Christ The Rock

Announcer:

This is Today With Derek Prince. The internationally recognized Bible teacher and author presents to you Keys to Successful Living.

For the next several weeks Derek Prince will be presenting his series Laying the Foundation. The Bible often compares the Christian life to construction a building. In this week’s message entitled ‘Founded on the Rock,’ Derek emphasizes the necessity of laying a solid scriptural foundation in order to build a successful, stable Christian life. Let’s join Derek now as he brings this message at a conference in New Zealand. Be sure to stay tuned at the end of today’s message for our address and this week’s special offer.

Derek Prince:

We have learned by experience that there is no more effective way to release God’s power into a situation than by proclaiming His Word in faith. In fact, I’ve told people many times, but I’ve never tired of saying it . . . I doubt whether either Ruth or I would be alive here today if we had not learned to use this weapon of proclamation. We have both passed through, at different times, a period of severe sickness, as a matter of fact, I contracted something, or something was thrust upon me which is normally fatal. But here I am today and, thanks to the doctors, and to God, and to the power of Scripture, I am alive and well and serving the Lord.

So this morning we’re going to proclaim a passage from Isaiah chapter 55:10–11, which are very appropriate to this particular series that we’ll be dealing with.

“For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may be a seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’
Amen.”

Now the title of this first message is ‘Founded on the Rock.’ That’s what we’re going to be dealing with to start with. The Bible is a model of good teaching and it follows various principles of teaching. One in particular is that you start from the known to lead people on to the unknown. You never start with the unknown, you start with what is known and you proceed from there to the unknown. One of the ways that the Bible does this is to take very simple, familiar, everyday experiences and activities and to give them a spiritual application. There are various examples. The Bible speaks about a farmer sowing his seed, about a fisherman catching fish in a drag net; it speaks about a soldier putting on his armor. And then in a completely different kind of context it speaks about a bride preparing herself for her wedding. Those are just a few examples of this principle.

But the particular familiar activity that I want to focus on is that of constructing a building. And I think this picture of the Christian life is used at least as many times as any other picture in the Bible. So we’re going to turn, first of all, to the epistle of Jude, verse 20 and 21, which is a word of exhortation to us as believers.

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.”

So there the Scripture says we must build ourselves up in our most holy faith. That’s one of the ways in which this metaphor of building applies. We are responsible to build ourselves up. And then in Ephesians chapter 2:21–22 it speaks about a holy temple in the Lord:

“. . . in whom you also are being built together for a habitation [or a dwelling place] of God in the Spirit.”

So that speaks about the collective Christian community that we are to be built together in the Holy Spirit as a place for God to dwell in.

“And then in 1 Peter chapter 2:4–5, speaking about Jesus as a living stone, Peter says this:
Coming to him [Jesus] as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen by God and precious, you also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.”

So there we are compared, each one of us, to living stones which are being built together into a holy temple which the Lord is going to occupy.

And then one final example from Acts chapter 20, the farewell of Paul to the Ephesian elders whom he loved with a special love because it was in Ephesus that his ministry had had perhaps the greatest impact of any place. And in this speech in Acts 20 he’s taking farewell and he’s telling them they’ll never see him again in this life. It was a very moving situation for all of them. This is really the final thing that he wanted to leave with them in verse 32 of Acts 20.

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

So there Paul says the main means that builds us up is the word of God’s grace, the Bible. And he says it is able to build us up and to give us an inheritance among all those who are set apart for Jesus Christ by faith in Him.

Now, I am not a builder but I know one thing. In any permanent building, whether it’s built of brick or stone or concrete or even timber, the vital area is the foundation. And the Bible deals specifically with this and here is an issue of great importance for every one of us. It’s having the right foundation because the foundation sets limits to the building that can be built above it, both in size and in weight. The foundation sets the limits. This is true in the Christian life. You cannot build more successful Christian life than your foundation will permit. This is the vital issue, what is your foundation? Have you laid the right foundation?

Now, there is only one foundation that is adequate and sufficient, and it’s all sufficient, and it is a person. The person is Jesus Christ. Paul, writing to the Corinthian Christians in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, uses two metaphors. He used the agricultural metaphor but then he goes on to the building metaphor. He says in verse 9:

“For we are God’s fellow workers . . . [we’re working together with God.] . . . you are God’s field . . . [that’s the agricultural metaphor.] . . . and you are God’s building [that’s the construction metaphor. Then he goes on with the building metaphor:]. According to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder . . . [And in Greek that word is architect.] . . . I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ.”

So, Paul says there’s only one foundation for the Christian life and that is Jesus Himself. And anything that is not built on that foundation will not stand the test of time and of trial. So it’s very important for every one of us to assess what our life is built on. Are we truly built on the Lord Jesus Christ? Do we have a personal relationship and a personal knowledge of Jesus that makes us able to relate personally to Him?

The question of laying this foundation in Jesus is extremely important. And so I want to take some time to deal with the issue of how we can have this foundation; that is, the foundation of Jesus in our lives. I would invite each one of you to examine your own life, your spiritual condition and your spiritual experience and to check as to whether you are really right in your relationship with the foundation.

I want to turn to Matthew chapter 16 for some basic teaching. In verses 13 and following Jesus is talking to His disciples and it says:

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
Then He makes it very personal.
But He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ And Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ [the Messiah] the Son of the living God.’
That was a crucial moment in the life of Peter and in the whole history of Christianity.
‘You are the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus responded, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.’”

So Jesus uses this encounter with Peter to establish the way in which we can lay a foundation in Jesus Christ Himself.

Announcer:

Join Derek Prince tomorrow as he continues his message ‘Founded On The Rock’ when he’ll give you four necessary phases of a personal encounter with Jesus whereby we begin to lay the foundation of Christ in our lives. This week’s message ‘Founded On The Rock’ No. RC4160 is available on both audio and video cassette. Our special offer this week is Derek’s book If You Want God’s Best, which explains the importance of listening to and obeying God’s word. Write today for your copy of ‘Founded On The Rock’ and include a contribution of $5.00 or more for the audio cassette RC4160 or $14.95 for the video. Also include a gift of any amount for the book If You Want God’s Best.

Derek Prince also welcomes your letters and prayer requests. Our mailing address is Derek Prince Ministries, P.O. Box 19501, Charlotte, North Carolina 28219. That’s Derek Prince Ministries, P.O. Box 19501, Charlotte, North Carolina 28219. In Canada write to Derek Prince Ministries, Box 8354, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3K 5M1, and please give us the call letters of this station when you write.

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