The Message of the Teachings on the Mount (108)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on March 13, 2012
Topic: The Message of the Teachings on the Mount (3): Adversity and Hearing & Doing
No audio available for this study.Background
Last week, we sought to know what makes a person hear the word of God, which is able to transform his life positively and yet, remain unchanged. We saw that the reasons were: a lack of understanding due to hardness of heart resulting from a sin-laden life; a lack of depth, resulting in the inability of the individual to endure hardship, persecution, etc.; a lack of ‘room’ for the word of God, as the heart is already filled with the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pleasures of this world; and, a lack of patience to wait on God to bring to fruition, the word of God in their lives.
We saw that if we are going to be beneficiaries of the potency of the word of God, we would first need to be rid of the things that have occupied our hearts from when we were not born again, and that have continued therein, even after being born again. We noted that we must be rid of all things that defile, and eliminate vestiges of evil and malice which is still lurking in our hearts. We observed that this emptying of ourselves of things that defile, and, of evil and malice, is sanctification. We saw that it is sanctification which makes it possible for us to receive the word of God with meekness in our hearts. And in receiving the word of God, we said that we must: (a) carefully listen to His word, with a view to doing what we have heard (quick to hear); (b) carefully ponder what has been said before even speaking (be slow to speak); and, (c) not be soon offended by the word of God which we have heard (be slow to get angry).
We noted that with these things in place in our lives, hearing and doing the word of God becomes a joy, even when it may seem very difficult to do. We thus concluded that, if we are going to actively hear and do the word of God, we must be sanctified on a daily basis. It is such daily sanctification which enables us to receive the word of God with meekness and reverence in our hearts, to act promptly on it, and, to be truly blessed of the Lord!
Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:24-27
Tonight, we shall look at the illustration the Lord used to liken those who hear and act on the word of God, and those who hear and don’t act on the word of God. We pray that the Holy Spirit will grant us understanding as we study, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Lord likens the person who hears His word and acts on it, to a wise builder who built his house on a firm foundation; and the person who hears His word and does not act on it, He likens to a foolish builder, who built his house on sand (that is, without a foundation). Indeed, it is adversity that reveals the wise builder, and the foolish builder.
Luke 6:48; 1 Corinthians 10:3; 3:10-15; Hebrews 6:1-2; Isaiah 37:31; Psalm 92:12-15; Ephesians 3:13-19; Romans 8:35-39; Proverbs 24:10; Romans 5:3-4; James 1:2-4; Matthew 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:6-9; Psalm 1:1-6.
Conclusion
Everyone on earth is a builder; but whether or not you are a wise builder, depends heavily on what you are building on. Are you building on the Rock, which is Jesus Christ, or are you building on sand? Indeed, all men are involved in building their lives, but the life that will endure unto eternity, is the one which is built on Christ, the Rock! This is because every ‘house’ or life is sure to face adverse conditions in the environment where they are, and anyone who is not standing after such adversity strikes, will lose his life in eternity.
Adversity is one thing that is common to all human beings. It is not true that life is devoid of times of adversity. Indeed, life sometimes can be full of adversities, which come to test the measure/depth of our faith in God. For example, it was adversity that exposed the superficiality (or lack of depth) of the ‘stony’ heart; and it is adversity that reveals our strength of character, and the resolve of our faith or trust in God.
The Christian walk is never free of adversity; indeed, overcoming adversity is how a true believer in Christ is brought to maturity. Hence, the teachings or doctrines of Christ, when adhered to (acted upon), enable the believer to overcome adversity. Also, bible study is not for acquisition of knowledge just for the sake of it, but to get the believer in Christ to be firmly rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, and in his (the believer’s) trust in God, so that he is unshaken, and endures unto eternity.
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