Wisdom and Folly Personified

Review

Introduction

You know we evangelize, and outreach, and testify that our goal is making it to heaven - and that is ultimatly true - when I was young we used to sing “More than Anything in my Life I’ve Got to Make It” I still believe that is true in the long run -

But as I read my Bible I see theere is something else that is important while we are waiiting to go to heaven. (I am talking of course to those who are saved)

It’s called by many names

Walking in the Light

Discipleship

Spiritual Formation

Growing in Grace

Maturity

Whatever you call it we are called not only to be born again to get saved - not only to be entirely sanctified - but to a life of Holiness a life of holy living being Christ Like

There is a lot of things that happen when we get saved

1 We are justified (Declard to be just before God)

2. Regenerated (Sometimes called initial sanctification, sometimes sanctification) (This is what changes our behavior why we stop sinning because we are born again)

From then on we walk in newness of life or should be walking in newness of life old things passed away all things become new

Part of that involves intentionally doing things not out of a legalistic bondage bout out of love and devotion to Jesus Christ - to shape our soul and our life into His likeness.

This is what the Sermon on the Mount gives us in a nutshell

While it is not a legalistic checklist of do’s and dont’s

It is the words of Christ himself about what He wants from us and every so often we ought to take this word to Jesus and ask Him how we are doing.

But Jesus has been teaching for three chapters (Matthew 5-7) on how those who are living in the Kingdom of Heaven should live and act what their characters should be like how they should reflect Christ.

This camp we have already discovered

The Tudes -

The Beatitudes Matthew 5:3-12

The Similitues Matthew 5:13-48

The Disciples Devotion to Prayer Matthew 6:5-15

Kingdom Living Matthew 6:1-4; 16-34

Yesterday we talked about To Judge or Not to Judge Matthew 7:1-12

Today with the Lord’s help I want to finish up the Sermon on the Mount…Matthew 7:13-29

Let’s look at the lesson this morning.

I think between Matthew 7:12 and Matthew 7:13 is when Jesus would have said as preachers are prone me to do... “Now in conclusion” Or “in closing...”

Jesus is getting ready to sum up the sermon on the mount and he does this with four illustrations that teach the same point:

and that point is - Jesus is the only way to the truly blessed life and righteousness.

There’s Just One Way To The Blessed Life (Matthew 7:13-14)

Matthew 7:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Now we often use this as an evangelistic sermon text contrasting the differences between the broad and the narrow way - and there is certainly nothing wrong with applying it that way - but you also have to remember something

Jesus is talking to disciples (When the Bible talks about disciples of Jesus it is refering to those who are following him, to those who were born again) So why is Jesus telling His disciples to enter in at the strait gate or the narrow gate?

Well I think there could be a couple of reasons:

There was a multitude of listeners who were eavesdropping in on this conversation. It is possible he was extending an invitation and warning to them.

But again Jesus doesn’t ramble - he doesn’t just get up and say things He has a point and something to say and His words flow togehter cohesively

When you study a pssage you need to know what comes before what comes after and whats all around it and no where in here does it seem to indicate that Jesus has changed audiences - He is still talking to the disciples - to the saved the born again.

The way I see and understand this passage

Jesus has spent a considerable amount ot time just explaining the Christlike life I have doen the best I know how to explain what He meant as bes I understand it

But few even of the disciples are going to find the narrow way that Christlikeness not world-likeness or culture-likeness or even societal likeness will get us the Christ like life or according to these passages entrance into heaven.

“The word strait there is the older English word strait, not straight. The word straight means straight versus crooked, but the old word strait meant to be crushed, to be squeezed, to be strangled.

Sometimes we still use the term he was in dire straits. What does that mean? “Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way …” Jesus is depicting something that looks like it’s going to crush you or smother you to death”

I heard a minister one time make the statement that we sometimes miss the boat when we say there are only two ways - (which is true technically) but he went on to aruge there are three ways and I think Jesus is talking about this over and over and over throught the sermon on th emount

There are those who reject the Gospel completly - they refuse to believe

There are those who it is Jesus plus (We sometimes call them moral people)

There are those who throw everything on Christ (this is the narrow way - nothing else can get through)

Illustrate it with story of Bob - There is a story that is told about a man lets call him Bob,

Bob was struggling to get across the desert.

He has been there too long and is over heated, exhausted, and dehydrated. He is going to die unless he gets a drink soon.

Ahead he spies an oasis with clear blue beautiful water. That water is his only hope of survival and salvation.

What is going to motivate Bob to move across the desert to get to the water hole?

Faith - he has to have faith that it is real that its not just a mirage.

Once Bob establishes that it is real - then he has to move across the desert, to get to the water hole.

So I want to ask you - when was Bob saved by the water in the desert?

When he believed that the water was real,

or when he crawled all the way across the desert through sand and wind past poisonous reptiles and other desert creatures, knees and hands torn by the cactus plants that lurked at every turn?

The Moral man Says it is when Bob has seen the water knows its real and crawls all the way across the desert through sand and wind past all the things to the water and drinks that when he is saved.

But Jesus says wait a minute how are we saved what does the scritures say -

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

SO true Christianity says Bob is saved when he realzies the water is real its not a mirage and by grace through faith is convinced that that is the only way of salvation - that he may begin to crawl toward the water but what happens is the water moves to HIM

We talk about seeking God but in reality it is God seeking US.

There’s just one way into the Blessed life and that is through the Narrow Gate

There’s Just One Way to The Righteous LIfe (Insdie out) (Matthew 7:15-20)

Matthew 7:15–20 KJV 1900

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

This is a warning and exhortation - there is going to be opposition in being Christlike -

False prophets those who tell you what you want ot hear - those who tell you what is profitable to them, those who tear you down and apart to make themselves look smarter or better

Jesus gives us the key - = its what is in the core in the soul in the heart listen to this great law

Matthew 7:17–18 KJV 1900

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

What kind of fruit are you bearing what type of fruit are you seeing. Now its so easy to use externals as a checklist here - but please understand not one time has Jesus mentioned external standards - all of what Jesus has been talking about here has been heart issues

What is in the heart will express itself in some form or fasion

I’ve seen some expressions this camp that have warmed my heart and made me feel like I was among family and Kingdom dwellers. We don’t have to agree on everything - but there is a fellowship with those in the Kingdom

I talked about Judging yesterday - this fruit inspection isn’t about whether someone is saved or not - but rather are they here to help or hinder...

There is Only One Way to the Kingdom (Doing the Will of the Father) (Matthew 7:21-23)

In another sobering illustration Jesus points out that religious speech isn’t enough, having spiritual gifts is not enough, doing many wonderful things and works is not enough -

What is the key - the only way into the Kingdom of Heaven - “DOING THE WILL OF THE FATHER”

Isn’t that just contradictory to hat you said a moemtn ago with the story of Bob?

No let me explain - The will of the Father includes all the Word of God and if we go by any - any - any other way we forfiet our entrance into the kingdom of Heaven - that is a scary thought.

I’ve heard people say - “follow the pattern of other people” can I just say that is dangerous and scary advice. Even Paul didn’t encourage people to do that - He said “follow me as I FOLLOW CHRIST’ you need to know what Christ said so you can evaluatte my fruit don’t just take what I say - I tell you beleoved we had better know THIS BOOK GOD’S WORD for ourselves - it contains the will of the Father

There Is Only One Way To Kingdom Wisdom (Matthew 7:24-27) Jesus uses the idea of two builders to summarize his sermon - Jesus is saying this is the way to Christlikeness build on the foundation I have just given you and you will be WISE reject it or only take pieces of it and you are FOOLISH.

In this parable Jesus personifies wisdom and condenses his main points down so people could take it with them and remember it. Look at these comparrisons -

Two Men with the same vision - They both wanted to build a place of refuge. A place they could call home. A place of safety. They obviously both had friends and loved ones they wanted to entertain and house.

The two men both heard the same truth - They both heard, "These sayings of mine" 24,26 Dr. Tony Evans said, "They both went to the same Seminary"

The two experienced very similar (if not exact) life difficulties, and stormsThe two experienced two very different outcomes

In this parable the foundation represents the teachings of Jesus. (Namely what he had just finished - the "Great Sermon on the Mount"

One was building something to show (Righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees) , the other was building something to stand.(Kingdom Righteousness)

The story of the Leaning Tower of Pisa is very interesting. (Has anyone here ever been there? )The Tower of Pisa, in Italy is over 800 years old. But it was built in Pisa which means "Marshy" or "muddy" The only reason it hasn't fallen yet is because there hasn't been a strong earthquake. But you let one come by there, and unless they have really reinforced the tower it's going to topple over. Leaning at about 1/20th of an inch every year. It can't be used for anything but to look at. It doesn't have a proper foundation, it's just for show.

I pray God would help us have a generation of wise people who will listen to Jesus, and build their life upon a firm foundation. Upon Jesus Christ And then let the storms come, let the winds blow, let the grounds shake - and the house built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ will not fall.

I pray that these Bible studies have been a blessing to you - but I pray more that you will take this Sermon on the MOunt and live it out daily

Thank you each and every one for your kind attention, your kind words and thoughtful input. God bless

You are dismissed.