1

Building A Lasting Faith
Matthew 7:24-27; 1 Peter 2:5

Matthew 7:24-27 (King James Version)
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

1 Peter 2:5 (King James Version)
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Philip Yancey defines faith as: "Believing in advance in something that will only seem logical when seen in reverse."

"Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." --Samuel Johnson

2 KINDS OF FAITH:

  1. LIFELESS FAITH
  2. LASTING FAITH
  1. THE FORCES FIGHTING A LASTING FAITH.

Matthew 7:25 (King James Version)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

  1. THE RAIN. descended—from above.
  2. THE FLOODS. came—from below.
  3. THE WIND. winds blew—sweeping across.
  4. the forces beat upon that house—thus from every direction.

and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock—

1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

  1. THE FOUNDATION OF A LASTING FAITH.

Matthew 7:25-26 (King James Version)
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

  1. SHIFTING SAND.
  2. SOLID ROCK.
  1. The FUNCTIONS of a Lasting Faith.

Matthew 7:24 (King James Version)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father

  1. HEARING and LISTENING.
  2. PRACTICE and LIVING.
  1. The FUTILITY of a lifeless Faith.

Matthew 7:27 (King James Version)
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

  1. It’s a FOOLISH Expression That Leads To…
  2. destruction ….and great was the fall of it.