July 10, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
God Is A Rock
“Solid Rock”
Psalm 91
Psalm 18:1-3; Psalm
62:5-8;
Deuteronomy 32:1-4;
Matthew 7:24-27
“Firmness of Rock. . . ”
Prayer for illumination and for God’s word to
be heard through me or in spite of me. . .
Rock:
1. the solid mineral material forming part
of the surface of the earth and other similar planets, exposed on the surface
or underlying the soil or oceans.
2. a large piece of rock that has become
detached from a cliff or mountain; a boulder:
3. used in similes and metaphors to refer
to someone or something that is extremely strong, reliable, or hard:
When
I say the word rock what comes to mind? Why are rocks so important in our
lives? What are some instances that you would use a metaphor of rock to get
your point across? The University of Oregon tells us there are 3 types of
rocks:
·
Igneous Rocks
·
Sedimentary Rocks
·
Metamorphic Rocks
Now I know you don’t want to
get into a big geology lecture so let’s just say that all rocks are put in 3
categories
But
the one thought that comes to my mind when you use the word rock is God. God is
a Rock that we can all stand upon. . . it is the foundation that we build our
life upon.
Now
how many of you agree with me. . . that God Is a Rock? What makes you say that?
We have just completed a sermon series on outsiders and we realized. . . we
decided. . . that we need to invite the outsiders into our loving and accepting
world. . . or it is supposed to be that
way. . . anyway. Why are we inviting them in? Do we want to invite them to
meet the Rock of Ages. . . The Firm Foundation? Well lets actually look at why
we call God a Rock. . . it is much easier
to explain the Rock of our lives when we look at the reasons why we call Him
so.
OK.
. . God is the “Solid Rock. . . I am sure that many of you have heard me call
God my Rock and Redeemer. HE is the one firm foundation in my life that I can
build upon. It describes His steadfast nature. . . you know “God is good all
the time. . . all the time God is good.” I am reminded of a scripture found in Matthew
7:24-27. . . it reads:
24-25 “These words I speak
to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to
your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on.
If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who
built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado
hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26-27 “But if you just use
my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a
stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in
and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.”
We
can decided to build our house. . . build our lives. . . build our Spiritual
self on anything. . . we have free will. But if we build on the building
materials of the world we will see our lives fall apart like a deck of cards. .
. this is why we want the outsider to
find the solid rock in their lives. . . so they too can build on Solid Ground
not the sinking sand of the world.
Life
is not easy and it is not always good. We come across situations in our lives
that are just downright miserable. Whether it is our fault or not. . . we still
go through those rough patches. . . we live in a fallen would. . . it’s a
given. So what do you do when you get into one of these spots in your life? I
think the Psalmist really puts things in perspective. . . at least how I see it.
. . in Psalm 65:5-8 when he states:
5-6 God, the one and only—
I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I hope for comes
from him,
so why not?
He’s solid rock under my
feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I’m set for life.
7-8 My help and glory are in
God
—granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
So trust him absolutely,
people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.
God
is the safe harbor. . . the solid Rock under our feet as we experience the
slippery landscape of the world around us. He is the Rock we can cling to when
the winds of adversity try to blow us away. The
outsiders we are inviting in are out there looking for that Rock to cling to
for they feel that they are sinking fast in a world full of chaos and storms.
This
Solid Rock gives us strength to face anything at any time. This Rock is sure
and unmoving. We can depend upon this Solid Rock no matter what it is. . . no
matter who you are. . . no matter how you got to where you are at. . . our God
is faithful. Deuteronomy 32:1-14 has a beautiful imagery of this. . . it reads:
The Song
32 1-5 Listen, Heavens, I
have something to tell you.
Attention, Earth, I’ve got a mouth full of
words.
My teaching, let it fall like a gentle
rain,
my words arrive like morning dew,
Like a sprinkling rain on new grass,
like spring showers on the garden.
For it’s God’s Name I’m preaching—
respond to the greatness of our God!
The Rock: His works are perfect,
and the way he works is fair and just;
A God you can depend upon, no exceptions,
a straight-arrow God.
The
writer had been through a storm and is now on the other side. God has brought
him through. We too have been through
storms in our own lives. How has God shown He is faithful in your storm? Can
you truly say you can rely on His Faithfulness and Goodness? Is God really good
all the time for you? There are those who need to hear your “storm stories” so
that they will have hope in their own.
God
is a Rock! He is a Solid Rock that never changes. He is the Rock of
faithfulness and truth. When we come into His sanctuary and worship Him it
should become a safe haven for all to come to the Rock of safety. . . unfortunately it is not always a safe place.
. . but that’s for another day. . . If we try to build our house. . . try to build
our spirit. . . try to build our lives on the building material of the world it
will fall. . . There is only one sure
foundation and that is the Solid Rock of our God found in and through the One
that the builders rejected. . . the Corner Stone. . . our Risen Lord Jesus
Christ. As we do we too will shout it from the roof tops with the Psalmist. . .
Psalm 18:1-3The Message
(MSG)
18 1-2 I love you, God—
you make me strong.
God is bedrock under my
feet,
the castle in which I live,
my rescuing knight.
My God—the high crag
where I run for dear life,
hiding behind the boulders,
safe in the granite hideout.
3 I sing to God, the
Praise-Lofty,
and find myself safe and saved.
AMEN!
====
July 24, 2016
the God who is above all
things
July 24, 2016
out of the pit of chaos
July 24, 2016
lost in addiction, in
chaos
July 24, 2016
they don’t know Him
July 24, 2016
they are out there hurting
July 24, 2016
God takes us to higher
ground
July 23, 2016
the mark of the beast
July 23, 2016
in the darkness, the chaos
July 23, 2016
stuck in the valley
July 23, 2016
held by the chaos – v2
July 23, 2016
listen to their cries
July 23, 2016
look around
July 23, 2016
climb to the rock
edited July 23, 2016
in the dark places – v2
July 23, 2016
they are not here
edited July 23, 2016
wake up, help – v2
July 23, 2016
wake up, help
edited/expanded July 23,
2016
we have a calling – 2
expanded July 23, 2016
to hear their cries – v2
July 23, 2016
to hear their cries – v1
July 22, 2016
lead them to the rock
edited July 22, 2016
held by the chaos
July 22, 2016
in the dark places
editing “too many in
Sheol”
July 22, 2016
cling to God for help – v2
July 21, 2016
too many in Sheol
July 21, 2016
we have a calling
July 21, 2016
those who are still in the
valley
July 21, 2016
God called to him
July 21, 2016
a safe harbor – v2
July 20, 2016
Lead me to the rock
July 20, 2016
go to the rock
July 20, 2016
we cling to God for help
July 20, 2016
cling to God for help
July 20, 2016
we need the rock
July 19, 2016
the sure foundation
July 19, 2016
a safe harbor
July 19, 2016
we are down in the valley
July 19, 2016
a higher place
July 18, 2016
guide them to the heights
July 17, 2016
climbing higher- 2
July 17, 2016
Higher Ground
July 17, 2016
above the chaos
July 17, 2016
miles in all directions
July 17, 2016
from the heights
July 17, 2016
a new perspective
July 17, 2016
we bring You these gifts
7/17/16 Prayer of
Thanksgiving
&
July 17, 2016
climb the mountain
July 17, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
God Is A Rock
“Take Me To The Rock”
Psalm 30
Psalm 61;
Psalm 88;
Exodus 3:1-3;
Genesis 22:1-2
and sermon, “Higher
Ground…”
text
video
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
by Cristy Ann Chaffee
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
July 17, 2016
&
July 17, 2016
build your house
July 17, 2016
build upon God
July 17, 2016
sinking fast
edited July 17, 2016
Solid Rock – v2
July 17, 2016
where will we stand
July 16, 2016
seeking that rock
July 16, 2016
like a house of cards
edited July 16, 2016
on this rock we stand
July 16, 2016
we can stand - 2
July 15, 2016
fixed to the rock
July 14, 2016
nothing moved that house
July 13, 2016
build our lives
July 13, 2016
Solid Rock
July 10, 2016
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Sermon Series:
God Is A Rock
“Solid Rock”
Psalm 91
Psalm 18:1-3;
Psalm 62:5-8;
Deuteronomy 32:1-4;
Matthew 7:24-27
and sermon, “Firmness of
Rock…”
text
video
by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Children’s Message from Mystery Box
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson
Memorial United Methodist Church
July 10, 2016
All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted
by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at
Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage.
See all 41,480+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com
Poetry Where You Live.
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