Bible verses to build your life on

Jesus said: “… whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…” ~ Matthew 7:24

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Matthew 7 outline ~ very cool chapter

October 2010

So, I've been reading through Matthew 7, and trying to dig a little deeper. Several parts of Matthew 7 are familiar to many of us, but I think I noticed an interesting progression of thought that ties them all together. So, I plan to post that in the comments for feedback :) ~ your bro/friend , SH

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Matthew 7:1-5 ~ Do not condemn, but graciously rebuke, keeping your conscience clear.

Matthew 7:6 ~ Use discernment, do not trust your closest personal information (including sensitive subjects) with just anyone, especially when they scoff at your testimony and your growing hunger for His Word and passion to please Him

Matthew 7:7-11 ~ We can ask for anything, anytime from our Heavenly Father, and He will give us what we need, in His timing, according to our needs

Matthew 7:12 ~ 2nd Greatest Commandment restated, in short form

Matthew 7:13-14 ~ Only 2 roads to eternity: Heaven and Hell, as soon as we are walking in known rebellion, we are walking on the road to Hell. Only those who accept Jesus' call of repentance and discipleship are the genuinely saved ones, their actions showing what is valuable to them

Matthew 7:15-20 ~ Watch out - beware of false prophets who will say some things right, but tickle your ears and tell you what you want to hear on the most important parts, and will do some 'good' things, but the known hypocrisy they do and try to hide is the fruit that proves that they are false, not true shepherds. However a good tree - believer and genuine Bible teacher, cannot stay in sin - God will discipline him (Hebrews 12:5), and he will not be able to knowingly teach falsely or twist the Word of God, for God will not allow Him to do so without very hard troubles to teach him not to do that.

Matthew 7:21-23 ~ Many who call Jesus 'Lord and Master' will hear "depart from Me" there, because they refused to grow in obedience to Him, here. This is easily remedied, while they are still living, though, because they only need to repent and get busy reading God's Word, intentionally thinking on it, and growing in obedience to it to get right with God. Those who actively grow closer to God - choosing their desire to please Him to permeate every part of their lives, will hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21) when they get there ~ :)

Matthew 7:24-27 ~ Only 2 foundations to build on. And we are either building on the good or bad foundation. As we realize, to our horror, that we are building on a bad foundation, remodeling and readjusting will need to take place to tear down the old, bad foundation, and build a right and good foundation. Through life, God has arranged that we will be tested many times, to both help us to examine what lifestyle-foundation we have, and to teach us what we need to repent of, remove from our life permanently, and grow in.

~ 2 foundations:1) pleasing Jesus, building on His Word, growing in obedience to Him, and walking in the blessed "fear of the Lord" which is the "beginning of wisdom"

or

2) pleasing men (and ourselves), building on man's words and lofty ideas (which is actually demonic distractions and lies), and doing what we want, whenever we want, however we want, and fighting for it - no matter the cost.

2 extremes - only one solid foundation. Let's keep growing to build on God's Word, spending more time in it and growing more in humble obedience to Him! :)

Matthew 7:28-29 ~ The people were stunned by Jesus' teachings, for they had never heard such things from their teachers... I bet not! :) It's a rare occasion to get an audience with the Creator of the Universe teaching you first-hand things that have been mysteries for most people throughout the last 6,000 years.

May we grow to treasure, study, learn, and explain the beautiful and amazing truths and treasures we have so readily available to us through His Word! ~ your fellow growing brother (and friend), and a servant/life-slave of Jesus, SH