Sermon

GROUNDED ON THE WORD OF GOD

( Matt. 7: 24-27)

Alberto R. Tim
Professor of Historical Theology
San Pablo Adventist University Center – Campus 2
Director of the Ellen G. Research Center White (Brazil)

INTRODUCTION

a) One of the best-known medieval architectural works is the Tower of Pisa, in Italy,
which became world famous because of its pronounced inclination. The foundation of
the tower began to be built in August 1173, but the tower itself, as we know it today,
was completed almost 200 years later, due to several interruptions. It has seven regular
floors and an eighth floor with a smaller circumference, which has a bell tower with
several bells. It measures almost 60 meters from the foundation to the top, and weighs
approximately 14,500 tons.

The tower was built on a loose terrain, basically composed of soft clay with some
intermediate layers of sand. During construction the ground already began to give way.
The current inclination (at the beginning of the 21st century) is almost 5.5 degrees in a
southerly direction, making the seventh floor project approximately 4.5 meters above
the first. Many efforts have already been made to prevent the tower from collapsing.
(“La /torre di Pisa: official web site”, http://torre.duomo.pisa.it/index_eng.html , April
2003).

b) Just as the Tower of Pisa runs the risk of falling because it was not built on solid
ground, the spiritual life of many professed Christians will also end up falling because it
is not founded on the Word of God. This aspect is so important that Christ concluded
His famous Sermon on the Mount with the following analogy found in Matthew 7:24-
27: “Whoever therefore hears these words of mine and does them, I will compare him to
a wise man, who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, and the rivers came,
and the winds blew, and beat against that house; and it did not fall, because it was
founded on the rock. But whoever hears these words of mine and does not do them, I
will compare him to a foolish man, who built his house on the sand; and the rain fell,
and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and beat against that house; and he fell, and his
ruin was great.”

c) These words spoken by Christ almost 2,000 years ago are of great importance for us
today, who will have to face the satanic deceptions designed to entangle God's people
before the Second Coming of Christ.

YO. THE GREAT CHALLENGES OF THE END TIME

Christ mentions twice in His analogy the two foundations that “the rain came down, and
the rivers came, and the winds blew, and beat against that house” (Matt. 7: 25, 27).
Satanic strategies to bring us to perdition are described in terms of strong storms
including torrential rains, devastating floods, and raging gales. Divine inspiration warns
us that such storms would intensify in the time of the end.

1. “Every wind of [false] doctrines will blow”

a) The figure of the wind is associated in the Bible both with the work of the
Holy Spirit and with satanic confrontations. In John 3:8 we find the following
statement from Christ: “The wind blows wherever it wishes, and you hear its
sound; but you do not know where it comes from, nor where it is going; “So is
everyone who is born of the Spirit.” But in Ephesians 4:14, Paul warns: “so
that we may no longer be tossing children, carried about by every wind of
doctrine, by the stratagem of men who craftily use the devices of error to
deceive.” The expression in Matthew 7: 25, 27 “the winds blew and beat
against that house,” undoubtedly refers to the destructive action of satanic
agents.

b) Ellen White states, referring to the last days of human history: “The time is
rapidly approaching and there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan,
dressed in angelic clothing, will deceive even the elect. There will be many
gods and many lords. Every wind of doctrines will blow [Eph. 4:14].” (AND.
g. White, Testimonies for the Church , T. 5, p. 80). These winds of false
doctrines would not only be blowing in the world in general, but would
penetrate into the heart of the church itself (see Acts 20: 29), since the satanic
intention is to “deceive even the elect” (Matt. 24: 24).

c) There is a veritable avalanche of false doctrines and personal interpretations

trying to infiltrate the church through personal contacts, private publications
and some pages on the Internet. Many members have succumbed to these
challenges by exposing themselves to such materials without having a deeper
knowledge of biblical doctrines (see Matt. 13: 18-23). In the name of social
democracy and individual freedom, they are venturing into Satan's enchanted
terrain under the theory that they must seek knowledge greater than what they
possess (see Gen. 3: 1-7).

2. “Church members will be tested individually”

a) In the analogy of the two foundations appear the expressions “whoever

then…” and “but whoever…” (Matt. 7: 24, 26). These expressions make it
clear that the process of building on the 'rock' or on the 'sand' is an individual
question that each Christian must decide for himself.

b) Inspiration warns us that church members will be tested individually. They

will be placed in circumstances where they will be forced to bear witness for
the truth. Many will be called to speak before councils and courts, perhaps
separately and alone. They neglected to gain the experience which had helped
them in this emergency, and their soul is burdened with remorse for wasted
 opportunities and neglected privileges.” (AND. g. White, Jewels of the
Testimonies, T2 , p. 164)

c) That being the case, wouldn't this be an opportune time to build our spiritual
house "in God is my strong rock and my refuge" (Ps. 62: 7)? Shouldn't we
seek a deeper knowledge of God's Word today? Shouldn't we better know the
biblical foundation of our distinctive message? Shouldn't we also allow that
knowledge to have a sanctifying influence on our lives (John 17:17)?

3. “Many will turn away from us”

a) Matthew 7:27 says that the house built on the sand, not having a solid
foundation, “fell, and its ruin was great.” Divine inspiration warns us that
“many will turn away from us, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines
of demons… False prophets will arise and deceive many. “Everyone who can
be shaken will be shaken.” (AND. g. White, Evangelism , p. 267)

b) “When the time of testing comes, those who have followed the Word of God
as a rule of conduct will be made known. In summer there is no notable
difference between evergreen trees and those that lose their leaves; but when
the winter winds come, the first remain green while the others lose their
foliage. So it may not be possible at present to distinguish false believers from
true Christians, but the time will soon come when the difference will be
obvious." (AND. g. White, The Great Controversy , p. 660)

c) “To stand for truth and justice when the majority abandons us, to fight the
battles of the Lord when the champions are few, this will be our test. At this
time, we must draw warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their
cowardice, and loyalty from their betrayal.” (AND. g. White, Jewels of the
Testimonies , T2, p. 31)

II. HOW SOLID IS YOUR FOUNDATION?

It is essential that the Seventh-day Adventist Church have its doctrinal identity well defined
to survive the final attacks of the evil one. But that identity will only be effective for us if
each of us individually, as church members, is committed to the Adventist message that
characterizes us.

1. Built on the sand

a) In Matthew 7:26, 27 we are warned: “But whoever hears these words of mine
and does not do them, I will compare him to a foolish man, who built his
house on the sand; and the rain fell, and the rivers came, and the winds blew,
and beat against that house; and he fell, and his ruin was great.”

b) Many professed Christians have obscured their personal commitment to the

Word of God, exposing themselves to the sensualism and mysticism that they
bring to secular literature, secular music, television programs, cinematic arts,
 and the Internet. The art of entertainment and modern communications are so
absorbing us that we no longer have time for our spiritual priorities. Many
will lament before the judgment seat of Christ that they did not have time to
be Christians!

c) It is unfortunate that many church members today are more familiar with soap
opera and sports stars than with the messages of the Lord's prophets! They are
building their spiritual and moral house on the shifting sand of human
ideologies. That house will certainly fall, for they “did not receive the love of
the truth to be saved” (2 Thess. 2: 10).

2. Built on the rock

a) Before presenting the analogy of the two foundations, Christ had stated in
Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the
kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
In Matthew 7:24, 25, Christ added: “Whoever therefore hears these words of
mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house on
the rock. The rain came down, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and
beat against that house; and it did not fall, because it was founded on the
rock.”

b) In 1 Peter 2:1-8 Christ is identified as the “cornerstone” (v.6) and the “rock”
(v. 8) on which we must build our “spiritual house” (v. 5). But the analogy of
the two foundations mentioned in Matthew 7:24-27 conspires against the
popular theory of a spiritual house built solely under a subjective relationship
with Christ, without a more effective commitment to the will of Christ. It is
evident, therefore, that “those who think that it is not important to believe in
doctrine, if they believe in Jesus Christ, are in dangerous territory.” (AND. g.
White, Christ Triumphant , Meditações Matinais 2002, p. 235)

c) Those who actually built their house on the rock are identified in Matthew
7:24 as those who know the teachings of Christ and practice them. This
means that such people have a genuine relationship with Christ and a personal
commitment to the teachings of Christ. This commitment is fundamental,
therefore, according to the prophet Isaiah: “The grass withers, the flower
withers; but the word of our God endures forever” (Isa. 40: 8).

3. What is the foundation?

a) In the book Evangelism , by Ellen White, p. 267, we find the following

statement: “Among the revelations I have received, the one that stands out
strongly is that many will turn away from us, giving heed to seducing spirits
and doctrines of demons. The Lord desires that every soul that claims to
believe the truth have an intelligent knowledge of what that truth is. False
prophets will arise and deceive many. Everything that can be shaken will be
shaken. Shouldn't every person, then, come to understand the reasons for our
faith? Instead of having so many sermons, there must be a deeper searching of
the Word of God, opening the Scriptures, text by text, and searching to find
 the powerful evidence that supports the fundamental doctrines that have
guided us to where we are, on the platform. of eternal truth.”

b) That leads us to investigate: What is the foundation of our spiritual house? Is

it being built on the rock of God's Word or on the shifting sand of human
ideologies? Should we not solidify its foundation, before it collapses before
the storms of false doctrines that are already blowing? Wouldn't now be the
right time to start the solidification process?

c) It is important that we make the decision to commit to the Word of God. But
that commitment only becomes effective if we engage in a specific plan of
systematic study of biblical doctrines.

III. BOOK STUDY SEMINAR IN THIS WE BELIEVE

Our local church (or group) decided to implement a series of studies of Adventist doctrines
that we would like to share with the brothers on this occasion.

1. A seminar for members of the South American Division

a) With the purpose of consolidating the doctrinal knowledge of all segments of

the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brazil, the South American Division
adopted as one of the books of the year 2004 the work entitled In This We
Believe: 27 Biblical Teachings of Seventh-day Adventists .

b) Produced by the Ministerial Association of the General Conference of

Seventh-day Adventists, this work is one of the most complete doctrinal
expositions yet organized by our church.

c) Every Adventist family should purchase at least one copy of the book In This
We Believe or the CD-ROM “In This We Believe” (which also contains a
copy of the full text of the book, in addition to the PowerPoint presentations,
Bible studies and commentaries additions from Adventist pastors and
theologians). In this way, the study will be more beneficial for all of us.

2. Conducting the seminar in our local church (or group)

a) The content of the book In This We Believe will be studied in our church (or
group), in 27 consecutive meetings, starting on the day... (clearly define if the
book will be studied in Sunday services).

b) During the week preceding each meeting, families should read at home the
respective chapter of the book to be studied at the next meeting (announce the
chapter of the book that will be read before the first study meeting).

c) In the cult itself, there will be a recapitulation of the content of the chapter
read, illustrated with Power Point presentations, which will make the study
more pleasant and understandable.
 3. Our personal commitment to participate in this important seminar

a) No Seventh-day Adventist should allow other vested interests to take up the

time that should be devoted to attending this important seminar.

b) If we truly want to be saved, we must get rid of everything that prevents us

from seeking the sanctifying knowledge of the Word of God.

c) Each of us should know why he is an Adventist, “and be prepared to make a

defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with
meekness and reverence” (1 Pet. 3: 15). For this, it is necessary to understand
well the doctrinal foundations of our message.

CONCLUSION

a) Iván Espíndola de Ávila, in his book The Bible along the Road , pp. 92-94, tells
the story of Guillermo McPherson, who was the victim of an explosion at the age
of 17, while working in a mine. Doctors saved his life, but he was left without
arms and completely blind. His great frustration was not being able to read the
Bible anymore, always depending on the good will of others.

But, on one occasion, Guillermo heard the pastor of his church recounting the
experience of a disabled elderly woman who, unable to hold the Bible, kissed her
goodbye. The idea of placing his lips on the Bible made Guillermo think that he
could read the Scriptures again if he only used the tip of his tongue to learn the
Braile method of reading for the blind.

For a long time William touched the raised characters of his Braile Bible with the
tip of his tongue and with his lips, to learn to read. On many occasions the pages
were stained with blood, due to the wounds caused by this unusual reading
method. But, at age 46, he had already read the entire 59-volume Bible for the
Blind four times.

The life of William McPherson reveals an unconditional love of the Scriptures that
should be imitated by all those who are preparing for the return of Jesus.

b) The world we live in is characterized by the globalization of information, in which

the fascination with the visual element is supplanting the theoretical knowledge of
reality. But, as Adventist Christians, we cannot allow the resources of the media
to distance us from the knowledge of God's Word. We must once again be known
as “the people of the Bible.”

c) We have to face the final days of human history grounded in the Word of God
(Isa. 40:8) and with his gaze fixed on Jesus, “the Author and Finisher of faith”
(Heb. 12: 2). May the Lord bless us in that. Amen.