So this is what the Sovereign Lord (Jehovah) says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a (tried) tested (costly) stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic. (That is: “shall not suddenly have to flee [from an attack].”)
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who relies on it
will never be stricken with panic. (That is: “shall not suddenly have to flee [from an attack].”)
Isaiah 28:16
This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ (I Peter 2:6).
Christ is the only true foundation (I Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20).
"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry, He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps"
Psalm 40:1-2
טז לָכֵן, כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, הִנְנִי יִסַּד בְּצִיּוֹן,
אָבֶן; אֶבֶן בֹּחַן פִּנַּת יִקְרַת, מוּסָד מוּסָּד--הַמַּאֲמִין, לֹא
יָחִישׁ.
"What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone?"
In ancient building practices, the cornerstone was the principal stone placed at the corner of the edifice. The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice.
In ancient building practices, the cornerstone was the principal stone placed at the corner of the edifice. The cornerstone was usually one of the largest, the most solid, and the most carefully constructed of any in the edifice.
Jesus describes Himself as the Cornerstone (akrogōniaios) that His
church would be built upon, a unified body of believers, both Jew and
Gentile.
In the New Testament the cornerstone
metaphor is continued. This time, however, the apostle Paul is preaching
to the Ephesian Christians for the purpose of helping them know Christ
better.
In chapter 2, verses 19-21, the comparison between Jesus and
Cornerstone becomes very clear:
“Consequently, you are no longer
foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members
of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
In him the
whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in
the Lord.”
Furthermore, in the 1 Peter 2:6, what Isaiah said centuries before is affirmed in exactly the same words.
What a marvelous book is the God-inspired Bible! Peter uses construction terms for his hearers, just as Isaiah did, both knowing their audiences would be familiar with them.
Also,
they both use “Cornerstone” to represent the Messiah, One whom Peter
knew personally, and whom Isaiah only knew through the heavenly Father’s
promise.
Their words bore out what Jesus was to say as recorded in the
Gospel of John, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
In these days of uncertainty, when corporations are taking over whole countries and owning the political processes through corrupt public servants, we can still stand upon a firm foundation.
The many shootings and hit and runs that are becoming more and more prevalent are very unsettling, as are the many purposeless wars that only seem to enrich the ones who profit by them.
The instability of our economies and the struggles to stay afloat can be terrifying.
All of Isaiah 28 is a statement concerning God's commitment to introduce stability into a society immersed in uncertainty.
The heart of God's promise through Isaiah is this:
No matter how uncertain the world scene may be or how slippery our society is, there is a solid place on which the followers of Jesus can stand.
And that place is His name- a Sure Foundation.
The force of this title and the truth it teaches are found in the fact that God Himself pledges to lay this foundation.
This is not a task assigned to men or angels.
God is the one committing Himself to establish a place where life can be lived with stability and certainty in an unstable world.
God lays a foundation; it is certain that something is going to be built upon it by Him.
Unlike the many political promises of corrupt leaders of this world God finishes what He starts.
"He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians1:6).
Today we see many frantically striving to get more than enough. Struggling to be somebody and get recognition.
Even in churches we see competition to get to the top and be someone.
Mostly being done without morals or ethics as long as one can personally benefit.
I prayed out in the desert with some men for ten years that God would allow all of us to have a "Believers meeting" at Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa."
One night I just by chance ( actually by the Holy Spirit) happened to go to that church, only to see some of the men from those prayer times with me in the desert setting up microphones.
I went up to one of them and asked them what was going on.
He told me that they were setting up for the believers meeting, and that I was welcome to stay as an attendee if I wanted.
I was completely crushed by his duplicity.
Apparently he and another man had gone behind my back cutting me out of the decision making loop and talked with Chuck Smith to obtain the believers meeting because the leader of it was retiring.
Later I watched as this individual pushed out the man who was actually authorized to conduct the meeting because of his prior Calvary Chapel ordination as a pastor.
He went to Chuck Smith to see if he could take over the leadership position after his aggressive gaming out of the ordained leader who left the meeting in tears.
Which I personally saw, because once again, just by chance ( the Holy Spirit) , I was there to see the pastor coming down the stairs.
Which I personally saw, because once again, just by chance ( the Holy Spirit) , I was there to see the pastor coming down the stairs.
Chuck must have seen through this ambitious man's pole positioning tactics because he told the man to "shut down the meeting."
This man was not standing upon the firm foundation of Christ and caused a believers meeting to dissipate by his standing upon his own ambition to 'be somebody' instead.
We observe those who seem to have arrived enjoying momentary pleasure, only to see some of them sink into the miry clay of this life without any foundation.
For the baby boomers it was the rock stars of their time who arrived at supposed fame and fortune.
Many overdosed on their drugs and alcohol and died at a young age because fame and fortune is not a firm foundation to base your life upon..
Heroin overdose, Janis Joplin (Big Brother And The Holding Company)
Heminevrin overdose, Kieth Moon (The Who)
Suicide or accidental heroin overdose, Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Vicious White Kids, The Flowers of Romance)
Asphyxiation on vomit, John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)
Heroin overdose, Mike Bloomfield (Paul Butterfield Blues Band,)
Myocarditis worsened by cocaine addiction, Andy Gibb ( Bee Gees)
Speedball overdose, Brent Mydland (The Grateful Dead)
Drug overdose, John Belushi (The Blues Brothers)
Drugs, Paul Butterfield ( Paul Butterfield Blues Band,)
There were so many others.
We in Christ have a firm foundation, a solid rock upon which we stand.
Jesus Christ a Sure Foundation, an everlasting foundation.
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms ( Deuteronomy 33:27 ).
Our God is a firm foundation holding us up in His eternal arms like children in the strong arms of their father.
It is important that every Christian understand the implications of this verse.
No matter what circumstances one may be facing, however stressful or discouraging they may seem, every child of God must remember that the foundation of our hope is God, and that foundation will never be destroyed.
Disappointments must not be allowed to embitter us.
Nor should we allow them to deter us from being fully committed to exalting Jesus Christ in our lives.
Our lights must continue to shine brightly.
Our hope has a solid foundation that does not waver.
"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.'" (2 Timothy 2:19).
Perhaps Timothy was discouraged.
He had at one time been imprisoned for his faith (Hebrews 13:23).
And now, Paul was in prison, and let Timothy know up front that he would remain so until his execution (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Then, some brethren Timothy was associated with were being adversely effected by a couple of false teachers named Hymenaeus and Philetus.
This is always a huge disappointment to God's people and fellow workers when this occurs.
Paul wrote, "Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:14-18).
It is against the backdrop of these negative circumstances, and perhaps others, that Paul seeks to assure Timothy that "Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands."
When one seeks to do what is right, regardless of such disappointments, he or she should always be aware that everything God has promised still stands, including the special promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
The foundation of God is secure.
The events of life do not change that.
The words of the apostles and prophets are His revelation and they are all still true.
The gospel plan of salvation is still valid.
The hope of eternal life is still sure and steadfast.
God's plan for His people as individuals and as local churches is still valid.
None of this changes any at all.
Timothy seemed especially concerned about the work of Hymenaeus and Philetus, and how they had gone "astray from the truth" and "upset the faith of some" (2 Timothy 2:18).
He was concerned that others had followed them away from the truth.
Were cracks beginning to appear in the foundation of God?
Paul insists that despite these falling away, the foundation of God still stands.
When brethren disappoint, we must remember that our faith rests in God, not in man.
Our God is a firm foundation holding us up in His eternal arms like children in the strong arms of their father.
It is important that every Christian understand the implications of this verse.
No matter what circumstances one may be facing, however stressful or discouraging they may seem, every child of God must remember that the foundation of our hope is God, and that foundation will never be destroyed.
Disappointments must not be allowed to embitter us.
Nor should we allow them to deter us from being fully committed to exalting Jesus Christ in our lives.
Our lights must continue to shine brightly.
Our hope has a solid foundation that does not waver.
"Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.'" (2 Timothy 2:19).
Perhaps Timothy was discouraged.
He had at one time been imprisoned for his faith (Hebrews 13:23).
And now, Paul was in prison, and let Timothy know up front that he would remain so until his execution (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Then, some brethren Timothy was associated with were being adversely effected by a couple of false teachers named Hymenaeus and Philetus.
This is always a huge disappointment to God's people and fellow workers when this occurs.
Paul wrote, "Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers.
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some." (2 Timothy 2:14-18).
It is against the backdrop of these negative circumstances, and perhaps others, that Paul seeks to assure Timothy that "Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands."
When one seeks to do what is right, regardless of such disappointments, he or she should always be aware that everything God has promised still stands, including the special promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
The foundation of God is secure.
The events of life do not change that.
The words of the apostles and prophets are His revelation and they are all still true.
The gospel plan of salvation is still valid.
The hope of eternal life is still sure and steadfast.
God's plan for His people as individuals and as local churches is still valid.
None of this changes any at all.
Timothy seemed especially concerned about the work of Hymenaeus and Philetus, and how they had gone "astray from the truth" and "upset the faith of some" (2 Timothy 2:18).
He was concerned that others had followed them away from the truth.
Were cracks beginning to appear in the foundation of God?
Paul insists that despite these falling away, the foundation of God still stands.
When brethren disappoint, we must remember that our faith rests in God, not in man.
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