Founded on the Rock
The Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsJesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with four warnings.
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Good morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! Welcome to our official launch! What an exciting day and even more, an exciting season we are entering. In 12 days it’s going to be 2021, and I’m ready to move on from 2020 (who isn’t right?). But, what I am most excited to see is what God does right here…with HIS church. “…the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Amen?
Well, this is indeed our launch, but we have been teaching through the Gospel of Matthew as a few of our families have been meeting over the past several months. And, today we are finishing up the Sermon on the Mount as we have been journeying through the Gospel of Matthew chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse. Please open your Bibles to Matt 7. We will be picking up in verse 13.
Throughout this Gospel, in many ways, Matthew has been demonstrating to His audience, Jewish disciples, that Jesus is the Messiah, their King.
And, last week we came to the pinnacle of Jesus’ greatest recorded sermon, when Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Mt 7:12. Jesus concluded the body of His sermon summarizing the entire Old Testament with the Golden Rule, and we know from numerous other scriptures that He summed up the entire Old Testament in even one word- Love. Love God, and Love others. Love is what the Scripture is all about, because God is love (1 Jn 4:8).
Now, today, we look at the conclusion of The Sermon on the Mount. As Jesus is on a hillside near the sea of Galilee, preaching to His disciples and whomever else wandered His way from the multitudes of people nearby…Jesus concludes giving four warnings and gives a call to action- all who were listening on that day, and all who are listening on this day must choose their path in life- to follow Jesus or not.
We will observe Jesus describing two choices in four different ways: two roads, two trees, two claims, and two foundations. Jesus will work backwards starting with eternal destination, to spiritual fruit, to profession of faith, concluding with spiritual foundation.
The foundation of your life (either rock or sand) will determine if you truly claim “Lord Lord”; will determine if you bear good or bad fruit; and will determine your path in life. Your very eternal destination comes down to one choice, one profession in life- Who do you say Jesus is? What kind of builder are you…wise or foolish?
The title of today’s sermon is “Founded on the Rock.”
Let’s Pray!
Matt 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
The fact that Jesus gave this sermon to His disciples (Matt 5:1) makes me wonder what their level of commitment was to Him at this point? When Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate...” this was not an invitation…it was a command (“enter” is an imperative). There are many people who identify as “Christian,” but are not fully committed “Christ followers.” Thus, Jesus is commanding a commitment to enter by the narrow gate and to walk the difficult way…which many are not willing to commit to…a path many are not willing to live.
Many times in my Christian walk I have read this passage when I was not fully living for Jesus. I always thought this was just a suggestion. But, it’s not- it’s a command. Jesus loves us enough to tell us the tough messages.
And, starting here in verse 13, Jesus speaks about two ways in life.
There is the wide gate opening to the broad road that leads to destruction, Gk. apōlĕia meaning ruin, loss, perdition. This refers to spiritual or eternal destruction- hell. Yet, this is the choice most people choose.
The alternative path is the narrow (or small) gate opening to a difficult road that leads to life (the eternal kingdom, heaven), and there are few people who find it.
It seems crazy that anyone would choose the destructive path, but they are living by sight…by temporal eyes. And, Jesus states the narrow path is difficult. By perception, the broad way seems to be easier in the present, but leads to future destruction. The narrow way is described as presently difficult, but leads to future life.
“Difficult” in verse 14 by. def. means to press, to afflict. It speaks about tribulation and trouble. And, often the Christian life is difficult…met with opposition and persecution. And, while as times the Christian life may be difficult, it is a joy and peace filled life despite circumstance; and shrouded by many blessings in this lifetime and hope to come.
When Jesus speaks about ‘life’ and ‘destruction’ here, He is speaking about eternal destinations- Heaven or Hell. And, you have to decide…where do you want to be for all eternity? “Smoking or non-smoking?”
I know hell is not the most popular subject to preach about, and if you are new here, you might be thinking, “Man, this guy is a real fire and brimstone preacher!” No I’m not. I’m just teaching chapter-by-chapter and verse-by-verse…I don’t plan series and I certainly didn’t pick this topic to be our launch service topic…so if you are hearing this today…maybe God has a reason.
There are numerous times in Scripture where “life” or “death” is mentioned, but physical life and death on this earth is not the idea. Scripture declares ‘death is but a gate,’ and ‘to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.’
Accepting Jesus Christ in this lifetime as your Lord and Savior is literally a ‘life and death’ decision.
The Apostle John, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, was a master at crafting these ‘life’ and ‘death’ concepts into his writings. Here are 5 cross references for you about life and death…from the Gospel of John, 1 John, and Revelation (all authored by John):
In 1 John 5, John wrote “...God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life...” 1 John 5 11b-13a
John 5:24 states “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
John 3:36 declares “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides [remains] on him.”
‘Everlasting life’ is more than our life on earth. Physical life is not everlasting (the average life expectancy in the U.S. is only about 79 years…far short of ‘everlasting’ (“...life is but a vapor.”). Thus, ‘life’ is speaking about eternity here...specifically heaven; and ‘death, judgment, and wrath’ speak about hell.
This is why Jesus told Nicodemus, “…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Why Christians say, “Born once, die twice; born twice, die once.” If you are born again spiritually, you will have life…you will not see that second death spoken of 4x in the book of Revelation.
Rev 21:7-8 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” The second death is eternal hell.
Hell in scripture is described as weeping and gnashing of teeth, outer darkness, unquenchable fire, where the worm dieth not, torment day and night forever and ever. Hell is a very real place, and it’s not a party as you see pictured sometimes on TV; nor is it not real as some would deny it (like Jehovah’s Witnesses).
Hell is reserved for the unbelieving world who will not let go of their sins; they are described as cowards for not taking a leap of faith to place their trust in Jesus. They only live by sight.
But, the Overcomers shall inherit all things- presence with God, and all the glorious promises of eternity.
So, who is an overcomer? Mandissa? Is that who we are talking about? You know I asked Amanda to sing the song ‘Overcomer’ by Mandissa, but she wanted to sing all this Christmas stuff.
1 Jn 5:4-5 tells us “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
If you are born again by believing Jesus is the Son of God, if you have confessed Him as your Lord and Savior- you are an overcomer.
Back in Matthew…in verses 13-14, notice Jesus describes the narrow gate and way as difficult or hard (the word could be translated as “afflicted”). The ESV Bible describes the broad way as “easy,” but this is a poor translation of the word. It is broad, by def. “spacious,” allowing a significant number of souls to travel that path without restriction. It’s a highway to hell. AC/DC sings that song like it’s a party…hell is no party…it’s hot…it’s a miserable place.
Yet, the broad way is described as the path most traveled... and so it is in the world. The world applauds an all accepting view of life and eternity that states YOU can define belief and eternity. You can live however you want, believe however you want...that ‘your truth is your truth, and my truth is my truth’ and ‘if you are a good enough person you are going to heaven.’ These teachings are lies.
Truth is a narrow path and there are few who find it. The narrow path of Christianity is to reject all other world religions and humanist teachings…to embrace and believe Jesus when He said, John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Some would say this is narrow minded. It is, but there can only be one truth. Jesus said He is the only way and if what Jesus said in John 14:6 is true, then there is no other way to heaven except through faith in Him. Thus, many reject this; and thus it is a narrow path that few find.
I remember talking to a Catholic guy in the Philippines who told me, “I believe there are many paths to God.” I quoted John 14:6, “But Jesus said...” The reality is there are so many people out there that are open to faith, but they just need some guidance. That Catholic guy was a nice guy, but he wasn’t a discipled guy…he wasn’t sitting at Jesus’ feet. And, Jesus uses us to proclaim truth.
Beginning in verse 15, now Jesus talks about false prophets. There has always been those who will teach there is another way to God. They will teach the ‘broad way’ philosophy of eternity…they are false prophets.
Matt 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Jesus now illustrates two trees and the fruit they bear. And, Jesus warns “Beware of false prophets.”
False prophets/ Gk. psĕudŏprŏphētēs is by def. ‘a pretended foreteller’ or ‘a religious imposter.’ Elsewhere in scripture, disciples are warned of false teachers/ Gk. psĕudŏdidaskalŏs, by def. ‘a propagator of erroneous Christian doctrine.’ And, whether they are exploiting the spiritual gift of prophecy or teaching, either way- they are false.
False prophets claim to have spiritual knowledge and insights about you and your future; false teachers take true teachings and twist them...sometimes even so subtlety that they teach 95% truth and just 5% false…but even 1% false is a lie, and enough to deceive. Both these false teachers and false prophets are proponents for the wide gate and broad way, and they lead many to destruction.
2 Pet 2:1-3 “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them [All have been purchased by the blood of Jesus, but Not all are redeemed], and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” [they join those they are leading down the broad road to destruction].
William MacDonald provides a brief summary of common false teachings you will find in Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Unitarianism and Universalism, and so forth…He said, “They deny the verbal, plenary [complete] inspiration of the Bible, the Trinity, the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, and His death as a Substitute for sinners. They are especially vehement in their denial of the value of His shed blood. They deny His bodily resurrection, eternal punishment, salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the reality of miracles in the Bible.”
In verse 15, Jesus teaches it’s difficult to distinguish false prophets from true Christians, as they come in the appearance of a Christian…in “sheep’s clothing.” Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and His followers are often referred to as sheep. But these false teachers are not sheep…internally they are wolves…a predator of sheep.
“Ravenous” (verse 15) Gk. harpax means “very eager or greedy for food, satisfaction, or gratification”, but also ‘rapacious’ (excessively covetous); an extortioner or swindler.
And, many false prophets prey on Christians financially.
The false prophet preys on the hopes and fears of the gullible Christian. They say you are saved by faith PLUS works, thus you must work for THEIR ministry! They preach that you must be a member of their church for salvation. They use illness to their advantage, and promise healing for a donation. There are many tricks and lies they employ for selfish gain.
Jesus tells His disciples (verse 16), “You will know them by their fruits.” What spiritual fruit is produced in their life?
And, Jesus asks a rhetorical question, “Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” Of course not. Grapes and figs are good fruit, but thornbushes and thistles are prickly weeds that came about as a result of the curse of sin (Gen 3:18). On Jesus’ head He wore a crown of thorns when He became a curse for us.
Starting in verse 17, Jesus describes two trees and two types of fruit:
There’s a good tree that produces good fruit, and a bad tree (likely a thornbush or thistle) that produces bad fruit.
And there is no crossover. Bad trees will not produce good fruit, nor will good trees produce bad fruit.
Fruit is what is produced in one’s life…your character, your works, your deeds. And, false prophets lack the fruits of the Spirit described in Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.”
False prophets and false teachers may act loving...people may think they are good and faithful and so forth, but they are not.
Jesus finishes talking about False Prophets by warning, verse 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Jesus said a similar thing in John 15:5-6 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
Whether you are a false prophet, false teacher or a false Christian (one that professes, but doesn’t truly believe…like Judas Iscariot) the end is the same…fire- because they rejected Jesus Christ.
In verse 20, Jesus concludes, “Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.” You will be able to identify false prophets, false teachers, and false Christians by observing their fruits…their works, their deeds, their character.
If two trees are two men, and two fruits are what’s produced in their life, then there must have also been a profession of faith for the good man bearing good fruit -or- a rejection of faith, even a false profession of faith, for the evil man bearing bad fruits. Next, Jesus looks at two claims…two professions.
Matt 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. 22 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?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Verses 21-23 are very much a continuation in thought...reflecting now on the words of the False Prophets. Verses 15-20 focused on the works and character of False Prophets, and now we see the words they claim.
They claim a false profession…calling Jesus ‘Lord, Lord,’ yet they have no relationship with him. No walk with him...because they don’t do God’s will.
Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” Luke 6:46
To call Jesus, ‘Lord, Lord’ is to profess Him as Savior and Master. It’s and act of submission to Him and His will. It’s surrendering one’s own will…just as a slave (a doulous) would to the will of their master. Yet, those who are false only profess (they only claim Jesus as Lord), but they will not obey Him.
Many people are willing to accept Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord. They are good with Jesus saving them, and forgiving them, and ushering them into heaven. But, they struggle surrendering their will, and their kingdom...to take up their cross and follow Him and obey His will. It’s a Lordship issue.
It’s important to note that Jesus has supreme authority. An unbeliever may reject Him as their Savior (and Jesus will honor that rejection...He won’t save them), but He is still their Lord…He is Lord of all.
In verses 21-23, we observe Jesus’ authority in the usage of the words “Me,” “My,” and “Your.” Take a look at verses 21-23.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord...” -Who is Lord? It’s Jesus.
“…but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” -To be the Son of God is to be God in Jewish thinking, and indeed Jesus is God.
“Many will say to Me in that day...” - “In that day” is an eschatological/ end times reference, and why are they addressing Jesus at that time…because He has the authority to judge.
Even false prophets will claim “…have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” -The name of Jesus is powerful.
In Acts 19, travelling Jewish exorcists and the seven sons Sceva realized there is power in the name of Jesus, and attempted to exorcise evil spirits saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” But, they had no relationship to Jesus, thus no power. Using Jesus’ name didn’t work out too well for them. The evil spirit said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
That’s a bad day, and that account leaves me with so many questions. How did they get naked? That’s some beating. But, I don’t feel bad for them. If you have to call Him “the Jesus” and you can’t call Him “my Jesus,” you deserve to be whooped until you are naked. “…the Jesus”- give me a break.
And, even if a false prophet performs signs and wonders…it’s not through Jesus... it’s a lying sign and wonder, it’s done to deceive, and they draw their power from the demonic.
When we were in the Philippines, a young man at our ministry told me a story about a “quack doctor” (an animistic healer), who performed supernatural healings. I couldn’t argue with him, but I did tell him that if he was doing this, then his power was coming from the demonic, not from Jesus. But, there are dark supernatural forces out there. Up to a point, Pharaoh's magicians were able to mimic the miracles of Moses through their enchantments.
But, look at how Jesus responds to such a person (verse 24). Without relationship…without faith…without belief…Jesus responds, “I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”
‘Practice’ in Greek by definition means to “search for” or “labor for.” Practicing lawlessness is habitually breaking God’s laws; it’s searching for sin. They never come into relationship with Jesus, except for Him being their judge.
Notice also that not everyone who professes Christ as Lord and Savior is actually saved. False Prophets, False Teachers, and False Christians profess Christ, but they are not saved. Jesus said (verse 21), “…but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” The person who does God’s will is truly saved.
Don’t get confused. This is not teaching a works based theology. Jesus plus anything for salvation is works based and a false teaching.
Eph 2:8-9 declares, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
During the Protestant Reformation in the 1500’s, the saying “By Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone” was popularized. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone…it’s a gift from God that we do not need to earn.
Jesus indicates that the person who confesses ‘Lord, Lord,’ and does the will of His Father- that is the person who will enter the kingdom of heaven…that is the person who has made a true claim because there is an evidence in their lives- which is belief.
For ex.- The day after the Feeding of the 5000, the multitude followed Jesus around the Sea of Galilee (they wanted some more of that free bread and Jesus called them out on it- “...you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled...”). In John 6:28-29 the multitude responded, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
You can’t just profess Christ. You have to truly believe in your heart. If you profess, but don’t believe…you are a liar…you are false.
Rom 10:9 “...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
A true believer in Christ will believe Jesus is Lord and Savior, thus they will confess their belief to other people. If you truly believe, how can you not tell people about the good news of Jesus Christ and all His promises? And, as the Holy Spirit indwells that person (John 14:17), and especially through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), there will be an evident fruit in the life of that believer. It will be evident that Jesus is their Savior and Jesus is their Lord.
…which is a great segue to Jesus final illustration in the Sermon on the Mount. The Parable of the Two Builders.
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: 25 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. 26 “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: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Jesus begins verse 24 with “Therefore.” The last “therefore” was in verse 12, so this “therefore” is looking back starting in verse 13.
There are two paths in life that lead to two eternal destinations.
There is a true teaching and a false teaching and Jesus illustrated the teachers as two trees bearing either good or bad fruit.
And, there are two professions. A false profession of “Lord, Lord.” And, a true profession where the disciple confesses Jesus as ‘Lord’ and does the will of the Father- there is true belief.
And, now in verse 24, to sum all of those previous ideas up, Jesus says “Therefore” and repeats the idea of being a doer of the word. “…whoever hears these saying of Mine, and does them...”
James must have thought of his brothers teaching as James wrote in James 1:22, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
It is not enough to just confess Jesus as Lord, and it is not enough to just hear Jesus’ sayings. One must also do God’s will and do the sayings of Jesus- which is all about belief (justification) resulting in a changed life (sanctification)…and this all begins by being founded on the Rock.
This is the central idea to this parable and central theme to this whole final teaching as Jesus concludes the Sermon on the mount.
And, notice the harmony of doing both God’s will (verse 21) and Jesus’ sayings (verse 24). The will of the Father IS the sayings of Jesus…they stand in harmony and as one, as Jesus and God are one.
So, the person who hears and does Jesus’ sayings is ‘likened’ to (compared to) a wise builder.
There are two builders- a wise builder and a foolish builder. The first is a wise builder built his house on the rock…his house was founded on the rock. There are numerous scriptures that speak about God being the Rock…about Jesus being the rock (meaning He is trustworthy and our future founded on Him is secure).
Messiah is called a “stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” Isa 8:14
David declared, “The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation!” 2 Sam 22:47
Jesus is revealed as the “chief cornerstone.” Eph 2:20
Yahweh declares, “Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one.’ ” Isa 44:8.
And, I love that Yahweh declares that there is no other Rock, yet 1 Cor 10:4 explicitly reveals that Jesus is the Rock…there is unity in the trinity. Reflecting on the wilderness wanderings of Israel, I Cor 10 :4 declares, “For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.”
The person who has founded their house (their life) on the rock will withstand the storms of life that are described in verse 25.
The storms of life can be experienced now, as illustrated in the Parable of the Soils (Matt 13)…a person who received the seed on stony places “...he has no root [no foundation] in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.”
The storms of life are also eschatological. The person not founded on Jesus Christ will not stand before God when literal storms descend upon the earth.
And, the foolish builder is one such person who will not withstand the storms…verse 24.
This person hears Jesus sayings, but they do not do them. They practice lawlessness…they do not do the will of the Father. They yield bad fruit and are on the broad road to destruction.
They built their house on sand…which is anything other then Jesus Christ.
And, I encourage you to reflect...Where is your hope? Is it your job, your bank account, your retirement, your network, your skill set, your country? If it is anything other then Jesus Christ…it is sand…and you have built foolishly. It’s not too late though…Jesus stands open armed and desires relationship…He wants to be your foundation…your Rock.
The storms of life will come, and great will be the fall to the foolish builder. In good weather, the fools house may look just as good or better as the wise man’s house, but when put to the test…great will be the fall.
1 Cor 3:11 declares “For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” There is no other foundation that will stand the test of time- both in this lifetime and especially in eternity.
And, now in verse 28, we see the response to the sermon...
Matt 7:28-29 “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
The people were astonished (amazed)…not for Jesus’ fanciful words, not for his great cross references or Hebrew word studies, but because “He taught them as one having authority (exousia- authoritative power), and not as the scribes.”
The scribes would references Hillel or Rabbi so and so…they looked to one another and missed the true intent of the law and the prophets- to love God and love others, and they laid a burden on the people by majoring in minors.
Whereas Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets (Matt 5:17). He is “Lord, Lord” and has the authority to declare the true intent of the word, and to identify those who are false to whom he will respond “depart from Me.” And, He will identify the true believers to who he will respond, “‘Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter in the joy of your lord.’”
The reaction of the people should be the same reaction we have today. When we sit before the word of God…when we are reading the words in red…we should be astonished. The same authority observed in Jesus in the flesh is right here in God’s word today. And, as you sit at Jesus’ feet on a consistent basis, He will speak to you and minister to you through His word…and you too will be amazed.
Worship Team Come.
The Sermon on the Mount is the greatest sermon ever recorded. It’s a message from the King to His kingdom citizens with tremendous wisdom and instructions.
As I reflect back on this sermon as a whole, it is paramount that our lives are founded on Jesus…that we love God and love others…that we practice righteousness..that we live out the law through love…that we are salt & light, and that we live out the Beatitudes (the blessings) because we are already saved.
Go this week, head held high, knowing that God loves you, has done so much for you, and will continue to do a work in your life! Let other people see that in you this week.
Amen?
Let’s pray!
If you need prayer today, see me or someone around you. We would be happy to pray with you today. Next week, we will continue in Matthew, beginning in Chapter 8…read ahead.