Your House is only as Strong as It's Foundation
Your House Is only as strong as it’s foundation
TEXT: Matthew 7:24-29
INTRODUCTION: As this passage begins with "therefore" it is certain these statements of the Lord are rooted in the preceding passage.
In fact, they are a fitting conclusion to the entire "Sermon on the Mount."
If we do not put these sayings of Christ to practice, i.e. the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount, our spiritual house will fall in this life and come to utter ruin in the world to come.
Specifically, Matthew 7:24-29 is the conclusion and explanation of Matthew 7:21-23.
In these two passages of Scripture we have contrasted "SAYING" and "DOING."
Observe carefully in Matthew 7:22 that "many will say," which in dictates the matter under consideration was only a spoken religion. Matthew 7:20
These involved in this mere "spoken religion" were rejected by Christ who said, "depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
Since Christ knows us by our "fruits" (Mt. 7:20) and since Christ never knew these spoken of here, it is obvious they didn't have good fruit - but only said
they had done these things in the name of Christ or by His authority.
Although this point was very clearly set forth by the illustration of the fruit tree (Mt. 7:17-20), our Lord drives home the point by the most blood-chilling words know to man - "I never knew you."
Christ has never know (i.e. accepted) the false teacher, or they who say and do not.
One who does not submit to the Lord's will in every point has contaminated fruit.
With these thoughts in mind, let us turn our attention to our Lord’s chief argument for having a firm foundation, which is seen in the parable of the two builders (Mt. 7:24-29).
I. EVERYONE IS A BUILDER
A. This truth is represented by the wise man who built his house on a rock and the foolish man who built his house on the sand.
1. The wise man chose a proper foundation (doing the will of God) and built an enduring house - the only profitable life.
2. The foolish man labored to build a house upon sand (disobedient to God's word) and his house and labor were lost.
3. One may say, "I'm not going to build," - but our Lord anticipates such, and they are also represented by the foolish man.
B. To really appreciate this parable one needs to understand a little about the terrain of Palestine.
1. Palestine is covered with hills and valleys.
2. In late winter and early spring the heavy mountain rains come, this causes peaceful streams to become ragging streams, and carries everything in its path away with it.
3. This leaves a sandy deposit in the low lands.
4. The wise man will not build in the sand; he chooses to build in the higher country where there is solid rock. ©
C. We are all going to build on a foundation in this life whether we realize it or not.
1. We are going to build on a foundation which we will place our soul's destiny
2. The sure foundation of the Lord will stand and all others will crumble
a) 2 Timothy 2:19
b) 1 Timothy 6:19
II. THE WISE BUILDER
A. This wise man built upon a foundation that was founded upon a rock - a firm foundation
B. Notice what Jesus said was needed to be a wise man - "every one therefore that heareth these words of mine and doeth them."
C. To build a strong foundation for a house, you must follow the directions found in the blueprints.
1. The blueprints to a foundation are engineered to hold the weight of the structure and to keep it stable.
2. If one leaves things out of the foundation it is sure to crumble.
D. For a Christian to build a firm foundation - he must read and follow the blueprints designed by Christ.
E. The key to building a good foundation, a firm foundation, is doing the following:
1. "HEAR"
a) Romans 10:17
b) 2 Timothy 2:15
c) No one can know how to build a firm foundation unless one hears and studies the blueprints
d) We automatically build a weak foundation when we do not know how to build a strong one.
2. "DOER"
a) Jesus said, "whoso heareth these sayings of mine, AND DOETH THEM ..." (Mt. 7:24).
b) Matthew 7:21
c) Faithful men of God have always been doers:
d) Abel is a good representative of the Patriarchal Age _ Genesis 4:4
e) King Josiah is a good representative of the Mosaical Age _ 2 Kings 22:2
f) Paul is a good representative under the Christian Age _ 2 Timothy 4:7
3. Obedience has always been a distinguishing mark of a faithful child of God
F. "BUILD ON A ROCK"
1. This rock on which we are to build our foundation is in the Old Testament referred to as Deity.
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Isaiah 26:18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
2. The New Testament pictures Christ as this rock on which we are to build
Matthew 16:13-18
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
3. Christ must be our foundation, and any other foundation can not stand.
III. THE FOOLISH BUILDER
A. The foolish man has also heard the same truth and has equal intelligence to understand, but his foolishness is shown in that he does not secure that truth by putting it into practice.
Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
1. Some hear but the devil takes the word away
2. To act on what one hears will keep the devil from our hearts
1 Corinthians 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3. Keep it in memory ... use it or loose it
4. To loose it is to believe in vain
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
B. The foolish man looks for an easy way out
1. The foolish man might say that it is easier to work with sand
2. Many do not want to make the needed sacrifice that is required to have a firm foundation
Amos 6:1 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!
3. A firm foundation can only be had by our diligent following and close adherence to the blueprints
CONCLUSION
We are all going to build on a foundation - firm or weak
A firm foundation can only be had when we follow the instructions given by Jesus - the Chief Corner Stone - We must know and follow the instructions
What kind of foundation are you building on?
A firm foundation can only be had when we follow the instructions
ARE YOU A WISE OR FOOLISH BUILDER?