Part 22 - Wise & Foolish Men

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 7:24 – 29 Wise and Foolish Man

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Last week – Mere Professing.

• Is there a commitment with you to God?
• Or do you just believe in God?

“All who believe in Christ Jesus are saved” should have been translated, “All who are committed to Christ Jesus are saved.”

Even the devils “believe” and tremble.

Where is your commitment?

Who or what have you made Lord of your life?

Jesus after speaking to us in the sermon last week, saying that mere professing did not mean relationship, tells us in the last days MANY will cry “Lord, Lord”.

And Jesus will have to reply to them, “Away with you, for I do not know you.”

We have discussed the difference between knowing “of” someone, and actually having a relationship with someone.

There are those who battle with knowing the difference in society today.

Many stalkers have formulated in their own thinking that they actually have a relationship with the ones they are stalking.

Like so, many today think they have a relationship with the one they are professing.

Jesus tells us to know the difference.

Do you merely believe in Jesus, or are you committed to Jesus Christ?

We closed last week with “Depart from me, you who do evil.”

We begin this week with Jesus saying to us, “THEREFORE”,

1. EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE
1. Commitment to Christ is our Salvation

i. Jesus wants relationship NOT religion.

ii. Jesus wants to be the Lord of your life.

iii. Unless we belong to the Kingdom, we cannot lay claim to the benefits and blessings and promises, etc…

iv. But when we make the decision in our hearts to surrender our lives to Him, we become citizens of the Kingdom of God. And Jesus becomes Lord, and our perfect Father.

2. Salvation is a FREE gift which comes by FAITH

i. Salvation is FREE, to believe costs little, but to be committed costs everything.

ii. Because of God’s Grace, our Faith in the Lord is what saves us. Not words, nor deeds. We cannot speak ourselves into heaven, nor can we buy or work our way there.

iii. Our Faith in Him alone.

3. FAITH comes by hearing the Word of God

i. Romans 10:17 “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”

ii. Luke 7:50 “Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you;”

iii. Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—“

iv. 1 Peter 1:8-9 “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

4. We are given a measure of Faith – a seed

i. Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

2. BUT ONE MUST DO MORE THAN JUST HEAR
1. Those who hear AND (lit. DO THEM)
2. NO OTHER FOUNDATION

i. Galatians 1:6-10 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

3. How to win friends and influence others

i. Not by being a follower of Christ

ii. There is no other foundation but Christ and His Word.

4. He is like a wise man

i. The one who makes Jesus Christ and His Word their foundation, not by merely professing Jesus, but by hearing AND DOING.

5. Being doers of the Word

i. James 1:21 – 27 “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does

ii. Get rid of moral filth and evil that is everywhere in the world.

iii. Humbly accept the seed of faith (the Word) planted within you.

iv. DO not just hear the Word and deceive yourselves.

1. Many cried Lord, Lord, they were deceived.

2. Do what the Word says, and you will be BLESSED in what you do!

3. THEN COMES THE STORM
1. Rain came down

i. Things happen in life, storms come.

1. Sometimes it’s chastising from God.

a. The Lord Chastises His own because He loves them.

2. Sometimes it’s attacks from the enemy.

a. Jesus was attacked, so are we.

3. Sometimes it’s neither, things happen.

Matthew 5:45

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

2. Streams rose

i. You want to live near the water, but the danger of flood would be even more so in a storm with heavy rain.

3. Winds blew & beat against the House

4. Yet, it did not fall, because its foundation was the rock

i. Things in life happen. Whether it is chastisement, attack from the devil or a naturally occurring event, things happen.

ii. If our foundation is the Lord, our Rock, then when these things come in our lives, we will stand! They will not destroy us!

5. Christ Jesus is the rock

4. BUT, EVERYONE WHO HEARS BUT DOES NOT DO
1. He is a foolish man

2. Deceiving himself

3. James 1:21-22 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

4. Those who merely hear the Word and don’t live it are deceiving themselves. How are they deceived? Because they think they are in a relationship with God because they hear the Word.

5. Faith does come by hearing, but we must DO what we hear or else that faith is worthless.

6. James 2:17 faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

7. James 2:26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

5. THEN COMES THE STORM
1. While the sun shines both houses look the same

i. But when the storm comes, you will know which was built upon the Rock.

2. Rain came down, streams rose, winds blew & beat against the house

6. AND IT FELL WITH A GREAT CRASH
1. Because it was not founded on Jesus Christ, the Rock

2. Why a great crash?

i. Everyone is watching the Godly man

1. But most are not truly God’s men.

2. So they fall because Christ was not their foundation.

3. And because they claimed Christ for so long and fell, those who were watching want everyone to know.

4. The News reports beliefs before tragedy all the time!

a. Pastors son kills 5 in mall shooting

b. Pastor so and so stole funds

c. Church leader caused accident

d. Priest molestations

e. Etc…

ii. Everyone who is not a doer, wants the doer to fall

1. Because it gives them excuse

2. In the end, there will be no excuse though

iii. Those who do not make Jesus their foundation usually can not be distinguished by others until adversity comes, THEN, by their fruit you will recognize them.

iv. Those who are not doers will make sure everyone hears when someone claiming to be a Christ follower falls.

7. OUR FAITH IN CHRIST, OUR FOUNDATION IS WHAT ALLOWS US TO WITHSTAND THE STORMS WHEN THEY COME

CONCLUSION

You can make Christ your foundation today by simply;

† Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord, confessing your sin to Him.

† Repent, or turn away from that sin.

† Read and listen to God’s Word, praying to Him.

† Be a DOER of the Word. Don’t just hear it and think you have a relationship with the Lord.

† Make your Faith ALIVE with ACTION!

Part 21 - Mere Professing

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 7:21 – 23 Mere Professing

21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

I. Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord

a. Salvation takes place in the heart

Repetition of the word Lord, tells us the one speaking is astonished, or surprised.

Prayer of salvation, magic words to save?

Sin takes place in our hearts first, so does commitment.

b. Believe is not enough, you must be committed to

The devils believe and tremble. Yet they are not redeemed.

If we are committed to Jesus Christ, placing Him first in our lives, we will be saved from judgment.

Salvation lies in the commitment we make in our heart.

c. You cannot serve to masters

If you serve anyone or anything before Jesus, then Jesus is not the Lord of your life.

It does not matter if it is a false god, an idol, or even your own flesh.

If you choose anything other than the Lord in your life and in the decisions you make daily, then you are not committed to Christ.

II. Only he who does the Will of the Father in heaven.

a. God has three wills for you in your life

i. That you be saved

It is the Will of God that all are saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth, who is Jesus Christ.

He is not willing that even one should perish.

ii. That you rescue others from this world

The great commission given to us by Jesus;

Go into all the world…

Baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Teach them to obey all that I command.

iii. The way you complete His 2^nd Will

Our gifts from the Holy Spirit are to accomplish God’s Will on earth. To build (add to the number of) the Body of Christ, and to Edify (strengthen that Body of Christ).

III. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord…

a. MANY…not a few, not some, not a couple

Jesus told us about false prophets…but we know about them today.

Brother TV Evangelist, sow your $1000 seed and be rich…

Send in your $500 love offering and get a prayer cloth of healing…

Give a love offering of any amount and receive the mother mary pencil sharpener.

b. Few find their way on the narrow path

The rich young man had fame and fortune, and would not part with it to serve the Lord.

There are many today who refuse to give up something that is between them and the Lord.

c. The church is failing in this world

Because it is misleading the people for its own selfish gain.

IV. But Lord, we prophecy in your name…drove out demons in your name…performed miracles in your name…

a. The power & authority is in His name, not in us or our deeds

b. His power & authority has nothing to do with our standing

V. Then I will plainly tell them.

a. Depart from me, for I never knew you

b. Jesus wants a relationship with you

c. Commit your heart to Him today

Conclusion

Doing things in the name of God does not mean you have a relationship with Him.

Believing He exists does not mean you have a relationship with Him.

But if you confess you have sinned against Him, because we all have. We are guilty because of the Law.

Repent of that sin, and trust in the Lord, committing your heart to Him, He will change your life.

He will make you a new creature and a new creation, the old will pass away and you will become His child.

Part 20 - False Prophet

INTRODUCTION

Matthew 7:15 – 20 False Prophets

15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

I. WATCH OUT FOR FALSE PROPHETS

a. Watch out, look for, be aware, you may be deceived.

b. False prophet – what is a false prophet?

i. 1 John 4:1-3 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

ii. 2 Peter 2:1-3 – 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

iii. 2 Corinthians 11:12-14 – 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.

c. Prophets ONLY teach;

i. Christ & the Word of God

ii. Prophecy only the end times according to the Word

iii. Prophecy judgment

iv. Prophecy Spiritual gain

v. Prophecy relationship with God

vi. They do NOT tell fortunes, lotto numbers, anything of earthly gain, etc…

II. THEY COME TO YOU IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING BUT INWARDLY THEY ARE FEROCIOUS WOLVES

a. They look like Christ followers

i. Matthew 3:11-12 – 11"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

ii. Matthew 13:24-26 – 24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

b. Inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

i. Satan comes to kill, steal & destroy. John 10:10

ii. Satan is a lion seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

iii. Everything takes place in our hearts…from sin to salvation

iv. There is no such thing as a Satan worshipper. He does not have worshippers or servants (other than fallen angels), as far as man is concerned, Satan only has trophies. Your soul is his gain.

III. BY THEIR FRUIT YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM

a. Them – those acting as followers of Christ.

b. Their fruit – Words, behavior & deeds.

c. We will recognize them – This is NOT judging, we are told not to judge those outside of the Church, for they are already condemned. This is RECOGNIZING so we may know who they are, and what we are to do with them. Witness salvation to them, pray for them, be cautious of them if necessary, and avoid if they refuse to listen to the Word of God.

d. Luke 9:5 – “If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them."

IV. DO PEOPLE PICK GRAPES FROM THORNBUSHES?

a. Grapes refers to receiving the New Covenant (wine)

b. Thorn bushes refers to those whom God has blinded.

i. Hosea 2:5 - Their mother has been unfaithful
and has conceived them in disgrace.
She said, 'I will go after my lovers,
who give me my food and my water,
my wool and my linen, my oil and my drink.'6 Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes;
I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way.

ii. Hosea 2:10 - no one will take her out of my hands.

c. Jesus is saying if God has hedged someone in with thornbushes, or blinded them to the truth, no one can take that person from God’s hand. You will not find grapes (those who will accept the New Covenant) among the thornbushes (those whom God has hedged in)

d. Figs among the thistles – Jesus is saying; for example the figs (Israel) could not be taken from the thistles. (Thistles represent the WORKS of men). Jews tried to WORK for salvation by the LAW, which only convicts and shows guilt. The Pharisees thought they accomplished this and often bragged of their WORKS. Many times Jesus had to rebuke them and their pride.

V. EVERY GOOD TREE BEARS GOOD FRUIT

a. Christ is that Good Tree, and we are branches from Him.

i. Romans 11:16 - If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

ii. John 15:5-8 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

VI. EVERY TREE NOT PRODUCING GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND CAST INTO THE FIRE

a. John 8:42-47 - 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God."

b. Every branch not producing fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

CONCLUSION

John 15:1-4

1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.