The Rock

Through the years, I have repeatedly read the scriptures that refer to God and ultimately Jesus as a rock. Every time, I get a visual in my mind of a scene that I likely saw on television where violent waves are crashing onto a rocky shore, more specifically, there is one really large rock further into the surf that juts higher than the rest and appears to bear the brunt of the most violent crashing waves. With all the force of nature, those waves, seemingly so angry and strong, relentlessly beat against that rock with all of their fury. Amazingly, the rock never moves, it just stands there, almost proudly, with its chest out, it takes the pummeling and says, “I was made for this. My strength was meant to take your onslaught. I am rock, and I endure the storms of life, through the loudest of winds, the most violent of waves, I will stand here, day after day, year, after year. I will be here when your grandson gets old, and when his grandson gets old”

Jesus wants to take the pounding of the violence of life for us. He wants to bear the brunt of the enemies attack against our lives:

As I remind you of some of these scriptures, I think that you will be able to see Jesus as a rock in all of this…

Jesus and the Apostles warned of turmoil and peace

John 16:33.   When the hour is come, she is in anguish, but when it’s done, she’s full of joy

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 11:28-29.  Ship was ladened w cargo

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

1 Peter 5:7 Anxieties. casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:8.  Satan is like that wave, never stopping, relentlessly trying to pound you Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5:9. firm and unwavering. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Grab hold of the strength of that rock and resist your adversary Christian

1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. • become or make calmer or quieter:

The Psalmist and the rock Psalms 18:1-2

1 “I love You, O LORD, my strength.” 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shelter from danger My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalms 18:46-47 46 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be the God of my salvation, 47 The God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under me. He is my defense against those that rise up against me. You don’t have to get your own vengeance. You can rest assured that God will take care of you! Can you believe that, or will you have to take care of it yourself tomorrow?

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Greatest value-must’ve had gold or diamonds in that rock…purchase price—souls of all mankind

Psalms 28:1-2 1 To You, O LORD, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me Please hear me Lord. I need you- can you hear the desperation? He won’t be silent. You think He is sometimes, because He seems not to answer what you want. That’s because that’s not His job. His job isn’t to answer what you want. His job is to answer what He wants, so just as a captain on a ship in a Spanish Armada would have gripped the helm and pulled the rudder against its will in the raging sea to right the course, so is the hand of God pulling us towards His will, so that He can use our vessel for His glory.

For if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Psalms 61:1-4 1 Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. 4 Let me dwell in Your tent forever;

Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. This is what the people of God do. They run to Him, they look to Him, and they hide in Him. And if you sit in the audience and in your heart and mind you say. You can run and hide if that’s what you want to do preacher, but I’m going to stand on my own two legs and bear this wave. You silly little earthling. You are going to be pulled out to sea is what is going to happen. Satan is going to cause you to make a decision that is going to move you in the wrong direction, and it’s going to change the course of the destiny of God’s will for your life.

Selah.

Psalms 62:5-7 5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken [KJV MOVED] 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.

Ps 46:10 Be still and know that I am God

Psalms 105:41-43 With the same rod that bloodied the Nile, God opened the rock in the wilderness, a rock that gushed forth water. Both judgment and cleansing, both judgment and provision. Are you thirsty tonight? What are you thirsty for? Maybe you’re trying to drink the wrong thing. Jesus said, those that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled…. 41 He opened the rock and water flowed out; It ran in the dry places like a river. 42 For He remembered His holy word With Abraham His servant; 43 And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout.

Psalms 40:2-3 2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay I was sinking, and He put me on a firm foundation And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.

Luke 6:48-49 Luke 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:

48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Back to the rock in the wilderness.

1 Corinthians 10:4. and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. The rock followed them in the wilderness preacher? Come on man give me a break, you know better than that. You take it up with the Holy Spirit and the Apostle Paul, the word of God says that an anointed rock followed them in the wilderness and He will follow you also if you let Him, better yet, He and the Father will live in you, sup w you, lead you, guide you, empower you, bless you! Hallelujah let Him have His way with you.

Exodus 17:6-7 Jesus is the Christ and the rod is judgment. God judged Jesus on the cross, so that living water could be given to you.

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He named the place Massah and Meribah because of the quarrel of the sons of Israel, and because they tested the LORD, saying, “Is the LORD among us, or not?”

Numbers 20:8-11 you don’t keep crucifying Him though. He died once for all. Now, you believe it. Now, you declare it. Speak to that mountain, speak to that infirmity, speak to that demon or demonic situation, that stronghold

But Moses got irritated w the people and he struck it again.

The Water of Meribah

8 “Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak [declare] to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation9 and their beasts drink.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the LORD, just as He had commanded him; 10 and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

1 Peter 2:6-9 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The very rock upon which God builds His church and defeats the gates of Hell is the same rock that people are stumbling over and getting offended by.