06.01. Anchored in the Rock
Anchored in the Rock
Luke 6:47-48 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
One of the most neglected things in our churches today perhaps may be the teaching of doctrine. What we believe, why we believe what we believe and what to do as a result of what we believe. We live in a time that was spoken of by Paul when he spoke to Timothy, Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears… 2 Timothy 4:2-3 .
We live in a day when confronted with preaching against sin many preachers will reply that they would rather preach a positive sermon than to preach against sin. Men today are flocking to places that are filled with feel good sermons and not strong preaching of the Word of God. Many today want to come away from church feeling good about who and what they are instead of feeling the conviction of the Holy Spirit on their lives.
We are warned many places and many times in the Scriptures to follow sound doctrine. I have entitled this series Rock Solid "Anchors of the Faith" because if we are not anchored in the things that God has revealed about Himself and the things of Christ we are building our faith of shifting sands. Philosophies come and go, social norms may change with time because most are build upon the humanistic premises of man and his limited knowledge. Paul said in Ephesians 4:14-15 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.
He told his preacher boys Titus and Timothy to Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
During this series we hope to explore what we believe about our faith in many areas. We will talk about the Bible and why we believe it to be the very Word revealed by God the Creator. We will find the anchor of creation and attempt to understand the assault that is being waged on the Bible. We have plans to understand what we believe about the triune God and what the Bible teaches about the consummation of the ages.
I- The Critical Doctrine:
Let us understand today as we begin our look that the Bible teaches there is a key doctrine that we must be anchored in to begin with. The critical doctrine in the Bible is not what we believe about the second coming of Christ, nor what we believe about other things such as how to do church. The key doctrine in the Bible has to do with Jesus.
2 John 1:9-10 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.
1 John 2:22-23 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
The most divisive man who ever lived was Jesus Christ. Notice what Jesus said in Luke 12:51-53 Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: 52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Now notice 1 Peter 2:6-9 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
To those that believe Jesus is the sweet rock that gives life. To those that reject Him He is the Rock of offense that will ultimately crush.
Hebrews 6:18-19 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.
II- The Rock of the Word:
Our next sermon will address what the Bible says about itself. May I simply say now that the anchor of all our doctrine must be found in the Rock of the Word.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
III- On the Rock or Sand?
Luke 6:47-48 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Within this text there is an answer to a question that we must ask. Why study doctrine? "When the flood arose" is the answer. Beloved may I say that we need to do spiritually emergency preparedness.
Did you notice that the Bible says the man had dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock? The implication was that he dug through he sand into the solid rock. Many times today our foundation may be in the things of God but we are not anchored deep in them. We are only a surface Christian and our anchor is not deep in the rock but is in the sands. How many of you have been o the beach and stood at the edge of the water and noticed as the waves came in and out the sand shift beneath your feet? In the parallel passage of our text found in Matthew 7:25 it says, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
You might ask how you can dig deeper so when the hurricanes and tsunamis of life come, and they will come, you can be anchored. May I say it is all found in the things of God? The rock of the Word. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We need to learn and then be reminded of the things of God. Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.