Sermons
February 1st, 2026 by Pastor Solley020126AM Building On the Foundation
Sub. Christian builders.
Theme: The hiouse we should build.
Text: Matt 7:24-29
“Building On the Foundation” Matthew 7:24-29
Introduction
I would like to speak to you this morning about building a house and building materials for that house. In Matthew chapter five Jesus begins what is known as the sermon on the mount. – Matt 5:1 – Multitudes of people were following after Jesus as He was preaching, teaching, and healing those in need. Jesus then for a time separates from the multitude and takes His disciples apart and alone into the mountain and begins to speak and teach just to them. – Matt 5:2 – This continues through the end of Matthew chapter seven and there are important lessons for the child of God in these three chapters.
I. Jesus then concludes His sermon on the mount with a parable about two builders: Matt 7:24-29 There is a whosoever in this parable. – Matt 7:24 – This then extends beyond those who were sitting before Jesus at that time, it touches you and me today. The words of Jesus in the Bible are exactly the same as Jesus would say to us today. This parable touches each of us here this morning.
A. These two builders have much in common: There is of course a notable difference, but they do have much in common.
1. Both heard Jesus speaking: Matt 7:24 , 26
2. Both saw the necessity of building a house: Both built houses. – Matt 7:24 , 26
3. Storms beat upon both houses: Matt 7:25 , 27
4. Both must have felt secure in their respective houses: Resting within while the storm raged outside.
5. But that is where the similarities end: One house stands and the other falls. – Matt 7:24-27
B. The differences between the two builders are what allowed one house to stand and the other to fall: There are just two.
1. The first being the foundation upon each chose to build their respective houses: Matt 7:24 , 26
2. The second being what each chose to build with: Matt 7:24 , 26 One chose building material based on the sayings of Jesus, the other chose other building materials.
a. One house stood because of its foundation and building materials. – Matt 7:24-25
b. One house fell because of its foundation and faulty building materials. – Matt 7:26-27
II. I would like to speak this morning about building a house for your life: A house that will stand because of its foundation and the materials used to build that house.
A. We all are builders this morning: And we are building a house we hope will withstand the storms of life. If you can liken your life to a house, and that is what Jesus did in this passage, we all are builders. – Matt 7:24
1. And we will all face storms in our lives: The storms of life, varied as they are, come into each life.
2. Will the house we have built withstand the storms of life? Or will it fall? What type of house are we building today?
B. The foundation and building materials used determine if our house will withstand the storms of life or if it will fall:
PROP: Each individual here this morning is building a house for their life. TS. Where and how you build determines if that house can withstand the storms of life or if it will fall.
Body
I. There is but one foundation upon which to build: Matt 7:24 Jesus Christ is the rock of my salvation, the solid rock to build upon.
A. The Bible tells us that there is no other foundation to be laid, just Jesus Christ: 1 Cor 3:11 No other foundation to build upon and this is stressed throughout the Scriptures.
1. Jesus Christ and Jesus alone is the chief cornerstone: 1 Peter 2:6
2. Jesus Christ is the foundation stone, tried and sure: Isa 28:16
3. Jesus Christ is the stone cut out wihout hands that will break all others: Dan 2:34
4. Jesus Christ is the eternal foundation that will never falter, never crack, never be destroyed: Because He is eternal God and He invites all to build upon Him, build a life upon the solid rock. – 1 Cor 3:10-12
B. Every other foundation is like building your house upon shifting sand: Matt 7:26 The sands they were familiar with were desert sands, sands that move with the wind. These are not sands by the ocean where houses are build on piling sunk hundreds of feet into the sand and even those houses eventually falter and fall. The sands they were familiar with were and are shifting sands.
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1. When rains come they move the sand: Matt 7:26-27
2. When flood waters rise they wash away the sand altogether: Matt 7:27
3. Even the wind can mose the foundation sitting upon shifting sand: Matt 7:27
4. When that house falls the fall of it is great: Matt 7:27 No matter what building materials are used that house will eventually fall because it rests on a faulty foundation.
C. What foundation is your life built upon today? Is it the solid rock, the chief corner stone, the stone cut out without hands, or is it shifting sand? At this very moment your are standing on the one true salvation or one of many faulty ones.
1. When David asked that question in Psalm 11 he asked a question that needs no answer: Ps 11:3 If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? It is something you need not worry about when you are standing on the solid rock. Jesus is the rock.
2. Any other foundation you build your life upon will falter and fail because it is on shifting sands: The fall will be great because of where it will land. A foundation of good works, of good intentions, of self worth, of dead religion, of money, of stature, of power, all are built on shifting sands and will lead to a fall that ends in the Lake of Fire.
3. Be sure you build your life on the right foundation: There is only one that will endure for all eternity, Jesus Christ.
D. There is but one foundation upon which to build: Matt 7:24 Be sure you are building on the right foundation this morning.
II. We need build on this foundation a house of prayer: Isa 56:7 Most people are not familiar with this verse of Scripture, but they are familiar with how and when Jesus made reference to it. – Matt 21:12-13 – As Jesus was casting out those who perverted the temple He stated “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” And then the accusation. – Matt 21:13 – Jesus was speaking to those coming into the temple as well as those exploiting those ones. – Matt 21:13
A. Have you ever contemplated upon what they were robbing themselves of? It was not just the moneychangers, it was also those who permitted it, they were robbing themselves, but of what?
1. Initially the joy of the Lord that comes when we are found in His presence in prayer: There is great joy when one gets apart and alone with the Lord in prayer. In prayer David had this to say in Ps 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
2. They robbed themselves of the peace and rest that comes when we pray knowing our God hears and cares: They robbed themselves of the peace and rest that comes when one prays and turns all over to the Lord.
3. The list of things they robbed themselves of because it was not a house of prayer can grow and grow: Many more things to add.
B. How important is prayer in the house of your life today, are you building a house of prayer? We can see this morning in the Bible that prayer and joy are linked and that we need to build a house of prayer. – Isa 56:7 ; 1 Thess 5:16-18 – We can see clearly a link between joy, rejoicing, and the giving of thanks and prayer. – 1 Thess 5:16-18 – We need to build a life, a house of prayer, but how important is prayer in the house of your life today?
1. Do you get up earlier than you need to in the morning so you can spend some time in prayer as Jesus did? Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
2. Do you pray about decision you need to make as Jesus did: Luke 6:12-13 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
3. Do tears accompany your prayers as they did the prayers of Jesus? Luke 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
4. Do you pray knowing those prayers are heard and will move the hand of the father as Jesus did? John 11:41-43 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
5. Do you pray expecting miracles as Jesus did? John 11:43-44 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
6. Do you have joy in the midst of trials and troubles because you pray as Jesus did? Heb 12:2
7. How important is prayer in the house you are building today? If prayer is important as it should be it will be known.
a. How many times have those in your house seen you in prayer and know you are meeting with God?
b. Do you have a closet of prayer that when you enter into it others know you are praying?
c. Can you testify of answered prayers and miracles in your life?
d. How important is prayer in your life today, in the house you are building?
8. What might you be robbing yourself of because you are not building a house of prayer?
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C. We need build on this foundation a house of prayer:
III. We need build on this foundation a house guided and ruled by the Word of God: Deut 6:5-9 What guides the house of your life today? Is it your finances, is it your work, society, government, what guides the house of your life today?
A. We need build on our foundation a house guided and ruled by the Word of God: Deut 6:7-9 Verses seven and eight are very challenging and convicting verses. – Deut 6:7-8 – They tell us what our house should be, but is it?
1. Is the Word of God heard and spoken in your house, in your life? Deut 6:7
2. When you step out of the doors of your house are your steps guided by the Word of God? Deut 6:7
3. When you lay down at night do you know you followed the Word of God throughout the day? Deut 6:7
4. Is everything you put your hand to pleasing and obedient to God’s Word? Dut 6:8
5. Do you place frontlets on your eyes so you see what is pleasing to God alone? Deut 6:8
B. Is this the house you are building today? Deut 6:9 Just as joy and prayer are linked in the Bible so are obedience and blessings. If one wants the full blessings of God they need to be found buildiing a house upon the Word of God. – Deut 6:9-11
1. Obedience and blessing are linked in the Bible just as joy and prayer are linked: James 1:22-25 It does not suggest we will be without trials but the Bible does tell us blessings follow obedience. – James 1:25 – It is often after trials blessing flow because one stayed faithful to the Word of God.
a. I certainly don’t want to go through what Joseph or Daniel did, but both were blessed because they obeyed God.
b. I certainly don’t want to go through what Paul did but he wears crowns of gold today becayse he obeyed God.
2. The full blessings of God are linked to a house built on obedience to His Word: James 1:25
C. All of our lives would change for the better if we just obeyed the Word of God from the heart all of the time: Did you know this Bible is just as much as it was for Joseph, Daniel, Paul and every child of God down through the ages. – 2 Peter 1:19-21 – It is a more sure Word. – 2 Peter 1:19 – Perfect when it was given, perfect in preservation, a perfect in my hand this morning.
1. This KJB has the answers to every need in your life today: It is a more sure Word, an eternal Word, a perfect Word.
2. Blessings will follow when we obey God’s Word: James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
D. We need build on this foundation a house guided and ruled by the Word of God:
IV. We need build on this foundation a house of service for the Lord: Josh 24:15 Do you know you are serving someone today? You served someone yesterday, will serve someone tomorrow, do you know you are serving someone today? It will be the God of heaven or one of the gods of this world, but we all are serving someone. A house of service is linked to rewards. – Matt 6:19-21- Prayer and joy are linked in Scripture, obedience and blessings are linked in Scripture, and we can also see that service and rewards are linked in Scripture. – Matt 6:19-21
A. We must decide if we are going to build a house of service this morning: Joshua called for the people of God to make a decision whom they would serve and we are called to make the same decision today. – Matt 6:19-21 – What type of house will we buld in relation to service for the Lord Jesus Christ?
1. Moses had to make a decision: Heb 11:26-27 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
2. Ruth had to make a decision: Ruth 1:15-17 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
3. The fishermen were called to make a decision: Matt 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
4. So are we called to make a decision: Josh 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
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B. Rewards are linked in Scripture to those who make themselves servants of the Lord Jesus Christ: Rom 1:1-2 , 9 There are two different Greek words used in these verses that link service and rewards.
1. Paul was a bond man, a slave, a prisioner of Jesus Christ, so Paul served: Rom 1:1 The word servant in verse one means slave, one who was bought, one who had no chaice but to serve. – Rom 1:1
a. Paul was bought with a price and turned his life over to Jesus Christ, paul was a purchased possession. – 1 Cor 6:19-20
b. We are bought with the same price, the precious blood of Jesus, and we are a purchased possession. – 1 Cor 6:19-20
2. But Paul was another type of servant as well: Rom 1:9 It is a different Greek word and it means to serve for hire. This servant is going to be rewarded, not as a slave, but as a friend of God. So will we be rewarded when we make a decision to serve Jesus Christ.
3. When we serve we will be rewarded: 2 Tim 4:8 Some of the rewards may come in this world but the ones stored up in heaven will far exceed anythng we may have in this world.
4. But will we present ourselves as servants to the one who bought us with His precious blood: Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. It is only reasonable that we do so.
ILL. There is a song that states “Working for the Lord the pay isn’t much, compared to the world it’s only peanuts, but listen to me fellows and listen to me girls, the retirement plan is our of this world…”
C. We need build on this foundation a house of service for the Lord:
Conclusion
What type of house are you building today? You are building a house know it or not. What type of house is it?
I. There is but one foundation upon which to build: Matt 7:24 Jesus Christ is the rock of my salvation, the solid rock to build upon.
II. We need build on this foundation a house of prayer: Isa 56:7 Most people are not familiar with this verse of Scripture, but they are familiar with how and when Jesus made reference to it. – Matt 21:12-13 – As Jesus was casting out those who perverted the temple He stated “Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.” And then the accusation. – Matt 21:13 – Jesus was speaking to those coming into the temple as well as those exploiting those ones. – Matt 21:13
III. We need build on this foundation a house guided and ruled by the Word of God: Deut 6:5-9 What guides the house of your life today? Is it your finances, is it your work, society, government, what guides the house of your life today?
IV. We need build on this foundation a house of service for the Lord: Josh 24:15 Do you know you are serving someone today? You served someone yesterday, will serve someone tomorrow, do you know you are serving someone today? It will be the God of heaven or one of the gods of this world, but we all are serving someone. A hose of service is linked to rewards. – Matt 6:19-21- Prayer and joy are linked in Scripture, obedience and blessings are linked in Scripture, and we can also see the service and rewards are linked in Scripture. – Matt 6:19-21