Text:
Matthew 7:24-27

Psalms 127:1 “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”

I.  The hearer and doer v.24a

A. Be a doer and not hearer only James 1:21-27 

1. Being a doer requires the right heart Luke 8:15 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.”

a. A heart that puts the Lord first Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
b. A heart that has been pierced by the word Hebrews 4:12-13 and Acts 2:37  

2. A doer is one that keeps the law Romans 2:13 “(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”
3. A hearer only is one that hears and does nothing Acts 26:22-29 

a.  We will be judged on our deeds II Corinthians 5:10-11 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”

B. There are four soils of which only one is good Matthew 13:1-23

II.  Built on the rock and standing sure v.24b – 25

A. Christ is the rock I Corinthians 10:4 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”

1.  I Corinthians 3:10-13 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”
2.  Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
3.  The English word “rock” in Matthew 16:18 and I Corinthians 10:4 is the same Greek word “petra” Strong’s # 4073.

a.  Petra defined: “a mass of rock; a large rock”
b.  Some argue that Peter in this verse is the rock.  The word Peter in Matthew 16:18 is from the Greek word “petros” Strong’s # 4074.  It literally means “a piece of rock”.
c.  Peter acknowledges that Christ is the chief cornerstone I Peter 2:4-6.

B. Jesus (our rock) is the foundation of the church Ephesians 2:20-21 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.”

1. The head Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

a. The purchaser Acts 20:28
b. The church bears His name Romans 16:16
C.  There is salvation is no other Acts 4:10-12 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

A. There is a great fall coming for the disobedient II Thessalonians 1:8-9 
B.  Some want to put their faith in man Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

1.  Psalms 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler [a shield] to all those that trust in him.”
2.  II Corinthians 1:9-10 “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.”

C. Those that do not confess our Lord here and now Matthew 10:32-33 “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

1. They will confess in the last day but that is too late Romans 14:11-12 

D. The greatest fall of all is the day of separation Matthew 25:32-46

Copyright 2002 by Brian Yeager may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.