Have you ever had to deal with termites? They do more than $5 billion a year damage to homes. They can also be in the church! At least a couple of times in the sermon on the Mount Jesus addresses a potential termite; that God has spoken and how we handle his words will greatly determine our destiny. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Jesus is stating something here that is absolutely foundational for every Jesus follower; GOD HAS SPOKEN! Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. The word of God is living. The word of God is active. Christianity is a supernatural religion based on the resurrected Jesus and informed by the Bible. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. So, Matthew 5:17 – 18 Jesus stands up for and establishes the authority of the word of God. What Jesus says next in Matthew 5 is where the termites come in. Matthew 5:19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. If God has spoken and if God has spoken carefully and precisely and authoritatively… Then what right do we have to ever relax what he says – or lessen the impact of what he says – or diminish what he says – or change what he says – or just simply untie ourselves from what he says. But there’s also a great promise… but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Let’s understand this… 1. The word of God is life-giving. 2. The word of God is life building. 3. The word of God is life living. 4. The word of God is life-changing. Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”