Once we have been fully persuaded that Jesus Christ is the solid rock, the foundation and have had a personal encounter with him, the next step is to know how to build on that foundation. The parable Jesus gave of the wise man and the foolish man in building their house, gives us visual insight. 

Matt. 7:24-27 “Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock; and the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on the house and it did not fall for it was founded on the rock. Now everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them will be like a foolish man who builds his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew and beat on the house and it fell. Great was it did fall. 

The key to building a strong Christian faith is to hear the word and DO IT! (respond correctly). 

John 14:23 “Jesus said “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (Through God’s word) 

Acts 20:32 “So now Brethren, I command you to God and to the word of his grace.” 

1. The authority of the written word. 
    a) The scripture is spoken as the “Word of God”.
         On the other hand-Jesus is declared to be the “Word or the Word of God”.
     b) In the beginning was the word and the word was God. John 1:1
         The word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as the only begotten of the Father.
         John 1:14
      c) The Bible is the word of God and Christ is the Word of God. 
      d) Each is a divine authoritative perfect revelation of God and each agrees with the other. 
      e) The Bible reveals Christ, Christ perfectly fulfills the Bible. 
       f) The Word of God has eternal authority
           “ Forever oh Lord your word is sealed in heaven.” Psalms 119:89
           “Heaven and Earth will pass away but your word will not pass away”. Matt 24:35
   “The entirety of your word is truth and every one of your righteous judgments will endure forever.
             Psalms 119:160

Note: Psalms 119 The longest chapter in the Bible teaches and reveals the word of God - it’s precious and eternal value. 

2. Practical effects the Bible produces in those who receive it. 

Jesus said “It is the spirit who gives life. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life”. John 6:63  

 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword piercing ever to the division of soul and spirit, joints and morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12  

1 Thessalonians 2:13  For this reason we also thank God without ceasing because when you receive the word of God which you heard from us you will welcome it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 
God’s word is life-it is spirit-it is alive, it is active (energetic). It works in those who believe it. 

3. The word is as effective as our response 

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness (naughtiness) and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 

Psalms 25:8-12  Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment and the meek will he teach his ways. All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenants and his testimonies. 

For his name sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. What man is he that feareth the Lord. (who respects Yahweh) him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. (KJV) 

4. Let us receive the word of God with meekness and the fear (respect) of the Lord. 

a) Hearing the word brings about faith  i) Word  ii) Hearing  iii) Faith
        (developed over of a period of time always directly related to the word of God) 

b) Faith is expressed by claiming the promises of his word. 

c) Faith produces the new birth. 

          1 Peter 1:23 ”...begat us with the word of truth being born again not as corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God.” 

d) The type of seed determines the life brought forth.
          (Each brings forth seed of its own kind wheat produces wheat. apple seed produces apples.) 

Whosoever has been born of God does not sin for his seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:9

A biblical example of hearing, receiving and responding to the word. 
(The first revival recorded in the scripture) 

Nehemiah 8:1  All the people gathered together as one man in front of the water gates. 

             V3: He read from it in the open square...from morning until midday...the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 
             V6: Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. The all the people answered amen, amen, while lifting up their hands and the people bowed 
                    their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 

             V9: ...and all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 

              B. They gathered together each day for 7 days (the feast of the tabernacles) to hear the word. 

              C. They responded to the word by gathering material and building booths to live in during the feasts. 

              D. This was revival beginning when the word was spoken. The people heard and received the word and acted  upon it.
                   They had not responded to the word and kept the feast of tabernacles since the day of Joshua. 

5. The Bible is nourishment for the new believer. 
1 Peter 2:1-2 (NJB) “Rid yourselves, then, of all spite, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, criticism
(evil speaking) like new-born babies all your longing should be milk-the unaltered spiritual milk-which will help you grow up to salvation-at any rate if you have tasted that he (the Lord) is good. 
1 Peter 2:1-2 (NKJ) “Laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking and as new born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”. 
● Pure Milk (pure Word) don’t drink sour milk-buy fresh milk. (sour milk will make one sick) (1Peter 2:1-2) 
● Bread - given for children
● Meat - for the mature 

Hebrews 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.