The Lord is my Rock! There is much comfort in knowing God is our ...

Isa 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

The Lord is my Rock! By Richard Crisco

Internet Video: YouTube – Rock of Ages http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7gt_cSxjw Deu 32:3 I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! 4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

God is called the rock 18 times in the Old Testament. God is the rock, for he is in himself immutable immovable, and he is to all that seek him and fly to him an impenetrable shelter, and to all that trust in him an everlasting foundation 2Sa 22:1 David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 He said: "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-- from violent men you save me. …31 "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 32 For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? 33 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. … 47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! (Quoted Psa. 18) Psa 62:5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah Rochester First Assembly’s Core Values:

There is much comfort in knowing God is our Rock: Caves in the sides of mountains were places of safety and protection! (Elements and Enemies) There is comfort in consistency! Heb 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." 6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Mt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Num 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Jas 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Because God is the Same – there are not surprises!

Excellence, Integrity, Family, Worship/Prayer, Servanthood, Outreach/Missions

There are so many uncertainties in this world, but there are no uncertainties in God! He lovingly made plain everything He expects! We do not have to try to figure out some mysteries puzzle! We can take comfort in His Character – that does not change! God is not Moody! Always Loving Exo 34:5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." Exo 20:5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.

Man is fickle and will turn on a dime. He is often tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine. But Jesus is a Rock that is not moved by the wind… but moved the wind! We can have complete confidence and faith in Him because He is totally consistent!!! Rochester First Assembly’s Core Values:

You become like the company you keep: thus, the more time you spend with Jesus, the more stable, solid and consistent you will become! Act 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

We should be… Solid and Consistent in Character! Dependable and Reliable! Loving, Compassionate, Humble, Gracious, Honorable! We should even be predictable like Daniel! Problem: The very thing that Makes God so Wonderful… is the thing that causes Him much trouble: His Consistency! Why? Because we take Constance for granted! Israel did in the desert: Manna Num 11:4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost-also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"


Mat 7:24 "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. 25 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. 26 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. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Mt 21:44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

Rochester First Assembly’s Core Values:
