1. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27

2. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

3. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Does The Text Reveal? Ê There are only 2 kinds of builders  “To live is to build”  Eventually the structure of one’s life begins to take shape  One is either (1) “foolish” or (2) “wise” 1

4. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Does The Text Reveal? Ë There are only 2 kinds of foundations Shifting Sand  Foolish builder had no thoughts, plans  Quick results…as little effort as possible  No need for foundation…always sunny 2

5. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Does The Text Reveal? Ë There are only 2 kinds of foundations Solid Rock  Took great pains to find Lk 6:48  Had to be laborious…time consuming  Wasted effort according to the fool “ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock ” 2

6. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Does The Text Reveal? Ë There are only 2 kinds of foundations Solid Rock  Didn’t just build to have a house to live in  Built for the coming storms  Foundation necessary…sun wouldn’t last 2

7. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Does The Text Reveal? Ì There is only 1 storm  No difference between v. 25, 27  Everyone subject to the same “storm”  Foolish cannot claim their “storm” is worse than what others endure 3

8. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Does The Text Reveal? Ì There is only 1 storm  Before the storm, both houses appear the same…both successful  What distinguishes the 2 builders? Foundation? NO Storm? YES 3

9. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Foolish?” He doesn’t have faith – he believes everything will remain the same  He never plans for “certain” storms 2 Cor. 4:3-4 “ But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

10. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Foolish?” He has faith – he just doesn’t want to be inconvenienced  Why do all that digging when lesser efforts will suffice? 1 Kings 12:25-29; 2 Kings 5:10-12

11. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Foolish?” He has faith – he just refuses to look ahead  Short-sightedness always has to dig itself out from underneath the rubble 2 Pet 1:5-11 “add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble”

12. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Ê He searches for the rock Lk 6:48  Implied is the deliberate search for solid, unmovable rock  The rock won’t be found where the Lord did not intend for him to build 1

13. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Ê He searches for the rock Lk 6:48  When he deliberately places himself in the presence of sin, he’s building on the sand 1

14. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Ë He doesn’t just listen…he acts  This is the only difference between the wise & foolish builder  Faith will show itself in action Jas. 1:22-25 2 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does”

15. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Ì He sticks to the blueprints  A good example - 1 Cor 3:9-11  If it works for God’s house, it will also work for his own “house”  “Master builder” = arkitekton v. 10 “For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” 3

16. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Ì He sticks to the blueprints  God always places a high premium on His plan and man’s faithfulness to it Heb 8:5 Col 3:17 Mt 7:21-23 “Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, "SEE THAT YOU MAKE ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” 3

17. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Ì He sticks to the blueprints  God always places a high premium on His plan and man’s faithfulness to it Heb 8:5 Col 3:17 Mt 7:21-23 “ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 3

18. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Ì He sticks to the blueprints  God always places a high premium on His plan and man’s faithfulness to it Heb 8:5 Col 3:17 Mt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?‘ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” 3

19. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 What Makes A Builder “Wise?” Í He tears down & rebuilds if necessary  Repentance is sometimes needed if he didn’t do right the first time  Better to tear it down & rebuild than to stay put and let the storm destroy you 4

20. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 Closing Thoughts  “Sand Builders”  No time for planning…enjoy the present  Only effort expended is for present benefits now  If not visible now…not interested

21. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 Closing Thoughts  “Rock Builders”  Not waste much time on shallow fun…must plan for the future Heb 11:25  They want what is real…not false that won’t really last

22. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 Closing Thoughts  “Rock Builders”  No effort is too much trouble to expend  They make sure their homes will survive the coming storms

23. Building For The Coming Storms Matt 7:24-27 The storms are coming… …which builder are you? death of loved ones financial problems falsely accused Sickness issues with spouses, children temptations

24. “God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage”

25. GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN FOR SALVATION hear believe repent confess baptism ACTS 3:22 JN. 6:29 LK. 13:3 JN. 12:42 1 PET. 3:21 Rev. 2:10