Matthew 7 15-29

2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Matthew 7: 15-29

“Foundations of Faith – Rock Or Sand?”

May 2, 1999

Intro:  “Beware of the dog,” “Watch your step,” “Danger, Thin Ice,” “Dangerous crossing,” “Caution! Proceed at your own risk.”  These are all warning signs given to protect us.  We may not always heed these signs, but we like to be warned about impending dangers.  At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks these words to the crowd and to us.  “Watch out!”  More than any other warning we hear, we must heed this warning.  “Watch out!”  If we ignore this warning we risk our eternal salvation that was bought for us by Christ on the cross.  Watch out for false prophets – watch out for false preachers.

            The very foundation of our faith is at stake.   It is a tale of two houses that look the same but have different foundations.  If we listen to, and follow false preachers we are like a person that builds his spiritual house on a foundation of sand.  It is a house that will be destroyed.  If we listen and follow Christ’s words, our spiritual house will be built on a foundation of rock.  This house will stand forever.  Who are these false preachers?  How do we know who they are?  What should we look for?

I.       Watch out for False Preachers.

A.    They Come in Sheep’s Clothing:

                        Jesus tells us that they come to us in sheep’s clothing.  What he is saying is that they will be members of the church, not some outside organization.  Like us they will look like Christians.  They will be leaders in the church.  They will lead people in worship.  They ware clerical robes and have shirts with collars.  People call them with titles like Reverend, Pastor, Father and Priest.  They look like spiritual leaders but they are not.  You cannot tell a false preacher by how he looks.

B.     They Use Religious Words and Speak in Half Truths:

                        False preachers use words that sound religious and true.  In our courts, people promise to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth (and in the past we added) so help us God.”  False preachers only tell half truths.  They talk about God’s will, His commandments, and what people must do to earn His approval.  They talk about “spiritual principles” – one that I heard recently was that if you give God (or that TV ministry) 5,000 dollars, God in return would pay of all your debt….this year.  If you give to God, He must give back to you.  Another popular theme is that this is the year of Jubilee, and God will really bless you if you do this or that.  They take God’s Word out of context.  Has God not given you everything He has in Christ Jesus?  What more could He give?  Anyone that listens and follows their lies builds his spiritual house on a foundation of sand.

C.     They Say Things that God has not Said:

                        They tell us what we must do to be saved.  They say we must do this or that if we really want to be blessed.  They say that God has done His part in our salvation, now we must do our part.  They say we must give more money or become more obedient (which again means giving more money).  Some of them tell us that we must speak in tongues to prove that the Holy Spirit is in us.  They say we must have more faith if we want to be healed and if we have enough faith we won’t die if we handle snakes.  They tell us that God wants us to be prosperous, and if we are not, it is our own fault because we haven’t worked hard enough or done enough for God.  Anyone who listens and follows their lies builds his spiritual house on a foundation of sand.

D.    They Act Righteous:

                        At times we may be impressed with the lives of false preachers.  Seemingly, they act holy and righteous.  Their lives appear to be filled with good works.  They may even perform miracles, heal the sick, slay in the spirit.  They may speak in tongues and prophecy.  In verse 22 Jesus says, ‘Many will say to me “Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” “Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you.  Away from me you evil doers!”  We may forget that all the saints, yesterday and today are sinners. The actions of people are a foundation of sand.

E.     Their Words Appeal to Us:

         Unfortunately and all to often, we are attracted to what false preachers preach.  Their words speak to our egos.  The Bible says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it leads to death.”  We are sinfully bold enough to think that we can work our way to Heaven by doing good and following God’s commandments.  Our arrogance leads us to believe that we can contribute in some way (even making a decision for Christ) to our own salvation.  We want to believe preachers when they say that God wants us to be materially rich.  This is in spite of Christ’s teaching that we should not store up treasure here where rust and the moth will destroy.  We want to believe that we can be healed--if we just had enough faith.  We want to believe in their miracles even if they are not real.  Part of our heart wants to follow them.  That is our nature according to the flesh.  Our natural choice is to build our spiritual house on a foundation of sand.

F.      Two Types of False Preachers:

         The first type buys their own deception.  They believe what they preach, not knowing that it is wrong.  Their sincerity tempts us to believe also.  Many a sincere person will be found in Hell.  The second type knowingly deceives people.  Their hearts are cold.  They want money, success and prosperity at the expense of the Christian.  Truly they are like ferocious wolves, ravishing the sheep.

II.    What’s Missing – What They Don’t Preach.

A.    Missing Christ:

            We can tell who the false teachers are by what their preaching leaves out. We have to listen for what is missing.  False preachers don’t preach Christ and Him crucified for your sins.  They don’t preach that it is through Christ alone that your sins have been forgiven.  They don’t point to the cross and it is not central to their teaching.  Some false preachers will mention Christ, but only as an after thought.  It’s like Jesus was the ticket to get saved, but now it’s our job to stay in.  They sometimes dwell on the Holy Spirit and His power in our lives, but it is at the expense of what Christ has done.  I once watched TV evangelist Benny Hinn for a couple hours.  He spent a lot of time talking about Holy Ghost power.  He did what appeared to be miracles.  Not once did he mention Christ and how God has reconciled people to Him by forgiving their sins.  Even if Benny’s miracles are real, all he is doing is putting bandages on.  The people he heals (if he does so), will die eventually.  If they don’t hear about Christ and believe, they will go to hell.  Benny appears to offer healing now and eternal death later.  In Matt. 16, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Jesus replies, “Blessed are you Simon (Peter) for this was not revealed to by man, but by my father in Heaven….and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not come over it.”  Jesus is the rock.  He is the firm foundation.  The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians (3:11), “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.  Christ is our foundation.

B.     Missing Grace, Faith and Baptism:

False preachers do not preach that it is by God’s grace alone through faith in Christ alone that people are saved.  They deny the Apostle Paul’s words, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”  They focus on what man does rather than what God has done for man.  False preachers don’t preach the assurance of salvation by virtue of faith and baptism.  He that believes and is baptized will be saved.  This is God’s promise to you.  Believe it.  Trust his Word.  God will not break His promise to you. God’s grace, your faith and your baptism are foundations of rock.

Conclusion:  Two houses that look the same on the outside but have different foundations.  One is founded on rock.  One is founded on sand.  Many churches look the same on the outside, beautiful, pristine and holy.  Their foundations are made up of what is preached inside.  Take a good look at the person wearing the collar or robe.  Listen to what he is saying.

At a church in Georgia the preacher must ascend a stairway to get into the pulpit.  As a person passes a pillar he has to see the words etched in stone: “Sir, we would see Jesus.

            A story is told of a pastor who had lost his faith and it was evident in his preaching.  One Sunday he found an unsigned note on his pulpit Bible.  It read: “Sir, we would see Jesus.”  Shaken, the preacher reexamined his faith and his preaching.  The difference was apparent to his congregation as Christ was again proclaimed as Savior.

            Then one day the preacher found another note.  It read: “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”

            Expect to see Jesus and be glad when He is preached as savior.

                                                                                                                        Amen.