The Parable of Preparedness
David Wilkerson's sermon emphasizes the necessity of building a strong foundation of faith in Christ to withstand life's inevitable storms.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of building a strong foundation in our faith through the Parable of Preparedness, illustrating that those who hear and act on Jesus' teachings are like wise builders who withstand life's storms, while those who ignore them are likened to foolish builders destined for collapse. He highlights that true preparedness in our spiritual walk is essential for enduring trials and demonic attacks, assuring believers that a solid foundation in Christ will lead to resilience. The sermon serves as a call to evaluate our spiritual foundations and ensure they are rooted in a genuine relationship with Jesus.
Text
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Matthew 7:24-27).
Jesus is saying that only things established on a rock foundation will hold up in the coming storm. One man built his house upon a rock ". . . and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock" (verse 25).
The builders of these houses represent two classes of Christians in these last days--the wise and the foolish. They built two different kinds of houses which people were living in when the storm hit.
On one hand, it is encouraging to know there will be a body of believers who will not fall. They will be able to withstand every demonic onslaught that comes out of hell when the storms rage. Jesus wants us to know from this parable that a person who builds his house upon a rock will survive everything that is coming.
Yet, sadly, there will be another group of Christians--people of whom Jesus says, "Their fall will be great" (see verse 27). This means a total, complete, devastating collapse of everything.
At this point, you may be wondering: "What does it mean, exactly, to 'build a house'?" It is important to know that the house Jesus is talking about here is our walk with Him. We are building a foundation of getting to know Christ, of understanding His ways. We are building into our faith certain characteristics that will determine how we react under pressure.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to the parable of the wise and foolish builders
- Importance of a solid foundation in faith
- Contrast between the two types of builders
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II
- Characteristics of the wise builder
- Resilience in the face of storms
- The role of Jesus as the rock
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III
- Consequences of being a foolish builder
- Understanding the great fall
- The impact on one's spiritual life
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IV
- The significance of hearing and doing Jesus' words
- Building a relationship with Christ
- Preparing for spiritual challenges
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V
- Encouragement for believers to strengthen their foundation
- The promise of survival through faith
- Call to action for self-examination
Key Quotes
“Jesus wants us to know from this parable that a person who builds his house upon a rock will survive everything that is coming.” — David Wilkerson
“The house Jesus is talking about here is our walk with Him.” — David Wilkerson
“We are building into our faith certain characteristics that will determine how we react under pressure.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Examine your spiritual foundation and ensure it is built on the teachings of Christ.
- Develop a deeper relationship with Jesus to enhance your resilience during trials.
- Encourage others in your community to strengthen their faith and preparedness.