And in conclusion - Pt. 2
Kingdom instructions for Kingdom dwellers • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 35:29
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Picture perfect
Picture perfect
We all have pictures of things that we carry in the recesses of our mind. Jesus has helped to paint pictures throughout the Sermon on the Mount and hopefully we have seen the perfect picture for the kingdom dweller to know and apply. Some pieces of literary art we have seen recently.
Two ways and two trees (Mt7:13-23)
How to ask, seek and knock (Mt7:7-12)
Equal measure in equal judgment (Mt7:1-6)
Those are just recently I will summarize everything when we close out tonight. In our passage tonight Jesus draws to a close with another comparison, two foundations and the results of the sermon on the crowd.
2018-9 has been a crazy year when it comes to disasters, hurricanes in Florida, massive forest fires in California, Tornado in Oklahoma and even here in Iowa, flooding in Iowa and Nebraska, oh did i mention winter storms in Kansas and here.
Disasters oftentimes prove the foundations of things. We learn what is under the surface if things hold up against the storms of life. Jesus is going to paint the picture of two foundations that is an analogy for our spiritual foundation that will, or will not withhold the storms of this life until the day of judgment.
Going back to the trees just for a moment (Mt7:15-20) - the picture of the trees being producing good fruit or bad fruit. trees start with a seed and they grow, faith starts with a seed and it grows, the trees here illustrate the life of faith, a faith in God in which bears good fruit or in the world and ends in destruction.
There were the false teachers, prophets who were leading people astray (Mt7:21-23), leading them on the wide road through the broad gate that leads to destruction. It will not matter what we think, it will matter what God says on that final day.
All of these are pointing to that final day when judgment comes, so how can we, kingdom dwellers be prepared? How can we know our faith is true?
It’s easy to sit in a pew, it’s easy to memorize bible verses, to physically be here, to intellectually study and remember things but yet your heart is far from God. Obedience is needed, following God’s will is needed more than sacrifice of time and knowledge.
When a person is born again he has the Spirit of God living within him (Act2:38; Rom5:5) and that motivates him to know and live by the Spirit and do the things that please God, like keep His commands. Words are not a substitute for obedience nor are religious works, you can see the two do the same thing here, but with different results. So may we now look at the passage.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.
26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
I’m holding off on the reaction until the end. But now in our passage we see two house, two foundations, two outcomes
Another comparison, this time on foundations
Another comparison, this time on foundations
In the previous section (Mt7:21-23) you saw the comparison of saying and doing and in this passage we see hearing and doing. both show comparison of obedient and disobedient, wise and the foolish.
Similarities:
Both heard the Word (Mt7:24)
Both built houses and on the surface looked the same (1Pt2:5; Mt16:16-18)
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
A spiritual house is built on a foundation too, just like a physical house. We are to built on the rock.
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Both had storms come upon them (Isa43:1-2; Jn16:33; Act14:22)
Just because we are kingdom dwellers does not exempt us from trials, tribulations and the like. Just like it did not exempt Israel.
1 But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
In fact Jesus said there will be tribulation (in other words storms).
33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Paul speaks that there will be many
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”
Both had results of the storms
We will get to the storms here in a couple of minutes
Thus ends the similarities
Two Houses
Two Houses
Both the houses in our passage on the surface look the same don’t they? As we look at this passage let’s go beyond the visual, beyond the literal house. What do the houses represent?
Houses represent a lives
Jesus is not addressing believers and unbelievers, he is addressing believers who are building spiritual houses.
Spiritual houses that are hearing the same thing, both going to assembly, both hearing the Word of God, which means they have the same ability and instruction for application.
Lives may look similar on the surface, on the outside, but may we remember that God is the discerner of the heart. (Heb4:12 ref only)
You cannot tell the difference in the building from the surface, it is the foundation that is rooted, it is the foundation that is tested in the storms that will reveal the truth and the strength of the spiritual house.
John Calvin said:
“True piety is not fully distinguished from its counterfeit til it comes to the trial.”
Houses represent what is being built up
Jesus had previously looked at saying and doing before here it is hearing and doing. Both require application. Our spiritual house that is built on a foundation needs application, we need to apply what we are hearing so not to deceive ourselves (Jam1:22-25)
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Foundation
Foundation
A foundation matters doesn’t it? Foundation: (noun) 1.
the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.
2. an underlying basis or principle. Having defined it now lets look at the spiritual foundation that the houses are built on.
(Insert spiritual foundation picture here)
One is built upon upon the rock (Mt7:25); the other upon sand (Mt7:26).
One withheld the storms due to foundation (Mt7:25) the other had a great fall (Mt7:27)
So, we are building a spiritual house with a spiritual foundation to hold up our spiritual house, so what does this spiritual foundation consist of?
Spiritual foundation is the Word of God and application of it (Mt7:24, Mt7:26)
One heard, believed and applied (obedience)
One heard, believed but did not apply (disobedience)
Spiritual foundations matter for they will go through storms (judgment); be sure to dig deep for your spiritual foundation (Lk6:48)
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
(insert firm foundation picture here)
Many proclaim, profess the name of Jesus only to deny their faith when life becomes spiritually challenging, costly or difficult. We need to be people who build on a firm foundation, that foundation starts with the Word of God.
In the closing of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is driving home the point that our profession be it verbal, intellectual will be tested, our foundation will be tested and proved so it is more than intellect and more than words it is obedience that strengthens our spiritual foundation and helps our spiritual house to stand.
Our salvation is not based on good works, that would be the law and that cannot save us, our salvation is based wholly on grace through faith which results in faithful works from salvation not for salvation.
Strong foundation and a strong house come from obedience (application) (Mt7:24)
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Why should we act on Jesus words? May we consider his closing, the results of the sermon then go back and look at some application for us in summarizing the Sermon on the Mount.
As one having authority
As one having authority
At the close of the Sermon the people were astonished, amazed, and may we walk away encouraged and challenged as we look at the closing verses when it comes to Jesus as one having authority.
28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
His teaching was not as one teaching from authority as the scribes did, but one who had authority.
His teaching astonished, amazed the crowds; but this is not the first time that happened (Mk1:22-23; Mk6:2)
22 They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
2 When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?
Jesus inherit right of authority
He is the Creator of all things (Jn1:1-3; Heb1;2; Col1:16)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
and add to that
2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
and have to add
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He was given all things (Mt28:18); heir of all things (Heb1:2)
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
and to firm, shore it up more
2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
He is our Redeemer (1Pt1:18-19) purchased with His own blood (Eph1:7)
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
Redeemed according to the riches of His grace.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
His authority was recognized (Heb1:6; Mk1:23-24; Rev7:9-10)
6 And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
The angels worshipped him, there are other verses covering that too (Rev5:11-12) not on your outline
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
Demons recognized Jesus and His authority and even obeyed it if you read on in context in Mk1:25
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Authority seen as He sits on the throne! May we have Him sit on the throne of our heart, of our lives, in spiritual house that makes for a strong foundation when He does.
His authority was far reaching (Mt28:18; Eph1:20-22; Rev1:5)
I mentioned authority given before, heaven and earth, let me expand just a little
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
He has the authority and all things are given, in the heavenly places and are far above everything here in the physical and the spiritual relm.
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—
His authority was put into action when we were forgiven our sins because of His precious blood that was shed for us.
Authority applied in our lives
Authority applied in our lives
Jesus authority in our lives needs to be applied. Your foundation, your faith, your spiritual house will be tested, you can test it yourself prior to that to know if you are applying Jesus authority in your life.
The two trees - tell us to investigate our foundation, are we bearing good fruit? Has our life made changes, have we allowed the Spirit to put to death the things of the flesh?
The two houses - is our foundation for our house build on the hearing, believing, obeying the Word of God? IF yes, then your house will withstand the storms of life and judgment.
(invitation/encouragement slide 1)
When we consider the Sermon on the Mount we need to consider the Bible and the church since this series has been about kingdom instructions for kingdom dwellers.
The bible is a dangerous book to read for it gives us the inspired Word of God and application of it and that is counter to the world’s culture.
The church, the kingdom, is a dangerous body to join, for when we do we profess we believe in Jesus and we apply His Word to our lives.
The sermon ends in astonishment, may we continue to be astonished by God and by His Word and by His people. May our foundation be strong, may it be recognizable as light and salt. When applied then our righteousness which is Christ Jesus who is in us will surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees.
(Encouragement slide 2) prayer (Exit slide)