Click here to download the sermon file.
Re-cap of the sermon from May 3, 2009:
1. God’s instructions to Jacob in 35:1 are, in effect, a rebuke - a call for him to complete the vows he made earlier at Bethel when he was leaving the land (28:20-22). God was admonishing him because he had unfinished business which was keeping him from full obedience.
2. Jacob’s return to Bethel was unwisely delayed by 7-10 years, time which he spent in Succoth in Shechem - an action which put his family in jeopardy.
3. Part of the reason for the delay was the fact that there was idolatry in Jacob’s family. Along with the household idols which Rachel brought back from Paddam Aram were the false gods of the area of Shechem,
4. We must be careful about divided allegiance. God’s Spirit jealously desires to have our full devotion. (James 4:4-6).
5. A. W. Pink wisely said: “The moral is evident: spiritual neglect and trifling with temptation can issue only in evil and disaster. Let us not neglect God’s house, nor delay to keep His commandments.”
Monday, May 04, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A Family In Crisis, Part 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of April 26, 2009:
1. Genesis 34 is another example to us that God does His work through imperfect, sinful vessels (the only material He has to work with!):
-“While the story operates at a level of family honor and brotherly concern for a ravished sister, it nevertheless also carries along the theme that God works through and often in spite of the limited, self-serving plans of human beings.” (John H. Sailhamer)
-“It was another case of promoting a holy cause in an unholy way.” (Warren Wiersbe on the actions of Dinah’s brothers)
2. Chapter 34 is also a warning to Israel about the dangers of social and religious interaction with the people of Canaan. They were not to partake of their ways or join with them in a vital way. They were to be in the land but not partners with the people even as we in the church are in the world but we are not to be of the world.
3. On a family level Genesis 34 when a father is disengaged from his family (as Jacob seems to be in this instance) children tend to be out of control.
Recap of April 26, 2009:
1. Genesis 34 is another example to us that God does His work through imperfect, sinful vessels (the only material He has to work with!):
-“While the story operates at a level of family honor and brotherly concern for a ravished sister, it nevertheless also carries along the theme that God works through and often in spite of the limited, self-serving plans of human beings.” (John H. Sailhamer)
-“It was another case of promoting a holy cause in an unholy way.” (Warren Wiersbe on the actions of Dinah’s brothers)
2. Chapter 34 is also a warning to Israel about the dangers of social and religious interaction with the people of Canaan. They were not to partake of their ways or join with them in a vital way. They were to be in the land but not partners with the people even as we in the church are in the world but we are not to be of the world.
3. On a family level Genesis 34 when a father is disengaged from his family (as Jacob seems to be in this instance) children tend to be out of control.
Monday, April 20, 2009
A Family In Crisis
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of April 19, 2009:
Six warnings from Proverbs regarding friendship:
-Be careful in choosing friends/companions (good companions will influence you for good, the wrong companions will influence you toward evil, leading you into trouble instead of enriching your life. (Proverbs 13:20)
-It is better to have one genuine friend who is looking out for your interests than a multitude of companions. It is necessary to be discriminating in choosing friends. (Proverbs 18:24)
-We must steer clear of the path of the wicked, those who are restless until they cause someone to fall or take advantage of others. (Proverbs 4:14-17)
-We must avoid those who choose the wrong path, the path of rebellion, because they are not content until they lead someone in their path. (Proverbs 16:29)
-Stay away from angry people (those who are always angry at others especially those in authority and tend to blame others for their misfortune) or you will take up their ways. (Proverbs 22:24-25)
-Steer clear of those who have tendencies toward addictions (alcohol, drugs, food) they will lead you in the path of addiction, laziness, poverty.
Recap of April 19, 2009:
Six warnings from Proverbs regarding friendship:
-Be careful in choosing friends/companions (good companions will influence you for good, the wrong companions will influence you toward evil, leading you into trouble instead of enriching your life. (Proverbs 13:20)
-It is better to have one genuine friend who is looking out for your interests than a multitude of companions. It is necessary to be discriminating in choosing friends. (Proverbs 18:24)
-We must steer clear of the path of the wicked, those who are restless until they cause someone to fall or take advantage of others. (Proverbs 4:14-17)
-We must avoid those who choose the wrong path, the path of rebellion, because they are not content until they lead someone in their path. (Proverbs 16:29)
-Stay away from angry people (those who are always angry at others especially those in authority and tend to blame others for their misfortune) or you will take up their ways. (Proverbs 22:24-25)
-Steer clear of those who have tendencies toward addictions (alcohol, drugs, food) they will lead you in the path of addiction, laziness, poverty.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Fear, Failure, Triumph
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of April 12, 2009:
1. Peter’s pride caused him to be self-reliant, prayerless, impatient, and silent. He spoke when he should have listened, slept when he should have prayed, acted when he should have waited, and was silent when he should have spoken up. (Matthew 26:31-75)
2. The Scripture warns about the danger of pride. (Proverbs 16:18)
3. Peter’s pride made him: blind to his limitations, blind to Satan’s designs on him, trust in his own strength and ability, feel superior to the other disciples, and caused him to reject the Word of God.
4. When Jesus restored Peter after the resurrection, he asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Even as Peter denied the Lord three times, Jesus restores him three times.
5. The heart of Jesus’ challenge to Peter had to do with Peter’s love and devotion to Him. “The Lord didn’t say ‘Simon, son of Jonas, will you preach for Me? Will you suffer for Me? Will you evangelize for Me? Will you believe in Me?’ He didn’t say that. Instead Christ asked, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me more than these? Do you really love Me?’ That is what He is after….If your service is not an outflow for your love for the Lord personally, it will become a chore. You will soon give it up. And conversely, the less I love Him, the less I’ll serve Him, and the less I’ll talk about Him.” (An Everlasting Love, John G. Mitchell)
Recap of April 12, 2009:
1. Peter’s pride caused him to be self-reliant, prayerless, impatient, and silent. He spoke when he should have listened, slept when he should have prayed, acted when he should have waited, and was silent when he should have spoken up. (Matthew 26:31-75)
2. The Scripture warns about the danger of pride. (Proverbs 16:18)
3. Peter’s pride made him: blind to his limitations, blind to Satan’s designs on him, trust in his own strength and ability, feel superior to the other disciples, and caused him to reject the Word of God.
4. When Jesus restored Peter after the resurrection, he asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Even as Peter denied the Lord three times, Jesus restores him three times.
5. The heart of Jesus’ challenge to Peter had to do with Peter’s love and devotion to Him. “The Lord didn’t say ‘Simon, son of Jonas, will you preach for Me? Will you suffer for Me? Will you evangelize for Me? Will you believe in Me?’ He didn’t say that. Instead Christ asked, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me more than these? Do you really love Me?’ That is what He is after….If your service is not an outflow for your love for the Lord personally, it will become a chore. You will soon give it up. And conversely, the less I love Him, the less I’ll serve Him, and the less I’ll talk about Him.” (An Everlasting Love, John G. Mitchell)
Monday, April 06, 2009
Triumph & Tragedy
Click here to download the sermon file.
Please note: the audio quality is poor and this recording begins with the sermon already well-underway. (Our apologies).
Re-cap - 4/12/09:
1. “Of the many deficiencies that plague us, broken relationships seem the hardest to put right, the easiest to let slide, and yet the most important to resolve. The psalmist says, ‘How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity’ (Ps 133:1). Yet, often, we let ruptured relationships drift on from year to year.” (Dr. Michael Pocock)
2. Several issues stand in the way of reconciliation: Fear that the person will not accept our overture; fear that they will not forgive us if we are the offender; fear that reconciliation will diminish the offense; pride, an unwillingness to humble ourselves; and desire for revenge.
3. Steps to build or rebuild relationship from Ephesians 4:25-32: speak the truth in love; keep short accounts; choose to be constructive in relationship not destructive; choose kindness and compassion not anger and bitterness; forgive as we have been forgiven.
Please note: the audio quality is poor and this recording begins with the sermon already well-underway. (Our apologies).
Re-cap - 4/12/09:
1. “Of the many deficiencies that plague us, broken relationships seem the hardest to put right, the easiest to let slide, and yet the most important to resolve. The psalmist says, ‘How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity’ (Ps 133:1). Yet, often, we let ruptured relationships drift on from year to year.” (Dr. Michael Pocock)
2. Several issues stand in the way of reconciliation: Fear that the person will not accept our overture; fear that they will not forgive us if we are the offender; fear that reconciliation will diminish the offense; pride, an unwillingness to humble ourselves; and desire for revenge.
3. Steps to build or rebuild relationship from Ephesians 4:25-32: speak the truth in love; keep short accounts; choose to be constructive in relationship not destructive; choose kindness and compassion not anger and bitterness; forgive as we have been forgiven.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Encounters on the Road to Reconciliation, Pt 4
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the sermon from March 29, 2009:
1. Jacob’s whole life he has been dependent upon himself, going from struggle to struggle, living out his name “heel-catcher,” “deceiver,” “supplanter”. God confronts him about his life through the wrestling match. Jacob had been determined to have his own way, in his own strength. He must now learn the necessity of depending upon God, clinging to God in his weakness.
2. God must remind us periodically who we are, asking of us the same question He asked of Jacob, “What’s your name?” He reminds us that we have a new name given to us by Him. He reminds us that we cannot live the old way, but rather must live in dependence upon Him.
3. We must, like Jacob, cease striving to have our own way, acknowledge our weakness, and cling to God.
Recap of the sermon from March 29, 2009:
1. Jacob’s whole life he has been dependent upon himself, going from struggle to struggle, living out his name “heel-catcher,” “deceiver,” “supplanter”. God confronts him about his life through the wrestling match. Jacob had been determined to have his own way, in his own strength. He must now learn the necessity of depending upon God, clinging to God in his weakness.
2. God must remind us periodically who we are, asking of us the same question He asked of Jacob, “What’s your name?” He reminds us that we have a new name given to us by Him. He reminds us that we cannot live the old way, but rather must live in dependence upon Him.
3. We must, like Jacob, cease striving to have our own way, acknowledge our weakness, and cling to God.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Encounters on the Road to Reconciliation, Pt 3
Click here to download the sermon file.
Sermon recap from March 22, 2009:
1. Jacob’s prayer in Genesis 32 is a model prayer is many ways (much like the “Disciple’s Prayer in Matthew 6). He prays on the basis of a relationship with God; he repeats God’s Word to Him, reminding Him of His commands and promises; he confesses his unworthiness; he acknowledges God’s work in his life previously; and he makes his request.
2. Concerning Jacob's encounter with God in Genesis 32, it was said: “To be left alone with God is the only true way of arriving at a just knowledge of ourselves and our ways. …No matter what we may think about ourselves, nor yet what man may think about us, the great question is, what does God think about us? And the answer to this question can only be learned when we are ‘left alone.’ Away from the world, away from self, away from all the thoughts, reasonings, imaginings, and emotions of mere nature, and ‘alone with God,’—thus, and thus alone, can we get a correct judgment about ourselves.” (C.H.M. quoted in Gleanings in Genesis)
Sermon recap from March 22, 2009:
1. Jacob’s prayer in Genesis 32 is a model prayer is many ways (much like the “Disciple’s Prayer in Matthew 6). He prays on the basis of a relationship with God; he repeats God’s Word to Him, reminding Him of His commands and promises; he confesses his unworthiness; he acknowledges God’s work in his life previously; and he makes his request.
2. Concerning Jacob's encounter with God in Genesis 32, it was said: “To be left alone with God is the only true way of arriving at a just knowledge of ourselves and our ways. …No matter what we may think about ourselves, nor yet what man may think about us, the great question is, what does God think about us? And the answer to this question can only be learned when we are ‘left alone.’ Away from the world, away from self, away from all the thoughts, reasonings, imaginings, and emotions of mere nature, and ‘alone with God,’—thus, and thus alone, can we get a correct judgment about ourselves.” (C.H.M. quoted in Gleanings in Genesis)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Encounters on the Road to Reconciliation, Pt 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of March 15, 2009:
1. As Jacob is about to enter the land of Canaan, he is greeted by angels. He names the place Mahanaim which means “two camps,” referring to his camp and to the angel’s camp. It is a reminder to him of God’s care and presence with him. It was also a reminder to him of the spiritual nature of the battle ahead.
2. Paul reminds believers in the New Testament that the battles they face are not physical alone but are spiritual. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers,…” (Ephesians 6:10-12). Spiritual warfare requires spiritual means (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
3. Angels are mentioned almost 400 times in the Old and New Testaments. They are created beings (Psalm 148:2-5), they do not procreate (Matthew 22:30), they are personal beings (exhibiting intellect, emotion and will), they are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14, “ministering spirits) thus they do not have a body though they can appear as human, they do not die, and their main ministry is to serve those who are the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
Recap of March 15, 2009:
1. As Jacob is about to enter the land of Canaan, he is greeted by angels. He names the place Mahanaim which means “two camps,” referring to his camp and to the angel’s camp. It is a reminder to him of God’s care and presence with him. It was also a reminder to him of the spiritual nature of the battle ahead.
2. Paul reminds believers in the New Testament that the battles they face are not physical alone but are spiritual. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers,…” (Ephesians 6:10-12). Spiritual warfare requires spiritual means (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).
3. Angels are mentioned almost 400 times in the Old and New Testaments. They are created beings (Psalm 148:2-5), they do not procreate (Matthew 22:30), they are personal beings (exhibiting intellect, emotion and will), they are spirit beings (Hebrews 1:14, “ministering spirits) thus they do not have a body though they can appear as human, they do not die, and their main ministry is to serve those who are the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
Monday, March 09, 2009
Encounters on the Road to Reconciliation
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the sermon from March 8, 2009:
1. In Genesis 31 Jacob and Laban set up a boundary marker as a means of protection from each other. Boundaries are helpful in our lives to protect ourselves from ourselves especially in the moral area. We need to think through boundaries for our lives regarding the opposite sex, and regarding what we read, watch, and view on the internet. Boundaries are simply strategies to keep us from falling.
2. As Jacob reaches the edge of the promised land he once again encounters angels as he did when he exited the land 20 years earlier. The angels were representative of God’s protection of Jacob and would remind him that this conflict was not physical only but spiritual as well and required a spiritual response on his part. As Dr. Allen Ross said: “When God’s work is involved, the conflict is spiritual, not physical. This was true for Jacob, it was true for Israel, and it is true today. No human effort can be sufficient for these things. The source of defense and means of victory come from God’s ministering angels.”
Recap of the sermon from March 8, 2009:
1. In Genesis 31 Jacob and Laban set up a boundary marker as a means of protection from each other. Boundaries are helpful in our lives to protect ourselves from ourselves especially in the moral area. We need to think through boundaries for our lives regarding the opposite sex, and regarding what we read, watch, and view on the internet. Boundaries are simply strategies to keep us from falling.
2. As Jacob reaches the edge of the promised land he once again encounters angels as he did when he exited the land 20 years earlier. The angels were representative of God’s protection of Jacob and would remind him that this conflict was not physical only but spiritual as well and required a spiritual response on his part. As Dr. Allen Ross said: “When God’s work is involved, the conflict is spiritual, not physical. This was true for Jacob, it was true for Israel, and it is true today. No human effort can be sufficient for these things. The source of defense and means of victory come from God’s ministering angels.”
Monday, March 02, 2009
Getting Their Goats, Part 3
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the sermon from Sunday, March 1, 2009:
1. Jacob’s emotional “default” setting when faced with conflict was to deceive and scheme, trusting in himself. Fear triggered his default setting.
2. Once again we see that we are faced with a choice to live in faith or live in fear. Faith is freeing and allows us to live openly, honestly, transparently and courageously. Fear, on the other hand, is crippling. Because we fear being taken advantage of we scheme, manipulate, and take advantage of others.
3. Jacob explained to Rachel and Leah about the need to leave. He recounted God’s instruction to him, and God’s care for them in the midst of the difficulties cause by Laban’s greed. It is part of a man’s God-given leadership in the home to consult with his wife about issues affecting the family and to explain family issues and decisions from God’s perspective (the perspective of the Word of God). For this reason a man must be well-versed in the Word of God and be ready to share with his family how God has cared for them in the past and how He will lead them in the future.
4. The Mizpah covenant/truce/treaty (Genesis 31:43-55) was a recognition of Jacob’s and Laban’s mutual distrust not of their mutual friendship.
Recap of the sermon from Sunday, March 1, 2009:
1. Jacob’s emotional “default” setting when faced with conflict was to deceive and scheme, trusting in himself. Fear triggered his default setting.
2. Once again we see that we are faced with a choice to live in faith or live in fear. Faith is freeing and allows us to live openly, honestly, transparently and courageously. Fear, on the other hand, is crippling. Because we fear being taken advantage of we scheme, manipulate, and take advantage of others.
3. Jacob explained to Rachel and Leah about the need to leave. He recounted God’s instruction to him, and God’s care for them in the midst of the difficulties cause by Laban’s greed. It is part of a man’s God-given leadership in the home to consult with his wife about issues affecting the family and to explain family issues and decisions from God’s perspective (the perspective of the Word of God). For this reason a man must be well-versed in the Word of God and be ready to share with his family how God has cared for them in the past and how He will lead them in the future.
4. The Mizpah covenant/truce/treaty (Genesis 31:43-55) was a recognition of Jacob’s and Laban’s mutual distrust not of their mutual friendship.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Getting Their Goats, Part 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap from February 22, 2009:
1. Jacob desired to return to his homeland (30:25,26) but it wasn’t yet God’s time. In 31:1,2 (six years later) circumstances became untenable as Laban and his sons’ attitudes cooled considerably toward Jacob, becoming even hostile, making a return desirable. In 31:3 God speaks to Jacob directing him to return to Canaan.
2. W. H. Griffith Thomas (1861-1924) drew from this passage three principles for discerning the will of God, as expressed by A.W. Pink:
-“Conviction in our hearts that God desires a certain course of action” (this alone is not sufficient for action)
-“Circumstances converge to make the action possible or expedient”
-“…after definitely waiting on God for it, some special word from the Scriptures which is suited to our own case and which by the Spirit bringing it manifestly to our notice (while waiting for guidance) is plainly a message from God to our hearts.”
Recap from February 22, 2009:
1. Jacob desired to return to his homeland (30:25,26) but it wasn’t yet God’s time. In 31:1,2 (six years later) circumstances became untenable as Laban and his sons’ attitudes cooled considerably toward Jacob, becoming even hostile, making a return desirable. In 31:3 God speaks to Jacob directing him to return to Canaan.
2. W. H. Griffith Thomas (1861-1924) drew from this passage three principles for discerning the will of God, as expressed by A.W. Pink:
-“Conviction in our hearts that God desires a certain course of action” (this alone is not sufficient for action)
-“Circumstances converge to make the action possible or expedient”
-“…after definitely waiting on God for it, some special word from the Scriptures which is suited to our own case and which by the Spirit bringing it manifestly to our notice (while waiting for guidance) is plainly a message from God to our hearts.”
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Getting Their Goats
Click here to download the sermon file for February 15.
Recap of the sermon from February 15, 2009:
1. A Biblical theology of money:
- All is God’s/all is from God—we are stewards. 1 Corinthians 4:2,7; 1 Chronicles 29:10-17
- We must not love money, live for it, or put our trust in it. 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Matthew 6:24; Hebrews 13:5,6
- We must use our resources to further God’s purposes. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
- We must learn to value those things that don’t have price tags, such as: our relationship with God, our relationship with our mate, children, one-another.
- We must be unselfish with our resources. Proverbs 11:24,25; 28:22
2. If we have a wrong attitude toward money: God will not have first place as He should; we will value the things that lack true value; we will compromise character, honesty, integrity; we will live for that which is perishing; we will never be satisfied or content; we will be serving the wrong master.
Recap of the sermon from February 15, 2009:
1. A Biblical theology of money:
- All is God’s/all is from God—we are stewards. 1 Corinthians 4:2,7; 1 Chronicles 29:10-17
- We must not love money, live for it, or put our trust in it. 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Matthew 6:24; Hebrews 13:5,6
- We must use our resources to further God’s purposes. 1 Timothy 6:17-19
- We must learn to value those things that don’t have price tags, such as: our relationship with God, our relationship with our mate, children, one-another.
- We must be unselfish with our resources. Proverbs 11:24,25; 28:22
2. If we have a wrong attitude toward money: God will not have first place as He should; we will value the things that lack true value; we will compromise character, honesty, integrity; we will live for that which is perishing; we will never be satisfied or content; we will be serving the wrong master.
Monday, February 09, 2009
Sister Act
Click here to download the sermon file for February 8.
Recap from February 8, 2009:
1. What the Bible teaches about polygamy:
-God’s design for marriage is found in Genesis 2:24: marriage is to be a monogamous, heterosexual, lifelong union (this ideal is repeated by Jesus in Matthew 19:6 and is reinforced in Malachi 2:14,15; and 1 Corinthians 7:2)
-God permitted polygamy, but never approved of it.
-polygamy is a sin of ignorance since there is no direct command against it in the Scripture.
-polygamy was always a source of trouble and difficulty as Genesis 29 & 30 clearly demonstrate.
2. Though Leah is rejected by her husband, God cares for her by enabling her to conceive. God cares for the forgotten and rejected.
3. We must look to God to fulfill our needs of security, significance, and acceptance. We must not look to others to meet those needs. When we look to God we can act toward others in grace, loving them unconditionally. When we look toward others to fill those needs we wind up manipulating, battling, scheming or demanding from others.
Recap from February 8, 2009:
1. What the Bible teaches about polygamy:
-God’s design for marriage is found in Genesis 2:24: marriage is to be a monogamous, heterosexual, lifelong union (this ideal is repeated by Jesus in Matthew 19:6 and is reinforced in Malachi 2:14,15; and 1 Corinthians 7:2)
-God permitted polygamy, but never approved of it.
-polygamy is a sin of ignorance since there is no direct command against it in the Scripture.
-polygamy was always a source of trouble and difficulty as Genesis 29 & 30 clearly demonstrate.
2. Though Leah is rejected by her husband, God cares for her by enabling her to conceive. God cares for the forgotten and rejected.
3. We must look to God to fulfill our needs of security, significance, and acceptance. We must not look to others to meet those needs. When we look to God we can act toward others in grace, loving them unconditionally. When we look toward others to fill those needs we wind up manipulating, battling, scheming or demanding from others.
Monday, February 02, 2009
What Crop Are You Planting?
Click here to download the sermon file for February 1.
Recap of the sermon from Sunday, February 1, 2009:
1. In Genesis 28 God addressed Jacob’s need for assurance of His presence with him. In Genesis 29 God disciplines him through his Uncle Laban with the goal of molding him into a man of God.
2. God’s providence governs our lives, not chance. “There are no chance happenings or accidents in a world that is governed by God.” “There are no chance happenings, no chance-meetings, no chance delays, no chance losses, no chance anythings in our lives. All is divine appointment.” (A. W. Pink)
3. Jacob’s uncle Laban is God’s means of discipline for Jacob’s deceptions of the past. The deceiver is deceived. Laban substitutes Leah for the promised Rachel. As Jacob’s deception of his father and brother involved the rights of the firstborn, so the deception perpetrated upon him involved the rights of the firstborn.
4. There is a sowing and reaping principle see (Galatians 6:7) in scripture which is illustrated by this passage. When a person sows sin in their lives they will reap the product of that sin. If they sow righteousness in their lives they will again reap accordingly. It is important to ask, “What are we sowing?” Are we sowing to please the sinful nature or are we sowing to please God? We will reap the product of our sowing in our own life and in the lives of our families.
Recap of the sermon from Sunday, February 1, 2009:
1. In Genesis 28 God addressed Jacob’s need for assurance of His presence with him. In Genesis 29 God disciplines him through his Uncle Laban with the goal of molding him into a man of God.
2. God’s providence governs our lives, not chance. “There are no chance happenings or accidents in a world that is governed by God.” “There are no chance happenings, no chance-meetings, no chance delays, no chance losses, no chance anythings in our lives. All is divine appointment.” (A. W. Pink)
3. Jacob’s uncle Laban is God’s means of discipline for Jacob’s deceptions of the past. The deceiver is deceived. Laban substitutes Leah for the promised Rachel. As Jacob’s deception of his father and brother involved the rights of the firstborn, so the deception perpetrated upon him involved the rights of the firstborn.
4. There is a sowing and reaping principle see (Galatians 6:7) in scripture which is illustrated by this passage. When a person sows sin in their lives they will reap the product of that sin. If they sow righteousness in their lives they will again reap accordingly. It is important to ask, “What are we sowing?” Are we sowing to please the sinful nature or are we sowing to please God? We will reap the product of our sowing in our own life and in the lives of our families.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Flight to Faith, pt 2
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of the sermon from Sunday, January 25, 2009:
1. In Jacob’s moment of need God appears to him in a dream to assure him of His blessings (the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant-land, descendants, blessing the nations through him) and of His presence with Jacob wherever he is.
2. Though Jacob was reaping the consequences of his sin, God would be with him and bless him. “God still had a plan for his life” (Warren Wiersbe)
3. Jacob has a vision of a ladder/stairway in his dream. In John 1:51 Jesus reveals that the ladder that bridges earth and heaven, mankind and God is Him. He was the ladder. Jesus is the only way to God, the only mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
4. Jacob’s response to God’s revelation of Himself is to worship, to set up a memorial, to rename the place Bethel (“house of God”), to make a vow (understood as either an act of weakness-bargaining with God, or an act of faith.
5. We must get to the point in our spiritual lives where we no longer bargain with God, but trust His grace.
6. Finally he commits a tithe to the Lord representing giving everything. Money is one of the most practical ways we show our faith.
Recap of the sermon from Sunday, January 25, 2009:
1. In Jacob’s moment of need God appears to him in a dream to assure him of His blessings (the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant-land, descendants, blessing the nations through him) and of His presence with Jacob wherever he is.
2. Though Jacob was reaping the consequences of his sin, God would be with him and bless him. “God still had a plan for his life” (Warren Wiersbe)
3. Jacob has a vision of a ladder/stairway in his dream. In John 1:51 Jesus reveals that the ladder that bridges earth and heaven, mankind and God is Him. He was the ladder. Jesus is the only way to God, the only mediator between God and man (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
4. Jacob’s response to God’s revelation of Himself is to worship, to set up a memorial, to rename the place Bethel (“house of God”), to make a vow (understood as either an act of weakness-bargaining with God, or an act of faith.
5. We must get to the point in our spiritual lives where we no longer bargain with God, but trust His grace.
6. Finally he commits a tithe to the Lord representing giving everything. Money is one of the most practical ways we show our faith.
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