(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.” Matthew 7:24-27  

“We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul. It is sure and it is strong!”     Hebrews 6:19   

“God, my soul is weak from waiting for you to save me. But my HOPE is based on your WORD.”  Psalm 119:81 (GW)

1. TREAT ____________________________________________

“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.’” Isaiah 59:21 (CEV)

“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.” James 1:17-18  

5 ASPECTS OF GOD’S GIFT

1. God’s Word is __________________ ____ “a GOOD gift”

2. God’s Word is _________________ “a PERFECT present”

3. God’s Word is __________________ “His Word of Truth”

4. God’s word is _________________ “God never changes”

5. God’s Word is ____________________________

“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.” Romans 15:4 (NCV)

2. HUMBLY _______________________________________

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and HUMBLY ACCEPT the message God has PLANTED in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls.” James 1:21 (NLT)

3. STUDY IT & _____________________________________

“Do not merely LISTEN to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says! 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 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But if you KEEP LOOKING INTENTLY into the perfect law that gives freedom, and you CONTINUE to do this, NOT forgetting what you have learned, but DOING IT -- then you will be BLESSED in whatever you do.” James 1:22-25

5 CONDITIONS FOR GOD’S BLESSING

1. __________________________________ “Listen”

2. _________________________ “Keep looking intently”

3. ___________________________ “Continue to do this”

4. _______________________________ “Not forgetting”

“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.” Joshua 1:8    

5. ______________________________ “Do what it says”

“Rock badgers are neither strong nor powerful but they are wise enough to live in the safety of solid rock.”

Proverbs 30:26 (NCV)