Anniversary Message
AN UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM
JTRF 7th Year Anniversary @ Clark NJ
Date: July 13, 2008
Speaker: Pastor Gerry Gregoire, Pastor of Jesus The Rock Fellowship
Scriptural Reference: Hebrews 12:28-29
Listen to Audio Sermon

HEBREWS 12:28-29
28Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe; 29For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire.

THIS KINGDOM OF OUR GOD CANNOT BE SHAKEN AND THAT IS WHY AS WE CELEBRATE OUR SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY AND ENTER INTO OUR EIGHT YEAR, WE WILL BE STRONGER THEN EVER BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE BIBLE DESCRIBES IT IN TERMS OF ITS STONES, WALLS, AND GATES, IN REALITY THE UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A PEOPLE WITH 1. ENDURING CHARACTER, 2. UNBREAKABLE UNITY, AND 3.AN UNCOMPROMISING MESSAGE OF HOPE.

GOD HAS BEEN BUILDING THE ENDURING CHARACTER OF JESUS IN THIS CHURCH AND WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A GREAT SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN THE LAST FEW YEARS. WITH THE TRUE CHARACTER OF JESUS WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE TRUE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER AND THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT DISCOVERED THE GREAT SALVATION THAT IS FREELY AVAILABLE.

LOOK AT HEBREWS 12:1
1THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION THAT THE LORD USES TO PRODUCE ENDURING CHARACTER STRIPS ANYTHING THAT WILL KEEP US FROM SERVING GOD PROPERLY. HE HAS BEEN PULLING OUT THAT SIN THAT SNEAKS ITS WAY INTO OUR LIVES AND KEEPS US FROM TRUE PURITY. WE MAY NOT BE PERFECTED AT THIS TIME, BUT MUST GO INTO THIS NEXT YEAR DETERMINED TO ALLOW GOD TO FINISH HIS WORK IN US.

HEBREWS 12:2 2Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

DURING THE COMING YEAR WE MUST KEEP FOCUSED ON OUR SOURCE WHO IS JESUS, WHO IN FACT IS “OUR ROCK.” EVERYTHING WE WILL BE DOING WILL BE REVOLVING AROUND HIM. WHAT HE HAS STARTED IN OUR CHURCH HE WILL FINISH. THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE THE LORD WAS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US ENTRANCE NOT ONLY INTO HIS PRESENCE NOW BUT THE ETERNAL JOY WE WILL EXPERIENCE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.

HEBREWS 12:3-4 3Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.
4You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood.

WHEN FORMING ENDURING CHARACTER THERE WILL BE TRIALS AND TESTS IN THE COMING YEARS BUT NOTHING WILL COMPARE WITH WHAT JESUS WENT THROUGH FOR US. THE REALITY OF IT ALL IS THAT GOD CAME TO THIS EARTH AND SHED HIS BLOOD SO THAT WE COULD BE SET FREE. WE ARE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY SOULS IN THIS WORLD WHO HAVE NOT FOUND JESUS YET, AND THAT MY FRIENDS IS WHY JESUS THE ROCK IS STILL HERE, HE HAS COMMISSIONED US TO TELL THE WORLD THAT JESUS IS STILL THE ROCK OF SALVATION.

HEBREWS 12:5-11 5And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him;
6For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.7You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?
8Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all].9Moreover, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we yielded [to them] and respected [them for training us]. Shall we not much more cheerfully submit to the Father of spirits and so [truly] live?
10For [our earthly fathers] disciplined us for only a short period of time and chastised us as seemed proper and good to them; but He disciplines us for our certain good, that we may become sharers in His own holiness.11For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness--in conformity to God's will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].

MAY WE NEVER FORGET THAT WE ARE GOD’S KIDS AND AS SUCH HE WILL CORRECT US AS WE NEED IT, THIS CORRECTION HE MAKES IN US IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF HIS FAMILY AND WHEN HE DOES CORRECT US WE CANNOT QUIT. HE WANTS US TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE FAMILY AND AS SUCH, WE MUST BE UNIFIED UNDER HIM.

THE THOUGHT THAT WE WANT TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT “HE DOES LOVE US!” HIS WHOLE FOCUS IS ON US, HE IS WHAT HOLDS US TOGETHER.WE ARE HIS PRIZE, THE APPLE OF HIS EYE. WHEN YOU DO FEEL HIS LOVE THAT IS WHEN THE IMPOSSIBLE BECOMES POSSIBLE. THE EARLY CHURCH KNEW AND FELT THAT LOVE AND THAT IS WHY THEY HAD UNITY AND WITH THAT UNITY ACCOMPLISHED WHAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE TO THE WORLD.

THE OBJECTIVE OF HIS CORRECTION IS THAT WE BECOME JUST LIKE JESUS. THAT IS, TO REFLECT IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIVES THE ENDURING CHARACTER OF CHRIST, ESPECIALLY TO BE ABLE TO LOVE JUST AS HE DOES.

HIS COURSE CORRECTIONS IN OUR LIVES WILL BE WHAT ALLOWS US TO GROW SPIRITUALLY AND NUMERICALLY IN OUR CHURCH. THAT IS WHY PRUDENCE AND PERSISTENCE IS SO NECESSARY FOR US NOW AND IN OUR FUTURE YEARS.

HE IS BUILDING OUR CHARACTER AND BRINGING US INTO UNITY WITH HIMSELF AND EACH OTHER SO THAT HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE CAN BE GIVEN TO A DEAD AND DYING WORLD.

HEBREWS 12:12-13
12So then, brace up and reinvigorate and set right your slackened and weakened and drooping hands and strengthen your feeble and palsied and tottering knees, 13And cut through and make firm and plain and smooth, straight paths for your feet [yes, make them safe and upright and happy paths that go in the right direction], so that the lame and halting [limbs] may not be put out of joint, but rather may be cured.

THE REASON WHY WE HAVE ANNUAL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IS TO REMIND OURSELVES OF THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE AS A CHURCH AND TO ALSO LET US KNOW THAT THERE IS MORE TO COME. WE ALSO GATHER AT THIS TIME TO RE-VITALIZE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. GOD USES THIS TIME AS A COURSE CORRECTION IF NECESSARY FOR OUR FUTURE. HE REMINDS US OF THAT GREAT MESSAGE OF HOPE THAT WE WILL NOT COMPROMISE ON.

GOD IS SAYING TO US THIS YEAR THAT HE WANTS TO MAKE US A CHURCH WITHIN A CHURCH. A CHURCH THAT WILL FOLLOW HIS LEADING ONLY AND TO NOT GET CAUGHT UP WITH THE PROBLEMS IN THE WORLD. REMEMBER, WE HAVE THE CURE AND HIS NAME IS JESUS. JESUS IS THE MESSAGE OF HOPE.

HEBREWS 12:14-17 14Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.
15Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it--16That no one may become guilty of sexual vice, or become a profane (godless and sacrilegious) person as Esau did, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

IN BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST WE HAVE LEARNED TO WATCH OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. WE HAVE ALL THE SAME GOAL AND THAT IS WHAT UNITY IS ALL ABOUT. AS WE CONTINUE TO LEARN AND BECOME LIKE JESUS OUR UNITY WILL NOT BE BROKEN AND WE WILL NOT GIVE UP OUR BIRTHRIGHTS.

17For you understand that later on, when he wanted [to regain title to] his inheritance of the blessing, he was rejected (disqualified and set aside), for he could find no opportunity to repair by repentance [what he had done, no chance to recall the choice he had made], although he sought for it carefully with [bitter] tears.
ITS TOO PRECIOUS TO LOSE BECAUSE THE LORD HAS GIVEN TO US ALL THAT IS NECESSARRY TO BE SUCCESSFUL; WE CAN LIVE AT PEACE WITH EVERYONE. WE MUST CONTINUALLY BUILD EACH OTHER UP AND NOT BE TEARING DOWN WITH NEGATIVE CRITICISM. A MATERIALISTIC APPETITE FOR WHAT IS IN THIS WORLD WILL NOT STOP US FROM REACHING AND NOT GIVING AWAY THE PLACE THAT GOD HAS FOR US INDIVIDUALLY AND AS A CHURCH.
HEBREWS 12:18-22 18For you have not come [as did the Israelites in the wilderness] to a [material] mountain that can be touched, [a mountain] that is ablaze with fire, and to gloom and darkness and a raging storm, 19And to the blast of a trumpet and a voice whose words make the listeners beg that nothing more be said to them.
20For they could not bear the command that was given: If even a wild animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.21In fact, so awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified (aghast and trembling with fear)
22But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering,

HERE THE COMPARISON IS MADE BETWEEN THE ISRAELITES AND THE CHURCH OF TODAY AND WE SEE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE. WE ACTUALLY HAVE GOD LIVING IN US AND NOW WE KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT A STRANGER OR ROARING CREATOR BUT ONE WHO WE HAVE A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH AND WE ARE NOT AFRAID OF HIS COMMANDMENTS. GOD IS OUR FATHER AND WANTS TO SHARE HIS GRACE AND MERCY TO THE ENTIRE WORLD. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED WITH .THIS MY FRIENDS IS THE UNCOMPROMISING MESSAGE OF HOPE.

ISA 43:25
25 I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
AND ISA 44:22 22 I have blotted out like a thick cloud your transgressions, and like a cloud your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
AND JEREMIAH 31:34 34 And they will no more teach each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they will all know Me [recognize, understand, and be acquainted with Me], from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will [seriously] remember their sin no more.
AND HEB 8:12 12 For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.

FRIENDS THE MESSAGE OF HOPE WE CANNOT COMPROMISE IS THAT ALL OUR SINS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND WILL NEVER BE RECALLED. WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE FOREVER.
HEBREWS 12:23-24 23And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect,24And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].

CHURCH, OUR HOME IS IN HEAVEN AND WE ARE SOJOURNERS HERE ON EARTH WITH A MISSION FOR THE LORD. WE NEED TO REMAIN FAITHFUL. LET THE LORD CONTINUE TO PERFECT OUR CHARACTER DURING THE COMING YEARS. HE HAS GIVEN US A NEW AND MORE POWERFUL COVENANT THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS WITH JESUS AS OUR LEADER GUIDING US EVERYDAY AND MAKING US ALL ONE.

25 So see to it that you do not reject Him or refuse to listen to and heed Him Who is speaking [to you now]. For if they [the Israelites] did not escape when they refused to listen and heed Him Who warned and divinely instructed them [here] on earth [revealing with heavenly warnings His will], how much less shall we escape if we reject and turn our backs on Him Who cautions and admonishes [us] from heaven?
26 Then [at Mount Sinai] His voice shook the earth, but now He has given a promise: Yet once more I will shake and make tremble not only the earth but also the [starry] heavens.27Now this expression, Yet once more, indicates the final removal and transformation of all [that can be] shaken--that is, of that which has been created--in order that what cannot be shaken may remain and continue.

THIS IS A WARNING TO ANYONE WHO WILL LISTEN; WE CANNOT TURN BACK FROM THIS JOURNEY THAT JESUS HAS SET US ON. THERE WILL BE “STUFF” IN OUR FUTURE. I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE A PHYSICAL SHAKING AGAIN, BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE SHAKING WILL BE IN THE ECONOMY WHICH WE ARE NOW ENTERING INTO. THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL LOSE THE FAITH BECAUSE OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THIS WORLD. A DEPRAVITY THAT HAS CONSUMED THE EARTH WITH THINGS HAPPENING THAT ARE SO FAR FROM GOD’S WILL THAT THE LORD CANNOT AND WILL NOT LET IT CONTINUE.
SODOM AND GOMORRAH WILL DWINDLE COMPARED TO WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THIS EARTH NOW.

BUT FRIENDS, KNOW THIS ABOUT HEBREWS 12:28-30 28Let us therefore, receiving a kingdom that is firm and stable and cannot be shaken, offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship, with modesty and pious care and godly fear and awe;
29For our God [is indeed] a consuming fire

WE NEED TO REALLY RECEIVE THIS KINGDOM IN US. WE NEED THE ENDURING CHARACTER OF CHRIST AND WE NEED TO BE UNIFIED LIKE NEVER BEFORE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE ONLY MESSAGE OF HOPE, AND THAT IS JESUS CHRIST.
GOD HAS SPOKEN TO US THROUGH HIS WORD AND OUR TASK IS TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING HE HAS SAID. WE KNOW WHAT HIS WILL IS AND HOW MUCH HE WANTS TO HELP US ATTAIN IT WITH HIS HELP.

THERE IS ANOTHER SHAKING COMING AND WE WILL BE THE ONES THAT REMAIN BECAUSE THE KINGDOM OF GOD LIVES IN US. HE SAVED US, TRAINED US, AND WORKS WITH US DAILY. HOW CAN WE FAIL IF WE HAVE HIS ENDURING CHARACTER AND THE UNITY THAT ONLY HE CAN BRING AND THE GREATEST MESSAGE OF HOPE THAT THIS WORLD REALLY NEEDS TO RECEIVE.

WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT FORGET THE FACT THAT WE ARE HERE TO FULFILL HIS WILL. HE IS THE HEAD AND POWER OF HIS CHURCH. JESUS TRULY IS THE ROCK. ALSO, REMEMBER THAT OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE.