Matthew 7:24-27
Tomorrow we celebrate the President’s Day.
We remember the founding fathers of our country for their faith and trust upon God of the Bible – wrote a unique document called “The Declaration of Faith” based on Holy Bible.
Today what USA stands for is just by the grace of God.
This particular parable of our Lord Jesus Christ is found at the end of HIS long discourse what we know as Sermon on the Mount.
Anywhere in the world, any building we see requires not good foundation but strong foundation.
Every human being is like a building – needs strong spiritual foundation for life.
This parable helps us to know what kind of spiritual foundation a Christian should have.
Because the foundation is what holds everything up - what holds everything together?
I. THE HEARERS AND THE DOERS (24)
Hearing we do when we read the instructions in the Word of God.
HIS instructions have implications not only for this life but the life-after.
Lord Jesus was saying that just hearing is not enough but we need to put into practice.
Like listening to coach before the game – that will have great impact on the performance of the players.
II. THE WISE BUILDS ON ‘THE ROCK’ (25)
On Oct. 17, 1989 a massive earthquake struck the San Francisco area – all buildings on solid foundation withstood the impact – others collapsed.
The two pillars of Golden Gate Bridge rest on two rocks and could withstand the impact.
Whereas the Bay Bridge was built on the land fill and did collapse.
Extra efforts are necessary to lay a foundation on the rock and it is hard.
Drilling deep is like listening intently - this is hard but profitable.
In spiritual realm rock represents Christ – HE is the solid Rock.
The believer in the Lord has a special mandate on him/her – to obey and follow the instructions of the LORD.
Life storms hit every one irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
The difference is the outcome - one survives and the other collapses.
Strangely life storms are different – they are different in everyone’s life and come at different times.
As someone expresses beautifully:
“Problems drench us like a driving rain
Stress surrounds us like rushing flood waters
Pressures pound us like a hurricane wind”
It is the storms of life that reveal the strength of our foundation.
III. THE FALSE FOUNDATION EXPOSED (26-27)
What distinguishes the builders is the foundation they choose to build on.
The Lord Jesus clearly gives the hearer two choices – to hear HIM and do – hear HIM but not to do as told.
One thing is true that everyone follows somebody’s instructions in life.
We have to follow instructions to live in this life – the teacher, the employer – the government.
So also in the spiritual life we too have two choices – Christ’s or the world.
Our spiritual building should be built on the ROCK, Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not enough to just read HIS word or listen to HIS word.
We have to put into practice the truths of life and assimilate them in our life's journey.
Such believers in the Lord are unshakable in times of life’s storms.
Others who take light of Lord’s instructions will have no strong foundation to withstand the impact and intensity of storms in life.
So what distinguishes a believer in the Lord is his/her foundation based on HIS Word and instructions.
What is yours my friend?
Are you building your spiritual house on the ROCK or shallow grounds of the world?
Tomorrow we celebrate the President’s Day.
We remember the founding fathers of our country for their faith and trust upon God of the Bible – wrote a unique document called “The Declaration of Faith” based on Holy Bible.
Today what USA stands for is just by the grace of God.
This particular parable of our Lord Jesus Christ is found at the end of HIS long discourse what we know as Sermon on the Mount.
Anywhere in the world, any building we see requires not good foundation but strong foundation.
Every human being is like a building – needs strong spiritual foundation for life.
This parable helps us to know what kind of spiritual foundation a Christian should have.
Because the foundation is what holds everything up - what holds everything together?
I. THE HEARERS AND THE DOERS (24)
Hearing we do when we read the instructions in the Word of God.
HIS instructions have implications not only for this life but the life-after.
Lord Jesus was saying that just hearing is not enough but we need to put into practice.
Like listening to coach before the game – that will have great impact on the performance of the players.
II. THE WISE BUILDS ON ‘THE ROCK’ (25)
On Oct. 17, 1989 a massive earthquake struck the San Francisco area – all buildings on solid foundation withstood the impact – others collapsed.
The two pillars of Golden Gate Bridge rest on two rocks and could withstand the impact.
Whereas the Bay Bridge was built on the land fill and did collapse.
Extra efforts are necessary to lay a foundation on the rock and it is hard.
Drilling deep is like listening intently - this is hard but profitable.
In spiritual realm rock represents Christ – HE is the solid Rock.
The believer in the Lord has a special mandate on him/her – to obey and follow the instructions of the LORD.
Life storms hit every one irrespective of their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
The difference is the outcome - one survives and the other collapses.
Strangely life storms are different – they are different in everyone’s life and come at different times.
As someone expresses beautifully:
“Problems drench us like a driving rain
Stress surrounds us like rushing flood waters
Pressures pound us like a hurricane wind”
It is the storms of life that reveal the strength of our foundation.
III. THE FALSE FOUNDATION EXPOSED (26-27)
What distinguishes the builders is the foundation they choose to build on.
The Lord Jesus clearly gives the hearer two choices – to hear HIM and do – hear HIM but not to do as told.
One thing is true that everyone follows somebody’s instructions in life.
We have to follow instructions to live in this life – the teacher, the employer – the government.
So also in the spiritual life we too have two choices – Christ’s or the world.
Our spiritual building should be built on the ROCK, Lord Jesus Christ.
It is not enough to just read HIS word or listen to HIS word.
We have to put into practice the truths of life and assimilate them in our life's journey.
Such believers in the Lord are unshakable in times of life’s storms.
Others who take light of Lord’s instructions will have no strong foundation to withstand the impact and intensity of storms in life.
So what distinguishes a believer in the Lord is his/her foundation based on HIS Word and instructions.
What is yours my friend?
Are you building your spiritual house on the ROCK or shallow grounds of the world?
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