Thanks, Rob.
If you need a sheet, if you're taking notes, then they're at the table if you came in.
Feel free to go and get one of them and a pen if you need one as well.
It will help you as you follow along.
Thank you.
And turn in your Bibles, please, to Psalm 1.
Psalm 1.
We will be back in Matthew in just a moment or two, but we're going to read Psalm 1 today.
Let's hear God's word.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever they do, whatever they do prospers.
Not so the wicked.
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the Lord watches over the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Well, let's turn to Matthew's gospel and chapter 7.
We're working our way through this gospel account,
and I hope that you will make connections as we go along through Matthew 7, starting at verse 13.
You'll make connections between Psalm 1 and what we're going to look at together.
We're going to be looking at verses 13 through to 27,
but we're going to pray and ask for God's help.
Father, as we listen to your word, as we meditate upon it and reflect,
we long that your word would travel deep into our hearts
and change us so that we become fruitful,
displaying the beauty and the glory of Christ,
that we would become distinctive and attractive in our lives,
leading others to Jesus.
So would your words do an effective work in our life,
that it would be good for us,
good for each other,
and good for the world in which we live.
Help us now, we pray in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, Jesus is coming to the end of his sermon,
and it's decision time.
It's been a bit of a marathon, quite a long sermon.
If you want to go back to chapter 5, verse 1,
this is where the sermon began.
Remember, Jesus went up a mountain,
he saw the crowds,
and he sat down and his disciples came to him,
and he began to teach them.
So this is where the sermon begins.
And it goes all the way through
to the end of chapter 7,
verse 28,
where it says,
So it's a long-winded message,
long sermon.
Perhaps it took all day,
we're not quite sure.
But his message is crystal clear.
Jesus is God's king
with absolute power and supreme authority.
And he's calling people
to enter into his kingdom
and to live as citizens of the kingdom.
We are to live distinctive and attractive lives
so that others would see our good deeds
and glorify God,
that they too would enter into the kingdom.
And as Jesus comes to the end of his sermon,
as he comes to his conclusion,
we have a decision to make.
Have I entered the kingdom?
Am I living as a citizen of the kingdom?
And to help us make our decision,
Jesus gives four pictures
so that we can be absolutely clear
where we stand.
The first picture
is of two roads,
the choice we face.
I love takeaway nights.
Not only do we have the choice
between Indian,
pizza,
Chinese,
or the chipper,
maybe there's some other ones
out there as well
in Carragalline,
but you know,
each one has about 50 options.
So that's at least
200 different meals
we get to choose from.
And if we don't like it,
well,
you can always go down to Lidl's
and get a steak instead.
We love choice,
don't we?
And the more,
the better.
Except for when it comes to
how we live,
there are only two ways.
Look at verse 13.
Enter through the narrow gate,
for wide is the gate,
and broad is the road
that leads to destruction,
and many enter through it.
But small is the gate,
and narrow the road
that leads to life,
and only a few find it.
It's very simple.
Jesus is crystal clear.
There are only two ways to live,
two roads to walk on.
There's a broad road
with a wide gate
or a wide entrance,
and there's a narrow road
with a small gate
or small entrance.
That's it.
That's your choice.
Two roads.
There's no middle way.
There's no other option.
There's no alternative route.
We haven't arrived
at a crossroads.
It's more like a T-junction.
And you can't be on both roads
at the same time.
You can't, as it were,
have one leg on one road
and one leg on the other road.
It's one or the other.
This is the choice we all face.
Two roads.
The broad road that we're given
is or represents
the way of the world's kingdom.
It's a life that appoints self
as king
and always chooses
what I desire.
The narrow road
represents the way
of God's kingdom.
It's a life that submits
to Jesus as king
and longs to serve
his desires.
Now notice who's on the road
or where the people are.
Verse 13 tells us
that many
are on the broad road.
While in verse 14
only a few
are on the narrow road.
It seems that the broad road,
the road where we appoint
self as king
is the most popular place
to be.
It's the option
that we most like.
After all,
when I'm king
I get to do
and I live my life
the way I want to.
Who wants to walk
the narrow road
which is all about
service
and sacrifice.
Well as we think
about our choice
look at the consequences.
Verse 13
The broad road
leads to
destruction.
But the narrow road
verse 14
leads to
life.
That's why Jesus
calls us
at the very beginning
of his conclusion.
Look at verse 13
Enter
through the narrow gate.
This is what
Jesus has been
urging us to do
all along.
To leave the kingdom
of this world
and enter
the kingdom of heaven.
And how do we
enter?
How do we go through
onto the narrow road?
Well just have a look
back to chapter 4
verse 7.
Sorry,
verse 17.
chapter 4
verse 17.
As Jesus
began his ministry
he had a simple
clear message.
From that time on
Jesus began to
preach
repent
for the kingdom
of heaven
has come near.
It's the same
as chapter 5
verse 3.
Blessed
are the poor
in spirit.
those who
he looks on
in favour
are those
who know
their spiritual
need
that they
need God
for theirs
is the kingdom
of heaven.
He's calling us
to change
roads
to leave
the broad road
and walk
the narrow road.
The popular
path may promise
much
but it will lead
only to distress
and fear.
follow the
path
of Jesus
and it
leads to
life
and hope
and peace.
So the big
question we need
to ask
as we
follow Jesus
in his sermon
is have I
entered
the kingdom?
No one else
can answer that
question
for yourself
only you.
Have I
entered
the kingdom?
am I still
fighting for
my autonomy
wanting to
live my
own life
or have I
surrendered
my all
to Jesus
as my
supreme
authority?
Which road
are you on?
You can't
walk both.
This very
moment
right now
you are either
on one
or the
other.
Two roads.
the choice
that we
face.
The second
picture he
gives us
is one
of two
trees.
The fruit
we display.
It seems
that there
are some
people who
pretend
to be in
the kingdom
of heaven
but are
actually not.
Do you
see how he
describes them
in verse 15?
Watch out
for the
false
prophets
they come
to you
in sheep's
clothing but
inwardly they
are ferocious
wolves.
They have
this appearance
of being
followers of
Jesus.
They sound
like kingdom
people.
They claim
to be walking
on the narrow
road but
they are
wolves in
sheep's
clothing.
They are
not the
real deal.
They subtly
teach that
there are
actually not
two roads
but there
are many
roads that
you can
take and
any one
of them
that you
choose will
lead to
life.
So choose
whichever path
you want.
No, says
Jesus, watch
out, be
careful.
So how do
we know who's
genuine and
who's not?
How can we
tell who is
in the kingdom
of heaven?
Well, look at
verse 16.
By their
fruit you
will recognise
them.
How do you
know the
difference between
a pear tree
and an apple
tree?
Well, they
look pretty
similar, don't
they?
Their leaves
are very
similar but
it's the fruit
that will
distinguish them
which is
exactly Jesus'
point.
He's crystal
clear.
Let's read
from verse
16.
By their
fruit you
will recognise
them.
Do people
pick grapes
from thorn
bushes or
figs from
thistles?
Likewise,
every good
tree bears
good fruit
but a bad
tree bears
bad fruit.
A good
tree cannot
bear bad
fruit and
a bad
tree cannot
bear good
fruit.
Every tree
that does not
bear good
fruit is
cut down
and thrown
into the
fire.
Thus, by
their fruit
you will
recognise
them.
Now here
the kingdom
is pictured
like an
orchard.
An orchard
that's full
of fruit
trees.
But there
are only
two kinds
of tree.
There's a
tree that
produces good
fruit which
represents the
true citizens
of the
kingdom.
They're the
ones that
take seriously
the commands
of God and
the values
of the
kingdom.
And then
there's another
kind of tree
that produces
bad fruit and
represents the
false citizens
of the kingdom.
They live by
their own
standards and
pursue their
own desires.
Therefore,
the fruit
that is on
display is
the evidence
of whether
you are a
true citizen
or a
false
citizen.
The issue
isn't
is there
fruit
because we
all display
fruit.
The issue
is what
kind of
fruit are we
displaying.
The kind
of fruit that
we should
expect to
see on
display is
the life
that Jesus
commands and
demands of
us.
if we
had time
to read
all of
Jesus'
sermon,
he would
have reminded
us of
things like
this.
This is the
kind of
fruit that
we be
non-judgmental,
not looking
down at
other people,
not looking
for the
speck in
somebody else's
eye,
taking the
plank out of
our own
eye.
That we're
ruthless with
sin, that
we cut it
out, that
we are
faithful in
our marriages,
that we're
true to
our word,
that what
we say is
our yes
and what
we say
is no
is no.
That there
would be
extravagant
love for
others, that
there would
be generosity
in giving
to the
needy, that
we wouldn't
be holding
grudges, and
that we are
generous to
those we
consider to
be against
us.
Chapter
7, verse
12 captures
it well
for us.
So in
everything you
do, do
to others
what you
would have
them do
to you, for
this sums
up the
law and
the
prophets.
You want
a summary
of what
all God's
commands are
all about?
Love
others the
way you
would want
to be
loved.
Treat others
the way you
want to be
treated.
That's it,
fruit in a
nutshell.
This is the
kind of fruit
that is good
that should be
on display.
Now again,
notice in
verse 18 that
there are no
mixed trees
producing mixed
fruits.
Verse 18,
a good tree
cannot bear
bad fruit,
and a bad
tree cannot
bear good
fruit.
Now this
isn't talking
about being
perfect,
it's talking
about people
who humbly
see their
need of
God and
are depending
upon God
to do a
work in
their life
so that
they will
produce
good fruit.
But those
who are
proud and
depend on
self and
carry on
their life
going their
own way
will only
ever produce
bad fruit.
And sooner
or later
there's going
to be a
harvest.
When the
fruit will
be picked
and it
will become
evident to
all and
the trees
that do
not belong
to the
kingdom will
be exposed,
there will
be no
hiding.
Look at
verse 19,
every tree
that does
not bear
good fruit
is cut
down and
thrown into
the fire.
So the
big question
we need to
be asking
here is
this,
can I
see
evidence
of good
fruit?
Am I
practically
serving in
the life
of the
church?
Am I
other
centred or
have I
become
self
absorbed?
What
kind of
tree are
you?
Only
you can
really answer
that.
We can't
be both,
we can't
be kind
of a
half a
good tree
and half
a bad
tree,
it's
either good
fruit or
bad fruit.
Two
trees,
the fruit
we display.
The third
picture that
Jesus gives
us is one
of two
claims,
the priorities
we have.
as he
comes towards
the end
of his
sermon,
he gets
very
personal
and up
front.
And we're
to imagine
ourselves
standing
before Jesus
on the
last day.
Here we
are,
picture
yourself
standing at
the entrance
to the
kingdom.
Are we
going to
enter into
that eternal
kingdom?
What are we
going to
say to
Jesus?
Well, let's
read verse
21.
Not
everyone who
says to
me,
Lord,
will enter
the kingdom
of heaven,
but only
the one who
does the
will of
my Father
who is
in heaven.
Many
will say
to me
on that
day,
Lord,
did we
not
prophesy
in your
name and
in your
name drive
out demons
and in
your name
perform
many
miracles?
Then I
will tell
them
plainly,
I never
knew you.
Away from
me,
you
evildoers.
Once
again,
we're
presented
with two
kinds of
people.
The first
person
claims to
know God,
but it
is actually
excluded and
shut out
from the
kingdom.
Jesus
says,
away from
me,
I never
knew you.
Now,
at first
reading,
it seems
terribly
unfair,
because this
person seems
to be
sincere.
Lord,
it's a
recognition
that Jesus
is king,
that he
does have
all authority.
Lord,
you're the
one who's
in charge.
And they
seem to
have done
some very
spectacular
things in
their ministry
life as
well,
haven't
they?
Verse
22,
we
prophesied
in your
name,
we drove
out demons
in your
name,
we performed
miracles in
your name.
I mean,
look at all
that we've
done.
Surely,
they must
be a
disciple.
If anybody's
going to be
a disciple,
it must be
one of
these people.
They seem
to be
genuine,
enthusiastic,
and have
served well.
But yet,
Jesus said,
I never
knew you,
they're
excluded.
Why?
Why have
they been
shut out?
Well,
when we
look at
the second
person,
they also
claim to
know God,
they also
acknowledge
Jesus as
Lord,
but here's
the difference.
Did you
pick it up
at the end
of verse
21?
Only the
one who
does the
will of
my Father
who is
in heaven.
only the
one who
does the
will of
my Father
in heaven
is going
to be
in the
kingdom.
Their
priorities
are
God's
priorities.
Imagine
yourself
right now
standing
at the
entrance to
the kingdom
before
Jesus.
Lord,
I was
such a
regular
attender
at that
church,
Carigoline
Baptist
Church.
I sang
songs so
enthusiastically.
I don't
think any
time I was
ever there
that I
ever did
not take
communion.
And when
I was in
that church,
I served
well.
I was on
the rota
Lord.
And in
my ministry
life,
I even
led
somebody
to the
Lord.
No,
Jesus
isn't
impressed
by our
words
or our
lists.
The real
issue that
he'll keep
coming back
to is,
did you
do the
will of
the
Father?
You see,
doing the
Father's
will is
not a
once a
week event
or a
duty to
tick off
on my
to-do list.
That's it
done.
That's that
compartment
dealt with.
The
Father's
will is
to be
done
every
moment
of every
day.
Remember
how Jesus
taught us
to pray.
Have a
look back
at chapter
six.
Chapter
six and
verse nine.
This
then is
how you
should
pray.
Our
Father in
heaven,
hallowed be
your name.
Your
kingdom
come,
your
will be
done
on earth
as it
is in
heaven.
Not
my will,
not my
standard,
not what
I think
is enough
or suitable.
Your
will be
done on
earth as
it is in
heaven.
It's a
whole life
of prioritising
and pursuing
what God
wants.
It's daily
submitting and
surrendering to
his will.
It's a
wholehearted
commitment to
see his
rule over
every area
of my
life.
Christianity
is not a
social club
where we
meet up
once a
week,
put our
names on
a road
to help
out our
duty to
perform.
It demands
our life,
my all.
Chapter
6,
verse 33,
seek
first
his
kingdom.
It's
challenging,
isn't it?
When you
say,
yes,
I get
all of
that,
but what
about
grace?
grace.
I
thought
getting
into the
kingdom
was all
about what
Jesus has
done for
me,
not what
I do.
And yes,
you've got
it right.
That's true.
It's all
of grace.
My performance
counts for
nothing.
There's nothing
I can say to
Jesus,
look at what
I did,
that will
mean that
he has to
accept me.
It's all
of grace.
grace.
However,
if I
have
experienced
grace,
it will
be seen
and expressed
in prioritizing
the kingdom
of God,
his will
being done
in my
life.
An
experience
of grace
will always
lead to
a life
of
obedience.
We
sang about
amazing
grace,
but amazing
grace changes
us and
transforms
us.
So the
big question
we need to
be asking
is this,
do I
obey God's
will?
We all
know what
God's
will is.
I'm sure
many of us
here could
write a
wonderful
essay.
We could
even teach
people,
this is
what God
desires.
And maybe
some of us
here can
look back
in history
to our
past life
and pinpoint
examples
and say,
I did
God's
will.
But it's
not about
what we
know or
even what
we did.
It's am I
humbly
reordering
my life
around his
values
today?
Am I
doing what
I claim
to be?
two claims
the priorities
we have.
The fourth
picture that
Jesus gives
us
is of
two houses
the way
we build.
how are
we going
to respond
to Jesus
teaching?
I mean,
it's hard
to avoid
it.
I don't
know about
you,
but it's
hitting me
between the
eyes
anyway.
What we
do with
the words
of Jesus
is like
building a
house.
Let's read
together
verse 24.
Therefore,
conclusion,
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
foundations
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,
the winds
blew,
and beat
against that
house,
and it
fell with
a great
crush.
Again,
the picture
is clear
and simple,
isn't it?
But here's
what it does
do.
It reveals
our eternal
destiny.
first we
have this
house built
on a
foundation
of rock.
This
building
project
represents
the person
who hears
the word
and obeys
the word.
And then
we have
another house
which is
built on
a foundation
of sand.
And this
building
project
represents
the person
who also
hears the
word,
but does
nothing about
it.
you see,
each one
of us
here,
all of
us,
we're all
building a
house.
And from
the outside
and from
our perspective,
they all
look identical.
Above
ground,
they're exactly
the same.
The house
is all the
same.
We're all
hearing the
word together.
But there's
a crucial
difference
that will
determine
whether the
house stands
strong or
falls with
a crush.
and that's
the foundation.
The foundation
is not
the word
and the
foundation
is not
even Jesus,
not in
this context.
The foundation
is putting
the words
of Jesus
into practice.
That's the
foundation.
Look at
verse 24.
Everyone
who hears
these words
of mine
and puts
them into
practice
is like
the wise
man who
built his
house on
the rock.
In other
words,
the foundation
is obeying
the teaching
of Jesus.
You see,
this is the
point of the
whole sermon.
Am I
living a
life of
obedience?
Obedience
is always
evidence of
repentance.
I say I've
repented.
Well,
it will be
expressed in
obedience to
God's word.
I've
experienced
God's
grace in
my life.
Well,
the evidence
of that
will be
obedience.
That's
the foundation.
And the
foundation we
have determines
our eternal
destiny.
Jesus tells
us it's like
a flood
that is
coming.
In the
picture here,
the rains
are going
to fall,
the streams
are going
to rise,
the winds
are going
to blow.
It will
test whether
you have
built your
house on
a good
foundation.
It's a
flood of
judgment.
Just as
the flood
came in
the time
of Noah,
so a
final and
ultimate
judgment
will come.
And the
question is,
how will
your house
stand?
You see,
not having
the right
foundation
is like
walking on
the broad
road.
It leads
to destruction.
It's like
a tree
with bad
fruit.
It's going
to be cut
down and
thrown into
the fire.
It's like
making a
claim to
no God,
but being
shut out
and excluded.
Jesus'
words
are serious.
Do you
hear them?
He's
painting a
picture that
is real
and through
it he is
literally
shocking us
into action.
How do you,
how do I
respond to
his word
today?
Because it
determines our
eternal destiny.
it's either
heaven
or it's
hell.
It's
either the
kingdom of
light
or it's
the kingdom
of darkness.
There are
only two
roads.
There's
only two
trees,
two claims,
two houses.
things.
So the
big question
is,
am I
putting
Jesus'
word
into
practice?
Not am I
reading it
through the
week,
but am I
doing what
it actually
says?
It's not
can I
answer all
the questions
about who
did what
and who
Moses was
and who
David was
and what
Jesus did,
but is it
making a
difference
in my
life?
Decision
time.
Let's
pray.
let's
just take
a moment
to reflect
on what
we've
heard.
Let's
just
take a
moment
to reflect
on what
we've
heard.
Father,
we need
your
spirit
to do
a work
in each
of our
life,
to show
us
exactly
what our
hearts are
like,
so that
we run
to you
seeking
your
grace
and your
help.
Asking,
Father,
that you
would change
us and
do a work
in our
life so
that we
produce
fruit,
live lives
of obedience
and prioritize
your values
and your
desires
above
our own
thoughts.
Father,
help us
to walk
in your
way
and help
us that
we might
become
distinctive
and attractive,
displaying the
beauty
and the
glory of
Jesus to
those around
us so
that they
too might
enter the
kingdom
and know
the joy
of a
life with
you.
in
Jesus'
name,
Amen.
We're
going to
sing
a song
that I
hope helps
us to
reflect well
on what
we've
heard today.