Safe and Secure

This was a short message I gave in church on Sunday before the sermon. It was from Matthew chapter 7, focusing on the parable Jesus told about building one's house on the rock.

Matthew 7:12-29 (ESV):

12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, ' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

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."

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.


Jesus was teaching people about who would enter the kingdom of heaven, and how they must live in this present world (Matthew chapters 5-7). At the last section of his speech (Matthew chapter 7), Jesus warned of the importance of entering by the “strait gate” (i.e., the narrow gate). He tells them that there are many people who go through the wide gate and the broad way, which ultimately ends in destruction. Many people in our world are happy with the easy way out of getting things done. How many of you here have tried to do something in a way that you thought was easier than the correct way, but later found out you did it wrong and actually made it worse than what you thought would be hard? Well, Jesus warned these people in the Sermon on the Mount about following the way that seems wide, seems broad, seems to be the easy way, because it is wrong, and it leads to ruin and destruction.

Instead, Jesus exhorted the people to enter the way that is strait (meaning “narrow” and “hard”, not “straight”). It is narrow, which means that it is a more difficult gate to enter and a harder path to follow. He told them this is the way that leads to life, meaning eternal life, but that only a few find it. Enter by this gate, Jesus says.

Next, Jesus warned the people of false prophets, those who would try to keep them from entering the narrow path by telling them things that are untrue and deceitful concerning the kingdom of heaven. He warned them that they could tell them by their fruits, that is, by the results of their teaching and lifestyle. Those who teach false doctrine and live contrary to the Word of God, are evidently false prophets. They are the people on the broad way, leading others to destruction, and ultimately being rejected from entering the kingdom of heaven themselves.

Jesus also revealed in verses 21-23 that many people who professed him as their Lord, will not be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven, because Jesus did not know them and they were workers of iniquity (lawlessness).

After thoroughly warning his listeners of the judgment to come, and of the importance of having a genuine, good, and fruit-bearing life of doing the will of His Father in heaven, Jesus then told them one of the most memorable parables ever.

In verses 24-27, he made it clear that those who build their house on the rock will be the only ones left standing after the storm of judgment when it passes by. Those who build their house on the wrong foundation of sand will be destroyed when the storm of judgment comes. So let’s consider, what does Jesus want people (including us here today) to rest the foundation of their lives on? It is actually quite simple. He tells us. (But I must warn you, it is hard, it is narrow, it is difficult, and very few people actually do it.) What is it?

Well, look at verse 24... Jesus wants people to rest the foundation of their lives on... what?... on his words. He wants people, including us, to actually do what he said, to put his teachings into practice. This is the only sure and certain way to be unmoved, safe and secure from the storm of judgment.

Jesus said it was hard, and that few find it, but there it is, given to us in a parable that concludes all of what he had been teaching during the Sermon on the Mount. A parable that tells of a wise man and a foolish man. A man who built his house on the rock, practicing the words of Jesus, and a man who built his house on the sand, hearing but not doing what Jesus had said. One was swept away in the storm, the other was left standing sturdy and strong.

How many of us will take this teaching of Jesus seriously? How many of us will not just listen to what Jesus has to say, but will actually do what he said? How many of us will diligently read the Bible and seek to put it into practice with wisdom?

Let me add that Jesus never taught people that their good works would get them into heaven. He always taught this: ”The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; [therefore] repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15). Jesus wanted people to follow him, to listen to him, to believe in him and to obey him. In one word, we call that “faith.” Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for all who trust in him. He went to the cross, carried our sins and our sorrows, suffered the extreme punishment for sin, and rose again from the grave on the third day. Because of this we are justified by faith alone in him. But if we have been justified by faith alone in Christ Jesus, and if he truly is our Lord, as we call him, then let us show our faith by our works, and prayerfully seek to do exactly what our Father wants us to do, putting into practice all that Jesus taught.

We need the Holy Spirit to do that, and we need God’s grace, but nevertheless, that is what Jesus said, and that is what we must strive to do. Let us not take confidence in our works, but in our Savior, and let us show our love toward our Savior by our works, by carefully listening, studying, and putting the words of Christ into practice. In this way, we show that we are resting on the right foundation, the foundation laid down for us by the one who has taken away our sins with his own blood, and provided eternal righteousness and life for us who believe by his resurrection from the dead.

Witnesses of the Resurrected King

What is the solution to life's toughest problems? Poverty, injustice, greed, corruption, hatred, violence, suffering, death? What is the answer to YOUR problems?

Here is the answer, and if you truly believe it your life will be radically different.

Paul and his companions were at a Jewish Synagogue in Antioch one Sabbath day, and they were asked to speak a word of encouragement, so Paul stood up and gave a sermon about Jesus being the Christ, their Savior. This is how it concluded:

"Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him; And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm,

"'You are my Son,
today I have begotten you.'

And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way,

"'I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.'

Therefore he says also in another psalm,

"'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.'

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:

"'Look, you scoffers,
be astounded and perish;
for I am doing a work in your days,
a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"

As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the Synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God." (Acts 13:26-43 ESV).

When Paul was asked to say some words of encouragement to this Jewish congregation, he was very eager to tell them about Jesus. He reminded them of God's gracious promises to their people, how He had dealt with them, and the leaders who had led them to Canaan. When Paul spoke to them about King David, who's offspring was promised to be a ruler forever. Paul made it clear to them that God had fulfilled that promise in Jesus. He told them of His death, and also of how God had raised the Lord Jesus from the dead. This is how Paul presented the solution to life's biggest problem:

"Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38-39).

My biggest problem is the same as your biggest problem; our sins have separated us from God. That includes eternal separation from God in hell forever, which is described as a lake of burning sulfer. But God has provided a way to remove our sins, to justify us, to free us from our sins by forgiving them through His Son Jesus Christ. His death is the payment for all our sins if we beleive. How do we know this is true? We know because God has raised Jesus from the dead.

"But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people." (Acts 13:30-31).

Now, we can know Jesus was in fact raised from the dead, because there were eye witnesses who saw Him risen. They spoke to the people, and they have left us a record of what happened and of what they said. That record is the New Testament. There always will be scoffers and doubters, but when the Living God awakens faith in your soul, you will see that God is satisfied with the death of His Son for your forgiveness, and that He has indeed raised Him from the dead as King and Savior forever. This is true for you if you have hidden yourself from the coming wrath of God in Jesus, who's blood was sacrificed.

That is the solution and answer to all of life's biggest problems, including all the pain and suffering you and I experience. Pain, death, suffering and difficulties are the result of man's fall into sin. Christ is the ultimate solution, because it is through Him that we find forgiveness of all our sins. He will come again to make all things new, and there will no longer be death and pain. When God promised Christ would come the first time, He fulfilled that promise. We know that He will also fulfill His promise again, that Jesus will come to save His people forever, and will judge the world.

We certainly have a lot to be thankful for, as well as a lot to look forward to. Praise the Lord! Amen.

More Priceless Proverbs

Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
(Proverbs 4:5-8 ESV).

That is good advice! Only a fool would neglect such a prize.

Remember that Christ is our wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).

The Proverb continues a few verses down:
My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
(Proverbs 4:20-22).

Compare those words with the words of the Lord Jesus:
"It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life." (John 6:63).

Truly, "No one ever spoke like this man!" (John 7:46).

Don't be a fool

Blessed is the one that finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than the gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her. (Proverbs 3:13-15).

For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; (Proverbs 2:6).

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7).

Only a fool would despise the one thing that is incomparably better than all you desire, which the LORD gives from his own mouth (and word). Don't be a fool! Get wisdom! Read the Bible!

Know Christ, and you will know wisdom: "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:24b).

>

Focus on Eternity

As you read these verses selected from 2 Corinthians 2-4, think of eternal things:

"For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,..." (2:15).

"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming form us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but he Spirit gives life." (3:5-6).

"For if what was being brought to an end [law of Moses] came with glory, much more will what is permanent [ministry of the Spirit and righteousness] have glory." (3:11).

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing." (4:3).

"For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you." (4:11-12).

"Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 'I believed, and so I spoke, [Ps 116:10]' we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence." (4:13-14).

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (4:16-18).

Do you get the feel of radical faith, passionate perseverance and endurance full of hope and expectation? In Christ we have the victory! In 2 Corinthians 2:14, Paul exclaimed, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere." He said that while describing intense physical, mental and spiritual suffering and persecution. Despite all the "momentary afflictions", we must look to the one who is faithful - Jesus Christ our Lord. Oh, that I was more of the aroma of Christ spreading the knowledge of God to everyone around me! Help me, Lord, to do just that.