Two Ways Two

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!” Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Introduction

We have reached the end of the SoM. Next week we start our series SENT! And, believe it or not when that series is finished Advent starts! Where has 2017 gone!? Has this year flown by for you too? Can’t wait to see what God has planned for 2018, or the rest of this year for that matter. Well on to Two Ways Two.

Has this year flown by for you too? Can’t wait to see what God has planned for 2018, or the rest of this year for that matter. Well on to Two Ways Two.

The sermon two weeks ago was entitled Two Ways One. Today we have the sequel. If you recall Chapter 7:13-28 is Jesus 3 warnings about not being obedient to what he has taught in the SoM. They basically present us with two ways, the way of life or the way of death. Following Jesus is the way of life, not following is the way of death. In the last sermon we talked about the two paths, false and real prophets, and self deception. Today we are talking about security. Not necessarily eternal security this morning, although Jesus is addressing that. These 3 warnings do concern what happens when Jesus returns. He has told us how to live in the SoM during the time between the advents. He concludes by telling us what could happen when he returns. However, these warnings apply to today as well because they are warning about what we should be doing between the advents. So suffice it to say that eternal security is a given if we do these things, that is follow Jesus, its not just in the doing as we learned 2 weeks ago. remember:

Matthew 7:21–24 NRSV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 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 deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

Matthew 7:21

So why we do these things is just important. But lets unpack this very familiar parable and see what it can tell us about security in the here and now.

Exegesis

We live in some chaotic times, don’t we? Hurricanes, fires, the threat of nuclear war, terrorism, political polarization like we have never seen before, at least the economy seems to be on track (for now, we all know how cyclical and fickle economics are).

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Well, if you ever doubted Jesus there you go. One house solidly built to with stand the wind and floods the other not. That was 100mph winds by the way. The crowd listening to Jesus knew exactly what he was talking about. The homes in Palestine made with mud bricks and roofs demanded a lot of maintenance. Sometimes people would mistakenly build in a wadi. (explain wadi). The rains would come the wadi would become a raging river and the home would be destroyed.

Jesus says obeying his words is like building a house on a rock instead of a sandy wadi. It was a secure structure, like the house that was built to withstand a hurricane.

He says the one who hears and acts on these words of his have the security of a well built home on the rock. I asked a question on facebook this week about what made people secure. I got a lot of “right” answers. For example their faith, or Jesus, or prayer. However, being the cynic I am I wondered if they were saying the right things to the preacher. Insecurities were not being prepared, hearing issues, isolation and being alone, forgetting God is in control, aging, social interactions especially when trying to make friends. All of us deal with insecurities. its part of our separation from God.

I wonder though, those that mentioned religious reasons for security (now if you were on of those, don’t take this personally or like I didn’t believe you) really have their security in their 401K, or the loaded Glock in their bedside table, I mean why would you carry a gun unless you want to feel more secure? (By the way that’s not a gun control speech.) How many of us will feel insecure when we go into an outdoor crowd after Las Vegas?

Therapist Paul Dunion says that being secure is not the same thing as feeling secure puts it this way:

“We easily translate our experience of security from feeling secure to being secure, when in fact they are quite different. Feeling secure is a fleeting sentiment guaranteeing very little, while being secure suggests something substantial and enduring. However, confusing the two tends to leave us feeling quite insecure.”

I think this parable teaches just that feeling and being secure are 2 different things. The guy in the house in the wadi felt secure right up to the moment when he was swept away! I wonder how many answered about feeling secure rather than being secure?

Many Rabbis taught along these same lines. They taught that the firm foundation was Torah. Jesus, however, changed all that he taught that he was the firm foundation. Matthew drive that point home by saying:

Matthew 7:28–29 NRSV

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Matthew 7:28 NRSV

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching,

Jesus placed himself over the Torah, in fact Jesus becomes Torah, the fulfillment of the law and the people could recognize this. He wasn’t quoting other Rabbis as a source of authority, he was speaking on his on behalf! As one commentator said:

Jesus’ teaching was not an exposition of an external authority, written Torah or oral tradition. He placed himself over both tradition, prophets, and Scripture as a direct spokesman for God.

Simply put, placing your life in Jesus hands is the true source of security. Having Christ in your life will help you weather the storms. The loss of a job, nuclear war, death of a loved one, loss of possessions in a natural disaster. And of course, the security of knowing that there is resurrection. That death is merely a transition.

John Crysostom, a Bishop from the 4th century wrote this in a sermon and it is till right on for us today:

New Testament Ia: Matthew 1–13 7:24 Building on Rock

In referring to rain, floods and winds Jesus is speaking about all those human circumstances and misfortunes, such as false accusations, plots, bereavements, deaths, loss of family members, insults from others, and all the horrid things in life about which one could speak. Jesus says that a soul that pursues the way of excellence does not give in to any of these potential disasters. And the cause of this is that this soul has been founded upon the rock.

New Testament Ia: Matthew 1–13 7:24 Building on Rock

With our eternal security set, with our faith in Christ, why is it we still deal with insecurities of everyday life. I am afraid its part of our human condition. Maybe its like the chimpanzee at the university of Oklahoma who was taught to communicate with sign language. This chimp was pampered, well fed, kept physically comfortable, and was safe from harm. Total security. Yet, when it was able to put words together on its own she repeatedly asked, “let me out.”

Your security should set you free.

(Exodus)

Jesus is teaching us what it means to be a disciple in the SoM. A true disciple, one that not only hears but acts. This is truth that should set us free.

John 8:31-

John 8:31–36 NRSV

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Isn’t that what we all want, a permanent place in the house built on a rock? A place where we are free to be what God intends us to be. Security isn’t in a warm bed, a 401K, or a roof over your head. Those are all temporary fleeting things. Security is in Christ. Truth is in Christ.The choice is ours. Will we be the people of the rock that leads to life or people of sand that leads to destruction? As for me and my house we choose the Lord.

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