will determine what foundation you’re building on.

Let’s pray!!!