1-18 MCM

Midnight Cry Messenger

Editor’s Letter

Dear Saints,
Greetings once again in the wonderful name of Jesus! This issue’s editor’s letter will be a short one to accommodate the articles.

The first one, “The Solid Rock,” is taken from transcripts of a recent TV broadcast that seemed to generate an unusual measure of interest. I’m trusting that God wants to encourage His people with this important truth.

It should be obvious that there is nothing “solid” in which we may safely trust in the world – and it’s getting worse by the minute, just as scripture foretells.

Thank God for the gospel of grace which reveals what He has done for all who repent of their sins and put their trust in His Son for their eternal salvation. Heaven and earth will pass away but His Word, and all that is revealed therein, will never pass away.

The other article is a timely reprint of an article by Bro. Thomas first published in 1973. It highlights how God works to bring about practical transformation in His children. May we all fully cooperate!

Till next time may God’s rich blessings be yours.

Your brother in Christ,
Phil Enlow

The Solid Rock
by Phil Enlow

Turn to Isaiah Chapter 28, and I’m just going to pick up a little of this. As is so often the case, the Lord was reaching out to a rebellious nation that was trying to walk in their own ways, and at this particular point there’s obviously a very misplaced self-confidence in the people. I’ll just pick it up at verse 14.

The Lord said through the prophet, “Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers who rule this people in Jerusalem. You boast, We have entered into a covenant with death, with the grave we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by, it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” (NIV).

And so, what you see, of course, is the spirit of man at its strongest. We’ve got this handled. We know what life is about. Whatever comes we’re good with it. We’re able to handle it. There’s nothing life can throw at us that we can’t handle. We’ve got a way of thinking and a way of looking at life and we’re strong. We’re wise. We’re all the things that are necessary to feel that we are in a place of security.

And so, the Lord, obviously, knows that’s not right and so He says, immediately, “So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” Praise God!

One of the things that’s really necessary, I believe, many times, is to shine the light on the foundation, because what’s been shared this morning is exactly right. We are facing challenges. We’re facing the enemy who is not going to give up and who’s going to throw everything he can at us. And sometimes, we find ourselves fighting in our own strength, in our own wisdom: anybody agree with me on that?

Yeah! That’s kind of where we’re at, and it doesn’t work very well, does it? We wind up getting dismayed in the face of what we’re facing. We’re looking at it and, all of a sudden, we feel defeated, we feel discouraged, we feel self-pity, we feel all of those kinds of things.

But God wants us to know, number one, that there is a foundation in this world. Thank God, it’s not a foundation where He gives me the instructions and I’ve got to go build it! Because I have no ability! I have nothing to bring to this situation. Just like the song that was sung this morning. How appropriate that is! It’s ‘just as I am’ that God wants me to come!

The job of making me what He wants me to be is His job and He’s the only one that can do it!

And so, He’s not looking for my performance to win His approval and to build myself a place where I can stand. Praise God! I’m righteous, I’m smart, I’ve got it together, I’m a part of a certain people, I’m with this group and not that group, all these things in which men trust.

But I have no trust in any of that. I realize, God, I don’t know! How many of you pick up your Bible and the first thing you say is, God, I can’t understand this? I’ve been learning to do that more and more. Lord, unless You help me, unless You open my eyes, I’m just reading words. I’m not smart enough to figure any of this out. Lord, I need you!

That’s the place we occupy. But that’s not a place that’s bad, that’s a place that’s awesome! When you consider who God is and how He has revealed Himself, the kind of a God He is, the power — He has everything that we don’t! And His whole heart is motivated by a love for us that we cannot even begin to imagine.

And oh, how we need to shine the light on those truths, because they give us a solid place to stand when we face the things that we’re facing in this life, because they will come! There’s nothing in this Word that ever promises that we’re going to have an easy life! It just isn’t there. But oh, we need a foundation!

And so, He uses language that human beings can understand. He uses a stone. And a stone is, obviously to us, something very, very solid. It certainly contrasts with sand and something that’s weak and loose. It kind of brings to the mind what Jesus said, when He talked about those who own Him as Lord, who listen to what He says, and they build their lives on that, what’s that like?

The kids learn this when they’re young. What did the wise man build his house on? On the rock, didn’t he? He just didn’t go down a little way and say, hey, this is good, let’s start building. He went all the way, dug down deep, got rid of all the earth.

You know, that represents part of me that I want to continue to lean on, I want to hang onto. Like, yeah, I need to build a good house, but this is good enough. Folks, it isn’t. If you stop short of building on Christ, you stop short of everything that matters. Oh, my God! It needs to be on Him.

And the foolish man, what did he do? Built his house on the sand, didn’t he? And both of the houses looked great! You couldn’t look at them and say, hey, you got a bad looking house there. In fact, the one on the sand might have been more impressive, because he was more concerned with the house than he was what it was built on. He was more concerned with what it looked like.

But the problem is, if the weather’s great and everything is fine, there’s no problem, is there? But the problem comes when that changes — and it will change!

We are definitely sailing into difficult waters on planet Earth! And, even if society continues as it is, and we basically have a more or less free society, life is full of challenges and trouble, just like we’ve heard this morning. It’s very real and you know it’s real!

But, thank God, there is a stone that represents something that God did! You know, we need to let that sink in because the Devil has so many ways of attacking our thinking and giving us the impression that, I’ve got to do this. I’ve got to figure this out. I’ve got to find a way to handle this. I’ve got. I’ve got to. I’ve got to.

How many of you’ve got that voice in your head? All the time! Yeah! That’s a voice that we need to stop listening to! We need to recognize where that wisdom is coming from because God has put a rock and He has planted it and it’s real! And God wants us to reckon on that and to learn how to stand. He put that in Zion.

And there’s a significance to Him saying that. You remember where Zion came from? We think of Israel and we its history and we think of Jerusalem as the center. This is God’s city, almost. And I guess there is a heavenly Jerusalem that is God’s city.

But where did Jerusalem come from? When they conquered the land, they lived there for hundreds of years. Jerusalem was not in the picture because where Jerusalem exists, there was a tribe of people called the Jebusites. And it was so situated, with hills, that they had a fortress built. God put it in David’s heart to conquer that, to finish the job of conquering the land, as it was, hundreds of years after they were there. And the Jebusites said, “You’re not going to get in here.” And I love the way the scripture puts it! One verse later it says, “Nevertheless, David got in there.”

Didn’t even tell us all the details, it’s just like, no big deal! David conquered it and he went in there because he had the Lord with him. And the Lord turned a Satanic stronghold into His capital! It became the center of worship, the center of God’s presence, the Temple, all of those things became part of the picture!

And we’re told, in Hebrews, that we, Christian believers, are, “…come to Mount Zion…the city of the living God.” It became a symbol, you see. God’s using symbolic language here to teach us something that’s real. God has absolutely established a rock, a foundation, in this world, upon which we may stand and involved in that is a victory where God went in, He sent His Son into a Satanic stronghold and the Devil said, you’re not getting in there. Nevertheless, He got in there, didn’t He?

And we need to reckon on the fact, every single day, that we have a Master, we have a Lord, who sits on a throne and every enemy you and I have was defeated at the Cross! I mean, totally defeated!

Because of Him, we have been made victors instead of victims! And yet, how much of the time do we live as victims? Oh God, this is happening to me, I’m just a victim. God, why are You doing this to me? Every one of us goes through that.

If you’re feeling that and you’re going through things that cause you to think that way, you’re not alone. Every single believer feels that. So, He lays a stone in Zion.

But He says it’s a tested stone, isn’t it? This is not somebody who just waltzed in here and never faced anything. There is not a thing that you and I have ever faced that He has not faced. Our Lord Jesus Christ has faced far greater than you and I will ever think about facing!

All of Satan’s guns were trained on Him and there He was, in flesh, totally dependent upon His Father’s strength, and He knew that! He knew better than to trust in Himself and say, I can handle this. Look who I am. Always there was this sense, Father, I need You. Does not Hebrews tell us that many times He cried to God, “…with strong crying and tears…” and he, “…was heard…” (KJV)?

Talk about your prayers being heard, I’ll tell you, when we come to Him with that kind of a heart, God hears! And even when it emotionally feels like it doesn’t reach the ceiling — we all go through that, too — there is a God who hears! And yes, He’s way off in Heaven, in one sense, but He’s right here.

Oh, I’ll tell you what, there’s a place where we can stand in this world and not have to be afraid, not have to be worried about what’s coming, what’s going to happen and how is it all going to turn out, and oh, will I have the strength to climb that great mountain that’s ahead of me? Oh, God! Thank God for what He has done! Oh, thank God, it isn’t dependent upon me in some way!

“I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone…” (NIV). He was tempted in all points, every point, “…just as we are—yet was without sin.” Oh my, we’ve got Somebody we can go to in our darkest hour.

“…A precious cornerstone…” (NIV). There’s a sense of value. You remember when Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God. He likened it to a man who found a pearl of great price. And you have this sense of value. He saw a value in this pearl. And it was so priceless, in a sense, the value of that was so high to him, what did he do? He sold everything he had so he could have that pearl! Do you know that’s what it’s like when we come to Christ?

You know, we’ve got some brothers and sisters in the Lord who love to talk about how salvation is free and in one sense it absolutely is. It’s free in the sense that I can’t earn it. I can’t pay for it. I can’t qualify myself through some goodness in me to receive this and say, God, I’ve done what you asked, now give me my salvation. It doesn’t come that way.

But I’ll tell you, there is a cost to that free gift! There is a cost! It costs us our lives! It costs everything! And I’ll tell you, if you’re going to stand on this foundation, you can’t stand on something else. There is a leaving of something to stand and build upon this foundation. It’s not like I can have a little of each.

This is not something where I have a cafeteria. You know, in a cafeteria you take a little of what you want. But I’ll tell you, there is a leaving of the Devil’s cafeteria and there is a going to what God has, the table that God has spread. And boy has He spread a table! Everything you and I could ever possibly need to enable us to stand in this world and serve Him in this world and triumph over the Devil, it’s all there! God has not left anything out that you and I need. Has He not given us everything in Christ? Praise God!

You know, we need to lift this up, we need to shine the light on what God has done, because that’s what gives us the confidence to stand! This is a foundation upon which we can talk about dealing with issues and dealing with problems. Praise God! There is a foundation and it’s, “…a tested stone, a precious cornerstone….”

And then He says it’s, “…a sure foundation.” Over and over again the language is meant to give us a sense that regardless of what happens in this world — and bad stuff happens, doesn’t it? — regardless of what happens, there is a place where you and I can have absolute confidence.

You know, I think about the song that Damaris made famous, “He Has Forgiven Me.” Praise God! There’s a confidence that enables someone to stand there, and though we know that we are sinners, though we know that at our best we cannot live up to what He wants, we need Him, we need His strength, we need His forgiveness, we need all those things. Yet, there is a place where we can stand and look the Devil himself in the eye and say, He has forgiven me!

I don’t have to listen to you! You want to blow yourself up and make me feel small and intimidated by your great presence, but Devil you’re nothing but a little leach, coming to suck the life out of me! You were defeated at the Cross and I refuse to listen to you anymore!

I refuse to listen to all that junk that you’re trying to put in my head, that record that keeps playing there and telling me I’m nothing. Thank God! How many of you know what I’m talking about?

I’ll tell you, the Devil is very real but the only thing that he’s got to work with is a lie! Because he knows better than anybody that what the Word of God says here is true, that God has laid a foundation in this world that is sure, that we can depend upon!

Oh, I’ll tell you what, this affects two different kinds of people who may hear this. One is the one that’s never really gotten on this foundation. You’re living your life, you’ve got this philosophy of life, if you will. Everybody has one. I mean, it may not be something you can write a book about, but everybody has got a way of living their life and a way of thinking.

This is the way I get through. This is what’s important. This is what my life is meant to live for, whether it’s pleasure, whether it’s self-confidence in me and my ability to figure things out, and my dreams and my ideas, and my family, my country, my ability, you name it. There’s something of just human life upon which they depend and they cobble together this world view, like these people that the prophet was talking about.

They took a little of their Jewish heritage, didn’t they? It wasn’t all idolatry. They were still doing some of the stuff that they got from Moses, but they had taken some of that and they’d taken some from the heathen religions. They looked at their own abilities. They’d taken the blessings of God and taken credit for it. And all of that together, now we’ve got our way of life, bless God, we’re good! We’re good to go.

But they weren’t, were they? All the Lord had to do was pull His protection back and they were going to find out in a heartbeat that what they had was worthless. Think of the position of people in this world! Didn’t Jesus talk about the time of His coming and said men’s hearts would be “…failing them for fear…” (KJV)?

You see some of that right now. There’s an anxiety, there’s a fearfulness that’s coming into the hearts of people that realize that what I have, maybe it’s not enough. Maybe I don’t have what I need! I don’t know what’s going to happen in the world!

You got the super rich and they’re building these bunkers and they’re stocking, they’re buying land in New Zealand. They’re doing whatever they think they need to do to survive, because they see the world is going to fall apart and they need a place where they can go and be safe and carry on with their life. That’s the world we live in, folks. There is nothing here of permanence!

And, my God, if you’ve never seen your need of Christ and the foundation that God has laid, my prayer is God will break down your world, and He will talk to your mind, or He’ll bring you the circumstances where you wake up and say, I don’t have what I need! I’ve been walking in my own understanding! I’ve been trusting in myself! I’ve listened to the voices of the world and I’ve let them shape my thinking! Oh, what I’m living for? What I’m trusting in is not enough!

And you know, even if you were fortunate enough, if you want to call it that, to have a prosperous life, healthy, long, full of accomplishment, full of wealth and all of that, suppose you had that all the way till the end of your life, like Jesus said, if you, “…gain the whole world…”, then what? Then what?

If that’s all you’ve got, you have lost everything because death is going to win! There is one enemy that stands against the human race! I don’t care what the scientists do, they will never conquer death! But I’ll tell you, I serve One, He is my master, He is my Lord! He conquered death!

He went to the Cross and He died. And Satan and Hell had a party for three days! And that party turned into shrieks of terror when He came out of that tomb. The angels came down and rolled back the stone that covered it. They didn’t roll the stone away to let Jesus out. They rolled the stone away to let the disciples in to see what had happened!

They had wrapped His body in one cloth and His head in another. And they went in there and the cloths were exactly where they had been. It’s just that they had sunk down and there was nothing in them anymore. Oh, I’ll tell you what, He came out, didn’t He?

You know, God has demonstrated the reality of the foundation that He laid! It’s not built on fantasy! It’s not built on religious philosophy! It’s not built on a system of self-righteousness! It’s built on a Savior who carried my sins to a Cross!

All the judgment that I deserve fell upon Him in my place! He stood there and He took it and He went to the Cross! Oh, my! And He went into that grave and I went there with Him. That’s what the foundation is about. I don’t care what you do as a human being. There is no deliverance from sin outside of Jesus Christ.

And if there’s no deliverance from sin, there’s no deliverance from death and judgment. Because God has declared, “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” And I’ll tell you, if the foundation you’re living upon, that you’re building your life upon isn’t one where you trust fully in what Jesus accomplished for you at the Cross, then you are not ready to face Him.

Oh, you need to call upon His name to open your heart and open your eyes and show you your need because you need what He’s talking about here. These people didn’t know it! They were so stubborn in their hearts, it didn’t matter what God said to them! They said, “No, we’re good to go.” And they didn’t find out until it was too late.

But there is a foundation. You think about what we face as human beings. There’s not a one of us who hasn’t sinned. Not one of us! If God were going to judge us by our record, every single one of us, if we looked at our lives in the light of God’s truth and God’s character, God’s standard, every one of us would have a record that would put us away for eternity. I mean, there’s no escaping it!

But suppose, just somehow, I could figure out a way to get rid of all that. Okay, I’m good to go, right? No, the problem that created that is still here. It’s not just what I’ve done, it’s what I am!

If I have a foundation for life that I’m resting upon and it doesn’t deal with this, what good is it? It might get me through this life to a certain degree, but then what? Oh, my God! But God has done what I could never do! He’s given me a place to stand that I can stand with confidence!

It’s not like He says, all right, I’ll get you to the starting line, now, it’s up to you. Oh, thank God! He goes with me. He carries me all the way. He gives me a place where I can stand, and it’s solid, and it’s real, and the devil can never attack it! It doesn’t matter what storm comes. It never bothers that foundation. Praise God!

Are you on that? Are you on that foundation? That’s one question today.

But there’s another one. Look at the last statement in verse 16. It says, “…the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” (NIV). Now, it’s one thing to get on that foundation, to be brought to the place where we recognize our need of salvation and we come to Him and it’s just as I am, Lord. I know that I don’t deserve anything, but I come because of Your promise. I come because of what You did in my place. I bow before the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh God, forgive my sins. I turn from them, but I come to You to give me a new heart and a new life. There is a ‘being planted’ on that foundation.

But I think we realize and we know just from testimonies this morning and from what we all go through, that there’s more to it from a practical standpoint than just that, because we can be on the foundation in the sense that God has called us, and our destiny is certain, not because of who we are but because of what He has done. But how much do we enjoy the benefits of that foundation?

How many of us come to trials and difficulties and dark places in our lives, and we’re dismayed by them? You know what being dismayed is? Your confidence is gone. You think oh, I’ve got to fix this. And then, you suddenly realize it’s bigger than you are and no matter what you do, “I feel like I’m defeated.”

How many of you have a voice in your head that tells you that all the time? “You’re no good. You’ll never make it. No matter how hard you try, you’ve been this way all your life.” Do you not hear the serpent? Where is your confidence? Where is your trust?

See, there’s a practical side to this where God’s dealing with me about things and I know He’s dealing with you. That’s part of the work. That’s part of climbing that mountain. There is a mountain ahead. It’s real! The peak is real. But the strength of God to get there is real, too.

It’s the one who trusts! There is a quality of spirit that God is looking for, that when I face things, the adversities of life, my confidence is not turned to what I once trusted in. It’s not that I lean upon my own understanding. Didn’t Solomon say that? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and…” Do what? “…lean not on your own understanding.”

But how many of us do that? Oh, we go back to our roots. We go back to ideas we’re ingesting from the world. We ask our friends, what do you think about it? And we need to be going to God. We need to be recognizing that there is truth. Jesus Christ ‘is’ the truth. And I tell you, the wisdom that comes from Him is what we need if you’re facing something in your life.

Paul wrote in Colossians chapter 2, I believe it is, speaking about Jesus: “…In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” So, what are we supposed to do when we face things? Are we supposed to say, oh God, what am I going to do? I’ve got to find a proof text.

God, I need You. Lord, You have promised. You’ve got wisdom that I don’t know anything about. Lord, I’m waiting to hear Your voice. I want to hear what You have to say about this. I want to see this situation. I want to see that person that bothers me. I want to see this circumstance. I want to see where I’m supposed to be at right now. I want to have that sense of trust. But God, if there’s something for me to do, I’m asking You to show me.

You know, many times over the years the Lord has emphasized that passage in Isaiah 50, where the prophet said, “Who among you fears the Lord….” I don’t remember all of it, but basically, it’s a person who’s looking to God who understands his place in God, but then, he’s in a place of darkness. And the darkness he’s talking about is, I’m in a place I don’t understand, and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what God’s trying to do. I don’t know why. And there are things I just don’t know. I don’t understand. But what do you do then?

What does the prophet say? He says, let him trust. There is a trust and there is a staying. I’m here. God has put me on a foundation. I am not going to get antsy if God doesn’t come across and give me full-blown wisdom right now. I’m not going to go looking for the answers somewhere else. I’m not going to say, well, God’s not doing something, so He expects me to do it. God helps those who help themselves.

How many of you know that’s not in the Bible?

That’s man’s wisdom is exactly right. Now, there’s a time for me to act, but it’s to act in accordance with Him, and it’s not I, but Christ. It’s Christ living in me as I yield to Him. There is action that needs to be taken sometimes.

But there are times when all that I can do is to stay upon my God and say, God, I’m here. And if there is something You want me to know, I’m depending on You to show me. But until You do, I’m here. If You don’t show me something, it’s because that’s where I’m supposed to be, and You’ve got this. You are on the throne. You know what’s going on. I rest in Your hands. I rest in Your care. Help me when the time comes to act, You’re going to give me wisdom.

And remember, the wisdom that is from above is what? It’s pure, and it’s peaceable. Oh, I tell you, every other kind of wisdom is unsettled, uncertain, there’s something that’s just not right. But if we’re willing to stand, then God is going to help those who wait upon Him and whose trust is in Him.

And trust is like a muscle, isn’t it? You’ve got to use it. You’ve got to develop it. It isn’t some magic thing. Oh, I’ve I got this bundle of, this bunch of trust that’s been dumped into me, and I’m good to go. It is something that we need to exercise.

The very fact that He uses that expression, “…the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” Does that not clearly imply that there are going to be things that come our way that will attack our trust, that will attack our foundation? It will seemingly attack our security, our knowledge, our wisdom, whatever it is, in whatever form this thing comes. If I have got to trust, I’m trusting against something that’s coming against me.

And so, you see the wisdom in the hand of God. You know, the scripture was quoted a while ago, in all things, God works. It doesn’t say in spite of all things either, does it? It says ‘in’ all things. God has a big tool box. Praise God! But it’s a good tool box, and the end is going to be good. But, “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

And what’s His purpose? The purpose is to make us like Him. How many of you are exactly like Him right now, and the job is done? No, if you’re not, and I’m not, then, there’s work yet to be done! And God’s going to do what it takes to bring us, to answer our prayers.

How many of you said, “Oh Lord, I need You. I want to be like You. I want to be more….” Well, praise God! God’s answering your prayer. What are you complaining about? What am I complaining about? But you know, that’s why we need, constantly, we need to be lifting up the Lord Jesus in these simple truths. I mean, they’re real.

You could go down so many lines of thought here, depending on what your issue is. But I’ll tell you, there’s one thing about this foundation that absolutely makes it stand above all else, and that’s the fact that’s it’s not just dealing with time.

This is not just a foundation for life. You know, a lot of people preach a supposed gospel that plants me on a foundation that leads to prosperity and health and blessing, and I can triumph! I can be the head and not the tail! But they’re thinking in earthly terms. They’re thinking of me succeeding in life and becoming rich and powerful and comfortable and all those kinds of things.

My God, all that would do would be to feed the flesh and to feed that old nature. God can bless if that’s what He wants. But I’ll tell you, when we start using that in a prideful, self-centered way, that’s working exactly against what He has set out to do. But He has given us a foundation that will stand regardless of what happens.

And here’s the thing, it doesn’t stop with this life! It brings us through this life, but it brings us all the way to eternity! It will never give way! This whole world will burn up! When God’s through with it, when the whole program is done, this world is going to be burned up with fire. This whole creation will be done away and replaced with one, “…wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (KJV). But this foundation will endure through that transition. It will take us safely all the way. Praise God! Praise God!

How many of you need to be encouraged today? I certainly do. We’re in those places right now where we need to be reminded where we stand! And if you’re feeling defeated, if you’re feeling dismayed today, you need to stop and check up and say, what am I trusting in?

What am I listening to? Am I listening to that record that’s playing in my head and believing it, just because it feels that way or it looks that way? I need to go back to the Word of God and say, wait a minute. God has said this, and I don’t care what I feel.

Like Ron said when he came in this morning, I don’t care what I feel like. I’m going to worship God because He’s real, and He’s right. And God blessed that, didn’t He? Yes, He did. I’ll tell you, faith has to be exercised against all of the things that rise up to challenge it.

And there is a God who will strengthen us. We’re going to find that there’s virtue that flows into us. It’s not a matter of looking for a feeling or trying to achieve this high like some people are looking for. But it’s just simply to be able to walk, to put one foot in front of the other and say, God, I’m on this journey, but You’re here with me. And I don’t care what happens, You have planted my feet on solid ground.

And we can say like David, “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” (KJV). Though the sea roar…I can’t remember the exact quotation, but it’s in Psalm 46, I think.

But oh, I’ll tell you what. There is a confidence that God wants to build in you and me. But there’s a practical side to that where God wants us to get up every morning and look to Him, and say, God, You’ve got this day. You are my strength, whatever I face today. Lord, You have planted my feet on a rock. You have planted my feet upon a rock that no devil in hell can assail.

And because I stand upon that rock, I stand in the victory of the One who planted that, Who is that Rock. My Master sits on a throne. Every devil that assails me is defeated. And I sit there with Him. I occupy that place. I have the right to sit there and not be intimidated by any devil that talks to me, any circumstance. I can look them in the eye and say devil, you were defeated, and I stand in His victory. I don’t have to listen to you. I don’t have to be afraid.

Every one of us is assaulted by fear, are we not? Yeah, that’s just a common condition among human beings! But God has brought us to a place where we do not have to give in to fear. We don’t have to listen to the voices that tell me, that tell us, you’re no good. No matter how hard you try, you’ll never make it. Look at somebody else. They’re doing fine, and look at you, and look at what you’re feeling, and look at all the stuff you’re facing. You’re just defeated.

What do we do when that happens? Do we rise up and go back to the foundation and go back to the Word of God and say, God, You have planted my feet? You’ve given me a source of knowledge and wisdom this world does not know anything about. And You’ve told me that You will bring me to a place where I do not have to be dismayed by what happens. It doesn’t matter what happens.

I don’t have to look at that and feel, oh my God, it’s all over, I’m defeated. We can rise up and say in the name of Jesus, Devil, I take my stand. Whether God dumps a bunch of feelings in my heart right now or not, I am the one that’s on top here, and I’m not on top because I’m anything. You can point to some of my failures. I have the privilege, because of this foundation, of standing on it and saying, oh, God, I need You.

Lord, I see this thing that I did, this thing that I allowed in my life. But I have the privilege the moment I’m aware of it to bring it to Your feet. And the Word says, You are, “…faithful and just to forgive…and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I don’t have to labor under the guilt of sin. I have a place I can go.

“There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emanuel’s veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains.” You don’t have to go on in the guilt and the sense of failure! Look at what I did and the Devil’s just beating you over the head with what you did and what you are and all of those things.

My God, we have the right to stand up and come to Him with confidence. We didn’t build this foundation! It’s not as though I did it, and it’s just not quite good enough! He did it, and it’s perfect.

So, there are really two questions morning. The first question, are you on that foundation to begin with? Have you ever let go of your own life and realized the futility of everything else?

Has God ever revealed what He has done through His Son, the foundation that’s been laid that gives you a place to stand with confidence that God is with you in this world, and that when one day you stand before Him, you’re going to stand there in righteousness? You’re going to stand there with joy, with glory, with brightness of being?

We can’t even imagine what we’re going to be! That’s what John says. We don’t know what we’ll be, but we know we’ll be like Him. And when we get there, we’re not going to say, boy, look what I did. We’re going to say, thank You, Lord. If He gives us a crown, we’re going to throw that crown down at His feet and say, You are worthy. Lord, I’m here because of what You did. There are no grounds for pride in my being here. I’m here because I put my trust in One who is absolutely able to save me completely, because I come to God through Him.

Some people try to come to God, but they want to come because of who they are and what they’ve done. Or they want to mix in their own philosophy and say, I’ve got this. I’ve got my own version. There’s only one foundation. God has laid it. So, the question is, are you on it?

But if you are on it, thank God. But are we really enjoying, in a practical sense, the benefits. That’s where we need to come to this place and nurture that quality and go to God for the strength to learn to trust, because if we are really trusting in Him and in the One who has laid this foundation, there is never, ever a reason to face whatever the Devil throws and be dismayed by it.

Being dismayed means I’m defeated. I’m just not up to this. I have no answer for this situation. Our answer is, God, I’m in Your hands. God, You are in charge. Lord, You’re going to accomplish something in this that has eternal value. There’s a sense of purpose in my life! This is not just random stuff happening! God is in control, and He loves me! And I am trusting, I’m standing on that! I’m going to plant my feet on this and trust You, and I know You’re going to bring me safely through.

You can look through the pages of this book and see people who have done that, and it came out okay, didn’t it? There’s not a single one who would look down from above and say, “Don’t listen to that. That’s a bunch of junk. I trusted in Him, and look where it got me. I didn’t get anywhere.”

They’re going to say, “You listen. God took me through hell on earth, in some cases, but it was worth everything to put my trust in One who cannot fail instead of putting my trust in the lies of this world and the god of this world.” Praise God!

So, where are you at today? Are you really enjoying the benefits of this awesome foundation that God has laid? Let’s just put our trust in Him today, and rest in Him. “The one who trusts will never be dismayed.” That’s an awesome promise, isn’t it? Praise God!

CONFORMATION AND TRANSFORMATION
by C. Parker Thomas

(Editor’s note: This article was originally published in the March-April 1973 issue of the Midnight Cry Messenger.)

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Rom. 12:1-2.

Let us consider these two words and their significance in the order given here.

Conformation
The Greek word for conform is “suschematizo,” (soos-khay-mat-id-zo). It means to fashion alike, i.e., conform to the same pattern (fig.) conform to, fashion self according to.

Apart from the Greek definition, it is quite obvious from the text itself that Paul simply meant for us to not be like the world of mankind who is not motivated by the Spirit of God. Conformation is doing whatever is considered proper and right by the society or environment in which you live. Sometimes it is on a worldwide scale. Sometimes it is national, sectional, or an even smaller segment of society. It could be social, educational, economic, political, or religious.

Very often conformation is following the lead and doing as others do because it is popular with those whose favor you desire. An example of this is found in John 12:42-43. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Like the Jews in Christ’s day, it is often outward show because we cannot bear the reproach of being different from the crowd. In some cases it is true conviction (although in error) because you have been convinced in your mind to believe it is proper and right.

Regardless of the manifestation of world conformity, it is the result of external influences brought upon us by our own base nature and the society in which we live. It is a way of life, not based upon divine principle revealed by God’s Spirit through his word, but rather what men are thinking, saying and doing.

So often we think of world conformity as motion pictures, style of dress, hair-dos, makeup, drinking and running with the crowd. And beyond doubt there is an excess that Satan leads society into in these things that does not glorify God. At the same time I believe there is an extreme in the other direction that is equally inspired of Satan. An example of this is the roving bands of hippie type youth with their long hair, weird sloppy dress, rebellion against society, and irresponsible way of life. Many of these are supposedly becoming “Jesus followers.” In the same way many of the idolatrous practices of imperial Rome were brought over into the Church upon their merger, much of the hippie style, language and way of life has been made a part of today’s religious youth movement.

Although many adopt these things thinking they are becoming true non-conforming followers of Jesus, they are actually as guilty of conformation as the society they condemn. Most of them are simply conforming to a way of life they have been taught to believe is nonconformist.

In fact much that men believe and practice in religion — including nominal Christianity — is world conformity. This includes their traditional creeds, doctrines, ordinances, religious forms and experiences. They believe in and practice their particular brand of religion because it was given to them by tradition from their Church fathers. I Peter 1:18, Matt. 15:1-3. Gal. 1:11-16. Col. 2:8.

What man comes to believe and practice becomes to him the truth and everyone else must bow or be damned. Invariably he becomes intolerant toward anything outside his own camp and will resist change as much as the Scribes and Pharisees did.

Although the Jew’s religion began with a true revelation from God, it had degenerated into self-righteous legalism with emphasis on the external rather than inward. In simple language they were putting on a self-righteous show. Jesus thoroughly describes their condition in Matt. 23.

Like the Pharisees we can have the outward appearance of righteousness with a heart that is unchanged. Religion without a changed heart is most delusive and intolerant. Jesus would be again condemned and killed by this religious spirit.

Although it was the truth that Jesus spoke that made manifest the wickedness of their hearts, they usually pointed to something outward that he did to condemn him. They thought it was terrible that he ate and drank with publicans and sinners and even accused him of being a winebibber and a glutton. Mark 2:15-17. Luke 7:33-34. On another occasion they condemned him for letting a poor, obviously fallen woman touch him. Luke 7:36-39. They were blind to the mercy, grace, truth and love he manifested toward the weak, sick, sinful and despised.

It is my conviction the more we emphasize externals, the more Pharisees we will produce today. Such preaching not only produces Pharisees but it taints the saints with a legalistic, self-righteous spirit. It is possible for Christians to be spoiled by such teaching even though they are in Christ themselves. Col. 2:8. Christians can be brought to the place where all their preaching has to be spiced with legalism or their special pet doctrine. Their spiritual digestive system becomes so adjusted to it until they despise anything very different. Many of the “love everybody, everything” groups are just as guilty. Their conformity simply goes in the opposite direction.

Deliverance from this type of world (religious) conformity is more needed than deliverance from the opium dens of Hong Kong. The drug addict often realizes he needs help. The religious addict that doesn’t know Christ is deluded and feels no need of deliverance.

Transformation
The word transformed, as used in Rom. 12:2, in the Greek is “metamorphoo” (met-am-or-fo-o). It means to transform, (lit. or fig.) change or transfigure. It could refer to passing from one form or shape into another. An example is the butterfly that goes from the larva state to the beautiful creature that finally bursts the prison of its cocoon. This, of course, is a physical process of nature. The transformation that Paul had reference to is accomplished by a renewal of our minds. It is a spiritual transformation that causes us to think, talk and act differently from the world.

This is the change that God wants, and it starts from within. It begins with the new birth of the Spirit that Jesus spoke of in John, chapters 1 and 3. Paul called it circumcision of the heart in Rom. 2:28-29 and the washing of regeneration in Titus 3:5.

This transformation or change must and will continue as we walk in the light of God’s word and behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. John 8:31-32. II Cor. 3:18. The ultimate of this transformation is to be made like Jesus. But this is a process also with time and means involved.

Someone will say, “If people get right on the inside there will be a change on the outside.” Maybe not as much as we would think. According to Paul in I Cor. 3, it is possible for Christians to be such spiritual babes that they walk as men. If the outward change were as complete and thorough as some contend, there would be no room for growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:2, II Peter 3:18.

If this concept were entirely true, there would be no need of the ministry nor the Church to enable us to “…grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Eph. 4:11-15.

This growing up into him — or transformation — will result in our being more concerned about men’s hearts than their outward appearance. Transformation on our part will enable us to communicate with many that we would otherwise censure and condemn.

Paul said, “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” I Cor. 9:19-23.

This spirit and attitude of Paul’s and also our Lord Jesus Christ was completely opposite from the holier-than-thou attitude of the legalistic Pharisees. Their self-righteous spirit kept them busy condemning and finding fault with those they should be trying to help. When religion fixes us where we can’t mingle and communicate with those who desire and need help, we have, at the very least, been spoiled. Col. 2:8

Being made all things to all men didn’t mean Paul became a drunkard to win the drunkards. Neither did he become a gambler, whoremonger or thief to win that type of humanity. It simply means he did not self-righteously look down on and separate himself from anyone he might be able to help. He had the grace to love people regardless of their moral or religious state.

Jesus could sit down and eat with sinners and the hated publican while the scribes and Pharisees could not. He could receive and speak kindly to a harlot whom the Pharisees wanted to stone. He could also attend a wedding party and provide more wine when their supply ran out.

The spirit of the Pharisee and the conformist is still alive in our religious world today. They would condemn and crucify Jesus again if he were here. And the more like him we become the more they will hate and condemn us.

How Accomplished
Transformation, although it begins with the new birth, is a progressive work that is accomplished by the renewing of our minds. When Jesus spoke of continuing in his word that we might know the truth and be set free, he had reference to this progressive renewal of our minds. John 8:31-32. This is also what he meant in John 17:17 where he said “Sanctify them through thy truth: Thy word is truth.”

This same principle is also brought out in II Peter 1:2-9. Verse 2 speaks of grace and peace being multiplied unto us THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE of God and of Jesus our Lord. Let me emphasize how this grace and peace is multiplied unto us. It is through the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. Knowledge means to KNOW. We come into possession of knowledge as God reveals his word to us by his Spirit. This results in the renewing of our minds by which we are transformed.

Verse 3 says all things that pertain unto life and godliness are given to us by divine power THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM that hath called us to glory and virtue. Once again let’s note that it is THROUGH KNOWLEDGE that all things pertaining to life and godliness are given to us.

Verse 4 defines this knowledge as EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES. And it further states that it is BY THESE we are made partakers of the divine nature. The divine nature is simply God’s nature, God’s Spirit, or the Spirit of Christ.

God’s Spirit is ministered to us by faith according to Gal. 3:2-5. How do we get faith? Rom. 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Rom. 5:1-5 gives us a beautiful picture of the step by step order by which this transformation is accomplished.

The first step is justification by faith which brings peace with God. This, of course, is the new birth, regeneration or circumcision of the heart, which we have already mentioned.

The second step or phase is a victory which causes us to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. As in justification it is through faith we have access into this place of victory or rejoicing.

The third phase of transformation enables us to enter a door of victory not mentioned in the first two and, I might add, not experienced by very many Christians. It is a victory that enables us to glory in tribulations. The reason given for our ability to glory in tribulations is because we KNOW the divine purpose for the tribulation. That purpose is patience, a virtue most needed by God’s people. Without it we can’t accomplish very much as Christians. Like little children, the Lord can’t trust us with very great things.

Once this patience has been worked in us, the Lord begins to manifest himself to us in a more definite way. Paul calls it experience which leads to an even greater hope. This hope becomes such that we become totally unashamed of Christ and the gospel as the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. This could be called the fourth or fifth phase.

This is a progressive picture of transformation that leads us to the place where God can manifest himself to us. Let’s not forget that the purpose of this transformation by the renewal of our minds is that we might “prove [know] what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2.

Jesus stated the same truth in John 14:21-23. Those who have his word and keep or obey it are the ones that love him. Those who love him will be loved by the Father and he will manifest himself to them.

The transforming work of the Spirit is not accomplished through some mystical experience apart from God’s word. This is the vehicle through which the Spirit is ministered to us. Truth and Spirit are inseparable. In John 14:17 and 16:13 Jesus specifically calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth.

Too long the wrong emphasis has caused multitudes to think that some great, phenomenal, spine-tingling experience is what we need to fix us up.

By nature man is prone to despise the simple in his quest for God and righteousness. The truth is, he wants a quick way that eliminates the necessity of daily taking up his cross and becoming a true disciple (learner) of Jesus Christ.

This explains why so many are flocking to all sorts of meetings today that emphasize the supernatural. This includes much of the charismatic movement, spiritualism, witchcraft, and the supposedly great healing campaigns. Many simple, unbelieving souls are looking for some great man of God to lay his magic hands on them and, presto, they think the work will be done.

I have to say what Paul said to the church at Corinth. “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” II Cor. 11:3.

This corruption of minds is what we find has happened to much of our religious world. The renewal of our minds that Paul speaks of is necessary to undo the work of corruption that has been wrought by deception, some of which we do not question because it has been handed down to us by religious tradition. This being the climactic day of strong delusion when men are being turned over to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, the corruption of human minds is even greater. II Thess. 1:1-12. I Tim. 4:1.

The transformation that we must have is effected by the renewal of our minds which causes us to see, think and act differently from what we have known in the past. True revelation from the throne above will wash away the corruption of error and accomplish this renewing of our minds. No presto experience, however great, will suddenly transform us into spiritual giants.

It is a step-by-step and day-by-day process as we open our hearts and minds to the searchlight of God’s word. As we do, our minds will be renewed, our lives transformed, and we will enter a new dimension of spiritual reality and service.