If Rocks Could Talk
Part II New Testament
Luke 19:40
The central text for this two part message in Luke 19:40 where Jesus was making the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the Pharisees were trying to get him to quit down the crowed. Jesus answered them saying, “I tell you the truth if these keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Last Sunday we looked that the old testament stones, the one at Bethel where Joseph wrestled with God. We found that God never leaves us even though each one of us make stupid mistakes. Bob Record the president of the North American Mission Board said that, each one of us are only 1 step away from stupid. Our God is a God that restores us and is a God of Second chances.
Next we learned about Moses life and the stones in his life from the stone of provision when God provided water from a rock… we learned that even though we get in a woe-is-me mode in our life God still provides our needs. We learned about the Stone in which the laws were written on. If only we would follow the law how much easier our life would be. We learned how God provided a place to rest for Moses when the battle raged on… How God will always provide a place of peace for us.
Then we moved to Josuah and learned the nothing is impossible with God. And as Lee pointed out to me after the service that it took faith to follow through with God’s plans. If they had not had the faith to step in the water… the water would have never parted. Sometimes we know what we are suppose to do but when the rubber hits the road we back off. Also it is a good idea to slow down every once in a while and build an alter and give thanks.
The we went to 1 Samual and learned how a shepherd boy defeated a giant, showing us the no Giant is to big for God. And then we ended in Nehemiah and learned that if we follow God’s plan for our lives that there will be people that make fun at us and call us names but if we stick to what God calls us to that he will provide, and the Job that seemed impossible at first… get accomplished with God in control.
Now today we are going to look and the New Testament, and to be more specific we are going to look at the Stones that Our Savior came across.
You see Palestine is filled with stones. Jesus had a lot of contact with rocks and stones during His ministry. He walked on them, sat on them, prayed on them, wept on them and bled on them. If those stones that Jesus came in contact with cold talk, what stories would they tell? Today I am going to take you to 7 places very briefly to listen to what the stone would say. If stones could talk these stones would have a great stories to tell.
I. Lets Begin in Mat. 4:3-4 Stones on the mount of temptation.
“Now when the tempter come to Him he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But he answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”
One things is for sure and that is that the devil knows how to tempt you. Your weakness may be nice things, or it may be lust, or it may be pride, or an unhealthy desire to be like by others. Where ever your weakness is one thing is for sure and that is that the Devil does know how to tempt you.
But Jesus gives us the example that each of us need to follow, we need to be man and women of the Word. So that when the Devil does tempt us we will be able to stand up under it and do and Jesus did and say, “It is Written”. Jesus was the ultimate example that we can stand up under temptation and not fall. But we must be men and women of the word so we know when he is tempting.
So, I ask you today are you men and women of the word. How is your quiet time? How is your daily bible reading? Are you giving God the first fruits or what is left over?
II. The next place I would like to stop at is John 2:6 – It speaks of God’s Provision.
“Now there were set there six water pots of Stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty of thirty gallons apiece.”
Now most of you know this story, it is the first miracle the Christ does. He is at a wedding and there is no wine. And Jesus turns the water into wine. It tells us that there is no task to small or insignificant for our father. Jesus will always provide for our needs, He will always be there for us taking care of us, providing for us, as long as we follow him.
So is there things in your life that you need to give over to the Lord? Is there needs that you have that you haven’t given to Jesus?
III. Now lets go to John 4:6 It speaks of God’s restoration.
Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was the sixth hour.
Most of you here today know the story, the woman was a Samaritan and Jesus was a Jew. He ask for a drink and then told her the if she knew who he was she would have asked for living water. She does and He tell her to go get her husband… She is faced with facing her sins and she admits to him that she does not have one. He tells her that she has had 5 husbands and the one you are with in not your husband. She leaves and get others and because of her willingness to share Christ with other and her bringing them to Jesus many were saved.
When is the last time you shared your faith with someone? When is the last time you brought someone to Jesus? His mission is still the same and He can use anyone of us despite our past. Are you willing to bring someone to Jesus?
IV. Now skip over the John 8:7 – It speaks of God’s Forgiveness
So when they continued asking Him, He raised up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.
Can you picture this in your mind. The angry crowed has gathered around… They have pushed this women that was caught in adultery to the edge of the town. They tell Jesus that the Mesozoic law requires that the women be stoned… but what do you say. Each one reaches down and grabs a stone. Jesus is just looking at the ground and writing on it. The stones are being griped tighter and tighter as they wait for his reply. The crowed can’t wait to start the stoning.
Jesus says, Let him who is with out sin throw the first stone… Then he returns to the ground and begins writing again…
All the sudden you hear… Plump, Plump, Plump, as the stones hit the ground.
Jesus raises up seeing no one but the woman, He says to her, “Where are those that accuse you? Has no one condemned you?”
She says “No Lord, Not one” and Jesus says neither do I (The only one that could have thrown the stone)… God and sin no more.
We have all messed up in our lives… None of us are without sin. We need to admit it, ask for forgiveness, and start a fresh. Do you need God’s forgiveness today? He wants to give it to you… Just ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened unto you.
V. The next stone we need to consider is in John 11:38-44
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench for he has been dead 4 days. Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you hat if you would believe you would see the glory of God.” They took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And I know hat you always hear Me but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believer that You sent Me.
Now when He had said these things He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth! And when He who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
Now I would have love to have been there, It show us that God if he choose can bring the dead back to life. He has the power to raise the Spiritually dead as well as the physically dead. He can take a life that was ruined and restore life into it. There is nothing impossible with God.
I just want to ask you, are you dealing with something right now that you can’t handle, maybe it is a physical problem, it is a disease that the Doctors told you that you would just have to live with for the rest of your life. You have went every where searching for a cure, its time to give it to the Lord and let the Ultimate Physician take it for a while.
Maybe some of you are suffering with depression. You feel that there is no hope. You are drowning in your own self pity and you need the Lord to bring you out of it.
Friends there is nothing to big or to small for our Lord. It is time to lay the yoke on his shoulders for a while. Let him lead you out of this dark area in your life. Let others around you serve as an encouragement. You need to stop moving backwards and start moving to the cross.
VI. The sixth stone we need to look at is the one found in Luke 22:41-44
And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed. Saying, “Father if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done. Then the angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
As Christ poured his soul over that rock he knew what was going to happen. This Savior that had lived the perfect life. Never having to pay for the consequences of Sin. Never failing at anything the Father told him to do. Never feeling the pain of hurting others with our actions. Never have to live with guilt. Was about to take the all the sins all the wrong doings of every man upon himself as he hung in immense pain on a cross.
Yes, He did it all for you and all the pain all the heartache all the grief, everything so that you and I may have eternal life. And some of you still reject him as your Lord and Savior. What else could he possibly do for you? Nothing… Now its your turn to do something for Him, simply accept all that he did and in return you will have the gift of eternal life… Deny it and you will have the gift of eternal separation from God. Now it in your court… What are you going to do?
VII. The final stone is The one that can talk of his resurrection.
Turn with me to Matthew 28:1-6
Read,
Now if there was one stone that I would love to hear talk and tell the story it would be this stone. This stone saw the Lord being laid to rest. This stone saw our savior get up and walk out of the tumb. The stone did not need to be moved like Lazereth’s in order to let him out. Because when Jesus left the tumb he was no longer in this mortal body. He was in a glorious body and wall mean nothing.
No this time the stone was rolled away so that we could get in. You see we don’t serve a dead God… We serve a risen Savior… and friends that is the true meaning of Easter.
Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of the father. Do you want a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? In just a moment we are going to sing a hymn of invitation.
Let me explain what a invitation is. If God has spoken to your heart, God is inviting you to come to him at the alter today. Now it has nothing to do with me or anyone else here today. It has everything to do with the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart and telling you to Go.
Is there a decision you need to make today. The bible says that we are not to be ashamed, that we are to confess our sins to the Father in Heaven. That we are to make a public profession of our faith. What is God telling you to do today?
As the music leader comes Let stand and bow our heads in a word of prayer.
