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Building on the Rock

Building on the Rock

I remember, as a child, singing “The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock.”  The song is based on Jesus’ parable in Matthew chapter seven and teaches a spiritual reality through the object lesson of building houses with solid foundations. So what is the reality the parable is teaching, the true application of this parable to our lives?

Jesus said,

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash (Matthew 7:24–27 NIV84).

First, I want to emphasize that regardless of where one builds, on the rock or on the sand, the storms will come. We all face trials, struggles, and problems in our lives, and as the second coming of Jesus approaches, the winds of strife will be let loose to blow upon the earth (Revelation 7:1–3) and the entire world will face ever-increasing “storms.”

We don’t have a choice to avoid the storms; rather, we get to choose what we build our lives upon. Where is our security, strength, and foundation for living—upon Jesus, the solid Rock, or on the shifting sands of this world?

The building that we are to accomplish is the development of our characters, and Jesus is to be the foundation of our character-building. When we build upon Jesus, He builds within us! Jesus is the Living Rock, and we are living stones that receive the life of Christ as we build upon Him. When we build upon Jesus, we become joined to Him and His life flows into us. We understand and love Him and His laws—the design protocols for life—and we are changed, reborn, into a new life.

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4–5 NIV84).

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:32 NIV84).

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV84).

Building upon Jesus means more than merely hearing His words; it is even more than believing His words. Building upon Jesus means choosing to put His words into practice. The words of Jesus are the words of truth. Jesus is the source of all truth, so those who build on the Rock of Jesus will develop minds that love truth, hunger after truth, and are eager to practice truth as soon as they comprehend it. They not only understand the truth, they also accept it, believe it, embrace it, and apply it to their lives—choosing to live out the truth, the principles they hold dear, in their everyday lifestyle, choices of friends, activities, and the methods they practice, especially in how they treat others.

But those who build on the sand show that they don’t love the truth; they are satisfied with their worldly views, ideas, perspectives, and they will practice the methods of this world, the values of this world—which are constantly changing, just like the shifting sands of a desert. They are on shifting sands because they are always motivated by fear and their hearts have been shaped to protect self and advance self at the expense of others. What one day they find immoral (such as a mandate that infringes on someone’s individuality), the next day they feel justified in doing in order to protect themselves.

Those who build on the Rock of Jesus build on the truth that Jesus revealed. And the greatest truth He revealed is: “Anyone who has seen [Jesus] has seen the Father” (John 14:9). By beholding God’s character of love as revealed in Jesus, we are transformed, renewed, won to trust, and built up by internalizing in our hearts the living Word of God.

In Jesus, we see God’s character and methods of love lived out. We study the life and teachings of Jesus and realize He taught that God’s kingdom, His government, is not of this world. God is Creator, and the Creator (who is love) builds reality, space, time, energy, matter, and life. And the Creator’s laws are the protocols upon which life operate. They are design laws.

But this world’s governments operate upon imposed rules that require external punishment to enforce them. This leads people to even greater fear and insecurity, greater injustice, greater willingness to harm others. The justice and security of human laws and government are constantly shifting, and those who build upon it will all fall when the winds of strife blow.

Building upon the Rock means we incorporate God’s design-law methods into our lives in how we govern ourselves. We don’t embrace and practice the methods of this world. Those who build upon Jesus experience a change in their confidence; they establish their lives, identities, and characters upon unshakable principles by which the universe is held together. They build upon the solid Rock, Jesus Christ, and in embracing the truth and trusting Jesus, they open their hearts for Jesus to build into them His unchanging, unshifting character, to write His design law of love, truth, liberty into their hearts and minds (Hebrews 8:10). We become united, at-one with God through Jesus, who builds us up as we choose to build upon Him.

We are truly alive only as we reconnect to the vine, Jesus Christ, and receive His life, His character, His methods, and His law is restored within us. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV84).

The Bible combines the metaphors of a living rock and a plant:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6, 7 NIV84).

You are God’s field, God’s building (1 Corinthians 3:9 NIV84).

To build upon the Rock that is Jesus is to choose to trust Him, to surrender all to Him. The people who do this experience a transforming supernatural power that frees them from fear, insecurity, uncertainty, and doubt. Such people know God and have been transformed into His friends, who understand His character, methods, and principles—how reality works. They discern what is happening in the world, and they have surrendered their lives, fortunes, families, and futures into God’s hands. They do not live for self but live to glorify God in living out His methods and principles in all they do. They can make sure decisions because they know how reality works.

Then, when the storms of life rage and the winds of strife blow, the characters (houses) of such people will stand. They will stand firm revealing God’s character of love—they refuse to use the methods of the world: violence, propaganda, coercion, mandates, and control. Instead, they present truth in love and leave others free. They pray for those who persecute them, as they refuse to shrink from death. They refuse to give in to fear-provoked survival drives; they stand firm in the face of every trial, for their characters are built upon the solid Rock.

Therefore arm your minds with God’s full set of armor so that when Satan’s grand deception comes and it seems the heavens are about to fall, you are able to stand; and when you have done everything to present the truth and expose Satan’s lies–don’t falter; stand! Stand firm, with the truth of God wrapped around you like a belt; with a righteous, Christlike character developed within–like a breastplate; and the peace that comes from accepting the good news about God–like track shoes providing good traction and a solid foundation. Also, hold fast the shield of trust, which extinguishes all the burning fear and insecurity brought by the devil’s temptations. Take with you the helmet of a healed mind–a mind protected from the assaults of Satan; and attack the lies about God with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God–the truth. And talk with God with an enlightened mind, intelligently, on all occasions, about all of your concerns, requests, plans, and issues. With all of this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for God’s people (Ephesians 6:13–17 The Remedy).

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I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

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Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 67

I was introduced to Come And Reason by a friend of my mother-in-law, who gave me several CD’s of Dr. Jennings. The clarity of the message and recognition that God’s is a God of love was so clear, advancing beyond Dr. Maxwell’s message. However, grappled with Maxwell saying God used emergency measures for the fallen world. Now after several years of being a regular listener of the Come And Reasoning bible study class and attending Jennings’ meetings in Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, things are becoming clearer for me. Design law versus imposed law has added so much to my personal understanding of theology. This message has really impacted my work in counseling so many people miserable because they are searching for and trusting human governments to create order and peace or believing in a God who says love Me or I will kill you. I am grateful that I have an alternative view to offer my clients that makes sense. I teach a bible study class on a semi-regular basis and I value the materials that Come And Reason so freely offers to aid me in presenting this vital message. Thank you for continuing to provide advancement in our very limited understanding of a Infinite God that is rational and believable.

Dr. Roger D, Arlington, TX, USA

 

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I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

Jason H.

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

I can tell you that this new, “present truth” message is far grander and life-changing than when I shifted from being an agnostic and then a nominal Christian. It has radically altered my worldview, because it reveals a God that makes sense. It is a revolution. I believe that Dr. Jennings’ message is the final message that must go to the world. If any message could be called “righteousness by faith,” as abused as that term is by the right and the left, this is that message, because Jennings’ biblical message identifies a God who is different, whose character isn’t an impossible contradiction.

I walk this path now without fear. I see people differently, and the Holy Spirit burns in my heart. Many call Dr. Jennings’ message false and compromising, but it isn’t false, because I’ve seen the fruits within my mind and body. It is not compromising, because in this message is the only road to holiness that makes any sense. No longer do I behold a pagan god who is always angry and suspicious. Instead, I behold a God who is freeing and loving, always working for our good, and giving me every reason to love my enemy even to my own death, just as Jesus pleads with us. God is good.

Anthony L., CA, USA

 

Testimony 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 43

Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, USA

 

Testimony 51

I Love This Ministry!!!!!!! I see first hand how this message is desperately needed, how erroneous beliefs about God and His Character negatively affect humanity at every level. I thank God for your ministry, as I was searching on my own and was discovering some of your same beliefs and was blown away when I found your ministry. I know you hear it all the time, but it is truly life changing. May God continue to reveal His Will to you and Bless you!

Eric S., Sanford, FL, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous