THE PROLOGUE TO THE MESSAGE.

The direct Words of Jesus :

15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15: 5 – 11)

This is where we are coming from this morning. The Lord is our Rock, let us abide in  Him and He will fulfil all His promises to  us.

 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”(Deuteronomy 32:4)

MESSAGE :

 GOD AS OUR  ROCK FROM GENERATION OF PEOPLES.

And Paul said :

 “And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”(1 Corinthians 10:4). Also read Exodus 17:6.

God has a way of putting Himself into us. Israel drank water from that Rock, which is Christ. We have the opportunity to drink that Living Water as we sing that song today: “Rock of Ages Cleft for me” from Sacred Songs and Solos 237.

Among the  many names of God, one of them   is Ha Tsur,  which means “The Rock”.

AND JESUS SAID TO PETER :

16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).

The Church is not a physical building. Each true believer is a Church,  which is built upon the Rock which is Christ. The spiritual Rock is not same as the physical rock. But allegorically notwithstanding, the physical rock can be daunting and impregnable. The gates of hell will not prevail, so we can hide  in the Rock which is Christ upon whom we are built. Give us oh Lord the grace to follow. We can hide in that Rock,  if we abide in  Him. For that reason Christ insisted “ABIDE IN  ME”.

THE PSALMIST SAID :

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14).

 Even as we sing and pray today, let our God find pleasure in our praise and worship.

THE GREAT ABILITY OF GOD:

Read Deuteronomy  32:15,18,30,31.

32:15 But Jeshurun ( comparative of Solomon), waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

32:30 How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. (Deuteronomy 32:15,18,30 and 31)

If we agree that the enemy of a true believer is not a godly person,  we will appreciate the fact that when God sells them,  they fail. This is a repeat issue across the nations in the homes of  individuals or groups.

GOD WARNED MOSES OF THE APOSTASY OF ISRAEL. (Apostasy is departing from God, after knowing Him and tasting His goodness.)

That Israel  will depart from God,  who is the Rock of their salvation was  foretold.

The departing of Christians from the fellowship today is not strange. The sons of Belyaal departed from the host of Israel, and Demas also departed  from Paul.

God did not leave Israel in darkness. So He told Israel about the coming apostasy of Israel. ( Deut.  31:14-19 ),  which He told them  will bring them much suffering  But He told them in the song of Moses the reliability of God:

 “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4).

EVEN TODAY THE GOSPEL BELLS ARE RINGING EVERYWHERE,  EVEN AT PEOPLE’S GATES. MANY ARE NOT BOTHERING. MAY GOD NEVER SELL US TO OUR ENEMIES.

The grace to live on God still abides,  if only we recognise Him as The Rock of our salvation.

BLESS US WITH HEARING EARS LORD,  FOR OUR BLESSINGS ARE IN YOUR HANDS AMEN.

GOD BLESS YOU FOR ABIDING IN HIM.

Miracle Valley SERMONS,  7th July 2019.

Email: outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com

Website: www.mvgmng.org.