1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,000 that's simply impossible with his true disciples. 2 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,000 Yes, he will say to the false disciples, 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,040 I never knew you, never knew you. 4 00:00:13,040 --> 00:00:17,480 But Jesus will never say that to his true church, 5 00:00:17,480 --> 00:00:20,800 to his disciples, because he knows 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,880 that when God's work of grace through the Holy Spirit 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,160 comes into his people's lives, 8 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:31,400 well, the result of that is that that person 9 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,280 is going to do the will of the Father 10 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:38,480 because of the grace of God at work in their lives. 11 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:42,520 In other words, the very Spirit of God in them 12 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:47,520 is going to go about the business of changing their heart 13 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:52,240 to want to do the will of God in all that they do. 14 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,160 And brothers and sisters, I just wanna pause here 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,480 and say that that's incredibly wonderful news. 16 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:04,920 It's incredibly wonderful news for all of us this morning 17 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,400 because it means that when we were given spiritual ears 18 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,960 to hear and we heard the gospel, when we came to Christ, 19 00:01:13,960 --> 00:01:16,520 when we gave our lives to him, 20 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,920 we weren't just forgiven of our sins. 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:24,760 No, we were given the very Spirit of God. 22 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,760 And the Bible teaches us that God then works 23 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,240 in our very being for the rest of our days, 24 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:37,240 for the rest of our lives to make us more and more like Jesus. 25 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:40,240 I mean, what a wonderful truth. 26 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:45,440 There is a living relationship that we entered with God 27 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,120 when we came to Christ. 28 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,160 That's why we trust what he says. 29 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,440 That's why we want to do what he wants 30 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,400 because of the very Spirit of God 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:01,880 at work in all of our hearts. 32 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,080 All of that to say that life-changing work of the Spirit 33 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:08,600 isn't something that he has given to us 34 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:12,280 so that we might just practice it on Sundays 35 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,560 or in front of other people. 36 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,480 Now, it's something that changes all of us, 37 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,520 every aspect of our very being, 38 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:25,480 and because of his work in the life of his people. 39 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:30,240 As we trust and obey, we see the real effects 40 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:35,240 of that life-changing work in every aspect of our lives. 41 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:40,320 So the wise builder is the true disciple, 42 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:43,480 who by the grace of God, hears the words of God 43 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:46,560 and sees them for what they are. 44 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:50,480 Trustworthy and true and something worth building 45 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:53,880 their entire life on. 46 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,520 Say that another way, the wise builder isn't like 47 00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,400 the false disciple who gives some lip service 48 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:04,440 but never embraces what Jesus has to say. 49 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,920 Now, the wise builder is the disciple 50 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:11,000 who builds their entire life on Jesus, 51 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,600 knowing that Christ is a sure foundation, 52 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,160 that there is no other way. 53 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,800 And they do that by not just hearing the words of Jesus, 54 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:24,520 but doing what he says. 55 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,080 In a very real way, Jesus is saying to us 56 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:31,120 that the wise builder is the disciple 57 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,680 who embraces him with their whole lives, 58 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,160 with all of their hearts, with all of their minds, 59 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:40,640 with their souls and with all their strength 60 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,520 in what they do. 61 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:47,080 And so to that, so to do that, to embrace Jesus 62 00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:51,000 with all that we are and to do what he says 63 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:54,600 is to build our life upon the rock. 64 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:56,040 That is the wise builder. 65 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:58,480 That is the true disciple. 66 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,600 And I mean, this isn't some new revelation 67 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:06,280 that Jesus has given us here this morning. 68 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,080 Now, Jesus is only clarifying a biblical truth 69 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:15,080 as God's word speaks plainly about putting into practice 70 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:20,080 what you hear as obedience is the necessary result 71 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,160 of a converted heart. 72 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:27,280 Moses warns about the consequence of just hearing 73 00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:32,280 and not doing what God says in Deuteronomy 28.15. 74 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:34,880 He says, if you don't obey the Lord your God 75 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,760 and do not carefully follow all his commands 76 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,640 and decrees that I'm giving you, 77 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:43,280 all these curses will come and overtake you. 78 00:04:43,280 --> 00:04:45,120 The psalmist says a similar thing, 79 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,080 but he puts it another way, saying blessed is the one 80 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:52,880 who doesn't walk in step with the wicked 81 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,800 or stand in the way that sinners take 82 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,360 or sit in the company of mockers, 83 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,800 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord 84 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,920 and who meditates on his law day and night. 85 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,400 A person's like a tree planted by streams of water, 86 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,360 which yields its fruit in its season 87 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,840 and whose leaf does not wither. 88 00:05:14,840 --> 00:05:19,840 Whatever they do prospers, Psalm one, one and two. 89 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:25,040 In other words, the Bible teaches that it's not those 90 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:29,560 who just have a mere theoretical knowledge of God 91 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:34,440 or even understand his requirements that are blessed. 92 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:35,880 Now the one who is blessed, 93 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,440 which is the opposite to being cursed mind you, 94 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:40,920 is the one who not only listens 95 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,920 and understands what God says, but does what he tells us. 96 00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:52,280 They work out what he says into their lives. 97 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:56,360 Over and over, the word of God stresses 98 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:00,480 that we ought not to just be hearers of the word, 99 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,960 but doers of what we hear. 100 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:09,240 This is something that the disciples of Jesus reinforced 101 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,840 in their own letters to us. 102 00:06:12,840 --> 00:06:14,640 John puts it like this. 103 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,680 This is love for God to keep his commands 104 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:23,680 and his commands are not burdensome, 1 John 5.3, 105 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:27,960 with James not pulling any punches, 106 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:30,280 saying don't merely listen to the word 107 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:32,320 and so deceive yourselves. 108 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,880 Do what it says. 109 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:36,560 Anyone who listens to the word, 110 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,160 but does not do what it says is like someone 111 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,280 who looks at their face in the mirror 112 00:06:41,280 --> 00:06:43,080 and after looking at himself, 113 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:46,080 goes away and immediately forgets what they look like. 114 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,600 Whoever looks intently into the perfect law 115 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,880 that gives freedom and continues in it, 116 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,840 not forgetting what they've heard, but doing it, 117 00:06:58,840 --> 00:07:01,960 they'll be blessed in what they do. 118 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,920 James 1.22 through to 25. 119 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,480 Again, obedience is the necessary result 120 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:10,720 of a converted heart. 121 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:11,760 To put that another way, 122 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:15,360 we know that we have truly embraced Christ 123 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:18,960 and his authority when we are doing 124 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,440 what he commands us to do. 125 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:25,400 And we do that because our hearts have been, 126 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,400 what the Bible says, circumcised. 127 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,280 We've been converted by the grace of God. 128 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:35,160 Church, it's because of the grace, 129 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,280 the unmerited favor of God 130 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:41,120 and because of the work of the Holy Spirit 131 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:45,160 in the lives of God's precious people in us 132 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:52,400 that we know what Jesus has to say is right and true. 133 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,920 And because of God's work in us, 134 00:07:56,920 --> 00:08:01,920 that deep desire to follow what he says 135 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,560 is what we do something with it. 136 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:07,920 We put it into practice. 137 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:12,120 We put his words into practice. 138 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:16,800 That's what Jesus calls being a wise builder 139 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:18,520 who's building on the rock. 140 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:23,400 I wanna say a couple of things about this. 141 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,400 First, the Bible does not teach 142 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:32,400 that we save ourselves by our own obedience. 143 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,280 I really want you to hear that this morning 144 00:08:35,280 --> 00:08:38,840 because Jesus is certainly not teaching that. 145 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,040 He's simply calling his disciples 146 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,080 to build their lives upon the foundation 147 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,200 of his very person and words. 148 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:52,160 He's calling us to conform our minds to his words, 149 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:55,920 to live out the commands that he has given us. 150 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:59,560 That's the doing that he is speaking about here 151 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,840 as he knows that all our doing, 152 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,120 no matter how hard we might try, 153 00:09:08,160 --> 00:09:10,320 that won't save us. 154 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:15,080 That's because he knows that it is only his perfect life 155 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:20,080 given on behalf of us is what sets us right before God. 156 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,760 And that only comes about by embracing him, 157 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,200 the narrow gate by faith. 158 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,240 So we mustn't think that Jesus is telling us 159 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,560 that if we just labor hard enough, 160 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:36,040 we'll get over the line in the end. 161 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,120 Second, just because we love Jesus 162 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:44,520 and we wanna go about doing what he tells us, 163 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,880 well, does that mean that we're gonna get it right 164 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:48,840 100% of the time? 165 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:52,280 No, no. 166 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,600 But that's not the point that Jesus is driving out here 167 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:57,560 on the Sermon on the Mount. 168 00:09:57,560 --> 00:10:01,840 If he expected us to get it right every time, 169 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,960 then he wouldn't have given us those incredible words 170 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,640 to take to our Father in prayer. 171 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,440 Forgive us of our debts. 172 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,920 Lead us not into temptation, 173 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,560 but deliver us from the evil one. 174 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:21,400 Remember blessed are those who mourn 175 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:22,920 for they will be comforted. 176 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:26,040 Church, applying the law to our hearts 177 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:28,600 as we've seen it done in the Sermon on the Mount 178 00:10:28,600 --> 00:10:33,600 will show us that we are very much the poor in spirit. 179 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:36,280 That we truly are the poor in spirit 180 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,280 that continually need the mercy of God. 181 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,280 However, in saying that, as true disciples, 182 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:50,280 we will never, could never cast the words of our Lord aside. 183 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,800 Now, every time we see where we fall short, 184 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:59,280 where we've once again strayed like a sheep 185 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,120 from our shepherd, once again being tempted 186 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:05,120 to put that light under a bowl, 187 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:09,080 we'll go to our Father in that secret place, 188 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,120 close the door and confess our sin. 189 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:16,280 And ask for his forgiveness and grace and mercy 190 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:21,280 to do his will on earth as it is in heaven. 191 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,640 Church will be drawn to do that 192 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:29,520 because of the spirit of God in us. 193 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:32,600 That's what the grace of God causes the true disciples 194 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,600 and wise builders to do because of the, 195 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:38,080 and because of the gospel, 196 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,640 we can look to the Lord in the spirit of God 197 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:45,960 and look to Jesus, knowing that all our transgressions 198 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:49,160 have been dealt with so that we can walk again 199 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:54,160 in confidence, knowing that he will never leave 200 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:56,480 nor forsake us. 201 00:11:57,480 --> 00:12:01,040 It's as the saints have sung for well over a hundred years, 202 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,920 when we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, 203 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,560 what a glory he sheds on our way. 204 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:11,560 Why we do his goodwill, he abides with us still 205 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,720 and with all those who trust and obey. 206 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:19,360 Trust and obey, there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, 207 00:12:19,360 --> 00:12:20,720 but to trust and obey. 208 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:26,920 Church, has the grace of God transformed your life? 209 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:32,160 Has the grace of God caused you to trust the gospel 210 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,920 and obey our awesome savior? 211 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:38,240 Because there is no more vitally important question 212 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:41,960 that we need to ask of ourselves this morning. 213 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:46,960 As Jesus points out here in verses 26 through to 27. 214 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:51,960 But everyone who hears these words of mine 215 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:55,680 and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man 216 00:12:55,680 --> 00:12:58,160 who built his house in the sand. 217 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:03,160 The rain came down, the streams rose and the winds blew 218 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,560 and beat against that house. 219 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,480 It fell with a great crash. 220 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:16,600 Church, it's very simple what Jesus is doing here 221 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:18,000 in our passage this morning. 222 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:24,480 As has been said, he's simply contrasting two types 223 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,800 of disciples in the visible church. 224 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,400 One who was wise and built his house upon the rock, 225 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:36,400 who as we've seen is the disciple who builds his life 226 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:39,520 on not just hearing the words of God, 227 00:13:39,520 --> 00:13:42,720 but who puts them into practice over against 228 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,320 the foolish builder who hears the words of God. 229 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:49,240 It doesn't apply it. 230 00:13:50,560 --> 00:13:52,280 To do that says Jesus. 231 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,640 To not practice what he has revealed 232 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:02,640 is to be like a builder who builds their house on the sand. 233 00:14:02,800 --> 00:14:06,480 Their end is utter ruin. 234 00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:10,480 You see in the ancient world, people knew 235 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,600 that you couldn't just build your house on sand 236 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:17,600 because it shifted with different seasons 237 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,640 and the weather would cause all that was built 238 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:22,560 on the sand to shift with it. 239 00:14:22,560 --> 00:14:27,560 And so in context with the crowds here, 240 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:32,560 Jesus is saying, are you going to build your life 241 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:35,760 on the shallow shifting sands 242 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,520 of the outward religious understanding 243 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,640 that you've heard from the religious teachers 244 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,760 being the Pharisees? 245 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,360 Are you going to pursue this surface righteousness 246 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:53,000 that has an unstable foundation of traditions 247 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:57,360 and religious hypocrisy, or are you going to dig past that 248 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:00,800 and build your life on the very words of God? 249 00:15:02,960 --> 00:15:05,600 And kind of like last week with the illustration 250 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:10,560 of the trees, a tree can't hide its fruit forever. 251 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,920 And so like a house that's built on a dodgy foundation, 252 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:18,920 it might look great for a season, but when seasons change, 253 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:25,400 and they do, when the storms come and they will, 254 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,360 which is all language directing our attention to judgment, 255 00:15:29,360 --> 00:15:33,720 what is built on the surface, what you have built on 256 00:15:33,720 --> 00:15:35,560 will be shown for what it is. 257 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,800 Jesus could not be more clear with us this morning. 258 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:46,320 Are you building your house on outward religious works, 259 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:52,160 or are you going so much deeper to build your house 260 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:54,640 upon his very words? 261 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:58,640 He's getting us to reflect, isn't he? 262 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:02,760 It's all about Jesus getting us to consider 263 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:06,160 what we're building our lives on. 264 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:10,360 Notice that both the wise and foolish, they're building. 265 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:13,400 It's not like Jesus says, wise people build 266 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,920 and foolish people just kind of sit and do nothing. 267 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:20,520 They're both building. 268 00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:25,000 For the most part, they pretty much look pretty good 269 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:26,880 on the surface. 270 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:30,760 However, what Jesus is wanting us to focus on here 271 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,560 is all about what we build on. 272 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,920 As I've already said in context, Jesus is challenging 273 00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:43,920 all those that are hearing him to consider 274 00:16:43,920 --> 00:16:47,000 what have they built their lives on? 275 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,200 What have they built their lives on? 276 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,440 What have they done with the Pharisees 277 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,840 and their surface lessons of the law? 278 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,160 But I wanna ask that question of you this morning. 279 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:08,000 I wanna ask it of all of us. 280 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:13,000 Are we building our life on religious traditions, 281 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:19,480 on external standards and things that make us think, 282 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:25,120 hey, I do all of this, so I'm okay with God? 283 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:29,600 Or have you come to the rock of your salvation? 284 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:35,760 Have you cast your whole self upon the Lord 285 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:40,760 or are you still looking to your own so-called righteousness 286 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:41,800 for justification? 287 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:48,080 Because as Jesus says, unless your life is built 288 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:52,160 on the rock of his teaching, his doctrine of himself, 289 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,160 anything else is just shifting sand 290 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:01,160 that's ready to cave in on itself once it comes 291 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:03,720 under external pressure. 292 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:07,240 And we can take the words of Jesus 293 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:09,320 and believe that that day is coming. 294 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:11,520 That day is coming. 295 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:14,640 And that's what Jesus has been saying 296 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:18,320 since chapter 713 onwards. 297 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:22,120 Destruction is promised to all those who choose 298 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:26,640 the wide gate, the broad path and that final destination 299 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:31,640 is pictured in different ways in these last few verses. 300 00:18:31,640 --> 00:18:34,040 First with the burning of rotten trees 301 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,840 and now with the destruction of a house built on sand. 302 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,440 His point couldn't be any more clear. 303 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:47,440 He isn't asking if we would just consider what he has said, 304 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:50,800 if we would just hear what he said. 305 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:54,640 He's calling you and me to build our lives 306 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:59,640 on all that he hears because if we hear the words of Jesus, 307 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,920 yet cast him aside and do our own thing, 308 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:07,320 even though we might look good at keeping up appearances 309 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,120 with the Christian community around us, 310 00:19:10,120 --> 00:19:14,320 well, there's a certain end, a certain end. 311 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:17,920 Let me be direct with you. 312 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:20,520 What do you stand for? 313 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:25,120 What is your life built on? 314 00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:29,120 What consumes and drives your daily life? 315 00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:32,520 The test of life will come. 316 00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:36,520 The seasons will come and go with the so-called storms. 317 00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:38,520 It's gonna give you an indication. 318 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,320 In other words, when the pressures of life come, 319 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:43,920 when the pressure of sin comes, 320 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,520 when the pressure of difficulty comes, 321 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:48,920 does your life show that you're building 322 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,520 on the foundation which is Jesus? 323 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,920 Or do you see the cracks and the crumbling? 324 00:19:55,920 --> 00:20:00,920 Again, this isn't Jesus saying we are saved by our works, 325 00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:06,520 but he is stressing that all those who truly hear his words, 326 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:09,920 who really embrace him by faith, 327 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:12,720 will express that faith in what they do. 328 00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:16,520 We're all building on something. 329 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:21,520 Every single one of us. 330 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,520 The question is, what are you building on? 331 00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:28,920 Are you building for the here and now? 332 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,320 Are you building with eternity in mind? 333 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:36,320 Are you building something that is exclusively 334 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,720 just to be seen in public? 335 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:41,320 Or are you taking the words of Jesus 336 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:45,120 and applying it to every area of your life? 337 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:48,920 Even when no one is watching. 338 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:54,120 Again, the point of our Lord is simple. 339 00:20:54,120 --> 00:20:59,120 He's saying to us, his disciples, 340 00:20:59,120 --> 00:21:02,520 that the wise person builds on the foundation 341 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,920 of Christ's life and words, 342 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:09,120 and that the wise and true disciples foundation is Christ. 343 00:21:10,520 --> 00:21:13,720 It's Christ himself whom we are building on. 344 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,520 It's Christ himself whom we have embraced 345 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,920 with all that we are and doing what he says. 346 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:24,120 So that not if, but when that great storm 347 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:26,920 of final judgment comes, 348 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,920 will stand because our foundation is sure and true. 349 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,720 So brothers and sisters, 350 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,720 be very wise in what you do with the words that you hear. 351 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:42,720 Because the foolish person is content 352 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:46,720 to ignore the words of our Lord. 353 00:21:48,720 --> 00:21:51,320 So as we end our time this morning, 354 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:54,120 not only in this passage, 355 00:21:54,120 --> 00:21:57,720 but conclude our time in the book of Matthew, 356 00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,720 until we come back to it mid next year. 357 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:03,120 Matthew ends this sermon 358 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:07,320 with an incredibly interesting sentence. 359 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:08,120 It's interesting. 360 00:22:08,120 --> 00:22:11,520 Look with me, verses 28 and 29. 361 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:14,320 When Jesus had finished saying these things, 362 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:17,320 the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 363 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:20,920 because he taught as one who had authority, 364 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:23,720 and not as teachers of the law. 365 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:28,120 So it's interesting what Matthew records here 366 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:31,920 because of everything that we have looked at 367 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:35,120 over the past several months 368 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:37,120 as we've been in this series. 369 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:38,120 Since February. 370 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:41,120 Let me explain what I mean. 371 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,120 Matthew was showing us that just because 372 00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:48,120 the crowds were amazed, 373 00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:50,120 well it meant nothing. 374 00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:53,120 It was great that they had heard the word of God. 375 00:22:53,120 --> 00:22:56,120 It was great that they were drawn to Jesus. 376 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:59,120 It was great that they may have sat down 377 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:03,120 and nodded along with what Jesus had to say. 378 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:07,120 But Matthew kind of leaves us with a question, doesn't he? 379 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:10,120 And that question is, 380 00:23:10,120 --> 00:23:13,120 what were the crowds going to do 381 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:15,120 with what Jesus had said? 382 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:18,120 Were they going to go back to their homes, 383 00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:21,120 back to their religious establishment, 384 00:23:21,120 --> 00:23:23,120 back to their easy lives, 385 00:23:23,120 --> 00:23:28,120 to their external outward religious works, 386 00:23:28,120 --> 00:23:30,120 or were they going to go back to their 387 00:23:30,120 --> 00:23:33,120 religious works, 388 00:23:33,120 --> 00:23:36,120 or were they going to go and put what He had said 389 00:23:36,120 --> 00:23:38,120 into practice? 390 00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:41,120 In other words, were they going to continue 391 00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:44,120 to build their house upon the sand, 392 00:23:44,120 --> 00:23:48,120 or were they going to hear what had to be said 393 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:51,120 and start to build on the rock? 394 00:23:53,120 --> 00:23:57,120 And I think that's part of the question that Matthew wants 395 00:23:57,120 --> 00:24:01,120 to ask who reads through the Sermon on the Mount. 396 00:24:02,120 --> 00:24:04,120 And it's this. 397 00:24:04,120 --> 00:24:09,120 Is it possible to sit at the feet of Jesus 398 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:13,120 and not actually embrace Him by faith? 399 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:17,120 Is it possible to hear the very words of God 400 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:22,120 and not put into practice what you have heard? 401 00:24:22,120 --> 00:24:26,120 Well, I have a sneaking suspicion that Matthew doesn't want us 402 00:24:26,120 --> 00:24:30,120 to stay in that state of pondering for too long. 403 00:24:31,120 --> 00:24:35,120 Now, I think his aim isn't to keep us pondering, 404 00:24:35,120 --> 00:24:38,120 but to take these words, 405 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:43,120 take these questions and ask them of ourselves, 406 00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:47,120 so that we too might come to a place where we confess 407 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:52,120 Jesus as Lord and embrace Him by faith 408 00:24:52,120 --> 00:24:56,120 and thus walk with Him all the days of our life. 409 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:04,120 Matthew wants us to enter that narrow gate 410 00:25:04,120 --> 00:25:07,120 and walk that narrow path. 411 00:25:08,120 --> 00:25:12,120 You see, as Matthew has shown us through the months, 412 00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:17,120 this is the awesome good news of Jesus Christ. 413 00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:21,120 God's promised King, and with any evangelist, 414 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:23,120 they want to poke at our hearts 415 00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:26,120 so that we might ask the question of ourself, 416 00:25:26,120 --> 00:25:28,120 do I know Jesus? 417 00:25:28,120 --> 00:25:31,120 Have I embraced Jesus by faith? 418 00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:33,120 Have I entered by the narrow gate? 419 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:42,120 Am I building my life on the rock of my salvation? 420 00:25:43,120 --> 00:25:45,120 Well, if you're here this morning 421 00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:50,120 and you would say no to any of those things, 422 00:25:50,120 --> 00:25:55,120 then it is the Lord Jesus who says to you today, 423 00:25:55,120 --> 00:26:05,120 I will in no way cast out anyone who comes unto me, anyone. 424 00:26:06,120 --> 00:26:10,120 But I've done all of this, I've done all of that. 425 00:26:10,120 --> 00:26:12,120 The Bible is clear. 426 00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:16,120 The words of God are clear, 427 00:26:16,120 --> 00:26:20,120 that He forgives all transgression. 428 00:26:22,120 --> 00:26:24,120 If you want to speak more about these things, 429 00:26:24,120 --> 00:26:27,120 I would love to speak to you, pray with you, 430 00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:32,120 because you're hearing these words by no mistake this morning. 431 00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:38,120 Salvation is truly being held out to you. 432 00:26:39,120 --> 00:26:44,120 Don't let pride or embarrassment hold you back 433 00:26:44,120 --> 00:26:50,120 from the Savior King who has come to rescue his precious people. 434 00:26:50,120 --> 00:26:55,120 Come and find me after the service and we'll pray together. 435 00:26:56,120 --> 00:26:59,120 You might be here this morning and you have thrown yourself 436 00:26:59,120 --> 00:27:05,120 on the rock of your salvation and trusting Jesus with all that you are. 437 00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:09,120 But as you've been building, as you've been walking, 438 00:27:09,120 --> 00:27:13,120 you've seen some things that aren't so good. 439 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:16,120 You know they're not so good. 440 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:19,120 So this morning, over the next few moments, 441 00:27:19,120 --> 00:27:23,120 I'm not going to end our time in prayer, as I usually do, 442 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:30,120 but I'm going to get you to put into practice what Jesus has told us to do, 443 00:27:30,120 --> 00:27:35,120 and that is to go to our Father in heaven and to pray to him. 444 00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:41,120 So over the next few moments, as we think about these things, 445 00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:47,120 as we confess these things to our Father and ask for his forgiveness, 446 00:27:47,120 --> 00:27:53,120 might I encourage you to also ask that by his Holy Spirit 447 00:27:53,120 --> 00:27:59,120 he would cause you to raise your eyes to the Lord Jesus Christ, 448 00:27:59,120 --> 00:28:06,120 the perfect one who has kept all of what we have spoken about this morning 449 00:28:06,120 --> 00:28:09,120 perfectly on our behalf. 450 00:28:09,120 --> 00:28:14,120 Let me encourage you, Church, over the next few moments. 451 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:19,120 Let's take a couple of minutes just to go to our Father and pray, 452 00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:40,120 and then I'll ask the team to come and lead us.