A FAITH THAT ANCHORS ME IN STORMS
A FAITH THAT WORKS WHEN LIFE DOESN’T

JULY 26, 2020

Matthew 7:24-27 (Jesus) “Everyone who pays attention to MY
WORD and puts it into practice is like a wise person who built
his house on a SOLID ROCK foundation. Then a STORM
arose. The rain poured down, and the floodwaters rose, and
the storm winds beat hard against that house; yet it did not
collapse! Nothing moved it because it was ANCHORED TO
THE ROCK. But everyone who hears MY WORD and does
NOT practice it is like a foolish person who built his house on
sand. When the storm hit, and the rain poured down, and the
floodwaters rose, and the winds blew against that house, it
completely collapsed with a huge crash.”
Hebrews 6:19 “We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul.
It is sure and it is strong.”
Psalm 119:81 “God, my soul is weak from waiting for you to
save me. But my HOPE is based on your WORD.”)
HOW DO I ANCHOR MY LIFE TO THE
ROCK OF GOD’S WORD?
1. TREAT God’s Word as a precious gift to me.
Isaiah 59:21 “The Lord says: ‘My people, I promise to give
you my Spirit and my Word. These will be my gifts to you and
your families forever.’”
James 1:17-18 “Every GOOD GIFT and every PERFECT
PRESENT comes from God our Father above, who created all
the lights in the heavens. But unlike those lights that create
shifting shadows, God NEVER CHANGES. God chose to
GIVE US LIFE by giving us his WORD OF TRUTH, so that
we could be his most important creation.”
5 ASPECTS OF GOD’S GIFT
1. GOD’S WORD IS GOOD “a GOOD gift”
2. GOD’S WORD IS PERFECT “a PERFECT present”
3. GOD’S WORD IS TRUE “His Word of Truth”
4. GOD’S WORD IS UNCHANGING “God never
changes”
5. GOD’S WORD IS LIFE-GIVING.
Romans 15:4 “God chose to GIVE US LIFE by giving us his
WORD.” Everything written in the past was written to teach

us. The Scriptures give us endurance and encouragement so
that we can have HOPE.”
2. I must receive God’s Word.
Verse 21 – Accept the word planted in you.
Attitudes for Good Reception

 Careful attitude.
Verse 19 – Be quick to listen, slow to speak,
 We need to be calm.
Verse 19b – and slow to become angry.
 We need to be clean.
Verse 21 – Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so
prevalent.
 We need to be teachable.
Verse 21b- Humbly accept the word planted in you.
3. I must reflect on God’s Word.
Illustration: God’s Word is like a mirror.
How?
 We must read.
Verse 25 – The man who looks intently into the prefect law.

Questions:

Is there a sin to confess? A promise to claim? An attitude
to change? A command to obey? An example to follow?
A prayer to pray? An error to avoid? A truth to believe?
Something to thank God for?
 Review God’s Word.
Verse 25 – And continues to do so.
 Remember:
Verse 25 – Not forgetting what he has heard.
4. I must respond to God’s Word.
Verse 22 – Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive
yourselves. Do what it says.
Verse 25 – The man who puts the law into practice wins true
happiness.
Prov. 30:26 – Rock badgers are neither strong nor powerful,
but they are wise enough to live in the safety of the solid rock.