Key Text: Matthew 7:24-27
The question is ‘Are our hearts built on Christ Jesus? Is our faith in Him? because He will not let us down or fail us. Jesus did not say that building on the rock was going to be easy, yet none the less that’s what he exhorts us to do.
The Bible shows floods and winds as forces that bring chaos and can only be controlled by God. They are therefore, used as a metaphor, picture to describe the causes of calamity that can suddenly overtake an individual, overwhelm us.
Why do we continue to buy into the lie that we have to have it all together when we become disciples of Christ? Many of us will bear testimony to that fact that this is not the reality.
We still mess up, we still struggle with aspects of life, we still have conflict, times of excessive anxiety, things don’t always go swimmingly perfect. We remain human with all that life brings. We have to stop trying to live up to the illusion that our lives should be perfect and trouble free. Do yourself a favour and tell yourself that it’s o.k. not to be o.k. It’s only when we acknowledge that things are not o.k. are we then open to acknowledge that we need help.
Philppians 1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, When Paul writes this it is not to bring correction unlike his other epistles this is solely to encourage and he is writing from a Roman prison.If found guilty he could be executed but instead of complaining he begins I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
This is the same Paul who later in the same letter writes: Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
In the midst of the storm we will not go down but instead we can hear the rhythm of His voice to carry us through.
Illustration: A couple of days ago I saw images of immigrants who had tried to get into Italy illegally on small boats that had capsized and they were being smashed against the rocks. People were desperately trying to pull them up on ropes out of the water to safety.
We are not a people who are against the rocks but a people who are on the rock. Psalm 27:5 For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of his tent; He will lift me high upon a rock.
We are not against the rocks but we are on the rock who is Christ Jesus.
How do we begin to build our lives and faith on Christ Jesus? By us being intentional. 24“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does themwill be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
There must be an application/appropriation a taking to ourselves what we read and hear.
There will be rain, flooding and winds in life that throw us into chaos and turmoil things that only God can deal with.
God can, we need to know that this situation will not beat you or break you how do I know” 25 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.
The rock and the sand are made of the same substance. Disciples of Christ do not get a free pass through life.
Difference between the sand and rock is what holds it together. So too what makes the difference in our lives is the one wo holds all things together Christ Jesus
Colossians 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.