Built to Last: Faith That Obeys

Before Jesus ever sends people out to serve or entrusts them with responsibility, He wants to know, Will you obey me? In Luke 6, Jesus was speaking to his disciples, religious people who had intentionally attached themselves to Him. And yet, Jesus does not congratulate them for all this. Instead, he stops them with a question that should have pierced their hearts: “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?” In other words, are we just a hearer who admires Jesus, or a disciple who obeys Him?

1. The Danger of Verbal Faith Without Obedience

   1. Luke 6:46: Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?

      1. The people are calling him Lord, not once, but twice: Lord, Lord.

      2. On the surface, everything sounds right.

   2. Verbal faith sounds correct, but never reaches submission.

   3. If we call Him “Lord,” but refuse His authority, then we are dealing with self-deception.

      1. So this is about the direction of one’s life.

      2. We can never obey flawlessly, but we can obey willingly.

2. Luke 6:47-48: Obedience is the Foundation of a Life That Lasts

   1. Luke 6:47: Note how carefully Jesus defines a disciple: He comes to Me. He hears my words. He acts on them.

      1. To hear his words is more than exposure — it is reception, understanding, and submission to His teaching.

      2. To act on His words is obedience — doing what the gospel commands.

   2. Luke 6:48a: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.

      1. Digging deep speaks of repentance, seriousness, and a willingness to deal seriously with sin, self-deception, and spiritual bankruptcy.

      2. The foundation matters more than the house.

   3. Luke 6:48b: When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn’t shake it, because it was well built.

      1. Floods come. Pressure hits. There will be tests we must endure as we go through life.

      2. This house stands. Why? Because it was well built.

      3. God equips people who are anchored.

3. Hearing Without Obedience Leads to Collapse

   1. Luke 6:49a: But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.

      1. The second person hears Jesus, but does not act.

      2. He builds quickly, conveniently, and on the surface. But what is missing cannot be seen — until it is tested.

   2. Luke 6:49b: The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great.

      1. Why did it collapse? There was nothing underneath it.

      2. Only a foundation built on Christ will stand.

4. As We Close

   1. Digging deep means an honest reckoning with sin. (Psalm 51:17)

   2. Digging deep means abandoning self-righteousness. (Isaiah 64:6)

   3. Digging deep means submitting to Jesus as Lord. (John 8:31)

   4. Digging deep means continuing when no one is watching. (1 Peter 1:6-7)

   5. Digging deep prepares us to stand and to serve. (2 Timothy 2:21)

   6. Have you dug deep, or have you only built high? Who are you building your life on?