Category: Sermon on the Mount

Posted on

It Is Your Life

DECEMBER 12

MATTHEW 7:25_and beat upon that house…

Rains, floods, and winds cause destruction on their own, combined they cause catastrophe. Jesus says they beat upon the house. Jesus, the Stonemason, is in the process of building you a house—it is your life. 

What are the rains, floods, and winds which beat upon your house? They are the hurts and struggles you experience in life. The struggles which draw you closer to your rock, Jesus, or closer to your captor the devil.

Remember the parable of the persistent widow who did not give up making appeals to the judge? The parable begins in Luke 18:1, ‘And he spake a parable unto them [disciples] to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.’ The purpose of the parable is to teach persistent prayer. Prayer is an essential rock. The word faint in this verse can mean lack courage or lose heart. During the days when life beats you up do not lose heart. Do not forsake prayer. It is an overcomer. 

When Job’s life was beat upon, his so-called friend said to him, Job 4:4:5 (KJV), “Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. 5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.”

Struggles will beat on you—be rock ready.

PRAYER

Savior, Help me be rock-solid to face the struggles of life. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.  

Christ is the Rock of prayer and courage—I want that!

Posted on

He Teaches Truth

DECEMBER 11

MATTHEW 7:25_and the winds blew…

We live in an extremely high-tech world. Technology outdates itself at a fast pace. The newest mesmerizing product of today may be outdated in less than a year. Those of us who do not claim to be techies feel like we are giving out of steam just trying to keep up. Do you ever think it is astounding what the human mind can devise? I do!

For all our brilliance and intelligence, there is much we cannot control—most belongs to the world of nature. How about the wind for example? Can you start it? Can you stop it? We are not talking about man-made fans. We are talking about the wind. Wind is not controlled by human intelligence or muscle. In the cases of natural disasters the wind may help to clean away debris, or bring more destruction to what is already weak and broken.

In John 3:8, Jesus says, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

We cannot see the Holy Spirit, but we know when He dwells in us.

We know because He teaches us truth.

PRAYER

Jesus Lord, With the Holy Spirit I can be strong against the world. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ is stronger than the world—I want His power!

Posted on

You’re Not the Only One

FEBRUARY 6

MATTHEW 5:12 _for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Do you ever feel like you’re the only one? Everything that has to do with sufferings, trials, and persecutions comes to you. Everybody else has it made. Even if they do suffer for their Christian values, it’s short lived. You’re the only one for whom it goes on and on. Whenever something bad or hard comes around, it falls on you. If someone gets the blame (for something they didn’t do), it’s always you. And, you’re the one who was doing right. The ones spouting the blame are the ones in the wrong.

According to Jesus, not only are you not the only one—but it has been going on since long before you were born. Jesus goes back to the Old Testament prophets and points out they, too, were persecuted for standing up for God’s truths. It is not something new. It is something that has been and always will be a part of a disciple’s life. 

Go ahead and rejoice. You’re in good company!

 PRAYER

God of comfort, I’m sorry for the times I whine, when I should praise. Help me thank You when I am persecuted for Your sake. Help me know the difference when I am persecuted for my own sake, and help me change my path. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.              

Christ knows who is persecuted—I’m not the only one!

Posted on

Devastation

DECEMBER 10

MATTHEW 7:25_And the rain descended, and the floods came…

I have never experienced a flood first hand. However, I have seen results of the devastation. It is heart breaking to see the destruction a flood can leave. The power surges water can release are phenomenal. 

There is much more than the destruction, there is displacement.

Families who have lost all their worldly possessions are homeless.

Dorothy’s there’s no place like home—no longer applies.

The peace experienced when coming home after a hard day has disappeared.

Businesses can also be displaced. Time lost to customers can send your customers elsewhere. It is a hard, sad experience.  

There are other tragedies accompanied with floods such as sewage flowing openly in streets— disease added to the trauma. Then there is the struggle to care for the sick.

Of course worst of all, is the heart break of loss of lives. A flood is not something we want to experience—even with a solid foundation.

PRAYER

Holy Jesus, I know the only place I find safety is in Your Word. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

  Christ’s principles are safety—I want them in my life!

Posted on

Rock-Solid

DECEMBER 9

MATTHEW 7:24_which built his house upon a rock.

Previously, we discussed the importance of a solid foundation. Any builder will agree the foundation makes or breaks the house. Being a stonemason, Jesus understands the strength of rock. Rock-solid, refers to something completely secure, built to last, totally dependable. Jesus says to hear, act, and become wise, gives life a rock-solid foundation. 

Perhaps we shouldn’t have favorites among the disciples, but mine have always been Peter and John. I’ve heard so many Bible teachers joke about Peter always blurting out and talking over all the other disciples. I see all his blurts as zealous passion for Jesus. I see devoted love—something he just couldn’t keep inside.

Peter’s name was Simon. Jesus changed it to Peter, which means rock. I believe Jesus saw the solidness in Peter’s love for Him long before anyone else saw it.

Matthew 16:18 (KJV) says, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  

Be like Peter and build your life on solid rock!

PRAYER

Rock of My Salvation, When I build my life on Your teachings I’m rock-solid. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.          

Christ’s principles are rock-solid—I want them!