Cornerstone

At Jesus’ hungriest moment Satan chose to tempt Jesus to command a stone to become bread to eat.

From the moment of His baptism, Jesus was overflowing with the Holy Spirit. He was taken by the Spirit from the Jordan into the lonely wilderness of Judea to experience the ordeal of testing by the accuser for forty days. He ate no food during this time and ended His forty-day fast very hungry. It was then the devil said to Him, “If you are really the Son of God, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread for you.” Jesus replied, “I will not! For it is written in the Scriptures, ‘Life does not come only from eating bread but from God. Life flows from every revelation from his mouth.’”  Luke 4:1-4 TPT

Jesus knew that by giving His life for the many, out of His sacrificial love, that God, His Father, would indue Him with power over death and make Him the chief Cornerstone supporting a living holy temple of believers. The believers choose to follow Him, walk in His ways, and are undeterred by personal cost.  Satan did not want this to happen.  He wanted to short circuit it by appealing to Jesus’ own fleshly instincts of self-preservation.

Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read the Scripture that says: The very stone the builder rejected as flawed has now become the most important capstone of the arch. This was the Lord’s plan— isn’t it a miracle for our eyes to behold?

In this way, through the power of God and Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection, we too can share in the first resurrection as living stones with Jesus in the kingdom realm of God.

Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household. You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 AMPC

Wonderfully blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death holds no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Christ. And they will reign as kings with him a thousand years!  Revelation 20:6 TPT

As much as Satan wants to quelch news of the kingdom, it cannot be torn down because Jesus is the cornerstone.  Jesus Himself declares the stones will cry out on His behalf if His followers are silenced.

Some Jewish religious leaders who stood off from the procession said to Jesus, “Teacher, you must order your followers at once to stop saying these things!” Jesus responded, “Listen to me. If my followers were silenced, the very stones would break forth with praises!”  Luke 19:39-40 TPT

Death truly has been vanquished, believe God’s love for you!

Jesus looked at her and said, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe in me, you will see God unveil his power?” John 11:38-40 TPT

God delights in those who believe and follow…

The steps of the God-pursuing ones follow firmly in the footsteps of the Lord, and God delights in every step they take to follow him.          Psalms 37:23 TPT

Jesus pours out into us, His glory.

The miracle in Cana was the first of the many extraordinary miracles Jesus performed in Galilee. This was a sign revealing His glory, and His disciples believed in him.  John 2:6-11 TPT

Even the ministry that was characterized by chiseled letters on stone tablets came with a dazzling measure of glory, though it produced death. The Israelites couldn’t bear to gaze on the glowing face of Moses because of the radiant splendor shining from his countenance—a glory destined to fade away. Yet how much more radiant is this new and glorious ministry of the Spirit that shines from us! For if the former ministry of condemnation was ushered in with a measure of glory, how much more does the Ministry that Imparts Righteousness far excel in glory. What once was glorious no longer holds any glory because of the increasingly greater glory that has replaced it. The fading ministry came with a portion of glory, but now we embrace the unfading ministry of a permanent impartation of glory. So then, With this Amazing Hope Living In Us, we step out in freedom and boldness to speak the truth. We are not like Moses, who used a veil to hide the glory to keep the Israelites from staring at him as it faded away. Their minds were closed and hardened, for even to this day that same veil comes over their minds when they hear the words of the former covenant. The veil has not yet been lifted from them, for it is only eliminated when one is joined to the Messiah. So, until now, whenever the Old Testament is being read, the same blinding comes over their hearts. But the Moment One Turns to the Lord with an Open Heart, the veil is lifted, and they see. Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom. We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil We All Become Like Mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.                2 Corinthians 3:7-18 TPT

We must pour out the glory we receive in His name as well.

Yes, Jesus!

Flowers of your faithfulness are blooming on the earth. Righteousness shines down from the sky. Yes, the Lord keeps raining down blessing after blessing, and prosperity will drench the land with a bountiful harvest. For deliverance and peace are his forerunners, preparing a path for his steps.  Psalms 85:11-13 TPT

God of Heaven’s Armies, you find so much beauty in your people! They’re like lovely sanctuaries of your presence. How enriched are they who find their strength in the Lord; within their hearts are the highways of holiness! They grow stronger and stronger with every step forward, and the God of all gods will appear before them in Zion. For the Lord God is brighter than the brilliance of a sunrise! Wrapping himself around me like a shield, he is so generous with his gifts of grace and glory. Those who walk along his paths with integrity will never lack one thing they need, for he provides it all! O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what euphoria fills those who forever trust in you!  Psalms 84:1, 5, 7, 11-12 TPT