Sermon Central
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Faith’s Response To The Word For Optimal Profit
Contributed by James Awosina on Jul 2, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: To profit from the Word requires an action of faith. Reading, hearing and receiving the Word passively and superficially is of no profit to a person.
FAITH’S RESPONSE TO THE WORD FOR OPTIMAL PROFIT
“For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it”
“The Word preached did not profit them…”
What a fearful declaration!
From the text and the testimonies of all inspired writers, we see that:
1. The Word (the gospel - the glad tidings from God) has inherent, substantive power to profit responsive hearers, changing their lives and shaping their destinies - Romans 1:16
2. It takes faith to profit from the Word, as illustrated in the roll call of faith worthies - Hebrews 11:2
3. Faithlessness in the Word imperils a soul, as revealed in the wilderness wandering of the Exodus generation - Hebrews 3:17-19
The greatest profit in the Word is the discovery of the Word-Incarnate. This is the key to personal redemption. If we search the Word without knowing Christ, we are of all men most miserable!
Faith must mingle and masticate the Word for its juice to be extracted.
If it takes faith to benefit from the Word, how then do we activate our faith to profit maximally from the Word?
Here are 11 definitive responses to the Word for optimal profit:
1. Hear the Word actively and constantly
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
* Passive listening to the Word will harden the heart further in disobedience and rebellion
2. Receive the Word gladly
“And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost” (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
* To reject the Word is to renounce God and seal our doom
3. Believe the Word heartily
“Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved”
* Mental assent to the Word makes a life nominal and superficial
4. Obey the Word promptly
“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith”
* Disobedience to the Word attracts grave consequences
5. Confess or declare the Word faithfully
“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach”
* The Word is the Sword of the Spirit to be wielded verbally in spiritual warfare
6. Preserve, keep or hide the Word diligently in the heart
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee”
* The preferred lodging place of the Word is a prepared heart
7. Defend the Word earnestly
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”
* The Word is worth defending with our very lives
8. Pray the Word effectually
“And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her”
* The Word lends credence and authority to prayer
9. Study the Word diligently
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”
* The Word is the most profitable treasure to study and meditate upon
10. Esteem the Word highly
“Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips;
I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food”
* Reverence for the Word is synonymous with reverence for God, the Author
11. Seek the Word-Incarnate ultimately
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”
*Finding and knowing Christ, the Word-Incarnate (the Word-made-flesh) for our salvation is the ultimate purpose of searching the Word
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”
Good attitude and gracious aptitude are at the root of optimal profit from the Word. So be eager in responding positively to the Word. The benefits are astounding.
