Building Upon The Rock

Or

Upon The Sand

Matt. 7:24-27

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.  26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

I.        Therefore:

A.     This word is referring to all the previous truths taught by Christ in the sermon on the mount.

B.     Who is Christ talking to? (saved or lost?)

1.       Matt. 5:1 - There was a multitude present.

2.       This group contained both saved and lost.

3.       Each person would receive from God what he needed.

II.     Similarities:

A.     You can't build on both.

1.       Matt. 6:24 - You can't serve God and mammon. 

2.       You must either serve the world to come or this world.

B.     Both hear.

1.       This people all hear exactly the same message.

2.       Different people get different things out of every message, according to what their individual background is, and what they need.

a.      Some people have a particular sin in their lives, therefore, they wait through the message for some indication that the preacher is preaching to them about that particular sin.

b.      Some people have a particular question, therefore, they are waiting through the message for some clue that will aid them in solving the question.

C.     There is a choice to be made.

1.       The doctrine of fatalism is false. (“What will be will be” is wrong.)

2.       We all have the authority and responsibility to make decisions.

3.       A good choice: Joshua 24:15 - Joshua declared, "...for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

4.       A bad choice: Gen. 13:11 - Lot chose him the plain of Jordan.

D.     Trouble will come into your life.

1.       Some believe that when you are saved, all your trouble is over.

2.       Some believe only lost people have trouble and trials.

3.       Some believe any sign of trouble is:

a.      Chastisement. (tell story of church member who was rear-ended and told me it was chastisement, but he did not remember or know what he was being chastised for.  I told him it was probably not chastisement.) 

b.      God is displeased with what you are trying to do.

c.      God is directing your life in another direction.

4.       Troubles could come into your life because they come.

a.      Every trouble is not the result of sin.

b.      Some trouble is a blessing in disguise. 

1)      II Corinthians 12 – Paul’s thorn in the flesh. 

2)            I Peter 4:12-13 – Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is try you. 

c.      When a baby was born into one family, the baby was deformed, but the mom and dad said that baby taught them more than any one else has ever taught them.

d.      I knew a man who lost his job where he had been employed for nearly 20 years.  He was in depression for a while, but soon discovered he could run his own success company, which he did until he retired.

E.      Every person is building his house.

1.       This refers to you dwelling, more specifically to building your life, or becoming the person you are.

2.       There is no such thing as “collective” building, because every person builds his own life, his way, and is personally responsible for his life.

III.   Every person faces great life shattering difficulties in their life.

A.     The storms of life come into every life.

1.       When the storms come, what will happen to your life?

2.       Are you anchored in Jesus Christ?

3.       Have you build you life upon the Bible, or upon the false philosophy of this every changing world?

B.     Why do storms have to come?

1.       So we will find out in this life whether we are building on the rock, or on the sand.

2.       This life is a trial run for eternity.

3.       If your beliefs do not stand up under the storms of this life, they will certainly not stand up through all eternity.

4.       The only way any of us will be able to survive is when our lives are build on the solid rock of ages – the Lord Jesus Christ.

C.     Eccl. 8:14 - The crash may not come in this life.  Sometimes good things happen to bad people, and sometimes bad things happen to good people.

1.       Wicked people often have false confidence in temporary circumstances.

a.      Psalm 73:3-12 – no trouble comes to these wicked people. 

b.      Job 21:7-16

2.       Psalm 9:17 - There is a time when the wicked will be turned into hell.

a.      Luke 16 – The rich man fared sumptuously every day, but died and went to hell.

b.      II Thess 1:6,8 – There is coming a time when God will come in flaming fire, taking vengeance on unbelievers.

3.       There is a rest for true believers.

a.      II Thess 1:6,8 – God will avenge his children and given them rest.

b.      I Peter 1:6-9 – If you are in a lot of trouble now, don’t be overly concerned or anxious about it, but wait on the Lord, and he will show you how the trial of your faith is more precious than gold that perisheth.