Our Sure Foundation Building on the Rock,

Speaker: Bill Sizemore Series: The Proclamation Scripture: Matthew 7:15–29 Synopsis: Do you feel like your life is on shaky ground? Like any moment everything could come crashing down. As Jesus ends his proclamation of the kingdom, he gives clear instruction of how to build a solid foundation for your life. Through the words of Jesus, you can build your life on the Rock.

Introduction: One thing that makes different from other religions is focusing on an inward relationship with God over religious acts for God. When Jesus came on the scene, he was the new Prophet on the block. His proclamation from God cut directly to the heart and motives of why a person does something and not just the acts themselves. When you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, your actions will reflect your nature of love toward others. Jesus ends his proclamation with a stern warning to the people and prophets of his day and those that would follow after.

Sheep’s Clothing vs. Ravenous Wolves Matthew 7:15 ESV “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Sheep’s Clothing All the Characteristics of the : • Humble • Pitiful • Meek • Righteous • Merciful • Pure in Heart • Peacemakers • Persecuted for righteousness

Page 1. Exported from Software, 7:38 AM February 26, 2021. Ravenous Wolves Jesus described ravenous wolves in chapters 6 and 7. • Prideful • Arrogant • Faithless • Hypocritical • Judgmental • Heartless • Aggressors • Persecutors Jesus gives a more detailed description of these ravenous wolves in Matthew 23.

Matthew 23:25–27 ESV “Woe to you, scribes and , hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

Bear Good Fruit. Matthew 7:16–20 ESV You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Good fruit only comes from a healthy tree. • A healthy tree begins with the source of its nutrients. • The soil from which the tree draws must be good for the tree to be good. When your heart is right with God, you will produce the fruit of the Spirit and righteousness.

Jesus used this same analogy of himself and his followers in . John 15:1–4 ESV

Page 2. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:38 AM February 26, 2021. “ the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Be Known by Jesus. Matthew 7:21–23 ESV “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is 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 mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Good works are not the key to a relationship with God. Vulnerability is the key to knowing and being known.

Build on the Rock. Every structure of any size requires a firm foundation. When builders build a house, they first pour a solid foundation of concrete. When engineers build skyscrapers, they dig down to the bedrock to ensure a solid foundation. Matthew 7:24–27 ESV “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And 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. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Page 3. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:38 AM February 26, 2021. The Word of God is our sure foundation. 2 Peter 1:19 ESV And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

The Word of Christ is our sure foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:10–11 ESV According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:28–29 ESV And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Next Steps 1) Be grafted into the true vine, which is Christ. a) He is the source of your strength and fruit. b) Abide in Christ, and you will bear much fruit. Without him, you can do nothing. 2) Draw close to God through your vulnerability with God. a) Doing good works never makes you closer to God. b) Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20, NKJV) 3) Build your life on the sure foundation of Christ through His words.

Page 4. Exported from Logos Bible Software, 7:38 AM February 26, 2021.