Built On the Rock
The Sermon on the Mount is more than a life-style… it is Jesus’ instruction for life itself… for in Jesus Christ we live and move and have our being. In Mathew 7 Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount with an illustration…. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Jesus had said to Simon Peter, thou art Peter, a small stone, but upon this Rock (Jesus Christ himself) I will build my church.
As John said, “if you walk in the light as he is in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The cleansing is in walking close to him. In close proximity with the Lord, the things of the world will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace.
The world says that righteousness depends on our own performance…. Theirs is a works based system of self righteousness. Jesus said, whoever hears my words and acts upon them, seeking first the kingdom of God, my Father will bless. James says, putting aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
Jesus’s exhortation in the Sermon on the Mount is to Receive the implanted word which is able to save your souls. But don’t be deceived, faith without works is dead. He that hears the word and does not do it is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror, and then immediately forgets what type of man he is. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty reflected in the Word of God, he not being a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the Word, this man shall be blessed in his deeds that proceed from from a pure heart…. Christ’s heart behind our heart.
The way of the love of God thinks no evil… it keeps no record of wrongs done. It is eager to believe the best of others. It perceives others from through the eyes of Christ.
We chase after men who chase after Christ. As men of God we gladly choke in the dust of those who follow in the dust of the rabbi.
Chuck Swindal had been discipled by the Navigators Christian ministry in Okinawa prior to becoming head pastor of EV Free Church in Fullerton. Pete was also trained by the Navigators. They sent him to Southern California where he was called to serve at EV Free. It’s important to attach ourselves to likeminded believers to strengthen our stand with Christ and and our fellowship with one another…. As Psalm 133 says, Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.
In a parallel passage to Matthew 7, Jesus said in Luke 6, the wise man dug deep to lay the foundation of his house on the bedrock. However the foolish man, laid his foundation on the sand. Undisciplined by wisdom, this man was a fool. He took shortcuts and did not consider that his shoddy workmanship would not withstand the test of time. He did not take into account the rules of wisdom and structural integrity. In contrast, the wise man is informed, knowledgeable and takes deliberate steps to prepare to build a sound structure upon a firm foundation… a foundation that will endure against the ravages of the world. A wise man increases in knowledge and understanding founded upon the fear, awe, and respect of the Lord.
Paul Nyquist wrote a book called Prepared, Living your faith in an increasingly hostile culture. This book was published in 2016 and describes the conditions of our times. In days gone by, prior to the 60’s, America was tied to her roots as a godly nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Our founding fathers esteemed religion and the truth of scripture according to God who is all-knowing and all-wise.
America is an anomaly among nations, having known freedom and liberty for most of the last 300 years. However, in the coming decades, Christians in America will be tested as never before. What’s coming? The changes in America will accelerate as the previous generations who valued traditional Christian principles pass away. Today, our Judeo-Christian heritage celebrated by previous generations has diminished as the godless values of secularism have eclipsed the light of Truth.
Detoqueville said of America in the 1800’s, America is great because America is good. Her values are molded in her houses of worship on every corner of every village and township. Her citizens embrace the God-fearing values of honesty, integrity, brotherly kindness and the love of God.
Jesus prepared his followers for the coming persecution. He said in the last of the beatitudes, blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake…. For great is your reward in heaven.
Paul reminded us that the battle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness from above. There is a spiritual root of the strife and contention and confusion of the world around us. Therefore put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand in the evil day and having done all to stand.
The preparation for spiritual battle is fought on our knees. Our victory against the evil of this world is won only in the power of His might. Victory In the spiritual battle begins with humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God. Then as we work out our own salvation, our own wholeness with awe, reverence, and respect for the Lord.. it is God who works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure as we delight ourselves in the Lord….
The wise man built his house upon the rock… Jesus Christ himself…. He is the chief cornerstone. He is the anchor of our souls.. Jesus said, upon this rock I shall build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it…
That as God ‘s living church, his dwelling place, we shall live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael
