Video #13 - Are You A Wise Man?

Matthew 7:24-27 says this: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Notice the comparisons between the two builders in our text.  First, they both shared a dream. 

• They both had the same goal ...  build a house (build a good life worth living, a life that is significant and will leave a lasting legacy).  What a vision!

Now think about this:  No matter where you are in life, you are building as well.  Whether you’re just beginning or have been at it for years, every moment of every day – through every thought, every word, and every action - you are building your life.  The question is: of what quality are the materials you’re using (1 Cor. 3:12-15)?

Now let’s consider the second comparison between these two builders.  They were building their homes in the same neighborhood.  They probably lived next door to each other.

• You see, they were both affected by the exact same storm at the same time.
• Jesus describes the storm precisely the same for both builders.
• The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against their house.

Again, no matter where you are in your building project, you too are going to face storms in life.  Every one of us is affected by the same storms.

• We get rained on.
• We encounter those small, pesky, annoying drops of temptation that can quickly add up and drench us.

We get flooded.

• When we don’t deal with our sins, they begin to back up and build up in our life.
• The damaging effects of those sins begin to erode away at the life we’re trying to build.
• Just like flood waters, they sit there weighing heavy on us, leaving filthy gunk that clogs everything up and stops our ability to grow in Christ.

Finally, the winds slam into each of us.

• There are times when you will be blindsided by temptation.
• Sexual desire will blast you - seemingly out of nowhere - and push hard, trying to take you down.

The fact is, life isn’t always sunshine.  It doesn’t matter who you are, or where you are spiritually – the storms of temptation will come.  In fact, many times you’ll get hit by rain and flooding and winds all at the same time. 

So, don’t be surprised when you face sexual temptation.  Stand firm on the Rock, and though the storm may hit you full-force; though it may feel like you can’t bear up under it, because you’ve been building your life on Christ – you will not fall!

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About Steve Etner
Steve Etner is a National Men’s Speaker, Author and Purity Coach (www.thepuritycoach.com). He has authored many books, including “Extreme Mind Makeover: How to Transform Sinful Habits into God-Pleasing Patterns of Life”; “The Pure Man’s Devotional Guide: A Biblical Toolbox for Purity”; and “Are You A Super Man? Becoming God’s Man of Steel.” 

Steve’s conferences, seminars and retreats focus on what God has to say about the way we think and the impact it has on our behavior. By teaching men how to live in moral purity by equipping them with Biblical answers, Steve’s goal is for men to have a re-ignited passion for Jesus and learn how to prepare their minds to successfully overcome their temptations and thus live pure lives for Christ.