LESSON 6:
PRAYING THROUGH
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
58. Words or actions? (Matthew 7:21)
“Words are cheap”, the saying goes – and it is easy to say things without really meaning them. For example, how often do we sing hymns and choruses in church while our minds are really on other things? We sing them by rote, not out of passion and conviction. How often do we say “Sorry” without really meaning it? Jesus says in this verse that we can even say “Lord! Lord!” and still not enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Why? Because words, without actions, have very little meaning (see James 2:14-26). As Christians, our faith is to be demonstrated – by actions – not only by words!
Pray that:
- We will seriously consider what we say to the Lord in prayer, and what we sing to the Lord in worship, and make sure we really mean what we are saying and singing.
- Our lives will, in fact, demonstrate our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, day by day – at home, at work, with our friends, our neighbours and with new people we meet.
- None of us will cry out “Lord! Lord!” and fail to enter God’s Kingdom.
- People will know we are Christians by our love and our actions as well as our words.
59. False claims (Matthew 7:22-23)
Deception is an awful thing! Jesus said that on the last day many people would claim to have prophesied in His name, and even claim to have cast out devils and performed “miracles” in His name, and yet Jesus will say “I never knew you! Depart from me you evil doers”! Anyone can prophecy in Jesus’ name. Anyone can rebuke demons in Jesus’ name. People can even claim to have done miracles in His name; but Jesus said “You are My disciples if you do whatever I command you”. Jesus’ disciples, His followers, are known by the fruit of obedience to Him. If our ways are wicked, then our claims to do things in His Name will probably be false.
Pray that we will:
- All be true disciples of Jesus by being obedient to the Lord and to His Word.
- Only speak and listen to true prophecies (and be given discernment to know what is truly from God).
- See miracles in Jesus’ name, which bring glory to Him.
- Have the power to bind works of darkness in Jesus’ name and see the enemy flee, because of our faithfulness to the Lord.
60. Build on the Rock! (Matthew 7:24)
Hearing what God says is not enough. Even agreeing with what God says is not enough! You can go to church or read the Bible; you can agree with what you hear … and still do nothing! Hearing, agreeing (and even telling other people what to do!) is not what God wants. Obedience to what God says is the key: we are wise and building on the Rock if we hear and act on what God tells us to do. Actions speak louder than words! Perhaps one of the Church’s faults is that we often tell the general public what they should do instead of so consistently demonstrating our obedience that they see and believe!
Pray that:
- We will hear, agree and do what God has told us.
- We will demonstrate our love for God by our obedience.
- Other people will see Christians as people who live consistent, Godly lives.
- We will know the security that comes with obedience and knowing our lives are built on the Rock.
61. Founded on the Rock (Matthew 7:25)
Every one of us comes across difficult times in our lives. Sometimes they occur because of something which is our fault; but often they are not our fault – in fact we might be doing our best to live Godly lives, helping others and doing those things which are pleasing to God. Storms are a fact of life. Storms will come – upon the just and the unjust. But if our foundation is build on the Rock – on the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word and faith in God – then we can withstand the storms and come through them (perhaps a little wet, but at least still standing!)
Pray that:
- Christians will make sure the very foundation of their lives is, in fact, the Lord.
- We will know that we are only strong, in and through Him.
- We will not lose our faith when things get really tough, but will stand all the more firmly on the Lord and His promises to us.
- People who are not yet Christians will cry out to the Lord for help, in times of need, and will not forsake Him when things are not so tough.
62. Building sand-castles (Matthew 7:26-27)
If we build sand-castles – castles whose foundations are made of sand – they will not withstand the tests of time. The rains, floods and winds will come! You don’t need to live all that long to know that your life, your values, your morals, your faith, etc., will be tested by storms. If you are foolish, you will have chosen sand as your foundation, not the Rock, and the castle will eventually collapse – if not now, at least at the end of your time here on earth. The wise build their house (life) on the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ; the foolish think they can get away with building on the sand, but it won’t last – “and great will be its fall”.
Pray:
- For wisdom – the wisdom to listen to God’s Word and obey it.
- That the teachings of Jesus will be proclaimed with power and conviction.
- That people will fully grasp the meaning and implications of Jesus’ teaching and not just regard Him as a “good” person who taught “some good things” which we “should” obey.
- That God will see you and your family through all the storms and trials of life, without your faith or foundation collapsing.
- That the foundation of your house will always be The Rock, Christ Jesus.
63. Know it! Live it! Teach it! Show it! (Matthew 7:28-29)
When Jesus finished His teaching in the “Sermon on the Mount”, the people were amazed! No-one taught with the authority He did; no-one even taught such things! Moreover, what He said was backed up by the life He lived – which was totally consistent with what He taught. There was no hypocrisy in what He said. Also, these truths actually witness in our spirits as being “right and good” – the Holy Spirit bears witness to the Truth, and even non-Christians generally agree that all these principles are “good” (if only we could live up to them!) What do we need to do with God’s Word? We need to know it, live it, teach it and show it in our lives.
Pray that:
- God will help us to live by the teachings of Christ.
- We will know God’s will and by God’s grace will practice it.
- There will be no hypocrisy in our lives either.
- The words we speak and the lives we live will also be a powerful testimony to other people.
QUESTIONS
1. Why does saying "Lord, Lord" not ensure that we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
2. What else is necessary to ensure that we will enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
3. Do you think that those people who made the claims in Matthew 7:22 were ever true Christians?
4. What does Matthew 7:23 tell us?
5. What is wrong with only hearing (or reading) the words of Jesus?
6. What more is necessary if we are to be wise, not foolish?
In Jesus' illustration in Matthew 7:24-27 ...
7. What does the house represent?
8. What do the rock and sand represent?
9. What do the rain and winds represent?
10. What was so special about Jesus' teaching in His Sermon on the Mount?