Chapel Notes
by Mitch Kruse

Go Wisely
May 13, 2009 [Download PDF]

Panthers:

On what foundation do you make every choice, capture every thought, process every feeling, or offer every prayer? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus painted the picture of a foundation upon which His disciples could build their hearts and lives. Jesus summarized it as building one’s house on the rock (Matt. 7:24-29). He closed the greatest speech ever given with a comparison of two builders—one wise, one foolish, two foundations—one solid, one shifting, and two fates—one eternal, one temporary.

First Jesus described the foundation and fate of the wise builder (Matt. 7:24-25). The foundation of the wise builder was the solid rock of Jesus Christ including His righteousness and message of heart transformation. Jesus said that whoever heard His words and put them into practice was like the man who had built his house on the foundation of the rock (Matt. 7:24; cf. Jas. 1:22-25).

The fate of the wise builder was eternity. Though the storms of life came, the house did not fall because its foundation was on the rock (Matt. 7:25). Everyone in Palestine knew that a house had to be built on the rock (30’ below grade) because storms washed out the veins of sand underlying the topography. Jesus used a construction analogy to describe the wisdom of His teachings compared to the foolishness of that of the Pharisees. Jesus’ words might have alluded to the Jerusalem Temple which was often referred to as the house on the rock.

The foundation of the rock is wisdom. Wisdom is God’s righteousness combined with street smarts. Every foundation has a vertical and a horizontal component. Wisdom resides in the sweet spot where the vertical (God’s righteousness) intersects with the horizontal (street smarts). Jesus Christ is the ultimate embodiment of the vertical (fully God) intersecting with the horizontal (fully man). The wise builder hears Jesus’ words (vertically) and does them (horizontally).

The Jews’ ultimate name for God was Wisdom. Paul defined the wisdom of God not as a principle, but as a person—Christ (1 Cor. 1:24). He went on to define Christ as the only foundation (1 Cor. 3:11). This was not a new idea. Proverbs, the book of wisdom, described the pre-incarnate Christ as the wisdom of God (Prov. 8:22-31). Solomon continued saying that a successful house is built on the foundation of wisdom (Prov. 24:3). His message of heart transformation is the foundation for a wise life. Jesus told Peter that He would build His church on the rock (Matt. 16:18). Peter knew that Jesus was referring to Himself and that we would build our lives on His (1 Peter 2:4-5).

Second, Jesus described the foundation and fate of the foolish builder (Matt. 7:26-27). The foundation of the foolish builder was the shifting sand of man-made righteousness. The foolish builder heard Jesus’ words and ignored them (Matt. 7:26). The Pharisees had hijacked God’s Temple forcing on His people their 1,500 rules and regulations for their own profit. Thus, the foolish builder heard Jesus’ words of heart transformation and did not put them into practice, choosing religion over a relationship with God.

The fate of the foolish builder was temporary. The storms of life came and the house fell with a loud crash because its foundation was built on the shifting sand of man-made righteousness (Matt. 7:27). In 70 AD, the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (the house on the rock) fell with a loud crash. Many believe that Jesus had predicted this demise (Matt. 24:2). The body of each believer is the temple of the Spirit of Christ (1 Cor. 6:19). The advancement of the kingdom of God occurs through His Spirit breaking through each living temple whose heart fully surrenders to Christ.

Each of us is a builder—either wise or foolish. Each of us builds his life on something—either the solid rock of Christ or the shifting sand of man-made righteousness. Each of us builds a destiny—either eternal or temporary. This week, make every choice, capture every thought, process every feeling, and offer every prayer in Christ. Choose His will (Lk. 22:42). Capture every thought, and make it obedient to Him (2 Cor. 10:5). Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Pray in His name (Phil. 4:6-7; John 14:13-14).

Built on the Rock,
Mitch

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Go With Discretion
May 6, 2009 [Download PDF]

Panthers:

Have you ever entrusted yourself to a mentor who wanted you to be more oriented toward man-made rules than relationships? Rather than base his advice on the teachings of Christ and the counsel of the Bible, he develops his own personal potpourri of teachings. Describing two trees, Jesus addressed this dichotomy in the Sermon on the Mount when He taught His disciples how to go to their teachers and leaders (Matt. 7:15-23).

First, discern: the fruit is determined by the root (Matt. 7:15-20). Jesus warned His audience to watch out for false prophets who led others away from God (Matt. 7:15; cf. Deut. 13:1-18). Many had surfaced on the scene during Jesus’ day. They pretended to be good on the outside, but they were evil on the inside.

Jesus said that false prophets could be recognized by their fruit, or what their lives produced (Matt. 7:16, 20). Disciples of Christ humbly led people to God (Prov. 11:30). False prophets led others away from God. Being fruitful in multiplying the heart of God in others was the Creator’s original idea (Gen. 1:28). Jesus said that the fruit is determined by the root (cf. Ps. 1). The root is either the sinful nature or the Spirit of Christ.

Paul said that the fruit of the sinful nature were obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like (Gal. 5:19-21). However, the fruit of the Spirit of Christ is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Ga. 5:22-23).

Do you have a mentor in your life sowing hatred over love, rage over joy, and discord over peace? Rather than being condemning (viewing him as all bad for one spoiled fruit) or careless (seeing him as all good despite a bushel of spoiled fruit), be discerning. Separate the outside from the inside and examine his fruit—what he produces in his life—recognizing that his fruit is determined by his root.

Second, disciple: intimacy with the Root produces His fruit (Matt. 7:21-23). Jesus said that only those who do the will of His Father will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 7:21). On judgment day, He will tell false prophets plainly, “I never knew you” (Matt. 7:23). Know means “to experience intimately.” The one who does the will of God is the one who has intimacy with Him. We find intimacy with God in Christ (John 15:1-17). He is the Root (Rev. 5:5; 22:16). The fruit He produces includes seeds that produce more fruit when they are planted in fertile soil. Thus, the fruit is another disciple who discerns and disciples with the heart of Christ.

This week, conduct a fruit inspection. Ask, “Am I a false prophet, or do I have one in my life?” First, discern that the fruit is determined by the root. The root of sinful nature produces hatred, rage, and discord. The root of the Spirit produces love, joy, and peace. Second, disciple another fruit-bearer, recognizing that intimacy with the Root produces His fruit. In order to do this, nourish your roots by reading the Bible (the same passage each day for a week), serving (those who fit in your agenda and those who don’t), and praying (for every detail in your life). Then you will be energized to nourish the roots of another.

Fruitful in Christ,
Mitch

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