Lent 2024 - Sermon: "Immovable"

        Last Sunday we looked at persevering faith and I gave the example of my bicycle riding over the last three years. Since the snow fall has been minimal this year, I was able to go for a couple of rides as the weather was decent and not windy. I will admit I don’t ride in the rain or really windy conditions, unless I get caught in it. On Tuesday the weather was amazing and hit about 22° C / 71° F and it was a fantastic day for a bike ride, but I chose not to go as I rode on Monday. I decided to go the next day. So, on Wednesday morning after I finished some writing around 8:30 am, I checked the weather as it was pretty nice; 14° C and sunny. My weather apt said there was a storm coming in the afternoon and possibly some rain in a couple of hours. I was going to add some distance to my ride, but I thought I would be back no problem. I didn’t look to closely at what was coming. I knew the route I would take and that would double my 20km ride to 40km and off I went. The wind was around 27 km/hr, a little on the high end but not too bad. After riding a little, I took off my balaclava and raincoat as I was getting hot. As I rode, I checked the weather app again, but the radar now didn’t show rain and I didn’t look to closely at other information, so I kept riding but then I looked over my shoulder and the sky was getting black. So, I turned sooner than planned and headed for home, which would be a ride of 29 km. I had about 15 km to go, but shortly after I turned, the wind really started to pick up. The black sky was getting close real fast, and it looked like it was absolutely pouring. I stopped and put my raincoat on again and seconds after, I was hit with something like a microburst and almost knocked me down. I have to say that I laughed out loud because I try not to ride in these conditions. I then expected it to rain, sleet or hail but I was out in the country, so I kept going while looking for some shelter just in case. The rain, sleet and hail did not come, but after the wind burst, the wind continued at about 45 km and coming from the side, while the temperature continued to drop. I had to get home, so I put my head down and for a little bit I was riding on a slight angle. I was like a sail on wheels, and it was tough going, especially since this was only my third ride, but I kept going and made it home. By the time I got home, the temperature had dropped to 3°C and I don’t know what the wind chill was, but it was cold. I checked the weather app again and it said there were wind gusts of up to 65 km/hr (no kidding!) with a warning that dangerous freeze, snow squalls were coming, so take aim. So yes, a bike ride the day before would have been a good decision. Now you could either say that it was dumb to go for a ride or we could say that I persevered, got some extra exercise riding in the wind, even though I was cold and tired when I got back.

        I realized this was just a short distance to cover and not anywhere near what some have persevered in but I am going with persevered albeit short, as today and this week we are looking at what it means to stand firm on God’s word and not be moved. This last week we talked about persevering through all the deception and delusion in the church when there are so many voices telling you other ways to go all the while saying they speak the truth. We also looked at persevering when lies, gossip, slander and mocking are being hurled your way. When it was so windy and especially during that wind burst that felt like a mini tornado, I had to put my head down and pump the legs or else I was coming to a stop or tip over. Now again that is human strength, so what does it mean to put your head down when it comes to persevering faithfully in the midst of satan’s attacks. Job gives us the answer. He said, Job 19:25 “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes— I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” When all the devastation happened to Job in the first two chapters, he Job 1:20 “fell to the ground in worship 21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” And he said, Job 2:10 “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.” James recaps what happened to Job in the end. James 5:11 “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” So, Job put his head down, was not moved and never turned from God.

        I talk a lot about tradition, reason and experience being placed equal to or greater than scripture. When you do that, that is wrong and very dangerous. Now I just shared an experience with you, so what is the difference? Experience should never replace scripture but can reveal things that are happening. For example, I could have told my story about riding my bike and said that God has given us the strength and ability to do these things. I could say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and yes, humans can do amazing things. Then you could expand the illustration and say that God has given the doctors the ability to heal and then you could say “work like it all depends on you and pray like it all depends on God.” By the way that saying is false as everything depends on God. This simple progression of thought is why the church is powerless because it decided human strength and intellect was all that was now needed. Since humans are so amazing, there really is no need for God except for a few accolades now and then. People no longer need to be healed because we have the medical profession and prayer really isn’t about God but what the hands of man can do. You may have noticed that when someone goes in for surgery the church tends to pray for the doctors performing that surgery. We have also been led to believe that we just have to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. Have you noticed the world is chaotic and getting worse? Since I have seen this take place, then my experience tells me the church is in deep trouble. But experience should never replace scripture and go off in a different direction as we have seen the church do and because the church did, the church sits desolate and powerless. So now there is no healing as described in scripture and yes, the medical profession can do amazing things, yet look at the costs (billions) and look at the amount of people getting sick especially in the area of mental health. I took a quick look at one site and they said the top three causes of death in the United States was heart disease, cancer and Covid 19 and today the world is in a mental health crisis, yet the world, even the church refuses to turn to God. This is bizarre because this is what we were offered by God. Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Even though Jesus is still alive, the church decided they would depend on human hands. The church decided like king Asa to go with doctors instead of God. 2 Chronicles 16:12 “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.” In this account we see a woman in a hopeless situation, even though she had gone to doctors. Mark 5:24 “A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.”

        Another area is traditions and each with their many gods. I grew up in the Methodist tradition whose god was John Wesley. Others grew up in a Calvinist tradition whose god was John Calvin and others grew up in a dispensational tradition whose god was John Darby. And still others may have grown up in the Catholic tradition whose god was the pope. There were others in each tradition but the list of gods in the church could go on for pages. Today there are many gurus in the church who could be added to the list of gods. Each church follows after a distinct theology that opposes the other, so tradition is placed equal to or above scripture. Mark 7:8 “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” 9 And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!” As I did, we are supposed to turn away from those traditions and return to God’s word. Man thinking that they were so smart (humanism) has also caused huge damage in the church. One person described humanism as “God has been removed from the center of life; he is no longer truly worshipped; and man has assumed his place.” This is not new. Isaiah 29:14 “the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” 1 Corinthians 1:20 “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” Yes, God gave us a brain to use, but when God asked questions as we see in Job 38-31, humans are not as smart as they pride themselves in being. Ezekiel said, Ezekiel 28:2 “‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.” But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. 3 Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? 6 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, 7 I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; 9 Will you then say, “I am a god,” in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a mortal, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you.” Our knowledge comes from God when we fear Him, otherwise it is just foolishness. Paul also said, 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” When reason, tradition and experience are put together in the wrong way, then subjects like homosexuality become acceptable even though scripture says it is an abomination / detestable. But not only does scripture describe the sin but also provides the power to heal. 1 Corinthians 6:11 “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

        The bible is supposed to be placed above experience, reason and tradition and when we do, our experience will change, our traditions will be set aside, and knowledge from God will be given but we must fear God and put our hope in Him. Proverbs 2:6 “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” When we fear God, we will submit to the authority of His word. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We will never put anything above His word, add to His word or take anything away from His word and those who do will be admonished and if they continue, Revelation 22:18 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” When we place the word of God above everything else, we will stand firm in the face of the enemy, see clearly through the deception and will not fear the enemy, the lies, insults, the gossip, or the mocking. Psalm 27:3 “Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.” Putting your head down basically means being really focused and could be called steadfast which means unwavering or firmly fixed on God. Romans 4:18 “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” Putting our head down or being focused on our own strength is how the world sees it and many in the church, but being steadfast is not about our strength but is about our unwavering faith in God and obedience to His word. Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Psalm 119:1 “Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— 3 they do no wrong but follow his ways. 4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! 6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.”

        God calls us to be fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 6:14 “Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven or on earth—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.” Not only will God keep His covenant, but he will also strengthen those who are full committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” If you have decided to stand on your own, you will be moved and defeated, as satan is too strong for man. This is why we are told to Ephesians 6:11 “put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” The church seems to think their fight is against manmade forces and not spiritual forces. That is why so many churches have modelled themselves after the business world and its success. Therefore, they operate the church in their own strength by the work of their own hands, which has no power whatsoever to defeat satan. The very fact that they work with their hands means satan has already won, even though the church acts as if God is with them and blessing them. Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.” When we realize that we are powerless against satan and submit to God, then we can be truly steadfast. Joshua was told, Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” It didn’t matter how powerful the enemy was, when God went before them, they would be victorious but as Joshua was also told, to be successful they had to stand on God’s word. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Jeremiah was told Jeremiah 1:18 “Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land.”

        If we do not make our stand on God’s word, our enemies will stand against us even though as Joshua was told Joshua 1:5 “No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.” Disobedience changes that. We were warned in Daniel 7:21 “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.” Daniel 8:24 “He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power.” Daniel 11:15 “the forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their best troops will not have the strength to stand. 16 The invader will do as he pleases; no one will be able to stand against him. He will establish himself in the Beautiful Land and will have the power to destroy it. 31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. 32 With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.” We also learn in Joshua why we cannot stand against our enemies even though we are told we can. When we disobey, there is no power to defeat our enemies. They were given specific instructions when they took Jericho but, Joshua 7:1 “the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. 13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.”

        If we are going to stand against our enemies, we must be firmly planted on the Rock. Psalm 16:8 “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken / moved.” Zechariah 12:1 “The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares: 2 “I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem. 3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations. All who try to move it will injure themselves. 8 On that day the Lord will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them. 9 On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem.” There are amazing pictures of lighthouses with massive waves crashing against them. It is easy to just look at the waves and think about their power and destructive force, but the lighthouse is even more amazing as it is able to withstand those forces as the engineering was really quite remarkable. But as with everything, man’s abilities are no match when God’s nature is unleashed on them, events not planned for. Those lighthouses were built on the rocks they were protecting the boats from and still stand, even though most have become fully automated. I realize that not all lighthouses are built on the rocks of the shoreline, as some are navigational buoys but for the sake of this illustration, a lighthouse is built on the rock. When you see pictures of the lighthouses withstanding the forces of the wind and the waves crashing against them, that is how life can be. Sometimes days go by and everything is calm, and other days come at you and you wonder how it is you are still standing. You may even be on your hands and knees.

        As we have been talking about, to persevere against satan’s attacks, we must stand firm on God’s word. satan’s main purpose is to get you to turn away from God. Our purpose is to never turn away from God, so there is a war taking place. The good news is that Jesus defeated satan at the cross and conquered death. Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” Revelation 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” Acts 2:22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” As Paul said, 1 Corinthians 15:54 “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 
        Having said that, our bodies will die but we will never die and if we believe what Jesus said, then that changes how we approach this life we live. We do not live for ourselves, we live for Jesus. Paul said to Timothy 2 Timothy 1:10 “it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.” When we live for Jesus and follow this pattern of sound teaching, we have nothing to fear, even death. We also by believing the gospel, have the power to defeat satan because satan is still around and wants to destroy you even though many in the church think that satan was completely defeated at the cross and there are no demons anymore, yet they fear dying. 1 Peter 5:8 “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” There is an end coming where death and satan will be completely destroyed. 1 Corinthians 15:24 “Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” satan will be around until that final day when Revelation 20:10 “the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 4 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” Sadly, millions who have turned away from God’s word, did not stand their ground and listened to satan will join him. Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

        Due to the rebellion of the church against God’s word, God has allowed satan to destroy the church and rage against it. Not only does satan know his time is short, he understands the power that God gave to the church. So when you hear people talking about cessationism, that is not God speaking but satan. Cessationism basically says the church does not have the power to do as Jesus did even though Jesus said, John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” Yes, I have heard people say because there are millions of Christians, they will do greater things just because of the sheer numbers. But with millions of Christians, the church is a mess and not doing anything even close to what the Gospels and Acts tells us the church should be doing. The reality is, the verse means what it says! And we were shown what it looked like. What did Jesus do? Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” Not only did Jesus do these things, we saw John 14 in action with His disciples. Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” Then at Pentecost, not just the twelve were given this power, but the church would have this power. Acts 8:6 “When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.” That is until the church rejected God’s word which happened very quickly when they followed other gospels, as far back as when Paul said, Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all.” He also said 2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” These false teachers did come, just as we were warned. Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” But just in case you didn’t know, this is satan at work. He knows the power the church would have to destroy his work. The church was to continue to do just as Paul was sent out Acts 26:18 “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me,’” the church was to continue that work because 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” satan has been very successful at getting the church to think that by using their own strength, they are defeating him but instead the church has been defeated and lies in desolation.

        So, to stand strong and unmoved, we must be standing on the rock. This is the only way we will survive on this earth and live eternally in heaven. If we do not stand on the rock, we will die and be eternally dammed. We must understand that God, Deuteronomy 32:4 “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.” We must Deuteronomy 4:39 “Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.” We must admit 1 Samuel 2:2 “There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” When we stand on God’s word, we can  Psalm 95:1 “sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.” We can say Psalm 62:2 “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.” Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. 4 Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.” Isaiah 43:1 “But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

         David said, 2 Samuel 22:2 “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent people you save me. 4 “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies. 5 The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 6 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 7 “In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears. 17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me. 31 “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? 33 It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. 34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. 35 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 36 You make your saving help my shield; your help has made me great. 37 You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way. 44 “You have delivered me from the attacks of the peoples; 46 They all lose heart; they come trembling from their strongholds. “The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior! 48 He is the God who avenges me, who puts the nations under me, 49 who sets me free from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me. 50 Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.”
        In Matthew chapter seven, Jesus talks about the narrow and wide gates. Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” The Jesus talks about true and false prophets. Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” So, we have to know if we are heading for the right gate. We also need to know if the people we listen to are taking us to the right gate. If we are on the narrow path and following God’s words, then we are building on a solid foundation. 2 Timothy 2:19 “God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” Jesus then said Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” If we do listen, then we are on a solid foundation. Jesus also said, Matthew 16:15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” When Jesus builds His church, nothing can overcome it. Romans 9:33 “As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 1 Peter 2:8 “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.” If anyone follows a different Jesus, they will stumble and fall.
        We are told John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” But as John continues John 3:19 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” John 1:9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” Israel had already done this before. Deuteronomy 32:15 “Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, they became heavy and sleek. They abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior. 16 They made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols. 17 They sacrificed to false gods, which are not God— gods they had not known, gods that recently appeared, gods your ancestors did not fear. 18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.” Rejecting the Rock also means the church is not being built. What is being built is with human hands and only has the power and wisdom of man which means satan is not being defeated and remains in the temple. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Paul continued to say, 9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” It means as Deuteronomy goes on to say, Deuteronomy 32:19 “The Lord saw this and rejected them because he was angered by his sons and daughters. 20 “I will hide my face from them,” he said, “and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful. 21 They made me jealous by what is no god and angered me with their worthless idols.” This is the same as following other gospels.
        This is why it is so important to be standing on God’s word and not on the words of man and doctrines of demons. If you are not standing on God’s word, you will be shaken and fall. 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” When we do not stand on God’s word, we lose our protection. Deuteronomy 32:28 “They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them. 29 If only they were wise and would understand this and discern what their end will be! 30 How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?” They and we were warned what would happen. Isaiah 17:10 “You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, 11 though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain.” Deuteronomy 28:5 “However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you: 25 The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will come at them from one direction but flee from them in seven, and you will become a thing of horror to all the kingdoms on earth. 38 You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it. 39 You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them.”

        Standing on the Rock cannot be faked. Deuteronomy 32:31 “For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede. 37 He will say: “Now where are their gods, the rock they took refuge in, 38 the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up to help you! Let them give you shelter!” Jeremiah said Jeremiah 37:19 “Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, ‘The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land’?” Jeremiah 2:8 “The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.” Paint has always been a good way to cover things up and make them look new again, but paint does not give the structure any strength as it is just cosmetic. The lighthouse was about to crumble and fall but we gave it a coat of paint, so it should be okay now. No, it is still going to fall. Here Ezekiel condemns the false prophets. Ezekiel 13:2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to those who prophesy out of their own imagination: ‘Hear the word of the Lord! 3 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 Your prophets, Israel, are like jackals among ruins. 5 You have not gone up to the breaches in the wall to repair it for the people of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the Lord. 6 Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. Even though the Lord has not sent them, they say, “The Lord declares,” and expect him to fulfill their words. 7 Have you not seen false visions and uttered lying divinations when you say, “The Lord declares,” though I have not spoken?8 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.” Even though the wall was crumbling, they did not fix it. Jeremiah 23:17 “They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ 18 But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? 22 But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds. “Lamentations 2:14 “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.”

        So instead of fixing the problem, they decided to give it a coat of paint. Ezekiel 13:10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?” 13 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. 14 I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’

        If you are going to make in this journey of faith, you must be standing on solid ground and trust God’s word. Psalm 143:8 “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” If you are not standing on solid ground, then call out to God. Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. 4 Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.” Psalm 18:1 “I love you, Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. 4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” If you are standing firm on God’s word, don’t give up. Psalm 62:5 “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Psalm 119:154 “Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.”

        So, when the wind blows, the waves crash and everything seems to be against you, put your head down and stand on the solid Rock and do not be afraid and persevere by faith in God’s word. It is only then that you cannot be moved. Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Isaiah 43:1 “But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Don’t try it on your own, you won’t make it! We have this promise from God. Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.” If you are persevering, don’t give up but seek God even more and you will find Him. Colossians 1:21 “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

    « Lent 2024 - Day 20: “Glory to God” View All Lent 2024 - Day 17, 18: "Words Can Never Hurt Me" »

    Rock Report by Pastor Paul

    Rock Report by Pastor Paul

    This is a blog that comes from my personal devotions each day. The Blog has replaced the Sermon section. There will also be the occassional food for thought.