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foreign good morning everyone welcome to Free Grace Baptist Church for morning worship uh just for announcements the Bible study will resume again 7 30 on Wednesday Pastor Butler Mrs Butler and the Niels have all returned from Honduras looking like they've got a bit of sun and it sounds like they had a wonderful time there let us turn to Psalm 149 for our call to worship this morning turn in your Bibles to Psalm 149. praise the Lord sing to the Lord a new song and his praise in the Assembly of saints let Israel rejoice in their maker let the children of Zion be joyful in their King let them praise His name with the dance let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp for the Lord takes pleasure in his people and He will beautify The Humble with salvation let the Saints be joyful in glory let them sing aloud on their beds let the high praises of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hand to execute Vengeance on the Nations and punishments on the peoples to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with Fetters of iron to execute on them the written judgment this honor have all his Saints praise the Lord amen for our first hymn we're going to sing Psalm 72 selection a but we will sing the last four verses so the second page verses 5 to verse 8 of Psalm 72 a please stand with me as we sing he says Lord he says foreign [Music] foreign [Music] foreign [Music] come over there is [Music] you may be seated let's go to our great God In Prayer gracious Heavenly Father we thank you that we have this privilege to come before you to lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving we thank you for the blessings of the weak past we thank you for safety and health and strength and provision we thank you Lord that you continue to bless us bountifully in this congregation we pray o God that we would serve you a right as we ought thank you for the safe return of Pastor Mrs Butler and the nielses thank you for the good visit that they had down in Central America the Caribbean Lord we pray that you your blessing would continue to rest upon those churches down there this morning in the church in Honduras I pray that you would Bless the people that have gathered earlier bless Pastor Carlos and Pastor Louise and their congregation Lord we pray that you you would cause them to be a true Lighthouse of of faith and and the gospel in that Nation thank you for the curries and I pray Lord that you would bless them in their in their time there that you would cause them to be a blessing to the church and to the community there Lord we thank you that the gospel Goes Forth in that part of the world that you are raising up many churches and many preachers in Latin America and I pray God that you would continue to cause a a massive change even politically through many many people coming to know of Christ as Savior Lord do your good work in that part of the world we thank you that the gospel is going forth all over the world and we pray oh God that it would have an effect this day in every country on the face of the Earth that your spirit would attend the true preaching of the gospel and draw Sinners to yourself and cause the church to be well grounded and well-founded Lord we pray for those Brethren who are suffering this day because of their testimony and who are holding fast to the word of Truth Lord we pray that you would grant them strength to persevere we pray for those churches that are meeting in secret that are hiding and that are being hounded persecuted by the authorities or by the false religions that surround them we pray oh God that you would uphold your Saints give them tenacity give them Grace give them fortitude that they can hold so that they can hold fast to the very end and Lord we do pray for those rulers of the world that are in Stark opposition to you we know here in North America it's much more subtle we know that there is only light and darkness and even the rulers of our nations are are many ways attacking the church in a more subtle way but we pray for those that are undergoing severe persecution where Christians are being thrown into prison and being having their lands and houses confiscated and their businesses shut down lord be merciful to your people and sustain them I pray I do pray for the church here in North America that you would continue to purify continue to cause your people to be a light in this broken world and help us oh God to remain true and not to be sidetracked by the attacks of Satan and by heresies that infiltrate the church bless your people this day across this land I pray o God I do pray that you would bless our sister churches bless the work out in Ontario pray Lord that you would give Dan and Josh much wisdom as they lead that congregation I pray Lord that they would see fruit to their labors and I pray that you would continue to add to their numbers and cause them to mature and grow in the faith and Lord I pray that you would protect them from any infiltration of of the enemy Lord bless the work in Armstrong this day encourage pastor malzarz and his congregation Lord I pray that they would be solid and United and that they would see good things happen there in the north Okanagan likewise we pray for the church in Surrey that you would encourage the Brethren there bless Pastor Kirkpatrick this morning as he preaches anoint him oh God to preach accurately the word of God to the congregation cause them to be built up and Lord draw Sinners to yourself I pray that you would do the same here in our congregation this morning Lord for those in this in our midst today that have not tasted and seen that the Lord is good may you give them that Joy of Salvation this very day bless Pastor Butler as he returns to the pulpit here and encourage him in the work I pray Lord that you would bless your people in this place and throughout this city as the gospel go for Goes Forth in other churches as well Lord I pray that you would bless the children and the youth in our congregation may they hear the gospel understand the gospel and embrace it in their youth and Lord I pray that you would raise many up in our congregation to be faithful members of the church and faithful Ministers of the Gospel in their own in their own Realms Lord bless the work here bless the children bless the youth I pray Lord for those mothers that are with child that you would strengthen them and keep them mother and child safe to the day of birth and Lord I Thank you for continually adding to our numbers through the the birth of children may we take seriously the admonitions of scripture to rear them in the fear and admonition of the Lord and Lord for those in our congregation that are suffering that are perhaps sick or have chronic illness be merciful to them this day and sustain your Saints I pray please go with us as we continue in worship I pray your blessing would rest upon us open our ears and our hearts to hear the word I pray in Jesus name amen for our next hymn let's turn to number 440 we will be singing it to a familiar tune different than the one it's written to here but one that we know well 440 Come Ye Sinners poor and wretched please stand with me as we sing foreign [Music] foreign [Music] please foreign [Music] Jesus Christ [Music] foreign foreign [Music] my Lord Jesus Christ for our New Testament scripture reading this morning we will turn to Revelation chapter 4. the fourth chapter of Revelation and we will read the entire chapter these things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me saying come up here and I will show you things which much must take place after this immediately I was in the spirit and behold a throne set in heaven and one sat on the throne and he who sat there was like a Jasper and a sardius stone in appearance and there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald around the throne were 24 Thrones and on the Thrones I saw 24 Elders sitting clothed in white robes and they had crowns of gold on their heads and from the throne proceeded Lightnings thunderings and voices seven laps of fire were burning Before the Throne which are the seven spirits of God Before the Throne there was a sea of glass like Crystal and in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back the first living creature was like a lion the second living creature like a calf the third living creature had a face like a man and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle the four living creatures each having six wings were full of eyes around and within and they do not rest day or night saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne who lives forever and ever the 24 Elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever and casts their crowns Before the Throne saying you are worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they exist and were created amen let us pray thank you O Father God for this glimpse into heaven and Lord I pray that you would give us that heart this morning to fall down before you as we ought in your presence and to sing your praises to give you honor and Glory as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world please continue with us in worship I pray in Jesus name amen for our last hymn we'll turn to 271 m271 blessed Jesus at your word please stand with me as we sing how to see them selves foreign foreign foreign [Music] foreign well I wanted to thank everybody for your prayers for our our visit to Honduras it was great it was a real blessing to be able to go to meet the Brethren at the church there and to just see the people of God to see John and Malena in their element to see the love that they have for the Brethren and the obvious love that the Brethren had for them I had kind of wished that it would have been a bad thing and we'd be able to take John back with us to to the group and the church that really loves him they really love him and it does seem like a natural and a blessed fit I'm sure we'll see him again I'm just not sure we'll see him living in downtown Chilliwack so pray for him I was in touch with him as well he's uh within the last few hours he said to send his greetings to everybody at the church here but yeah it is an impoverished country obviously not everybody is as equally impoverished John and Elena are living in a in a nice three-bedroom house in a nice community they're having a house built on the property of the church building but on the Thursday we were there we went with pastors Pastor Carlos and John to visit some of the poorer families and it was a real I open arm just the difficulties encountered by the saints of God in other parts of the world and the hardships and the heartaches that they face in in their predicaments and in their situation Sunday the church was very well attended apparently they heard that a gringo was going to be preaching so a lot of people came there were some gift bags Carla and and Rebecca made up for the kids so there was a lot of children a lot of activity that it was just a blessing blessing to be able to meet Pastor Carlos and Pastor Louise men that we pray for and another brother there Pastor Isaias he is another faithful brother we felt like we were in the presence of CH Spurgeon he looks like a younger version of Charles Haddon Spurgeon and the Spanish version or El Salvadorian version but just really nice Brethren good Fellowship the hospitality was wonderful and it was just a just a blessed time and so again we thank you for your prayers it was good to hang out with Nathan and Carla of course with John and Elena and just to share that that experience so we're we're back and uh hopefully the uh get back to some degree of normal will be in John's gospel next Sunday morning but this morning we're going to look at Matthew's gospel so you can turn in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 7. our Focus will be on the two builders in verses 24 to 29. this is the endorse the conclusion of the sermon on the mound and the conclusion or the end starts in chapter 13. so I'll begin reading in Matthew 7 at verse 13 to the end of the chapter Jesus says in verse 13 enter by the narrow gate for white is the gate and brought is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravenous wolves you will know them by their fruits do men gather grapes from Thorn bushes or figs from thistles even so every good tree Bears good fruit but a bad tree Bears Bad fruit a good tree cannot bear bad fruit nor can a bad tree bear good fruit every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire therefore by their fruits you will know them 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 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 and so it was when Jesus had ended these sayings that the people were astonished at his teaching for he taught them is one having Authority and not as the scribes amen well let us pray Lord God and our father we thank you for this beautiful day we thank you for the sunshine for the Declaration of the glory of God through the created order we thank you as well that you are sovereign and in your Providence you control all things you govern all your creatures and all their actions we rejoice in Redemption and the fact that we've been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus our lord we praise you for his life of obedience his death as a substitutionary sacrifice his resurrection again the third day we praise you for that current session now at the right hand of God most high and we look forward to his return again in glory to judge the living and the dead and we pray now that you would send forth the Holy Spirit as we consider this passage of scripture help us God to examine ourselves in light of the holy word of the living and true God forgive us for our sin and our unrighteousness none of us does the will of God none of us obeys The Words of Christ as we ought so please even now cleanse us from all sin and all unrighteousness and all of the wickedness that the remains in our hearts and for any and all who've come here this morning still strangers to your grace and to your mercy we pray that today would be the day of salvation that you would open their eyes to behold the truth as it is in Jesus that they would hear that word and that by Grace they would do what Christ says and we ask this in the name and for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ amen well the section I read concludes The Sermon on the Mount so Jesus teaches in Matthew chapters 5 to 7 and it is the first of five discourses in Matthew's gospel some have seen similarity with Moses Moses went up on the mount and Moses preached or preached or taught the law Jesus does the same sort of a thing and when we come to this particular section we see that it concludes the conclusion so verses 13 to 27 conclude The Sermon on the Mount as a whole but verses 24 to 27 specifically concluded you notice that by the way verse 24 starts therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and that reflects the entirety of his teaching in Matthew chapters five to seven but in terms of that whole concluding section beginning in verse 13 we see that Christ speaks of two ways verses 13 and 14 two trees verses 15 to 20 two claims verses 21 to 23 and then these two builders in verses 24-27 RT France says the result resultant Force actions the ones I just mentioned therefore press increasingly closer to home the first is a simple contrast between saved and lost the second concerns Outsiders who merely pretend to be insiders the third looks at those who think they are insiders but are not and the fourth draws a line even within the group of insiders those who hear Jesus words between those who respond and those who do not so Christ is saying in this section as a whole that it's not just that you hear the doctrine it's not that you just hear the DJ not that you just have some degree of familiarity with the Bible but by grace through faith in our lord Jesus you must do what God says and so these two Builders illustrate that so we'll look first at the wise Builder secondly at the foolish Builder and then we'll end with the authoritative preacher because in verses 28 and 29 we see something unique in John's gospel I mentioned that there are five major blocks of teaching by our Lord and they all formally conclude with Jesus having completed or ended these sayings but this is the only one that records for us the response of the crowd and they're astonished because he taught not as a scribe but he taught rather as one having Authority but let's look first at the wise builder in verses 24 to 25. we'll see first the description and secondly the illustration notice it is the conclusion of the sermon verse 24 therefore this is how sermons typically act again it's not enough just to hear the doctrine it's not enough just to be confronted with the written word it's not enough just to be confronted with the preached word you must act you must by Grace believe you must by Grace live in a manner that is consistent with What God Says to you notice he speaks concerning these sayings of mine again something unique in the life and the ministry of the Lord Jesus that this crowd was able to discern they would come and basically appeal to Prophet uh to rabbis not that Jesus didn't appeal to prophets not that he didn't appeal to the written word of God but in the rabbinic tradition they always just sided with the rabbis this Rabbi said this this Rabbi said that where Jesus now shows that he has the ability he has the prerogative he has the right and the authority to legislate in the kingdom of God and that's what he does whoever hears these sayings of mine everything ultimately hinges upon God's word what you do with it or what you don't do with it Christ says that and then he goes on to say concerning the specific response of the wise Builder whoever hears these sayings of my line and does that again the doing of these things is the primary difference between the ones not doing these things now the scene described if you look back at verses 21 to 23 refers to the day of judgment I don't take this wise and foolish builder in the same way not that they won't come to the day of judgment not that they won't finally meet the Lord Christ on his throne of Glory to judge the living and the dead but I think verses 24 to 27 is more connected to what we'll find later in the Book of James James talks about true and and false religion true and false Faith the same the saving faith that a man has will ultimately lead to fruit there will be consequent fruit as a result of his having been saved by grace through faith and I think that's the emphasis that Jesus is drawing out here he is speaking more in terms of what James does in James chapter 1 with reference to being a doer of the word and not merely a man or a woman or a boy or a girl who hears the word remember James uses that very pertinent illustration Asia the man who looks in the mirror and then walks away and forgets what man or a man that he is that's not the doer of the word that's a man who receives it for a moment it makes some sort of an impression but he forgets it almost immediately though the doer of the word comes face to face with that word he's not a perfect doer he's not an infallible doer he's not a doer that never has any stumbles or issues or problems or challenges but the overarching theme in his or her life is that he is a doer of the word of God again that's the emphasis of our Lord Jesus he is not calling us to and he's not specifying that faith in him results in sin less Perfection Christ knows that there is remaining corruption in the hearts of all of God's people there is a big difference between those who hear the word and do it and those who hear the word and don't do it and so Christ is highlighting that reality and in the context the one who walks the narrow way the one who avoids the false prophets the one who does the will of the father 7 21-23 the will of the father there is first and foremost belief in our Lord Jesus Christ looking to him for justification looking to him for salvation so the one who walks the narrow way who avoids the false prophets who does the will of the father is the one who hears the words of Christ and he does that he acts upon that he lives in light of them again with all of the qualifications notwithstanding imperfectly fallibly with issues and challenges and Ebbs and flows and a few steps forward and a few steps back nevertheless the overarching theme of his or her life is that there is this commitment to the word of God that's what saving Faith does that's what saving Faith produces that's what saving Faith promotes that's the the emphasis in James 1 and James 2 and James didn't make that up James didn't just conceptualize it James got it from his half-brother the Lord Jesus Christ and most likely I would argue a lot of James has the sermon on the out in terms of its background or its backdrop Gill says he is not only an hearer but a doer of the word of the Gospel the doctrines of it he receives in the love of them and exercises faith on them upon Christ his grace his righteousness held forth in them which is the great work in business of a Christian he is to do and does do in this life the ordinances of it he cheerfully obeys and all the duties of religion he performs from love to Christ without any view to obtain eternal life hereby which he only expects from Christ as his sayings and doctrines direct him in other words he obeys Christ not because he thinks that's the means by which he'll be saved he obeys Christ because he has been saved he's been conquered by Sovereign Grace he's been Justified freely by grace and that Grace is appropriated through faith in the Lord Jesus when that faith is there when the man or the woman is born again there will be fruit there will be that consequent effect in terms of his belief in the Savior now notice how he illustrates this wise man he says 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 so the wise man builds his house on the rock I mentioned that James I think draws from Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount I think that Jesus at least to some degree draws from Solomon in the Book of Proverbs you have wisdom addressing her hearers in such a way as to build their house as to enter in to the House of Wisdom it's the fool who despises that it's the fool who rejects that it's the full Hood rather not be present in the house of wisdom but chooses the Folly of sin the wise man hears the word of Christ he looks to Christ in faith rests upon Christ and then follows Christ again and this is Christianity 101 we all know this but this is the distinguishing factor between the two groups presented by our lord Jesus in this section you've got the wise Builder now the wise Builder isn't ultimately wise in himself the wise Builders house isn't ultimately uh not beat down by the storms because of the wise Builder it's founded on that rock it's founded on that Foundation the strength the glory the power the Excellence goes to our Lord Jesus Christ so the wise man's house is built on the Rock but then notice that there are trials that the wise man faces see the Christian Life does not make us immune to the difficulties in this world well I become a Christian now I'm not going to have any trials I'm not going to have any afflictions I'm not going to have any opposition I'm not going to have any hardship again that might work for the Benny hen crowd but that doesn't work for the Bible crowd because the Bible crowd reads what Jesus says at the end of The Sermon on the Mount or at the end of the Upper Room discourse when Jesus says in this world you will have tribulation we hear that we see that we witness it not only in our Bibles with reference to The Godly men and women that that make up Redemptive history we see it in Redemptive history we see it in the history of the church we see it in the martyrdom of God's faithful Saints we see it in our own life in terms of the trials and the afflictions that come to us just being a Believer does not make you immune from the hardships associated with life this is a tough world this is a sin cursed World there are consequences affecting us that are oftentimes directly connected to us and even indirectly and so Christ says that this man's house will stand strong again because of the foundation not because of his wisdom not because of his ability to to build But ultimately because that the the house was founded on the Rock so the believer is not free from trials and afflictions but as well well the believer is actively opposed by an Unholy Trinity he is actively opposed by an Unholy Trinity he's actively helped he's actively blessed he's actually actively encouraged by a Holy Trinity Father Son and Holy Spirit is on his side but there is this Unholy Trinity that seeks to disrupt God's people and so I think when we look at a passage like this verse 25 in the rain descended the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house Jesus is underscoring a reality of the Christian Life it ain't easy it's not simple it's not for the faint-hearted it's not for the delicate it's for those who understand by God's grace that siding with our Lord Jesus Christ in this world will oftentimes bring great opposition you have the opposition of the devil First Peter chapter 5 life tells us the Devil roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may do What To whom he may devour that's pretty strong language isn't it that's language suggestive of the decimating influence or power of the devil that he exercises over persons or rather he tries to exercise over persons the Devil is a sworn enemy to the Church of Jesus Christ you see that in Revelation chapter 12 that accuser of the Brethren that one who is attempting to to sideline and and to detract from God's Redemptive plan in this world he rages against the bride he rages against the church he rages against the people of God he rages against those who are seeking by the grace of God to Faithfully live for our Lord Jesus Christ that's not just the devil that tries to devour it's the world that deceives turn to First John chapter 2 first John chapter two you've heard the statement we are in the world but we're not of the world and we say that with our Christian ease but at times it's not always so simple it you know we're in the world that's obvious we're not you know in Pluto we're not on Neptune we're in the world the universe the the Earth that God made we're not of it we don't have that same orientation we don't walk watch that but the God Bless but there are those seasons and there are those times when there is a wage a war waged against us and John indicates that first John 2 15 do not love the world or the things in the world if anyone loves the world the love of the father is not in him for all that is in the world the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes the pride of life is not of the father but is of the world and the world is passing away and the lust of it but he who does the will of God abides forever see John describes the world in language that is very suggestive this isn't you know a neutral sort of a situation you you Christians you you just do your thing you just go over there and you just do your thing I mean I guess in certain times in history it's sort of been that way but in many other times in history it's not been that way at all in fact there's been this active opposition on the part of the world against the church and this is a true enemy this is a true hostile Force this is something that we have to reckon with something we have to defend against well they said there was this Unholy Trinity you've got the devil Rome's about like a lion seeking whom he may devour you've got the world is trying to deceive you at every step of the way and then you've got probably the most difficult of the enemies it's it's you it's me it's the guy or gal you look at in the mirror every day when you're shaving it's that remaining corruption in the hearts of God's people the devil is not on on omnipotent it's not omnipresent he's not omniscient there may be a time in a season where the devil isn't messing with you you ever meet those people oh the devil only ever messes with me you're probably not that important he's got other fish to fry as well he is not God he is creature so he has limitation so there might be an occasion where the devil's not messing with you you might actually go live off the grid there's a lot of uninhabited space in British Columbia as far as I know if you're so inclined you know 80 percent of your life with rain and and you know wet and and cold you're you're free to go do that you won't have the deception of the world not not necessarily counseling you to to do that but I'm just suggesting you get away from the devil he may not be messing with you today might be the a to L's and tomorrow will be the m to the Z's and so you're an a to the L so you're okay for today and the devil's not messing with you you may go live up in the you know the Northern Hemisphere or wherever you want to go live somewhere on your own and you're not affected by the world you you may not have a cell phone you may not have a modem you may not have any of that stuff but you know what you always have you've always got you I've always got me we've always got each other no I'm saying we've got that remaining corruption that Paul speaks to in Romans chapter 7 in Galatians 5. Brethren the Christian Life can be difficult the Christian Life can be punctuated by tribulation it can be trials it can be afflictions it can be sickness it can be hardship can be bankruptcy it can be job loss can't be disease can be sickness can be a whole host of things can be that Unholy Trinity of world flat uh devil world and flesh but nevertheless going back to Christ he says that the man who built his house on the rock will stand the rain descended the floods came the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall for it was founded on the Rock so the reality is that the person who listens to the words of Jesus and does them their house is going to stand now Brethren that probably doesn't mean it won't mean it won't look a little weather beaten it won't look a little worn it won't look a little worn out by the end I mean I'm sure there's going to be those marks there's going to be those wounds there's going to be those brand marks that you bear for the Lord Jesus Christ but when all is said and done that house is going to stand and Jesus gives the reason for it was founded on the Rock again he wants to destroy any notion that it's the wise Builder he wants to destroy any notion and it's the wise Builders building program it's the rock that makes the difference it's the sayings of Jesus that makes the difference it's the word of the Living God that makes the difference it's not my appropriation of it it's not your appropriation of it it's the it it's the words of Christ it's the sayings of the Savior the wise man or the wise woman by Grace have been given ears to hear and hearts to receive that truth they have built their house on that rock when all of these things come against it the house continues to stand because it's built it on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame but holy lean on Jesus name Christ is the solid rock Christ is the solid foundation Christ is the one to whom we have recourse now notice second he speaks concerning the foolish Builder verses 26 and 27. again we've got description and we've got illustration the description in verse 26 but everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do that it's interesting if you go back into the plague narrative in the book of Exodus I'm pretty sure it's the the the plague of hail the plague of hail you'll see this differentiation between those who heard Moses words and did them and those who heard Moses words and didn't do that now think about that you've seen frogs more than you'll ever want to see again you've seen lice you've seen boils you've seen all these things and now Moses comes and says you need to get your livestock undercover because there's some hailstones that are going to come out of heaven and destroy that there were actually people that heard that and didn't move their animals yeah there were actually people that heard that and didn't move their animals just like in churches all over the world today there are going to be people I know it's weird but there's going to be people that hear about faith in Christ as the only hope for Sinners faith in Christ as the only means for the entrance into heaven they're going to hear that and yet they're not going to respond yeah just like those fools that left their livestock out for the hailstones to decimate and Destroy so Jesus appeals again in terms of illustration to something that we understand 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 the rain descended the floods came the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell and great was its fall so now the one who walks on the Broadway the one who listens to the false prophets the one who is not a doer of the will of God which means to believe in Jesus is the one who hears the word of Christ and does not obey it he doesn't do it now be aware Brethren that this is not always easily discernible there are some similarities between the wise man and the foolish man they both hear the sayings of Jesus the proof is ultimately in the pudding where and how they build their house whether they build it on the rock or they build it in the sand throw present in the same church in fact some of them might even not along while the word is going forth you might think well no I don't think that's true well there was an instance in Israel's history where God tells Ezekiel that that's exactly what's going to happen in a passage charged with warnings for the Covenant people of Israel that if they don't believe they don't repent they don't follow God they're going to reap judgment from on high the Lord God most high tells Ezekiel that there's going to be people that like your preaching I'm sure there were people here I mean the next two verses tell us they were astonished at his teaching a Brethren I'm not convinced that everybody who heard Jesus teaching in The Sermon on the Mount was necessarily converted just like I'm not convinced that everybody who ever heard George Whitfield preach was necessarily converted George Whitfield had a good friend in Benjamin Franklin probably know the story Benjamin Franklin was a deist that means he was not a Christian theist he thought there was a God but the god of Franklin and the god of some of the original founding fathers in the United States was a God who created and then sort of left things to go on its own the best illustration it's kind of like a watchmaker he makes the watch and he puts it on the shelf and he lets it do its thing it's thing deism has no imminence with God no personal uh personal-ness of God and the creation so Ben Franklin wanted to go here Whitfield preach and at the end of whitfield's preaching it often appealed for money money for the orphanage not money for Whitfield he and his wife didn't need a new car but he tried to get money to build orphanages and Benjamin Franklin I think said once that you know I'm going to go I'm going to hear his appeal and I'm not going to give a a red Cent for those orphans well by the time the sermon was over he's emptying his pockets to give money to the orphans there's no history no testimony no evidence that that Benjamin Franklin was ever saved but I would imagine he was impressed at that breaching I would imagine that the man who could you know say Mesopotamia in such a way that a famous actor at the times that he'd pay you know however many pounds to be able to say Mesopotamia the way George Whitfield did in other words there can be preaching that impresses but does not penetrate the heart and so God alerts Ezekiel to this as for you son of man the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses they speak to one another everyone saying to his brother please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord so they come to you as people do they sit before you as my people and they hear your words but they do not do that you see a theme with God's word it's the doing of it it's the receiving of it it's the appropriating of it by faith and living in light of it he says for with their mouth they show much love but their hearts pursue their own gain indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument for they hear your words but they do not do that and when this comes to pass surely it will come then they will know that a prophet has been among them it's Ezekiel 33 30-33 when the famous Watchmen passages where God says if you fail the war and I will require their blood at your hands but if you warn them the way you're supposed to then you will be Vindicated there will be no recruitment in terms of any punishment owing to you remember Paul does that before the Ephesian Elders I have not shranked back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God my hands are are clean they are innocent of the blood of all men well that's the background the prophetic word people that like it doesn't necessarily mean they're converted and so Jesus uses this illustration 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 now it's an obvious illustration if you're going to build a house even a fool like me knows don't build it on the sand because when all these things in nature come about your house is going to slip right into the sea don't don't do that you need a solid strong Foundation he is not trying to Dazzle in terms of the illustration he's trying to remain simple so that everybody can get it so the rain descended the floods came the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell so the fool lives without regard for the word of God the fool lives as if he cannot be bothered with the word of God you've probably all seen this with persons that you've witnessed to what what do they do they oh thank you I'm glad you've given me the Eternal Word of God I'm going to live my life according to it now God's grace and mercy and some uh uh kindness sometimes that happens for the most part you meet with a person or people that it can't be bothered with it they're not affected by it they don't get moved by it there's no sort of in you know importuniteness on their part that they've got to close with Christ so the fool hears those sayings but the fool does not do that so the fool is likened of the man who builds his house upon the sand but then notice this fool undergoes the same sorts of things that the wise man faces so for those who say well you know you Christians you have disease you Christians you have bankruptcy you Christians you have your misery well so do you non-christians it happens out in the unbelieving world as well we just have the sure confidence that in spite of all these things our God is faithful and will see us through it and ultimately into the New Jerusalem but for the unbeliever he doesn't have that he's built his house upon the sand he's heard the word of God but he doesn't do what it says but the same Reigns come the same winds blow the same Tempest fall upon him but instead of the wise man his house Falls but notice how Jesus ends The Sermon on the Mount it ends on the the emphasis of the Calamity that is facing the unbeliever and great was its fall he doesn't do that with the wise man he simply says it did not fall for it was founded on the right up here he says and it fell which should be corresponding to the parallel thought the end of The Sermon on the Mount but he ends The Sermon on the Mount with the greatness of the fall of the man the woman the boy the girl who hears the words of The Sermon on the Mount and doesn't do them doesn't believe the gospel doesn't look unto Jesus doesn't do the will of God doesn't go the Narrow Path listens to the false prophets is the sword of person in 721-23 who on the day of judgment instead of saying nothing in my hand I bring simply to thy cross I claim is saying but didn't I didn't I didn't I great will be the fall of all those who've come into contact with the word of the living and true God and yet have not received it have not believed it have not come to the Savior King that's where the sermon ends some have pointed out that Jesus Christ Christ speaks more of Hell than heaven in his Earthly Ministry I haven't actually done the math I'm sure there's guys out there that have done the math probably as simple as going to a concordance I just haven't got there yet but I don't doubt the authorities that I've heard say that that's interesting isn't it why do you think he underscores that why do you think he points to foolish man why do you think he points to houses built on Sand because of the prevalence of it because of the broadness of the way that leads to destruction because of the manifold number of fools that'll listen to a false prophet but won't listen to the true the manifold number of fools that will stand up on the day of judgment trying to Pony up their words instead of resting upon the finished work of the Savior or the person who has heard the word of God in in Moses instance they've heard the word of God mediated through the man Moses that hailstones were going to fall and on good authority Brethren by this time Moses was a man you could that on and I'm not saying you should have or would but his SPO uh his predictions in terms of calamities were pretty spot on so when the hail comes they didn't listen well the same is true today in churches all over Canada churches all over Honduras churches all over the United States churches all over the world there are people hearing the word of Christ that aren't going to do it they're not paying attention they can't wait till the servant's over they want to get on with better things they don't want to think about the reality that the the wise man builds on the Rock the foolish man builds on the sand the foolish man's house ultimately Falls but it doesn't just fall it's a great and calamitous fall it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living and the true God Deuteronomy 4 Hebrews chapter 12. that's a consistent theme in Holy Scripture and yet all over the Earth today people are just okay well you know no problem I'll just deal with that when I get there deal with it now the best means by which to deal with that reality is to come to the Lord Jesus Christ hear his words in Matthew 11. come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will do what I'll give you rest John 6 all that the father gives me will come to me and the one who comes to me I will certainly not cast out don't despise those blessed overtures of God's good grace receive them by Grace believe on him and be the wise man who built his house on the rock that is able to withstand all of the tempests that life sends our ways now notice the conclusion the authoritative preacher verses 28 to 29 the response of the people so it was when Jesus had ended these sayings that the people were astonished at his teaching it wasn't just yeah yeah it was all right it was okay it's a five you know I mean he could have done better better illustrations you know a little bit more exegesis a little bit more clarity on the doctrine and justification by faith but you know you know it was all it was all all right it was it was decent they're astonished Brethren they haven't met a man like this we've seen that in the last few months in some of the sermons when Jesus hushes the wind when he Stills the sea what's the response from the disciples what what kind of a man is this one manner of man speaks to the wind and the waves and the wind and the waves actually hear him and they stop doing their thing then in this instance they're hearing the word they're astonished the tense of the verb suggests that this didn't go away whenever Jesus taught they were astonished at his teaching there's a couple other references just here in Matthew's gospel look at chapter 13 chapter 13. specifically at the end of the Kingdom Parables verse 53 now it came to pass when Jesus had finished these Parables so again like we see there in seven so at the end of a block of teaching there's a statement that concludes that block of teaching and then typically it's the next action or it's the next scene that Jesus is going to embrace here it says when he came had come to his own country he taught them in their synagogue so that they were astonished and said where did this man get this wisdom and these Mighty works is this not The Carpenter's son is not his mother called Mary his brothers James Joseph Simon and Judas and his sisters are they not all with us where then did this man get all these things so they were offended at him they're astonished they Wonder as to his Aura Jan he was a carpenter or a builder and you know under his father's sort of uh structure he has these Earthly route where did he get this but instead of them saying where did he get this this is glorious let us come to him they're offended at him they're scandalized by this turn to chapter 19 same sort of an emphasis 19. verse 23 then Jesus said to his disciples assuredly I say to you it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven and again I say to it is easier for a Campbell to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God when his disciples heard of it heard it they were greatly astonished saying who then can be saved see this wasn't a one-off in the Teaching Ministry of our Lord he was different being the Son of God who took on our Humanity with all the essential properties and the common infirmities thereof and yet without sin he was different in terms of his authoritative authoritative teaching look at 22 33 same sort of an emphasis 22 33 after he answers the Sadducees Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead so they come and try to stomp Jesus and they ask in verse 28 therefore in the resurrection whose wife of the seven will she be for they all had her they're no doubt you know smiling grinning we got him this probably wasn't the first time they used this story with Pharisees Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the Dead the Sadducees didn't so the Sadducees wove this tale about the woman who had the several husbands if we you know when she gets to the resurrection which day by the the way denied when she gets to the resurrection whose will she be thought they got him well look at what happens Jesus answered and said to them you were mistaken not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God from the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels of God in heaven but concerning the resurrection of the Dead have you not read what was spoken to you by God saying in a book they received by the way I am the god of Jacob the god of Isaac and the god of Jacob God is not the god of the dead but of the living this is truly an amazing response that he gives to the Sadducees and that it votes verse 33 and when the multitudes heard this they were astonished at his teaching so going back to our passage it so it was when Jesus had ended these sayings that the people were astonished at his teaching and then it gives the reason for he taught them as one having Authority and not as the scribes Christ had Authority Christ was not like their scribes now the scribes would have had a delegated Authority is being sort of over the people but again scribal or the rabbinic tradition was to cite and quote rabbis Rabbi this said this Rabbi this said this Rabbi this said this what does Jesus do amen amen I say unto you he doesn't do the rabbinic bit he doesn't appeal to the men before again appeals to the prophets appeals to the written word because it's his word they were His prophets but when he speaks here he speaks as one having Authority and they saw that they understood that they knew that Calvin says the meaning of the Evangelist is that the power of the spirit shown in the preaching of Christ with such brightness as to extort admiration even from irreligious and cold hearers there was something unique about him and yet the text does not say that astonishment LED them to believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ were there persons that did that we don't know the Bible doesn't tell us I would Suppose there probably were some but simply being astonished at the teaching of Jesus does not put you into the camp of the wise man who built his house on the rock because it's not just hearing the word not just appreciating the word but appropriating the word through faith believing what it says concerning the Son of God who saved Sinners and believing what it says in terms of those who are saved by the Son of God through faith there will be consequent fruit there will be a life of obedience there will be a pursuit of Jesus Christ they will be those who follow the lamb wherever he bids them to go in conclusion there are similarities between the builders the Wolves verse 15 look like sheep so the foolish Builder May at times appear like the wise Builder I mean I'd haven't ever gone to somebody's house and before entering you know sort of checked out the foundation to make sure that you know my visit there wouldn't end in Calamity just don't usually do that I assume that most people's houses are built on solid foundations but occasionally you'll hear that you know that one wasn't built on a solid foundation and there are similarities just receiving or hearing coming into contact what the word of God is not what is in view the foolish and the wise both hear the word of Christ the foolish and the wise both have the difficulties associated with life but the foolish and the wise are markedly different in the way they navigate through those difficulties the wise obviously is founded on the Rock which is Christ the fool is founded on the sand J.C Ryle made the observation the religion that can stand at trial is the true religion now there'll always be somebody well you know there's an exam okay there's probably an exception of that rule but for the most part that's a good rule the religion that can stand at trial is the True Religion Calvin said true piety is not fully distinguished from its counterfeit till it comes to the trial see difficulty is what ultimately reveals the character and nature of a being see when the sun is shining and when the wallets fall and the kids are happy and the belly is full it's easy right to be a Christian but when those things are dried up and when those things are gone or when those things are pinched or when those things are momentarily suspended or perhaps permanently suspended when the trial comes then we sort of know what the man of the woman is about it is that that reveals the nature the character the very heart of the man who professes faith in Jesus Christ so there are similarities but there are differences the wise man builds on Christ the fool Builds on everything but Christ what are some examples of sinking sand well I would suggest the 21 to 23 passage helps us sinking sand would be your works well Lord didn't I do this didn't I do that didn't I go here deny go there you build on your works that is sinking sand you will fall and great will be your fault another piece of sin or another block of sand would be bad religion a religion that denies the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ a religion that blocks up the very entrance into heaven through grace alone uh or by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone there's a lot of places to build on the sand but there is one Christ one word and one response that is appropriate it is to believe and it is to act in accordance with that belief as well the wise man may have the battles well he will have the battles and he may sometimes fall under fall under trial doesn't the Old Testament speak like this don't we see it later in the life of Peter what does Peter Do Lord I will not deny you that there's no way Peter says with with an arrogance with a boldness with a an impetuosity that I I will not if everybody else denies you Lord I'm not going to deny you he denies Jesus not to the emperor he denies Jesus not to the SS he denies Jesus not to the goons at his door who have you know machine guns and are ready to bring him in he denies Jesus to a servant girl Brethren these things are written for our admonition these things are written for our encouragement as well not so that we'll go out and deny the Savior but that we'll understand there is no Perfection on this side of Heaven There is No triumphalism On This Side of Heaven the believer May undergo times of great hardship and great difficulty I quoted the the verse earlier from uh Edward moat on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand he speaks to this as well he says when darkness veils his lovely face that happens doesn't it it's being honest Brethren there are times you go to your Bible you come to church and you say with the disciples we have seen Jesus there's other times it's not quite like that you you read and you pray and you might as well be reading a Japanese phone book because you're getting as much out of it as you are out of Romans and then you're thinking what's wrong with me what's in here I'm reading Paul's epistle to the Romans and and I'm not seeing Jesus I I'm not beholding his lovely face there are seasons like that Brethren and the hymn writer was no stranger to it when darkness veils his lovely face I rest upon unchanging Grace I don't rest upon my works and rest upon my false religion I rest upon the rock that is Jesus even when his face is veiled from me in every rough and stormy Gale my anchor holds within the Veil he goes on to say his oath his Covenant his blood support me in the overwhelming flood notice what Edward moat doesn't say he doesn't say my oath my Covenant my blood support me in the overwhelming flood Brethren I have seen too many times in my own heart and the hearts of God's well not the hearts but the actions of God's people we always do this when I was trust in Christ now we trust in Christ for justification We Trust in Christ for that forgiveness of sins and the imputed righteousness received by faith alone but when the winds come and the rains beat and the Tempest fall upon us it's typically to us we have recourse well well I've tried to this and I've tried to that and I've tried to go and I've tried we need to rest on Jesus his oath his Covenant his blood support me in the well overwhelming flood and then listen to this again a hymn writer that that is honest Brethren I'm not against all modern hemnity but it's not all as honest as we'd find in in scripture and the Psalms and in the brothers that you know wrote the hymns that we sing you know the brothers that wrote the hymns that we sing guess what their job was they were worship team leaders they were drummers they were pastors they were theologians these men pastored and shepherded the Church of God they understood sound Doctrine and they put that song Doctrine into him knitting he says when all around my soul gives way he then is All My Hope and stay and then the final observation just leaning on moat the wise man will stand ready on the day of judgment when the great storm of God's Wrath is Unleashed and it fell and great was its fall the day of judgment it will be the unlashing of God's Great Wrath but what does moat say when I shall launch in Worlds unseen o may I then be found in him dressed in his righteousness alone faultless to stand Before the Throne on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand I guarantee you Edward moat had Matthew 7 24 to 29 in his mind when he composed that hymn again I want to encourage anybody that has not come to Christ there is nothing sort of noble about waiting the text this morning was going to be Paul before Felix but some things changed what does Felix do Felix fears under the preaching of Paul there's a moment there where Felix is caught in the crosshairs and Felix knows it Felix wanted to hear Paul discourse about the the faith in Christ you know where Paul goes he goes to righteousness self-control and the judgment to come righteousness most likely because Paul was a tireless preacher of justification by faith alone when he's talking to Felix you can bet he's talking about the way of righteousness and that way is to believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to have your sins forgiven and to receive a righteousness that avails with God when he spoke of self-control it was so that Felix wretched Felix would know that the holy God has standards Felix was a bad man Felix was a wretch of a man and so it's no accident that Paul speaks of the way of Salvation righteousness in Jesus Christ the reason for salvation your lack of self-control Felix necessitated or that kind of sin necessitated the coming of Jesus into this world to live a life of obedience to live a life of absolute blessedness before the father to die as a sacrifice and to be raised again and then he ends the sermon where Jesus ends The Sermon on the Mount the judgment to come so you can't live your life as if there's no judgment to come there is a judgment to come so Felix is cut to the heart the text doesn't say that but he's definitely a fact that but that short-lived he then keeps Paul and hopes that Paul is going to grease his palm to let him out this idea of waiting this idea of pondering this idea of contemplating what does the wise man do the wise man hears the words of Christ and he does them he doesn't hear the word of Christ and say well you know I've got to wait for a while I've got to think this through I've got to ponder this I've got to you know look at it from every jot and Tittle again that's not necessarily a bad thing if you're packing a parachute make sure it's packed properly by all means but all of you I think have had enough contact with the word of the living and true God to know that it is the word in the living of the living and true God so don't wait don't Terry don't continue to build on Sand but rather believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and enter the ranks of the wise Builders who build their houses on the Rock who build their houses Upon Jesus Christ and that by God's grace not owing to themselves not only to their abilities it is the blessing said Christ who saves to the uttermost and the Blessed Christ who keeps to the uttermost all those who believe in him well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word we thank you for the clarity of this passage of very simple passage and a very pointed passage I pray that we would all examine our own hearts that we would receive that word that we would by Grace do that word and that you would be glorified and bless the word as it's preached throughout the world may it run swiftly and may it be glorified for certainly these are days in which a great Revival would be wonderful an Awakening of those dead in their trespasses and sins but irrespective of those things God we pray that you would work according to your will according to your purpose and according to your plan it is sufficient for us to know that Christ will build his church and the gates of Haiti shall not Prevail against it and we pray now in his Most Blessed name amen will stand with me and we'll close our service by singing 568. 568. foreign [Music] Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen father thank you for the word of God thank you for our Lord Jesus Christ and the authority with which he brought that message at The Sermon on the Mount or in those days thank you that the Holy Spirit has given us this word and the scriptures have been given to the church to sustain to nourish to feed and to help us along this Pilgrim path we ask that you would go with us now and we pray that you would help us to sanctify the day help us to call it a delight and help us to see Jesus is all together lovely and chief among ten thousand and we pray in Jesus name amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation