Behold, A Tried Stone, A Precious Corner Stone, A Sure Foundation, His Name JESUS -- The Lamb Of God! - Part 2387

Jesus said, "... for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say." (Luke 12:12)

On the Old Testament side, the Lord God through the prophet Isaiah asks two questions which still holds much relevance to believers this day. These are -- "Whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?"

Note that in this same scriptural passage, the Lord also gives us the answers. These are -- to "them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: for with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people. To whom He [also] said, "This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing ..."

The times of refreshing found in that last sentence is notable because herein the Lord God declares to His people -- "this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing -- the anointing that can only come from being filled with the Holy Ghost to overflowing -- the Spirit of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ dwelling within.

Remember, when Jesus walked on earth, He said, "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

Indeed, Jesus is the rest and refreshing which Isaiah was prophesying. And, as we know, at the appointed time, the angel of the Lord appeared, saying, "And ye shall call His Name JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sin ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us!" (Matthew 1:21-23)

The scriptures further confirm that "this [JESUS] is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:11-13)

That this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) 

In part, these marvelled because of the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord that Peter and John displayed from spending time with Jesus. But also, because the Lord Jesus confirmed what He had earlier said through Isaiah, when He said He would speak to this people with stammering lips and another tongue. The prophet Joel alludes to this same occasion -- which came to fruition on the day of Pentecost -- the people from every nation hearing the people speaking in their own language. (Acts 2:1-47) 

Yet, sadly, as this same scriptural scripture in Isaiah points out, there are those who would not hear. Their eyes and ears closed to the Word of the Lord. Their hearts shut tight against this same Jesus -- the Word made flesh -- who willingly shed His precious, holy blood so that you and I could have abundant life in Him. (John 1:1-14) For these latter, the prophecy in Isaiah continued -- "But the Word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken."

The Lord God continues, saying, "Hear the Word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves."

In both scriptural examples, the same Word of the Lord speaking through Isaiah. In both examples, the same precept upon precept and line upon line, here a little and there a little offered to one and all. But what do we see? This same good news gospel message that is life giving and everlasting also being rejected by others who would not hear the Lord our God's saving grace message. A similar example is cited in Hebrews 4:

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left [us] of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, "As I have sworn in My wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."

For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. And in this [place] again, "If they shall enter into My rest." Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again, He limits a certain day, saying in David, "To day, after so long a time; as it is said, "To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God.

For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from His. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:1-11)

Therefore, we who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith, adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, are encouraged to stand faithfully upon the Rock which is Christ, continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, praising the Lord God our Saviour Jesus the Christ in all things -- so that we do NOT become deceived by the falsehood(s) of those who deliberately make lies [the traditions of men] their refuge. (Acts 20:28; Acts 2:36-41; Titus 3:4-7; I Timothy 3:16; II John 1:9) 

Knowing too that this same Jesus is both Lord and Christ; the Head of the body of Christ church. He is the Alpha and Omega; the first and the last; the beginning and the ending. (Acts 2:36; Revelation 1:8) And He -- the Great I Am who created us in the beginning has in this dispensation become our Saviour, so that we might receive His love and mercy in our hearts. (Titus 3:4-7; Titus 2:13; Acts 20:28) The mystery that was held in the bosom of the Father from the foundation of the world.

For God so loved you and I! (John 3:16; I Timothy 5:19)

Stand in the offering plate.