Sermon

Building on the Rock

November 20, 2016 Bruntsfield Evangelical Church - Sermons

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Well, please do have a seat and turn to your Bibles.
And we're in the book of Luke as we continue our journeying with Jesus around Galilee,
looking at the first nine chapters of this great gospel.
Before we dig in, let's pray together.
Father God, we pray this morning you would take what is familiar and sear its truth on our hearts.
Father, you would take what we think we know and that you would apply it to our lives.
Father, be with us. Send your spirit to make this word alive.
Convict and challenge, encourage, exhort and admonish.
Father, have your way in our lives in this time we pray.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Prosopagnosia.
Prosopagnosia.
It is a very disturbing condition, if you have it.
It renders the familiar unfamiliar.
It takes things that you've known all your lives
and turns them into strange and foreign experiences.
It turns relatives into strangers, friends into bystanders,
and even your own face into a mystery,
which for people like me would be a blessing.
Prosopagnosia is commonly called face blindness.
It renders sufferers unable to recognize people by their appearance.
Even their own reflection becomes unfamiliar and unrecognizable to them.
It is a very rare condition,
although modern research says that it could affect about two people out of every thousand.
It is incredibly debilitating.
And James, in his letter, warns about a spiritual prosopagnosia.
A spiritual way that we see ourselves in God's law
and don't recognize or remember what we look like.
He writes this in chapter one.
Humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says
is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror
and, after looking at himself,
goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
The danger of spiritual prosopagnosia,
of hearing without doing,
of seeing but not remembering,
of learning but failing to apply.
And Jesus, as he comes into land,
at the end of the sermon on the plain,
is warning about exactly the same thing that James warns about.
He's asking us to build our lives on him through obedience.
Building our lives on Jesus through obedience.
So if you've got your Bible,
turn with me to Luke chapter 6 and verse 46.

Luke 6 chapter mention
He says this.
Why do you call me Lord, Lord,
and do not do what I say?
As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words
and puts them into practice,
I will show you what they are like.
They are like a man building a house
who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.
When the flood came,
the torrent struck that house
but could not shake it
because it was well built.
But the one who hears my words
and does not put them into practice
is like a man who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
The moment the torrent struck that house,
it collapsed
and its destruction was total.
It's a very familiar story.
It's a very common story.
It's not understanding it that's difficult.
It's about doing what it says
that causes us real difficulty.
Jesus is at the end of the Sermon on the Plain.
He started it in chapter 6, verse 17.
We've looked at it.
And it comes on the back of Jesus
launching out into his ministry.
And we saw at the beginning of chapter 4,
when he starts public ministry,
he says,
my ministry is going to be one
centered on preaching the good news
of the kingdom.
Chapter 5,
that is met with objection.
That Jesus' ministry,
one that welcomes and forgives sinners,
is unpalatable to the religious elites.
He's always being asked,
why?
Why do you eat with sinners and tax collectors?
Why do you have time for them?
Then he moves on,
and there's real opposition.
As Jesus collides with what they think
is what God's will is.
He collides with them about fasting and healing,
about the Sabbath,
and all sorts of things.
And Jesus says,
my revolutionary message
needs new wineskins receptive to this message.
because the religious elites have rejected it
and cast him aside.
In fact,
by the end of that section,
we hear that they were filled with fury and disgust,
and disgust with one another
what they might do to Jesus.
Early on,
they're looking to silence him
and kill him.
And then where we've been the last four weeks
is we've seen Jesus telling people
how they're to live as citizens of this new kingdom.
They are to mirror what God is like,
be merciful,
even as your heavenly Father is merciful.
His first public sermon,
and he's teaching his people
how to stick out like healthy thumbs
in an upside down world.
And this sermon has been very well applied.
In fact,
there's been 18 points of application,
and here they all are.
Loads and loads,
simple instructions
that he's been giving us
throughout the course of this sermon.
People have hung on his every word.
This is revolutionary attitude
that he is telling his people.
This is, again,
simple to understand,
but very difficult to apply.
And we have heard this
over the last four weeks.
18 simple points of application
that Jesus says,
I want you to obey
to prove your citizenship
in my new kingdom.
And he's nearly come to the end,
and all the people
are grabbing their coats
and getting ready
to shake his hand
warmly by the door
of the plane
and say,
wonderful sermon,
Jesus,
we can't wait for next week.
Jesus, though,
won't let them off the hook,
because this sermon
has a sting
in the tail.
Suddenly,
Jesus finishes his sermon,
and he turns the spotlight
onto his hearers,
and he confronts them
with their duplicity.
He diagnoses in them
their tendency
to have spiritual
prosopagnosia.
Jesus is going to
hammer home
the follower
of their hearing
without doing.
Their Teflon
non-stick hearing,
it just washes
over their ears.
And he does this
by asking
a question
in verse 46.
A very searching
question.
He says,
why
do you call me
Lord, Lord,
and do not
do what I say?
Why do you call me
Lord, Lord,
and do not
do what I say?
Why do you call me
Master, Master,
and do not obey
what I command?
A penetrating question,
and one just as searching
for us here this morning
as it was
for those people
listening on the plane
that day
2,000 years ago.
It's a question
that's caused
radical discomfort
as I've thought
about it this week.
Why do you call me
Lord, Lord,
and do not
do
what I
say?
Now in the
Near East,
the idea of having
a Master,
the idea of having
a Lord
was very common.
People were
very familiar
with what it was
like to have
a Kyrios,
a Master,
a Lord
in charge
of their lives.
Your entire
life as a slave
was tied
to your Master.
your whole existence
was one
where you had
to obey
everything
that your Master
said.
You had to obey
unthinkingly
and unquestioningly
and uncritically.
You had one job,
just one job,
and your one job
was obedience.
You couldn't go
and strike,
you couldn't ignore,
you couldn't have
a lazy morning,
you couldn't
swerve the instruction,
your whole life
had to be one
of faithful
obedience
to everything
your Master
demanded.
Jesus here says
you understand
that in your
normal lives,
why do you not
do it in your
spiritual lives?
Why do you
call me Lord,
Lord,
and do not
do what I say?
He even repeats
the word Lord
to emphasize
their duplicity,
their two-facedness.
He says you have
a real tendency
to be unreal
in your servant
hurts.
There's a disconnection
in your discipleship.
You'll say you'll
follow me,
but only when I
say nice things.
A contradiction
in their confession.
You call me Lord,
Lord,
but you don't
do what I say?
Your lips
are betrayed
by your life.
You are all
prattle
and no practice.
Your words
are cheap
and they have
no cash value.
Trusting Jesus
like an insurance
policy,
we want him
as a saviour,
but we're not
that keen
on him being
our Lord.
We'll meet him
at the end
of life,
but we're not
too concerned
about him
interfering with
the life
that we have
on this earth.
Listen to what
David Platt says
about this tendency
in Western
Christianity.
We Western
Christians have
a way of
taking the
Jesus of the
Bible and
twisting him
into a version
of Jesus
that we are
more comfortable
with.
A nice
middle class
Jesus.
A Jesus
who doesn't
mind materialism
and would
never call us
to give away
everything we
have.
A Jesus
who is fine
with nominal
devotion that
does not
infringe on
our comforts.
A Jesus
who wants us
to be balanced,
who wants us
to avoid
dangerous extremes,
and who for
that matter
wants us to
avoid danger
altogether.
A Jesus
who brings
comfort and
prosperity to
us as we
live out our
Christian spin
on the
American dream.
And that
exact same
nuance is in
Jesus' question
to us this
morning.
Why do you
call me Lord
Lord?
And do not
do what I
say.
Are we guilty
of that same
remodelling?
As Mark Twain
famously said,
it isn't those
parts of the
Bible that I
can't understand
that bother
me.
It's the
parts that
I do.
And over
the last
four weeks,
we've had
18 points
that anyone
could understand,
and Jesus
stands and
asks us,
why do you
call me
Lord,
Lord,
and do
not do
what I
say?
Searching.
Jesus calls
us to radical,
countercultural
living in
contrast to the
way of the
world,
and once we
leave here,
we just tend
to blend
in,
and slip
to being
normal.
Just imagine
if we'd
really lived
out these
18 points
over the
last four
weeks,
people would
have asked
us about
our weirdness.
Why do
you do
that?
Why do
you give
without
wanting back?
Why is it
that you're
not as
judgmental
and condemning
as other
people in
the office?
Why is it
that when
people hurt
you,
you don't
respond?
You turn
the other
cheek?
If we
really did
that,
if we
really did
say,
Jesus,
you're
Lord,
Lord,
and I
want to
obey
everything
you
command,
how
different
would
we
look?
But we
just sink
below the
surface
and wait
for next
Sunday.
That's my
fear for
myself.
Jesus
calls us
to radical
difference.
He calls
us to live
like he is
Lord of
our lives.
He calls
us to
monitor
our language,
curb our
materialism,
be blameless
in our
internet use,
careful in
our relationships,
worshipful in
our work,
chaste in
our intimacy,
dependent upon
him in
everything in
prayer,
to name but
a few.
But all too
regularly we
carry on
regardless.
Why do you
call me Lord
Lord?
And do
not do
what I
say.
There's a
disconnection in
our hearing and
doing.
And I fear
we're all guilty
of spiritual
proso
Pagnosio.
And this
has been the
problem of
humanity all
along.
In Eden they
had one
rule, one
choice to
obey or
disobey and
they chose
to disobey.
On Sinai as
we just heard
with Peter,
Moses is up
the mountain
getting the
Ten Commandments
the first of
which is,
do not have
any gods
before me.
And the
very next
thing they do
in the
narrative,
let's all
melt down
our jewellery
and make a
golden calf
to worship.
That's what
happens to
the prophets.
Ezekiel 33,
come and hear
the message
that has come
from the
Lord.
My people
come to you
as they
usually do
and sit
before you
to hear
your words,
but they
do not
put them
into practice.
Their mouths
speak of
love, but
their hearts
are greedy
for unjust
gain.
Indeed,
to them
you are
nothing more
than one
who sings
love songs
with a
beautiful voice
and plays
an instrument
well.
For they
hear your
words,
but they
do not
do them,
but they
do not
put them
into practice.
It's how
the Old
Testament
finishes,
Malachi

Malachi 1 chapter mention
chapter 1.
A son
honours his
father and
a slave his
master.
If I am a
father,
where is the
honour due
to me?
If I am a
master,
where is the
respect due
to me?
And right
here we
have,
why do you
call me
Lord,
Lord,
and do not
do what I
say?
obedience is
critical.
This is not
an easy
believism.
This is
Jesus coming
into your
life to be
Lord of
your life,
to turn it
upside down
from the
inside out
and to make
you stick
out like a
healthy thumb
in a
fallen world.
Jesus doesn't
want your
endorsement,
he doesn't
want your
vote,
he's not
after a
subscription
fee,
he is not
looking for
more fans.
Jesus wants
your obedience,
he wants
you to be
so mastered
by his
grace,
so responsive
to his
words,
so sensitive
to his
spirit,
that your
obedience
becomes your
overarching
desire and
your purest
delight.
One
Lord,
do what
he says.
And Jesus
is the very
personification
of what
obedience
looks like.
He says
things like
this,
my food
is to do
the will
of him
who sent
me and
to finish
his work.
By myself
I can do
nothing.
I judge
only as I
hear and
my judgment
is just,
for I seek
not to
please myself
but him
who sent
me.
I will
not say
much more
to you
now,
for the
prince of
this world
is coming,
he has
no hold
over me,
but he
comes so
that the
world may
learn that
I love
the father
and do
exactly
what my
father has
commanded
me.
The
greatest
phrase to
do with
obedience in
Jesus'
life.
Going a
little further,
he fell with
his face to
the ground
and prayed,
my father,
if it is
possible,
may this
cup be
taken from
me,
yet not
as I
will,
but as
you
will.
Jesus
perfectly
obeys
so that
he can
be our
Lord
and our
saviour.
And now
in loving
response to
all that
he's done
for us,
he says,
call me
Lord,
Lord,
but live
it out
in your
lives.
Or else
there's a
real problem.
There's a
real duplicity
if you say,
Lord,
Lord,
and do
not do
what I
say.
He then
moves on to
illustrate with
probably the
most famous
illustration he
uses.
It's so
famous we
have a
Sunday
school song
with
actions.
And the
key is not
just the
difference between
the two
men,
it is also
the similarities.
Similarities
are this.
They both
hear the
same word.
They both
do.
One is not
more privileged
than the other.
One is not
turned up and
the other
hasn't.
They both
hear the
same word.
they have
access to
the same
message.
And seemingly
they both
build the
same house
from street
level.
It looks
identical,
a standard
two up,
two down.
Retailing
for about
£220,000
in Edinburgh.
It may
even be
neighbours
occupying the
same
cul-de-sac.
And they
both face
the same
storms.
Jesus.
Jesus is
not saying
if you
obey me
it will
be happy
and healthy
and wealthy
for the
rest of
your life.
You both
face the
same
storms.
Building
your life
on Jesus
and obedience
to him
does not
inoculate you
against storms.
The Bible
never promises
a get out of
difficulty
free card
on becoming
a Christian.
It is
clear from
the illustration
that they
both suffer
the same
storm.
Though the
result of
the storm
is radically
different.
And here
are the
differences.
They may
look small
but they
make a
cataclysmic
difference
at the
end.
One,
he hears
and he
obeys.
He hears
and he
puts them
into practice.
And the
other merely
hears.
And then
has a
bout of
spiritual
prosopagnosia.
one hears
and his
determination
is to do
what he
hears
and then
just carries
on
regardless.
And this
plays out
in the
first man
digging
painstaking
foundations,
digging down
deep,
getting right
to the
bedrock,
building his
life on
obedience to
Jesus'
words.
And the
second man
hardly
disturbs the
topsoil.
And you
can imagine
his
neighbors,
every time
somebody goes
past the
second man
there's all
high-fiving
going on.
Look how
quickly you're
building your
house,
it's amazing.
That idiot
next door,
he spends
all of his
time deep
down dark
in a
hole which
is wet
and damp.
Will he
ever finish?
And yet we
all know,
don't we,
the importance
of foundations.
We all know
in all of our
lives the
importance of
building,
not just in
the immediate
but in the
future.
We all know
what it is
to see houses
all washed
away because
they weren't
built properly.
We all know
what it is for
financial forecasting
to invest now
so you can reap
a dividend
then.
We all know
the importance
of foundations
if we ever go
to Italy and
see the Tower
of Pisa
that sits 57
meters high but
only has 3
meter foundations
and that's
why it's
famous for
leaning.
I think if
somebody had
built it
properly no
one would
ever visit
the town
of Pisa.
In stark
contrast the
Shard right
in the middle
of London
310 meters
high the
tourist building
in the UK
and its
foundations
driven down
63 meters.
this man
the first
man
the hearing
and obeying
man
he hears
and with
great
efforts
he digs
down deep
and lays
foundation
on the rock.
They also
have a radically
different view
of the future.
The second
man thinks
oh the bright
sky
the sunny
days
the birds
singing
that will
continue.
He obviously
never lived
in Scotland.
That will
continue.
What's the
point in
weatherproofing
my house
and building
foundations?
It's just
going to be
plain
sailing.
The second
man on the
other hand
he beamed a
storm away.
He knew
that the
storms may
not be seen
on the horizon
but they would
build in a
moment.
and flash
flooding
would
ensue.
And finally
the effect
of the
storm.
Dipolar
opposites.
The storm
rages,
the torrent
comes,
one house
is battered
but stands
firm,
one house
is battered
and is
absolutely
ruined
and completely
destroyed.
The first
man calls
Jesus
Lord,
Lord
Lord and
struggles
hard to
do what
he says
and the
second
man calls
him
Lord,
Lord and
does not
do what
he says.
Now the
imagery of
flooding and
storms can
definitely refer
to bumps
in the road
of this
life.
Tragic
death,
terrifying
diagnosis,
the unexpected
P45
slid across
the desk.
there is
definite
advantage in
building our
lives obedient
to the
Lord Jesus
in this
life alone.
Obedience
to Jesus
doesn't mean
it doesn't
hurt or
that there
isn't fear
but it
does mean
that through
our obedience
to his
call on our
lives there
is eternal
security and
impenetrable
safety in
being a true
disciple of
Jesus.
I've lost
count of how
many times
during the
last seven
years of
this church
when one
thing or
another has
happened and
somebody hasn't
said I
don't know
how I would
have gotten
through it
without the
Lord.
However the
imagery of
flooding in
the Bible is
also consistent
in being about
coming judgment
at the
end.
It's
regularly about
the day of
the Lord and
the judgment
he will bring
to bear on
each of our
lives.
The truth
then contained
in this
illustration is
therefore of
uttermost
importance for
all of us.
There is a
real warning
about coming
and impending
judgment and
the only way
to stand firm
on that day
will be to
have not only
claimed that
Jesus is
Lord,
Lord,
but to have
struggled hard
to obey
his words.
It will be a
terrifying day
to have spent
all your life
saying Lord,
Lord,
and never
caring one
jot about
obeying what
Jesus calls.
The only
reason we
will stand
before God
and not be
judged is
whether we've
not only
confessed Jesus
to be Lord,
but have
worked with
all the
energy God
is able to
provide to
obey what
he says.
Jesus says,
I'm not an
insurance policy,
I'm not just a
savior, I also
want to be Lord
of your life.
This is not
easy believism.
And therefore,
the uncomfortable
question he
asks these
people is the
uncomfortable
question he
asks us.
Not to
condemn,
but to
challenge and
to change.
He says,
be very
careful if
you're calling
me Lord,
Lord,
and not
seeking to
bring every
area of your
life in
obedience to
my command.
A man fell
off a 50
story building
and was
heard by
people on
the 20th
floor to
say,
so far,
so good.
The truth
is,
many of
us think
we're getting
away with
it.
So far,
so good.
I can put
my Sunday
face on,
my Sunday
smile,
I can sing
with vigor.
Jesus says,
be very
careful.
You won't
get away
with it.
I need
to be
Lord and
Savior of
your life.
Build your
life, not
just in
confession upon
me, but
in obedience
to me.
And if
you do
but try,
I will
help, I
will be
honored, and
you will
know eternal
security and
impenetrable
safety for
all eternity.
It's a real
wake-up call.
And so we
finish with
this.
what Peter
says in
his first
letter in
chapter 2,
behold, I
am laying
in Zion a
stone, a
cornerstone
chosen and
precious.
And whoever
builds his
life upon
him will
not be
put to
shame.
Let's just
take a
moment together
of silence
and let's
each of us
consider this
question,
why do you
call me
Lord,
Lord,
and ask
ourselves,
are we
doing what
Jesus asks?
Let's take a
moment of
quiet.
Jesus says
to us,
why do you
call me
Lord,
Lord,
and do
not do
what I
say?
Father God,
we want
Jesus to be
Lord of our
lives.
Father,
we want
to be
faithful,
robust,
and confident
servants.
So we
ask you to
confront us
with our
hypocrisy,
to peel
back the
mask of
duplicity,
to shine
the light
of the
gospel on
the areas
of our
lives that
are not
completely
surrendered to
you.
And we
ask that
you would
transform our
desires to
align them
to yours.
Father God,
help us be
obedient, we
pray.
For we
know you
do not
delight in
burnt
offerings of
external ritual
or sacrifices,
you delight
much more
in our
obedience.
In your
sight,
obedience is
better than
sacrifice,
and hearing
and doing
better than
the fat of
rams.
Father,
help us
build our
lives on
Jesus Christ
by hearing
and doing
his word,
we pray.
Amen.
Amen.