"And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."

We've spent this week walking through four tests Jesus gave us at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Four tests that reveal whether your faith is real or just religious performance. And all of these tests have one thing in common. They reveal what you're actually building on. Not what you're claiming. Not what people see. Not what you profess with your mouth. No, Jesus goes straight to the foundation of it.

Here's the tension in His whole sermon. It's actually possible for you to hear everything Jesus has been teaching and build nothing. It's possible to look like every other Christian on the block and have no foundation at all. So the question Jesus has been asking all week is this. When the storm comes, what's going to be left standing?

Let's look at the progression one more time. The narrow gate requires you to choose obedience over comfort. The fruit test requires you to recognize obedience in others and yourself. The Lord, Lord warning requires you to stop substituting performance for obedience. And the foundation requires you to build your entire life on obedience to what you've heard. Four tests. One theme. Do you just know about Jesus, or do you actually do what Jesus says?

Can I just say something? Those who trust Christ's authority in their life don't just admire His words. They align with His Word. That's what separates a true disciple from a fake one. Not how much you know. Not how long you've been in church. Not how impressive your ministry resume looks. What separates the real from the fake is whether you actually do what Jesus says.

And notice where Matthew places this in his Gospel. Right after Jesus finishes these sayings, the crowds were astonished at His teaching. Why? Because He taught as one who had authority. Not like the scribes who quoted other teachers. Jesus spoke with authority because He is the authority.

So here's the real question. Do you recognize Jesus's authority in your life? Because if you do, it will change everything. Just like a farmer who recognizes the authority of the seasons doesn't argue with winter or complain about harvest time, he just works in rhythm with what he knows is true, when you recognize Jesus's authority, you stop negotiating with His commands and you start obeying them.

Think about everything we've covered this week. Day one, we talked about the narrow gate. The entrance that demands everything. You had to choose between comfort and obedience. Day two, we talked about checking fruit. Recognizing that what's inside always comes out eventually. Day three, we talked about calling Jesus Lord. Understanding that words without obedience mean nothing. Day four, we talked about building on rock. Putting Jesus's teachings into practice instead of just collecting information.

And now here we are on day five. The storm is coming. Not maybe. Not if things go wrong. The storm is coming for everyone. The rain will fall. The floods will come. The winds will blow. And when they do, you'll find out what you've actually built your life on.

Here's what I need you to know. The storm doesn't reveal your theology. The storm reveals your foundation. You can have all the right answers on Sunday morning and still collapse on Monday afternoon when real pressure hits. You can quote Scripture and know doctrine and sing worship songs and volunteer in ministry and still have no foundation at all if you're not actually doing what Jesus says.

James 1:25 puts it this way. "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." You want blessing? Do something with what you've heard.

So let me ask you one final question. If Jesus evaluated your life right now, what would He find? Would He find a life built on the rock of obedience? Or would He find a life built on the sand of religious activity? Would He find someone who hears and does? Or someone who hears and forgets?

The storm is coming. The only question is whether you'll be standing when it's over. And that depends entirely on what you're building on right now. Not tomorrow. Not someday. Right now. Because the time to pour a foundation is before the storm hits, not during it.

Write down one specific way you're going to obey Jesus this week in each of these four areas. Choosing the narrow gate. Checking your fruit. Treating Jesus as Lord. Building on the rock. Then do them. Don't just write them down. Actually do them.