The Rock of Jesus

[Cody]

The Rock of Jesus

As Christians we should obey by His law. When we do not obey by His law and when we don't keep our total faith in Him, troubles will come our way. When the troubles come, what will we have to fight them with? That is why we must obey and keep our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our rock and if we build our house with Him, we will be able to fight the troubles of life.

In Luke 6:46, Jesus says this, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Today we see so many Christians, even ourselves at times that believe in Jesus, but do not always do the things He says. God's law is to be followed because He is our God. Another reason He gives us rules is because He loves us. When we do not follow what He says to do, bad things will happen. Every sin has a consequence and punishment. The Bible tells us that our sins will find us out.

Numbers 32:23
"But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."

On down in Luke 6:47-48, Jesus says "Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 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." If we obey and keep our faith in Jesus, we will have a foundation made of rock. If we are living by the Bible and putting our trust in God, the troubles of life will come at ease. We will still have troubles that come our way, but we have a great shepherd to look after us.

John 10:11
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

I hear some people say, "Accept Jesus and your life will be perfect." I'm sorry, but that is not what the Bible teaches. Paul was one of the greatest men in the Bible. He accepted Jesus as his savior, but still he went through troubles. In 2 Corinthians 12:8, Paul asked Jesus to remove the thorn from his flesh three times. Jesus did not take it out, but he told Paul that His grace is sufficient. Paul understood and said that he would rather glory in his infirmities. Our weaknesses show God's strength and brings glory to Him. God will help us through our weaknesses and then our faith becomes stronger.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10
8 "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me."
9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
10 "Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

So Christians, we must build our life on the rock of Jesus. We must obey and put our total faith in Him. Sometimes we will ask God for something and we will not always get what we want. We need to understand that God is our shepherd and he knows what we need. The troubles of life will come, but stay on the rock of Jesus and He will bring you through and make you a stronger for the next storm that comes your way.

God Bless, Your Brother in Christ, Cody​

 

[Faithful Son]

God bless you brother Cody.

If you don't mind me asking you a question. In relation to this:

Paul asked Jesus to remove the thorn from his flesh three times. Jesus did not take it out, but he told Paul that His grace is sufficient.

I had a thought that came into my mind just now. I am struggling with a few sins and I have confessed them to the Lord. But I confess what I have sinned. I will try to explain what I mean.

Do you think I should confess my sin to the Lord in this manner?

Lord, I am struggling with "this sin", please remove it from me?

I hope you can help me with this. Normally after I've sinned, I say, Lord, I have committed this sin. Do you think that the Holy Spirit might be saying something to me today? I feel it today and I pray that you can shed some light.

God bless
teraside


Edit:

I'd like to edit this post,

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

I guess I'm trying to follow Paul's advice and the Holy Spirit is saying something to me. Can I, as a Christian and child of God, go to Him and say to Him, Lord, I am struggling with smoking or drinking or bad language and say to God that He should use my sin to change me, because they are my infirmities?

 

[Cody]

Paul was talking about a physical thorn. I think what you're talking about is a little different. Paul was going through trouble in his life, and asked God to help. God gave him the ability to get through it, but did not remove it. When you confess your sin, ask forgiveness and ask God to help you. It is impossible for us not to sin because only God is good. If I were you I would just ask God for help you instead of saying "remove this sin". When you ask forgiveness the sin is removed from you, you are forgiven. Then ask God for help to overcome the sin the future. That is why God didn't take away the thorn, so Paul would depend on him. He wants you to depend on Him also, so just ask God to help you with it, guide you through it and make you stronger.

 

[Faithful Son]

I couldn't quite express what is in my mind and heart and spirit, but your reply does make me feel better brother.

Thanks for the article and may God bless you
Much love
teraside

 

[sunshine307]

Edit:

I'd like to edit this post,


I guess I'm trying to follow Paul's advice and the Holy Spirit is saying something to me. Can I, as a Christian and child of God, go to Him and say to Him, Lord, I am struggling with smoking or drinking or bad language and say to God that He should use my sin to change me, because they are my infirmities?

brother teraside,

Colossians 3: "Not Carnality but Christ
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

When we sin and come to God for forgiveness we come in repentance. Repentance means turning away from what that sin is. When you come to God in repentance you are a new creation in him, the old has passed away and the new has come. If you go on committing this sin, you haven't come in true repentance in the first place.

 

[Chad]

This is a great article brother Cody. You write very well. It is true, I wish to follow Christ yet continue to sin. But, I'm not hopeless because my hope is in Christ Jesus who, as Scripture says is my strength and redeemer.

2 Corinthians 12:9
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I believe as long as we confess our sins and will to repent, GOD does not look at us as some kind of hypocrites, which Jesus practically pointed out in Luke 6:46. If He senses our sincerity to repent and guilt of our sins, confessing them - we are still hopeful in Jesus and not some kind of Pharisee.

 

[Faithful Son]

I merely used example of sin today. I doubt any of us will truly confess our sins for the whole world to laugh about.

Thanks sister Sunshine and brother Chad. The thing is there are things which I continue to struggle with on a daily basis, but in my mind and spirit I have the full assurence of God that I am one of His children.

So I guess my question was basically aimed at dealing with sin in the same way Paul dealt with his.

 

[sunshine307]

I merely used example of sin today. I doubt any of us will truly confess our sins for the whole world to laugh about.

Thanks sister Sunshine and brother Chad. The thing is there are things which I continue to struggle with on a daily basis, but in my mind and spirit I have the full assurence of God that I am one of His children.

So I guess my question was basically aimed at dealing with sin in the same way Paul dealt with his.

The confession of your sins is to God, not to anyone here. Are you referring to Paul's thorn in the flesh? If so, the Bible doesn't tell us what Pauls thorn was, doesn't say it was sin.

 

[stephen]

Good stuff Cody......Keep preaching.

In His Love

 

[Maureen]

Wasn't Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' his disability surely, his infirmities.
Could have even been a speech mpediment but as you say we don't know.

Mark 6 V 12
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

 

[Faithful Son]

The confession of your sins is to God, not to anyone here. Are you referring to Paul's thorn in the flesh? If so, the Bible doesn't tell us what Pauls thorn was, doesn't say it was sin.

Thanks for the reply sister.

Please know that English is not my first language, I try not to use this as an excuse, but sometimes there are words which evade my knowledge

However, using a well known search engine, I got the definition of the word infirmities:
Sicknesses, physical weaknesses, moral weaknesses.

That's infirmities. We can only assume in context what Paul meant, so I'm sure he had "physical weaknesses", because he was talking about his flesh, but it's his weaknesses.

He says he takes pleasure in his infirmities, so I agree with you, he isn't talking about sinning. I doubt a man like Paul would tell the different churches that he takes pleasure in his sin.

But he does take pleasure in being weak, because God makes him strong. So I have to look at the wisdom of this and let God change me by His grace.

God bless
teraside

 

[ladylovesJesus]

Paul's thorn in the flesh.
We're not told how it was manifested, but 2 Corinthians 12:7 clearly states that it was a 'messenger of Satan,' literally an angel of Satan--a demon! Paul never asked for it. In fact, he prayed three times that it be removed.

7And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn ([a]a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted. [Job. 2:6.]

8Three times I called upon the Lord and besought [Him] about this and begged that it might depart from me;

9But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may [c]pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

10So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [[d]in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful [e]in divine strength).

Brother teraside I think you may find the following helpful. I read it today and thought of you.

God bless :rainbow: :rose:

Daily in Christ 5/26

 

[Faithful Son]

Thank you sister That does speak to my heart. God bless you.