The Lord is The Rock Eternal Our Shalom

 

The concept of God being our Rock speaks of the enduring protection, safety, and security we have in him. We plant our feet on the Rock and find boldness and confidence. Throughout every age and season of our lives, God remains our faithful Rock of all Ages. The Lord’s salvation is the Hebrew word יהוה‎ yâshuw‘ah, almost identical to Yeshua. Jesus is our salvation that saves us and delivers us inside and out. 

The webbing together of God, humans, and all creation in justice, fulfillment, and delight is what the Hebrew prophets call shalom. We call it peace but it means far more than mere peace of mind or a cease-fire between enemies. Shalom, in other words, is the way things ought to be.

Perfect peace is expressed in Hebrew by shalom. Shalom is a Hebrew method of putting great emphasis on a word, You will keep him in everything the word shalom implies: health, happiness, well-being, peace. 

The word translated mind is not the usual Hebrew word, but rather is a word meaning “creative imagination.” Isaiah’s thought is that he whose creative imagination, the seat of plans and ideas, is firmly founded on the eternal Lord, will enjoy shalom in all its implications.

A “steadfast mind”, the Hebrew word yêtser means “imagination” that forms and frames up. Imagination frames up one’s reality. It is unfortunate that many today have rejected the God-created imagination that each of us possesses. Our imagination must be set apart for God and continually made holy. The imagination, both good and evil, is a frequent concept in the Bible. The Hebrew word yêtser is found nine times in the Old Testament (Gen. 6:5; 8:21; Deut. 31:21; 1 Chron. 28:9; 29:18; Ps. 103:14; Isa. 26:3; 29:16; Hab. 2:18).

Lord Yahweh, you lift your mighty hand, but they do not see it. Let them witness how much you love your people and be ashamed. Let the fire reserved for your enemies consume them.

The Hebrew word qavah (the root word for “rope”) means “to wait, to entwine.” Waiting on God means binding and connecting our hearts to who God is and to his promise. The Hebrew concept of waiting on the Lord is never a passive thing but active, full of hope and expectation. 

Lord Yahweh, you will establish peace and prosperity for us, for all we have accomplished is the result of what you work through us.

Lord Yahweh, our God, other lords have ruled over us, but we praise your name alone. Their dead don’t come back to life; their ghosts do not rise. For you have punished and destroyed them, wiping out even the memory of them. You have made our nation grow!

Lord Yahweh, you have made our nation grow; you have revealed your glory, and you have extended all the borders of the land.

Lord Yahweh, in their distress, they reached out to you. When you chastened them, they poured out prayer to you.

Lord Yahweh, we were like a pregnant woman going into labor pains—writhing, screaming, and ready to deliver, all because of you. We were full term. We pushed and strained, but we gave birth only to wind! We accomplished nothing and have not brought deliverance into the world, nor its inhabitants new life.

But your dead will live again! Their bodies will rise from the dead! It’s time to awaken and sing for joy, you dwellers in the dust! As the glistening, radiant dew refreshes the earth, so the Lord will awaken those dwelling among the dead.

Go, my people, into your inner chambers and close the doors behind you. Hide for a little while, until his indignation is over. For the Lord is coming out from his heavenly place to punish people for their sins. The earth itself will expose the blood spilled upon it, and the ground will no longer hide its slain. Isaiah 26 ~PTP & NSFLB

LIVING WATER IN THE WILDERNESS

Consider this: As a servant of Christ, you will one day enter a season of helplessness where you no longer call the shots and know what to do. It will seem as if you don't have what it takes to survive—finding yourself in a place and a season where only Christ will be your strength.

The One whose name is Living Water is within you. This wonderful Jesus brings you a life-giving stream, fulfilling every need no matter how difficult the many surprises of life can be. He is within you as a well of water "springing up and flooding you with endless life" (John 4:14)!

This "gushing fountain" begins to flow inside until praise rises up out of you again. Before you know it, the springs are watering everything around you—and every dry place within you. You will see situations differently, you will feel differently about the people around you, and you will see things you didn't even notice before. When Jesus shows up in the wilderness, it disappears. It becomes a garden.

The Lord will always show you where to go and what to do, filling you with refreshment when you are dry and in a difficult place.

"...He will continually restore strength to you, so you will flourish like a well-watered garden and like an ever-flowing, trustworthy spring of blessing." (Isaiah 58:11 TPT)

   Your Desert Will Blossom Like a Rose

We learn in a difficult season that even though we may be in a wilderness, our hearts don't have to be a barren wasteland. Our wilderness starts growing flowers when Jesus flows from within us. His presence satisfies the deep thirst that dries up the soul and places us in a weary land or a weary season. Whoever heard of roses blooming in a desert? But read what Isaiah says:

"...The desert will blossom like a rose and rejoice! Every dry and barren place will burst forth with abundant blossoms, dancing and spinning with delight..." (Isaiah 35:1-2 TPT)

Your wilderness (your life with its surprises and setbacks) will blossom with a rose; and that rose is Christ! Jesus, the Rose, will be found in your desert days, bringing a new fragrance and a new song. What you thought was an impossible climate for overcoming will become the canvas for a rose.

Miracles are waiting to be found in your wilderness. Even in a wilderness, God can work in power. He doesn't need perfection to pull off a miracle. He's done it before with nothing but chaos all around. It was called creation! There is no shortage of power with God. He can make lame ones leap and broken ones sing. Most of us have an attitude that translates the word "wilderness" into "something terrible." But in fact, the Bible teaches that the wilderness is the place where miracles are born, the place where we hear God speak, and the place where He truly reveals Himself to us. We have found our greatest difficulties in life to be the incubator of miracles!

What about you? Are you finding yourself in a wilderness? A difficult place where pressures surround you? Have you found the only way out is to lean on your Beloved?

God will even lead you there, into your very own personal wilderness. That's right. Just like it was for the Hebrews, between you and your promised land lies a wilderness of discovery and, at times, disappointment. Yet in the wilderness we find that the surprises of life yield the most beautiful fruit. The supernatural power of God is more often displayed in a wilderness than in a church service. God will use your wilderness to release the virtues of Christ growing within!

~Brian Simmons

Stairway Ministries

The Passion Translation

Email: brian@passiontranslation.com

Website: https://www.thepassiontranslation.com/blog/

Brian Simmons is known as a passionate lover of God. With his wife Candice and their three children, he spent nearly eight years in the tropical rain forest of the Darien Province of Panama as a church planter, translator, and consultant. After their ministry in the jungle, Brian was instrumental in planting a thriving church in New England (U.S.), and now travels full-time as a speaker and Bible teacher. He is also the lead translator for The Passion Translation Project which will result in a new, dynamic version of the Bible for this generation. He has been happily married to Candice for over forty-three years and is known to boast regularly of his children and grandchildren.

PRECIOUS MEMORIES HOW THEY LINGER

Memories of the Precious Fellowship of other Christians can keep us going when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.

If the Apostle Paul was with us today, I'm sure that the old hymn, Precious Memories would be one of his favorite songs. He would have particularly liked the third stanza:  In the stillness of the midnight, Echoes from the past I hear; Old-time singing, gladness bringing, From that lovely land somewhere; Precious memories, how they linger, How they ever flood my soul; In the stillness of the midnight, Precious, sacred scenes unfold. As he thought about his Christian friends in the city of Philippi, I'm sure his mind was flooded with Precious memories.

The apostle Paul came to Philippi in about 50 A.D.  during his second missionary journey. It was a prosperous Roman colony, and according to Acts 16, "the leading city of that district of Macedonia." It was there that he and his companions met a business woman named Lydia. They shared the gospel with her, she was saved and then her whole family turned to Christ. Now Paul, being Paul, got into trouble pretty quick because of his boldness in sharing the gospel. Before too long, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown in prison. While there, they share Jesus with the jailer and he and his whole family are saved! 

They now have enough folks to start a Church, and that's exactly what they did. And the Church grew and was a strong and vibrant up through the Middle Ages. Despite some problems and growing pains, the Philippian Christian Community was especially responsive to and encouraging of Paul. They supported Paul's ministry financially and also with prayer when nobody else would. Because of this, the Church was always one of Paul's favorites. It should come as no surprise to us then, that Paul begins his letter to the Philippian Believers with words of thanksgiving and prayer for their love and support.

What makes the story more interesting is that Paul writes this letter from a jail cell. These first few verses teach us that Memories of the Precious Fellowship of other Christians can keep us going when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances.

I. PRECIOUS MEMORIES CAUSE US TO BE THANKFUL

Philippians 1:3 says, "I thank my God every time I remember you." ( ESV)1. There are some people and sometimes groups of people that we remember with special fondness:

a.  Perhaps they were especially kind to us.

b. Maybe they helped us during a difficult time.

c. Possibly they befriended us and their presence brought a special joy into your life.

2.  Can you think of such people?

3. When you think of them, are you thankful?

A. PAUL DECLARED HIS THANKS TO GOD FOR THESE BELIEVERS

Philippians 1:4 says, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy,” ( ESV)

1. The Apostle is Jubilant

a. He reflects on the wonderful way in which he has been led and on the evidence which the Church at Philippi has given of its love for the gospel and for himself.

b. When he thinks of the believers at Philippi his heart is filled with joy. 

c. We need to learn to choose joy, to express our joy, to understand what joy is and where it comes from our relationship with fellow believers.

2. Paul is thankful for their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

3. Paul is thankful that he who began a good work in them will continue to work in them until the day of Christ Jesus.

a. These are memories that bring joy to the Apostle’s heart.

B. PAUL DECLARED HIS AFFECTION FOR THESE BELIEVERS

Philippians 1:7–8 says, 7 “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” ( ESV)

1. Like Paul, we can say, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."

a. Paul yearns for these people with all the affection of Christ Jesus.

b. It's a word meaning "to long for because of great affection".

c. Theirs is a friendship that goes deeper than just human friendship.

d. They had a tie that binds them deep into comradery, but beyond that into a Christian family.

II. PRECIOUS MEMORIES ENCOURAGE US TO PRAY

Philippians 1:4–5 says, “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” ( ESV)

1. As Paul writes this letter he finds himself in difficult circumstances.

a. He is in jail, probably in Rome, and the prospects do not look good.

2 Paul could have surrendered to depression and despondency in his prayer, "God, this isn't fair. Life stinks!"

3. Paul could have surrendered to anger in his prayer, "Lord, this isn't right! I'm an apostle. I'm doing your will. Get me out of here!"

4. Instead, Paul's mind is flooded with the good thoughts of his Christian family at Philippi and he tells them that he's praying for them!

A. PAUL PRAYED FOR THESE BELIEVERS REGULARLY AND WITH JOY

Philippians 4:15–16 says,  “And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no Church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.” (ESV)

1. When it came to prayer for the Philippian Christians, Paul ". . . grasped the rope boldly and pulled continuously with all his might."

2. Precious memories of precious people encourage us to pray for them regularly and with joy.

3. When people are devoted to our well-being, it's easy to pray for them in joy.

a. Paul considered these people his partners in the gospel. 

III. PRECIOUS MEMORIES CAUSE US TO BE CONFIDENT

Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.” (ESV)

1. God had done great things among the Believers in this Church.

a. In the midst of a Pagan city, a Christian Community had been established.

2. The potential for this small community of believers to surrender to the pressures of their cosmopolitan atmosphere were great.

3. But Paul had instructed them well in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Apostles.

a. He was not overly worried that they would surrender to the pressures of a lost society.

b. In fact, as he wrote from his prison cell, great confidence gripped the apostle as he thought and prayed for the Philippians.

c. Paul had a settled conviction that God was at work in their lives and that God would continue on to complete the good work He had begun in them.

4. That good work was their Salvation.

a. Their Salvation was attested to by their love for and support of Paul and their partnership in the gospel.

IV. PRECIOUS MEMORIES MAKE US LONG FOR THEIR FELLOWSHIP

Philippians 1:8 says, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

1. Outside of the love of family, I think that there are few things more precious than the love and affection that exists between believers in a local Church.

a. It was the memory of a very special Church that kept Paul going during a difficult time in his life.

V. APPLICATION

1. First you need to make sure you’re connected with God.

2. Second you need to make sure you’re connected with God’s Family.

The question you want to ask yourself is, "What are you doing to build Precious Memories that will keep you going when you face difficult times in your life?" 

~Faith Life Sermons