[Us this page for the overhead outline]
Storms
Matthew 7:21-29 (NKJV)
Storms are everywhere…
This Parable Is Also About Surviving Storms…..And has Practical Application Today….
1. The Scripture Tells Us About Storms
In Mark 4 Jesus speaks, “Peace be still” to the storm
Matthew 14:27 (NKJV)
Acts 27:44 (NKJV)
2. Everyone Deals With Storms
Both Houses Experienced Storms…
Matthew 5:45 (NKJV)
The Severity Of The Storm Was The Same.
3. The Support Structure Of The Houses Was Different.
The Wise man built on the rock - STRONG, SURE, & SOLID
The Foolish man built on the sand - SHIFTING; SANDY; & SHAKY
4. Planning Is Required To Survive Storms.
You can’t prepare in the middle of the storm
We Must Be Prepared BEFORE The Storm Comes!
We must be faithful THROUGH the storm
Conclusion: Matthew 7:24 & 25 (NKJV)
[This is my preaching notes]
Storms
Matthew 7:21-29
Matthew 7:21-29 (NKJV)
21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he
who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name,
cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!’
24
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a
wise man who built his house on the rock:
25
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house;
and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a
foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house;
and it fell. And great was its fall.”
28
And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at
His teaching,
29
for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Introduction:
Storms are everywhere…
 For some of us, names like Donna, Mitch, and Andrew, Katrina, and
now Irene bring sad memories.
 Around the world storms are reminding us of the powerfulness of God’s
creation: Asia’s massive tsunami killing more than 200,000, flooding in
South America killing hundreds, typhoons destroying many in Japan.
 Here in Michigan we understand the power of a tornado. Remember
Dundee a couple of years ago, etc.
 Truth is people everywhere understand storms!
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 There is a great parallel between the storms we have witnessed and the
“storms of life” that we go through.
 People of faith have learned to go to the Word in times of crises.
 Our text in Matthew 7 deals with storms:
 Jesus had been teaching at the great “Seminar On The Mount.” I call it
the seminar because Jesus dealt with so many subjects it had to be a
seminar not a “Sermon On The Mount!”
In His discourse that is given in Matthew 5, 6, & 7,
1. Jesus deals with the “B” Attitudes;
2. Believers as Salt and Light;
3. Issues of the Heart including murder, adultery, and oaths;
4. He spoke of loving our enemies;
5. He Gave us the model “Lords Prayer”;
6. He also talked about our treasures, worry and judging others;
7. Near the end he talks about faith and fruits;
8. He closes and wraps it up with the parable o our text declaring that
we should be doers and not only hearers of the Word!
This Parable Is Also About Surviving Storms…..And has Practical
Application Today….
1. The Scripture Tells Us About Storms
A. In Mark 4 Jesus speaks, “Peace be still” to the storm
B. In Matthew 14:27 (NKJV) Jesus came walking on the water in the
middle of the storm saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
C. In Acts 27, all 276 passengers are spared in the storm Euroclydon
 After the swimmers jumped overboard,
 Acts 27:44 (NKJV) says, “ and the rest, some on boards and
some on parts of the ship. And so it was
that they all escaped safely to land.”
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2. Everyone Deals With Storms
A. Both Houses Experienced Storms…
1) Just because the wise man built his house right did not mean he did
not have to face the storm.
2) Everyone faces storms: good people and bad people!
Matthew 5:45 (NKJV) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for
He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just
and on the unjust.
B. The Severity Of The Storm Was The Same.
1) You would think the wise man should just get a rain shower – but
NO! He got the same rain, flood, and wind!
2) If I were God,
 I would let the wise good people get a little sniffle, and let the
foolish bad people get pneumonia.
 I would let the good people get a headache and let the bad people
get the brain tumors.
 I would let the bad people get heartburn and the bad ones to have
the heart attacks…
3) BUT – it rains – storms – on the just and the unjust!
3. The Support Structure Of The Houses Was Different.
A. The Wise man built on the rock
1) It was a STRONG foundation – it would hold
2) It was a SURE foundation – you could depend on it
3) It was a SOLID foundation – it could take whatever the storm gave
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B. The Foolish man built on the sand
1) It was a SHIFTING foundation – it was unstable
2) It was a SANDY foundation – it was porous and weak
3) It was a SHAKY foundation – it gave way under pressure
4. Planning Is Required To Survive Storms.
A. You can’t prepare in the middle of the storm
1) The grocery store is closed when the storm hits
2) You can’t build barriers when the wind and rain are howling,
3) During the storm is not the time to attempt to avoid it.
B. We Must Be Prepared BEFORE The Storm Comes!
1) Build on the right foundation
 This is the point of the parable
 Materialism is an awful shaky foundation
 Power and prestige are shifting foundations
 Education and intelligence are not sure things…
2) We must be faithful THROUGH the storm
 Don’t sit around pining for a better day
 Don’t give up until things look up!
 If you have prepared you will get through
Conclusion:
Matthew 7:24 & 25 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and
does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that
house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.