The importance of reding,understanding and living in accordance to the living word

1. God Company Sri Lanka GODCOMPANYSL@YAHOO.COM The Living Word

2. Matthew 7 24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practiceis like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, BECAUSE IT HAD ITS FOUNDATION ON THE ROCK. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

3. Early in HIS ministry through this parable Jesus informed us on the importance of His word that He carried to us from God.A simple parable… a very important message! and we find it mentioned in Two Gospels… Matthew 7, Luke 6 24"Therefore everyone who hears these WORDS OF MINE and puts them into PRACTICE is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

4. Jesus tells us that His word is the solid foundation on which we can build our life. By hearing, reading, meditating, understanding and by putting it into practice we will be building our life on this solid foundation. . 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, BECAUSE IT HAD ITS FOUNDATION ON THE ROCK.

5. No matter how hard it rained…the wind blew…how high the water rose…the house survived all of that because it was built on the rock. A solid foundation.Jesus equals the solid foundation to His word and those who practice and live by HIS WORD. As the house was protected from all that nature threw at it, we too will be protected from whatever the world throws at us . By building our life anchored to this solid foundation we can withstandany adversity, issues and problems that we all come across in our lives. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

6. Jesus also gives us this warning. Merely by hearing His word and not putting it in to practice is equaled to a foolish man who built us house on the sand…without a foundation. Because of the lack of a foundation the house crumbled and succumbed with a great crash. . 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

7. As Christians we are believers in Jesus. He has given us a great insight in this parable on the importance of His word and the requirement to live and abide by His word.If we live and abide by His word Jesus tells us that we can face up and withstand anything that the world may throw at us. As Christians we have a claim on this word.

8. We see another reference on the importance of His word in the gospel of Matthew Matthew 24 35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

9. Matthew 4:Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every wordthat comes from the mouth of God.' “ This is what Jesus told Satan when He was tempted. But it has a deep meaning that is relevant for us. Jesus tells us that we do not live on our food alone… but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus emphasizes on the importance of making His word an integral part of our life.

10. Luke 6 46"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. Although Jesus said this over 2000 years ago, even today most Christians do not follow His teachings. How many of say Lord…Lord but do not live in accordance to His teachings? Take a look at what Jesus says in verse 47.

11. 47I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. Luke 6 :46 Jesus tells us clearly that He will show the might of our God to those who believe in Him, hears His word and who puts them in to practice…

12. John 12:47"As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that VERY WORD WHICH I SPOKE WILL CONDEMN HIM at the last day. Jesus tell us He came to the world NOT to Judge us this time. This time it was to bring the message of salvation…to save Humanity. But His second coming will not be the same. Therefore He warns us of the Judgment that awaits those who rejects Him and do not accept His word.

13. We can observe a pattern…A. Mathew 7:24, Jesus tells us of the importance of hearing and making His word our very foundation in lifeB. Matthew 4:4He tells us that as much as we need food for our sustenance, we need Gods word for our spiritual sustenance and strength C. Matthew 24: 35He further emphasizes on the validity and that His word would even endure the world as we know itD. Luke 6: 46Tells us that we should NOT merely be Sunday Christians paying Lip service. He also emphasizes on the need to live by His word and challenges us that He would show the might of Gods awesome power to those who hear and practice His word E. John 12:47Jesus tells us that this time He brought us the word for oursalvation. But those who reject His word will be subject to Judgment

14. Unfortunately most Christians miss out on the very importance of His word and only have a superficial knowledge Have you read His word …at least the four Gospels? Have you understood the relevance of His word and teaching for us… Have you built your life basing His word as your foundation…?

15. With the exception of some who convert most of us are born to a religionTherefore we acquire a religion.We first learn about religion from our parents…Sunday school…Educational School…Church…Friends and society…But that does not mean that you have personally experienced God’s word…His Teachings…how He wants us to model and live our lives…

16. Think for a moment…Are you currently benefiting from His presence and awesome power in your life?If the answer is No…then ask your self…

17. Can you expect to understand the true might of God by a third party reference…Do you think your parents , Sunday school, Society could provide you with all the knowledge…understanding of Gods living word?Do you think that going to church on a Sunday and listening to the sermon given by the preacher for 30 mints would provide you all what you need to know of the truth, insights and the full message of Gods living word? Unfortunately most of the Christians today happen to be SUNDAY CHRISTIANS! We think that by going to church on Sunday we will be absolved of our sinfulness and saved…that we have done our part as Christians… Actually it is far from it. We have to diligently seek and understand , trust and live in accordance to His teachings. Most Christians continue to live our lives the way we want and in denial of our sinfulness …BECAUSE WE HAVE NO REFERENCE…THE ONLY REFERENCE WE HAVE IS FROM THIRD PARTIES… NOT A PERSONAL UNDERSTANDING. EXPERIENCE AND CONVICTION!

18. For an example in Matthew 22:37, Mark 12;30 and Luke 10:27…Jesus tells us Love your God more than your self… and Love your neighbor as much as your self.We tell our selves…Oh yes I love my God. But all the time displeasing Him in a myriad of sinful ways like deceitfulness… adultery…coveting… stealing what is not rightfully ours…the list is endless.Then in reference to Love your neighbor as much as our self…Oh..Surely Jesus cant be serious…how can I love my neighbor when He has done so much to harm me… how can I forgive and forget what my brother did to me…

19. In spite of being told to us in three gospels, have we understood that Jesus has required us to practice and live by His teachings.Most of the time we live in denial and then complain of worldly problems effecting our lives and brining misery and woe to our existence.We have disregarded a fundamental teaching that Jesus provided us…Did He not warn us that our house when built on the sand would crumble? Did not He clearly tell us that by hearing…reading…and putting His words in to practice that we would be building our house upon a solid foundation that could withstand all what the world would throw at US?

20. We need to admit that most of us do not have a personal experience and an intimate relationship with Jesus. We have been living on third party information such as an hour in church on a Sunday…friends…society without personally seeking God…and finding Him. We need spiritual food which we can TO SOME EXTENT obtain through third parties and our church. But we need to read…understand His word in a very personal way so that through understanding , conviction and through personal experience we can transform our lives based on His teachings…

21. We can then build our lives on that solid foundation that can withstand anything that Satan may throw at us. Since you have a developed personal and intimate relationship you can experience our Gods awesome power and overcome the problems and issues that destroy your Joy, happiness and even your life. Thank you. God Company Sri Lanka http://www.slideshare.net/Thornmd/presentations