Sermon Central
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Mucky Mud
Contributed by Craig Benner on Jun 1, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: What kind of adhesive are using in the building blocks of your spiritual life? Don't look for the easiest way out. Be careful of inferior products that give a quick job, but will not hold up in the long run.
Just Gummy Mud
10 ¶ Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:
11 Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.
12 Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it?
13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it.
14 So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;
16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.
The world in which we live is always looking for a way to do something faster and easier and cheaper. That does not always produce quality.
The prophet Ezekiel warns of using untempered mortar.
The term in the original language meant something inferior, frivilous, foolish, or unsavoury.
It appears to be somewhat adhesive in the outset, but does not have a long life of sustainability.
I. The Walls
They symolize our life. We are builders who must be responsible for our own edification. We raise walls for protection, for defense, for privacy, and for distinctiveness.
1 Co. 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
--You and I make the choice of what type of material we will use to build our walls.
We usually think of building a wall that will stand solid for a lengthy time. While living in San Luis Potosí, we saw many "squatters". They would converge upon a piece of land and build a temporary residence. Usually the walls were made of cardboard or used plywood pieces. They knew that it would be provisional and thus is was made inferior.
II. The Foundation
Jesus Christ is the only foundation that will endure even the greatest storms of life. Even so, the foundation alone does not make the house. Our part is to build walls that will serve their purpose and will stand the test of time.
III. The Morter (Adhesive)
In Bible times, the walls were almost alway built of brick, block, or adobe. To hold the bricks intact, a strong adhesive is indispensible.
IV. Appearance is NOT Everything
Just like in the days of Ezekiel, there were lots of false prophets who were putting on a big front, but did not have the goods.
Untempered mortar is a lot easier and cheaper to acquire.
In the Dominican Republic, morter does not exist. They would have to import it to have the real thing.
It is like preaching the "prosperity doctrine" or the "we will become gods" doctrine. It will get a crowd in a hurry and people will brag about it and be proud of it.
True morter will cost more and may be harder to find. Then you need to know the exact amount of water and fine sifted sand to be added. Yes, it will take longer and it may be a little slower, but you will be sure to have a quality built wall when it is finished.
I would liken the morter to our most holy faith, sound doctrine, and the power of the Holy Ghost. The "bricks" are what we offer as a "living sacrifice".
V. The Test
Sooner of later, your wall of life will be tested. Sometimes, it is a series of tests and trials.
The mud plaster on houses that I have seen in Mexico, does not deteriorate from the first hard rain. But after many rains, and hail storms, and tremors, then you will see the results of untempered morter.
A person can jump on board an unbiblical doctrine and think that life is hunky-dory. Even after a bump or two in the road, it seems to be okay. Just give it some time, and you will start to see the cracks; the plaster will start coming loose; the wall will become separated and eventually it will fall.