Jesus tells us about two kinds of people in Matthew 7:24-29. They have different foundations, and their foundations determine the outcome of their lives.
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The Rain Descended
Matthew 7:24-29
• Sometimes the world is rather black and white
• Not always, but often
• And in the case of today’s text, we have two kinds of people
• They represent two kinds of people in the world
• Jesus calls them "a wise man" and "a foolish man"
• They are called this based on the choices they make
• Both are given the same instructions from Christ
• One believes and does what Jesus says, the other does not
• All who have heard Jesus' words can be put in one of these two categories
• The obedient and the disobedient
• And this passage of scripture tells us about the results
• We hear what happened when "The Rain Descended"
• As we spend some time in Matthew 7:24-29 today
• We're in a very well-known passage of scripture today
• It is essentially about our foundation of life
• Is our life built upon something strong and durable?
• Or something that is unsteady and easily undermined?
• There are songs about this passage
• The foundation materials mentioned may have become a bit cliché
• But the issues the passage brings up are actually quite serious
• When difficulties and hardships come, will our lives crumble or will we stand strong?
• The issues at hand here are not theoretical
• People build their lives upon something
• We all do
• And that which we build upon will either hold up or it won't
• Let's get into the passage…
Matthew 7:24
24 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:
• The person that hears Jesus' sayings…which sayings?
• We have to believe He is speaking comprehensively
• He is certainly not just talking about a few words or phrases
• He's talking about His entire message
• The message that some of those present heard in person
• And certainly the message of Him that is recorded for us in scripture
• But it's not just enough to hear them
• We must do them
• Embrace them, believe them, make them our foundation for life
• Because if we do, we will be compared to a wise man
• He is wise because He built his house upon rock
• The wise man's foundation is right
• Just as the obedient man's foundation is right
• Both are solid and secure and unshakeable
• The first thing we have to believe about Jesus is that He is the Savior
• The way the truth and the life - and that no man can come to the Father but by Him
• Because He died in our place and for our sin, was buried, and rose again the third day
• And then we must believe all that He taught and lived out in the world
• He must be our example and His words must be our guide
• When this is the case, we are on rock-solid ground
• We are prepared for whatever life may bring
• And it brings many thing…
Matthew 7:25
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.
• The wise man is not spared from rains and flood
• He still experiences the blowing of the wind
• But his house does not fall
• Through His relationship with Christ
• And His obedience to Christ's words
• He has prepared himself to endure
• Not because he is, in and of himself, any stronger or better than the foolish man
• But he has a better foundation
• The right foundation
• A foundation of solid rock
• The house may be weather-beaten when the storm has ended
• A few of the windows may have blown in
• The yard may be a mess
• But the house still stands
• Christ is our strength
• And the instruction that He gives in His word is sufficient to live in this world
• And to have victory
• And to have peace
• No doubt, things of immense difficulty will come
• But those with the right foundation need not fear
• There is another foundation
• Jesus describes that in our next verse…
Matthew 7:26
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:
• Some will hear and do not what Jesus says
• They will reject it
• They will reject Him
• Perhaps they will think they have a better way
• Perhaps they will her someone else and build their lives on what that someone else says
• Or perhaps they will simply be careless, never giving their foundation a second thought
• They are like a foolish man
• Who also builds a house
• But builds it on a foundation that is not suitable
• That won't stand in trouble
• Whatever this foolish man is building upon won't seem like sand when he surveys it
• It will look just fine to him at that time
• He'll make his calculations
• And everything will add up
• Until the rains come
• And maybe this foolish man didn't expect the rain
• Even if he did, maybe he didn't expect the flood
• And perhaps he didn't foresee winds that were quite this severe
• Whatever the case, the foundation is not right
• And the foolish man's life is not ready for the storm…
Matthew 7:27
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.
• For the man who rejects Christ
• The man who hears the message of the gospel, but does not embrace it
• Destruction is his only end
• Because the rains and floods and winds of the world keep coming
• And only those with the right foundation will stand
• Jesus describes this as quite a black and white issue
• Accept Him and build upon the foundation of His word - this is wise
• Reject Him and build upon some other foundation (any other foundation) - this is foolish
• Your life will stand or will fall
• Your life will be a success or a failure
• You will have eternal life or eternal death
• Based upon your foundation
• Is He your foundation?
• Is His word the basis for your life choices?
• Are you His disciple?
• Because the rains and floods and winds are coming
• They may already be here
• Don't get your calculations wrong
• Trust what Jesus says here
• Listen to what the people around said on this day…
Matthew 7:28-29
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
• He was speaking from authority
• Because He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords
• Above all
• The Savior of the world
• And He pleads with us to be wise, not foolish
• To trust Him, to follow Him