NACHES VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH

Foundation Stones

 

 

FALLEN STONES

The precise clue that alerts archeologists in search of ancient ruins is the discovery of “Fallen Stones.”
In the case of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem during the time of Christ, Jesus predicted its fall right before He was sentenced to die on the cross.             Mathew 24:1-2

In later years, when archeologists began to dig in the location of the old temple they located fallen stones. The most compelling discovery was an inscribed basalt stone that may have adorned the ledge atop the wall surrounding the Temple.

Fallen Stones refer to the foundational commands, precepts and ordinances set in place by God that were violated for centuries by God’s covenant people, as well as the desecration of God’s House.

It was not just the temple in Jerusalem that fell, it was the very structure and institution itself. Sin and rebellion against God resulted in severe destruction and devastation for all of Israel and the Jews – and the removal of God’s favor and blessing over His people.

 Would Jesus destroy the House of God or is the deeper meaning referring to the desecration of what the House of God had become and the eventual rebuilding as spoken by the prophets?

            INTRODUCTION            

                           “In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen and repair
                          its breaches, and raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old.” Amos 9:11

                          “But after that (Hebrew: “on that day,” Amos 9:11, that is, the day when he                                  should revisit them and recover them) he would restore them to                                          their former privileges would rebuild their temple, their city, and their walls.”

Praise God that He said He would not be angry forever!

“I’m not going to be angry forever. Otherwise, people would lose heart. These souls I created would tire out and give up. I was angry, good and angry, because of Israel’s sins. I struck him hard and turned away in anger, while he kept at his stubborn, willful ways. When I looked again and saw what he was doing, I decided to heal him, lead him, and comfort him, creating a new language of praise for the mourners. Peace to the far-off, peace to the near-at-hand,” says God— “and yes, I will heal them. But the wicked are storm-battered seas that can’t quiet down. The waves stir up garbage and mud. There’s no peace,” God says, “for the wicked.”        From Isaiah 57:13   The Message Bible

 

THE HOUSE OF GOD

 “My Father’s House shall be called a house of Prayer but you have made it a den of thieves.”                       Matthew 21:13

The House of God in the Bible is also called The Tabernacle, The Temple, The Holy of Holies, The Sanctuary, The Tabernacle of the Congregation, The Temple of the Lord, The Tabernacle of Witness in the Wilderness, Tabernacle of the Tent of the Congregation, The Tabernacle of the Congregation of God, My Father’s House, A House of Prayer for all Nations, The Place of Meeting.

The most significant meaning of the House of God is this: the Tabernacle of Moses was God’s design, and we know it was based upon the “Heavenly Tabernacle” – a replica of the worshiping hosts of heaven with God at the center itself. Solomon declared that the heavens and the entire universe cannot contain God, let alone a House that is built with human hands. However, God’s desire is to dwell within his own children – we are the House of God, we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit,   We are the Sanctuary of God……

           

 

            INTRODUCTION            

 

God himself was the center of the Temple. He said He would meet with and commune with us when we come into “His Place of Meeting.”

            “And let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8

We will see in the next section that the Old Testament Levitical system or “Moses Tabernacle” was done away with in Christ, not only the sacrificial ceremonies, but the entire covenant requirements were ratified, set aside and made obsolete.                                                                                                               
           “When God speaks of a New Covenant or agreement, He makes the first one obsolete
            – out of use annulled because of age – is ripe for disappearance and to be         
              dispensed with  altogether.”          Hebrews 8:13   The Amplified Bible

“One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.”
                                                                                 Psalm 27:4

The Stones of the Temple

“For the days shall come upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank before you, and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation”. They rejected Jesus as their Messiah.                                                            Luke 19:41-44

The symbolic reference of a building, house, tabernacle, or temple is seen throughout the bible.

 INTRODUCTION

               1 Corinthians 3:9 – You are God’s BUILDING.

                      Hebrews 9:8 – The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most
                                   holy place had not yet been disclosed while the FIRST TABERNACLE
                                                  was still standing.

The Bible tells of a time when the House of God (The Temple) was destroyed and burned by the Babylonians – left for ruin and desolate. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah describe the amazing work of rebuilding the temple and the walls and gates of Jerusalem.

The stones that Ezra and Nehemiah were using to rebuild were the burnt stones from the original walls that had been torn apart and scorched in the fires and devastation that the enemy had brought Jerusalem. This is a powerful picture of how God can take humans who have met with failure and devastation and in His timing use us as the living stones to build His spiritual house to make sacrifices of praise and worship to God.

Living Stones

FOUNDATION STONES 

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Only
True Foundation for the Believer’s Life

 

“For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down.
    That foundation is Jesus Christ.     1 Corinthians 3:11

The Apostle Paul set forth in the clearest of terms that no one can walk with God apart from building one’s life upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament declared this very same thing hundreds of years before Jesus was born.

Therefore the Lord God said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion,
a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
the one who believes will be unshakable.  Isaiah 28:16

When a person becomes a Christian, Jesus becomes the foundation of his or her faith. Nothing can ever damage that foundation. He (Jesus) has already been “tried,” and has proved Himself to be a “precious corner stone.” When Isaiah spoke of Christ’s coming, he said: “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” Isaiah:28:16. This is the foundation of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

When the storms of life and strong winds of adversity blow against you, you can remain strong, standing firm and steadfast because you are founded upon the Rock – Jesus Christ! In the face of trouble and hardship, you will be unshakable because your life is built upon Christ the Solid Rock.

 

“Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials
—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.  But on the judgment day, fire
will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if
a person’s work has any value.  If the work survives, that builder will receive
a reward.  But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss.
The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a
wall of flames. 1 Corinthians 3:

 

 

• JESUS IS OUR FOUNDATION AND WE MUST BUILD OUR LIVES THROUGH OBEDIENCE

 

Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock.                                                                                                                Luke 6:47-49

 

• JESUS IS BUILDING A SPIRITUAL HOUSE (HIS CHURCH) AND WE ARE LIVING STONES BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION CHOSEN BY GOD

           “As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and  precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.”     

1 Peter 2:4-6

• DAVID UNDERSTOOD THAT THE LORD WAS A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR HIS LIFE

 

• JESUS WARNED US TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO BUILD OUR LIVES ON SAND

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will  be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”      Luke 6:49

• THE FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY OF GOD AND THE CHURCH IS BUILT UPON JESUS CHRIST

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 cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted 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

 

• JESUS IS SPOKEN OF AS OUR “ROCK” A SURE FOUNDATION, AN UNMOVABLE FOUNDATION

                          “There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee:                                                  neither is there any rock like our God.”      
                                                                                        I Samuel 2:2

“Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; there you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may have something to drink.”                    Exodus 17:6

“And while My glory is passing by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and protectively cover you with My hand until I have passed by.”                                                                                        Exodus 33:22

 “The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness without iniquity injustice, Just and upright is He.”                                                                                         Deuteronomy 32:4

“You were unmindful of the rock who bore you, And you forgot the God who gave you birth.”
Deuteronomy 32:18

 “For their rock is not like our rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this.”        Deuteronomy 32:31

“My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, My Savior—You save me from violence”                                                 2 Samuel 22:3

 “The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock, And exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation.”                             
2 Samuel 22:47

 “The God of Israel, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God.”                                                                                                                        2 Samuel 23:3

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.”         Psalm 18:2

He only is my rock and my salvation; My fortress and my defense, I will not be shaken or discouraged.                           Psalm 62:6

The Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Center of
God’s Redemptive Restorative Plan for humankind

If you open your bible to the center of the book, you may open to Psalm 22. In this Psalm, we find a detailed depiction of the crucifixion of the Savior. This remarkable prophecy describes the exact words of Jesus on the cross , My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?, the piercing of His hands and feet, the parting of His clothing, and the casting of lots for the garment.

If you open your bible to Isaiah 53, again the center of the book, you will find another prophetic picture of the cross of Christ: “Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before it’s shearer is silent, so He opened not His Mouth. In His humiliation, He was taken away by oppressive judgement, and justice was denied Him. Who can describe in full the wickedness of His generation? For His life is taken from the earth, and a bloody death inflicted upon Him.”       Isaiah 53:7-8

This Old Testament chapter is so amazing in its description of Christ’s crucifixion, that in Acts 8,  when Phillip meets an Ethiopian eunuch reading this very same passage in Isaiah, Philip preaches to him about the cross and the resurrection, leading the man to salvation and water baptism.

If you open your bible to Genesis, we find the first reference to the cross of Jesus in chapter three. There, God declares to Satan that he was cursed, that her (Eve)’s offspring, He (Christ) will “bruise and tread your head under foot, and you will bruise His heel.”                                          Genesis 3:15

In the New Testament, the foundation of the Christian Faith is based upon Christ’s death on the cross, His burial, and His Resurrection from the dead. From Matthew to Revelation the scripture declares Jesus the Messiah, the only begotten Son of God – the Savior of the world.

Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Cross before His own death. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”                                               Matt 16: 24

Beginning in Acts chapter one, the Apostles preached “The Cross of Jesus Christ”.

“This Jesus who you delivered up by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Whom God has raised from the dead: because it was not possible, that death could hold him.                     Acts 2:23-24

The Gospel of Christ and the message of His crucifixion are inseparable. Both are said to be “the power of God”. Hearing the good news of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection brings to your life God’s power to save you.

When the Apostle Paul spoke of his conversion and call to preach the gospel he spoke of the central core of the gospel message: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.                                                           1 Corinthians 1:1-2

 

• THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST DELIVERS US FROM A LIFE OF SIN

“Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross so we would stop living a life of sin and start living a new life of righteousness.”                                                                                                     1 Peter 2:24

• IN THE CROSS OF JESUS WE ARE ENABLED BY THE POWER OF TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE

“And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 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.”                                                                                                                      Colossians 1:20-22 

• THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST ENABLES BELIEVERS TO BREAK THE POWER OF DARKNESS AND THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD OVER OUR LIVES

“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”                                                            Galatians 6:14

 “Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.”                                                                                                                              Ephesians6:16

• THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS CONTAINS “THE POWER OF GOD”.

 

 

The Bible is the Inspired Word of God and is the Final Authority in the                                      life of the Believer, the Family, the Church and the World.

But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own personal or special interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.     2 Peter 1:20-21

Everything that was written was faithfully recorded by forty men of God whom God spoke to during a period of approximately 1500 years. The Holy Scriptures are inspired by God. The Greek word “inspired” is translated with the meaning of being “breathed by God.”

“All scripture is given by inspiration by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for every good work.”                                                                                                    2 Timothy 3: 16-17

The Bible is the single most important book of all time, selling an estimated five billion copies. It has been translated into 349 languages, and 2123 languages have at least one book of the Bible.

At the same time, the Bible is scrutinized and attacked more than any other book in the world. It has been outlawed, confiscated and burned at different times and places in history. It has been smuggled into jail cells and across borders.

 John Huss was burned at the stake for teaching from the Bible as the final authority for the Church over any earthly church rulers. William Tyndale was strangled and burned for translating the Bible into English. Every week, millions of Christians gather to discuss its words, even as “higher” critics attempt to explain it through the lens of metaphysical naturalism. What we believe about the Bible can be the most important, central issue in our lives, threading its way into the very fabric of who we are and how we live each day.

• The Word of God can be confirmed by signs and wonders

“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming theword with signs following.”                                                                                       Mark 16:20

• The Word of God is Active and Powerful

“For the Word of God is living and active and full of power making it operative, energizing, and effective. “                                                                                                                        Hebrews 4:12

• The Word of God is given to provide us with everything that pertains to life!

 

• The Word of God brings about conversion and salvation upon hearing 

• The Word of God contains “The Words of this Life”

• As disciples of Jesus, we must be committed to the ministry of the Word.

               “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. ”Acts 6:4

• The Word of God was sent to preach peace that Jesus Christ is Lord of all!

• Through the blessing of the Lord, the Word of God will grow and multiply.

• As the Church we are called together to hear the Word of God.

• When the Word of God is glorified the people are glad and receive eternal life.

                “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. “                                                      Acts 13:48

• The Word of God must be published.

          “And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.”                        Acts 13:49

• We are to give testimony to the Word of his grace and signs and wonders accompany.

The Presence of God is the very Person of God Himself,
Dwelling with us, Coming alongside us, Delighting in us,
 and Being with Us as a People – The Church.

There is a difference between saying “God is everywhere,” and saying “God is here.” J.Ryan Lister

Then Moses said to the Lord, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.”  
Exodus 33:15

If we are to understand the way God is personally involved with people, we must look to scripture and take a full view of how God either manifested His Presence – dwelling with us, or removing His presence altogether.

In Genesis, it is so very clear that God delighted in all of His creation. When He formed Man, God breathed life into His nostrils. God gave birth to Adam and Eve and His presence and His Divine Blessing covered them in the Garden of God. Beside this, God made personal visits to them in the afternoon to commune with them.

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” Genesis 3:8

The next part of this passage contains the saddest story in the Bible. Adam and his wife disobeyed a simple command of God not eat fruit from a tree. Their disobedience resulted in severe consequences for them, their children, and the future of the world. “Then the man (Adam) said, “The woman (Eve) whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”          Genesis 3:12

“Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.”                                                                                                                     Genesis 3:8

“He drove man out and stationed the cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east of the Garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.”                                                    Genesis 3:28

Then, the sons of Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, were both offering sacrifices to the Lord. Cain’s offering was not accepted. Cain became angry and murdered his brother refusing God’s advice to him.

“And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.”                                                                                                                            Genesis 4:16

Throughout the book of Genesis, evil and wickedness became so dominant that God decided to destroy humankind from of the face of the earth.

 

“Say unto them, Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord.”                                         Leviticus 22:3

“Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name; The upright will dwell in Your presence.:
                                                                                                                                       Psalm 140:13

 “From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,  who gave Himself [as a sacrifice to atone] for our sins to save and sanctify us so that He might rescue us from this present evil [a]age, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father.”   Galatians 1:3-4

 

“I have manifested Your name and revealed Your very self, Your real self to the people whom You have given Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept and obeyed Your word.”                                                                                                              John 17:6

 

 “While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak.  For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.                                                                                                                                                                   ”Acts 1:4-5

“Do not quench, or be unresponsive to the working the Holy Spirit.                   1 Thessalonians 5:19

 

“Can a man hide himself in secret places where I cannot see him?”—the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? “                                                                                    Jeremiah23:24

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”               
                                                                                                                                                Matthew18:20

“In Him and in fellowship with one another you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”                                                                                                                Ephesians 2:22

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”    
                                                                                                                                                 Ephesians 4:30

13.JESUS VISITS EVERY CHURCH AND SPEAKS SPECIFICALLY TO AREAS OF SIN AND BEHAVIOR

 

“To the church in Ephesus write,  So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place—unless you repent.”           Revelation 2:5

 

• The Lampstand in the Tabernacle of Moses was made of pure gold – Gold speaks of deity and the
  holiness, purity. It was made of beaten gold. Christ was beaten and bruised for our salvation.
• The Lampstand had 66 flowers and leaves representing the Word of God – 66 books of the bible.
• The golden Lampstand, made in the shape of a tree, stood for God’s life-giving power. It echoed the
  tree of life in the Garden of Eden
• The golden Lampstand in the wilderness tabernacle provided light for the holy place, but also
  represented the life and light God gives to his people. Jesus tell us as the church that we are “the
  light of the world.” “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do   
      people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
      everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your
      good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
• The Lampstand held up seven Lamps that were filled with pure oil. Oil speaks of the Holy Spirit and the anointing of Gods manifest presence. Twice every day, morning and evening, a priest attended to the wick and replenished the pure beaten olive oil for the lamps. See Exodus 30:7

 

 

“On this table put the bread that shows you are in my presence
so that it is always there in front of me.”   Exodus 25:30

In the New Testament, there are two primary ordinances set forth by the Lord Jesus and the Apostles: Water Baptism and The Lord’s Supper – The Table of the Lord (communion).  An ordinance of the church refers to the things Christ ordained to be followed by all believers and disciples.

In the Old Testament, the Levites were responsible for the Ark of the Covenant, the table of shewbread, the golden lampstand, the other altars, the tools of the Holy Place that they were to use, the curtain, and all the work connected with these items.                              Numbers 3:31                                                                                                      

“The Holy Tent was set up for this. The first area in the Tent was called the Holy Place. In it were the lampstand and the table with the bread that was made holy for God.”                      Hebrews 9:2

“This is the table that is before the Lord.”   Ezekiel 41:22

 

 “Then they must spread a blue cloth over the table for the breadthat shows a person is in God’s presence. They must put the plates, pans, bowls, and the jars for drink offerings on the table; they must leave the bread that is always there on the table.”                                Numbers 4:7

• The color blue is symbolic of the sky above us – blue is heavenward – where God dwells.
• “The bread that is always on the table”– Jesus is the bread from heaven, He is always with us.

To his disciples, Jesus said: “I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom”                                                     Luke 22:29-30

                                                                                                       

 

At the Table of the Lord – The Lord’s Supper We remember:

 

1. His work on the cross for our salvation.
2. We commune with Him in a real sense as He inhabits our worship.
3. We commune with each other in the one body, sharing the one bread in the common life.
4. We worship in that way in the holiest place.
5. We worship Christ alone
6. We renew our covenant and our commitment to confess Him as Lord and no other.
7. Coming to The Lord’s Table brings us to the place of purification.

 

Paul continues to write about the Lord’s Table -, – “But a man must examine himself and in so doing, he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”                                                              1 Corinthians 11:28

You must have an honest evaluation of your own spiritual condition, a self-examination that brings out confession and repentance and a desire for purification.

1 Corinthians 11:26  “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death  until  he comes.”

The Gospel in one verse! In the communion celebration, we remember the Good News:

• This bread – remembering Christ’s body terribly whipped and tortured for our healing.
• This cup – remembering Jesus’ blood shed willingly by Him to redeem us from our sins.
• The Lord’s death – recalling “Christ died for our sins” and rose again.
• Until – speaking of the entire period from Christ’s death and resurrection to His return to earth.
• (Until) He comes – Jesus the Lord and Savior will come again, “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ … when He shall come to be glorified in His saints and to be admired in all them that believe.”                                            2 Thessalonians 1:8-10

 

 

“And Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”       Mark 16:15-19

The Bible says that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. What a blessing!

“And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”               Luke 18:0-10

When we read the various accounts of Christ’s ministry, the stories are filled with this truth, God was demonstrating His care and compassion for people through the life of Jesus – He is seeking us out. Jesus went everywhere proclaiming His plan to give new hope for the future, healing sickness and disease, bringing our lives back into right standing with God, and then offering to be with us a loving father caring for his children.

“Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages in Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news, the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, His words and His works reflecting His Messiahship. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”                   
 Matthew 9:35-38

God’s heart is for all people is to turn from a wicked and ungodly way of life and turn back to Him. Jesus offers us a way back to God through personal repentance for our sins and begin a new life (born again) by the Spirit of God, free from demonic powers that held us  – By grace we are saved, through faith.

“And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive with Him and forgave us all our trespasses. He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; He triumphed over them by Him.”
                                                                                                                                                                     Colossians 2:13-15

The good news of the Gospel offers us eternal life with God, a new heaven and new earth, with His rule of government – with no more evil, no more awful sin and heartache, no more broken marriages, no more killing and murders, no more cancer and terminal disease, no more slavery of people’s souls, no more Satan and demonic powers, no more horrific wars, no more hate, no more lying, stealing, drunkenness, drug addiction, no more fear of the future, and no more death …..forever and ever.

 

Jesus was sent by God to redeem us from sin and death, pain and oppression in this fallen world of sin, sickness and decay. Christ declared His ministry assignment – God’s rescue plan for the world.

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah), Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy.”                                                                                                                                   Luke 4:18

Reaching out to the people of the world with the good news of Jesus  was also passed on by Jesus to us, His servants, His disciples!           John 20:21-22

Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.                                                                            John 20:21-22

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.                                                                                                                                  Matthew 10:16

In Christ’s prayer right before he faced the cross, Jesus tells of completing the work God gave Him to do on earth.

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.  For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.  And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.  I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”    John 17:1-4

Jesus declares the very same message of the gospel has been passed on to the disciples and to us!

 

“ The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”                                           2 Peter 3:9

“This is good, and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4

 

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation”.                                                                                                2 Corinthians 5:18

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”                                                                                                                           John 3:17

“And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which sees the Son, and believes on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”                                    John 6:40

“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.”   John 17:18

“Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.”                               Acts 9:17

“Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.  But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”            Acts 10:34

“Therefore, I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. “                          1 Timothy 2:1-3

When we look back in the Bible to the Old Testament, we note that God raised up a nation through His promise to Abraham. From Abraham’s time until the time of Christ, the nations of the world were pagan and godless, wicked and cruel.

At the time when Joseph was sold into slavery to Egypt, his life was truly in peril. The story tells of  truly miraculous  events – all ordered by the Lord.

“Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.” 
                                                                                                         Genesis 37:28

“The Bibles says, “But the Lord was with Joseph.”  “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”                                                                                                Genesis 39:1-4

The story goes on to tells us that Joseph eventually stands before Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and through the gifting and power of God Joseph interprets the Kings troublesome dreams. The king of Egypt then makes Joseph a mighty prince in Egypt – second in power to the Pharaoh.

In the Book of Daniel, the people of God were enslaved in Babylon. Again, the King of this ungodly nation has disturbing dreams. God raised up Daniel and the King sets Daniel in as a chief ruler.

“Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.” Daniel 1:9

“Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.”                  
                                  Daniel 2:48

As we study the Word, we note that God gives favor to His chosen ones. God influences and demonstrates His power to kings and rulers. This does not mean that we align with them – nor do we approve of them. We allow God to use us in every situation. Remember, God Loves the World.

 

When it comes to New Testament times, we do not see Jesus speaking evil of the governing authorities, namely Rome – a cruel and godless nation. The Bible says that Christ opened not His mouth and went silent to His Death – the reality is that Jesus asked God to forgive them.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.”     Acts 8:32

The exhortations from the Apostles are clear mandates regarding our behavior, speech and our attitudes.

• “For kings and all who are in authority: David Guzik Commentary“ ………..”Early Christians were often accused of undermining the state because they claimed a higher Lord other than Caesar. Yet they would point out that they supported the state by being good citizens and by praying for the emperor, not to him. “

• ..“That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence:

“We should pray for a government and rulers that would simply leave us alone and let us live as Christians. Christians are to look for no special favors from the government. Our goal is a level playing field, unrestricted by state intervention.”

 

“At the time Paul wrote this, Christianity was not yet an illegal religion in the Roman Empire and it was still considered a branch of Judaism. It was even more reasonable to believe that the Roman government might just leave Christians alone to live their faith. “  

 

• Who desires all men to be saved: Prayer for those in authority should always have an evangelical purpose. Our real goal is that they would come under the authority of Jesus, and make decisions allowing the gospel to have free course and be glorified.

“Remind people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready and willing to do good.”                                        Titus 3:13

• Honor Authority – Honor the Lord’s Name

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God granted by His permission and sanction, and those which exist have been put in place by God.

 Therefore whoever resists governmental authority resists the ordinance of God. And those who have resisted it will bring judgment civil penalty on themselves. For civil authorities are not a source of fear for [people of] good behavior, but for those who do evil.

Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will receive approval and commendation.  For he is God’s servant to you for good. But if you do wrong, you should be afraid; for he does not carry the executioner’s sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an avenger who brings punishment on the wrongdoer.

 That’s what we have in Daniel 6.  There Darius enacted a law that no one could make a petition to anyone except him for thirty days. The penalty for breaking this law was to be thrown into a lion’s den. As soon as the King signed the injunction into Law, Daniel went into his house and prayed three times a day. Why? Because God had commanded His people to pray.                                                                                                   
1 Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.”

 We find a similar situation in the New Testament. Jesus had commanded His people to teach and preach the gospel to every creature. However, the Jewish religious leaders forbade them to speak any more in His name. How did Peter respond? 

 “But Peter and John answered and said to them, ‘Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”  Acts 4:19-20

Then in Acts 5:29 Peter said, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Does this mean that if there is something wrong in our government that we do nothing, as long as they are not requiring us to disobey God?  We are so blessed to live in a land where we can openly disagree with our government authorities. If there is something wrong that needs to change,  we should use the freedoms we enjoy in this country to seek to bring about change. There are many countries of the world that would not allow you to speak out against the government.

“Nevertheless in the same way, these dreamers who are dreaming that God will not punish them also defile the body, and reject legitimate authority, and revile and mock angelic majesties. Jude1:8

“You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.”     1 Peter 1:22

 

When the world we live in defines love, it usually is talking about the absence of hate. During the 1960’s, the music was mainly centered on the protest of the war in Vietnam. Many of the great songs of that day were, “What the World needs now, is love, sweet love”, and from the Beetle’s, “All we need is Love”. We know today that we need more than that – the song should have been entitled: “All we need is Christ.”

In the 1950’s when the hit parade was popular, the great songs of the day were all about sweethearts in love; “Love me tender, love me sweet, never let me go” and “Why do fools fall in love?”

The Bible, however, defines love in a much different way. God is the author of love and the heart of God is the full expression of love.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How and in what way have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the Lord. “Yet I loved Jacob (Israel).”        Malachi 1:2

The idea to love everyone and not hate anyone is a great goal for all of us. Jesus actually emphasized the same intent throughout His life on earth. But, God’s love is from the eternal perspective.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love that unselfishly seeks the best or higher good for your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”                                                                                    Matthew 5:43-44

 

When you look at the things on this list in 1 Corinthians 13, do you notice anything that you might fall short in?
Of course we do! This is why we must take the Lord seriously and walk upright in every relationship.

The Greek word that the New Testament primarily uses is Agape. Without going into a lengthy Bible study, here are a few important things to note:

 These notes are by Jack Zavada.

“Agape is the term that defines God’s immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is his ongoing, outgoing, self-sacrificing concern for lost and fallen people. God gives this love without condition, unreservedly to those who are undeserving and inferior to himself.”

“ One important aspect of agape love is that it extends beyond emotions. It’s much more than a feeling or sentiment. Agape love is active. It demonstrates love through actions. Agape love is selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest of the four types of love in the Bible.”

“Eros is the word for sensual or romantic love. Philia means brotherly love or friendship. Storge describes the love between family members.”

“Jesus told his followers to love one another in the same sacrificial way he loved them. This command was new because it demanded a new kind of love, a love like his own: agape love.”

 

 

Now we will look at several passages of scripture that speak about exercising agape love within the church.

“But I urge you, believers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in full agreement in what you say, and that there be no divisions or factions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your way of thinking and in your judgment about matters of the faith.”         1 Corinthians 1:10

“For I have been informed about you, my brothers and sisters, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are quarrels and factions among you.”                                                                  1 Corinthians 1:11

“You are still worldly controlled by ordinary impulses, the sinful capacity. For as long as there is jealousy and strife and discord among you, are you not unspiritual, and are you not walking like ordinary men unchanged by faith?  For when one of you says, “I am a disciple of Paul,” and another, “I am a disciple of Apollos,” are you not proving yourselves unchanged, just ordinary people?”
                                                                                                                                                    1 Corinthians 3:3-4

“Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection as members of one family, give preference to one another in honor.”                                                                                  Romans 12:10

“Love is to be sincere and active the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy. Hate what is evil detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness; hold on tightly to what is good.”          Romans 12:9

” Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted compassionate, understanding, forgiving one another readily and freely, just as God in Christ also forgave.”                                       Ephesians 4:32

“Make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge,  knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness,  godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.”                                                                         2 Peter 1:5-7

 “Bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.” Colossians 3:13

“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
 1 John 3:11

We could add so many more passages from the Bible. As I mentioned before, nearly every book of the New Testament carries the same message,

“Have a sincere love of the believers; see that you love one another from the heart always   
  unselfishly seeking the best for one another.”1 Peter 1:22

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28

In the beginning when God created all things, he commanded the man “be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

Adam made an amazing statement when he first saw his wife, Eve.

Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”Genesis 2:23-24

How did Adam know about a father and mother?  He spoke about the family before it was fully revealed. We really don’t know what Adam knew or what he didn’t know. Nonetheless, the family, a Father, a Mother, a man (child) leaving the home of his parents and being joined together (married), becoming one flesh. This is what Adam prophesied – a complete picture of the family.

The very first chapter of Genesis reveals the wonder of life and family. The Family was God’s idea, it was God’s plan, and it has never changed.

There was great sadness for the Lord the day when man disobeyed Him and fell in sin. The results were devastating for Adam and his wife. They gave birth to two sons – Cain and Abel. Cain rose up one day and murdered his brother.

The next years on the earth became even more perilous. One of the sons of Cain was called Lamech.

“Then Lamech took for himself two wives. “                         Genesis 4:12

“Then Lamech said to his wives:“Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a young man for hurting me. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,Then Lamech seventy-sevenfold.”       Genesis 4:23-24

As time continued, mankind became more evil and wicked before the Lord. Then God made the decision to end it all. God was once again was heartbroken.

 “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.  So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.”                                                             Genesis 6:5-7

 

From the scriptures, we now understand at the time when God destroyed all living things on the earth, humankind had corrupted himself with all manner of evil. The Bible does not go into detail describing the evil activities, however, God found a servant in Noah, a righteous man, and He continued His plan of redemption to bring men back to Himself.

The Apostle Paul gives us a clear picture of the state of the world right before Jesus returns, and most likely describes the world in the days of Noah.

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”        2 Timothy 3:1-4

When God chose Abraham, He was living in paganism in a strange land. God declares the reason why He chose Abraham –this is so important for us to consider as God emphasized his family and the future of the world.

 “Then God said, “Shall I keep back from Abraham what I’m about to do? Abraham is going to become a large and strong nation; all the nations of the world are going to find themselves blessed through him. Yes, I’ve settled on him as the one to train his children and future family to observe God’s way of life, live kindly and generously and fairly, so that God can complete in Abraham what he promised him.”                                                                        Genesis 18:19

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”                                                                                                                                          Joel 2:28

“I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.”             1 John 2:13

 

Finally, the last verse of the Old Testament has to do with the condition of the family at the very end of the age. God considers the family the core of strength and virtue in the Kingdom of God on earth. So much so, God said He would send the prophet Elijah to bring about the necessary change back in the family – especially fathers and sons, which as previously noted is severely under attack today.

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.  He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers a reconciliation produced by repentance, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse of complete destruction.”                                                                                          Malachi 4:5-6

Jesus said of the prophet John that he was Elijah – Jesus is our great redeemer, the restorer of the fallen nature of all men. Jesus is the only one that can fulfill this prophesy. Let us pray and believe God for the restoration of our families everywhere – that it will take place in our broken world!

“The disciples asked Him, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”  He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; but I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not recognize him, but did to him as they wished. The Son of Man is also going to suffer at their hands.”  Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.”

 

“The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.”   Psalm 16:6

 

The removal or relocating of a landmark was prohibited by God. This was a specific commandment contained within the civil laws of land disposition. The twelve sons of Jacob, or Israel, received specific sections of property in the promise land of Canaan.

“You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.”
                                                                                                                         Deuteronomy 19:14

The breadth of the Land of Canaan was from Lebanon on the north to the desert on the south is 140 miles. The length, from the Mediterranean to the Euphrates, is about 400 miles, making an area 56,000 square miles, equal to the states of New York and Vermont combined.

The removal of a set property boundary in God’s eyes was equal to stealing. It was also an affront to the Lord, despising the blessing of God. In essence, saying that what God has provided was not good enough – not big enough, and perhaps not as close to the sea as my brother’s land.

“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers.”
                                                                                                                               Deuteronomy 8:1

 

Let’s take a look at what the Bibles describes as “The promised Land,” The Land of Canaan.

“Ancient landmarks provided clarity as well as protection. Much of the careless thinking today is likely due to those who have removed one or more of these ancient landmarks.”

“So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”      Deuteronomy 8:3

 

              FOUNDATION STONES – PASTOR EDWARD BECKER