Blessings folk!

Jesus is drawing His teaching time to a close (what we call the “sermon on the mount.

Jesus makes a promise to those who hear these words.

Look for the promise.
Also, look for the response of the people.

Mat 7:24-29

“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.

“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.

“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.

“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house;
and it fell—and great was its fall.”

When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching;

for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

If we hear the Word of the Lord…
If we act on them…obey them…apply them…
Then we will be as a house built upon a solid foundation of rock.
No storm will conquer.
No flood will wash away.
No wind will destroy.

If we hear the Word of the Lord…
If we do not act on them…
If we do not obey…
Then the house will fall by the storm…by wind…by rain.

The people were amazed.
Jesus taught.
They heard.
They learned.
He taught as One with authority.
He did not teach as the scribes.
The Word of the Lord is always clearly different from the word of man.
If we have eyes to see.
If we have ears to hear.
If we are led by the Spirit.

The scribes pushed “denominationalism”.
They were more concerned with the mechanics of Law than with the heart of man.
They sought to control the people via Law.

Nothing has changed.
Most of the contemporary church is still lead by scribes, pharisees and the like that seek to control the Body.

“Leading” by the law is easy…just lay out the rules of man and demand obedience.
Leading by the Spirit…which the Lord requires…is harder…
Trusting the Lord to lead His flock…
Trusting true Believers to seek the Lord…
Equipping the Saints for the work of the Kingdom…
Allowing them to do what the Lord directs…
Such is rare.

Let us to it.