Title: Matthew 7 -- Are you sure? Do you know without a doubt?
By: Todd Bevins
Intro
As I thought about things, and was thinking about; we will read through these verses here. We are going to talk a few moments. We keep more so towards the latter end of these verses. However, we will begin in verse 13 in just a moment.
I had this thought and had some conversations briefly with some folks. I am convinced that—I know this to be true—I am also convinced that there are some people that do believe that just because someone says they are saved, then they are saved. Not everybody that proclaims to be a Christian is really a Christian. Not everybody that says they are going to heaven, is really going to heaven.
I mentioned briefly in Sunday school class about I thought recently on this song and I don’t know all of the words. As a matter of fact, these are the only words I remember: “be sure, be very sure.” For some reason it stops right there. I know what it is talking about. We should be sure, very sure that we know where we are going when life is over. There is nothing more important than knowing where we are going for eternity.
We can think about life and how quickly that it goes by us. I told someone last week, we were speaking about that. I was talking about how life is just but a vapor. It seems like yesterday that I was graduating, or I was in junior high. My body quickly reminds me that was a long time ago. Therefore, we understand. I hear from Dan and others, dad and other people that as I get older that is only get worse. I have nothing to look forward to, it sounds like.
Story
I will tell you a brief story about a lady before we begin. A lady went into a church. She had been out of church for a while and not been going. She knew things were not right and that she needed to get back in a relationship with the Lord. She wanted to straighten her life up. She found a church locally and she went to that church. She was poor. She did not have anything. When she went to that church her clothes according to most of them there wasn’t what it should have been. They did not feel like she was adequately dressed. So, they approached the deacons, and the deacons went to the pastor and the pastor then on the way out he thought, well I will say something to her. On her way out, he said, “Mam, we are glad you are here, but I would like to see…your clothes are really not appropriate for here.” The next time you come back I would like for you to pray and ask the Lord what you should wear. She comes back the next time and she has on the same thing. So, the pastor thinks to himself, well the deacons are really going to be after me this time. She went home and had thought to herself. “What am I going to do? This is all I have.” So, she goes back again, the second time, wearing the same thing. The pastor then, as she walks out says; “Maybe you did not understand when I spoke to you last time. You really need to do something about your apparel. You need to find different clothing. Maybe you should pray about it and see what the Lord would have you to wear.” She said, “Okay.” The third time she comes back and now the pastor is really upset. She doesn’t have anything else. She is wearing the same thing. On the way out, he says, “You know we have had this conversation twice. And I am going to mention to you again. Haven’t you prayed about what you should wear? I suggested that to you.” She said, “Yes, as a matter of fact I have.” He said, “Well, what did the Lord say?” She said to him, to the pastor, “Well, He told me He didn’t know what I should wear because He has never been here before.”
Are you sure?
I think there are some places out there that I think some people’s lives can fit that story. I think there are some places out there that are under the heading of Christ and His church yet they fall under that category. I am glad we are not one of them. I am glad we are where we are.
However, that is not the thought this morning. The thought is Are you sure? Do you know without a doubt?
Let’s begin reading the Word of God here, beginning in verse 13. We will just kind of go over these briefly, and just highlight a few things.
Jesus is speaking here towards the end of the sermon on the mount. He makes something known. What He makes known is that there is a way to travel, and there is a gate that you need to go through. Here is what He says.
Matthew 7:13
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
So, we would agree to this. The world in itself in its entirety is traveling that road. That is a broad road. There are many folks traveling that way, going that direction, and says; it looks good for awhile but the end result is destruction.
Matthew 7:14
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Now, he says, beware of false prophets that come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are raving wolves. There are people out there that would tell you they have your best interest in mind, but they do not. There are people out there that appear they want good for your life, and will help you, and help you go the right direction, but in reality, that is not the truth.
The truth of the matter is that they are out for themselves. They don’t really care about you, nor your life or what direction you are going, nor the end result of your life. However, it may appear that way, but it is not true. There are people that mishandle the Word of God, whether you believe that or not. It is true. In this world today, there is a misuse of the Word of God. I certainly feel sorry for them.
Matthew 7:16
He says this:
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
What he is describing here is this. You are going to be able to recognize them. Don’t worry. It may take you a little bit but you will discover, you will figure out who they are and you will know it by the way they live their lives. We would agree to this fact. We would testify and say that I agree and I believe and I am certain you believe. I don’t think Christians need to walk around with a sign on their back that says, “Hey, I’m a Christian. Or Hey, I’m this.” Do we always go about hollering out. “I go to church here. Or I go to church there” and so forth. Most of the time—usually, like I said in one of the sermons before—it may come up in a conversation. However, I believe our life ought to be able to prove what way we live. I believe our life ought to be able to prove what we believe in our heart and who lives in us—is what I should have said.
Matthew 7:17
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
I don’t really need to lay much into that simply because it is easily understood. He is saying, do you know what? A good tree brings forth good fruit; a bad tree brings forth bad fruit. I think Dan gave one of the greatest examples I have ever heard in class this morning, talking about his wonderful apple tree that he had. He said it looked beautiful on the outside. The apples looked great. However, when he took it down and went to take a bite, or cut it apart, or taste it, or whatever he did with it. He said, “It wasn’t good at all.” There are a lot of people who look good on the surface.
Listen. Are you sure? Are you very sure? Do you know Him?
Here is what happens. We laughed in class and decided that it isn’t until you bite into someone whether you determine whether they are good or bad. Don’t go biting anybody. I will tell you this. You can sample their fruit. You will know whether it is good or bad. How do you do that? Listen to what they say. Watch what they do. Don’t just listen. Watch! I promise you, the same thing is being done to you.
Matthew 7:19
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Why is that? Simply because, what good would a bad fruit bearing tree do to you or me? Just like Dan; what did he do? He cut it down. Why? It isn’t going to do him any good. It does not benefit him anything, if it is going to produce that which is no good. What would we say to those who are not helping us in our relationship or doing or we would say bringing the best or the good out in our lives. It might be to our benefit to maybe get away from those folks. Right?
Matthew 7:20-21
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Here is what I want to talk to you about this morning.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
The key word in this verse is “doeth”. He that hears and does the will of my Heavenly Father it is him that without question or doubt as brother Dan spoke a moment ago, about the hope. What is that? It is the confidence that I know; it is a fact within me that I know without any question, doubt, hesitation, or reservation that there is a home in heaven waiting for me. Christ is going to come and get me. I know it is there. You say, have you ever been there? No, but I know it is there. How do you know you are going? Because Christ made me a promise. That is the sealed hope that I have. Why? Because I have heard His Word. I believe His Word. Praise God! We are doers of His Word. That makes us a prime candidate to not only bear good fruit but a prime candidate for heaven and the hope that He has given us—Praise God!—for eternity with Him.
Matthew 7:22
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
In that day that He returns, in the day that they stand before Him, in the day when the lost will stand before Him at the great white throne judgement. Many will say unto me:
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
We have prophesied. There are a lot of folks, there are a lot of places—I don’t know them all—but I am saying they are out there. They are under the heading of saying; I am doing this for Jesus Christ. Christ is leading us to do this.
Listen: Don’t believe everything you hear and only half of what you see. The thing of the matter is this. God genuinely knows those who really belong to Him. He knows them. They are His sheep. He knows them by name. He knows exactly who they are. He knows me, just as well as, He knows you. He knows where I am at in my relationship with Him. As well as, He knows where you are at in your relationship with Him. He knows whether I am genuinely born again. He knows because He lives in my heart. He knows whether you are ready to meet Him or not. He knows that. So, when we stand before Him, it is not as if He does not know, but He knows. He says, “Listen, you may say that you prophesied in my name. You may say that you did many wonderful works. You may have looked at those things and thought; surely, this is going to get me in. I fooled everybody else. Surely, I have fooled God.” This is what He says:
Matthew 7:23
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
What a horrible thought. “Depart from me you that work iniquity.” You look good on the surface. However, like that apple Dan was talking about, you were rotten on the inside. You see those things that you were doing; He is saying, I knew what motivated you to do them. I knew the reason you were doing them. Nobody else did. It looked good on the surface. Everybody else thought, hey, this is great. We will throw in our time. We will throw in our money. We will do all of these things. He says, I see who you really are. The thing of it is this. I know my sheep. To you, I never knew you. You were never one of mine. Why is that? You were in sheep’s clothing, while inwardly you were a raving wolf. I know exactly who you are.
You can hide so many things to those around you. It can appear on the surface to so many around you on how wonderful they are and how great they are. However, deep down, God knows the rottenness of who you and who I am. He knows all about us. Nothing can be hid from Him. Why not deal with that on this side of the grave? Why not deal with that on this side, so we don’t hear the words, and so you don’t hear the words, “Depart from me.” Once those words are dispatched, once they are said, my friend, once you have reached that point; it is forever done. It is over. There is no hope whatsoever.
Matthew 7:24
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Now, He is going to tell us the difference between those who hear and do; and those who hear and do not do.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Let’s talk about this for a couple of moments then I will turn you loose. Listen. Jesus used this choice of the end of sermon on the mount to cause listeners to a decision between two destinies. That is what I want you to think about. Jesus, again here, in these words that I just read to you; describes someone that hears and doesn’t do, and someone that hears and does do what He says. He tells us. Notice this. Each house outwardly looked the same. Just as He talked about knowing a tree by its fruit. Just as we used Dan’s example several times here already. It looked good on the surface. Outwardly, it looked just like an apple, not that it wasn’t. On the inside, it wasn’t no good.
He is saying here, these two houses, they looked the same. Let us talk about that just for a moment. Our foundation is set for one theologian we looked at and here what he said. Our life’s foundation is typically hidden. It is only proven in the storm and those storms will come. In this situation both the wise man and the foolish man, built houses of similar design. The difference was not in the workman ship. It was not in the materials. In the foundation, we find out of the two houses. In good weather there seemed to be no difference between them. When good weather was there, they both looked the same. Everything looked alike. Everything seemed okay. However, there came a time when the weather changed for the worse.
There is coming a time that things are going to happen and you want to make sure you are ready. We read that the rains descended. We read that the floods came and the winds blew. A storm was the ultimate power to those generations that did not have nuclear weapons. Jesus warned them. He warned us that the foundation of our life would be shaken to its core at some time or another. Both now in our troubles or perhaps in the ultimate judgement before God. At some point or another our foundation will be shaken to its core.
Time and storms of life will prove the strength of one’s foundation. I couldn’t agree more. Time and storms prove the strength of one’s foundation. They will prove where they really stand with God. I can’t help but every time I study this, every time I look at it over the years in the last several years; I recall someone that I knew very well. I recall the time that their spouse went into the hospital. I will never forget—you look at these individuals and you think they are great examples in your life, or they are this or that and they are great pillars. I will never forget in my life how that the individual came almost broke to the core and was so scared and so afraid, crying and wringing their hands and saying, “I don’t know what I am going to do.” I thought to myself. I thought something seems off here.
Listen to me. Life will bring things that will shake us to the core. I can tell you this. I have had a few of them. I have had certain things happen. I had a conversation with Dad yesterday, as we traveled an hour or so away. We were talking about some of those things. I said, do you know what? It is in those moments when you feel like you can’t go any farther. Do you know what you feel? You feel the roughness of that rock on your feet. Do you know what you feel? You feel His power and His strength coming from that rock. Who is that rock? Praise God! It is Jesus Christ. He encourages us to go on. There is no quit in us. There is no give up in us. It is not because we are somebody, or because we are strong, or because we had the power to overcome sin, or we had the power to overcome the storm. It isn’t any of that. It is because of the rock that we are standing on. It is because the strength that is dispatched from the rock that encourages us, lifts us up, He helps us. Why does He do that? It is because we are His children and He loves us. That is why. We have a hope that is forever settled in heaven. One day we are going to be with Him.
We find out here that the storms will happen. They will come. They will determine; time and storms will determine the strength of that foundation even when that foundation is hidden. We may—I like what he says here—we may be surprised when someone who is truly built on the true foundation. What is he saying here? You say, that sounds like a bunch of jibber jabber. Well, no it doesn’t if you think about it. It goes back to the story I just told you a minute ago. We might be really surprised; we might be surprised when that storm comes as someone that really trusts God and depends upon Him. When we realize the magnitude of that storm, or the severity of that storm.
That reminds me of another time I will never forget when I was younger. I remember having a situation with myself as far as, a physical element. I went to the doctor. When I went to the doctor, as I was there and they looked at me and they examined me and immediately they came to me and said, “We have to do something here. We need to run another test. We need to do that today.” I will never forget how immediately my heart dropped and it sank. How so concerned and worried I was just like that lady I was speaking about just a few moments ago. As I was thinking about that, as things went through and they passed, and as everything was okay, everything was alright. It took me—I don’t know if Kate remembers that or not—it took me days, if not a week or longer to get over that. You say, get over what? I was so bothered that I let it worry me so much. I thought where am I at in my relationship with God? Do you know what I learned? I learned this. I am human. There are times like that. I also learned, I can trust the Rock, He is always going to be there. Through that adversity and through that time, it drawled me closer to Him. As I went through another storm, I got closer to Him. The closer we get, the firmer our feet are planted on that rock. The more we understand. Praise God! We don’t have to worry about the winds and the rain, and the storms when they come. Why? Because we are founded upon a solid foundation. Praise God!
He goes on and this theologian writes about the same individual, the same stories. The people who built on a weak foundation, where everyone who hears these things of Jesus and does them not; He says this: and does not do them is merely hearing God’s Word. He says, “Guess what? It’s not enough. It’s not enough for a secure foundation.” We must also be doers of His Word. If we are not, we will commit the sin that surely will find us out; the sin of doing nothing. The sin of doing nothing about what? Nothing about what we have heard that is truth, and that is applying it to our life and responding to it.
Last part of it is this. I want to leave you with this last thought. The problem with the second builder is this. I like as he speaks about this individual who builds his house upon the sand. The problem with the second builder is not that he deliberately wanted to build on a bad foundation. He didn’t think it was important. That was the problem. He didn’t think it was important. It wasn’t that he looked at it, or again that he chose here, that he had a choice between a good foundation and a bad foundation; where he says I will just choose the bad one. It wasn’t that. It wasn’t that. He didn’t give any thought to it at all.
Many people are going through this life and they are living out this life not giving any thought to eternity. You’re not giving any thought to the simple fact—there was a time in my life where that’s how I lived. I lived my life as if you know what, it’s no big deal, it’s no big thing. I will get ready when I need to get ready.
Listen. It does not work that way. We may leave here long before we think we are going to. We may live a lot longer than we ever expected we would. The conclusion is this. We do not get to determine how long we live and when we die. What we do get to determine is this. Will I be found upon the rock, or will my house be built upon the sand.
There are a lot of people living in this world today. Their lives are built on nothing but sinking sand. They have anchored it in our—those maybe, in our Presidents. They have anchored it in other things, in family, or maybe their retirement, or their job, or whatever. I have spoke to some and they have talked about their families and how they live to be long age life. They lived to be 80s, 90s, or even older. They have thought to themselves, and you can tell in their voice that they expect the same. It may not work out that way for them.
Closing
Listen to me my friend. What matters the most is what your house is built upon. Listen as we wrap things up. The choice again is not between good and bad. The choice is really paying attention to our foundation, or paying no attention to it at all. That is the situation. That is what we have to think about. We need to hear the words of Jesus and we need to do what He says. Be focused on trusting Him and both, who He is and what He has done for us. This is a secure foundation. One who listens, one who hears, one who does what He says, this is a solid and secure foundation. Make sure you are building on the Word of God. Make sure your life is built upon the solid foundation. What is that?
There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Who is that? Jesus Christ, our Lord. He is the solid foundation. He is the solid rock. Everything else is just shifting sand.
Come and be saved.