PASTOR'S MESSAGE

   

LWML Sunday

October 7, 2007

Matt. 7:24-27

 “On the Rock We Stand”

(Rev. Timothy D. Storck)

 May the words of my mouth and the meditation found in all of our hearts be glorious in your sight oh Lord.  Amen. 

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

The parable in our Gospel lesson is a familiar one, even the subject of a children’s song.  This text also serves as the basis of the LWML theme for this year, Rest on Christ the King.  On the Rock the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League stands as do we all who have been given faith stand, we stand on the solid foundation. 

Yet, there is much more that we can learn from this pericope this morning.  Hear again the Words of our Lord from the end of the Sermon on the Mount:  Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.  The Word of the Lord.

 I.

                Jesus was coming to the end of His sermon.  Those who hear the words that He speaks, Blessed are those who mourn, blessed are you when men cast insults at you…You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden…Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them, otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven…Pray then in this way:  Our Father who art in heaven… and does them, will be like the wise man.  The houses are built on teaching, on doctrine. 

                Just prior to this parable Jesus warns those that are listening to him to beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  Jesus teaches us that there is only one true teaching concerning salvation, His teaching.  There will be many others who will say, Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?  There will be many others who will teach in His name.  There will be others who will teach that Jesus’ teaching is just one among many that will get you to the promised land. 

                Those mansions that are built on other “foundations” will crumble to the earth.  When the floods come, the winds blew and burst these homes will crumble and fall and there fall will be great.  Our Lord didn’t hide himself so that we would crumble and perish under the weight and immensity of our sins.  No, Christ died upon the cross for all so that His Word would continue to have free course and be preached to all nations so that He might gather all who will believe onto the solid foundation of His truth, His Word.

                Our lives are ones that are now battered about by the rains, floods, and winds of life.  As Christians when the storms of life beat upon us we don’t react to these storms as those who have no hope.  When the trials of life beat against us we can turn and trust in the Lord all the more.  The devil wants the Christian to make him doubt God’s love; but the Christian will, by faith, will trust in Christ all the more.  We are reminded that, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?

                Christ tells us that the storms have a different effect on those who have a different foundation.  When the storms, wind, floods, and rains come upon them and beat on the walls and roofs of their homes those with a different foundation are offended.  These storms beat him down and drive the unbeliever to despair, for he has no solid foundation.  He will turn and accuse God of bringing all of these troubles into His life.  He may blame the Lord for his troubles.  He may grow offended at the false foundation when He finds no support there.  When he finds that money, possessions, friends, and family provide no hope or comfort when the storms hit the unbeliever will despair and have no hope.  We can hope and pray that those who don’t have a firm foundation will be driven to see that his own sinful nature is an offence and that there is nothing that he can do; so he may turn to our Lord and trust in Him.

                We can learn from this situation that it is better to have a firm foundation before the storms arrive and hit.  Those who don’t have a firm foundation may be beaten and battered by the storms and be washed away, blaming God for all their troubles or they my come to repentance and faith. 

                Yet, those who are Christians can turn to their Savior Christ when trouble comes their way.  Our troubles drive us to Christ, who has overcome all of the troubles and struggles that we face each day in our lives.  We can rejoice that our Lord continually comes to be with us during times of peace and prosperity but is also with us during the tumultuous times of our lives.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His love for us will never change.  He strengthens us throughout our whole lives.  In the waters of baptism He has forgiven even the newborn and grants him saving faith and His continual presence with the child.  In His body and blood in the sacrament of the Altar He graciously and generously gives and pours Himself out for us, often, so that our sins are forgiven and that our faith may be strengthened and preserved until that day He calls us home.  Even if one should not believe until his final dying breath, the Lord still gives grace that is sufficient to save.

II.

                While our Lord’s words have much significance for us as we live, His words have just as much when we are called to glory.  The house of the wise man will not fall.  The one who trusts in Christ his strong abode has much more comfort during life’s storms and he knows that those days are numbered.  The Lord who died and rose again will raise His people to everlasting life.  The house will not fall; the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

                The foolish man has no such hope.  Even if he can keep his house righted through his life, the house will fall and great will be its fall.  On the Last Day, there will be no more time for repentance; those who have fallen will have no more chances to get up.  For those who have built upon a different foundation than Christ Himself, there will be no recovery. 

                This should move us to action for the time is growing short.  Our Lord has entrusted us with the proclamation of precious Word to the world.  We should want to proclaim this Word to the World not because we have too, but because we are thankful for the work that Christ has done for us and also for the rest of the world.  He suffered the great fall that all mankind deserves by enduring God’s judgment for our sin at the cross.

                That is where much of the work of the LWML comes in.  The women of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod do their work out of the gracious thanksgiving for the work Christ did for them and for all of us.  There work is done out of love and hearing of Christ’s precious word that He has forgiven them all of their sins.  For those that hear these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who has build his house on the rock. 

Conclusion:

                I cannot promise you that your life will always be smooth sailing, as Christians it will probably not be.  There will be winds, rain, and flooding that occurs in our daily lives.  Our lives can be lived in the certainty of the Gospel, when we face the trials and struggles of our lives we have the hope and the promise of our Lord that He will be with us and that He will never fail us.  As Edward Mote wrote in our sermon hymn:

His oath, His covenant, and blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When every earthly prop gives way,

He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.  Amen. 

And now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding guard and protect your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

 Amen.

  

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