Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. The theme for our pulpit series – “Such great faith”

a. We want to cultivate a greater faith in the Lord

b. We want to find a faith that can be applied to life

c. We also want to address the problem of “little faith”

2. How may we cultivate a greater faith in the Lord Jesus?

a. We follow His teachings

b. A vital teaching to cultivate faith and life – Matthew 7:13-29

CONTEXT OF MATTHEW 7:13-29

1. Matthew 5-7 – Foundational teachings of the Lord Jesus

a. Cultivation of character

b. Correction of wrong teachings

c. Good and sound spiritual disciplines to be established

2. Matthew 7:13-29 brings these teachings to a conclusion

THE NEED TO CHECK OUR FAITH

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 [c]Because narrow is the gate and [d]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Matthew 7:13-20

1. Two imageries given

a. Narrow gate vs wide gate

i. Wide gate – broad is the way, many go in by it

ii. Narrow gate – difficult is the way, few would find it

b. Good tree vs bad tree

i. Good tree bears good fruit

ii. Bad tree bears bad fruit

iii. Good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and vice versa

2. Purpose of the 2 imageries – for us check our life and fruit!

a. Did we enter by the narrow gate or wide gate?

b. Are we walking on the broad way or difficult way in life?

c. Are we bearing good fruit or bad fruit in our life?

3. Evaluating our life and fruit along these lines will help us see the true state of our faith!

THE NEED TO CORRECT OUR FAITH

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!’

Matthew 7:21-23

1. Wrong ideas concerning profession of faith

a. Calling the Lord Jesus “Lord, Lord”

b. Claiming to do things in the Lord Jesus’ name

i. Prophesy

ii. Cast out demons

iii. Do many wonders

c. Practising lawlessness

2. The Lord Jesus’ correction of these wrong ideas

a. To these people, He would say, “I never knew you; depart from Me”

b. Only those who do the will of His Father shall enter the kingdom of heaven

3. We too need to correct our faith

a. Do we have wrong ideas concerning faith?

b. Are we practising lawlessness instead of the will of God in our lives?

THE CHALLENGE TO BUILD UP OUR FAITH

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.

Matthew 7:24-28

1. The Lord Jesus’ challenge to every believer – to build up his faith

a. Faith and life will be built up well when one hears His sayings and does them

b. He would be likened to a wise man who built his house on the rock

c. When the storm comes, the house would not fall, for it is founded on the rock

2. The Lord Jesus’ warning to those who do not build up their faith and life

a. They may hear His sayings, but they do not do them

b. They would be likened to a foolish man who built his house on the sand

c. When the storm comes, the house would fall, and great would be its fall

CONCLUSION

1. Let us check our life and fruit

a. Was the gate which we entered by correct?

b. Which way are we walking on in life?

c. What kind of fruit are we bearing in life?

2. Let us correct our faith

a. Wrong ideas concerning our profession of faith

b. Practicing lawlessness instead of doing the will of God

3. Let us be challenged to build up our faith and life

a. Not only to hear His sayings

b. But to do them in our life

4. If we can do all these, we will build up a strong foundation for our faith and life!