W2 - Firm Foundation

Introduction

a. Have you ever used a really sharp knife before?

b. Story of using machete to clear a path like Bear Grylls. Growing up, my family had a woodstove, so every summer my dad would go out in a bunch of brush and cut wood so we would have plenty for the winter. I would often go with him and just play around until he had the wood all split and then I’d help him load it in the truck so we could go home. One of my favorite things to do, especially if we were in some really thick brush and tall grass was to take the machete and cut a path to explore. It was so satisfying to use this sharp blade to chop down whatever was in front of me until I found a cool area to explore more of. I felt like Bear Grylls walking through the wilderness trying to survive. DO you guys know who Bear Grylls is? It was so much fun.

c. And in thinking of this story, I needed a really powerful tool in order to explore like I did. I needed that machete. And tonight, we are going to look at how similar to a sharp knife cutting through brush, the Bible cuts straight to our hearts.

d. Scripture. Let’s Read Hebrews 4:12 SLIDE

i. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12)

God’s Word is Alive

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When you think of something powerful what do you picture?

These powerful things that we think of, they all have an impact on our lives don’t they? We change how we live based on the influence they may have. A knife is sharp, I don’t touch the blade.

Similar to this, The Bible says God’s word is alive and powerful. This should mean something to us. It means that how we live is impacted by the Bible. That we actually change in our thoughts and actions because of how powerful the Bible is and it’s activity in influencing us.

Just as a machete can be extremely sharp and powerful. This image reveals how Jesus wants to use his Word in our lives. It cuts away the junk and shows us the truth about ourselves and him. As we consistently take time to read the Bible, it comes alive and offers us practical, relevant guidance for our daily lives.

Reading God’s Word helps us know ourselves

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Again, this passage in Hebrews SLIDE says that the Word of God sharper than any sword, it even cuts between joint and marrow. It’s so sharp it cuts between something we can’t even physically see: Soul and Spirit. What does this mean..? What does it mean that the Bible is this severity of sharpness? Not that you will get a handful of papercuts every time you grab it, obviously. But instead that SLIDE, it exposes who we are. The Bible has the ability to bring to the forefronts of our minds our innermost thoughts and desires. Those things we try to tuck away so that no one ever sees. Those things that you’re even afraid to see in your life. It exposes all things, that we must address what we do next.

So then, the question in this is why? Why does Jesus want to expose our innermost thoughts and desires? I think, likely for two reasons.

First, it makes us realize the condition of our own hearts. If I am that broken what does that mean for my life?

And then ultimately, the reason these are exposed, are so that we would see clearly the love of Jesus and our need for Him. Jesus loves you so much that, I promise you, he still wants to be in relationship with you through those broken things in your life. And the only way we can move forward with peace, confidence, and hope, is through placing the complete dependance of our lives on Jesus.

It’s much easier to work with our weaknesses when we know what they are. As we read the Bible, we start to get a clearer understanding of why we need Jesus so much. We begin to understand how much he loves us and wants to help us.

The psalmist writes in Psalm 119:9-11, SLIDE

9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Reading God’s Word changes how we live

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The writer of this psalm reminds us that we have a role to play in allowing Jesus to change us. If you decide you want to do things his way, reading the Bible is part of that strategy. See, we fill our lives searching for ways to know God know more, or follow Him more clearly, when often, the answer is laying on our bedstand collecting dust. Do you want to grow in your Faith? Do you want your life to look more like the love of Jesus at work? Do you want the foundation of your life to be firm in what it stands on? Then you have to spend time reading the Word of God. It’s not an, oh if you have time this could be good for you. It’s a. if you really take this serious, then this is how you live. I hope this challenges you. I know it does me. As I was preparing this message I felt so convicted of this need in my own life that I stopped and read Romans 6. I say this for you to know, that when I challenge you guys each week, it is also a challenge for me. I am nowhere near perfect. And I have a lot to grow in concerning my Faith and relationship with Jesus. But I am at the least extremely limited in my ability to do so if I don’t spend time in the Word. So I extend this challenge to you.

Reading God’s Word is so important to growing as a Christian. Just take small steps and read a little at a time. When you run into something that doesn’t make sense, find someone to ask about it or make a note to come back to it. And when you read something that seems really important to your life, underline it and read it again and again. Memorize the verse so you can be more ready to follow Jesus and experience his love in a more personal way.

Take the steps of spending time in the Word daily and be faithful to it. I am always here to help you along the way.

PRAY