26 Sep Book it! (Because a Bible that is falling apart indicates a life that isn’t!) Part 7

Posted at 08:17h in Uncategorized by

Before we jump into our series let’s review – two months ago, we began our three-pronged goal:

  1. To love the Word!
  2. To learn the Word!
  3. To live the Word!

We then shared with you “Two Biblical Beholdings”:

  1. If you want to know God you must know the Bible
  2. Prayer is talking to God.  The Bible is God talking to us.

We then began to share with you “Four Awesome Assignments to Assist you with the Word”:

  1. Activate the Word

Then we gave you three ways to activate God’s Word:

          1.) Faith activates the Word (Heb. 4:2)

          2.)  Revelation activates faith (Eph. 1:18)

          3.)  Meditation activates revelation (Joshua 1:8).

We shared from Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.”

The Hebrew word “meditate” denotes a “slowing down to ponder”.  It means to mutter to oneself over and over.

Chew on the Word and if you don’t fully get it you may spit it up.  However, don’t give up…chew on it some more and then swallow.  

Then we examined the little word “then”.  “Then” indicates I must do what the Bible says before the word “then”, to get what the Bible says after the word “then”.  Everyone wants what comes after the “then” – “Make your way prosperous and have good success” , however few want to do what comes before the “then” which is “meditate and observe to do” the Word of God.

Remember this: If you don’t do what comes before ‘then’, you’ll turn your ‘then’ into a ‘when’.  Turn your ‘when’ into a ‘then’ by doing what comes before ‘then’!

Remember this also:  Your revelation will overcome your situation.  

Lastly, meditation releases revelation.  Revelation releases observation.  Observation takes you to your destination!

Not only do we activate the Word, but:

     2.  Accept the Word (Matt. 7:24-27).

Here the Bible says, “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.”

No matter what comes your way…sunshine or storms…let the Word of God have the final say!

This week let’s continue…

“Yes but Pastor, I don’t fully understand it.”  You eat three times a day and you don’t fully understand digestion.  No matter what comes your way, no matter what the culture says…make the Word of God final authority in your life!

Now please allow me to break down the aforementioned words of Jesus so you can better understand these truths:

  1. The house…represents your life
  2. The rock…represents the inconvenient road built on God’s Word
  3. The sand…represents the convenient road built on feelings and culture
  4. The rain and the floods…represent the storms of life that come to everyone

At the time in which this was written, all the commerce occurred close to the sea shore.  Food markets and business markets were all very conveniently centered in the “sand”.  If you built your house there it would be extremely easy and convenient for you.  All the food and your place of work would be very nearby.

However, with all the convenience came one very serious problem.  Large and dangerous storms would loom over the sea and because most would be at sea level, they never saw the storm coming…until it was too late!

On the other hand, there were a few that would build their houses on the high cliffs overlooking the sea.  This was very inconvenient.  One, it was difficult to haul building materials for the house up the steep face of the cliffs.  Two, the daily commerce of these “cliff-dwellers” would be very inconvenient.  Simply to buy “groceries” would require much more effort.  However, there was one great advantage to living high on the cliffs…you could easily see the storms coming, could prepare and would be spared from the damage!

Now let me give you a side by side comparison of the two…let’s call them “Rocky” vs. “Sandy”:

Rocky Sandy

  1. The storms of life come The storms of life come
  2. Doer of the Word Hearer of the Word
  3. Like a wise man Like a foolish man
  4. Inconvenient road Convenient road
  5. Life stands! Life falls apart

As we close, please remember these three things:

 

  • In life you are either preparing or repairing.
  • Your life will be one of fitness or fix it.
  • The cost of discipline is high.  The cost of regret is always higher.

 

In these uncertain times, God wants you solid as a rock by making His Word the final authority in your life!  

Next month we will continue our series…