1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Think upon the wonderful privileges which these Old Testament saints did partake. They ate spiritual meat and drink. Let us notice the source of that drink. They drank from the Rock. This was not a dead rock that lay in one place. This Rock was Christ. Jesus Christ is the living stone. 1 Peter 2:4 To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious, This Rock not only provided for their need but He also was present with the people. Who has heard such a thing, a rock following? This Rock, clearly identified, Jesus Christ, followed His people. That Rock provides Salvation. He is the provided, precious stone from God the Father. Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a [...]

CORONAVIRUS ANXIETY Pastor Jonathan Stockton Because of the Coronavirus, we've been seeing a lot of strange circumstances. We're not used to it at all. We know of many in the culture who are experiencing "anxiety". This is not surprising; lives have been turned upside down and death and loss is more on the mind than normal, in some cases in front of our eyes. But even before the virus, anxiety has been a growing problem for the culture. So, what about Christians? Is anxiety sin? Is it sin to "have anxiety?" Certainly we have times of need, times of distress, sadness, weakness, frailty, or times of fearful obstacles coming into our lives. But is it sinful? Why, the Psalms are full of professions of great anxiety! And does not the Lord say that He knows and understands our anxieties? Some are afraid because of the government overreach that is evident just under the surface. They see American rights eroding away and it causes anxiety. [...]

Psalm 121:1 <A Song of degrees.> I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. God is the source of help for the believer. In any difficulty, trial, affliction, or trouble, God is the one to whom we must look. Psalm 121, in this beautiful song, presents this God of help. David had a proper perspective in his difficulties. He would lift up his eye, far away from his problems. He would look up to the hills and even higher to the Lord. When we are in the valley of trouble and turmoil, we must make the same choice. We must choose to lift our eyes up to the Lord. Sadly many keep their focus within the vale of their present trouble. They seek to find help from man, or to work their way out of their own difficulty. When strength fails, and the limited resources of man’s [...]

John 14:1-6 Hearts today in this world are troubled. People don’t have certainty about their future, their finances, their families, even their physical fitness. The Lord Jesus does not want our hearts to be troubled. He has just finished telling His disciples that He will be leaving them. This is cause for much uncertainty for the future. Hearts began to be troubled as thoughts passively arose and took control of the minds of these disciples. The Lord loves His disciples and does not desire that their hearts be carried about by the storm of what might be. The cure for troubled hearts is to not dwell on what might or may be but rather what is spiritual reality. The Lord Jesus gives this imperative along with some helps to troubled hearts. Rest-1: Imperative to stop letting allowing yourself and heart to be troubled. Don’t let your heart be carried off with its own thoughts. Our minds need to be reigned in to truth and [...]

The Key to Greatness Matthew 18:1-4; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48 The disciples ask the Lord Jesus who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Man in his flesh desires to be admired and lifted up. He has a natural tendency to exalt himself and to think more highly of himself than he ought to think. The mind so quickly can be lifted up with pride. Jesus teaches His disciples that the key to greatness is humility. There must be Conversion: There must come a change. Man is naturally proud, too proud to acknowledge even his own sinfulness and unworthiness. Pride is the exception that will exclude many from entering into the Kingdom of Heaven. There must be Childlike Humility: As a child we must not assume ourselves to be worthy of anything. We must come to Christ in simplicity. Children are not too proud to ask for help. They are not worried about their self-image or how they will be perceived if [...]

The Not so-Rich Young Ruler      This young man, a rich young ruler came kneeling before Jesus seeking eternal life. Some observations can be made as we see this encounter with the Saviour. Don’t trust in righteousness, religion, or riches but have a relationship with Christ: Mark 10; Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 18 An improper view of goodness can keep many from trusting in Christ. This man thought he was good for what he was doing. Jesus gave him a lesson first on human goodness and the true standard of goodness, God. Psalm 14:1; 53:1 This young man thought that he could do good in order to get into heaven (Matthew 19:16) Observing religious commandments cannot make a soul right with God. This cannot change the heart. Jesus sees the heart of this ruler and says that he is still lacking one thing. It is not many things that keep a soul out of Heaven; it is one thing. Failure to trust upon Jesus Christ alone [...]

Transformation through the Transfiguration Continued… As the Lord Jesus Christ was transfigured, revealing His glory to these three disciples who were alone by themselves with Jesus there appeared with Jesus in glory Moses and Elijah. Both of these Old Testament Saints were mightily used by God in their days. Both of these servants had mountain top experiences with the Lord. Now they appear with the Saviour and are talking with Him. The subject matter of their conversation is revealed in the Gospel of Luke chapter 9. We can understand the focal point of Heaven as this conversation unfolds. These men speak of Jesus’ decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Heaven is focused upon the work of Jesus Christ upon the Mountain called Calvary. Consider Jesus Accomplishment: For this very purpose Jesus had come into the world. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (I Timothy [...]

Transformed through the Transfiguration Matthew 17; Mark 9; Luke 9 The Lord Jesus Christ took three of His close disciples up into an high mountain apart from the rest of the disciple and the multitudes. These three men had a distinct privilege to be apart with Christ and alone with Christ upon the mountain top. While they were up on the mountain they had a “mountain top experience” as the Lord Jesus Christ in human flesh incarnated was transfigured to reflect the very glory of God which He had before when He was with the Father. John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. The Lord Jesus had laid aside His glory to become a servant and to be made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the [...]

Faith in the Storm Matthew 14 The Lord Jesus had just finished feeding a multitude of people numbered of 5,000 men beside women and children. Immediately following this miracle he constrains His disciples to get into a boat and voyage to the other side while He would stay and dismiss the people. The Lord was sending them directly into a storm which He knew would come to teach these men in their spiritual walk. He has complete control over the storm and allows this for God’s divine purpose. The disciples of Jesus had allowed their hearts to become callous and they had not considered this miracle of the loaves (Mark 6:52). The Lord Jesus went out alone into a mountain for the express purpose of praying. It would do every believer well to emulate their Lord as He disciplined Himself to have time alone with His Father. He prays even while a great storm arises out on the lake. The disciples now find themselves [...]

From Captivity to Circuit Riding Preacher Mark 5:1-20 Meditations on the Maniac… Some people’s condition seems to be a hopeless cause when we survey their lives from man’s vantage point. The Lord however views even the hardest spiritual case with eyes of compassion. He knows that there is hope to be found only in the Person of Jesus Christ and the good news of the gospel. In Mark chapter 5 we read the account of the Maniac of Gadara. He lived on the other side of the Sea of Galilea. Jesus had His disciples sail through a storm to reach the other side of the sea with the purpose of meeting this crazed individual. The Lord Jesus cares so much for the individual that he came over to this country and got off the boat to meet this man. There are some powerful truths that we can observe that will give some spiritual encouragement and conviction. Confrontation with the Saviour: Consider as Jesus steps [...]