SOUL TRAIN: THE POWER OF LIVING ON GOD’S TRACK

Building a Better Life
August 1, 2021

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Matthew 7:24-25 - “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

How to build your life on the word…

1. You receive it with your EARS.

James 1:19-22 - My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

To be receptive, you need to be:

QUIET

19. “Be quick to listen and slow to speak …”

CALM

19. “and slow to become angry …”

CLEAN

21. “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent”

HUMBLE

21. “humbly accept the Word planted in you which can save you.”

2. You read the Bible with your EYES.

James 1:22-25 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.

Two types of people:

• GLANCERS

• PRANCERS

3. You research it with your HANDS and MOUTH.

Bible “STUDY” requires

- writing down what you learn

- talking about what you learn

Acts 17:11 - Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

4. You review and remember with your MIND.

James 1:25 - But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.

The Bible term for remembering and reviewing God’s Word is MEDITATION.

Joshua 1:8 - Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

You are called to action:

5. You respond to it with ACTIONS.

James 1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Matthew 7:24-27 – “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”