Be Seen: To the End
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
We are one phone call away from our lives changing forever.
ILL-- getting a call from a family member in the middle of the night.
Do you have a faith that is ready for the next storm?
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
ILL-- buying a house-- examine the foundation. Make sure it is holding the house up.
The constant bombing of McAlester…
ILL-- Youth Parsonage in Wewoka-- 4 1/2” drop in one corner of the house.
5 Ways to Live an Unshakable Life
5 Ways to Live an Unshakable Life
1. Hear Truth (24a, 28-29)
1. Hear Truth (24a, 28-29)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
What words?
specifically= sermon on the mount
beatitudes
recalibrating the law
prayer
generally= Word of God
The God of the universe has revealed himself to us.
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
vs 29 - He has authority.
Authority to forgive sins
Authority to heal diseases
Authority to send disciples
He is the boss-- we must listen to him.
ILL-- Leaving Jonathan in charge in high school.
Is Jonathan the boss?
What are they asking? Do we have to do what he says?
Does he have authority to make us do that?
Jesus Spoke with authority because he is God.
2. Live Changed (24b)
2. Live Changed (24b)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Your life has been recalibrated.
Because we have been seen, we see differently.
New world-view.
How can people hear stories of Planned Parenthood and it not bother them.
They have a different world-view. They believe abortion to not be killing babies. Fetuses to them are not life.
New Mexico- abort up to the day before birth…
This world-view is based off a science available in the 1970's. Modern science no longer supports that evidence. But it is grounded in their world-view.
McArthur, “The sand is composed of human opinion, attitudes, and wills, which are always shifting and always unstable. To build on sand is to build on self-will, self-fulfillment, self-purpose, self-sufficiency, self-satisfaction, and self-righteousness. To build on sand is to be unteachable, to be “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Our lives are to look like Christ.
We have a Creator who loves us personally.
He set the rules and has revealed that to us.
He saves us through the blood of Christ.
He changes us through the Holy Spirit.
He is the standard. He is the example we are to follow.
Walk in his footsteps— like a child stepping where their father steps.
3. Stand Grounded (24c)
3. Stand Grounded (24c)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
life built on the rock. Not just associated with the rock.
It is more difficult to fasten a house to rock.
The Quick Way
Quick fix with no controversy.
easy evangelism, easy belief-ism, easy discipleship.
Entertain me. Make the service fast. Get out of here by noon.
Make my kids want to come back and I won't be able to tell them no.
ILL-- friend pastor's a mega church in OKC.
He claims he grew so fast because black churches didn't offer childcare and 1 hour services.
Make it feel good.
This way will cause you to fall.
The hard Way is the way to stand grounded.
narrow gate/ difficult path
4. Endure Trails (25a)
4. Endure Trails (25a)
25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Those on sand and those on rock go through the same storm.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
We are overcomers!!!
7 churches of Revelation— “those who overcome…”
4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Seed and the Sower-- rocky soil-- sun= trials of life.
Hard, rocky soil, choked out by world…
Good soil- causes plant to be stronger.
Rocky soil- causes the plant to wither and die.- no fruit.
5. Withstand Judgment (26--27)
5. Withstand Judgment (26--27)
26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Your ability to withstand judgment has nothing to do with you.
It has everything to do with Jesus.
He paid the price for you.
Your part is accepting the free gift.
Is your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life?
"great was the fall of it"= "thrown into the lake of fire"
CONCLUSION
Is your life ready for the next storm?
Is your life ready for the next storm?
Are you prepared for final judgment?
