The House on the Rock - Part 10
Matthew 7 (KJ2000)
24 Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who 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 hears these sayings of mine, and does them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who 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.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, let us summarise our discourse on the House on the Rock and the House on the Sand:
Jesus taught that those who hear His teaching and pattern their lives accordingly are like a man building his house on a rock. The house on the rock will be able to withstand the challenges of the rains, the floods, the winds, etc.
Jesus taught that those who hear His teaching and do not pattern their lives accordingly are like a man building his house upon the sand. The house on the sand will not be able to withstand the challenges of the rains, the floods, the winds, etc.
We observed that the man who builds on the sand will look to be much wiser than the man who builds on the rock, at least while the two buildings are being constructed. He will congratulate himself and others will celebrate him for being able to build at a minimal cost. He will be considered the wiser one until the inclement weather comes and tests both houses.
We observed that to be obedient to the teachings of Jesus, we must hear them, understand them and remember them. We will struggle or even find it impossible to pattern our lives after instructions we have not heard, we do not understand or do not remember.
We observed that even after hearing His teaching, understanding His teaching and remembering His teaching, we may have challenges obeying Jesus because we still have a flesh, and the flesh represents our tendency to be selfish and desire independence from God.
We observed that the desires and actions of the flesh may or may not be sinful, but should always be considered with caution and suspicion because the flesh primarily seeks independence from God.
We observed that to avoid living lives that are ruled by the flesh, we should:
Keep looking at the mirror of the Word of God, to remind ourselves of who we are and whose we are and our value system. This will also help with hearing, understanding and remembering the Word.
Make it our habit to walk in love, because it is impossible to walk in love and be ruled by the flesh at the same time.
Crush the flesh by severe discipline. We must make it a habit to deny the flesh when it wants sinful things, and regularly deny the flesh even when it wants things that are not simple.
Galatians 6 (KJ2000)
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
It was not to the unbeliever that Paul wrote the words above – He was addressing Christians. And he warns them, “If you sow to your flesh, all you will reap is corruption.”
If you’ve put in the effort to read these posts, I am persuaded better things of you. I believe you’ll sow to the spirit and reap life everlasting! You’ll put in the work and build on the rock. And when the storms of life come with their challenges, you’ll be standing! Amen.
Continue in grace!