WEBVTT 00:00:00.110 --> 00:00:04.330 Put our Bibles today to the book of Matthew and 00:00:04.330 --> 00:00:17.109 the seventh chapter At a recent meeting a group 00:00:17.109 --> 00:00:23.750 of people was asked How they would feel if Jesus 00:00:23.750 --> 00:00:27.730 were to come personally and physically to their 00:00:27.730 --> 00:00:33.740 homes The responses were interesting. One person 00:00:33.740 --> 00:00:37.840 said, I would fix it up. Somebody else said, 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:40.240 I would have to change my priorities if Jesus 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:45.200 came to my house. Another, there would be more 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:49.820 respect for one another in our family. Someone 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:55.439 said, I would be overwhelmed with awe. Another 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:57.500 person said, the members of our family would 00:00:57.500 --> 00:01:00.600 be helpful to each other. saying fewer harsh 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:07.239 words, having less rivalry. Another person said, 00:01:07.260 --> 00:01:09.420 it would change the way that I come home from 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:14.900 work. Another said, I would be self -conscious 00:01:14.900 --> 00:01:18.379 of my material possessions and some items in 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:23.099 my home would embarrass me. I don't know what 00:01:23.099 --> 00:01:25.799 your answers would be, but they might be similar 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:28.719 to these. At least we can all identify with some 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:32.780 of the responses given recently. But it would 00:01:32.780 --> 00:01:35.060 be wonderful for us to understand that the main 00:01:35.060 --> 00:01:38.420 benefit of such a personal visit of our Lord 00:01:38.420 --> 00:01:42.680 would be simply the pleasure of His company in 00:01:42.680 --> 00:01:46.599 our homes. Getting to know Him, receiving His 00:01:46.599 --> 00:01:50.980 counsel, and feeling the sense of security with 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:54.620 Him there. Wouldn't His being there provide a 00:01:54.620 --> 00:01:58.950 marvelous assurance of protection and stability, 00:01:59.890 --> 00:02:03.090 especially in the crises which all of us face? 00:02:04.150 --> 00:02:07.409 Is there anything which He would be unable to 00:02:07.409 --> 00:02:12.069 handle, to work through with us? I'd like for 00:02:12.069 --> 00:02:15.250 us to read a parable today which teaches us that 00:02:15.250 --> 00:02:19.729 we can face crises without our lives collapsing. 00:02:20.689 --> 00:02:23.689 It's found in Matthew 7, beginning in verse 24. 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.699 Therefore, everyone who hears these words of 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:33.639 mine, said Jesus, and acts upon them, may be 00:02:33.639 --> 00:02:37.439 compared to a wise man who built his house upon 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:41.319 the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods 00:02:41.319 --> 00:02:44.120 came, and the winds blew, and burst against that 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:48.539 house. Yet it did not fall, for it had been founded 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:53.110 upon the rock. And everyone who hears these words 00:02:53.110 --> 00:02:56.969 of mine and does not act upon them will be like 00:02:56.969 --> 00:02:59.870 a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. 00:03:00.770 --> 00:03:02.949 And the rain descended, and the floods came, 00:03:02.990 --> 00:03:06.069 and the winds blew, and burst against that house. 00:03:06.610 --> 00:03:13.150 And it fell, and great was its fall." There are 00:03:13.150 --> 00:03:15.530 three very simple lessons for us to observe in 00:03:15.530 --> 00:03:18.370 this story which Jesus told as he drew the Sermon 00:03:18.370 --> 00:03:22.310 on the Mount to its conclusion. The first one 00:03:22.310 --> 00:03:26.090 is this, that life is like a house which we build. 00:03:26.949 --> 00:03:32.770 You say, how so? The structure of our houses, 00:03:32.930 --> 00:03:37.469 our lives, is the sum total of all of our relationships, 00:03:38.550 --> 00:03:44.569 our work, our pleasure, our dreams, our accomplishments, 00:03:45.090 --> 00:03:49.449 our failures, our influences. You draw the line 00:03:49.449 --> 00:03:51.849 under all of those and add it up and that becomes 00:03:51.849 --> 00:03:55.110 the house in which we are dwelling. That is our 00:03:55.110 --> 00:03:58.349 life. Our life is like a house and we're building 00:03:58.349 --> 00:04:02.750 that house every day that we live. The work of 00:04:02.750 --> 00:04:06.250 constructing goes on really until death. The 00:04:06.250 --> 00:04:10.250 better we plan, the more order and beauty there 00:04:10.250 --> 00:04:13.810 will tend to be in this house that we are building 00:04:13.810 --> 00:04:18.810 as we live daily. A second lesson that I see 00:04:18.810 --> 00:04:23.170 in the story is this, that storms will inevitably 00:04:23.170 --> 00:04:27.870 assault us. It is safe to say that every person 00:04:27.870 --> 00:04:32.990 here is either in a storm this morning or has 00:04:32.990 --> 00:04:36.509 one on either of the horizons. That is, either 00:04:36.509 --> 00:04:38.529 you've just gone through one or you're about 00:04:38.529 --> 00:04:43.370 to go through one. You see, storms assault all 00:04:43.370 --> 00:04:47.480 of us. That is inevitably so. Now it is true 00:04:47.480 --> 00:04:51.779 that not all of them may be severe. Some of them 00:04:51.779 --> 00:04:57.600 may only be drizzles. But some storms will be 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:01.860 severe in life. I would identify these as the 00:05:01.860 --> 00:05:05.000 crises that we face. You say, what is a crisis? 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.259 Well, I think a crisis could be defined as anything 00:05:08.259 --> 00:05:11.839 that shakes our security, that threatens our 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:18.480 sense of well -being. That is a crisis. For someone 00:05:18.480 --> 00:05:22.680 it may be the loss of a loved one. For another 00:05:22.680 --> 00:05:27.439 it could be an illness that cannot be easily 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:31.600 cured. For someone else it may be the loss of 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:40.500 a job. All of us face crises in our lives. We 00:05:40.500 --> 00:05:42.980 should not make a crisis out of every trouble 00:05:42.980 --> 00:05:46.879 because every trouble doesn't deserve that. And 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:50.079 really we need to do what we can to reduce the 00:05:50.079 --> 00:05:52.980 stress and the tensions in the troubles that 00:05:52.980 --> 00:05:59.019 we face so they don't become crises. We should 00:05:59.019 --> 00:06:03.699 not allow a cloudy day to become a tornado if 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:08.160 we can help it. But the fact is that all of us 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:11.959 In the course of our lives, we'll face some severe 00:06:11.959 --> 00:06:15.879 times. All people face storms, whether they be 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:19.779 good or bad, rich or poor, young or old, Christian 00:06:19.779 --> 00:06:25.259 or non -Christian. Yes, even Christians have 00:06:25.259 --> 00:06:29.480 their trials and storms. You see, Christ's presence 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:34.000 does not preclude the possibility of a storm, 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:39.300 a crisis in one's life. You see, the real question 00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:43.699 is, will my life, or to apply it to our theme 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:48.379 for these weeks, will my home stand through the 00:06:48.379 --> 00:06:53.240 storm that I face? That brings us really to the 00:06:53.240 --> 00:06:54.899 third thing that we observe in the story that 00:06:54.899 --> 00:06:58.160 Jesus told, and that is that the most important 00:06:58.160 --> 00:07:02.519 part of the house is the foundation upon which 00:07:02.519 --> 00:07:08.399 it is built. That foundation is crucial. I would 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:10.319 have you notice that in the story that we read, 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:13.439 there are two parts of the parable that have 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:17.519 similarities. That is, the two parts of the parable 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:20.899 have similarities to them. In the first place, 00:07:21.180 --> 00:07:25.680 each of the men mentioned built a house, and 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:29.279 each of the men mentioned experienced a storm 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:32.779 of rains and floods and wind that blew against 00:07:32.779 --> 00:07:35.560 the house. That's what we've talked about thus 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:40.420 far by way of application. But there was an important 00:07:40.420 --> 00:07:44.800 difference between the two men. The one used 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:50.019 a rock as his foundation. The other simply used 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:54.319 sand. Now Jesus does not leave us to question 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.019 and wonder regarding the meaning of that. He 00:07:57.019 --> 00:08:01.040 tells us clearly, the one who built upon a rock 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:05.839 is the one who heard Jesus' words and acted upon 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:09.949 them. The one who built upon the sand is the 00:08:09.949 --> 00:08:16.629 one who also heard Jesus' words but did not act 00:08:16.629 --> 00:08:22.589 upon them. Now the application is obvious, it 00:08:22.589 --> 00:08:28.990 seems to me. We are told here to build our lives, 00:08:29.269 --> 00:08:33.009 to build our homes, if you please, upon the foundation 00:08:33.009 --> 00:08:37.029 of obedience to Christ's teachings. We are warned 00:08:37.029 --> 00:08:40.990 not to build upon a faulty foundation by disobeying 00:08:40.990 --> 00:08:45.789 or neglecting what Jesus taught. For several 00:08:45.789 --> 00:08:49.730 weeks many of us have read scriptures related 00:08:49.730 --> 00:08:55.210 to crisis, to suffering, and hardship. This morning 00:08:55.210 --> 00:08:57.730 in our journal we read about the crucifixion 00:08:57.730 --> 00:09:01.090 of the Lord Jesus Christ. and the crisis he was 00:09:01.090 --> 00:09:04.429 willing to endure for our sakes as he laid down 00:09:04.429 --> 00:09:10.509 his life for us. But our text today points to 00:09:10.509 --> 00:09:16.070 the foundational principle, if you please. It 00:09:16.070 --> 00:09:19.230 is this, that acting on Christ's teaching prevents 00:09:19.230 --> 00:09:22.990 collapse under the pressure and stress of the 00:09:22.990 --> 00:09:27.809 crises which inevitably come to us. Acting upon 00:09:27.809 --> 00:09:34.669 his teaching. is the foundation that lasts. Well, 00:09:34.750 --> 00:09:38.470 you say, what teaching is that? What teaching 00:09:38.470 --> 00:09:42.230 is in view when the Lord Jesus says this? Well, 00:09:42.289 --> 00:09:44.450 obviously, we have to go back to the context 00:09:44.450 --> 00:09:48.169 to determine that. Again, I point out that this 00:09:48.169 --> 00:09:50.210 is at the end of what is called the Sermon on 00:09:50.210 --> 00:09:55.960 the Mount. Three chapters in Matthew. When the 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:59.519 writer records for us one of the great sermons 00:09:59.519 --> 00:10:04.460 the lengthy discourses which Jesus gave This 00:10:04.460 --> 00:10:07.000 occurred on the side of a mountain to a great 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:13.419 multitude Jesus is saying those who hear my teachings 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:16.259 and act upon them will build their lives upon 00:10:16.259 --> 00:10:20.279 a rock Obviously the teachings he has most primarily 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:23.720 in mind are the teachings that have come just 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:26.899 before his giving this parable. That is the teachings 00:10:26.899 --> 00:10:30.799 in the Sermon on the Mount. I'd like to divide 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:34.379 those teachings very simply and somewhat superficially 00:10:34.379 --> 00:10:39.379 into two parts. First, consider with me this 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:42.100 morning his words regarding personal salvation. 00:10:43.919 --> 00:10:46.159 Now it must be quickly pointed out that the Sermon 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:49.000 on the Mount is not primarily about personal 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:54.679 salvation. But that theme is brought to the surface 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:58.179 in Jesus' sermon. It's found, in fact, in this 00:10:58.179 --> 00:11:01.220 very chapter, just a few verses before our text. 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:05.720 It is not in verse 12 where Jesus says, Therefore, 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:09.059 however you want people to treat you, so treat 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:12.080 them, for this is the law in the prophets. That's 00:11:12.080 --> 00:11:15.940 often called the what? Sure, the golden rule. 00:11:16.269 --> 00:11:18.409 And there are people who sincerely think that 00:11:18.409 --> 00:11:21.230 by keeping the golden rule, they will gain personal 00:11:21.230 --> 00:11:26.389 salvation. Their idea is, if I'm a nice enough 00:11:26.389 --> 00:11:31.669 person, and I live and treat others like I expect 00:11:31.669 --> 00:11:34.750 them to live and treat me, surely that is enough 00:11:34.750 --> 00:11:38.289 to please God. And though I may do some bad things, 00:11:38.309 --> 00:11:40.169 when I get to heaven, God's going to say, well 00:11:40.169 --> 00:11:42.669 you did pretty good, you tried hard, and you 00:11:42.669 --> 00:11:45.090 lived according to the golden rule, come on in. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:50.820 But verse 12 is not about personal salvation, 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:56.259 but verse 13, verse 14, they are. Jesus says, 00:11:56.419 --> 00:12:02.259 enter by the narrow gate, for the gate is wide 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:06.240 and the way is broad that leads to destruction, 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:11.240 and many are those who enter by it. For the gate 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:14.080 is small and the way is narrow that leads to 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:21.629 life and few. few are those who find it. Jesus 00:12:21.629 --> 00:12:25.909 points out in this very simple story, or actually 00:12:25.909 --> 00:12:30.690 a parable, that there are two gates and two ways. 00:12:32.610 --> 00:12:37.169 One gate is said to be the wide gate, and it 00:12:37.169 --> 00:12:42.470 leads to the broad way. The other gate is said 00:12:42.470 --> 00:12:46.350 to be small, and it opens to the narrow way. 00:12:46.429 --> 00:12:52.129 Do you notice that? He tells us that most people, 00:12:52.330 --> 00:12:57.009 many, are those who enter in at the broad gate 00:12:57.009 --> 00:13:02.070 and walk on that road. And then in comparison 00:13:02.070 --> 00:13:06.309 there are but a few who enter the narrow gate, 00:13:07.230 --> 00:13:11.649 the small gate, and walk the narrow road. He 00:13:11.649 --> 00:13:14.250 furthermore tells us that there are two destinations. 00:13:14.350 --> 00:13:16.950 These roads do not go in the same direction. 00:13:18.950 --> 00:13:23.009 He says that the broad road leads to destruction. 00:13:24.509 --> 00:13:30.870 That is the popular way. It leads to ruin. It 00:13:30.870 --> 00:13:35.629 causes one to perish in the end. But he says 00:13:35.629 --> 00:13:40.750 the narrow road leads to life. Now what is Jesus 00:13:40.750 --> 00:13:46.149 saying here? Jesus was warning the religious 00:13:46.149 --> 00:13:53.389 people of his nation, the Jews, people who sincerely 00:13:53.389 --> 00:13:56.669 followed the way of the Pharisees, that they 00:13:56.669 --> 00:14:01.529 were on the broad way, the popular way. It was 00:14:01.529 --> 00:14:05.169 the way and still is today of self -righteousness. 00:14:07.340 --> 00:14:11.779 The ones who are on the Broadway believe that 00:14:11.779 --> 00:14:14.419 everything is right with God if in fact they 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:18.279 can live up to their own standards. These are 00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:22.840 external standards, not internal. And if they 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:25.399 can live up to those standards that they have 00:14:25.399 --> 00:14:32.220 for themselves, surely God will be pleased. In 00:14:32.220 --> 00:14:34.500 other words, it is a thought that one can get 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:39.139 to heaven by his own works. by doing his own 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:42.240 thing. You've heard it said, and so have I. Well, 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:47.200 there are many ways that lead to God. That is 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:52.539 not true. But there are many ideas, many philosophies, 00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:54.960 and many religions that all converge on the broad 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:57.600 way. They all move in the same direction, but 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:03.820 it's not to God, and it's not to life. The writer 00:15:03.820 --> 00:15:06.580 of Proverbs says there is a way which seems right 00:15:06.580 --> 00:15:10.710 to a man. That is, it seems logical. It's only 00:15:10.710 --> 00:15:14.610 reasonable that it must be this way. But he goes 00:15:14.610 --> 00:15:19.210 on to say, the end thereof are the ways of death. 00:15:22.429 --> 00:15:25.309 In contrast to the broad way, there is the narrow 00:15:25.309 --> 00:15:30.429 way and the small gate. Actually, in the Gospel 00:15:30.429 --> 00:15:34.169 of John, Jesus gives us a good commentary on 00:15:34.169 --> 00:15:37.899 what that gate is all about. When he says regarding 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:42.519 himself, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:47.179 No one comes to the Father but by me. What is 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:52.820 that narrow gate? It is faith in the Lord Jesus 00:15:52.820 --> 00:15:57.620 Christ, which causes one to enter into the narrow 00:15:57.620 --> 00:16:03.759 way. It is sometimes constricting. It is not 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:07.679 popular. But in the end, it is the way which 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:13.799 leads to life. The Lord Jesus really is saying 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:16.740 that the one who enters that narrow gate and 00:16:16.740 --> 00:16:21.159 walks in that way to life is like the wise man 00:16:21.159 --> 00:16:25.139 who built his house upon a rock. Because you 00:16:25.139 --> 00:16:28.059 see an application of this concluding parable 00:16:28.059 --> 00:16:32.840 in verses 24 to 27 is this. That one who builds 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:35.960 his life upon the Lord Jesus Christ, personal 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:43.659 faith in him, is one whose life will stand. He 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:49.539 will be saved. He will enter into heaven. The 00:16:49.539 --> 00:16:51.919 one who enters the narrow gate that leads to 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:55.740 life is like the wise man who built his house 00:16:55.740 --> 00:17:01.059 upon the rock. I may be talking to someone today 00:17:01.059 --> 00:17:05.680 who has been very sincere in your religion. You 00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:10.559 have worked hard at it. You have believed sincerely 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:13.099 that by doing good things or going through this 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:16.299 ritual or accomplishing these certain religious 00:17:16.299 --> 00:17:20.000 ideals that God will ultimately be pleased with 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:25.680 you. May I warn you that that is the broad way 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:28.970 upon which many walk. which does not go where 00:17:28.970 --> 00:17:33.990 you want it to. The narrow gate is Jesus Christ. 00:17:35.289 --> 00:17:38.910 The firm foundation, the rock, is Jesus Christ. 00:17:39.630 --> 00:17:42.450 And I urge you today to place your faith not 00:17:42.450 --> 00:17:47.170 in yourself or your own works, but in Him and 00:17:47.170 --> 00:17:51.269 in His work for you at the cross, when He died 00:17:51.269 --> 00:17:55.049 and shed His blood for your sins, and then was 00:17:55.049 --> 00:17:57.940 raised from the dead three days later. Place 00:17:57.940 --> 00:18:03.619 your faith in Him who will lead you to life and 00:18:03.619 --> 00:18:07.039 who will provide the firm foundation for the 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:15.160 house you're building. There is another important 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:17.799 aspect to Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:22.599 Mount. Jesus says the one who builds upon the 00:18:22.599 --> 00:18:25.980 rock is the one who hears and who acts upon what 00:18:25.980 --> 00:18:30.539 Jesus has said. He not only taught regarding 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:33.299 personal salvation, but he taught even more broadly 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:38.180 in his sermon regarding righteous living. How 00:18:38.180 --> 00:18:42.160 to live in a way that pleases our King. These 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:45.339 principles of the kingdom in chapters 5, 6, and 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:49.440 7 are quite applicable to the child of God today. 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:53.599 We need to see what Jesus says in these verses. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:57.019 and understand that they can apply to our lives, 00:18:57.119 --> 00:19:00.039 that we have instruction here. Those of us who've 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:03.559 entered in that small gate, who are walking on 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:07.180 that narrow way, the Lord Jesus gives us here 00:19:07.180 --> 00:19:10.480 instruction as to how to live in such a way that 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:15.400 pleases Him. The teachings include in this sermon 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:20.660 ideas like these. Don't kill, but more than that, 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:26.559 don't even be angry. with your brother. Jesus 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:30.359 said here don't commit adultery but more than 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:35.619 that don't even think lustful thoughts. He said 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:38.200 love your neighbor but more than that love your 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:44.980 enemy also. His teachings include don't lay up 00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:48.859 treasures for yourselves here on earth. But do 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:51.599 start laying up treasures in heaven where thieves 00:19:51.599 --> 00:19:54.599 don't steal and moths and rust don't do their 00:19:54.599 --> 00:20:00.220 damage. In this sermon he says to us, don't try 00:20:00.220 --> 00:20:04.779 to serve two masters, God and mammon. Realize 00:20:04.779 --> 00:20:09.460 you can serve but one of them. He says, don't 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:11.740 be worried about what you're going to eat or 00:20:11.740 --> 00:20:14.640 wear, but seek first Christ's kingdom and then 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:20.200 expect God to provide these things for you. His 00:20:20.200 --> 00:20:23.299 teachings include, don't concentrate on the speck 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:26.299 in your brother's eye, but do look after the 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:31.880 beam in your own. He says, don't expect to find 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:34.940 good produce on bad vines or trees, but do be 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:39.900 concerned that your life bears good fruit and 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:44.799 so on. Those are some of Jesus' teachings regarding 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:49.799 righteous living in this chapter. For every one 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:53.980 of these challenges and teachings which Jesus 00:20:53.980 --> 00:20:56.700 makes, we need to ask ourselves some questions. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:21:04.839 Do I tend to stay angry at my brother? Do I insult 00:21:04.839 --> 00:21:10.519 him, calling him a fool? Do I bring an offering 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:14.859 to the Lord without first reconciling a relationship 00:21:14.859 --> 00:21:20.589 with someone? Do I think and dwell upon lustful 00:21:20.589 --> 00:21:26.769 thoughts? Do I consider initiating divorce proceedings 00:21:26.769 --> 00:21:35.089 against my mate? Do I keep my word? Do I help 00:21:35.089 --> 00:21:41.309 those in need? What is the real fruit of my life? 00:21:47.869 --> 00:21:51.609 Jesus says, those who hear my words and act upon 00:21:51.609 --> 00:21:54.789 them, those are the ones who build on a rock. 00:21:57.609 --> 00:21:59.769 Hearing and agreeing with what Jesus says is 00:21:59.769 --> 00:22:05.150 insufficient. Hearing this sermon and admiring 00:22:05.150 --> 00:22:10.990 his words is not enough. Hearing what Jesus says 00:22:10.990 --> 00:22:13.509 and even quoting them will not make it, folks. 00:22:15.049 --> 00:22:19.190 What Jesus says is, listen to my words and act 00:22:19.190 --> 00:22:27.609 upon them. None of us can claim to live perfectly 00:22:27.609 --> 00:22:32.509 up to Jesus' teachings here. Indeed, we all fall 00:22:32.509 --> 00:22:39.109 far short of them. We do. But you know what? 00:22:40.410 --> 00:22:45.170 We can choose at least one area. we're falling 00:22:45.170 --> 00:22:50.670 short, and begin focusing upon that area. And 00:22:50.670 --> 00:22:53.730 in that area, by the grace of God, we will begin 00:22:53.730 --> 00:23:01.069 acting upon what Jesus has said. When we do that, 00:23:01.789 --> 00:23:05.329 then we will build a life that will stand the 00:23:05.329 --> 00:23:12.740 storms. When we begin to act upon what Jesus 00:23:12.740 --> 00:23:15.579 said, it will be insurance against the storms 00:23:15.579 --> 00:23:22.039 of life that are sure to come. So when the tempest 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:27.339 hits, your control of anger, your ability to 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:30.319 hold your tongue, your strong friendships, your 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:33.400 loving partner's help, your good marriage ties, 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:36.619 your honesty, your generous spirit, or any of 00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:40.660 the other character qualities, that are taught 00:23:40.660 --> 00:23:44.200 in this sermon, these will likely serve you very 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:47.119 well. Now do you see the point of Jesus' teaching? 00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:53.519 He said, if you hear My words and act upon them, 00:23:55.460 --> 00:23:57.960 then the life that you're building, because of 00:23:57.960 --> 00:24:03.140 the character that's there, will stand the storms. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:10.529 You will endure through the storms of life. I 00:24:10.529 --> 00:24:13.150 may be talking to someone who today is in a storm, 00:24:14.890 --> 00:24:16.789 and you're wondering if your house is going to 00:24:16.789 --> 00:24:21.970 stand. Well, my friend, it depends upon the foundation 00:24:21.970 --> 00:24:26.890 upon which you've built. I may be talking to 00:24:26.890 --> 00:24:28.970 someone who says, my house has collapsed and 00:24:28.970 --> 00:24:33.430 I don't know what to do. Well, the answer is 00:24:33.430 --> 00:24:35.970 to find the right foundation and start building 00:24:35.970 --> 00:24:39.680 again on it. so that when the next storm comes 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:45.539 your house won't fall. The foundation of life 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:51.079 is Jesus Christ and his teaching. I want to ask 00:24:51.079 --> 00:24:55.319 you, if you today will receive the Lord Jesus 00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:59.880 Christ as your Savior, if you will enter in at 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:03.880 that narrow gate and way that leads to life, 00:25:04.440 --> 00:25:10.099 which few find, Will you be one of the few? One 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:16.200 of the few? And if you are on that narrow way 00:25:16.200 --> 00:25:20.700 today, will you today begin obeying Him as Lord 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:23.059 in that area of your life where you feel such 00:25:23.059 --> 00:25:26.460 a failure? Where there has been such a struggle? 00:25:27.700 --> 00:25:31.039 Where sin has come at you with all of its fierceness? 00:25:31.619 --> 00:25:33.759 Will you today acknowledge your failure to the 00:25:33.759 --> 00:25:37.519 Lord and say, Today I want to begin to build 00:25:37.519 --> 00:25:39.759 upon a foundation that will last in this area 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:43.700 of my life. I acknowledge your lordship and by 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:49.720 your grace I will begin obeying you in that area 00:25:49.720 --> 00:25:55.339 of my life. You can endure the storms of life 00:25:55.339 --> 00:26:01.299 by claiming Jesus Christ as your Savior and by 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:07.029 living with Him as your Lord. George Beverly 00:26:07.029 --> 00:26:12.170 Shea sings a song that I like a great deal. The 00:26:12.170 --> 00:26:15.049 chorus of it simply says this, he's the Christ 00:26:15.049 --> 00:26:21.329 of every crisis. And he's just the same today. 00:26:23.109 --> 00:26:27.690 He will solve your every problem if you only 00:26:27.690 --> 00:26:36.680 let him have his way. Let's pray together. My 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:39.660 friend, what is Jesus' way? What is it that he 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:45.359 wants you to do today? He will solve your every 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:53.940 problem if you let him have his way. What is 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:57.400 the storm that is assaulting your life? What's 00:26:57.400 --> 00:27:05.440 your foundation? Will you today Make that decision 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:11.299 that is essential if your house is going to stand. 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:18.019 Lord Jesus, thank you for your words. Thank you 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:20.559 for the assurance that we can endure through 00:27:20.559 --> 00:27:26.200 the storms of life. There are some very wonderful 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:30.740 and dear people here who are experiencing right 00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:37.000 now a storm and a tempest that threatens them. 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:42.259 The crisis is so very real that they feel almost 00:27:42.259 --> 00:27:47.380 overwhelmed. I pray that you will give to each 00:27:47.380 --> 00:27:53.400 of those ones whom you love the courage and the 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:57.099 grace and the faith to respond right now as they 00:27:57.099 --> 00:28:02.460 should. With our heads bowed and our eyes closed, 00:28:03.559 --> 00:28:05.859 I wonder if there's someone here who would say, 00:28:05.920 --> 00:28:11.359 Pastor Call, I know that I need to enter into 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:15.240 that small gate a narrow way. I've stood outside 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:17.779 the gate, I've thought about it, I've looked 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:22.640 at it, I've examined it, but I've never entered 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:29.039 in that gate. I wonder if you by the uplifted 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:33.299 hand would say right now, I am today receiving 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:38.859 Jesus Christ as my Savior. I have not done this 00:28:38.859 --> 00:28:42.519 before, but today I am making that decision. 00:28:43.259 --> 00:28:45.839 I know the Spirit of God is telling me in my 00:28:45.839 --> 00:28:50.200 heart that today I need to trust Him in a way 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:53.660 that I have never done it before. I need Him 00:28:53.660 --> 00:28:57.180 as my Savior. Will you lift your hand and put 00:28:57.180 --> 00:29:00.369 it down? Now the lifting of the hand isn't going 00:29:00.369 --> 00:29:02.250 to save you, but what I'm asking you to do is 00:29:02.250 --> 00:29:06.069 to indicate the attitude of your heart. That's 00:29:06.069 --> 00:29:09.390 what saves. Right now just lift it up and put 00:29:09.390 --> 00:29:15.690 it down. Is there one? I don't want to miss your 00:29:15.690 --> 00:29:17.369 hand, so leave it up long enough for me to see 00:29:17.369 --> 00:29:21.390 it. Is there one? Who would say today I will 00:29:21.390 --> 00:29:24.990 enter that narrow gate and walk on the narrow 00:29:24.990 --> 00:29:30.319 way? I wonder if there's some Christian here 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:33.299 who would say, Pastor Call, I am under the storm. 00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:37.539 It is beating over my head. And today I'm confused. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:42.299 Or you may say today I'm frightened. I'm uncertain. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:47.279 I wish you'd pray for me. Would you lift your 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:51.960 hand and put it down? God knows your storm. Yes, 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:56.200 many hands. God knows your storm, child of His. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:30:09.259 Remember the foundation you're building on. Heavenly 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:11.380 Father, I pray for these who have lifted their 00:30:11.380 --> 00:30:16.640 hands. I thank you that you have perfect knowledge 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:22.059 of the circumstances in each of the storms and 00:30:22.059 --> 00:30:26.279 that the storm is not purposed to overwhelm, 00:30:26.279 --> 00:30:31.710 but it's purposed for good. I pray that you will 00:30:31.710 --> 00:30:35.750 bring that confidence and faith to each one. 00:30:38.390 --> 00:30:43.609 And I pray that as the storm passes by that each 00:30:43.609 --> 00:30:47.569 one will be able to look up to you and give thanks 00:30:47.569 --> 00:30:51.049 to you for what they have learned during this 00:30:51.049 --> 00:30:55.809 experience. But in the meantime, give faith and 00:30:55.809 --> 00:31:03.089 courage. to stand the test because you're with 00:31:03.089 --> 00:31:09.230 them and you're their foundation. In Jesus name, 00:31:09.569 --> 00:31:15.170 amen. I'd like us to open our hymnals and sing 00:31:15.170 --> 00:31:21.650 in closing number 344. It says, is there a heart 00:31:21.650 --> 00:31:26.809 or bound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down 00:31:26.809 --> 00:31:30.609 by care? Maybe that's the crisis you're going 00:31:30.609 --> 00:31:34.089 through. Well, we're invited in the hymn, all 00:31:34.089 --> 00:31:37.089 your anxiety, bring it to the mercy seat, leave 00:31:37.089 --> 00:31:40.670 it there. If we can pray with you or help you 00:31:40.670 --> 00:31:42.910 today, it may be that you need someone to touch 00:31:42.910 --> 00:31:46.109 base with, or you have some questions that you'd 00:31:46.109 --> 00:31:49.049 like to ask. We're going to have an invitation 00:31:49.049 --> 00:31:50.829 this morning that's public, and we invite you 00:31:50.829 --> 00:31:53.609 to slip out from wherever you are and come, if 00:31:53.609 --> 00:31:56.109 today the Spirit of God is urging you to do that. 00:31:56.639 --> 00:31:58.819 or there may be some decision that you need to 00:31:58.819 --> 00:32:02.279 make public this morning in your walk with Christ. 00:32:03.160 --> 00:32:06.299 Let's stand together as we sing 344. I'll be 00:32:06.299 --> 00:32:08.740 standing here at the front and waiting on you.