Matthew 7:21-27

Jeremiah 29:11,12

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father

who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord,’ did we not prophesy in your name, and in Your name case out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them ‘I never

knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Matthew 7:24-27

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house

on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came and the winds blew and slammed against the

house; and it fell-and great was its fall.”

RULES AND BOUNDARIESTo play baseball you first need to know the rules and then play by

the rules.

Rules and boundaries determine what takes

place in the game.

When you know and practice boundaries you enjoy freedom

and security.

I. BOUNDARIES BRINGFREEDOM

John 8:31, 32John 8:31, 32

WHAT IS A BOUNDARY?

A legal description of property

Gives a legal description of the beginning

and the ending of the property.

God has given everyone the freedom to choose.

We choose to stay within His boundaries

or go outside His boundaries.

A. BOUNDARIES GIVE US FREEDOM TO LOVE

When we are free to choose and disagree we are free to love.

When you live without freedom you live in fear and love dies.

You cannot actually love someone if you don’t feel

you have a choice to love or not to love.

Living without boundaries is not the way to freedom.

“The Ten Commandments are out of date.”

Ted Turner

Owner of CNN Network, and TBS

He offered to replace the Ten Commandments with the Ten Voluntary Initiatives

THE SINKING OF THE TITANIC

Six relatively narrow slits were found across the six watertight holds. Small damage, below the water line and

invisible to most, sank the Titanic.

Priceless things became worthless.

Worthless things had become priceless.

B. BOUNDARIES GIVES US FREEDOM TO OBEY

Matthew 7:21-23

To say that you are free to do what you want to do with no regard for God’s Word is the way to

bondage, not the way to freedom.

THE KEY TO FREEDOM – “OBEDIENCE”

If we decide we do not want to live within the boundaries of God’s truth, His Word we are in

danger of taking our life into our own hands and losing our freedom.

C. BOUNDARIES GIVES US FREEDOM IN RELATIONSHIPS

In family relationships points of conflict and abuse

often involve issues of control verses freedom.

Rather than own up to our part in the

conflict we often play the blame game.

ADAM AND EVE

“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree I commanded you not to eat from? Adam answered:

‘The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’

God designed the entire creation for freedom. We are not created to control each other we

were created to love each other freely.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be

subject again to the yoke of slavery.”

Galatians 5:1

Loving relationships are deeply rooted in freedom.

When there is extreme control and abuse there is

no love.

Boundaries are not something you set on

another person. They are something you set on

yourself.

II.BOUNDARIES BRINGSECURITY

Matthew 7:24-27Matthew 7:24-27

THE HOUSES…

• looked similar outwardly

• were in the same geographical area

• had the same basic plan, walls, roof, and floor

• were different because of what was under ground

A. WHEN WE BUILD OUR LIFE ON A SOLID FOUNDATION WE CHOOSE BOUNDARIES THAT ARE

SECURING A LIFE OF WISDOM

“Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you everything you have, get understanding.”

Proverbs 4:7

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 9:10

A WISE BUILDER IS…

A person who hears the Word of God and then is faithful in living the Word of God out in their lives.

Building on a solid foundation securing a life of wisdom, because he is taking the time to apply God’s message to his life.

JOHN ADAMS

“There are two types of education: One should teach us how to make a living, and the other how to live.”

We have an elective course we take in life. We decide if we want to be saved or lost, secure or just survive.

B. WHEN WE BUILD OUR LIFE ON A SOLID FOUNDATION WE CHOOSE BOUNDARIES THAT ARE SECURING OUR

PRESENT AND FUTURE LIFE

The life built on Christ is delivered from fear.

“If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword No in all these things we are more

than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither height nor depth, nor anything

else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:35, 37-39

Jeremiah 29:12

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”

C. WHEN WE BUILD OUR LIFE ON A SOLID FOUNDATION WE CHOOSE BOUNDARIES THAT ARE

SECURING OUR LIFE IN TIMES OF STORMS

Few people in ancient Palestine wanted to live in the rocks, because it meant…

•grading the side of a slope and hauling materials.•more difficult travel.•water had to be toted.•winter winds were colder.

PEOPLE TOOK THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE

• The scenery was more pleasant along the riverbeds• Water was more conveniently located• The house was sheltered from the cold of winter

Once a generation there would be a combination of an unusually heavy snow, a quick spring thaw, a

torrential downpour that resulted in flashflood that would wash away everything in its path.

THE NECESSITY OF BUILDING YOUR LIFE ON THE RIGHT KIND OF FOUNDATION

The foundation holds everything together.

No matter what quality of materials you use; no matter how carefully you join the frame together; no matter how skilled your craftmen maybe- if the foundation isn’t solid and stable your house will lack integrity.

The difference between the sand builder

and the rock builder was the storm.

THE STORMS OF LIFE HIT ALL OF US

Following Jesus does not exempt us from life’s storms.

There are no storm free zones.

The outcome of what happens in the storms of our lives is determined by the foundation on which we are sitting.

THE LEANING TOWER OF PISA

STORY – “THE BUILDER”

BOUNDARIES BRING US A

LIFE OF FREEDOM AND

SECURITY