Christ Alone is Our Cornerstone

A cornerstone is traditionally the first stone laid for a structure and all other stones then aligned with it so the building is built correctly.  A cornerstone or capstone marks the geographical location by orienting a building in a specific direction.  Jesus is the cornerstone of Christian faith.  Everything that Jesus did or taught is verified by the resurrection.  He is the foundation of the faith.

The Word of God brings the dead to life.   If you are having a bad day, a bad week, or a bad year – and we all know that 2020 was a bad year!  2021 is a little better but we still have a way to go.  Put your trust and faith in that there will be a better day ahead.  Hold on to your promised outcome - our heavenly home where there are no tears, no pain, or sorrow.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you,” – 1 Peter 1:3-4

Peter calls Jesus, ‘Lord Jesus Christ’.  ‘Lord’ means that He has complete authority and is head over everything.  ‘Jesus’ is His human name and means ‘God is the one who saves’.  ‘Christ’ means ‘the one whom God has anointed’.  There are many who were suffering because they were Christians and Peter is reminding them why they should praise God.  Many Christians suffer today, but we have hope in God to expect all He promised for our future.  We don’t have to guess what He will do.  We have to trust Him.  This is a living hope because God raised Jesus from death and God will raise us too.

If you are a Christian, you are born again to a living hope because you have eternal life in a Savior who conquered death Himself.  Our hope lives and can never fade away because it is reserved for us in heaven.  It’s called a living hope because it is imperishable.  Our inheritance is too great to describe, but we know it can never perish or fade away.  We suffer through all kinds of trials so that our faith will be refined and prove it to be genuine faith.

There will be trials in your life as you wait for that promised day.  How do you endure until that day?  By knowing whose you are.  1 Peter 2:9 tells us we are chosen, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God.  He has called us out of darkness.   We are built on an indestructible rock, Jesus. (1 Peter 2:6).  All you have to do is trust in Him.  He is the indestructible cornerstone.  He is either your cornerstone or your stumbling stone.  We stumble because we disobey His message.  You believe or you don’t.  What matters is who you think Jesus is. 

Who do you think Jesus is?  You say He is the Christ, but is He your Savior?   The message of 1 Peter is there is a cornerstone, a living stone who is Jesus.  We as Christians are part of a living religion in Jesus.  The church is built on Jesus our living rock.  We all worship something or someone whether we realize it or not.  We should not worship material things which are not living.  We should worship the living Jesus.

We have to make the choices daily.  Do you bow down to things and choices that are not of Jesus?  In Daniel 3 King Nebuchadnezzar tried to force Daniel and his friends to worship his image.  They had to make a choice to worship him or be put into the fiery furnace.  They didn’t know if they were going to die or not, but they for sure were not going to bow down to an idol.  The three went into the fire, but four figures were seen in the fire.  It was Jesus who was there with them in the fire.  As you go through the fiery trials of this life, hold on the confidence that Jesus offers.  Don’t worry He is standing there with you.  

Are you bowing down to something other than Jesus?

What fiery furnace of life are you going through?

We were born in sin and we live with sin all around us.  We’ve been influenced by our parents, grandparents, our friends, our environment and the sinful world we live in.  Some are good influences and some are bad.  We can break free from those bad influences.  We can break free from bad attitudes and traditions that are passed down to us.  We can be made free by being born again.  By being born again we are freed of our past.  We are all sinners, but have been made holy.  We are saints of God, we are living stones.  “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy’” – 1 Peter 15-16.

To be holy we need to put off all evil things listed in 1 Peter 1:13 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”  Are you holy?  As a believer in Christ you are holy.   He has made you holy, now act like it.  Being holy doesn’t mean you are perfect or better than others, but it means you are set apart.  You are different from all other stones.  You are a living stone. 

People notice how you act.  Do you act different from others?  The world needs to see you are different.   God put you where you are for a reason.  He put you in your family, your neighborhood, your office, your classroom so others can see you are different.  So act different.  Act like you are a child of God.

All Christians are living stones when we put our faith in Jesus.  We’ve been bought.  Jesus paid the price for us on the cross through His death.  He paid to free us.  “but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.” – 1 Peter 1:19-21.  

Jesus said Himself that the only way to God is through Him (John 14:6).  Many religions say they believe in God, but if you don’t’ believe in Jesus you are not Christians.  Christians have a sure living hope in a living God.

 I love this song from Hillside Worship. - Christ Alone Cornerstone

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' name

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' name

Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm
He is Lord
Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm
He is Lord
Lord of all
He is Lord
Lord of all, Christ alone

Christ alone, Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior's love
Through the storm
He is Lord…

Join me here next time -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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How Should Christians Respond to Modern Times

These times have been the most challenging we have ever seen.  Our world has been rocked with the global pandemic and unrest with mobs, riots, chaos, rebellion, looting, and destruction.  It seems there is no law and order any more.  Our freedoms are at risk.  Even Christianity is a target of oppression.  It’s safe to say that our world is broken.  Lives have been lost, economies have been shaken, and there’s division between races as well as nations.

God permits this evil because He gave us free choice.  God’s nature is love and since we are made in His image, we are to love.  In order to be capable of love, we must be free.  Love can never be demanded.  If it was, it would not be true love.  Therefore, everyone is free to make their own choices.  It may be good choices or bad ones, but it is a choice.

There are lessons in these choices.  God is sending us a message which should challenge us to respond morally with compassion for the victims.  He wants us to work to remedy any wrong that has been committed.  He wants us to be forgiving and pray for those who do evil like Jesus did in Mark 23:34 – “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  The Bible teaches that through suffering, we grow spiritually.  It produces courage, perseverance, patience, endurance, character, love, and compassion.  Through suffering we turn to God which can deepen our faith and hope.

It all boils down to SIN.  Maybe God is trying to stir our conscience and wake us up telling us we need to repent, because Jesus will be coming soon. 

Despite God’s mercy, the world was filled with violence in the book of Genesis and it’s getting worse today.  God wiped the slate clean through the flood and ultimately God sent His Son, Jesus to rescue his people from their rebellion and sin. 

One thing remains.  God has remained faithful.  He is our Rock, Redeemer and Friend.  He is always with us even when we can't see or feel Him.  We may not understand what He is doing or allowing, but He is in control and has a plan.  Even though our world seems to be falling apart, we can always find comfort and peace in Him.  He knows exactly what each of us is going through and His plan is still in place.  He still moves in hearts.  He still loves us.  His plan is continuing and will come to fruition.

How Should Christians Respond to Modern Times?

Don’t forget to thank God for His sovereignty and His faithfulness.  His Word is still making an impact in the lives of countless people around the world.  Pray that the Holy Spirit will awaken the hearts of those who are discontent and discouraged.

Pray that Jesus will help us stand firm, be patient and be watchful as we wait for His return.  We can stay focused on Jesus and keep our eyes on the prize of eternal life with Him.  A relationship with God should be above all else.  Don’t let the world influence you, frustrate you, or break you.  “What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” – Mark 8:36.

Recognize there are those who don’t have your same beliefs by showing love and don’t be judgmental.  Show love and not hate.  Stick to your morals and don’t give in to what the world calls normal.  Don’t relax your views on issues the Bible states clearly are forbidden.  Expect resistant toward your beliefs if they don’t line up with the worlds.

Keep going to church.  Church is a safe place.  There you will be encouraged and have support from others who are like-minded and love God.   They will understand your struggles; they will pray for you; they will lift you up when your feel down.

Stay in service to others.  You can work in your church, volunteer in your community, mentor someone, and help the less fortunate.  This is a witness to others showing God is working in you to make the world a better place.

Learn to be forgiving.  No one is perfect and everyone makes mistakes.  People are human and words can hurt others.  Everyone wishes they could take back something they’ve said in the past.  You can control how you respond.  God calls us to forgive just as He has forgiven us.

Pray regularly to strengthen your relationship with God.  Make a habit of reading and studying the Word of God.  Stay away from temptations.  True Christians are loving and kind.

We are to continue to work tirelessly for the salvation of souls.

How should Christians respond to modern times?  The answer is given to us by Jesus, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” – Luke 6:27-28.

Please join me here next time -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Church Is Open

 

If God is in control, is an empty church what God wanted?  There are empty seats and empty rows in our churches where church member sat before the pandemic.  Why did God let this happen?  We don’t always understand God and His purposes, but He did reveal to us that because of the Fall in Genesis 3; “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” – Romans 8:22. Because of sin, nothing is the way God created it to be.

God didn’t cause this to happen.  He is not the author of evil.  You can rest assured that “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28.  Maybe God is using this to call sinners to those empty seats.  Maybe He let believers be scattered for an eternal purpose – to gather a new harvest.  Maybe God is making room to grow the church.  Believers scattered because of the pandemic.   Now He is bringing us back along with sinners who need Jesus as their Savior.  God intended us to meet together.  The church is rebooting.

Don’t give up on God.  He has a plan and you are a part of it.  We don’t always understand, but all He does is what’s best for us because He loves us.  Don’t beat yourself up because you haven’t stayed faithful this past year.  Look at the disciples.  Peter denied Jesus three times, they slept while Jesus prayed drops of blood, they scattered when Jesus was crucified, and only John and the women were at the cross when He was resurrected.  Maybe you don’t always read your Bible each morning.  No one is perfect, so don’t let the enemy beat you up for it.

Be thankful that He created the technology ahead of time so we could meet together online when we needed to.  We are not thankful for all the sickness and deaths brought about because of the pandemic, but we can be thankful for the Covid-19 tests and the miracle of the Covid-19 vaccines. 

God doesn’t want a building to fill.  He wants to fill our hearts.  By allowing us to go through all we’ve gone through this past year, He is trying to wake us up.  He is drawing us to Himself.

Join me here next time. --- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Grumblining and Complaining

 

 

There is grumbling, complaining and discontentment in America.  We are more divided than ever over social issues, race, gender, the economy, and the list goes on.  There are those who are complaining about some of Dr. Seuss books and cartoons like Paw Patrol and even Aunt Jemima.  I just heard on the news that there are those who are complaining about the Kentucky state song, “My Old Kentucky Home”.  There are complaints about the police and how our officials are handling the pandemic – to wear a mask or not to wear a mask, should businesses be closed and if so which ones, and should we take the Covid vaccine or not.  People seem to be blaming every type of issue on racism. 

We grumble about almost anything - the weather, our government, our churches, our circumstances and so many other trivial things.  We complain about other drivers when we’re in our car.  We complain about what others are wearing, how they talk, how they look and even the words they say.  We complain at the referees at ballgames even when we are watching on TV and they are many miles away.  Do you recognize yourself in any of these?

Yes, we should fight for what is just and right, but many people are fighting for the wrong things.  We don’t believe in gender rights, but fight for women’s rights.  We abort the unborn by the millions.  We have God printed on our money, but there are those who don’t want His name in public. When things don’t go the way we think they should, we complain, protest and riot.  You don’t see complaining about those who take the law into their own hands, those who destroy and loot businesses.  When is this grumbling and discontentment going to stop?

Abraham Lincoln said “A house divided against itself cannot stand” (this is similar to what Jesus said in Mark 3:25.)

Grumbling and complaining is nothing new to humanity.  In Exodus God parted the Red Sea and freed the Israelites from Egyptian bondage.  Three days later they grumbled at Moses because they had no water.  If God could do a miracle like parting the sea, surely they should believe He could give them water.  God gave them water.  Then they grumbled because they had no food, so God gave them manna.  Then they grumbled because there was no meat, so God provided quail for them to eat.  Then when they ran out of water, they grumbled again and He provided water again.  Moses told them when they grumble they were doing it against God.

Just like in Bible times, we do a LOT of grumbling and complaining.  We never seem satisfied.  We live in the middle of a crooked and unfair evil world.  As God’s children we are supposed to shine light into a dark world.  We are to set the example as to how to live, especially by not complaining about every little thing.  Our grumbling and complaining is tarnishing our testimony to an unsaved world.  Many people will never read the Bible, but they do read you.  Our testimony is built on our life in Christ, a life free from grumbling and complaining.  It should be filled with the joy of Christ and the salvation He has given us.

Grumbling and complaining is more that being discontent.  It’s the voice of unbelief.  We grumble and complain when we have listened to others rather than to God.  We need to trust God and His great plan for us.  He’s the Creator and the one in control.  So when you complain you are doing it against God Himself.  Grumbling and complaining is rebellion against God and is a sin.

Phil. 2:14 - “Do everything without grumbling and arguing.”

Life is not perfect and it won’t be until we get the heaven.  Moses wasn’t a perfect leader.   We have no perfect leaders in our churches or in our communities.  We have seen with our own eyes how corrupt our government leaders can be.  When we complain we are saying that God isn’t doing a good job and he’s made a mess of things.  Remember God knows what He’s doing.  So keep giving thanks in all things.

1 Thess. 5:18 - “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Grumbling and complaining can become a habit.  Watching too much news and listening to the complaints of others influences us many times in a negative way.  It causes you to be negative about almost everything.  It causes us to be stressed.  It causes us to be unhappy.  Our friends don’t like to hear us always complaining. 

How can we stop our complaining?

We need to become more positive and focus on being grateful and aware of our blessings. 

We need to pursue peace by dying to self and giving up our personal desires. 

We need to avoid corrupt talk and speak life.   “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Eph 4:29.  “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” – Matt. 5:22.  If you can’t say anything positive, don’t day anything at all.

We need to persistently read God’s Word.  What comes out of our mouths is what is in our hearts and minds.  “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” – Matt. 15:19. 

We need to pray continually.  Ask God to help you stop your grumbling and complaining.  Ask Him to replace your bitterness with a heart of compassion and love.

There are many Scriptures on grumbling and complaining.  Here are a few:

James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”

1 Peter 4:9 “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Exodus 16:8 “…Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

Jude 1:16 “These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.”

John 6:43 “Jesus answered them, Do not grumble among yourselves.”

Principle:  Do everything without grumbling and arguing.

If you are one who grumbles and complains even sometime, I hope this has made you realize you need to stop.  You are only hurting yourself and your happiness.  Ask God to help you think before the words come out of your mouth.  I know you will be happier person because of it.

Join me here next week for the next time. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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