Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (44) And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Intro: “Do you smell what the Rock is cooking?” Lord willing I want to share with you two sides of our Rock, and no I’m not talking about some wrestler named the rock or rocks that have the ability to praise, but I’m talking about our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ the Rock of our salvation, the Stone the builder rejected. The only foundation strong enough to sustain us in this life, and all it has to offer!
I. In verse 44 we see Christ as a stone that we can fall on to be broken from the curse of sin, and a stone that can fall on us and crush us as a penalty of our sins.
A. Now first I would like to talk to you about The Rock falling on us. This of course is our judgment for our sins.
1. Of course this judgment is Hell! Now I know many don’t care for to hear about Hell, as a matter of fact in the Church world today we want even say that four-letter word because of fear of offending some one. We will water it down and call it “the bad place”, “downstairs”, “Not Heaven but the other place,” “Hades”, or even worse those that wont call it anything except point to the ground and say, “you don’t want to go there”.
2. Now I know many of you are saying to yourselves well here we go another one of those messages, well I say to you hold on and listen to what the Spirit is telling you. There is a Hell and millions or more are going every year. By the way people are acting these days Hell is experiencing a population explosion.
3. You see we are all bound to a one-way trip to hell, and the ticket was purchased at the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned against God by disobeying His word. There blood was now infected with sin and every generation since would carry this bloodline. Separating us from God; for you see only that which is pure can stand in His sight and dwell among Him and His holy kingdom.
B. Which brings us to the next question what is sin.
1. In the Greek the word “sin” carries a variety of types such as to be an offence, trespass, or to miss the mark (and not share in the prize). Sin or filthiness is a blood and birth defect. You see we are born wicked for it says in Jeremiah 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
2. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. You see sin is a rebelling against Gods Holy commandments. When we follow them not, we are no longer holy, but unholy and that keeps us from God, for it is written that without holiness no man shall see the Lord.
3. What are these Holy Commandments, it all goes back to the law, which pinpointed and exposed sin, which in turn teaches us that we are sinners. These laws of course are the Ten Commandments, and no I don’t mean the Ten Requests, but The Ten Commandments.
4. And they are: (1) Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. This means we are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Jesus summed this commandment up in Luke 14:26 If any [man] come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Now this means pretty much that you should Love God so much and all your affections are toward Him that everything else should seem as hate in comparison. If we exalt boyfriend, girlfriend, job, ministry, car, home, or anything over God we love the gift more than the Giver. This is what the Bible calls “inordinate affection” which is an immoderate or lustfulness type of affection instead of an undefiled love that only God can give and the same love we are to show told Him, a “no strings attached love”. While I’m on the subject of love I want you to all to know that when a guy or girl tells you that they love you and then expects something in return such as sex, that is not love, but an inordinate affection or in other words LUST. If they love you they will respect you and respect your purity to yourself and God. Listen hear young men if any of you are pressure a young women into sex or any other type of sexual encounter you are not a man but a selfish little boy, facing a stern judgment for manipulating and defiling these girls.
5. (2) Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; (6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. These verses explain them selves, but I want to go even deeper then a material god, but when we make God into our image and that is by saying such things and believing that God would allow anything contrary to His Word for example saying something like if God is a god of love He would not have a hell or saying something like He doesn’t expect that from us now times have changed He doesn’t do it that way. Even though it is written in Malachi 3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not…
6. (3) Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. In Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Taking the name of our Lord in vain goes further than saying G.D’it, but when we say things as God as an everyday word or Jesus Christ we are blasphemy the name of our Lord. The best example I know of is when we hit our finger and instead of a cuss word we lower our God into a category of one.
7. (4) Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. (9) Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: (10) But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: (11) For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. All I want to say on this is God gives you six days to do as you please in His guide lines, but on the seventh all He requires is you to give Him your utmost attention. This is a time of rest and relaxation to be in the presents of God without the hassles of a job, yard work, and the rest of life’s little treasures. This is the Lord’s day as is all, but there’s something about His day that makes it special and we should take time to rest in the Hands of God on this day.
8. (5) Exodus 20:12 ¶ Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Now this commandment tells us to honour or respect, value our parents. This commandment we have all broken, when we talked backed, criticized, were told to do something and we didn’t, when ever we have rebelled against our parents this commandment we shattered. With that I say lets try to be more respectful of our parents especially if you plan to live long for it said if we honour them then our days may be long upon the land as God gives them.
9. (6) Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill. This one I need not to explain, but we go even deeper with it as stated by Christ in Matthew 5:21 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: (22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Also in 1 John 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hatred, unholy anger, and name calling puts us in the same classification as a murderer. The word Raca, means empty one or worthless when you make fun of or tell some one there worthless or a no count it’s the same as pulling a trigger, who are you to count someone’s worth, only God can do that and God values all for He said in John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
10. (7) Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. You know what this means; we are not to have a relationship with a married person or commit any type of sexual act with anyone except your spouse. Again Christ took this even deeper by saying in Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. If you can conceive it you can commit it.
11. (8)Exodus 20:15 Thou shalt not steal. No thief will have any part in the Kingdom of God. So what classifies as stealing any thing that is not yours and you take is stealing, from a penny to a car there is no difference in God’s eyes it is all stealing there are no gray areas in which there is a right to steal, stealing is stealing. Another way in which we steal is the very act of omission to do those things, in which we are commanded to do, and one area sticks out more than any other and that is shutting up the bowls of compassion to help others. Proverbs 3:27 ¶ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it]. (28) Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. When we see others in need and help them not we are robbing them of the very gift God has given you to help others and that is compassion, and if we cease from helping others what ever the need we are stealing from them the very same compassion God wants to give them. Did not our Lord say in Matthew 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me. (46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin. Before I move I must also mention that we rob from God when we hold back our tithes and offering. The Bible says in Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. (9) Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. (10) Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. I don’t understand why you would hold back 10 percent when God gives you so much more through your health and all that you possess that you can’t be happy with the 90 percent that isn’t good enough. Tell you what keep it all but when your fails and you can’t work and that you have you loose remember you needed the 100 percent!
12. (9) Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. In Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Any lie is a lie there is no fibbing or white lies in order that good made be accomplished they are all lies. Anything that is not the truth is a lie and exaggerating or twisting of the truth is a lie. For at all times the truth must be told is it not by truth that we are made free.
13. (10) Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s. This means we are not to be in want of other peoples things, or in other words to be greedy or materialistic. This can be applied in physical and spiritual things, have not many of us felt that we needed what someone else had rather it be a material or spiritual thing this is coveting. The Bible tells us not to be in want or anxious for anything, when we are we are slapping God in the face and saying,” I’m not satisfied with what you have given me I think it is unfair I want what they got.” I will end this with the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (6) ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
II. Now from the law we learn that we are sinners and sinners must be punished, and that is where Hell comes into play. This is where the Rock falls on us and crushes us.
A. First let me start out by saying it is not God’s will that any should go to Hell but that all should come to repentance. You see in Matthew 25:41 hell was created for the Devil and his fallen angels, but because we are cursed with the same sin that Satan imparted on Adam and Eve we are all now partakers of this torment unless we repent we shall all likewise perish.
B. So now what is this Hell that we are born to inherit after our death. Also what is it that the Rock is cooking, and by that I mean those that are sinners, we will see what it is like bodily. For hell is…
1. It is an everlasting fire, Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
2. It is an everlasting punishment, Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Which is eternal separation from God in hell there is no second chance no what ifs.
3. It is an outer darkness, Matthew 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. This darkness comes from the smoke of the torment of those in hell, there will be no looking around to see who is there for you will be unable to see because of the thick black smoke of the burning bodies of the damned, and from this darkness will come the most horrifying screams imaginable echoing through out hell from the countless souls in torment so there for there is no communication only the hollowed screams of agony of the eternal damned.
4. It is an everlasting destruction, 2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; In hell this destruction will be come through the flames of hell that will burn and melt the flesh, but the flames will never consume the flesh, also in Mark 9:44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. In the Greek that worm is maggots which will eternally be feeding on your flesh yet you will never be devoured.
5. It is a lake of fire, Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
C. There is no finer example than the true story and no not a parable that Jesus spoke in regards to the Rich man and Lazarus as found in Luke 16:19 ¶ There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (20) And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (21) And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (22) And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (23) And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (24) And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (25) But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (26) And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that [would come] from thence. (27) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: (28) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (29) Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
III. But now that you know what will happen to those that the Rock Christ Jesus will crush, we will now see the Rock as the one that we can fall on to break the curse of sin.
A. In scripture we find that The Rock Jesus Christ is the Rock of our salvation, in 2 Samuel 22:47 The LORD liveth; and blessed [be] my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
1. It is He and He alone that can bring salvation to a lost and sinful world. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. It was Christ that died for us when we were sold into the captivity of sin He left heavens glory to take on the form of man that He that knew no sin would carry our sins to a cross where through the piercing of His body the blood atonement was made, and our sins are now under His blood.
2. So that now we can come to Christ and ask for forgiveness of our sins and invite Him into our hearts to live. With the regeneration process of the washing of our sins away the death, sin, and the grave contract were voided and the blood, which was infected, was exchanged through the blood transfusion of Calvary. We are bought and engrafted into the family of God, and are no longer separated by our corruptible blood, but are now partakers by the incorruptible blood of Christ.
3. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.1 John 2:1 ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world. (3) ¶ And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (4) He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
B. As the rock of our salvation He then becomes our foundation whereby we may live. Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, [and] established my goings.
1. Luke 6:48 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.
2. Matthew 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.
3. A rock is a firm and an immovable thing, good for a foundation. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a firm and sure and true foundation. As the church we are built upon Christ, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Whosoever lays the stress and structure of his salvation upon this foundation, all the powers of hell and darkness shall never be able to subvert and destroy it. For no weapon formed against me shall prosper.
C. You see rocks make for a great protection rather it is a single large rock or several to make up a wall they are strong and also they are lasting they are not like other materials that rot and decay, but are long lasting.
1. Just like the rock our Rock Jesus Christ is our protection from the storms and trials of this life and whatsoever hell throws at us Christ our Rock our Fortress is our unmovable defense.
2. No matter what He will never leave us nor forsake us, He sticketh closer than a brother. Not even the grave could cause Him to decay and fade away for He is triumphant over sin, death, and the grave, He is the eternal King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
3. He is the Rock of ages the same yesterday, today, and forever. Psalms 18:2 The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
4. Psalms 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.
D. As the Rock of our salvation, foundation, and protections; He is also The Rock that provides.
1. You see throughout scripture and the Exodus a rock was a sustainer and provider, but not just any old rock, but The Rock Christ Jesus.
2. In scripture we read of The Rock giving forth water, honey, and oil. Briefly let me say that Christ is our provider of the abundances of God, just as all the physical aspects of the children of Israel where provided for so will God supply all ours. For does it not say that our Heavenly Father knows we are in need of these things so therefore we should not frat over the temporal things for they will be there.
3. I said that to say this that The Rock is also our provider of the spiritual manna. For the water that comes forth from this Rock is living waters in which we shall never thirst again. It’s not just life, but life more abundantly which can be enjoyed here, but also the eternal life that awaits to those that drink of this water.
4. Again from this Rock flows honey, which is our spiritual meat or the Word of God. Psalms 81:16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. Through this meat we gain strength and direction, peace, joy, love, and comfort. All those things in which we seek for in the world we can find in Christ and the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) The same was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5. And finally from this Rock flows oil in Job 29:6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; which is the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel of Mark 16:15-18 the empowerment is describe as the ability to cast out devils, speaking with new tongues, to be able to take up serpents; now I want to pause here for one moment because this statement alone has caused a lot of controversy as to its meaning. Many have taken it as a literal meaning that one can pick up a snake, and its bite will in no means harm you, but I beg to differ upon studying I have found through studying the Greek that to take up serpents applies to having dominion over Satan and evil. Or in other words when temptation to sin is brought before you; you have the ability to cast it away or to resist evil. As paralleled to Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Now continuing on with the empowerment of the Spirit we are given the power that if we drink any deadly thing it will not harm us, and finally from the text we have the ability to lay hands on the sick and they recover.
6. Now this same empowerment we are given the gifts of the Spirit as found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and they are the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.
7. With the water, honey, and oil from The Rock we have the power and authority to say to Satan, “ You can take your sin, your condemnation, and all yours trials and temptations turn it side ways and stick them between your legs with your tail and go to Hell in Jesus name.” For greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!
Conclusion: Now all that remains is this, Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. For you see in the Word it is written in Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; (11) And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Again I say unto you Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
