CHRIST THE ROCK

CHRIST THE ROCK

Isaiah 8:14-15

He will be as a sanctuary,

But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel,

As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken."

In the Bible, many times GOD and JESUS are related to a rock.

To understand what this means, we need to be familiar with the role rocks and stones played in the lives of people those days.

In Bible times people walked on rough terrain, desert, wilderness, marshy land and forest.

Dashing the foot against a stone, roadblock,

Stepping stone on marshy ground or across a river.

Shelter from the heat of the day and the cold breeze of the desert at night.

As we know, stones and rocks are firm, solid and very hard.

Big rocks are set in a spot and not easy to move indicating stability.

Jerusalem appears as a city built on a rock!  Most structures are built with stones.

Infact most of its ground is stony and hence the graves are hewn tombs.

Like a Rock, JESUS is the Truth - Solid, firm, cannot be pressed, squeezed, shaped

Everything has to conform to Him.

This age is referred to as the ‘Post-truth era.’

Many people believe that there is no absolute truth and one can believe whatever he or she feels is true!

A lot of things and situations are referred to as ‘Fluid’! Unstable, takes the shape of any container, having no shape of its own. What an insecure situation to be in?

Many things are true in the world.

Many words of many philosophers may be true.

Many aspects of worldly systems may be true.

Many are rushing for counsel to financial consultants.

Many are running to medical consultants.

All of them may know the truth partly. Research..

Are we consulting JESUS Who knows the whole truth?

Only He knows the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning.

He speaks the truth and nothing but the truth because..

He is the Truth!  

John 14:6

JESUS standing right in front of him, Pilate asked, “What is truth”?

In Hebrew, truth is ‘EMET’. It is spelt with the first, middle and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet indicating that truth encompasses and holds everything together and endures all things from the beginning to the end.

Heb 13:8

Those who sincerely and diligently seek the truth, will find the truth.

You may have heard of Nabeel Qureshi, the young man who was converted from Islam to Christianity, who died recently. His book is titled,  - ‘Seeking Allah, Finding JESUS’

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

John 8:32

John, in speaking about JESUS says,

And the Word became 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.

John 1:14

No wisdom, no knowledge, no experience, no research can reveal the truth to you.

The day you have an encounter with the LORD JESUS, you have the opportunity to know the Truth. You are confronted with the truth.  

One of my lecturers in Medical College was known for his fire-walking. Although a medical professor, he was desperately  in search of the truth. A few years ago he found the truth and had said to a friend of ours, “All the years of medical knowledge and intellect crumbled and became as nothing when the love of JESUS entered my heart!”

A Stumbling Stone and A Rock of Offense

The LORD JESUS interrupts our well-planned programs.

He intervenes to bring about His plans in our lives.

When we are confronted with the Truth, we have to make a decision to either accept or reject the truth.

We have to say Yes or No to the truth. There is no middle path.

It is in trying to ignore or avoid the truth that we stumble in our walk of life.

The LORD becomes a stumbling stone and we cannot effectively progress in our spiritual life.

JESUS’ teaching on salvation of the soul and the spiritual walk was radical.

Many in His time, stumbled because of Him.

The Jews were waiting for their Messiah - the Saviour, to save them from Roman oppression.

They were expecting such a Saviour to be a King of the Jews, appearing in power and glory.

A helpless baby born to poor parents, born in a stable, laid in a manger did not match their expectations.

John 3:16

JESUS means Saviour.

The thought of a suffering Messiah and a servant King stumbled the religious Jews and the learned Greeks,.

1 Corinthians 1:23

but we preach Christ crucified,

to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

Philosophers, prophets, saints cannot save..

The Jews took pride in their inheritance and in Abraham as their father.

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Then they took up stones to throw at Him;

John 8:58-59

Salvation is not inherited. Just because you are born to Christian parents or your father is a servant of GOD, does not mean you are automatically saved!

If a baby is born to foreign parents in the USA, he does not automatically become a citizen of America. At 16 years of age, he has to make that decision - whether to be a citizen of America or the country the parents belong to.

GOD has no grandchildren, only children!

‘ Hear O Israel, the LORD your GOD the LORD the LORD is One. You shall have no other gods before Me’

Words such as, “I and the Father are one”, was offensive to them.

No man can equate himself to the one and only GOD. They considered it blasphemy.

It is easy to speak about GOD but mentioning the name of JESUS stirs up people and causes offense to many.

It is the most powerful name that brings salvation to those who believe.

Do we boldly mention the name of JESUS to non believers?

Nor is there salvation in any other,

for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."  Acts 4:12

Each individual needs to meet with and accept JESUS to be saved.

Accepting the LORD brings a demarcation in the life of each individual like BC and AD. ..counted backwards or forwards!

Salvation by Faith

Heb 11:1, 6

John 20:29

Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed.

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

By Hearing the Word, Believing the Word & Receiving the word, Faith is imparted into our heart.

Heb 12:1-2

John 6:28-29

Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"

Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God,

that you believe in Him whom He sent."

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household."

Acts 16:31

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness,

have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith;

but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness,

has not attained to the law of righteousness.

Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law.

For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense,

And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Romans 9:30-33

About eating blood

Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you,

unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life,

and I will raise him up at the last day.

For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father,

so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

This is the bread which came down from heaven-

-not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead.

He who eats this bread will live forever."

John 6:53-58

Jews were commanded not to eat the blood of animals. Blood means life and you cannot receive the life of an animal. JESUS gave up His life so that we may give up our lives and receive His life so that He might live through us.

The message of the cross was an offense ..

And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution?

Then the offense of the cross has ceased.

Galatians 5:11

JESUS commanded HIs disciples to take up their cross, that is to deny self, and follow Him.

He did this literally and showed us how to die to self and live for GOD and others.

This way is contrary to the thinking of the world.

In all religions works save..

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;

it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

How about you? Has tradition become a bondage to you?

Moses’ law meant everything to the Jews.

He said to them,

"All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

Mark 7:9

The religious leaders were carefully studying and keeping the laws of Moses to justify themselves before GOD.

They seemed righteous in the eyes of people. They did not realise that their hearts were turned away from GOD.The laws revealed the degree of sin in the heart of man.

JESUS, Who is the word made flesh, revealed GOD’S heart, the heart of love.

GOD’S law is a law of love, a law of the heart.

It was impossible for a person to wholly keep all of the laws of Moses which were guidelines to GOD’S law.

For whoever shall keep the whole law,

and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

James 2:10

We can ask ourselves “Why am I doing this? Is it to justify myself or is it an act of love?

Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.

Psalm 119:165

You might remember Balaam, who is known by his more famous donkey that talked!

CHRIST the rock exposes our wrong motives and attitudes.

Proverbs 19:3

The foolishness of a man twists his way, And his heart frets against the Lord.

In such a situation, we need to humbly ask GOD what He wants us to know.

Hindrances to our progress in paths that are not meant for us are caused by road blocks laid by the LORD.

Pursuing certain paths of medical research, money-making endeavours could be like building towers of Babel in GOD’S eyes.

Roadblocks could come in the form of rift with co-workers, inability to progress for some reason and so on. Man’s research comes to a deadlock when GOD conceals knowledge!

The LORD interrupts the plans that are not in His will. It is then necessary for us to listen to GOD and obey Him.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord,

thoughts of peace and not of evil,

to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

And you will seek Me and find Me,

when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11-13

1 Samuel 15:22b-23a

..Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,

And to heed than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry..."

Is there stubbornness in any of our hearts?

Are you stubbornly holding on to your mindset regarding any particular matter?

Career path? Partner? Job? Purchase of a house?

Is the wise counsel of someone irritating you because it is different to what you want to do?

Dashing the foot against a stone was the most common irritating experience in those days.

It left one with a sore toe..

.. For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1,11-12

When we are walking the path of righteousness, the enemy lays stumbling blocks in the form of discouragement through negative words of people, worldly systems that are contrary to GOD’S word and so on. As we pray, stand firm in the LORD and continue in faith, the LORD fights on our behalf and removes the hindrances. He aids us against our enemies.

Saul, as a learned, religious pharisee was very zealous for Judaism..

Your search for the Truth is over when you encounter JESUS.

From then on the journey is discovering more of the Truth in Him.

1--Shelter and a Sanctuary

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 18:1-2

David the Psalmist knew and understood GOD as His Rock...

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Psalm 61:1-4

Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually;

You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress. - Psalm 71:3

Are there times you feel you cannot go on anymore?

You can always find shelter and comfort if you will only come to CHRIST the Rock.

He will be as a sanctuary… a Holy Place, Place of Refuge

The place where GOD dwells in the midst of His people.

..Our GOD is so high: can’t get over Him,

So low, can’t get under Him.

Say yes and enter into the Truth

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and praise.

Enter into His Rest.

That is true worship - absolute surrender.

He becomes as it were your vehicle to travel!

He transports us to our eternal destiny.

He is the way and He is the life.

- ‘In CHRIST’

If we want to live a victorious life, we have to learn to live ‘In CHRIST’.

For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen,

to the glory of God through us.

2 Corinthians 1:20

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Colossians 3:3-4

As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

Colossians 2:6

Of Benjamin he said:

"The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by Him,

Who shelters him all the day long; And he shall dwell between His shoulders."

Deuteronomy 33:12

Our life IN CHRIST becomes real when we live in right relationship with each other in the Body of CHRIST which is the Church.

Just as GOD brought forth water from the rock through Moses in the wilderness, CHRIST is the Rock from whom living water flows.

and all drank the same spiritual drink.

For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:4

2--Moulding

"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord:

Look to the rock from which you were hewn,

And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.

Isaiah 51:1

Imagine a piece of rock being scooped out of a big rock..

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,

that you through His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

The Son of GOD became a Son of man so that we might become sons and daughters of GOD.

He was condemned so that we could be forgiven and justified.

By His stripes we are healed.

Just as Eve was taken out of Adam’s side, JESUS’ side was pierced so that His bride ..

GOD is in the process of moulding us individually and together into the image of His Son.

About 15 months ago, I was hospitalised with high blood pressure and on that bed in ‘Emergency’ I was repenting of my sins. The LORD clearly spoke to me saying, “This is not punishment for you sin. I took all your punishment on Myself. This is the process of moulding you have been desiring and asking of Me.”

When you are hard-pressed on every side, ‘Press’ toward JESUS.

He is the template..

Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion..

"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?

For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap.

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;

He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver,

That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.

Malachi 3:2-3

I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake;
and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood.
And the stars of heaven fell to the earth,
as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up,
and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders,
the mighty men, every slave and every free man,
hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
and said to the mountains and rocks,
"Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne
and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come,
and who is able to stand?"
Revelation 6:12-17

3--Build on the cornerstone

In the process of installing the washing machine, you need to adjust the three feet to that one foot that is flat and level on the floor. That will keep the machine from dancing on the laundry floor while spinning at 1200 rpm!

When the sun rises, you see the sun and everything in the light of the sun.

When the Son of GOD enters and rises in your heart, you will see Him and everything in His light.

After hearing the word of GOD, if we obey that word, our lives will be as the house that is built on the rock. It will weather the storm.

Matthew 21:42

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:

'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'?

The religious leaders of that day who were meant to be building the Kingdom of GOD, rejected JESUS. They were spiritually blinded and so fought against Him.

Coming to Him as to a living stone,

rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood,

to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:4-5

Individually our lives should be built on CHRIST the solid Rock. Our LORD said that the house built on sand will not weather the storm.

JESUS said if you love Me you will keep My commandment.

And what is His commandment? Love one another as I have loved you.

That is how we build our lives on the Rock.

Then together we will be built as a dwelling place for GOD in the Spirit.

Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners,

but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building,

being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,

in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:19-22

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To God our Savior, Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25