June 28, 2020
We are going to spend the next two weeks together as a church reading Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount! The Sermon on the Mount is the first of Jesus’ major teachings recorded in the gospel of Matthew. In it, Jesus explains the ethics and values of the kingdom of Heaven as opposed to the ethics and values of the world. The values and principles that are to govern our lives as followers of Jesus and citizens of the kingdom of Heaven are wildly different from those that govern the various cultures of our world, including the culture in which we live.
Over the next two weeks, allow the words of the Lord Jesus to challenge the way you think, expose the worldly and idolatrous values and desires of your heart, and transform you to live in the new way that He has laid before us!
In the concluding portion of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus continues the pattern He has set of setting two contrasting ways or people before His audience. First it was the wide gate and the narrow gate, then the good tree and the bad tree, and now it is those who hear His words and obey them and those who only hear but do not obey. Jesus is setting two ways before us: the way of being a hearer only, and the way of being a hearer and a doer.
What Jesus is saying here is that building our lives on the strong foundation means building our lives around obeying His commandments, living His way. The way of surrender to Jesus is the way of wisdom, and it is only in learning to obey Him that we can have confidence when facing that storms which come our way in life. If we build our lives on any foundation other than obedience to Jesus, we shouldn’t expect them to hold up under the weight of what the world throws at us.
The final verses in this chapter record how the people who heard Him were astonished because of the authority with which Jesus taught. Let us surrender unconditionally to the authority of Jesus, and not be merely hearers of His word but doers!
Matthew 7:24-29
Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The Authority of Jesus
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- How does making obedience to Jesus the foundation we build our lives on help us to stand firm in the midst of life’s hardships and struggles? What might be some other things we try to build our lives on, and how does God want us to surrender those things to His authority?
Father help me be more than a hear-er of your word, I want to be a doer of your word. You are my strong foundation, use me for your kingdom.
Help us to build our lives to your specifications, not ours or the world’s. Your way is higher.
I want to be like the wise man who built his house on a rock.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Your words are so true. Being a teacher and mother,I have seen the importance of building our lives on a firm foundation. Without it, the weight of the world and all the responsibilities and demands that follow will tear us down. We are just powerless without You,Lord. But with You, all things are possible. I want to be more of a doer than a listener. Help me to steer my energies toward more ways of serving You. So many times people focus on their kids sports or their businesses and let it consume their time. Although they may be worthwhile endeavors in one way, a life without Christ at the center will not be truly full and rich. And when problems come, they will not be prepared. I want You to steer my life in the direction it should go. My ways will only lead to a dead end. I will incline my ears to You and do and go where You lead. In Jesus ‘name. Amen.
Amen????!
Father, thank you for your son, Jesus. It was so easy to google these words: Trust and obey, for there is no other way. Throughout my walk today may these words encourage me: Trust and obey, for there is no other way. Father, with your help I will plant my feet on solid ground and no matter what comes my way, I will say these words: Trust and obey, for there is no other way. What you say I will do, where you send, I will go. I will not fear. I will trust and obey. Amen
Father thank you that you have thought me to give full authority to you over my help.
Even children can learn this Bible concept via the children’s song, “The house that was built on the rock stood firm while the rains came tumbling down”, etc.
My hope is build on nothingless, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
Father God, your name be praise, exalted & magnified because of who you are & all that you do. Your kingdom come & your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We look to you meet our daily needs. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. Keep us from yielding to the temptations we face today & deliver us from all evil. For the kingdom is yours, alway has been & always will be. Amen.
The words of these songs came to mind and reflect the cry & desire of my heart. I love you Lord.
“All to Jesus I surrender , all to Him I freely give. I will ever love & trust Him; in His presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all, all to thee. My precious savior, I surrender all”.
“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”.
“Christ is you, the hope of glory”
Amen???????!
Heavenly Father,
Help me to not allow anything or anyone to become more important than you. Help me to stand firm in your word and your will knowing that you know what is best for me. Continue to use me to share with others your love and forgiveness when we fall short in obedience to your commandants. Keep us all strong and wise with planting our feet on solid rock as we honor and trust in you. Help us not to forget to surrender to you all our heartaches and trials as we know you will always be there to pick us up as you are the best Father and friend. I pray these things in Jesus name. Amen
Help me surrender my daily agenda to you. Help me me more responsive and lead by the spirit, rather than lean on my own understanding, education, training and experience. I pray that as I surrender to your kingdom agenda, that you will empower me and that I will more fully experience you in the every day things of life that I do.