There are many voices in the world today that are full of all kinds of ideas. In our media, a few have skewed the microphone to speak to the silent majority. Those with the mic are out to influence and change belief systems.

Your life is governed by what you believe. What you believe has been largely determined by what you hear.

In Mark 4:24, Jesus instructs us to think, discern, be careful and prayerful about what we hear. The most important question is:  What does God say about it?  The answer to this question helps us find and do the will of God for our lives in every area.

God, through His love, through His Son Jesus, has spoken to us today!

In Hebrews 1:1–3 (NLT-SE) we read, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.”

God spoke and continues to speak to us in these days through His Son Jesus Christ.

Matthew 7:28–29 (NKJV) says, “And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Jesus’ audience was astonished by the manner in which Jesus delivered His message. The Greek word for astonished is ekplesso, which means that they were struck, amazed, stunned and overwhelmed. This verse is just as true today. As we go through this series and examine what Jesus says, we will also find ourselves astonished.

John 6:67–68 (MESSAGE) reads,

Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”  Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life.”

The question remains the same today. Where and what are you looking for to build your life on?

John 6:63b (NKJV) says  “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Every word of Jesus is a Spirit-word and it is life making.

During this series we will be looking largely at The Sermon On The Mount, which can be found in Matthew 5-7. We will be looking at Jesus’ actual words, which are often counter-cultural. It is in these chapters that we will find out what Jesus said about the law, anger, worry, adultery, divorce, enemies, the needy, how to treat others, you money and possessions, judging, the Lord’s Prayer, the Beatitudes and the Golden Rule!

Jesus lays out the principles for our lives. Once His principles are established in our lives, 95% of our questions are already answered. We are able to live by principles and not by circumstances.

It is just as important to note who Jesus is speaking to, as it is to note what Jesus is saying.

In Matthew 9:11–13 (NLT-SE) we find: 

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

When the Pharisees saw him keeping this kind of company, they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. “What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riff-raff?”Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick?  Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”
(Matt. 9:11–13 MSG)

The Pharisees looked down at other groups as scum and riff-raff. They had the truth but unfortunately lacked love.

Jesus came to speak to the poor, brokenhearted, captive, blind, broken, addicted, wounded, damaged, lot, rejected, wandering. In other words, Jesus came to speak to us!   God has spoken through His love, through His Son to us.

Matthew 17:5 (NKJV) says,

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

In this verse we are told to hear what Jesus has to say. Hearin this verse means to pay full attention so that you can also understand. The words of Jesus are life giving, life changing. We should be astonished by what He said!