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We have designated this year at Christ Church as "2025 a Year Filled with Faith. This is the manuscript of the sermon preached just a few days after the devastating wildfires in and around Los Angeles.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)
The rock that Jesus is referring to is our faith in Him and His Word. When we build our lives on the solid foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, we are able to withstand the storms of life, including this and other disasters natural or manmade. Our faith is not just a feeling or an emotion, but a confident trust in God's goodness, love, and sovereignty.
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance, the conviction, about what we do not see. It is the conviction that God is real, that He loves us, and that He is working everything out for our good.
True faith is not just intellectual assent but active obedience to God's teachings. Those who hear and obey Jesus' words are like the wise builder, while those who only hear but do not obey are like the foolish builder. Our faith is not just a feeling or an emotion, but a confident trust in God's goodness, love, and sovereignty.
Scripture
Hebrews 11:1-12 NIV [1] Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. [2] This is what the ancients were commended for. [3] By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. [4] By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. [5] By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. [6] And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to im must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. [7] By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. [8] By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. [9] By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. [10] For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. [11] And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. [12] And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
Text
Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
In our text today, Jesus teaches us about the importance of building our lives on a solid foundation. He says, “...everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. "
The rock that Jesus is referring to is our faith in Him and His Word. When we build our lives on the solid foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, we are able to withstand the storms of life, including this and other disasters natural or man-made.
True faith is not just intellectual assent but active obedience to God's teachings. Those who hear and obey Jesus' words are like the wise builder, while those who only hear but do not obey are like the foolish builder. Our faith is not just a feeling or an emotion, but a confident trust in God's goodness, love, and sovereignty.
The author of Hebrews defines faith for us in Hebrews 11:1-3.
Hebrews 11:1-3 NIV [1] Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. [2] This is what the ancients were commended for. [3] By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance, the conviction, about what we do not see. It is the conviction that God is real, that He loves us, and that He is working everything out for our good.
Romans 8:28-30 NIV [28] And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [29] For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [30] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Faith isn't blind hope or wishful thinking. It's a confident expectation that God will fulfill His promises. Our assurance comes from knowing God's character and relying on His word.
God is Love:
1 John 4:8: "Whoever does not love has not known God, because God is love."
Romans 8:38-39: "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
God is Merciful and extends Grace:
Exodus 34:6 NIV [6] And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
Psalm 103:8: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love."
God is Holy:
Isaiah 6:3 NIV And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
God is Just and Righteous:
Psalm 89:14: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you."
Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV [4] He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
God is Powerful and Sovereign:
Psalms 93:1 NIV The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Isaiah 40:28 NIV Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
Faith allows us to believe in realities that are not immediately visible. This includes spiritual truths like God's existence, the reality of heaven, the reality of hell, and the power of prayer.
In other words, faith is like having a strong belief in something you can't physically see or prove right now, but you're absolutely sure it's true because of the evidence you have from your own life and the lives of those around you, the lives of those examples we have from scripture and our the trust in the source of our faith who is God.
Faith is not something we generate ourselves. It's not a product of human effort or willpower. Faith is a supernatural work of God. It's a divine gift that enables us to trust in Him and receive His grace.
Faith is a response to God's revelation. God initiates the process by revealing Himself through His Word and His Spirit.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV [8] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— [9] not by works, so that no one can boast.
In Psalm 46:1-3, we read, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."
There is fire all around us but we do not have to fear, because God is our foundation even when we lose material things.
Matthew 6:19-21 NIV says [19] “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Then 1 Timothy 6:6-8 NIV says [6] But godliness with contentment is great gain. [7] For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. [8] But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
Because God is our foundation we can seek eternal treasures rather than fleeting earthly possessions
God is our foundation even when we lose loved ones.
Psalms 34:18-20 NIV
[18] The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. [19] The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; [20] he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
God is near to us in our grief, and He saves us from the depths of our sorrow.
Losing everything can be devastating and shake our foundations. Trusting God in those moments can feel impossible. Here are a few thoughts on how to navigate that:
Acknowledge Your Pain: Don't suppress your emotions. Allow yourself to grieve, to feel anger, fear, and despair.
Remember God's Character
He is Love: His love for you is unwavering and unconditional, regardless of your circumstances. (1 John 4:8)
He is Faithful: He is always true to His promises. (Psalm 37:28)
He is Sovereign: He is in control, even when things seem chaotic. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
Focus on What Remains
Even when you've lost material possessions or relationships, you still have:
Your relationship with God: This is your most valuable possession.
Your identity in Christ: You are a child of God, loved and cherished by Him.
The hope of eternity: This world is temporary, but your eternal hope in Christ is secure.
Practice Gratitude: Look for the small blessings in your life, even in the midst of hardship.
Focus on Service: Serving others can help shift your perspective and bring joy and meaning back into your life.
Trusting God doesn't mean that your suffering will magically disappear. It means surrendering your anxieties and fears to Him, knowing that He is with you and will walk through the valley with you.
Remember:
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1
This verse reminds us that even in times of need, God will provide for us and guide us.
Faith is an Anchor;
Just as an anchor keeps a ship steady in a raging sea, faith provides stability and grounding when life throws us curveballs. It offers a sense of purpose and direction, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart.
Faith provides inner strength and resilience. It empowers us to face challenges with courage and hope, knowing that we are not alone and that God is with us.
Fear of the unknown is a natural human response to chaos and destruction. Faith helps us overcome fear by reminding us of God's sovereignty and promises of protection and guidance.
Jesus himself spoke of building on the rock of his teachings (Matthew 7:24-27). This implies that faith provides a solid and unshakeable foundation for our lives.
A life built on faith can endure the toughest trials and tribulations.
Just as a tree needs strong roots to grow and flourish, our faith provides the necessary foundation for personal growth and spiritual development.
When life throws us curveballs, faith offers a refuge – a place of peace and solace where we can find comfort and strength.
In times of trouble, we can turn to God in prayer and experience His presence and peace.
Psalms 27:5 NIV For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Faith provides hope and meaning in the midst of suffering. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a brighter future.
Philippians 4:4-7 NIV [4] Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [5] Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Our faith is not meant to be kept to ourselves. We are called to share our faith with others, offering them hope and comfort in their times of need.
Our actions should reflect our faith. We should strive to live lives of love, compassion, and service to others, demonstrating the transforming power of God's love.
In a world filled with darkness and despair, our faith can be a beacon of hope, shining brightly for all to see. Faith is an invaluable gift that provides us with strength, stability, and hope in the face of life's challenges. By holding fast to our faith and living it out in our daily lives, we can be a source of light and encouragement to those around us.
In conclusion, our faith in God is the foundation that stands firm in the midst of chaos and destruction. It is the rock that we build our lives on, and it is the refuge that we run to in times of trouble. May we hold fast to our faith, may we trust in God's goodness and love, and may we be a source of hope and comfort to those around us. No matter the circumstances.
"Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your presence in our lives. Be our refuge and strength in this difficult time. Comfort those who mourn, provide for those in need, and give us hope for a brighter future. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen."
