"RESTING ON THE ROCK OF HIS PROMISE"
October 21, 2001 am
MF Blume
A sermon revealing a powerful revelation of faith and confidence during
all of life's troubles. God has graciously opened up some precious
insights into the book of Revelation and the purpose of showing us the
lamb approach the throne where the rainbow arched over and around.
Genesis 8:1-4 And God remembered
Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the
ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped,
and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off
the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days
the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month,
on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.
Noah's ark rested on a mountain range after the flood.
-
The Bible gave the name for this range -- Ararat.
-
A mountain is a large rock.
-
And God's word is compared to a rock we can stand upon and be safe.
-
A mountain range is an entire series of WORDS FROM GOD.
And Ararat is a name meaning "the curse is reversed."
Think about it.
-
The ark rested.
-
On a mountain range, or series of rocks.
-
Named Ararat.
God's rock, or His word, is THE CURSE IS REVERSED.
-
And as Noah's ark rested on the Mountain named Ararat, we need to rest
on the word of God that tells us the CURSE IS REVERSED.
-
We need to rest on that word.
-
We need to rest and not worry about troubles.
-
We need to rest and not become anxious and afraid.
-
REST upon the truth that the CURSE IS REVERSED.
There are an entire series of powerful TRUTHS all telling us the same thing....
THE CURSE IS REVERSED.
Now, this is only for Christians.
-
If you are hearing me today and you have not entered into the ark of Jesus
Christ, and are not serving Him, then you have no rock to rest your soul
upon.
-
But this rock I have, named Jesus, can be your rock, too.
-
You can rest upon the word of God and be safe and secure.
Listen to the benefits for the Christian.
The human race was cursed due to sin.
-
The opposite of the blessing is the cursing.
Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created
he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living
thing that moveth upon the earth.
God initially blessed mankind.
-
He gave mankind power and dominion over everything in the world.
-
Including the creeping thing.
Genesis 1:30 And to every beast of the
earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon
the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat:
and it was so.
The serpent was a creeping thing.
-
It is a blessing to have dominion over all the things of life.
-
And God created us and blessed us to have that dominion.
Adam was king and was blessed to enjoy life.
-
Today the human race is so robbed of true joy that they spend money trying
to get it.
-
The biggest money making industry is entertainment.
-
People trying to buy joy and happiness.
A man went to the psychologist while suffering stress and depression.
-
He was advised to attend a local place of entertainment since there was
a certain comedian in town, and a comedy and a fun time would help him
out of his anxiety.
-
The man looked at the doctor and said, "No, that's no good."
-
The doctor said, "Yes it will. I know what I am talking about."
-
The man said, "Nope."
-
"Why not?"
-
"I am that comedian."
-
That's the kind of world we are in.
What happened?
Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day
that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that
the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and
did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
We find out that something more happened than just dying.
-
After we read of their disobedience, we read the following also occurred:
Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto
the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle,
...
Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will
greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; ...
Gene 3:17 And unto Adam he said, Because
thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree,
of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is
the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of
thy life;
Mankind felt the curse of God upon the world.
Instead of being blessed, cursing came.
But we read of one way, and one way only to be free from this curse.
Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Christ alone frees people from the curse!
1 Peter 3:20-21 Which sometime
were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days
of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls
were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now
save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer
of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Peter said Baptism saves us by the resurrection of Jesus.
-
How does His resurrection make baptism save us?
-
Romans 6:3 says that we are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ.
-
And that's a good death to be baptized into!
-
All of us had to die as a penalty for sin.
-
So baptism saves us because we are baptized into His death, and He resurrected
from His death.
Death was the penalty for sinning, along with the curse upon us.
-
Normally living under a curse and then dying simply ends everything.
-
All we can say is we lived under a curse and finally died.
-
What good is that?
-
But the wonderful thing is that Jesus' story did not simply end at his
death, as our's would.
-
His death was unique in that He raised Himself from the dead, and continued
in a life that would never die again.
-
And that is the reason baptism saves us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
-
We get baptized into His death and resurrect with Him into that unending
life!
Not only are we freed from death., but freed from the curse that went along
with it.
Peter said its like Noah's story.
-
Eight souls were saved by water.
-
Similarly, we are saved by baptism because of Jesus' resurrection.
-
When Noah got into the ark, it was like a person getting baptized in Jesus'
name.
-
And Noah came out of that ark into a brand new world free from sin.
-
We resurrect with Jesus Christ in a life that is washed free from sins.
Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou?
arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of
the Lord.
Not only that.
-
But after we are baptized into Jesus Christ, we MUST REST ON THE ROCK OF
THE WORD THAT SAYS "THE CURSE IS REVERSED."
When man was cursed, he lost the blessing Adam was given.
-
Adam was blessed to have dominion over all the earth and everything in
it.
-
Including the creeping serpent.
-
Man lost that wonderful life.
-
Man lost that status.
-
And today, man suffers defeat by the things in this world.
-
AND SO DO MANY CHRISTIANS!
Genesis 8:21 And the LORD smelled a
sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the
ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil
from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living,
as I have done.
God told Noah he would not CURSE the world again, After Noah's ark rested
on the mountain called CURSE IS REVERSED.
And we read similar words:
Genesis 9:11-12 And I will establish
my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the
waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the
earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between
me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
The covenant was NO MORE CURSE.
-
And the SIGN of that covenant was the rainbow.
God took Noah back to pre-curse days in the Garden and gave him the very
blessing He first gave to Adam before Adam sinned and lost the blessing
as he was instead CURSED.
Galatians 3:13 said that Christ's hanging on the cross redeemed us from
the curse.
-
His cross was where He shed His blood and died.
Revelation 4:2-3 And immediately I was
in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on
the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine
stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto
an emerald.
And after we read of this THRONE with a RAINBOW, John sees one on the throne
in 5:1 holding a book.
-
Sitting where the rainbow is.
-
And someone cries for a worthy one to come and take the book and open it.
-
John weeps because nobody is worthy.
-
But then he is told not to weep because the LAMB PREVAILED.
Revelation 5:6-7 And I beheld, and,
lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst
of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and
seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the
earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that
sat upon the throne.
The LAMB WAS DEAD but resurrected and took the book.
And then we read...
Revelation 5:9 And they sung a
new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
His death REDEEMED them.
-
Paul said his death redeemed us from the curse.
-
No more curse.
-
And when He redeemed us from the curse, this symbolic vision showed the
same sign as Noah received telling him NO MORE CURSE... you're getting
back the blessing first given to Adam before he was cursed.
-
The lamb redeemed man by going to the throne where there was a RAINBOW.
The place of God's throne in heaven is an ARARAT.
-
When Noah's ark rested on ARARAT (curse is reversed), God gave Him a blessing
to have DOMINION.
-
People who have dominion are kings, and kings REST on thrones.
-
That is the reason the place of God's THRONE is where the rainbow is.
-
NO MORE CURSE.
-
RULE LIKE A KING.
-
Get the blessing of Adam.
After Paul talked about redemption from the curse, he spoke of receiving
the blessing of Abraham!
Notice what Noah experienced after he rested on ARARAT.
Remember what God told Adam?
Genesis 9:1-3 And God blessed Noah
and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every
beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth
upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are
they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even
as the green herb have I given you all things.
God actually repeated the same words first spoken to Noah before the curse,
that noted how Adam was BLESSED.
-
Peter told us that our baptism into Jesus Christ is similar to the flood
waters that saved Noah.
-
And Noah's story of resting on a mountain, whose name means THE CURSE IS
REVERSED, notes the BLESSING Adam received before he sinned and all mankind
was cursed.
-
God is trying to tell us that our baptism into Jesus Christ reverses the
curse.
Instead of the things of this world dominating you, the curse is reversed.
-
You are blessed to dominate the things in this world.
What is wrong, when christians are defeated?
They were baptized into Jesus Christ.
-
They were saved.
-
But they have not really RESTED on the Ararat of the word that says THE
CURSE IS REVERSED.
Christ redeemed us from the curse.
-
He hanged on a tree.
-
Cursed is everyone that hangs on as tree.
-
That was his death.
-
And when we are baptized into that death, we are redeemed from the curse.
-
The curse is completely reversed.
But we've lived so long in a life of being cursed with defeat against the
things that are in this world, that its hard for us to REST on that rock
now that we are saved.
-
It takes FAITH to rest on that rock.
-
You have to believe what the word of God said.
-
In order for you to rest in the word, when former troubles that defeated
you come across your pathway once again, you are not worried.
-
You so much believe what God's word says that you REST ON THAT WORD.
-
You think, "That used to defeat me. But now I am a different person.
I am a Christian now. And I am now BLESSED rather than CURSED.
I am blessed with power over that hindrance, because THE CURSE IS REVERSED."
God has a word for you to rest upon.
-
Like a rock, this word is something that will stand sure and not shake
away.
-
When you stand on the word you are standing on a rock, and everything is
going to be alright.
Galatians 3:13-14 Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written,
Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham
might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive
the promise of the Spirit through faith.
You might say that you have been defeated different times in your Christian
walk.
-
So where is this blessing of having dominion over it all?
-
The problem you experienced was YOU DID NOT REST ON THAT WORD.
-
When you rest on a word that tells you the curse is reversed, and you are
dominant once again, you do not worry about the things, that formerly dominated,
you will dominate you again now.
-
The word says things are different now, and you believe it!
-
You have FAITH in it.
-
You rest on it.
-
And God requires that FAITH in you to fulfill what He promised in the word.
If you will check it out, you will recall that in times you were defeated,
you did not relax when the problem first came, and you did not REST in
the FACT that the curse is reversed.
God's Promises require one thing of us in order for us to enjoy them.
-
WE MUST REST UPON THEM.
-
WE MUST BELIEVE THEM so fully that we do not DOUBT them.
Doubt is the devil's faith.
-
Doubt will actually cause bad things to happen to you, just like faith
causes God to bless you.
Hebrews 4:1-2 Let us therefore fear,
lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should
seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well
as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed
with faith in them that heard it.
You must mix this PROMISE or WORD with FAITH.
-
That means you must REST upon it.
-
You must believe it so much until you do not worry when a former defeating
problem crosses your path.
Hebrews 4:3 For we which have believed
do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall
enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation
of the world.
God's REST is a THRONE.
-
Jesus went to that throne and sat down with His Father in that throne.
-
How do I know that?
-
Jesus prevailed in 5:6.
-
That means He overcame.
-
And 3:21 He said...
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and
am set down with my Father in his throne.
So we sit with Him in His throne if we overcome as He did and have faith.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born
of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the
world, even our faith.
When troubles come your way, fear may be on everyone else.
REST on that Rock.
Are you comfortable with believing the word?
-
Are you comfortable with believing the curse really is reversed?
-
Are you comfortable on this throne?
-
Can you rest when a trial and storm comes?
-
Are you convinced the CURSE IS REVERSED because you died with Christ and
thereby overcame just as He overcame?
Philippians 4:11-13 Not that I speak
in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith
to be content. (RESTED) I know both how to
be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am
instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer
need. I can do all things (RESTING AND RELAXED
ABOUT IT) through Christ which strengtheneth
me.
CONTENTMENT is REST.
Wherever Noah went after the flood, THE ARK REMAINED RESTING ON ARARAT.
-
No matter what situation Noah got himself into, THE ARK WAS STILL RESTING
ON ARARAT.
-
The world really was new.
-
He really was apart from the world of sinners he once lived in.
-
A flood was between and that old life.
Paul was CONTENT no matter what state he was in.
-
Being abased in hardships or abounding in ease, Paul said he could do it
all THROUGH CHRIST.
-
Christ strengthened him in those times, because Paul's FAITH attracted
Christ's strength to help him.
Christ wants to help us so many times, but without faith we cannot profit
from His help.
Noah's ark resting on Ararat is a picture of a person who is baptized
into Jesus and comes out on the other side and rests on the truth that
the CURSE IS REVERSED.
Your faith in God's word moves him to bless you with power and strength,
as Paul spoke about.
-
You might get in the same situation Paul got into, and yet receive no strength
like Paul did.
-
And you're both saved.
-
But Paul rested in the promise that the curse is reversed, and that faith
moved God to empower him.
When you believe a word you are comfortable with it.
-
Anything to do with that promise, reacts with you being comforted.
-
When you doubt a word you are struggling with it.
-
You're nervous and afraid.
After being afraid so much and seeing defeats come regular enough, just
get sick and tired of being sick and tired, and take God at His word and
TRY IT.
-
Rest on the promise THE CURSE IS REVERSED.
-
Face Satan, knowing the situation has changed... you can kick him around
for a change.
-
Believe what God said enough to DO SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT HE SAID.
-
Act like what he said about you is true.
-
Act like the blessed kings and queens you are!
-
Stare down that threat.
-
Don't run, but STAND STILL ON THIS WORD AND SEE THE GLORY OF GOD.
-
Faith without works is dead.
Hebrews 10:12-13 But this man, after
he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand
of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
At the place where the right hand of God held the revelation...
-
Jesus sat down.
-
And He sits on this throne expecting all enemies to be made his footstool.
-
We need HIS FAITH to live through us.
-
HIS FAITH is what strengthens us.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which
I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himself for me.
His faith is an expectation of enemies to be made his footstool as He sits
on the throne.
-
You need to sit with Him and have HIS FAITH.
-
And expect enemies to be made your footstool.
-
Notice that sitting down and expecting enemies to be made your footstool
means you sit down and REST BEFORE you actually see them defeated.
-
THAT TAKES FAITH.
-
FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD.
You are crucified with Him, and that means you are also seated with Him.
-
After He was crucified, buried and resurrected, He was seated by the right
hand of God.
-
And now that he sits there, he expects enemies to be made footstools.
-
So by faith, believe you are not only dead, buried and risen with Him,
but also seated with Him and RESTING.
-
And live by His faith.
-
His faith is expecting enemies to be made footstools.
The life Paul lived by, was a life of faith of the Son of God.
-
Jesus' faith is while He is seated, He expects His enemies to be made his
footstool.
-
The faith that the enemies may be running around right now, but the effects
of the cross will bring them down to their knees and make the permanent
footstools.
OH, HOW THAT APPLIES TO OUR SITUATIONS!!
-
We have enemies that are running around since the cross.
-
And it fits so perfectly to this situation to see Jesus sitting and EXPECTING
present walking-around enemies to fall.
-
Not by anything he needs to do, but by the cross where He finished the
work and actually prevailed.
It sounds funny to think of him having prevailed when you see Him sitting
down and enemies still running all around the place.
-
But its true!
-
He has so much that His cross finished the work, that He is sitting down
looking at His enemies and without doing one further thing, HE EXPECTS
THEM TO COME DOWN BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID ON THAT CROSS.
What better way can I describe our need to sit down and, even though our
enemies are running around right now, we expect them to fall.
-
Not because of anything we can do.
-
But because of what Jesus already did.
-
You can have the same faith Jesus had in sitting down with enemies running
everywhere, and expecting all of them.. every last one of them... to come
down by virtue of the power manifested through the cross.
-
Its a finished work because Jesus simply sat down afterwards, and waits,
watching all enemies come down.
We need the kind of faith that He showed in knowing nothing else needs
to be done.
-
Confident the curse is reversed.
-
Confident he has dominion, despite what enemies he sees still running around.
-
The kind of faith that sits while enemies still stand, knowing nothing
needs to be done other than what has already been done through the cross.
And even when their standing seems to say they are not defeated, its faith
to know that though they appear right now standing after the cross occurred,
still, they are defeated and we simply need to wait and watch them crumble.