Two Builders

There Was Two builders

Describe your house in 3 words. What did you choose? Color? Rooms? Garage? Foundation? Huh? Who describes their foundation? 

Yet the foundation should be the number one factor. Building inspectors check it first.

I like watching HGTV. I like  House Hunters, Flip or Flop, Love it or List it, Property Brothers and Fixer Upper. I am fascinated by house remodeling and renovations. They take old houses and totally remake them. 

I have learned that the most important thing is a sturdy foundation.

Scripture text:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-and great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27 NASB)

Here Are The Building Similarities of The Two Men

1. They Both HEARD the Word

How many sermons have you heard? 

1 x week = 52

2 x week = 104

10 years = 1040

20 years = 2081

Add in 3, 5, or more for revivals

Add for recorded sermons

Add in Sunday school and other lessons

And then finally daily devotions or studies

Why aren't we better than we are?

Hearing is important, but hearing alone is not enough.

 So that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven." (Mark 4:12 NASB)

2. They Both BUILT 

You can build on your faith (do, serve, come to church) but still not have a foundation. In the scripture text the word Fool in the Greek language is the same as the word moron.

We must choose the correct gate and path, no cannot take cosmetic shortcuts, such as Christian bumper stickers, Tshirts, home decor, jewelry, but yet have no substance in our faith. We need to be studious of God's word. We need good, strong teaching and not just fluff.

One man built with confidence in himself, the other built with confidence in the Lord.

3. They lived in the  Same Neighborhood

They encountered the same storm. (When the storm came) we all face the same temptations.

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB)

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NASB)

Not if, but when! The storms will come. Will your faith hold you up?

4. They had the Same Model to Build From

Have you ever seen homes that are cookie cutter? They look identical,  but there are a few differences,they come in beige, tan or ecru.

Jesus is our model. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We have a great example to follow and we must follow His blueprints exactly. 

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, (James 1:2 NASB)

The word here for Various =many kinds= many colors(Greek)

THERE WERE BUILDING DIFFERENCES

One builder listened to the Word of God and built his life on it.

The other listened to the Word of God but did not build on it.

One built on The a Rock

One built on the sand.

For this is contained in Scripture: "B ehold, I lay in Z ion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, A nd he who believes in H im will not be disappointed." (1 Peter 2:6 NASB)

Remember

All drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:4 NASB)

The rock will endure forever. The sand is not secure.

The Rock has a name, and His name is Christ.

Once we determine to build our lives ON the Rock, we must devote ourselves to OBEY the Rock.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Matthew 7:24 NASB)

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NASB)

To Believe in the Rock and live on the Rock.

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (Luke 6:48 NASB)

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25 NASB)

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28, 29 NASB)

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. (Psalms 127:1 NASB)

Main verse: Proof of Salvation

By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. (1 John 2:3-6 NASB)

To Believe in the Rock and to live on the Rock is Security.

Rhonda Ryan June 2015