If you have watched any of the political news coverage you have probably heard every candidate declare that they are for Change.  After listening to them I’m not sure what they want to change, or if their changes are good for our country, but they want you to know that are here to change things! 

            What I would like to see happen is a powerful change in the spiritual temperature in all of us in the United States.  I was reading in Matthew where John the Baptist was preaching and there was a conversation about change:

Matt 3:7-9

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance,
9 and do not think to say to yourselves,' We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

            My attention was drawn to the last sentence: “God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”  I was reminded of a similar phrase when the Pharisees wanted Jesus to stop the multitude from crying out “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.”

Luke 19:39-40

39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."
40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out." 

            If the men and women stopped giving praise to Jesus as the Messiah, then Jesus said the stones would immediately cry out.  There is a message in the stones.

God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

"If these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

           There is a story to be told and it is found in the stones.

           The first truth seen in these stones is about the hardness of heart that is found in those who do not respond to Christ.

            The Pharisees who came to hear John the Baptist preach were not there because they were impressed with John or his message.  They may have come because they were curious, or jealous, or to accuse him, but they were not repentant!

            John’s response to their presence seems very harsh, calling someone a “brood of vipers” is not endearing language, but John wanted to get there attention.  Those who have hardened their hearts toward God often have no concept of how serious their condition is!  When we look into the Old Testament at Pharaoh and the result of hardening his heart toward God we can see that it is SERIOUS!

Ex 9:34

34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants.

            The ultimate result of Pharaoh hardening his heart was severe damage to the crops and the economy of Egypt, the death of all the first born sons of Egypt, and the destruction of the Egyptian army as they attempted to cross the Red Sea after Israel!  Hardening your heart toward God is HAZARDOUS! 

            David wrote a Psalm which warned Israel about hardening their hearts, and in the Psalm he reminds them of the result of Israel’s hard heart when they reluctantly followed God to the Promised Land.

Ps 95
7 … Today, if you will hear His voice:
8 Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion as in the day of trial in the wilderness,
10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation, and said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, and they do not know My ways.'

           You would think that Israel would understand the danger of hardening their hearts; they had seen what had happened in Egypt!  But for forty years they complained about how hard their lives had become while they followed God.  They didn’t like the food, they didn’t have enough water, they didn’t like Moses, and they were afraid of the giants and the walled cities in Palestine!  In all of this they hardened their hearts and disobeyed God.  The result was that generation died without crossing into the Promised Land.  Ouch!

            Perhaps after Christ came, men and women would not hardened their hearts!

Acts 19:9

9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, (Paul) departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

            It’s such a human malady!  When someone offers grace and forgiveness … when joy and peace are available … when healing and deliverance are offered … there are always some who harden their heart with a spirit of unbelief!  Those Paul preached to, not only hardened their hearts but they also spoke evil of the Way!  So Paul removed himself and the disciples from their presence and continued teaching the Word of God.  Having a hard heart doesn’t draw us close to the presence of God!

            The second truth seen in the stones is about the power of God to touch stony hearts, to change them, and make into a softened heart of flesh.

            One of the great stories of transformation in the Old Testament is the story of Jacob.  He plotted to steal his brother’s inheritance; he lied to his father, and ran for his life!  On his way back home he finally called on God. 

Genesis 32

24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.

25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.

26 And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"

27 So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob."

28 And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel (Prince with God); for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

29 Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there.

            Dealing with the hardened places in your heart is often much like a wrestling match.  God wants to change us, we want to be changed, but we want to hold onto our own way.  We bargain, we deal, we run, we hide, we are exposed to God, we cry, and hopefully … we give in to God and let Him transform our life!

           Often in the middle of all of this it feels as if God is attempting to kill us!  But what He is attempting to do is kill the sin that controls us!  Jacob knew the answer to his dilemma was to obtain the blessing of God.  God wanted Jacob to know there would be no blessing until Jacob’s nature was changed!   You can’t be what you used to be!  You can’t be Jacob any longer, you can’t be the cheat and the liar … you are called to a higher place!  You are now a Prince of God!  Transformation!

           What is your name?  Where is the hardness of your heart?  God’s business is to change our hearts!  Join the wrestling match … and then give in!  Be transformed!

            Everyone who has ever allowed God to use them has had a wrestling match with God.  With King David it was after his sin with Bathsheba, with Peter it was after he denied ever knowing Jesus, with Paul it was after he saw a bright light on the road to Damascus.  God has a wrestling match planned for everyone who has a hard heart … and His goal is to bless you!

            The third truth seen in the stones is about the miraculous wonder of God’s power to work in our impossible situations and bring about wonderful results.

            Nothing is impossible with God.  Whether it is your spirit, your soul, or your body … nothing is impossible with God.  Look at the story in the Old Testament of Moses when he struck the rock and God had it pour out water in the desert.

Ex 17:6

6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

            In a desert with no water near them, no rain in the clouds in sight, and everyone is thirsty … God supplied water from a rock! 

            We all need to know is there is water in the stony places of life.  When things look hard; when the answers are not available; our God specializes in pouring out blessing when things seem to be covered with stones.

            When we up against a struggle of impossibilities.  With God all things are possible. 

      In the Rock there is water to refresh your weary soul.

      In the Rock there are children of Abraham who will serve God faithfully.

      In the Rock there is praise to the Lord on high!

            Jesus is the Rock in a weary land.

1 Cor 10:4

they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.