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The Leaning Tower of Pisa was started in 1173 and began to sink after the construction of the third floor, about 35 feet high.  The Tower is 117 feet tall and stands 17 feet off from perpendicular.

The Tower leans because the ground it sits on is too soft to support the weight of the tower. Usually when a building that big and heavy is put on soft ground it's built on special supports called pilings that reach all the way down to the solid rock underneath the dirt. Unfortunately, the supports used for the Tower didn't go deep enough, and the earth under the tower is slowly giving way and slowly flowing out from under it, like setting a heavy vase on top of an open tube of toothpaste.
You would have thought that after building only 35 feet when the first subsidence started they wouldn't continue for another 82 feet would they. But they did.

Jesus words are at the end of what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. He compares two groups. Each group hears the words of Jesus. The foolish ones hear them, but do not act on them. This failure to act may be from the work of the devil, a lack of understanding, a shallowness of faith, trouble, persecution, worry or wealth (13:18-22).
I wonder what foundation our lives are built on today?

Riches, some people seek security and pleasure in wealth. But this does not satisfy. Jesus said that wealth makes it difficult to trust in God.

Religion. In verses 22 & 23 Jesus warned about people who claimed to be religious but do not know him, so that is not the right foundation.

Pleasure, we live in a hedonistic world but our goal should be less selfish. Jesus said we should love God and love other people before ourselves. He himself came "not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" ( Mk. 10:45 ).

Prestige and popularity, seeking the approval of others. Everyone wants to be popular. Perhaps at work or school, at home, in our local community. Maybe we might be tempted to make compromises in the way we behave to be accepted. But Jesus said we should seek to please God by obeying Him, verse 21.

Power. Some people strive for power but, when they achieve it it fails to satisfy. God gives every follower of Jesus the source of unlimited power, God the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives believers the power to live for Jesus, to live life like Jesus, and to minister for Jesus.

Family, we put them before everything else. Whilst the Bible teaches that we should love and care for our families Jesus taught that they shouldn't get in the way of our relationship with Him. Indeed following Him brings people into His world-wide family.

Ask yourself now. What is the most important thing in my life?
What do I put most of my time, energy and devotion towards?
What is my relationship with Jesus?

In the introduction to "Foundations and Concrete Work" editor Kevin Ireton writes; "Foundation work is not the glamorous side of home building. It is hard, dirty work. But it's also the work upon which all other work rests, and so a good foundation is critical to every home," .
The wise person is one who puts Jesus' words into practice. This is not glamorous, it is hard work. He or she is focused, single minded, totally committed. Wisdom in the Bible is linked to hearing and obeying the will of God. It challenges us to ensure that we hear and put into practice the words of Jesus. Are we single-minded enough in our relationship with him?

This is the end of the Sermon on the Mount. At the beginning Jesus said to his followers:
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.
5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.
5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God."

To come into a right relationship with Jesus and to obey God's perfect will for our lives we need to mourn our spiritual poverty;
come humbly to God for His undeserved forgiveness through Jesus' death for us on the cross

earnest desire to follow God's ways

be gracious to people because God has been so gracious to us

be wholeheartedly committed to God which includes moral purity

Jesus makes it clear that admission to God's kingdom is based on people's relationship with him.
22 Many will say to me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Some false followers will call Jesus "Lord". An intellectual assent of who Jesus is does not make someone a true follower. In Jesus day the term "lord" was a respectful one like "Sir" that might be used of a teacher. The false followers that Jesus refers to will not only call Jesus "Lord" but claim to have ministered in His name. Yet they are rejected by Jesus. It is a stark challenge to everyone, including those who minister in Jesus' name, that service alone will not result in admission into God's kingdom.

Jesus is pointing to the need for people to have a personal relationship with him evidenced by obedience to God's will. We can have a relationship with Him today because He is alive. We can have a personal relationship with Him through the work of the Holy Spirit who shows us that we fall short of God's perfect will for our lives.

Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had reinterpreted the Old Testament Law. He said being angry with someone is like murdering them, that looking at a woman lustfully is like committing adultery, and that enemies are to be loved, not hated.
Jesus' teaching exposes our failures and our need for someone to put us right with God. We fail to love God with our whole being all of the time. We fail to love other people as ourselves. These failures separate us from God. They spoil our relationship with Him.
Jesus, however, always followed God's perfect will. This led to him being unjustly sentenced to death and, on the cross he was separated from God because he voluntarily took upon himself the punishment for the sin of the world. The resurrection of Jesus showed God's acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice. It showed the way to God had been opened to those who die to their old life and live for God, who become united with Jesus

Behind these words of Jesus is the teaching that He, and He alone, has the power to determine whether or not a person will be admitted into God's kingdom. He refers to "that day", verse 22, the day of judgement when everyone will be called to account to Jesus for how they have lived their life. This is one of the functions of the Messiah whom the Jews were looking forward to.

To come into God's kingdom we have to know and acknowledge the King, Jesus. We have to come under His teaching...

Jesus promised enduring stability to those who know and obey him. Like a house carefully built on rock that will not be moved by torrential rains and strong winds.

What are we building our lives upon?

A soil extraction programme has started underneath the Leaning Tower of  Pisa. Tiny holes are drilled into the earth opposite the lean and this results in the tower starting to straighten. It is planned to reduce the inclination by a half a degree, or about half a meter at the top. This would add at least 300 years to the life of the tower.

It is never too late to change! Something can still be done to repair us and bring us upright again in God's sight. Rather than extending our lives for 300 years they can extend for ever. We can have a relationship with Jesus starting today, continuing into eternity. We just have to realise that we have been building our life on the wrong foundations. We need to say sorry to God and want to make a new start. We need to ask Jesus for his forgiveness, secured for us by his death and resurrection. And we need to ask God to come into our lives and help us to live for him.

Baby Abbie has begun her journey with Jesus when we baptised her earlier in the service. Anyone can start their journey with Jesus today, with a simple prayer. And, if anyone wants to say this prayer and has not been baptised, then I'll baptize you today, too!
If we build our life on the rock that is Jesus he will bring us security while everything is in turmoil around us. We can have a right relationship with Him that starts in this life and blossoms into eternity.

I'm going to say a prayer for people who want to take that step. If you want to, there will be the opportunity for you to say each line after me silently in your head to God.

Lord God,
I am sorry that I have been building my life on wrong foundations.
Thank you for sending Jesus to take the punishment for my wrongdoing.
Thank you that he rose again to give eternal life.
Gratefully I give control of my life to you.
Please give me your Spirit to live within me,
So that I may know and obey you into eternity,
Amen.

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Matthew 7:21-27

 

"Jesus is Lord." What do we mean by that saying? In Jesus day the term "lord" was a respectful one like "Sir" that might be used of a teacher. After the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the word Lord became associated with worship of and devotion to Jesus, recognizing His deity.

Immediately before today's reading Jesus had warned his disciples about false prophets, people who claim to speak the words of God. He said that false prophets will produce bad fruit. This contrasts with the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Jesus them turns his attention to false followers. Some false followers will merely call Jesus "Lord". An intellectual assent of who Jesus is does not make someone a true follower. The false followers that Jesus refers to will not only call Jesus "Lord" but claim to have ministered in His name. Yet they are rejected by Jesus. It is a stark challenge to everyone, and especially those who minister in Jesus' name, that service will not result in admission into God's kingdom.

What, then makes a true follower? We have two clues...

21 "Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

23 Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The will of God the Father, in this context, is to come into a personal relationship with Jesus the Messiah through repentance and trust in Him. This is the point that Jesus is making.

Behind these words of Jesus is the teaching that He, and He alone, has the power to determine whether or not a person will be admitted into God's kingdom. He refers to "that day", verse 22, the day of judgement when everyone will be called to account to Jesus for how they have lived their life. This is one of the functions of the Messiah whom the Jews were looking forward to.

It is a reminder to us that we are not to judge if someone else is a "true Christian". However, if we do see a fellow believer going against God's will we do have the responsibility to point this out to them to avoid them straying ( 18:15-17, Galatians 6:2).

When Jesus uses the words Away from me, you evildoers!' , verse 23, He quoted from Psalm 6:8. This Psalm is about someone who suffers but is delivered by God. This was fulfilled by Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.

To come into God's kingdom we have to know and acknowledge the King, Jesus. We have to come under His law.

Verses 15-23 contrast those who say one thing but do another. Verses 24-27 contrast

hearing and doing.

Torrential downpours were and are common in Israel. Each house in Jesus' illustration looks secure. However severe testing reveals the true quality of the builders' work. Wise men build to withstand anything.

Jesus compares two groups. Everyone hears the words of Jesus. The foolish ones hear them, but do not act on them. This failure to act may be from the work of the devil, a lack of understanding, a shallowness of faith, trouble, persecution, worry or wealth (13:18-22).

The wise person is one who puts Jesus' words into practice. He or she is focused, single minded, totally committed. Wisdom in the Bible is linked to hearing and obeying the will of God. Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

What does this passage have to say to us today?

It challenges us to ensure that we hear and put into practice the words of Jesus. Are we single-minded enough in our relationship with him? One of the ways we can develop our relationship is through prayer and this Sunday is the deadline for applications for the Week of Accompanied Prayer in January. We have some pink application forms near the entrance. If you have any queries, please speak to me.

Secondly, are we aware of people, perhaps even those would all themselves a "Christian", who need to hear and put into practice the words of Jesus? To enter into a personal relationship with Him. We can pray for them, using the prayer book marks. We can invite people to church, perhaps to one of the events on the bookmarks. We can also invite people to the Alpha Course starting in January. Invitation cards for this are available after the service.

The reformer John Hus was a man who believed the Bible to be the infallible and supreme authority in all matters. He died at the stake for that belief in Constance, Germany, on his forty-second birthday. As he refused a final plea to renounce his faith, Hus's last words were, "What I taught with my lips, I seal with my blood."