Build it Right!

Matthew 7:24 NRSV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

Matthew 7:25 NRSV

The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

Matthew 7:26 NRSV

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Matthew 7:27 NRSV

The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”

Intro:

You know........

I don’t believe we really understand how important it is to focus on the beginning of a thing.......

There is so much that we overlook in the beginning.....

.......and there is so much that we impatiently look towards because we are in a hurry to finalize our activities.

But we could learn a lot from God as it relates to how we deal with beginnings.......

In the begining God created the heavens and earth......

And as God is creating, God is not in a hurry to finish

.......because God is setting the pace of excellence that begins with the details of a solid foundation.

(pause)

But whenever we see something in its beginning stages we tend to try to rush past it towards a more glorious finish...

But the bible even teaches us.......

“Do not frown on small beginnings”

In other words.....

There is a certain appreciation for those things that are necessary to set a good foundation....

(pause)

Barrel:

If you have ever started a vacation trip with your children you understand that one of the first questions that is asked in the first 20 minutes of the trip if that long is.......

“How long will it be before we get there?”

(pause)

And.......

.....many times in our lives we are just like little children

Because......

........our focus is not placed on what is necessary at the starting point

.......but instead our focus is on the finish

(pause)

And this morning I am suggesting to you my brothers and sisters that much emphasis must be placed on building a solid foundation.......

(pause)

This is why we are taking our time to understand what it means to be “ROOTED”

(pause)

Because........

........it is at the foundation level that we determine our success story!

And if you put too much weight on a foundation that has not been proven.........

......it will crack!

And it’s a dangerous scenario........

.......when a foundation is broken!

(pause and expound)

I spoke with an architect here in the Atlanta area to discuss the importance of foundations when building structures...

.....and he shared with me that the key to the longevity of buildings depends on the foundation being built correctly.

.....and he said that buildings built in the 1930’s, 40s, and 50s are torn down because the quality of the foundation wasn’t right.

......they were made with brick, and over time they decay and weep water.

And so......

......they don’t even try to save these buildings, they just tear them down.

(pause)

But........

......if the foundation is built with concrete it’s good for 100’s of years.

(pause)

And in the book “Rooted” that we are studying......

Banning talks about the time he was making cookies and tried to substitute baking soda for flour......

And......

....his takeaway was that whatever goes in at the beginning affects the outcome. (repeat)

And.....

....that’s why we got to focus on the foundation

......because if we build with the wrong materials we wont have what we need when we need it!

And I guess my first question is.......

When was the last time you looked at your FOUNDATION?

(pause and expound)

And....

In today’s text Jesus shares a parable concerning two builders.....

One wise builder and one foolish builder......

And what determines how well they build is based on what the foundation looks like.

Look at it now.....

Matthew 7:24 NRSV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

Matthew 7:25 NRSV

The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

The text says......

When we put into practice the teachings of Jesus Christ......

.....we are building with wisdom.

And for the Gospel of Matthew.....

.....a wise man is someone who is obedient.

(pause)

And for Matthew......

.......these actions are like building a house upon the rock!

In other words......

........we lay a good foundation for our lives when we practice what the Word of God teaches.

(pause)

And there are three benefits of a foundation for a structure that I believe relate to the importance of how God’s Word benefits our lives.

The first benefit of a good foundation is that....

It Bears the load

Meaning whatever you place on top of the foundation, because it is build correctly it can handle the weight!

(pause and expound)

The second benefit of a good foundation is that......

2. It is an Anchor against natural forces

Meaning there will be a greater resistance to outside pressure

And whenever the foundation is being engineered in an area where earthquakes are likely like California...

.....they are built with that expectation.

And in my spiritual imagination......

I just believe that God’s Word is equipped with everything we need to be able to get through any natural forces....

There’s not a storm that can OUTPOWER this kind of a foundation!

(pause and expound)

The third benefit of a good foundation is that......

3. It Isolates from ground moisture

And.....

The incredible thing that I found out about building foundations is that whenever they are buildling a foundation they do what’s called a Soil test.

And based on the soil condition......

......based on whether or not the soil is rocky or sandy

......it tells the builders how to best create the foundation.

And so.......

.......regardless of what happens in our society

......when our foundation is built right we are able to influence growth and consistency in our lives.

And....

.......nothing on the outside will decay or damage what’s being done on the inside.

(pause and expoud)

And the words of Jesus are clear here in Matthew’s Gospel......

Jesus says,

Those of you who hears these words......

......and then acts on them

are building on a good foundation!

(pause)

And the bible says in verse 25 that there are some risks that are going to be faced......

And what I have discovered is that there are some risks involved in living out our lives....

......because everyday we wake up

........there is a possibility that a STORM is coming!

(pause)

Now.......

In the OT rains and rivers symbolized the tests that God uses to search and try us at the foundation level.

And so....

Matthew’s Gospel is using this imagery if you will to paint a picture for his readers in a way that they can understand.....

Because........

......they understand flash floods overflowing the riverbanks and hitting the houses in the autumn season in Palestine.

And so......

.......they had to make sure that there was a solid foundation for homes built in the Palestinian desert

.....because a flash flood could easily result from sudden storms.

(pause)

And somebody in here can relate to the fact that.......

.........you don’t have to be expecting a storm for a storm to show up

And that’s why we need a SOLID FOUNDATION.....

(pause)

Because while there are somethings that are OUT OF OUR CONTROL......

.........there is still something that we CAN DO!

(pause)

Because Matthew’s Gospel says........

When the rain shows up.........

When the floods come.........

When the winds blow and beat on the house.......

(pause)

“It WILL......

........NOT FALL!”

(pause and expound)

Freedom family........

I asked the architect to describe the components of a foundation....

And he said that a foundation is made up of two things......

Concrete

Steel

And then I started to think about what Jesus was saying in this parable.......

And in my spiritual imagination I begin to picture what it would look like for God to use the components necessary for us to be built the way he wanted our foundation to look!

(pause)

And when I thought about the Concrete.......

It reminded me of the solidity of the Gospel and our salvation.

It caused me to reflect on how what Jesus Christ did for our lives can never be UNDONE!

(pause and expound)

John 8:36 NRSV

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

But now when I got to the second component of the Steel, I almost didn’t see the connection........

......but then I remembered something that the Architect shared with me.

He said that.......

.......The Steel is just as important as the concrete because it is relevant to the soil condition that the foundation is being placed on.

(pause)

And then I started thinking about how many Christians believe that all they need to do is get saved.....

........to build the right foundation.

And that’s when it hit me......

.........if the Concrete represents how we are Justified by Christ

......and how our salvation is UNSHAKABLE in CHRIST

(pause)

In my spiritual imagination..........

.....the STEEL represents DISCIPLESHIP!

(pause)

Pastor how did you get DISCIPLESHIP out of STEEL.......?

(pause)

The bible says in Luke 14.27........

“Anyone who does not carry his/her cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

And then in Luke 9.23 it says......

“we must deny ourselves and take up the cross daily and follow Christ.”

(pause)

Because.......

when I ACT on God’s Word my FOUNDATION gets STRONGER!

(pause)

And the bible says.......

We would have to be foolish to try to build a house on sand........

Meaning........

To live our lives without Accepting Christ and growing in Discipleship is a recipe for disaster!

Because when the Storms of life show up........

There’s going to be a GREAT FALL!

(pause)

And I come to serve notice.........

.........that anything that aint built on GOD’s WORD is destined to FALL!

I don’t care what it is...........

“It has to be BUILT RIGHT!” (Repeat)

That’s why buildings and structures have........

Buildling Codes........

.....because that SETS a STANDARD that holds the INTEGRITY of the builder and the buildling together.

(pause)

And Freedom family.......

I believe that this is what Jesus is doing in this parable.........

I believe that Jesus is SETTING a STANDARD!

(pause)

And what I hear Jesus saying in my spiritual imagination is that........

......there’s no way around BUILDING our lives without s STANDARD!

(pause)

And we don’t get to CHOOSE the standard.......

But the STANDARD is CHOSEN by HIS words......

Because Jesus says......

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be wise”

(pause)

And I see Jesus closing this SERMON on the MOUNT emphasizing the importance of this standard!

(pause)

Because if we have any chance of STANDING in a STORM.........

We must make sure we are standing on something stronger than the STORM...........

We don’t get through storms because we’re just so unstoppable......

(pause)

But my experience suggests that,

We get through storms because.......

We prayed through them

We studied the Word of God to get through them

We sacrificed to get through them

And in some instances.....

We grew spiritually to get through them.

(pause)

And that’s why the apostle Paul in writing to the Ephesians church says.......

You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ himself being the Chief Cornerstone!

(pause)

Oh......

I don’t know what your testimony is.....

.......but whenever I have overcome a STORM.......it is because I ACTED on what Jesus taught me!

(pause and expound)

Freedom family....

Jesus isn’t telling them this to make life RIGID...........and DIFFICULT

Jesus is trying to TEACH them how to BUILD past STAGES of LIFE......

.....by simply FOCUSING on the FOUNDATION!

Because.......

.......if the FOUNDATION is BUILT the right way it will increase our LONGEVITY!!

And so we can’t talk about LEGACY.........

......until we understand FOUNDATION!

(pause)

But baby if you BUILD it RIGHT!!!!

I don’t care what kind of STORM HITS the HOUSE!

IT wont be able to make it FALL!!!!

(EXPOUND and CLOSE)