Post on 13-Jan-2016
Series:
Why Fairview?
Message:
A Family Founded on the
Word of GodMatthew 7:24-29
The Fairview Family
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them,
may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-29
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25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew
and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall,
for it had been founded on the rock.
Matthew 7:24-29
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26 Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish
man who built his house on the sand.
Matthew 7:24-29
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27 The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and
slammed against that house; and it fell
—and great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-29
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28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed
at His teaching;
Matthew 7:24-29
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29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Matthew 7:24-29
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Introduction
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Jesus closes His sermon on this mount by declaring the
importance of our determination to make His Word the foundation
of our lives.
Introduction
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Making His Word our foundation is like building upon a rock. All other potential sources of foundation will crumble like a foundation of sand.
Introduction
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This principle applies equally to us as a church,
God’s family.
Introduction
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Foundations of sand are always based upon a lack of trust in
God. As the Fairview Family we are
committed to the Word of God as our foundation.
Introduction
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Jesus is the Word of God according to John 1:1&14.
Introduction
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1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
John 1:1&14
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14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us,
and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the
Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1&14
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There is no other foundation than that which has been laid
by Jesus Christ (1Corinthians 3:11)
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11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus
Christ.
1Corinthians 3:11
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Jesus made it clear that the foundation He desires for us
is experienced by our hearing and obeying His Word.
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The Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures have come forth from God. Through the Bible God is
revealing Himself, His purposes, His ways, and His will.
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Jesus has called us to make His Word the foundation
upon which He will build His church.
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Why do we choose to rely upon the Word of God
as our foundation?
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1. The Author of the Word
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2 Timothy 3:16
All Scriptures are God-Breathed.
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2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
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2 Peter 1:20-21
Holy Spirit of God moved through human beings to bring forth
God’s eternal Word.
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2 Peter 1:20-21
20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture
is a matter of one’s own interpretation,
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2 Peter 1:20-21
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will,
but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God
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The Apostle Peter,
who said this about the Scriptures,
also calls the writings of Paul Scripture.
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In 2 Peter 3:15-16.
Peter proclaims that Paul’s letters are to be accepted as from God just as the Old Testament is
accepted.
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2 Peter 3:15-16.
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote
to you,
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2 Peter 3:15-16.
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures,
to their own destruction.
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Jesus said all of the Old
Testament is true. Matthew 5:18.
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is why we know that Jesus is God
and therefore what He said about the Old Testament is true.
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Matthew 5:18
18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke
shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
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The New Testament was written by the Apostles chosen by Jesus
or by those who were receiving the message directly
from one or more of the Apostles.
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Examples:
Gospel of Mark & Gospel of Luke
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The Holy Spirit was leading this process
as He indwelled and gifted these men with
the gift of Apostleship.
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God is the Author of the Scriptures therefore we stand in His Grace upon His Perfect Word
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2. The Authority of the Word
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Jesus has been given all authority in Heaven and upon the earth.
Matthew 28:18 and Philippians 2:9-11
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Matthew 28:18
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
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Philippians 2:9-11
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him,
and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name
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Philippians 2:9-11
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,
of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the
earth,
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Philippians 2:9-11
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
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God’s Word is eternal and unchanging.
Isaiah 40:7-8 declares this truth
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Isaiah 40:7-8
7 The grass withers, the flower fades,
When the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
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Isaiah 40:7-8
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
But the word of our God stands forever.
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In 1 Peter 1:24-25 the Apostle Peter quotes the Isaiah passage and then defines the meaning of
the phrase “Word of God” as being the Word that was
preached by the Apostles.
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1 Peter 1:24-25
24 For, “All flesh is like grass,And all its glory like the flower
of grass.The grass withers,
And the flower falls off,
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1 Peter 1:24-25
25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.
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This means that both the Old Testament and the
Gospels and Letters of the New Testament are together equally
God’s eternal Word.
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Jesus is the Word. Jesus has revealed Himself to us
as God throughout the Old Testament which
pointed to His coming and the New Testament which
declares His Gospel and provides His instructions as He launched
His Church.
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3. The Activity of the Word
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First, God’s Word produces life transforming faith to those who hear it.
Romans 10:17
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Romans 10:17
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of
Christ.
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Second, God’s Word produces spiritual growth
when it is heard and applied.
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1 Peter 2:2 tells us that new believers grow from the Word
as babies grow from milk.
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1 Peter 2:2
2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow
in respect to salvation,
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Hebrews 5:12 & 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 reveal that spiritual growth
should make progress.
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Hebrews 5:12
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have
need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid
food.
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1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men,
but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.
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1 Corinthians 3:1-3
2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not
yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are
not yet able,
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1 Corinthians 3:1-3
3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not
fleshly, and are you not walking
like mere men?
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The baby should grow to eat solid food. The child of God
should grow to understand who God is, God’s ways, and purposes,
etc. at greater levels of
understanding and application to life.
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Hebrews 4:12 tells us how deeply the Word of God moves within us
to change us into the likeness of Christ
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Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper
than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the
division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of
the heart.
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Third, God’s Word is His primary method of
communicating and guiding us.
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It is the relationship with God through Jesus Christ that enables the Holy Spirit of God indwelling
us to bring to life the Word of God.
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A person cannot discover truth from the Bible.
Truth is revealed to those who belong to God.
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When revealed Truth is obeyed growth occurs spiritually which opens the way for more Truth
to be revealed.
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Psalm 119: 9-11 David says; purity comes from putting
(hiding) God’s Word in our hearts
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Psalm 119: 9-11
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Your word.
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Psalm 119: 9-11
10 With all my heart I have sought You;
Do not let me wander from Your commandments.
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Psalm 119: 9-11
11 Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.
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The Truth of God’s Word is lived out by faith
in the crucible of life’s challenges.
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2 Timothy 3:16 reveals the general pattern of how God
guides us through the Scriptures
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2 Timothy 3:16
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,
for training in righteousness;
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Doctrine/Teaching – The truths of God
Reproof – How we walk away from God
Correction- How we walk back to God
Instruction- How we walk with God
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Every time we read the Bible, under the control of the Holy
Spirit, seeking to hear from God we will experience one or more of
these four guiding revelations
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The purpose of this process of revealing truth is to grow us
and equip us to serve God
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2 Timothy 3:17
17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
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Closing Thoughts
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Closing Thoughts
Our choice to declare that we as a church are founded
on God’s Word is based upon our relationship with God
together through Jesus Christ.
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Closing Thoughts
This decision is based upon our confidence
in Jesus Resurrection.
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Closing Thoughts
If we remove the foundation of God’s Word we face life without
the promises of God.
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Closing Thoughts
We experience a world where truth is all relative therefore with no meaning or anchors
to hold on to.
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Closing Thoughts
We also lose our hope of salvation.
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Closing Thoughts
Being founded on the Word means we do have confidence
in God’s promises.
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Closing Thoughts
We do have a firm footing upon which to stand.
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Closing Thoughts
We have a confidence that our lives are based upon unchanging
truths given by our Creator & Father
who loves us. We walk through this life with purpose, joy and hope
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Closing Thoughts
In James 1:22 James echoes the Words of Jesus as he says
we are to be doers of the Word and not merely hearers.
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James 1:22
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely
hearers who delude themselves.
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Closing Thoughts
Living and obeying and trusting the Word
is how we are truly founded upon the Word.
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Closing Thoughts
Simply saying we believe the Bible
is not enough. We must know it and allow it
to transform us. We must follow its teachings
and obey its principles.
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Closing Thoughts
As a church family we demonstrate our being founded
upon the Word as we follow it in determining
what, how, and why we do everything.
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Closing Thoughts
Everything we believe and do must have its foundation
in God’s Word.
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Closing Thoughts
Consider the following commitments with me.
If we agree together concerning these commitments then we truly
can be a family founded upon the Word of God.
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Our Family commitments concerning God’s Word
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Our Family commitments concerning God’s Word
We commit to the belief that God is our creator
and the Author of the Bible. Thus, it is God’s Word.
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Our Family commitments concerning God’s Word
We commit to the truth that Jesus is God.
Jesus is the Word of God. God has spoken fully in Jesus.
God’s Word , the Bible has authority because Jesus
has given it authority
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Our Family commitments concerning God’s Word
We commit to follow Jesus according to His revealed Word and by the leading of His Spirit
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Our Family commitments concerning God’s Word
We commit to be doers of the Word
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Our Family commitments concerning God’s Word
We commit to help one another grow spiritually as we saturate
our minds and hearts with God’s Word and encourage one another through mutual
accountability to walk by faith and to grow in
faith
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Our Family commitments concerning God’s Word
We commit together to make God’s Word our final authority
for all we believe and endeavor to do.
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Time of Commitment
A call for us to stand together publically in our commitment
to being founded upon the Word
Series:
Why Fairview?
Message:
A Family Founded on the
Word of GodMatthew 7:24-29