1. And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

2. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

3. And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

4. And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

5. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

Alright. Go with us to Numbers twenty. Numbers twenty. We’re going to look at verse one through verse thirteen. When we have it, say amen. Reader.

1. Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

2. And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3. And the people chided with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD!

4. And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?

5. And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

6. And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.

7. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

8. Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.

9. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

10. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?

11. And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.

12. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

Verse twelve again.

12. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

13. This is the water of Meribah, because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

Let us pray.

Father, we thank You and we praise You tonight for Your Word, for Your goodness, for Your mercy, Your love, and Your kindness. We thank You, Lord, that where You lead us we will follow. And Lord, we submit ourselves to the Word of God tonight. Lord, I thank You for anointing me to preach the Word. And I thank You for Your people being anointed to hear Your Word tonight. Hide Your son behind the cross, that Your people would see and hear You only and not me. And dear Lord, as I decrease, I humbly ask that You would increase. Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. In Jesus’ Name.

And the people of God said amen. If I would entitle this message tonight, it will be, “Jesus, the Rock.” Jesus, the Rock.

Rocks are made of minerals. And minerals (glory to God) are made of chemicals, either a single chemical or a combination of chemicals. And when we look at rocks, we divide them in three different (glory to God) categories. We have the igneous rock. We also have the sedimentary rock. And we also have (glory to God) the metamorphic rock.

When we look at the igneous rock, it’s made because of the heat that’s in the depths of the earth. It comes up in the form of lava, and it spills over. And when it’s hardened, it’s called igneous rock.

We also have (glory to God) the sedimentary rock. Now, this rock is picked up rock that has fallen down from the mountain, and it has also been formed into sand. And it falls into rivers and into streams. And over millions and millions of years it becomes sedimentary rock. Even in sedimentary rock you will find fossils, and you’ll find plants, because the dead plants and the dead animals (glory to God), they begin to form into the rock.

Next we have the metamorphic rock. Now, the metamorphic rock (glory to God) is a rock that has been changed. When we look at the word “meta” and we look at the word “mor,” they are Greek terms that come to mean “transformation.” Amen, somebody.

But tonight we’re not talking about igneous rock. And we’re not talking about sedimentary rock. And we’re not talking about metamorphic rock. Because the Rock that was there with the children of Israel was a Rock of our salvation. And His Name is above every name. His Name is Jesus. His Name is Alpha, Omega, the Beginning and the End. Somebody give God praise in this place.

When you look over here, we have rocks. And we take rocks for granted, because we can just pick them up. We remember even as children we picked up rocks and stones. And (glory to God) we tossed them. But we have to understand the significance of rocks.

Even David when he went to defeat Goliath, the Bible said he picked up five smooth stones (glory to God) and began to put them in his pouch. When we look at those five stones, they represent the five-fold ministry, the apostle, the prophet, the pastor, the evangelist, and the teacher. I’m not going to get too many amens.

You see, God is trying to get us to the place where we understand that we have got to look at the Rock a different way. Because even Jesus said, “If you don’t praise Me, these very rocks are going to cry out in My Name.” I don’t know about you, but I love God, and I came to preach tonight. Give God praise all over this place. Oh, Glory to God.

In Exodus chapter seventeen (glory to God), here we have the children of Israel. And the Bible said that they are chiding against Moses. In other words, they were murmuring and complaining because they were thirsty. Have you ever seen somebody that’s thirsty? All they do is murmur and complain. They become irritated (glory to God).

But God wanted to prove who He was even in the wilderness. And so God gave Moses instruction. And God told them not to take the children of Israel, but take the elders of Israel with him (glory to God), that he may smote the rock, and that the waters would come out of the rock and be able to quench their thirst.

And I began to ask God, “Why did You only take the elders (glory to God), those that were the leaders, the first time?” And God began to speak to me that He began to part the Red Sea (glory to God) way back in Egypt. But if there was any doubt in their mind that He was still God, He wanted every ounce of doubt out of the way. Oh, you going to work me tonight, but I’m going to preach anyhow.

And so God gave him instruction. And God told him to take his rod the first time. And let me see that. And told him to smite the rock. And the Bible said when Moses smote the rock (glory to God) that the water came rushing out of the rock. And it was enough not only to quench their thirst, but to quench the thirst of the cattle. Oh, my God. Come on, somebody. Because our God is a God of more than enough. Don’t you know He will supply any one of your needs? I don’t care what your need is tonight, God’s got the answer. Give Him praise all over this place.

And so what happens is (glory to God) he follows instruction. The reason why I know that Jesus was that Rock is because in First Corinthians ten, in verse one through verse four . . . You can turn there if you want to, but this is what it says. Paul said:

1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock (come on, somebody) that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

Oh, do you hear what I’m saying? He was a miracle worker then, and He’s a miracle worker right now. You need Him to turn your water into wine? He’s a . . . Oh, my God, in this house.

That Rock was Christ. So that’s why it was very important that he follow directions. You see, people of God, it’s very important that you learn how to follow instruction. Because if you don’t follow instruction, I’m going to show you in a minute what’s going to happen.

So here we are now in the book of Numbers. I told you I wasn’t going to keep you long, but you got to get what you’ve got to get. And they have the same situation that they had over in the book of Exodus. Is there anybody here that went through something a while ago, and now you’re going through the same thing that you went through? Somebody say, “It’s a time of testing.”

So here we have the children of Israel in the same situation, the same body that they had, the same tongue, and so therefore, they had the same thirst. Do you hear what I’m saying tonight? And so now they’re in a predicament again, because there is no moisture. There is no water. They have nothing to drink.

And so as it goes again, as God is testing them, they don’t remember the last time that God brought the water out of the rock, so they start doing the same thing that they used to do. Can anybody tell me what they started doing? They started murmuring. They started complaining. They started acting like God wasn’t God.

And then God spoke to Moses all over again. And God told Moses, “Gather the assembly of the congregation back together again.” But this time God spoke specifically to Moses. He said, “This time I don’t want you to smote the rock.” He said, “This time I want you to speak to the rock.”

You see, you’re in the season where you got to learn how to speak to the rock. You got to learn how to speak to the rock. You got to have a relationship with the Rock. You got to have communication with the Rock. You got to have a prayer life with the Rock. You got to know the Rock for yourself. Give Him praise all over this place.

And so here we have Moses. And Moses is upset. Don’t you know if you let people upset you, it may make you miss your blessing? I came to preach tonight. I don’t know who I’m talking to, but I’m talking to somebody in here. Don’t you know you can let people make you miss your blessing?

So God spoke to Moses. God said, “This time,” He said, “I don’t want you to smite the rock.” He said, “I want you to speak to the rock.” But Moses had gotten so frustrated and aggravated and irritated. Oh, my God. It’s all the “ated’s” isn’t it? And so instead of doing what God told him to do, Moses . . . he smote the rock again. And then to put it in God’s face, he didn’t smite it one time. He smote it twice. And God spoke this word, “Because you didn’t sanctify me in the eyes of the people, you’re not going to see the promised land.” You can’t afford to allow people to make you miss your blessing.

I got a word for somebody. There’s a word in the house. You see, you went through it the last time, but you’ve got to know how to go back through it this time. You were thirsty last time, and God gave you water to drink. But now you find yourself in another chapter, and you’re thirsty all over again.

You got to remember that He’s the same God yesterday, today, and forevermore. The Bible says that He never changes. He’s always the same. But you’ve got to know Him for yourself. You’ve got to know that God is a way-maker. You’ve got to know that God is a burden-bearer. You’ve got to know that God’s a mind-regulator when you’ve been going through so long, and the devil playing tricks with your mind. Cast down, cast down. Stay with me. Cast down, cast down, cast down every imagination and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring it to captivity, every thought to the obedience of Christ.

God’s talking to somebody tonight. You’ve been waiting on a miracle. But it seems the miracle just won’t come. Look to the hills from whence cometh your help. Your help cometh from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Lift up your hands. Wave your hands to the Lord. He’s here for you tonight. Call His Name. Call His Name. Call His Name. Call His Name. Call His Name. Give God praise. Hallelujah. Hallelujah, somebody. Hallelujah.

He told Moses, He said, “You need to speak to the rock.” And God is saying to the saints, “You need to learn how to speak to the rock.” Because let me tell you what God showed me. He said, “Every time you murmur, and every time you complain, and every time you doubt, and every time you get upset, you become just like Moses, and you start smiting the rock all over again, because you’re saying the Rock ain’t real. You’re saying the Rock ain’t going to come through. You’re saying the Rock can’t do it. All things are possible with God. Give God praise all over this place tonight. Hallelujah.

Is there anybody here that loves Jesus? Is there anybody here that loves my Jesus? Is there anybody here? Is there anybody here? Say “Yeah.” Say “Yeah.” Say “Yeah.” Oh, shout “Yeah.” Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

It’s time for us to stop hitting the rock. It’s time for us to stop smiting the rock. It’s time for us to stop always wanting our way. It’s time for us to stop getting a bad attitude. It’s time for us to start believing God. It’s time for us to call upon the Name of the Lord. It’s time for us to lift up holy hands, without wrath and doubting, knowing He that began a good work in you is faithful to perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. He hasn’t forgot about you. He hasn’t left you. He’s right here. He’s right here tonight. Give God a handclap of praise. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

With all the different types of rocks that there are in the world, He’s the rock of ages, that cleft for me. I learned how to hide myself in Thee. When things are going wrong, I can hide in Jesus. When things are not going my way, I can hide in Jesus. When things don’t look right, I can hide in Jesus. I know He’s my rock. I know He’s my fortress. I know He’s my friend. Somebody say “Yeah.” Somebody say “Yeah.” Hallelujah.

See, we thought that Scripture was just for leaders, because Moses was a great leader. But that Scripture is for all of us. Because every now and then we all smite the rock. Every now and then we all get angry. Every now and then we all say, “God, You ain’t right.” Every now and then we say, “God, You’re a respecter of persons.”

But take the rod out of your hand, and wave your hands to the Lord. Put your heart in your hand. Say, “Here I am, Lord. Here I am, Lord. Here I am, Lord.” Here I am, Lord. I’m right here. I’m right here. Hallelujah. Thank You, Jesus. I’m right here, Jesus. You said I can call upon You, and You will answer me. Show me great and mighty things that I don’t know about.

The Bible said in Romans that He became a stumbling block, a rock of offense. It also talks about in the book of First Peter how He was a stumbling block. He become the stumbling block to those that don’t believe. He becomes a rock of offense to those that don’t surrender. Because you can’t move the rock the way you want to move Him. He’s too much for us. He’s took big for us.

But I don’t know about you. There are some things I needed to repent of. Because I found myself smiting the rock. Because things may not have worked out the way that I wanted them to work out, or things may not have happened as quickly as I desired them to happen. But then I had to shake myself and know that He’s sovereign, that He alone is God.

And there’s some folk in here tonight, teenagers, adults, all over this house, you need to just shake yourself. If He can take care of the sparrows, surely . . . Somebody say, “Surely He can take care of us.” I thank Him tonight that He’s my Rock, and He’s my Fortress.

It takes millions of years for certain rocks to develop. But I’m glad the Rock that we serve was here from the beginning. Psalms seventy-eight even talks about the children of Israel and how God wanted to be that Rock. He wants to be the Rock in your life tonight, if you let Him. Yeah. He wants to be the Rock in your life.