Psalms 8:1, and 3:1-7a.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Matthew 21. The Mind of the Spirit caught the attention of the spirit of my mind in verses 42-46:

Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Matthew 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

Matthew 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

Matthew 21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Here is what I saw: Jesus is the stone, rejected by the chosen “builders” (Israel), so He rejected them from being the builders of His House (Matthew 21:43). The means by which He builds His House is the Gospel of the Kingdom, and because the chosen “builders” refused the corner stone, He turned the Gospel of the Kingdom over to the Gentiles (Acts 28:27-28). The Gentile believers are now the “builders” commissioned to lead the construction effort.

The “House of God,” a habitation for GOD by His Spirit, is now being constructed by these new “builders.” The material used are the “lively stones” (1 Peter 2:5), which includes all, both Jew and Gentile, who “fall on this stone” (Matthew 21:44). We must understand somone falling on the stone in contrast to the stone falling upon them. Those who fall on the stone are broken, but those upon whom the stone falls are ground to powder (Matthew 21:44). Those who “fall on this stone” are broken to be made part of the building. (The word translated fall is “akin to a word that expresses the idea of lighting upon, as one that is purposely set upon the stone.) But, for those upon whom the stone falls, it’s different. They are crushed to powder. Daniel spoke of this stone falling upon the Gentile nations:

“Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth” (Daniel 2:34-35).

Along the still waters, I reflected on this. Jesus is the stone. God sent Him into the world to be the chief cornerstone of His House that He would build for a habitation of God by His Spirit. In the Old Testament, He dwelt between the cherubim (1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; 2 Kings 19:15; Psalms 80:1; 99:1; Isaiah 37:16; Ezekiel 10:2, 6, 7) in a house made of hands (Exodus 38:21; see Hebrews 9:11). The House He is building now is “not made with hands” (2 Corinthians 5:1), and in this House He dwells in the body of the believer (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20), within the hearts of all who believe on Him (2 Corinthians 1:22; Galatians 4:6).

These “lively stones” are those who come to the stone and “fall” upon it. They surrender to the command to repent and believe on God’s dear Son—the stone sent to the builders. These “lively stones” are believers, broken on the Stone and made part of the House that God is building for His habitation (Matthew 21:44 with 1 Peter 2:5)

The Gospel of the Kingdom is the means by which this House is built, and since the chosen “builders” rejected the stone, God rejected them from building the House. He turned the Gospel of the Kingdom to the Gentiles, whom the Spirit said would receive it (Acts 28:27-28; see 1 Corinthians 3:9-11).

Today, the House is under construction. Lively stones are being gathered by the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom and added to the foundation that has been set: Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone, and the Apostles, complete the foundation (Ephesians 2:19-22).*

Because the chosen “builders” rejected the stone, He turned to other builders (1 Corinthians 3:8-9), the Gentiles. When the “House” is completed, Jesus will be sent to remove us from the earth, to join Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

After the time of the end is fulfilled (This is what Daniel called the prophecies of the rise of “little horn” (the Antichrist) and his brief reign of terror on this planet—Daniel 8:17; 11:40; 12:4, 9), Jesus will prepare His bride to return to Earth (Revelation 19:1-7), and this is when “the Stone” will come crashing down upon the Gentile nations to deliver Israel, and this planet, from the Antichrist and from Satan (Revelation 19:8-20:10).

Both times the “stone” was sent, Jesus defeated Satan. When He was sent into the earth as the cornerstone of the foundation upon which He would build a House for GOD, He liberated mankind from Satan’s power (John 12:31; Matthew 28:18; Romans 10:9-13; Acts 26:18). At the Second Coming, He will destroy those who rejected the Stone and give the world to His builders.

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I thought about those who stumbled at this stumbling stone: it was the Cross. Peter and the rest of the disciples also stumbled on this “rock of offense” (Isaiah 8:14; Romans 9:22; and 1 Peter 2:8). Paul, by the Spirit, called this “the offence of the cross” (Galatians 5:11). My own testimony gives witness. I did “stumble” on this “stone.” I refused it, and rejected it; the cross was “an offence” to me. But then, one day, I suddenly found myself broken upon the very Cross I had so despised.

And now, daily, I welcome the call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I lighted upon the “rock of offence,” and rejoice to be among the “lively stones” set upon this foundation.

We met at the table, and He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed us into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

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