In HiActs 17:24-28

The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines.

Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, FOR IT IS HE HIMSELF WHO GIVES LIFE AND BREATH AND ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE.

Genesis 2:7  Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being (a living, speaking spirit like God).

Job 33:4  The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

And He made from one common origin, one source, one blood all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined their allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation, their settlements, lands, and abodes.  So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.

FOR IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING; as even some of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, then you are in Christ Jesus, and He is in you.  You are One with God.  Isn’t that awesome!  Whether you feel like it or not, He is in there.  God Almighty Who gives us life and breath is dwelling in you.  It is His very breath and life (zoe), the absolute life in which there is no death, that dwells in you.  He, Life Himself, lives in you and moves in you and you have your very being, your very existence in Him.  Think on that all day and there is no defeat, there is no failure.  God does not fail.  He Who does not fail lives in you and me.  Therefore, when you depend on Him, He instructs you, guides you and prevents you from making mistakes.  He is in you for a purpose.  He wants you to live the good life which He prepared for you and has made ready for you, like a new house.  Your new house, your new place of residence, is in Him.  In Him is everything you need.  Ask Him and he will give it to you.  He has made you and He lives in you.  Believe it!  Choose to accept it!  Walk like it is true, whether it looks like it or not in the natural in your life.  If you walk it long enough, it becomes reality 24/7 for you.  CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY!  HALLELUJAH!

Come To Me

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest.  I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.

Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good – not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Jesus is calling us to come to Him Who will take care of us.  We are to give Him all burdens and those things that weigh us down.  Actually, His yoke is really not a yoke in terms of bondage.  It is a joining together with Him like oxen are joined together with a yoke.  When we join with Him and operate as one, yielding ourselves to Him, His anointing of Love and Life removes the burdens for us and destroys the yokes of bondage that satan has attempted to place on us.

What Jesus asks us to bear is really not a burden.  We are to bear love and goodness and peace and tranquility and health and happiness and joy and prosperity.  Those are the kinds of things that we are designed to carry.  We were never designed by God to carry anything but His goodness and nature.  Anything else is foreign to us and an enemy.  We are no longer yoked to our enemy satan.  He is our foe and opposed to us.  What we do is cast the whole of our cares on the Lord and hook up with Him in unity of heart.  Every day we must do that—-join with Him Who is all Life and Love.

God Is My Rock, Part 9

We will finish our study today on God as our Rock with some scripture passages from the New Testament.

Matthew 7:24

Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them, does them, obeys them, will be like a sensible, prudent, practical, wise man who built his house upon the rock.  And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house yet it did not fall, because it had been founded upon a rock.

When we hear God’s Word and do what His Word says, we are standing on solid ground for our lives.  No wind of adversity can blow into our lives and shake us.  Why?  We are built upon the solid foundation of God’s Word, which is unshakeable.

Matthew 16:18

You are Peter and upon this rock I will build My church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, overpower it or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it.

The church of the living God is built upon the revealing of Jesus Christ, the revelation of the reason He came to this earth—-to set mankind free from the stronghold of satan and reconcile us to Father once again.  There is no power that can stop the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is built upon His authority and might.

1 Corinthians 10:4

And they all drank the same spiritual supernaturally given drink.  For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them – produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality and the Rock was Christ.

Christ, The Anointed One, His anointing (the Holy Spirit), sent by the Father in the name of Jesus, is what sustains us and stabilizes us so that we are not moved away by anything or anyone from the power of God.  It is a supernatural work, which has its source in God.  It is not by works of natural man.  Our sustenance comes from Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  The Holy Spirit is here now to bring the fullness of that sustenance from heaven for our lives.  He is the Spirit of Truth sent to reveal the nature of God to us.  The Father takes great delight in each human being who grabs hold of the truth that he is able to become a child of God and fellowship with the Lord in an intimate relationship.

Indeed, God is your Rock.  He is the solid, stable One Who has become one with those who have accepted Him into their lives.  Remember that He is always right there with you, defending you, protecting you, strengthening you, keeping you safe.  He is your firm, immovable foundation.  Stay close to Him.

God Is Our Rock, Part 8

We have been studying God as our Rock, our impenetrable place of stability and rest.  Let’s ask ourselves a question today:  Is He my place of rest and stability?  Am I making Him the One on Whom I lean and rely and the One in Whom I confidently trust?  He is solid and unchangeable, the same yesterday, today and forever.  All else is subject to change, but He is not!  There’s been much talk about change in our nation.  God says that He is unchanging.  He Who is the Word fails not.  He is our place of refuge and strength, the One Who is forever, eternally, and perpetually the same.  He and His Word never change!

Today we will look at two scripture passages which are totally different concerning God as our Rock, yet they have the central theme of Him being our Rock of Refuge.  In the first set of scriptures, we see Him as our Protector from wickedness and in the second set of scriptures we see ourselves bowing before Him and worshipping and praising Him with hearts of thanksgiving for being our ROCK OF SALVATION (WHOLENSS).  HE IS OUR GOD!

Psalm 94:13, 20-23

Lord, You instruct and teach me out of Your law (Word) that You may give me power to keep myself calm in the days of adversity until the inevitable pit of corruption is dug for the wicked.

Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with You – they who frame and hide their unrighteous doings under the sacred name of the law.

They band themselves together against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

But the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense and my God, the Rock of my refuge.

And He will turn back upon them their own iniquity and will wipe them out by means of their own wickedness – the Lord our God will wipe them out.

Psalm 95:1-7

O come let us sing to the Lord – let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving – let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.

For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods.

In His hand are the deep places of the earth – the height and strength of the hills are His also.

The sea is His, for He made it and His hands formed the dry land.

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker in reverent praise and supplication.

For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

God Is My Rock, Part 7

Today consider these scriptures concerning God as our Rock, our immovable, impenetrable hard place against which no resistance can stand.

Psalm 71:3,13-16

Be to me a rock of refuge in which to dwell (my strong habitation) and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually resort, which You have appointed, given command to save me, for You are my Rock and my lofty Fortress or Stronghold.

Let them be put to shame and consumed who are adversaries to my life – let them be covered with reproach, scorn, and dishonor who seek and require my hurt.

But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more.

My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation (deliverance, rescue, help, safety, victory) all the day, for their number is more than I know.

I will come in the strength and with the mighty acts of the Lord God….

Psalm 89:24,26,28,33,34

My faithfulness and My mercy and loving-kindness shall be with him and in My name shall his horn (power) be exalted (great power and prosperity shall be conferred upon him.)

He shall cry to Me —-

You are my Father.

You are my God.

You are the Rock (Mighty God, Mighty One) of my salvation (deliverance, health, help, welfare).

My mercy and loving-kindness will I keep for him forevermore and My covenant shall stand fast and be faithful with him.

Nevertheless, my loving-kindness will I not break off from him nor allow My faithfulness to fail (to lie and be false to him).

My covenant will I not break or profane nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

These two scripture passages hold quite a load of promises to us and for us from our God.  Ponder them and embrace these truths of God as your Rock today.

God Is Our Rock, Part 6

Only God is an immovable Truth.  Everything else can change and move and be temporary, but not our God.  He is ever steadfast and true to Himself.  He is the Word of Truth.  There is none beside Him.  When we rest our confidence in Him, we are resting in a sure place, a place appointed by God for each one of His children.  We will dwell in the strength and might of our God.  He is our salvation, the One Who keeps us safe and delivers us and gives us the victory in life always.

Psalm 62:2,6-8

He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress – I shall not be greatly moved.

He only is my Rock and my Salvation – He is my Defense and my Fortress – I shall not be moved.

With God rests my salvation and my glory – He is my Rock of unyielding and impenetrable hardness and my refuge is in God.

Trust in, lean on, rely on and have confidence in Him at all times, you people – pour out your hearts before Him – God is a refuge for us, a fortress and a high tower.

We can trust God.  We can pour out our hearts before Him, and He will be our hard rock, our place where there is no yielding to the pressures of the enemy.  When we are in the Lord, we shall not be moved from our position of strength and victory.

God Is My Rock, Part 5

As we continue with our study on God as our Rock, let’s remember that He is our refuge and shelter at all times, not just when we need Him.  He is always with us, ever watching over us and our loved ones.  He’s our protection.  There is only one thing that will stop that protection—-us.  If we don’t believe He is our protection and refuge, if we doubt that He is our shelter, then our doubt and our fear and our unbelief stop Him.  He has given us the power of choice.  Every day we make choices concerning our relationship with our God.  Sometimes the choices are made in the face of what seems like impossible situations.  Nevertheless, we make the choice to believe our God.

Psalm 61:1-6

…Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me – a strong tower from the enemy.

I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever – let me find refuge and trust in the shelter of Your wings.

For You, O God, have heard my vows – You have given me the heritage of those who fear, revere and honor Your name.

May You prolong the true king’s life – adding days upon days – and may his years be to the last generation of this world and the generation of the world to come.

Forever, God is our Refuge!

God Is My Rock, Part 4

I am going to let today’s scripture on God as our Rock speak to each one of us.  Make this scripture a place of meditation today.  Think on it and believe the Word of God for you personally.

Psalm 31:3-5,7,13,14,17-21,23,24

You are my Rock and my Salvation.

…You are my Strength and my Stronghold.

…You have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth and faithfulness.

I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy and steadfast love….

I have heard the slander of many – terror, fear is on every side – they schemed together against me – they plotted to take my life.

But I trusted in, relied on, and was confident in You, O Lord – I said:  You are my God.

Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, or disappointed, for I am calling upon You – let the wicked be put to shame – let them be silent in Sheol (the place of the dead).

Let the lying lips be silenced, which speak insolently against the righteous with pride and contempt.

O how great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who reverence and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men.

In the secret of Your Presence You hide them from the plots of men – You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues.

Blessed be the Lord!  For He has shown me His marvelous loving favor….

O love the Lord all you His saints.  The Lord preserves the faithful and plentifully pays back him who deals haughtily.

Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for, hope for and expect the Lord.

Wherever you go and whatever you do and whatever is happening in your life, God is always there as your solid place of refuge.  He hides you in the shelter of His arms.  He will defend you and take care of you.  Trust Him at all times.  Yes, you can trust Him, even when it looks like nothing is happening to confirm your trust in Him.  Trust Him anyway.  He will come through for you.  I know.  Trusting the Lord is the key to your victorious life.

God Is My Rock, Part 3

Our Father, Our God, Jesus the Word, is our place of security.  He is solid and secure.  When we stand on Him, all around us may be shaking but He is stable, dependable, always there, ever present to take care of us.  In the times in which we are living, He alone is immovable and steadfast.  When we place our complete trust in Him, then we become immovable and steadfast when all around us is sinking sand and trouble and destruction.

2 Samuel 22:31-36, KJV and Amplified Bible

As for God, His way is perfect (entire, full, complete, whole, sound, undefiled, without blemish or spot) – the word of the Lord is tried (refined) – He is a buckler (shield) to all those who trust and take refuge in Him.

For Who is God, but the Lord?

And Who is a Rock (Mighty One), except our God?

He is my strength (fortified place, defense, rock, stronghold, fortress) and power (my Fortress, force) – He makes my way perfect (sets me free).

He makes my feet like hinds’ feet (firm, able) – He sets me secure and confident upon the heights.

He trains (teaches) my hands for war….

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation – and Your gentleness has made me great (increased, enlarged, excel, grow, nourish, plenty, abundance, multiplied).

What promises we have here in this scripture passage!  Our God is a shield for us against the troubles sent against us.  He is our fortress and stronghold.  He sets us securely above the problems and gives us confidence that in Him we are overcomers.  He causes us to increase and grow and be nourished with abundance in the middle of the storm.  That is reason to rejoice and praise Him for Who He is in our lives.  Praise Him!  Rejoice in His goodness!  Trust Him!

God Is My Rock, Part  2

There is a song that says:  On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.  God is a solid, immovable part of our lives when we trust Him.  There is nothing greater and stronger than God.  Oh, many times the devil comes huffing and puffing with his lying spirit and aggressive actions to bluff us, but we are the ones with the power of God dwelling in us.

The unfortunate part of our relationship with God is that many have not learned how to allow that great, dynamite power of God which is inside them to operate on their behalf.  I am reminded of 1 John 4:4 today from the Amplified Bible.  I will personalize it for you.  I am of God.  I belong to God.  I am His child, and I have already defeated and overcome the agents of antichrist because greater, mightier is He Who is in me than he who is in the world.  Do you believe that today?  Is that God’s Word?  Yes, it is.  His Word will not return unto Him void, empty, useless, without producing what it was sent forth to do  (Isa. 55:1).  We all must trust God and His Word.  This is the greatest time of all times to trust His Word—-that it works for us personally, in our lives.  God is a personal God.  He wants to take care of each one of us.  He has the power and the ability to do that.  He is our Rock.

Deuteronomy 32:4 KJV and Amplified Bible

He is the Rock; His work is perfect; for all His ways are law and justice – a God of truth and without iniquity – a God of faithfulness without breach or deviation – just and right is He.

Iniquity:  moral evil, to distort (morally), perverseness, unjust(-ly), wicked(-ness), unrighteousness

2 Samuel 22:2-4 KJV and Amplified Bible

The Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer.

The God of my Rock – in Him will I trust – in Him will I take refuge – He is my Shield – He is the horn (power) of my salvation (liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety) – He is my High Tower (my Stronghold) – He is my Refuge – He is my Savior – He saves me from violence.

I call upon the Lord Who is worthy to be praised and I am saved from my enemies

Think on and ponder this scripture particularly today for yourself personally.  Your God is a Protector and Deliverer for you.  You can trust Him and take refuge in Him.  He will keep you from your enemies (enemy satan).