Preached on Sunday, 8 March 2009 8am by Clyde Davids

I make delicious sandwiches for a living.  I sell it at businesses in my area.  I use fresh bread every day.  If I would start using yesterday's bread, my business would close down within no time.  

Jesus asked the disciples “Who do you say I am”.  And Peter had the first revelation of who Christ was.  Do WE know who He is?  Having a revelation 10 years ago doesn't count. 

We need a fresh revelation of who Christ is everyday.  The revelation of who Christ is, is found among us. 

1Pe 2:1-12  Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,  (2)  as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  (3)  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  (4)  Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,  (5)  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  (6)  Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME."  (7)  Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE,"  (8)  and "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.  (9)  But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  (10)  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.  (11)  Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,  (12)  having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

We are those living stones and He is the Chief Cornerstone.  You cannot build on sand.  You need a foundation.  Christ is that Rock and Foundation.  And every foundation gets tested.  

The Holy Spirit reminded me that He is my Provider.  Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life.  Greater works will we do.  In His time there were no make-up artists, truck drivers and IT consultants.  We are doing greater works.

How will a young man keep himself pure?  With the Word of God.  It is like gold being dug up.  

The Bible is a dead book.  Only when we read it and Christ is revealed to us, the words come alive.  The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.  

Apostle André has gone to over 50 countries.  What did he go and do?  He set the church in order.  The army that fights as one is bound to win.  The unity of the Body is of great importance.  We need to stand on the Rock: all of us.  

It’s great to be in unity on a Sunday, but during the week we need to fight for one another.  Pray for one another.

The Sabbath day is not one certain day.  Every day is holy.  If you find Christ, you find rest.  Then every day is a Sabbath day. Have a Sabbath day every day.  Don’t worry so much anymore.  Have a fresh revelation of Christ and then you will have rest for that day.

God does not choose a wife for you.  You choose your own wife.  When I went looking for a wife, I started looking at the outside.  After all the relationships ended, I gave up.  Then I only made friends.  And my wife first became my friend, before we decided to get married.

As living stones, we don’t need to try so hard.  We can find rest in Christ.  The substance is found in Christ. 

Col 2:16-17  So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,  (17)  which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

Everything we need is found in Him.  We don’t have to strive for anything else, except to find a fresh revelation of Christ.

John 1 – Christ is the Word who dwell among us.  We are Christ to the world today.  

Christ is “open” every day.  We can come everyday and get to know Who He is for that day.  He’s building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against Him.  

For too long the church has been striving.  It’s time for us to say that Christ is the Son of the Living God, and find rest in Him.

We cannot changed ourselves (or our wifes or our children).  The only one who can change us is Christ.  God allows us to sharpen one another in the Body.  He’s coming back for a spotless bride.  

Mat 16:24  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

“Deny yourself” means “Stop striving in your own strength”

Mat 11:27-30  All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  (28)  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  (29)  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  (30)  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

We don’t realise what we have in Christ.  No one has a full revelation of Christ.  That’s why we need to get a fresh revelation of Christ daily.

When we find rest in Him, He will provide for us.  We only need Jesus, because He is everything to us.  All things will pass away, but the Word of God will stand.  The Word that is in you will stand.  The rest will fade away.

It’s in humility that Christ raises us up.  Apostle Paul was beaten and stoned.  But to him all things was counted as loss, except knowing Christ.

Godliness with contentment is great gain.