FINDING JESUS, PART III
THE ROCK
OVER THE LAST 2 WEEKS
WE HAVE BEEN FINDING JESUS.
Ÿ FINDING JESUS IN OUR TEMPTATIONS
When we find Jesus in our temptations, we seriously hinder the incubation of sin.
If we follow His example, we can resist the devil & temptation to be led by the Spirit.
Ÿ FINDING JESUS SO WE CAN SHINE
When we cease to separate ourselves, either through religious pride, favoritism, or fear, we find Jesus shining in us.
If we do the work of the One who sent Jesus, we will never run from the opportunity to shine.
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TONIGHT IS THE 3RD INSTALLMENT IN THIS SERIES.
TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUR FOUNDATION!
TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO FIND OUR SURE FOOTING!
TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO FIND JESUS AS OUR ROCK OF AGES!
FINDING JESUS: OUR ROCK OF AGES
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WE BEGIN BY LOOKING AT SOMETHING THAT PAUL WROTE TO THE CHRISTIANS AT CORINTH.
1st Corinthians 10: 1-4
1 For, brother, I don’t want you to miss the significance of what happened to our fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea,
2 and in connection with the cloud and with the sea they all immersed themselves into Moses,
3 also they all ate the same food from the Spirit
4 and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit - for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah.
1. DON’T MISS THE SIGNIFICANCE . . .
2. THEY WERE GUIDED BY GOD . . .
3. THEY PASSED THROUGH TROUBLE . . .
4. THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN FELLOWSHIP WITH MOSES . . .
5. THEIR NEEDS WERE MET BY THE SPIRIT . . .
6. THEY DRANK FROM A SPIRIT-SENT ROCK . . .
7. THE ROCK WAS JESUS . . .
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TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO FIND THAT ROCK!
READ: Exodus 17:1-6
IN THE DESERT, YOU CAN DIE FROM LACK OF WATER!
IN THE DESERT, YOU CAN’T JUST GO TO THE CORNER STORE!
IN THE DESERT, YOUR NEEDS ARE VERY REAL!!
THE CHILDREN OF ISREAL WOULD SURELY DIE IF THEY HAD NO WATER TO DRINK.
BUT GOD LOVES HIS PEOPLE!
HE IS: ADONI-YIREH; WHICH MEANS:
“THE LORD WILL SEE TO IT!”
THE LORD WILL SEE TO IT THAT THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE ARE MET!
IF YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS TONIGHT . . .
THEN YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO ROAM AROUND IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL DESERT!
BUT ADONI-YIREH SAW TO IT THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO DRINK OF THE WATER OF LIFE!
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THE CHILDREN OF ISREAL WERE IN A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION UNTIL MOSES SMOTE THE ROCK!
THEY COULD SEE NO ANSWERS . . .
THEY HAD LOST ALL HOPE . . .
THEY WERE AT DEATH’S DOOR . . .
BUT THEN MOSES SMOTE THE ROCK AND WATER FLOWED ABUNDANTLY TO ALL WHO NEEDED IT!
~IN THE SAME WAY~
YOU WERE IN A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION UNTIL YOU FOUND JESUS CHRIST THE SMITTEN ROCK!
LIFE WAS REVEALING NO ANSWERS . . .
HOPE WAS SOMETHING GIVEN UP ON . . .
DAILY AT DEATH’S DOOR . . .
BUT THEN GOD DREW YOU TO THE ROCK THAT HAD BEEN SMITTEN FOR YOUR SINS AND YOU WERE ABLE TO DRINK FREELY OF THE WATER OF LIFE!
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JESUS SAID IN Mark 10:33,34
33We are now going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the head priests and scribes. They will sentence Him to death and turn Him over to the gentiles,
34 who will jeer at Him, spit on Him, beat Him, and kill Him; but after three days, He will rise.
REMEMBER 2 WEEKS AGO WHEN WE FOUND JESUS, THE SON OF MAN,
IN ALL HIS HUMANITY,
SUFFERING TERRIBLY FOR US . . .
HE IS THE SMITTEN ROCK THAT GIVES US THE WATER OF LIFE!
Isaiah 53:4,5
4 In fact, it was OUR diseases he bore, OUR pains from which he suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God.
5 But he was WOUNDED because of OUR crimes, CRUSHED because of OUR sins; the disciplining that makes US WHOLE fell on him, and by his bruises we are healed.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE SMITTEN ROCK THAT BRINGS FORTH WATERS OF ETERNAL LIFE!
Isaiah 52:13-15
13 See how my servant will succeed! He will be raised up, exalted, highly honored!
14 Just as many were appalled at him, because he was so disfigured that he didn’t even seem human and simply no longer looked like a man,
15 So now he will startle many nations; because of him, kings will be speechless. For they will see what they had not been told, they will ponder things they had never heard.
JESUS IS THE SMITTEN ROCK THAT REVEALS THE HIDDEN MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
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WHEN WE FIND JESUS:
ROCK OF OUR SALVATION
HE . . . CRUSHED FOR OUR CRIMES
HE . . . DISFIGURED FOR OUR SIN
WE FIND THE ROCK THAT WAS SMITTEN SO THAT WE COULD FREELY TAKE OF THE WATER OF LIFE!
OH! HAD IT NOT BEEN
FOR A PLACE CALLED MOUNT CALVARY!
FOR THE OLD RUGGED CROSS!
FOR A MAN CALLED JESUS!
THEN FOREVER MY SOUL WOULD BE LOST!
REMEMBER 1st Corinthians 10:4
4 and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit - for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah.
JESUS WAS THE ROCK OF SALVATION TO ANCIENT ISREAL
JESUS IS THE ROCK OF SALVATION FOR US TODAY!
WE CAN SEE JESUS PRE-FIGURED IN THE ROCK THAT GOD TOLD MOSES TO STRIKE.
WE CAN PRAISE GOD FOR THE ROCK THAT WAS SMITTEN FOR US!
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BUT THAT’S NOT ALL.
IT’S BEEN SAID THAT I ONLY PREACH SALVATION MESSAGES.
SALVATION:
DELIVERANCE, RESCUE, RECOVERY, ESCAPE
SALVATION IS NOT JUST A ONE TIME EVENT!
SALVATION IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE!
DAILY DELIVERANCE, DAILY RESCUE, DAILY RECOVERY, DAILY ESCAPE
WE FIND OUR SALVATION WHEN WE FIND JESUS
AS THE SMITTEN ROCK THAT WAS CRUSHED AND DISFIGURED FOR OUR SINS.
WHEN WE RUN TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION
“ “ “ STONE THAT WAS REJECTED
“ “ “ ROCK HEWN OUT OF MOUNT
WE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH HIS BLOOD!
BUT SALVATION DOESN’T END THERE.
OUR DELIVERANCE “ “
OUR RESCUE “ “
OUR RECOVERY “ “
OUR ESCAPE “ “
WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF DAILY SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST - THE ROCK!
BUT NOT JUST THE SMITTEN ROCK.
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IN EXODUS 17, GOD TOLD MOSES TO SMITE THE ROCK.
THIS PRE-FIGURES SALVATION THROUGH HIM.
BUT A PICTURE OF DAILY SALVATION CAN BE FOUND IN NUMBERS 20
READ Numbers 20:1-12
ONCE AGAIN, WE SEE THAT GOD’S PEOPLE ARE IN NEED.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY HAVE LOST ALL HOPE.
ONCE AGAIN, THEY ARE IN TURMOIL.
THEY NEEDED TO
ESCAPE CERTAIN DEATH
TO BE RESCUED FROM EMOTIONS
DELIVERED FROM FAITHLESSNESS
THEY NEEDED RECOVERY
THEY FOUND THEMSELVES NEEDING SALVATION AGAIN!
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BUT LOOK AT WHAT GOD TOLD MOSES:
8 Take the staff, assemble the community, you and Aaron your brother; and before their eyes, TELL the rock to produce it’s water . . .
IN THIS INSTANCE, GOD TOLD MOSES TO SPEAK TO THE ROCK, NOT TO SMITE IT.
THERE IS POWERFUL TRUTH IN THIS, CHURCH!
Ps:18:46:
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.
YES! MY JESUS LIVES!
YES! HE IS MY ROCK!
YES! HE IS THE GOD OF MY SALVATION!
YES! HE IS WORTHY TO BE EXALTED!
JESUS IS THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION!
SLAIN FOR MY SINFULNESS . . .
BRUISED FOR MY BACKSLIDING . . .
CRUSHED FOR MY CRIMES . . .
DISFIGURED FOR MY DISOBEDIENCE . . .
HE IS THE ROCK THAT WAS SMITTEN THAT BRINGS FORTH LIVING WATERS TO MY SOUL!
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL - THAT’S NOT ALL!
JUST LIKE MOSES WAS TOLD TO SPEAK TO THE ROCK,
JESUS IS THE ROCK THAT I CAN SPEAK TO!
Ps:31:2: Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, . . .
NOT ONLY IS JESUS THE ROCK THAT WAS SMITTEN FOR OUR SINS,
HE IS THE ROCK WE CAN RUN TO IN TIMES OF TROUBLE!
JESUS IS THE ROCK WE CAN CRY OUT TO!
Ps:28:1: Unto thee will I cry, O LORD MY ROCK; be not silent to me:
Ps:61:2: From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
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LET’S LOOK AGAIN AT VERSE 12 OF NUMBERS 20.
12 But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me, so as to cause me to be regarded as holy by the people of Isreal, you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.
OUT OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATION, MOSES DID NOT SPEAK TO THE ROCK.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF HE HAD!
GOD WANTED TO BE REGARDED AS HOLY BY HIS PEOPLE!
GOD WANTED TO SHOW FORTH HIS POWER!
GOD WANTED TO MAKE HIS NAME KNOWN!
ADONI-YIREH: HE WHO WILL SEE TO IT.
ALL MOSES HAD TO DO WAS:
SPEAK TO THE ROCK
TRUST IN THE ANCIENT OF DAYS
OBEY GOD’S VOICE AND SEE HIS HAND WORK!
ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS
SPEAK TO THE ROCK
TRUST IN THE ANCIENT OF DAYS
OBEY GOD’S VOICE AND SEE HIS HAND WORK!
Ps:18:31: For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?
IF WE NEED DELIVERANCE . . . SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
RESCUE . . .
RECOVERY . . .
ESCAPE . . .
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REVELATION 3:14 CALLS JESUS “THE AMEN”
know, that you know, that you know?
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
2nd SAMUEL 22:2 CALLS HIM “MY DELIVERER”
bound up?
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
ISAIAH 28:16 CALLS HIM THE “SURE FOUNDATION”
on shaky ground?
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
ISAIAH 9:6 CALLS JESUS “COUNSELOR”
confide in?
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
LUKE 4:23 CALLS JESUS THE “PHYSICIAN”
healing?
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
2ND SAMUEL 22:3: THE “REFUGE & SHIELD”
safety & protection?
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
ISAIAH 9:6 CALLS HIM THE “PRINCE OF PEACE”
looking for recovery?
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
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Ps:27:5:
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
THAT ROCK IS JESUS:
SMITTEN FOR OUR SINS . . .
THE ONE WE CAN SPEAK TO IN TIMES OF NEED
THE ROCK WE CAN STAND ON ALL THE TIME!
WHEN WE FIND JESUS, THE ROCK OF OUR DAILY SALVATION, WE FIND A SURE FOUNDATION!
GOD WANTS TO BE REGARDED AS HOLY BY YOU!
GOD WANTS TO MAKE HIS NAME KNOWN TO YOU:
ADONI-YIREH; HE WHO WILL SEE TO IT!
GOD IS POINTING YOU TO HIS SON WITH THESE 4 WORDS:
SPEAK TO THE ROCK!
IN CLOSING,
Ps:34:8:
O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Ÿ JESUS IS THE ROCK THAT WAS SMITTEN FOR OUR SINS. FROM HIM, RIVERS OF LIVING WATERS FLOW TO ALL OF US.
Ÿ JESUS IS THE ROCK THAT WE CAN SPEAK TO IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. HIS PRESENCE FLOWS TO ALL WHO CALL OUT HIS NAME.
Ÿ JESUS IS THE ROCK WE CAN STAND ON. SALVATION, OR RESCUE, OR DELIVERANCE, RECOVERY, OR ESCAPE IS A DAILY OCCURENCE TO THOSE WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM.
Ÿ WHEN WE FIND JESUS, THE ROCK OF OUR DAILY SALVATION, WE FIND ADONI-YIREH, THE GOD WHO WILL SEE TO YOUR NEEDS.
Ÿ WHEN WE SEE ALL OF THIS TOGETHER, THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN’T DO.
Ÿ WITH JESUS, LIFE IS A WONDERFUL THING!
