Doers _Valuable Insights #9 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only
Why are people who claim to know Jesus sinking in spiritual sand?
Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV) (The mixing must happen!)
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
“According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any one builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw - each man's work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” RSV
Insight:
Jesus is the only foundation. Since this is true, why do we see Christians sinking into spiritual sand, rather than standing on solid Rock?
The answer is revealed in Matthew 7:24-27. Pay attention to the key words, “does them.”
Matthew 7:24-27
"Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (NKJV)
Insight:
Even though a Christian knows Jesus as their personal Savior they can sink into spiritual sand because they have not acted upon the Word of God. There are times when believers apply God’s Word in one area of life and not in another.
For example, when a husband applies God’s Word at the work place with success, but when he comes home he is not considerate toward his wife. (1 Peter 3:7) Then again, the wife might apply God’s Word toward her husband and have a happy marriage but she disrespects her mother and does not talk to her for years. (Hebrews 12:15)
There are many examples, all with the same concept; believers are not obeying God’s Word in every aspect of their lives.
Insights:
Our goal should be to apply God’s Word in all areas of life, not just in some. This takes come diligence.
When we limit the application of God’s Word in our lives we become like Yo-yos who go up and down every day, fruit in one area of life and no fruit in other areas of life.
Without consistent actions of obedience to the Word of God, Christians are living blind and missing out on God’s full blessings and not even know it.
James 1:22 (Read these interesting portions of God's word, Ezekiel 33:30-32)
“But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].” AMP
Insights:
People cannot blame God when things go wrong especially when they have not applied God’s Word in their lives. As Proverbs 19:3 states, “When a man's folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.” (RSV) However, it is never the Lord’s fault when things go wrong. If this truth is not established our heart can rage against the Lord without reason.
Anger toward the Lord is one of many things the enemy loves. If we are all upset with the One who loves us, cares for us and gave Himself on the cross for us…we will not go to Him or talk to Him… And if we do go to Him and talk to Him we might have a bitter attitude in our approach.
A bitter attitude means it is not sweet, not satisfying. As a believer we are to bear much fruit but let us not forget that our fruit needs to be sweet and satisfying.
Insights:
In any situation of life remember the two "B's". "Better" or "Bitter"! Always choose the better and you will be free!
John 15:8
“When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine.” AMP
(Highlighted texts added)
Deuteronomy 29:18-19
“Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations; lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.' This would lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.” RSV
Note that Deuteronomy 29:18 in the KJV uses the words “gall and wormwood” rather than “poisonous and bitter fruit” found in the RSV, as follows:
Deuteronomy 29:18
“Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood…” KJV
The Hebrew definition “wormwood” is: a rebellious or bitter root or spirit in persons. (From The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament)
Insight:
You may say, “I’m not bitter, but what about the stubbornness of my heart?”
When people do not obey the Word of God they are being stubborn. This stubbornness of heart causes them to sink into spiritual sand rather than stand on solid Rock.
Jeremiah 7:24
“But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.” RSV
Jeremiah 11:8
“Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but every one walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. Therefore I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not." RSV
Insight:
Even though a person knows Jesus, unless they act upon His words they will sink into the spiritual sand in some or all categories of life.
Therefore a Christian who knows Jesus must act upon the Word of God to manifest the only foundation there is which is Jesus Christ. Believers are not to just observe but to do (act upon) the Word of God.
Ecclesiastes 11:4
“He who observes the wind will not sow; and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” RSV
Insight:
Bottom line: Become a practicing surefooted disciple of Jesus Christ, bearing much sweet fruit for Him and lead a life that is built upon the solid foundation of Jesus Christ our Rock.
John 15:8
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” RSV
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” NKJV
Insight:
May our obedient lives, built on the Rock of Christ, bring God glory from this day onward? Amen.
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This video reveals the benefits of doing God's Word. If this is not enough I do not know what else to say!!
This video will assist every believer in Christ to overcome and stand on the ROCK!
This verse again! Please watch the first video on this page for deeper insights. Thank you.
Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV) (The mixing must happen!)
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
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