1. The Life That Stands Through A Storm
Matthew 7:24-27
Matt 7:24-27
"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. 25 "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. 26 "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. 27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."

2. Jesus Was the Great Illustrator
He had described the fate of those who are religious but lost
Now He tells of two men who illustrate false and true faith
Two Builders Represent All People
The wise man heard the Word of God and obeyed it
The foolish man heard the Word of God and ignored it
How we can build our lives to survive the storm

3. The Wise Man Built His House on a Rock (7:24)
The rock provided a solid foundation
Foundations are critical because they are an absolute necessity for ensuring stability and resistance.
The solution to building a good foundation on your own is to become a detective and go in search of the information you need to clearly understand.
The goal of your detective work should be to develop a clear, in-depth understanding that defines success.
Matt 7:24
"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

4. The Wise Man Built His House on a Rock (7:24)
The rock provided a solid foundation
The Lord is our rock (Ps. 28:1)
He is our only sure rock (Ps. 62:2, 6-7)
Christ is our firm foundation
No other foundation will stand (1st Cor. 3:11)
This foundation is secure (2nd Tim 2:19)
2 Tim 2:19
Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, " The Lord knows those who are His," and, " Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."
1 Cor 3:11
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ps 28:1
To You, O LORD, I call;
My rock, do not be deaf to me,
For if You are silent to me,
I will become like those who go down to the pit.
Ps 62:2
He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken
Ps 62:6-7
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God

5. The Wise Man Built His House on a Rock (7:24)
Prov 26:13
"There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!“
1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour
The rock provided a solid foundation
Christ is our firm foundation
Are you building your life on this foundation?
Have you trusted Christ as your Savior?
Are you building your life on His Word?
Then came a fierce storm that challenged the structure of the house. (Prov 26:13; 1st Pet. 5:8)
The house of the wise man stood firm in the storm

6. The Foolish Man Built His House on the sand (7:26)
He heard the Word of God but ignored it!
He said it was not important
He used his own plans, and rejected the Lord’s will
Matt 7:26
26 "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

7. The Foolish Man Built His House on the sand (7:26)
He heard the Word of God but ignored it!
There are many choices for life’s foundations
Some choose to build on wealth (Mat 6:24)
Some choose to build on pleasure (2nd Tim 3:1-4)
Some choose to build on the praises of people (John 12:42-43)
John 12:42-43
42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
Matt 6:24
24 " No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
2 Tim 3:1-4
3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God

8. The Foolish Man Built His House on the sand (7:26)
1 Cor 10:13
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted , he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
He heard the Word of God buy ignored it
There are many choices for life’s foundations
On what are you building your life? (Jude 20)
Will your life hold up when the storm comes? (1st Cor 10:13)
The storm collapsed the house of the foolish man
Jude 20
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

9. What Made the Difference?
The devastating storms in this parable were the same
The rain descended, and the floods came
The winds blew and beat on these two houses
The difference was in the foundations
The house built on the rock stood firm
The house built on the sand collapsed
Examine the foundation of your life
Will your life stand when the storms arrive?

10. Storms Come to All
Let’s Build Our Lives on Christ and His Word