July 28, 2025 • 16 mins
Have you ever wondered what Jesus really meant by "do not judge"? Or why the Golden Rule is such a pivotal teaching? In this illuminating episode of Bible Breakdown, Pastor Brandon guides us through Matthew 7, unpacking what he calls "Kingdom Living 301"—the advanced principles of living in God's kingdom.
The journey begins with one of the most misunderstood verses in Scripture. That famous "do not judge" line? It's not actually telling us to abandon discernment. Pastor Brandon explains the crucial difference between making observations based on someone's actions and sitting in the seat of judgment that belongs to God alone. This clarification liberates us to exercise proper biblical discernment while maintaining a humble heart.
We explore Jesus' teachings on prayer, discovering that "ask, seek, knock" isn't about manipulating God into giving us whatever we want, but about approaching our good Father with confidence, knowing He gives what is truly beneficial. The Golden Rule appears not as mere conventional wisdom but as Jesus' stunning summation of "all that is taught in the law and prophets." Pastor Brandon then tackles Jesus' sobering warnings about the narrow gate, false prophets, and those who use Jesus' name without truly knowing Him.
The episode concludes with the powerful metaphor of two builders—one who constructs on bedrock by hearing and obeying Jesus' words, the other on sand by listening without application. In a world of shifting opinions and temporary solutions, this timeless wisdom reminds us that storms will inevitably come to every life. The only question is: what foundation are you building on? Join us for this essential teaching that will transform how you approach both Scripture and the challenges of everyday life.
Contact us-
Ask a Question
Send Encouragement
Take a Next Step-
SOAP Bible Study Method.
Bible Reading Plan.
Free Weekly Newsletter.
Socials-
Facebook.
Instagram.
X.
YouTube.
The More We Dig. The More We Find.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello everybody .
Welcome back to the BibleBreakdown Podcast with your host
, pastor Brandon.
Today, matthew, chapter 7, andtoday's title is Kingdom Living
301.
If you've been with us the pastcouple of days, chapter 5 was
101, chapter 2 is 201, chapter 3is 301.
And we have been getting alittle bit deeper into the
(00:20):
Kingdom of God and, if we'rehonest, a little bit more
complicated, a little bit morecomplicated, a little bit more
difficult, and today we're goingto talk about a couple of
things that are powerful, alittle hard and maybe something
in the Bible that you didn'teven know was there.
So we're going to dive rightinto that.
So, if you have your Bible, Ijust want to open up with me to
Matthew, chapter seven.
While you're doing that, if youwant to take just a moment, if
(00:41):
you're new around here, makesure you go to the Bible
Breakdown podcast and leave us afive-star review.
Make sure you also go to theYouTube channel, leave us a
review, subscribe, leave us acomment, do all the things, and
also make sure you're going tothe Bible Breakdown discussion
on Facebook.
It's an amazing group of peopledoing a wonderful job and the
more we dig, the more we find,especially in the book of
(01:03):
Matthew, because there's just somuch here that we really can't
cover in the space of the timewe have, unless we want to make
every one of these like two andthree hours long.
So when you go there we'llreally be able to see those
different things.
And one of the things that Ilove just digging deeper on is
this idea that Matthew is allabout King Jesus.
Matthew is all about King Jesus.
One of the things that we'vebeen saying is that Matthew
(01:26):
opens up the gate with sayingJesus is at the very least the
rightful king and he's like Igot the receipts to prove it and
it's the genealogy all the waydown.
That's why that was soimportant when we covered that.
But then he talks about chapter2 through 28.
He's so much more than thenatural king, he's God and we've
been building onto that.
In chapter five Jesus just sitswith his disciples and just
(01:50):
lays out how this world has beenupside down, but he is turning
it right side up again.
And chapter five was kingdomliving one-on-one we talked
about we say the beatitudes andall those different things.
Chapter 6 was all about how weget deeper into knowing God
personally.
And then chapter 7, it's 301.
I mean, it's the harder of thembecause it really requires us
(02:14):
to really dive deep into thekingdom of God and some of these
are tricky.
And, to be honest with you, I'mjust going to go ahead and say
this as a pastor, the very firstverse is one of my most hated.
I know this is so bad, one ofmy most hated verses in the
entire Bible.
And the reason why is becausepeople use it as a club to hit
(02:36):
Christians over the head withand they're not Christians and
they don't know what it means.
Can I tell you, I disagree withanybody who says John 3.16 is
the most memorized verse in theBible.
I don't agree with that.
I think it's wrong.
I think it's well-intentioned,but it's wrong.
I think the most well, I thinkthe most memorized verse in the
Bible is Matthew 7, verse 1.
So we're going to read theseverses and then I want to try to
(02:59):
maybe untangle some knots.
Okay, here is the mostmemorized verse in the entire
Bible.
Here we go 7-1,.
Do not judge others and you willnot be judged.
Mm, mm-mm-mm.
Let me read it again, becausesome people just love this verse
.
Let me read it again.
This is someone's favorite verseDo not judge others and you
will not be judged.
(03:20):
Usually people just simplify itdown to don't judge.
Can you tell?
I have a problem.
All right, verse 2.
For you will be treated as youtreat others.
The standard you use in judgingis the standard by which you
will be judged.
And why worry about the speck inyour friend's eye when you have
a log in your own?
(03:40):
How can you think of saying toyour friend let me help you get
rid of that speck in your eye,when you can't see past the log
in your own?
How can you think of saying toyour friend let me help you get
rid of that speck in your eye,when you can't see past the log
in your own eye?
Hypocrite.
First get rid of the log inyour own eye, then you will see
well enough to deal with thespeck in your friend's eye and
(04:10):
don't judge others, because alittle bit later on he is
actually going to talk aboutfruit on trees and how you'll
know a tree by the fruit.
So you're definitely judging atree when you say, hmm, that
sure does look like an appletree.
How could you say that?
Because there's apples on it.
That'd be the reason why.
So is he saying you should neverhave an opinion about someone.
(04:32):
No, that is not what he'ssaying.
As a matter of fact, there aremany times when we are supposed
to be careful.
How else are you going to knowif someone's a false prophet,
unless you judge what they'resaying to be incorrect?
What he is saying is we don'tsit in the seat of judgment.
There's a difference betweenbeing a witness and being the
judge.
I can sit as not the seat ofjudgment and go.
(04:55):
You know what?
That person has killed 12people.
I think they're a murderer.
How dare you judge?
I'm not judging.
I'm saying based on theiractions.
This is the label that goes tothem.
What I'm not doing is nowsaying they get the death
penalty.
That's the judge to decide.
Does that make sense?
And so what he is saying isdon't sit in the seat of
(05:16):
judgment and then try to judgethem.
In that way, you can point outwhat's going on now, and there's
a lot, there's a lot that iscoming up later that talks about
how to go about doing that in agracious and honorable way, you
know, and all the good stuff.
But he's saying we don't sit inthe seat of judgment.
And then he also gives awarning and he's saying you know
, the reason why you don't isbecause the way you judge others
(05:39):
is the way it's going to comeback to you.
And then notice how he issaying why don't you focus on
your own issues?
And then, once you focus onyour own issues, then you'll be
able to see clearly that you canhelp other people with theirs.
But spoiler alert by the timeyou do that, god usually humbles
us to the place where we don'twant to mess with anybody else.
But that's what it's saying.
It is not saying that we can'tcall a spade a spade.
(06:00):
It's saying don't cast thejudgment over them.
Okay, verse seven keep on askingand you will receive what you
ask for.
Keep on seeking and you willfind.
Keep on knocking and the doorwill be opened to you, for
everyone who asks receives,everyone who seeks finds.
And to everyone who knocks, thedoor will be open.
(06:22):
You, parents if your childrenask for a loaf of bread, do you
give them a stone instead?
Or if you ask for a fish?
Or if they ask you for a fish,do you give them a snake?
Of course not.
So if you sinful people, knowhow to give good gifts to your
children, how much more willyour heavenly father give good
gifts to those who ask him?
Pause.
So what is he saying here?
(06:44):
He's saying when you ask, seekand knock, he's saying ask with
hope and then ask, knowing thatyour heavenly Father is good.
Therefore he is going to giveyou good gifts.
Now that doesn't mean he'sgoing to give you everything
that we think is good.
He's going to give you what hethinks is good.
Therefore, we always ask withhope because we know that our
(07:06):
heavenly father is good and hewill give us good gifts.
And so I have to make sure thatverse is not saying that if you
ask, you seek and you knock,god is somehow obligated or
required to give you what youthink is good.
It is that he will give youeverything that he knows is good
.
All right, here's the verse.
Not everybody knows is in theBible the golden rule, verse 12.
Do to others whatever you wouldlike for them to do to you.
(07:29):
This is the essence of all thatis taught in the law and the
prophets.
Pause.
Did you know that was in theBible?
Can I tell you, for the longesttime I thought the golden rule
was just like just a really goodrule.
I didn't realize that Jesusactually said that.
(07:50):
And what he is saying is is ifyou want to sum up the entire
law and the prophets, do toothers what you would want them
to do to you.
Now notice it doesn't say dounto others before they can do
to you, or do unto others, youknow, because you're trying to
manipulate them.
No, he's like do unto otherswhat you would like for them to
do for you.
It's powerful, all right.
Verse 13.
You can enter God's kingdomonly through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broadand its gates is wide for many
(08:12):
who choose that way, but thegateway to life is very narrow
and the road is difficult, andonly a few ever find it.
The reason why is because itrequires us to submit to the
authority of God, and that's whyit's so hard.
Verse 15, beware of falseprophets who come disguised as
harmless sheep but are reallyvicious wolves.
(08:33):
You can identify them by theirfruit.
That is the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
A good tree produces good fruitand a bad tree produces bad
fruit.
A good tree cannot produce goodfruit, bad fruit and a bad tree
cannot produce good fruit.
So every tree that does notproduce good fruit is chopped
(08:56):
down and thrown into the fire?
Yes, just as you can identify atree by its fruit, you can
identify people by their actions.
Pause Now, remember.
Going back to verse one, jesusis not saying that we can't look
at someone's actions and knowif we need to put up a boundary
and not be close to them.
That's not judging, that's notcasting judgment.
(09:17):
That is seeing their actionsand knowing what next step you
need to take.
Or verse 21,.
Not everyone who calls out tome, lord, lord, will enter the
kingdom of heaven.
Only those who actually do thewill of my father in heaven will
enter.
On judgment day, many will sayto me Lord, lord, we prophesied
in your name, cast out demons inyour name and performed many
(09:39):
miracles in your name.
But I will reply I never knewyou.
Get away from me, you who breakGod's laws.
Wow, such a sobering thing.
All right, this is one of myfavorite verses, section of
verses in the entire Bible.
Here we go, let's finish it up,verse 24.
Anyone who listens to myteaching and follows it is wise
(10:03):
like a person who builds a houseon solid rock, though the rain
comes in torrents and thefloodwaters rise and the winds
beat against that house, itwon't collapse because it is
built on bedrock, but anyone whohears my teaching and doesn't
obey it is foolish, like aperson who builds his house on
sand.
When the rains and floods comeand the winds beat against that
house, it will collapse with amighty crash.
(10:25):
Jesus had finished saying thesethings.
The crowds were amazed at histeachings, for he taught with
real authority, quite unlike theteachers of religious law.
Wow, well, as we have seen overthe past three days, jesus
talks about what it's like forus to relate to the world, then
in chapter six, how it's torelate to God, and then chapter
(10:48):
seven, it's about how to relatewithin the spiritual community.
And then he finishes it, like Iwas saying before, with one of
my favorite passages ofscripture, because he uses this
wonderful analogy and he'ssaying that those who build
their life on my word and followit, it's like they don't just
listen, but they follow it.
It's like someone who buildstheir house on the bedrock.
(11:09):
Now, here's the thing aboutbuilding your house on bedrock,
especially in that part of theland you had to dig down to find
the rock.
You couldn't just startbuilding, because if you started
building, that's what it was tobuild your house on the sand,
and then, as soon as the windsand the rains came, it would
wash you away.
But what you have to do is youhave to dig down, and sometimes
you'd have to dig deep in orderto find the bedrock.
(11:31):
But then, when you found it,you build your life on it.
That's why we read God's wordevery day, is we are digging
through, getting rid of all theother stuff and finding the
bedrock, the principles of God'sword, and then building our
life on that.
And sometimes it would takelonger to dig down to the
bedrock than it would be toactually lay the foundation.
And that's why we are willingto read God's word one chapter
(11:53):
at a time.
It's going to take us years toget through the whole Bible and
then we start over again,because it is worth the time and
effort to dig through and findthe principles, because and I
hate to say this, but becausestorms are coming.
Well, pastor, I wish you'd bemore positive.
Okay, I am positive, storms arecoming.
How could you say that?
Well, because I know thateverybody listening or watching
(12:15):
this chapter today is in one orthree places in their life.
You've heard me say this before.
Everybody you know is eithercoming out of a storm, they're
right in the middle of a storm,or they're getting ready to head
into a storm.
And so here's the question.
The question isn't what are yougoing to do if a storm arises
in your life?
It's what are you going to doif a storm arises in your life?
(12:35):
It's what are you going to dowhen a storm comes?
Can I tell you, when a stormcomes, it does not matter what
people are saying on Twitter orX, it doesn't matter what people
are saying on Facebook, itdoesn't matter what people are
saying in your life group, eventhough we love them, it is not
matter what your auntie says, itdoesn't matter what your
husband or wife says.
You know, what matters is whatGod's Word says.
(12:56):
Because, can I tell you, noneof those well-intentioned people
can save your life.
Only the promises in God's Wordcan.
And for some of us, we've beenbuilding our lives on the
opinions of others rather thanthe opinion of God's Word.
And you know how we can tell.
It's because, when the chipsare down, when the storm is
coming, what is holding firm?
(13:19):
And can I tell you, as somebodyand I'm sure you've probably
been here too, but as somebodywho has been through some heavy
storms in my life, I havelearned that all the
well-intentioned pieces ofadvice and everything else by
other people, when the stormsreally come they don't mean
nothing.
But you know, what I have foundIs that when I build my life on
God's word and I dig deep onGod's word, when those storms
(13:41):
come they cannot move God's word, the promises of his word, and
I can't tell you how many timesI have opened up my Bible in the
morning with tears in my eyesbecause my life has fallen apart
.
But I come back to it everytime and say, god, only your
word can satisfy, and you knowwhat he does every single time.
So I want to pray for you todayand ask the Holy Spirit to open
(14:02):
your eyes to see his word moreclearly every day, so that when
the storms come, you are solidon a firm foundation.
Let's pray right now, god.
Thank you so much for today.
Thank you, god, that your wordis a firm foundation.
Lord, I have no idea what peoplewho are listening or watching
to this what they're goingthrough.
(14:22):
My hope is that they're goingthrough the greatest season of
their life.
Everything is perfect,everything is wonderful.
They've never been more happythan they are right now.
But, god, as I've walkedthrough this life for a while, I
know that that's not the casefor probably some of us.
Some of us.
We're probably going throughchallenges, going through
difficulties, and you know whatthe enemy wants to do.
He wants to tell us that yourword doesn't satisfy, that your
(14:47):
word doesn't do what it can do.
I pray you'll silence the voiceof the enemy today, that you
have your way.
Help us to remember and to seethat you are holy and that you
are good and, as we dig intoyour word, open our eyes to see
the principles that we can buildour life on every day.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen,amen, what God's word says in
Matthew 28, verse 19,.
(15:08):
All authority in heaven and onearth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and makedisciples of all nations.
My prayer is that you willbecome a fully devoted follower
of Jesus Christ.
I love you.
I'll see you tomorrow.
For Matthew, chapter eight.
Well, hello everybody .
Welcome back to the BibleBreakdown Podcast with your host
, pastor Brandon.
Today, matthew, chapter 7, andtoday's title is Kingdom Living
301.
If you've been with us the pastcouple of days, chapter 5 was
101, chapter 2 is 201, chapter 3is 301.
And we have been getting alittle bit deeper into the
(00:20):
Kingdom of God and, if we'rehonest, a little bit more
complicated, a little bit morecomplicated, a little bit more
difficult, and today we're goingto talk about a couple of
things that are powerful, alittle hard and maybe something
in the Bible that you didn'teven know was there.
So we're going to dive rightinto that.
So, if you have your Bible, Ijust want to open up with me to
Matthew, chapter seven.
While you're doing that, if youwant to take just a moment, if
(00:41):
you're new around here, makesure you go to the Bible
Breakdown podcast and leave us afive-star review.
Make sure you also go to theYouTube channel, leave us a
review, subscribe, leave us acomment, do all the things, and
also make sure you're going tothe Bible Breakdown discussion
on Facebook.
It's an amazing group of peopledoing a wonderful job and the
more we dig, the more we find,especially in the book of
(01:03):
Matthew, because there's just somuch here that we really can't
cover in the space of the timewe have, unless we want to make
every one of these like two andthree hours long.
So when you go there we'llreally be able to see those
different things.
And one of the things that Ilove just digging deeper on is
this idea that Matthew is allabout King Jesus.
Matthew is all about King Jesus.
One of the things that we'vebeen saying is that Matthew
(01:26):
opens up the gate with sayingJesus is at the very least the
rightful king and he's like Igot the receipts to prove it and
it's the genealogy all the waydown.
That's why that was soimportant when we covered that.
But then he talks about chapter2 through 28.
He's so much more than thenatural king, he's God and we've
been building onto that.
In chapter five Jesus just sitswith his disciples and just
(01:50):
lays out how this world has beenupside down, but he is turning
it right side up again.
And chapter five was kingdomliving one-on-one we talked
about we say the beatitudes andall those different things.
Chapter 6 was all about how weget deeper into knowing God
personally.
And then chapter 7, it's 301.
I mean, it's the harder of thembecause it really requires us
(02:14):
to really dive deep into thekingdom of God and some of these
are tricky.
And, to be honest with you, I'mjust going to go ahead and say
this as a pastor, the very firstverse is one of my most hated.
I know this is so bad, one ofmy most hated verses in the
entire Bible.
And the reason why is becausepeople use it as a club to hit
(02:36):
Christians over the head withand they're not Christians and
they don't know what it means.
Can I tell you, I disagree withanybody who says John 3.16 is
the most memorized verse in theBible.
I don't agree with that.
I think it's wrong.
I think it's well-intentioned,but it's wrong.
I think the most well, I thinkthe most memorized verse in the
Bible is Matthew 7, verse 1.
So we're going to read theseverses and then I want to try to
(02:59):
maybe untangle some knots.
Okay, here is the mostmemorized verse in the entire
Bible.
Here we go 7-1,.
Do not judge others and you willnot be judged.
Mm, mm-mm-mm.
Let me read it again, becausesome people just love this verse
.
Let me read it again.
This is someone's favorite verseDo not judge others and you
will not be judged.
(03:20):
Usually people just simplify itdown to don't judge.
Can you tell?
I have a problem.
All right, verse 2.
For you will be treated as youtreat others.
The standard you use in judgingis the standard by which you
will be judged.
And why worry about the speck inyour friend's eye when you have
a log in your own?
(03:40):
How can you think of saying toyour friend let me help you get
rid of that speck in your eye,when you can't see past the log
in your own?
How can you think of saying toyour friend let me help you get
rid of that speck in your eye,when you can't see past the log
in your own eye?
Hypocrite.
First get rid of the log inyour own eye, then you will see
well enough to deal with thespeck in your friend's eye and
(04:10):
don't judge others, because alittle bit later on he is
actually going to talk aboutfruit on trees and how you'll
know a tree by the fruit.
So you're definitely judging atree when you say, hmm, that
sure does look like an appletree.
How could you say that?
Because there's apples on it.
That'd be the reason why.
So is he saying you should neverhave an opinion about someone.
(04:32):
No, that is not what he'ssaying.
As a matter of fact, there aremany times when we are supposed
to be careful.
How else are you going to knowif someone's a false prophet,
unless you judge what they'resaying to be incorrect?
What he is saying is we don'tsit in the seat of judgment.
There's a difference betweenbeing a witness and being the
judge.
I can sit as not the seat ofjudgment and go.
(04:55):
You know what?
That person has killed 12people.
I think they're a murderer.
How dare you judge?
I'm not judging.
I'm saying based on theiractions.
This is the label that goes tothem.
What I'm not doing is nowsaying they get the death
penalty.
That's the judge to decide.
Does that make sense?
And so what he is saying isdon't sit in the seat of
(05:16):
judgment and then try to judgethem.
In that way, you can point outwhat's going on now, and there's
a lot, there's a lot that iscoming up later that talks about
how to go about doing that in agracious and honorable way, you
know, and all the good stuff.
But he's saying we don't sit inthe seat of judgment.
And then he also gives awarning and he's saying you know
, the reason why you don't isbecause the way you judge others
(05:39):
is the way it's going to comeback to you.
And then notice how he issaying why don't you focus on
your own issues?
And then, once you focus onyour own issues, then you'll be
able to see clearly that you canhelp other people with theirs.
But spoiler alert by the timeyou do that, god usually humbles
us to the place where we don'twant to mess with anybody else.
But that's what it's saying.
It is not saying that we can'tcall a spade a spade.
(06:00):
It's saying don't cast thejudgment over them.
Okay, verse seven keep on askingand you will receive what you
ask for.
Keep on seeking and you willfind.
Keep on knocking and the doorwill be opened to you, for
everyone who asks receives,everyone who seeks finds.
And to everyone who knocks, thedoor will be open.
(06:22):
You, parents if your childrenask for a loaf of bread, do you
give them a stone instead?
Or if you ask for a fish?
Or if they ask you for a fish,do you give them a snake?
Of course not.
So if you sinful people, knowhow to give good gifts to your
children, how much more willyour heavenly father give good
gifts to those who ask him?
Pause.
So what is he saying here?
(06:44):
He's saying when you ask, seekand knock, he's saying ask with
hope and then ask, knowing thatyour heavenly Father is good.
Therefore he is going to giveyou good gifts.
Now that doesn't mean he'sgoing to give you everything
that we think is good.
He's going to give you what hethinks is good.
Therefore, we always ask withhope because we know that our
(07:06):
heavenly father is good and hewill give us good gifts.
And so I have to make sure thatverse is not saying that if you
ask, you seek and you knock,god is somehow obligated or
required to give you what youthink is good.
It is that he will give youeverything that he knows is good
.
All right, here's the verse.
Not everybody knows is in theBible the golden rule, verse 12.
Do to others whatever you wouldlike for them to do to you.
(07:29):
This is the essence of all thatis taught in the law and the
prophets.
Pause.
Did you know that was in theBible?
Can I tell you, for the longesttime I thought the golden rule
was just like just a really goodrule.
I didn't realize that Jesusactually said that.
(07:50):
And what he is saying is is ifyou want to sum up the entire
law and the prophets, do toothers what you would want them
to do to you.
Now notice it doesn't say dounto others before they can do
to you, or do unto others, youknow, because you're trying to
manipulate them.
No, he's like do unto otherswhat you would like for them to
do for you.
It's powerful, all right.
Verse 13.
You can enter God's kingdomonly through the narrow gate.
The highway to hell is broadand its gates is wide for many
(08:12):
who choose that way, but thegateway to life is very narrow
and the road is difficult, andonly a few ever find it.
The reason why is because itrequires us to submit to the
authority of God, and that's whyit's so hard.
Verse 15, beware of falseprophets who come disguised as
harmless sheep but are reallyvicious wolves.
(08:33):
You can identify them by theirfruit.
That is the way they act.
Can you pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
A good tree produces good fruitand a bad tree produces bad
fruit.
A good tree cannot produce goodfruit, bad fruit and a bad tree
cannot produce good fruit.
So every tree that does notproduce good fruit is chopped
(08:56):
down and thrown into the fire?
Yes, just as you can identify atree by its fruit, you can
identify people by their actions.
Pause Now, remember.
Going back to verse one, jesusis not saying that we can't look
at someone's actions and knowif we need to put up a boundary
and not be close to them.
That's not judging, that's notcasting judgment.
(09:17):
That is seeing their actionsand knowing what next step you
need to take.
Or verse 21,.
Not everyone who calls out tome, lord, lord, will enter the
kingdom of heaven.
Only those who actually do thewill of my father in heaven will
enter.
On judgment day, many will sayto me Lord, lord, we prophesied
in your name, cast out demons inyour name and performed many
(09:39):
miracles in your name.
But I will reply I never knewyou.
Get away from me, you who breakGod's laws.
Wow, such a sobering thing.
All right, this is one of myfavorite verses, section of
verses in the entire Bible.
Here we go, let's finish it up,verse 24.
Anyone who listens to myteaching and follows it is wise
(10:03):
like a person who builds a houseon solid rock, though the rain
comes in torrents and thefloodwaters rise and the winds
beat against that house, itwon't collapse because it is
built on bedrock, but anyone whohears my teaching and doesn't
obey it is foolish, like aperson who builds his house on
sand.
When the rains and floods comeand the winds beat against that
house, it will collapse with amighty crash.
(10:25):
Jesus had finished saying thesethings.
The crowds were amazed at histeachings, for he taught with
real authority, quite unlike theteachers of religious law.
Wow, well, as we have seen overthe past three days, jesus
talks about what it's like forus to relate to the world, then
in chapter six, how it's torelate to God, and then chapter
(10:48):
seven, it's about how to relatewithin the spiritual community.
And then he finishes it, like Iwas saying before, with one of
my favorite passages ofscripture, because he uses this
wonderful analogy and he'ssaying that those who build
their life on my word and followit, it's like they don't just
listen, but they follow it.
It's like someone who buildstheir house on the bedrock.
(11:09):
Now, here's the thing aboutbuilding your house on bedrock,
especially in that part of theland you had to dig down to find
the rock.
You couldn't just startbuilding, because if you started
building, that's what it was tobuild your house on the sand,
and then, as soon as the windsand the rains came, it would
wash you away.
But what you have to do is youhave to dig down, and sometimes
you'd have to dig deep in orderto find the bedrock.
(11:31):
But then, when you found it,you build your life on it.
That's why we read God's wordevery day, is we are digging
through, getting rid of all theother stuff and finding the
bedrock, the principles of God'sword, and then building our
life on that.
And sometimes it would takelonger to dig down to the
bedrock than it would be toactually lay the foundation.
And that's why we are willingto read God's word one chapter
(11:53):
at a time.
It's going to take us years toget through the whole Bible and
then we start over again,because it is worth the time and
effort to dig through and findthe principles, because and I
hate to say this, but becausestorms are coming.
Well, pastor, I wish you'd bemore positive.
Okay, I am positive, storms arecoming.
How could you say that?
Well, because I know thateverybody listening or watching
(12:15):
this chapter today is in one orthree places in their life.
You've heard me say this before.
Everybody you know is eithercoming out of a storm, they're
right in the middle of a storm,or they're getting ready to head
into a storm.
And so here's the question.
The question isn't what are yougoing to do if a storm arises
in your life?
It's what are you going to doif a storm arises in your life?
(12:35):
It's what are you going to dowhen a storm comes?
Can I tell you, when a stormcomes, it does not matter what
people are saying on Twitter orX, it doesn't matter what people
are saying on Facebook, itdoesn't matter what people are
saying in your life group, eventhough we love them, it is not
matter what your auntie says, itdoesn't matter what your
husband or wife says.
You know, what matters is whatGod's Word says.
(12:56):
Because, can I tell you, noneof those well-intentioned people
can save your life.
Only the promises in God's Wordcan.
And for some of us, we've beenbuilding our lives on the
opinions of others rather thanthe opinion of God's Word.
And you know how we can tell.
It's because, when the chipsare down, when the storm is
coming, what is holding firm?
(13:19):
And can I tell you, as somebodyand I'm sure you've probably
been here too, but as somebodywho has been through some heavy
storms in my life, I havelearned that all the
well-intentioned pieces ofadvice and everything else by
other people, when the stormsreally come they don't mean
nothing.
But you know, what I have foundIs that when I build my life on
God's word and I dig deep onGod's word, when those storms
(13:41):
come they cannot move God's word, the promises of his word, and
I can't tell you how many timesI have opened up my Bible in the
morning with tears in my eyesbecause my life has fallen apart
.
But I come back to it everytime and say, god, only your
word can satisfy, and you knowwhat he does every single time.
So I want to pray for you todayand ask the Holy Spirit to open
(14:02):
your eyes to see his word moreclearly every day, so that when
the storms come, you are solidon a firm foundation.
Let's pray right now, god.
Thank you so much for today.
Thank you, god, that your wordis a firm foundation.
Lord, I have no idea what peoplewho are listening or watching
to this what they're goingthrough.
(14:22):
My hope is that they're goingthrough the greatest season of
their life.
Everything is perfect,everything is wonderful.
They've never been more happythan they are right now.
But, god, as I've walkedthrough this life for a while, I
know that that's not the casefor probably some of us.
Some of us.
We're probably going throughchallenges, going through
difficulties, and you know whatthe enemy wants to do.
He wants to tell us that yourword doesn't satisfy, that your
(14:47):
word doesn't do what it can do.
I pray you'll silence the voiceof the enemy today, that you
have your way.
Help us to remember and to seethat you are holy and that you
are good and, as we dig intoyour word, open our eyes to see
the principles that we can buildour life on every day.
In Jesus' name, we pray Amen,amen, what God's word says in
Matthew 28, verse 19,.
(15:08):
All authority in heaven and onearth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and makedisciples of all nations.
My prayer is that you willbecome a fully devoted follower
of Jesus Christ.
I love you.
I'll see you tomorrow.
For Matthew, chapter eight.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.