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THE LAWS OF THE KINGDOM                         Lecture 18.

                THE LAW OF THE BUILDING CODE

INTRODUCTION.

MATTHEW 7:24-27

Building Codes are always well defined.  Jesus made His specifications for
presenting this final Bylaw crystal clear.  The basis for judging the
compliance with the Code was, "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and
doeth them."

The sermon on the mount begins with the blessedness of the poor in spirit, and
ends with the ruin of the proud, self-confident professor.  The end of this
sermon is the end of all Christian teaching.  Life and death, righteousness to
those who believe and obey, ruin to those who do not obey.

I.    A Suggestive Comparison.  Hearing and doing.

a.    He that heareth and doeth is likened to a wise man.

b.    The connection' between hearing and doing is very vital.  Those who have
      the blood-sprinkled ear must also have the blood-sprinkled foot (Lev.
      8:24).

c.    These sayings of Christ are for the doing of His people.

d.    The hearer only is a fool.  He is like a man taking shelter in the plans
      of a building instead of in the house.

II.    A Common Need.  A House.

A house is one of the common necessities of man.  "A wise man built his
house." There is responsibility resting upon every man with regard to his own
house.  A house is:

1.    A Place of Shelter.  Man needs a hiding-place from the storm and the
      tempest of Jehovahs wrath against sin.  The wrath of God abideth upon
      every unbeliever (John 3:36).

2.     A Place of Rest.  A resting-place is needed from the busy, bustling,
      bothering cares and sorrows of this present life.  A man might as soon
      find heat in an iceberg as rest in disobedience to the sayings of the
      Son of God.

3.    A Place of Fellowship.  Mans needs will never be fully met until he is
      brought into fellowship with the Father and the Son.

III.  An Indispensable Prerequisite.  A Rock.

1.    Before a house of safety can be got the Rock must be found. "That Rock
      was Christ" (1 Cor. lO:4).

2.    The Rock is within the reach of all if men would only dig deep enough
      (Luke 6:48).

3.    This Rock is strong enough to bear all.  None doubt their foundation who
      build on Christ.  Until He is found all building is vain and ruinous.

IV.   A Threefold Trial.  Rain, floods, winds beat upon the house.

1.    The rain tries the roof.
2.    The floods the foundations.
3.    The winds the whole structure.

Every stone built on this Rock, that is, every deed done for Christs sake)
every act of trust in Him will be tried the threefold enemy of the soul - the
world, the flesh, and the devil.  The foundation holds.

V.    A Presumptuous Effort.  Building on the sand.

1.    This man is wise enough to know that he needs a place of shelter.
2.    He is fool enough to believe that he can have it without getting into
      touch with the great, eternal Rock.
3.    He has no faith in what is out of sight.
      a. His whole work is a matter of appearance.
      b. What a sad picture of all those who trust their works without having
      a grip of the invisible Christ (Heb ll:27).  c. The life may be right
      and beautiful in the sight of others, yet have no connection with Christ
      the Rock.

VI.    An Irreparable Mistake.  It fell, and great was the ruin of it (see
Luke 6:49).
1.    It fell in the time of his greatest need.  He hoped it would save him,,
      but hoping, without Christ, is vain and ruinous.
2.    The more beautiful the life and works are, without Christ the
      foundation, the more dangerous and fatal.
3.    The greater the house the greater the ruin.

Take heed where ye build (1 Cor 3:11)

Law of the Building Code? How have you been building? You are about to find
out.

VII.  THE FOUNDATION.

The examination, or test, is pictorially presented.  Verses 25 and 27 describe
the testing:

1.    The rain descends - the floods come - the winds blow - the house takes a
beating.  In other words, demands are being made upon the house which has been
erected.  And they are going to be made upon us as sojourners on the earth.
These perplexities come to everyone.  It is not what happens to us in life, it
is how we react.

2.    Some people feel that because they are Christians they are immune from
the catastrophies and calamities of life.  Not so.  Hear Jesus as He prays for
His disciples, and for us: "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of
the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil (one) ... Sanctify
(or mature) them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John l7:15,17).

VIII.THE SPECIFICATIONS.

1.    How many of you have been in a situation where God didn't do what you
thought He should? You were sure that He was going to do it your way, and He
didnot? Did your house fall under the onslaught? Was "great the fall thereof"
written across the nullified Building Permit?  No!  The following  principle
may help all to see how patiently and perfectly God works with each of us.

2.    In our Specifications given in the Law of the Building Code (whosoever,
as in verse 24), we see that God is the Author of equality.  In Him truly lies
the equal opportunity the world is searching for.  We are not all born equal -
but God knows all the circumstances - background - inherited traits -
environment training that are ours.  All of these are taken into consideration
in His dealings with us.  Once we come to Him and accept His Lordship, He goes
to work on us.  You may say, "Jesus loves me just as I am." True, but that
doesn't mean He is going to leave you as you are.

IX.   TESTINGS AND APPROVAL.

1.    Join Jesus and Peter in a discussion upon the occasion of an approaching
testing in Peters life.  Read Luke 22:31-34.  The setting is just prior to
Jesus arrest and trial.

      JESUS Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may
      sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not;
      and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

      PETER Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into  prison,  and  to
      death.

      JESUS I tell thee, Peter,, the cock shall not crow this day before thou
      shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Did Jesus know what He was talking about? Yes, for Peter did not make it
through that particular time of adversity.  But because of that one failure,
he was able to go through many others - emerging triumphantly on the other
side.  He was also able to strengthen his brothers as they came up against
testings in their lives.  That is one of the purposes of testings. Thus you
learn to keep on course regardless of the winds, rain, and fogs of life.

2.    The Apostle Paul was brought to realize the importance of keeping on
course - the necessity of proper foundations - and the Law of the Building
Code instituted by the Master Teacher.  He aimed always to build according to
approved plans and specifications.  Hear some advice he offered his pupils:

a.    To the Colossians he said: As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus
      the Lord, so walk in Him, Rooted and built up in Him, and established in
      the faith, as ye have been taught...(2:6,7).

b.    To the Ephesians he adds this dimension: That we henceforth be no more
      children, tossed to and fro, and Carried about with every wind of
      doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they
      lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
      him in all things .... (4:14,15)

c.    To the Corinthians he gives this word about accepting his responsibility
      in his matter of building: According to the grace of God which is given
      unto me, as a wise masterbuilders, I have laid the foundation, and
      another buildeth thereon.  But let every man take heed how he buildeth
      thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which
      is Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:10,11).

d.    We find him concluding his tunnel experiences with these words to a
      younger disciple: ... the time of my departure is at hand.  I have
      fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith
      (2 Tim. 4:6,7).

CONCLUSION

1.    We have "heard these sayings" (see verse 24 of the Law of the Building
code).  Now what are we going to do about them? Upon our answer to that
question hangs a tremendous issue:  The house stood .... the house fell.  Who
wants to see his investment go down the drain? Foolish question! Yet, Jesus
says that is a very real possiblity.  We would do well to take seriously His
words about impending "inspection."

2.    Hearing and doing - hearing and doing not.  This pinpoints the issue.
The phrase, or its equivalent, "He who hath ears to hear, let him hear," is
used more than fifteen times in the New Testiment.  What does this convey to
you? How do we translate hearing into doing.  Let's examine once again the
basis Jesus presented for coming into our desired goal of freedom: John
8:31,32:

  a.  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in
      my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth,
      and the truth shall make you free.

  b.  Do you see the progressive steps? Jesus spoke to believers and moved
      into a qualifing clause, "If ye continue in my word...." Next He tells
      them what they may expect by continuing: They will become disciples.
      There follows a grasp of truth, as disciples: And the truth would bring
      freedom.