MATTHEW 5:1-2 — Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

“Be aware that the kingdom of self is a costume kingdom. It does a perversely brilliant job of masquerading as the kingdom of God.” —Paul David Tripp

QUIZ: The Bible or Shakespeare

MATTHEW 7:15-23 —“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit (time) you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

TEST THE FRUIT
● Doctrinal test and the practical test.
● To give a doctrinal and practical test means we know God’s baseline for both.

KNOW
Jesus plus anything else is not the true gospel!

KNOW
● Everything in nature reproduces after its kind.
● Transformation (fruit of the Spirit) and obedience reveal a life in Christ.
● Our verbal professions must be accompanied by obedience.

QUESTION
What are you building your life on?

MATTHEW 7:24-25 —“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house (soul or character) on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

LUKE 6:48 —“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.
And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.”

● Life is full of storms.
● I’m responsible for my own foundation (soul).
● The truth about our foundation (soul) will be revealed in the storms.
● There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity.

MATTHEW 7:26-27 —“But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell great crash.”

FOUNDATION:
● Life is full of storms.
● I’m responsible for my own foundation (soul).
● The truth about our foundation (soul) will be revealed in the storms.
● There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity.

“How can you tell what kind of foundation
a life has been built on? Watch to see
what happens when a storm comes.” —Henry Blackaby
MATTHEW 7:28-29 —*When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.*

RESPONSE:
● What kind of fruit are you producing?
● What’s your foundation being built on?