International Gospel Hour

Jeff Archey: I've loved this little song with children many, many times about the wise man who built his house upon the rock. While I am not singing today, friends, I'd love to study it with you. That's the wise man and the foolish man next from the International Gospel Hour.

Jay Webb: Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Thank you always to our Jay Webb and greetings and hello everyone. It's great having you with us today for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. Listening to little children sing is a joy and a pleasure. When they know the song, how they can sing out. I suppose one of the earlier songs children learn at church is what I mentioned earlier from the parable of the wise man and foolish man, and sometimes it's called the Two Builders.

Jesus used parables often in his teaching. Simple illustrations of everyday life so people could learn the wonderful truths of God. The meaning is to throw alongside of for learning and application. Maybe you've heard them referred to as earthly stories with heavenly meanings. Let's get right to the parable from Matthew 7:24 through 27.

Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it fell, and great was its fall.

Dear friends, that's our study today. We'll be back in just a moment, but first, about a 30-second break about our television product of the International Gospel Hour.

Jay Webb: Did you know that you can see the International Gospel Hour on YouTube now? Go to YouTube, type International Gospel Hour in the search window, and once you're there, subscribe. It's free. Then click on the bell and you'll be notified each time a program is uploaded. View International Gospel Hour TV on YouTube today.

Jeff Archey: Friends, again, we hope you will view us on our YouTube channel at International Gospel Hour. Thank you for tuning in. Thank you for listening today and let's talk about those two builders, the wise man and the foolish man. When you think about the similarities of the wise and the foolish, they both heard. They both heard the right words, the same message. Their difference was their response. One did and one did not.

That one difference of not doing resulted tragically. One house stood firm, one house did not. And those that do the will of the Father will enter into the kingdom of heaven. That's the teaching going back to Matthew 7 and verse 21. Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. And then Jesus went on to teach of this parable that we must hear and we must do. In James 1 and verse 22, be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Maybe our challenges and the problems we face in this life are coming forth because we are simply failing to do what God has said. Friends, I hope that we will resolve to change that attitude today. Let's build our lives God's way, not only hearing but doing what he says. Let's notice, although two builders, let's notice the emphasis of one foundation. I go to Luke's account of the wise man and the foolish man in Luke 6:47 through 49.

Jesus said, "Whoever comes to me and hears my sayings and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently and immediately it fell and the ruin of that house was great."

That rock and foundation, friends, would be Jesus Christ. For one can and must build on his words. What does Jesus say that we need to do? Isaiah prophesied of him in Isaiah 28:16. Therefore thus says the Lord God, "Behold I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. Whoever believes will not act hastily."

And then we learn when we get into Ephesians chapter 2 verses 19 and 20. Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. He's telling these Christians in Ephesus, those Jews that came out of Judaism, those Gentiles that came out of a heathen way of living, you're no more strangers and foreigners. You're fellow citizens and you heard and did and built your life upon Christ.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." A homebuilder will tell you the importance of a foundation. If it's not on a solid foundation, the structure is subject to move. It's unstable. It's treacherous and those are signs of dangers. The foundation that is Christ will never shift on us. He is there. He remains solid. He grants stability to lives that need it.

He will help us through the treacherous storming moments. His word in our lives roots us deeply and we grow up in him. And all one needs to do is to hear and obey to build on him. With that being said, then we find one test. 1 Corinthians 3:13 says each one's work will become clear for the day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test everyone's work of what sort it is.

Both these builders were subject to the same trials and as we've noted as with a storm, trials and tests come in every direction. Think about Satan's declaration to God about the life and faith of Job. He said, "But now stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will surely curse you to your face." Job 1:11. But as in the life of Job, we know that God is in control with our lives if we will but let him. But yes, Satan will bring the trials and troubles upon us.

Recall Paul's thorn in the flesh of 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 7. Remember it was called the messenger of Satan. So we must be ready for the tests that are ahead or maybe the tests that we are facing. What will get one through the test within life, the storms, the challenges, when one builds on the foundation who is Jesus Christ?

Friends, from one test, we see two results in this parable. A clear difference because one fails to hear and do, hear and apply, one will crash. You can guarantee it. Sometimes we wonder why our problems overwhelm and crash us. But are we applying what God has given and granted? I can recall a number of years ago in conversation with someone whose life was having a multitude of struggles, a lot of problems, and I looked at them and I said, "When you were in the church, when you were faithful and doing, you were able to work through these things. Now look at you. You're the one that's moved, not God."

Let's think about some passages along this line. Are we applying what God has given and granted? In Luke 11:28, "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it." What about the latter part of John 13:17? "Happy are you if you do them." 1 John 2:17, "He that doeth the will of God abideth forever." And then 1 Peter 2 and verse 6, which was mentioned earlier from Isaiah 28:16. Therefore it is also contained in the scripture, "Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on him will by no means be put to shame."

Which builder are we? Are we on the foundation of Christ or are we finding the storms taking us down? God has given his son Jesus to die for us and to be saved from sin and to deal with those struggles. I'm going to defer to our Jay Webb. We've got an awesome Bible study by mail that we offer called God and Man and Jay's going to tell you a little bit more about it. It's going to take a little time because of the information, but bear with us. It's a great study and we want to send it to you free.

Jay Webb: An additional Bible study by mail is now available from International Gospel Hour. It's titled God and Man: How to be Saved from Sin. This study booklet addresses a number of questions about the salvation from God to man and friends, like all materials, it's free. Call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say God and Man.

Or you can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com. Click on the contact tab and leave us the same information: name, address, and type God and Man in the message box. Another Bible study that is free from IGH and our friends at god-and-man.com. That's god-and-man.com. Since you can't see it, let me just spell that out for you: G-O-D-dash-A-N-D-dash-M-A-N-dot-com. We'd love to hear from you.

Jeff Archey: So yes, dear friends, there were two builders, but the emphasis was upon the one foundation and the one test that would come upon them and we saw two different results. We want to make certain that we're building on the house, the foundation of Jesus Christ. What a joy to study this wonderful parable of our Lord from Matthew 7:24 through 27. May we always build upon the rock, Jesus Christ.

We hope that our study of God and Man will be of help to you. We always want to share within our broadcast a tool or more that will help you in your studies. Please reach out to us today and we'll send it to you free. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I'm Jeff Archey, friends, and keep listening.

Jay Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.