As any builder knows, there are two stages in the process of laying a foundation.

1. Excavation of the site
2. Laying the foundations

Excavation:

The local council will not let you pour concrete over topsoil, fill or any unstable ground. This must be scraped off so that the footings and slab are supported by solid, stable sub-strata. Jesus goes a step further He says, On this ROCK I will build my ekklesia, i.e. called out ones.

This scripture in Matthew 15 has long been debated. This is what God has shown me... Sorry Catholics... Peter is not the Rock. Neither is the proclamation that Jesus is the Son of God. All Christians proclaim this but time has revealed that many are unstable, their lives founded on sand. Peter received direct revelation from God� that is the Rock! If one can hear God's voice; If one can receive revelation and guidance direct from the Holy Spirit, if we surrender to Him and obey Him� then our life is founded on the Rock.

God showed me a vision of a school playground with all its entertainment paraphernalia. Then all this was bulldozed off leaving a bare, barren surface. God said, Give Me a piece of bare ground.

God's purpose in the wilderness experience is two fold. Firstly, the wilderness is a bulldozer to clear our lives of the traditions, theologies, the hireling school teachers, the entertainment paraphernalia, the jungle gyms of the Babylonian church system. Out in the wilderness it is bare and barren and quiet. There is just you and God and your every day life. God's second purpose among His wilderness people is to bring then into an intimate, personal relationship with Himself, whereas Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me.

God's present rhema word is incredibly powerful. It spoke creation into existence! It creates, heals, convicts, � the Holy Spirit will guide into all truth, even tell you things which are to come. To be led by the Spirit of God is to become a son in His family. To attain to this relationship is to be founded on the Rock.

Laying the Foundation:

God sees His people as being a spiritual house made up of living stones - 1 Peter 2. Peter makes it clear that Jesus is the tested stone, the precious corner stone, of a sure foundation, as predicted in Isaiah 28.

Jesus was the first to come into this perfect relationship with God. He was the first to be revealed (at His baptism) as God's Son. He was the first stone, the cornerstone laid in the foundation of God's house.

God WILL have a foundation of people laid on the Rock of relationship with Himself. A pioneer if you like, following the Jesus path of self-denial, surrender and obedience. Foundation stones will be squared up so that they fit tightly together in their proper place in the foundation. And the whole foundation will take its line and form from the Chief Cornerstone. This speaks of purity, stability and unity.

Already we are seeing among those God is preparing in the wilderness, a networking, a joining and fitting together. People are starting to find their place and their function in God's house of Living Stones. There is a beautiful unity of understanding, vision and purpose coming forth. It may seem early days, it may seem sparse and scattered, but it is happening and that is great cause for encouragement.

God's speaking and leading and joining in the wilderness speaks of the promised path, the feeding, the waters in the desert to give drink to My people, My chosen. - Isaiah 43

It speaks of the peace in knowing who you are and where you are going and gives a taste of the fruit to come. God said in Ezekiel, I will establish one Shepherd over them (Jesus) and He shall feed them. One Shepherd, one Spirit, one vision, one purpose� unity.

On the negative side, there are many people whom God has called out of Babylon who seem lost, wandering in circles. I believe they are being double-minded. They have heard God say, Come out but aren't prepared to throw out the former things . In other words, they are still clinging to the traditions, theologies, and past revivals of Babylon. If we are bowed down by a huge load of Babylonian baggage then we cannot progress forward nor see the way ahead.

God seems to be taking a hands off approach to these people. What else can He do but wait till they tire of their compromised, confused lives and single mindedly seek to hear and obey only Him. As God has said, No stone shall be taken from Babylon for a foundation. I hope and pray this message will help some get back on God's path.