THE TEXT MATT. 7:24-29

ROCK
The word rock is often used figuratively in the Bible to speak of God and Christ. As the Rock, God is the Creator <Deut. 32:18>, His people's strength <Deut. 32:4>, He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

His people's defense and refuge <Ps. 31:2-3; 94:22>, and His people's salvation <Deut. 32:15; Ps. 89:26>. In the New Testament, Christ is the Rock from whom the Spirit of life flows <John 4:13-14; 1 Cor. 10:4>, the foundation of the church <Matt. 16:18> and its cornerstone <Eph. 2:20>.

The rock of Israel
Gen 49:24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, (NIV)

The Hebrew word for ROCK
68 'eben (eh'-ben); from the root of 1129 through the meaning to build; a stone:
KJV-- + carbuncle, + mason, + plummet, [chalk-, hail-, head-, sling-] stone (-ny), (divers) weight (-s).

We stand on the Rock
Exod 17:6
I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. (NIV)

Exod 33:21
Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. (NIV)

The father hides us in the Rock
Exod 33:22
When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. (NIV)

We can speak to the Rock
Num 20:8
"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." (NIV)

The community rock
Num 20:8
"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." (NIV)

Our Rock is better than any other rock
Deut 32:31
For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede. (NIV)

Meat bread and fire on the Rock
Judg 6:20-21
20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so.
21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared.

Who is a Rock like our God?
2 Sam 22:32
For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? (NIV)

It is God's desire that we become students of his Word. If Jesus Christ emphasis that we should not take away from his word, then we should be careful to obey every word that proceeds from his mouth. The child of God that does not come to the reality that he is responsible to obey God's word will only come to destruction. Luke tells us in the first chapter of his gospel that those who are ministers of the word of God are called servants of the word.

Luke 1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. (NIV).

The word of God is like a Hammer that breaks the rocks into pieces
Jer 23:29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

The word of God is like fire
Jer 20:9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (NIV)

The prophets searched intently the word of God.
1 Pet 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, (NIV)


The Greek word INTENTLY means
1830 exereunao (ex-er-yoo-nah'-o); from 1537 and 2045; to explore (figuratively): KJV-- search diligently.

We have been born by his word
James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (NIV)

The word can save you
James 1:2 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. (NIV)

God wants us to be doers of the word
James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (NIV)

God wants us to give close attention to his word so that we will not be deceived.
James 1:23 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 (NIV)

We are born through the imperishable word of God.
1 Pet 1:23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (NIV)

The word of the Lord stands forever.
1 Pet 1:25 but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. (NIV)

The word of the prophets are more sure because it's prophetic
2 Pet 1:19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (NIV)

The word of life
I Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-- this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (NIV)

God's love is complete in us when we obey his word
I Jn 2:5 But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: (NIV)

We become strong through the word
I Jn 2:14 I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (NIV)

We will be persecuted for the word
Rev 1:9
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (NIV)

Rev 6:9
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. (NIV)