The House on the Rock

Lesson Text:

Matthew 7:24–27 KJV 1900

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: 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. 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: 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.

Ephesians 2:19–22 KJV 1900

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Colossians 1:23 KJV 1900

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Focus verse:

Matthew 7:24 KJV 1900

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:

Culture Connection

Ocean Front View

One drive to the beach is all you need to see houses worth millions of dollars because of their million-dollar-views . Some houses are beautiful . Some need a little work . But they are the envy of most inland homeowners because of where they are built . Beachfront homeowners can wake up in the morning, draw back the drapes, and watch dolphins playing in the waves . Or they can watch the sun as it makes its climb into the eastern sky over the sea signaling a new dawn . Their backyard is the ocean . Those houses are perfect for calm days with just enough sunshine to stay warm and just enough breeze to stay cool . But nobody wants to be near them when a hurricane is swirling . In 2004, four hurricanes came to visit the state of Florida: Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne . Those houses with such enviable views of the Atlantic or the Gulf of Mexico were reduced to rubble by the time the four storms left town . They were built, not on solid, stable rock, but on shifting, unstable sand . The view from the solid, stable rock may not be as breathtaking as the oceanfront view, but when the wind howls and the rains pound, you will be grateful you built your house on a firm foundation . Storms do not care whose last name is on the mailbox or how many zeros are on your paycheck . Heed the wisdom of Jesus . While the sun is shining, build your house for the days when it is not . Build your house on a rock .

CONTEMPLATING THE TOPIC

Jesus likened us, in our relationship with Him, to one who builds a house . A wise builder builds on a firm foundation . If we choose to base our foundational belief system on the Word of God, our faith will be able to withstand the rains, floods, and winds that batter against us .

Foundation = Integrity

I’m going to focus on the the last two scriptures of our lesson text.

19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Focus - Household faith grounded and settled.

Abraham - Father of the faithful.

Genesis 13:8–12 KJV 1900

And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

Ellicott’s commentary

Not as yet within their walls, but in their neighbourhood, and evidently with a longing "toward Sodom," where, in Genesis 19, we find him sitting in the gate as a citizen, and with his tent changed to a house. While, then, Abram continued to lead a hardy life as a stranger upon the bracing hills, Lot sighed for the less self-denying habits of the city; and probably, when he had descended into the Ghor, the enervating climate, which so developed the sensual vices of the people as to make them "sinners before Jehovah" (see on Genesis 10:9), disposed Lot also to quit his tent, and yield himself to a luxurious and easy manner of living.

Lot chose Ocean Front Property in Arizona

Abraham Chose the Hilly Hills of Canaan

You know what it had a lot of? Rock...

Lot chose to have permanent structures in (houses) in unrighteousness. We know the New Testament calls him righteous, but that’s because he had been with Uncle Abraham just enough to be around the glory of God, but what about Lot’s wife? His daughters? His son in laws? Each had a tragic ending...

While Abraham, he was surrounded by rock, so you know what he said, I have plenty of material here to build another altar to the Lord.

While he kept pulling up the stakes of his tent, the only permanent structures he built were altars! That was the integrity of his foundation!

Guess what?

When the storms of life and the flood waters came, his structure had the integrity of being founded upon the rock.

Hebrews 11:8–10 KJV 1900

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Closing:

Church, this world is not my home, I’m just a passing through. Let’s build altars along the way!