1K
Downloads
24
Episodes
A podcast that is meant to encourage you and help you grow in your life with God.
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Text: Genesis 32:24-30
Title: Make it count
Theme: Living for the Lord and letting Him use you
Introduction:
Jacob inherited Abraham’s blessing and became the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. He was God’s representative. God made a promise to Abraham that he would be the Father of a nation, repeated it to Isaac, and confirmed it with Jacob. The chosen line that would lead directly to Christ.
Genesis 25:23 23And the LORD said unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
In these passages, Jacob is wrestling with none other than the Pre-incarnate Christ (confirmed in Hosea 12:3-5)
- He is given a New name: His name is changed from Jacob (heel-catcher, crooked, deceitful, clever) to Israel (One who has power with God)
- He is given a new walk: His thigh is out of joint from the result of the wrestling match
That’s what the Lord can do for us. He can give us a new name and a new walk. He can take someone that is crooked and deceitful and turn it into one who has power with God. He can take a life full of heartache and defeat and turn it into triumph.
- The Shortness of Days
- Brevity - Brief
- “The greatest surprise of life to me is the Brevity of life.” – Billy Graham
- James 4:14 14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- Job 14:1 1Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
- Jacob had about 147 years for God. He had a purpose for being on this earth and then it was over.
- We need to realize that we only have a short time to serve the Lord
- The Significance of Decisions
- Not only are our days short, but we should realize the importance in the decisions we make and how precious time is. The decisions we make are critical regarding if our days count for Christ or not.
- “Don't count the days, make the days count.” (illustration of second shift – more worried about how much time left instead of what you are going to do with the time) Wasting time worried about how much time is left and not doing anything productive. We are more worried about time itself than what we do with.
- “Make today count, you’ll never get it back” (never get today back, did you spend time with the Lord, did you Worship? You will never get services back). I will never get 19 years of ministry back (relate to people) but let’s let the rest of our days count.
Did you know that there is a difference between being active and being productive?
- The Contrast of Mary and Martha: (Luke 10:38-42)
- Jesus enters the house of Mary and Martha
- Martha was “cumbered about much serving”(cumbered – distressed, distracted, burdened, troubled) while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His Word.
- Martha asked Jesus if He cared that Mary left her to serve all alone and said “bid her therefore that she help me.” (bid-to speak, call, or to invite)
- Luke 10:41-42 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
- The Contrast of Mary and Martha: (Luke 10:38-42)
(Some things we need to consider regarding making our days count for Christ; The Shortness of Days, The Significance of Decisions)
- The Symbols of Devotion
- Bible Characters who made it count: (not men we are glorifying, but men who glorified Christ!)
- Apostle Paul:
- Saul of tarsus: named changed to Paul at His conversion. A Chosen Apostle of Jesus Christ. The apostle to the Gentiles!
- Missionary and Church builder
- Wrote 14 of the 27 books of the N.T.
- Three major Missionary journeys
- 2 Timothy 4:6-7 6For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
- John the Baptist:
- The Forerunner of Jesus Christ (Forerunner - one who precedes a messenger, sent in advance.)
- Obedient and submissive to the Lord and His Will
- O.T. Prophet on the pages of the N.T.
- Friend of the Bridegroom “rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”
- It wasn’t about John, it was about Christ
- John 3:30 30He must increase, but I must decrease.
- The very man people confused with Christ because of His Testimony
- Apostle John:
- “The Disciple whom Jesus loved”
- It is said that John only had about a 600 word vocabulary, yet God used Him to write 5 books of the Bible
- Gospel of John reaches back into eternity than any other book, the book of Revelation reaches into eternity more than any other book.
- King David: A man after God’s own heart
- Samuel – the circuit riding preacher
- Peter at Pentecost
- Job and his integrity
- Abraham and His Faith
- Joseph and His Purity
- Ruth and her lineage
- Caleb and Joshua and their Courage
Question: Why Jacob? Of all these great examples of men and women who made their lives really count for God, why is our main text dealing with Jacob?
- Not only is Jacob right up there with people who’s life counted for God, Jacob is a type of the Believers two natures “The man of two natures”
- In the Bible, (a lot in Genesis) you have different “types”
- Type – “A divinely appointed illustration of some scriptural truth.”
- “A type must never be used to teach a doctrine, but only to illustrate a doctrine elsewhere explicitly taught.” – Dr. J. Edwin Hartill
- John 3:14 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
- Serpent = the sin of the people. They needed to look to it for healing.
- Christ was made sin for us on the cross of Calvary. HE bore our sins.
- As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” – A divinely appointed illustration
- Jacob is a type of the Believer and our two natures.
- “Jacob is an outstanding illustration of the presence and conflict of the natures within a believer. Similar to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde of Robert Louis Stevenson’s story, Jacob is good and bad; he rises and falls, yet in spite of his failures was a chosen instrument.” Dr. Herbert Lockyer
- In order for Jacob to make his life count, he had to totally yield to God.
What about you, are you making your life count for Christ?
Discussion: “Make it Count” Genesis 32:22-30
Three things we will need if we want to make our life count:
- A Place of Salvation: Gen 28:10-22
- Bethel – House of God
- Jacob flee’s his home in fear of his life because of his brother, Esau. He leaves Beersheba to go to Haran and on the way he stops for some rest (roughly 40 miles in one day) He lays down to go to sleep (stone for a pillow) and dreams a dream:
- Genesis 28:12-15 12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
- The Lord Jesus is the ladder. The angels are ascending and descending upon Him, they were ministers to Him who are subject to His command. He confirms the Abrahamic covenant to Jacob and tells Him, “I will not leave thee.”
- Genesis 28:18-19 18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
- This is the place of Jacob’s Salvation. (OT Prophet, looking to the Cross)
- Before we can do anything to make our lives count, there has to be a place of Salvation.
- We must come to God’s terms of Salvation (Jesus Christ)
- The sin problem must be taken care of! (Adams failure, mankinds total depravity)
- A Period of Seclusion v.24
Seclusion: the state of being private and away from other people:
If we want our lives to count for God, there has to be a period of seclusion with Him.
Proverbs 18:1 - Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.
“There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God.”
– C.H. Spurgeon
“Friend, have you ever tried being alone? That is where God will meet with you. Take the Word of God and go off alone with Him. It will do you a lot of good.”
-Dr. J. Vernon McGee
People are afraid of silence - Recent studies “show that the constant accessibility and exposure to background media has created a mass of people who fear silence.” (background noise, music, tv on, always distracted and busy with a lot of noise – cannot even sleep in silence)
Jacob had enemies and distractions all around him (example of how there is enough going on to keep us distracted/busy until the day we die!)
1 Kings 19:12 “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
- A Position of Surrender v.26
If we are going to live a life that counts for Jesus Christ, we have to surrender to Him!
- We need to surrender to God on a daily basis (Paul – I die daily)
- Jacob has;
- The World behind him – Laban
- The Flesh ahead of him – Esau
- God right in front of Him (give me what I need!)
- Took his brother’s birthright
- Took his brother’s blessing
- Flee’s to Laban his uncle (Bethel experience)
- Deceived into marrying Leah (worked 7 for Rachel, got Leah and then additional 7 for Rachel)
- Wages were changed 10 times
- Increased his livestock, becomes wealthy
- Sneaks off with his wives, children, livestock. His wife Rachel steals one of her father’s false gods.
- He is fearing for his life because he believes Esau to still be after him.
In order for Jacob to make his life count, he needed to Surrender to the Lord.
Conclusion:
Want to make your life count? There needs to be:
- A Place of Salvation
- A Period of Seclusion
- A Position of Surrender
Solomon was away from God in Ecclesiastes he tried just about everything under the sun to satisfy himself and he came to the conclusion
Eccl 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
Tuesday Jan 20, 2026
Outline: When We Do Things Our Way;
- There is Division: V.1-5 The Selfishness of Isaac
- Isaac was no doubt a great man in the Bible. However, we see a weakness of his, Esau.
- “Esau” red, earthy, only interested in the things of man. He’s a type of the flesh.
- Our weakness is the flesh (illustration) We know what God has said, we know what’s in His Word, but because of our flesh, we do things our way. (illustration of Churches)
- There is Deceit: V. 6-33 The Subtilty of Rebekah and Jacob
- Subtil – “deceitful, crafty, cunning with guile”
- The Home of Isaac, the son of Abraham, where the Father of the nation of Israel lives, is a home full of deceit and lies.
- Just because something is God’s will doesn’t give us the right to go about it the wrong way.
- Illustration of justifying sin (Saul, Sampson, Jacob)
- Lot fled from Sodom and Gomorrah, after he lived there, after his family was lost, and after he made a mess of things.
- Sampson destroyed many of the Philistines, after he led a rebellious life, after he chased after strange women, after he told his heart, after he lost all his strength, after he was made a fool of after being disobedient to God.
- Saul made sacrifices to God. After he blatantly disobeyed Him, after He tried justifying his wrong actions.
- Jacob became the Father of the nation of Israel, after he lied to his father on his death bed.
- God’s way is perfect, just, pure, righteous.
- If we do things our way, sooner or later we will be deceitful. (self-justification, pride, mockery, self-righteousness)
- Not only do we deceive others, we deceive ourselves. (Think of Isaac, his walk with God, his marriage, his children)
- Illustration of how people trick themselves into thinking they are right because they are so dead set on doing tings their way.People today who will amen this message will get up and leave with bitterness, lust, and self fulfillment.
- There is Danger: V. 34-46 The Struggle of Esau and Jacob
- Isaac has made his choice, and it wasn’t God’s choice. On his deathbed he was lied to by his son and wife.
- Rebekah, made her choice. Even though it was God’s choice, she did it her way and she lied to the very man she loved before she even knew. (illustration of the Church) THOU HAS LEFT THY FIRST LOVED. She loses one son to anger and the other son to deceit. She did what God said He was going to do all along, but she did it her way, and what did she lose >>>> (She lost her family.)
- Esau – only cared about himself, hatred in heart
- Jacob – liar, cunning
There is a house divided, broken hearts, a broken home all because they did it their way.
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Tuesday Jan 13, 2026
Title: “When We Do It Our Way”
Text: Gen 25:23; Gen 27
Theme: What happens when we do things our way
Introduction:
- Who?
- Isaac and Rebekah
- What?
- Jacob and Esau
- When? 2006 BC
- People
- Isaac
- promised by God to inherit the blessing of his father (miracle baby)
- Well-digger “laughter”
- Type of Jesus Christ
- Miraculous birth
- Offered as a sacrifice
- Given a bride by the Father
- Loved by His Bride
- Inherited His Father’s Wealth
- Rebekah
- Isaac’s wife, the mother of Jacob & Esau
- A type of the Church (she was told about Isaac by His father’s servant, loved Him before she met him, and trusted he was who his servant said he was. She was wiling to leave it all behind to go follow him)
- Jacob
- Younger son
- heel catcher, deceitful, clever
- Inherited Isaac’s blessing and became the Father of the 12 tribes of Israel
- Mama’s boy, he did what his mommy told him to do, very deceitful and clever
- Esau
- Eldest son
- Not interested in God, only in earthly things
- Edomites
- red, earthy – was a man’s man. He was Isaac’s favorite. (All-American Boy) he was very physical, athletic
- Isaac
- Plan– Gen 25:21-26
God has made it very clear what will happen, and spoiler alert, it does happen. He is very specific, He is very to the point. This is not a riddle, this is not a vision or a beautiful poem that can be interpreted by a Mother to mean what her heart desires it to mean. Verse 23 starts out with “And the Lord said unto her” and it ends with “the elder shall serve the younger.” When they were born, Esau came out first, he’s the oldest, Jacob came out next, he had his hand attached to his heel. This was pre-ordained. God knew Esau’s descendants would be enemies of Israel. He knew Jacob would be in the very lineage of Jesus Christ.
- Problems
Gen 25:27,28 (Favoritism in the home)
- Took his brother’s birthright – Gen 25:27-34
- Birthright – one who had it was the head of the home, who also would be the line to Christ (the priest of the family)
- Jacob had a hold of Esau’s heel when they were born, he was constantly trying to get that position of the older brother
- Esau could care less about the birthright, he didn’t care about being the spiritual leader of the home. He was red “earthy” he represents the flesh. He acted as if he was going to starve to death – this isn’t true. A boy out of the house of Abraham is not going to starve to death! He wanted it right then and there.
- God had already promised Rebekah that Esau would serve Jacob (“the elder shall serve the younger”) Instead of waiting on God, he does it his way, tricky deceitful way.
- Took his brother’s blessing – Gen 27
- Isaac requested that Esau would go make him some venison so he could bless him.
- The blessing that Isaac received had to be passed on, so he wanted to pass it down to Esau.
- Instead, he passed it on to Jacob…dressed like Esau. (Rebekah dressed Jacob up like Esau and they tricked Isaac)
- Isaac was troubled, and Esau was in a rage. He hated his brother and was going to kill him. Rebekah has Jacob to go flee to her brother Laban in Haran “few days, until thy brother’s fury turn away” this turned into a 20 year Journey! Rebekah would never see her son again.
“My Way” was a song written in 1969 by Paul Anka, and composed and co-written by Jacques Revaux. It was written for and sung originally by Frank Sinatra. It was also sung by other popular artist such as Elvis Presley and Sid Vicious (Sex Pistols). The song is played a lot during funerals in the UK. The song is nothing more than a swan song and a summary of a man who lived his life “his way”. After a life of decisions, regrets, and various outcomes, the song closes with “Yes, it was my way.” The song is blatantly selfish and focuses on one thing and one thing only, doing things our way. Pleasing the flesh, putting ourselves above others, making hard decisions based on what we want, facing the music and having regrets because we have to be first.
In this story, we have 4 individuals who sang the same song. At the end of Chapter 27, a chapter of lies, betrayal, greed, selfishness, and a broken family, Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob could all simply say “Yes, it was my way.”
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Tuesday Jan 06, 2026
Text: Genesis 24:61-67
Context: Genesis 24
(Groom, Bride, Wedding)
Title: Here Comes the Bride
Theme: The Bride of Jesus Christ
Key Verse: v.65
Type – “A divinely appointed illustration of some scriptural truth.”
Derived from Greek word “tupos” – impression, stamp, pattern, or form
“A type must never be used to teach a doctrine, but only to illustrate a doctrine elsewhere explicitly taught.” – Dr. J. Edwin Hartill
John 3:14 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Serpent = the sin of the people. They needed to look to it for healing.
Christ was made sin for us on the cross of Calvary. HE bore our sins.
As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” – A divinely appointed illustration
1 Corinthians 5:7 7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Leaven – “evil” You have to stop the leavening process or the bread just keeps rising higher and higher “PURGED”
O.T. Days after the feast of the Passover they would have the feast of unleavened bread. So Paul is saying here, that Christ is our Passover, and that we should purge the leaven and be a new lump.
A divinely appointed illustration
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First, let’s go to the interpretation, and then we will focus on the Type presented to us in this scripture
Introduction:
- Who?
- Abraham’s Servant
- What?
- To Find Isaac his Bride
- Where?
- Haran in Mesopotania
- When?
- 2026 BC
- Why?
- Commanded of Abraham to go find his son a wife
- How? Let’s look at the cast of Characters for this story; (literal interpretation)
- The Father (Abraham)
- “Abraham was old, and well stricken with age” (Gen 24:1) He was about 140 years old
- Women in Canaan were idolatrous and wicked, so he turned his attention to Haran where he had once been, and his brother Nahor had established a family.
- Note: the way had been paved for Abraham to now send his servant to find his son a bride.
- The Faithful (Unnamed Servant)
- It is rather obvious that the servant here is a man named Eliezer
- Genesis 24:2 2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
- Genesis 15:2 2And Abram said, LORD GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
- However, in this story he is unnamed, you will see why later on in the message.
- He traveled a great journey that was well planned and thought out
- He would stand by a well and would ask for a drink, the woman who would give him water and then also draw water for his camels also, would be the woman for Isaac. (This was a hard test, 10 camels, 5 gallons each) Rebekah passed this test with flying colors -v. 12-20
- The servant gives Rebekah earrings and bracelts and when he learns of who she is begins worshipping and praising God.
- The Servant tells Rebekah who he is and she runs home to tell her Mother
- The Flesh (Laban) – v.29-33
- Rebekah’s brother Laban was very interested in one thing – riches
- When he saw the gifts the Servant had given Rebekah, he went out to meet him
- He was also given gifts, but would later try and hinder the Servants work seeing that he was interested in pleasing his flesh by asking 10 more days with Rebekah (grieving, quenching his work)
- The Follower (Rebekah)
- From the moment Rebekah met the Servant she was interested in the man he spoke
- After they had met, he was invited in the home and told Rebekah’s family his mission and his encounter with Rebekah
- NOTE: Everything that happened was very natural, and nothing was done by force. There was nothing mystical, magical, or mysterious. Abraham’s servant spoke of Abraham’s Son and Rebekah was willing to be the Bride– v.58 “I will go”
- The Forbearer (Isaac)
- Isaac waited for his father’s servant to do his work. His work was already done
- The servant is taking Rebekah home to her Groom when she see’s him afar off – v.62-65
- Note: Isaac’s work was finished, the Servant was the one who called the Bride not him. He waited patiently to meet his Bride. Rebekah see’s him afar off. Before she meets him she covers herself with a vail.
In this story, we have a Divinely Appointed Illustration of Jesus Christ and His Bride (The Church)
Outline: (Divine Illustration)
- The Father – Abraham is a type of God the Father
- Abraham sending his servant to fetch a bride for his son, after the way had been paved is a Divine Illustration of God the Father.
- “It was thus, in a past eternity, that the eternal God took counsel with Himself in regard to His Son. He would have a bride for His Son, one fit for Him, one capable of sharing the lofty position that was Him. He would send the Holy Spirit into the world to find that Bride – but not until Calvary had paved the way.”
- Dr. John Phillips, Exploring Genesis
- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before hi in love.” – Eph 1:3-4
- The Faithful – Unnamed Servant is a type of The Holy Spirit
- The Servant was unnamed, he went on doing the will of Abraham with Isaac in mind. This is a Divine illustration of the Holy Spirit!
- Unnamed man is a type of the Holy Spirit in scripture
- The Holy Spirit does not draw attention to himself (unnamed)
- The Holy Spirit draws attention to the Son
- He is seeking out for Christ His Bride
- Note: His message to Rebekah was simple and to the point and constantly pointed to Isaac with Abraham’s will in mind. At one moment, she had no idea who Isaac was, but after a simple message from his servant, she was hooked.
- Rebekah’s family wanted to hold her back and let her wait – v.56 “Hinder me not”
- The Flesh - Laban (The Worldly Sinner)
- When the servant came he was focused on the riches
- This is a divine illustration of the World – (2 Tim 4:3,4)
- (pleasure) his heart was focused on the riches not the message
- (religion)The world tries religion, but they want it in a way that is pleasing to them and convenient.
- “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” – Mark 8:36
- The Follower - Rebekah (The Bride, The Church)
- “There was something about the story of Isaac that kindled a response in her heart. She had never seen him, had come to know him indeed solely by the Word of the servant, but already felt that she knew him. Already gave him her heart.”
- Dr. John Phillips, Exploring Genesis
- How intently the sinner under conviction of the Holy Spirit listens to the message of God.
- How much faith the sinner shows when making the decision to walk by Faith and accept the message of God
- The more Rebekah heard, the more real Isaac became.
- When she saw him, she covered herself with a vail. As Rebekah was clothed with the vail, we are clothed with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ.
- Romans 5:8-11
- The Forbearer - Isaac (The Precious Son of God)
- Isaac was a well digger, he was at Moriah and his work was done. He was now waiting for his bride.
- Calvary is done, Jesus Christ said “It is Finished!” He’s in communion with the Father and He waits.
- “For Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
- “Wilt thou go with this man? And she said, ‘I WILL GO!’”
Conclusion:
- The Father – Abraham is a type of God the Father
- The Faithful – Unnamed Servant is a type of The Holy Spirit
- The Flesh - Laban (The Worldly Sinner)
- The Follower - Rebekah (The Bride, The Church)
- The Forbearer - Isaac (The Precious Son of God)
We have the Wedding party, now let’s have a wedding. (read Genesis 24:67)
Revelation 19:7-10
- The Table is set
- The Father is the host
- The Son is the Groom
- The guest “The friends of the Bridegroom” and also called “Daughters of Jerusalem” these are the Old Testament Saints.
- John the Baptist called himself a friend of the Bridegroom, Jesus said in Matthew 11:11 “among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” this very well makes him the best man.
- And then, in a fine linen, clean and white “Here Comes the Bride” for the fine linen is the righteousness of Saints
- The Honeymoon is ready – The King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s will take His Bride and we will go with Him as He destroys His enemies, binds up satan, and sets up His Kingdom.
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Tuesday Dec 30, 2025
Outline:
- There was Laughter with His Coming: This speaks of Christ and our Response
- Abraham’s Response:
Genesis 17:17 KJV: Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
This was a laugh of pure joy! (illustration of when a believer finds out about Jesus Christ and how He came, and what He did)
Luke 1:41 41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
God had made a promise to Abraham, I’m sure there were times he doubted, but this was a birth that was a true miracle. Only God could have done this. His laugh was of joy and appreciation, I believe.
- Sarah’s Response: Gen 18:12-14
Genesis 18:12-14 12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my LORD being old also? 13And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
Sarah’s laughter = Cynical (skeptical)
- Our Response to Christ:
The two responses of Isaac’s miraculous birth (one of joy, one of skepticism) is an illustration of how people react of Christ.
- There was Loyalty with His Command: This speaks of Christ and our Responsibility: Genesis 22
- Isaacs obedience to his Father as a type of Christ
Genesis 22:7-8 7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
- Christ obedience to the cross
2 Corinthians 8:9 9For ye know the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Philippians 2:8 8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
- Our responsibility to accept Christ sacrifice
- There was Love with His Companion: This speaks of Christ and our Redemption: Genesis 24
- “There was something about the story of Isaac that kindled a response in her heart. She had never seen him, had come to know him indeed solely by the Word of the servant, but already felt that she knew him. Already gave him her heart.” - Dr. John Phillips, Exploring Genesis
- How intently the sinner under conviction of the Holy Spirit listens to the message of God.
- How much faith the sinner shows when making the decision to walk by Faith and accept the message of God
- The more Rebekah heard, the more real Isaac became.
- When she saw him, she covered herself with a vail. As Rebekah was clothed with the vail, we are clothed with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ.
- Romans 5:8-11 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our LORD Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
Tuesday Dec 23, 2025
Title: “The Poor Spiritual Condition of Lot”
Text: Gen 13:10-13, Gen 19:1-8
Theme: Lot’s backslidden condition
Key Verse: Gen 13:10-13
Read Title:
Introduction:
- Who?
- Lot
- What?
- His Spiritual Condition
- Where?
- Sodom and Gomorrah
- When
- 2,067 B.C.
- Why?
- Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom – v.12,13
- Sodom was destroyed by God due to it’s wickedness
- Sodom is a symbol of wickedness and used as a warning that God judges sin
- Deuteronomy 29:23 King James Version (KJV)
23 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:
Geneses 18:30-33
- How?
- Sodomy – term is referring to OT prostitution and homosexual moral perversion practiced with idolatry. This was the sin in Sodom, and is used to describe homosexuality in general. Websters dictionary defined it as “a crime against nature” Moral perversion of Sodom.
- “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” – Jude 7
•How much?
A. Reputation of Lot
Lot is mentioned by name 29 times in the Genesis record
1. In the context of Abraham’s family six times.
2. Once in the context of strife.
3. Three times in the context of choosing the best land according to its appearance, and his separation from Abram
4. Once in the context of separation from Abram alone.
5. Once when he was captured by evil kings.
6. Once when he was rescued by Abram.
7. Once when he was doing business at the gate of Sodom.
8. Twice when he was targeted as a victim by the men of Sodom.
9. Once when he was protecting his angelic visitors, and five times when the angels were protecting him.
10.Once when he seems as one mocking to his family.
11.Once when he was pleading for Zoar to be spared.
12.And once when he is mentioned in the context of incest.
B. Righteousness of Lot- 2 Peter 2:7,8
C. Results of Lot - He chose to live in a wicked city that was destroyed by God. Due to his love for the world, Lot lost his family.
Outline:
Lot's poor spiritual condition was based on;
I. His Direction - Gen 13:10-13
A. his lusting - v.10
chose the best land according to it's apperance
illustartion of liking what the world has to offer (be careful, if we want what the world has, we might get it)
B. his leaning - v.11,12
Illustration of your heart being in the wrong place
No man falls suddenly, it always takes place over time. He was headed in the wrong direction about to make the biggest mistake of his life
"in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths"
II. His Decision - Gen 19:
A. his location -Gen 13:13,19:1-8
the majority of the time Lot is mentioned it is when he is in the midst of self induced problems.
Ilustration of poor locations taht were self inflicting: The prodigle son, Sampson = self inflicted
B. his lingering - Gen 19: 12-16
Illustration : People God has declared righteous, know this world, what it's about and where it's going, but still find pleasure and God has to send someone to drag us out
Sodom is used as a symbol of wickedness and a warning to sinners that God judges sin
III. His Destruction - Gen 19:17-26
A. his livelihood - v.26
all of his hard work, his home
B. his loved ones
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
- Abraham’s Choice: Genesis 13
Key verses: Gen 13:1-4
Genesis 13:1-4 1And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south. 2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Recap:
- Who: Abraham (Abram)
- What: His return to the land of promise
- Where: Where he pitched his tent and built and altar between Bethel and Hai
- When: 2085 BC
- Why: He relied on his flesh and left for Egypt during a famine, now he’s coming back to the Father.
- How: He now comes back with two things he didn’t have before that we need to note. 1.) Riches; 2.) Hagar
- Abram’s Return v. 1-4
In the previous chapter, we see Abram continue south after pitching his tent and building an altar and then leaving for Egypt when a famine came. This was not God’s Will for Him but he was backslidden. He goes to Egypt only to live in sin (lying and deceit) and hurt his testimony. Now he is going to return.
v.3,4 – He returned to the place where he had built the altar and pitched his tent. He goes back to the place where he last had fellowship with God.
In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul writes with the theme of “order in the Church” while addressing Division and contentions which arose in Corinth. Remember, Paul is writing to believers. (church is the body of Christ). There are three types of people (natural, spiritual, and carnal). The remedy for these carnal Christians is the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:9 9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our LORD.
Notice what the Prodigal son does in Luke 15
Luke 15:17-19 17And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
He goes back to the place he was before he left. Friend, are you backslidden? Do you know what you need to do? (I need to get back in Church, I need to quit this, that, or stop doing this) No, you need to go back exactly where you were before you were backslidden, the place of surrender. The place where Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior.
There is always a way back to the altar, the place of Surrender.
1 John 1:9 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(interlude) v. 5-7
- Abram and Lot returned wealthy men. The land was not big enough to contain them and there was a strife between their herdsmen.
- We are going to see as this story progresses that there are now repercussions from Abram’s backsliding. The first time Abram comes to this land there was no fighting mentioned. Now, that they have left Egypt and returned very wealthy, they cannot get along.
- Abram left Egypt; he has returned to this land to get back in fellowship with God. But what about Lot? Obviously, Lot left Egypt with Abram, but is he going to restore his fellowship with God also? Let’s look and find out:
- Abram’s Re-focus v. 8-14
v.8,9 – Abram realized he was the cause of all this. He is now going to let Lot choose.
v.10 – There is no mention of Lot having an altar like Abraham. He chooses Sodom for personal reasons. Abram left Egypt completely, not just the land but he left the rebellious nature. He left his backsliding when he came back to the altar to restore fellowship. Lot did not.
2 Peter 2:6-8 6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
Lot was a Righteous man. By faith, he left with Abram.
Genesis 12:1-4 1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
Hebrews 11:8 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Lot initially left the land of sin, put his faith in God and followed after Abram. Only problem, when they left for Egypt backslidden, Abram returned to the altar, Lot will now leave for another like Egypt. Notice v.10
Genesis 13:10 10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
The land that made him rich and wealthy. The land they left because there was a famine. There is a contrast between two Righteous men here, one that is consecrated (Abram) and one that is not (Lot).
v.14 – Now, Abram can re-focus on obeying God. Notice something, Lot lifted up his eyed. The backslidden Christian lifts their eyes. They open their own doors, they do what they want. God tells Abram “Lift up now thine eyes” There is a difference here. Lot lifts up his own eyes, God tells Abram to lift up his eyes. There is a re-focus with Abram. (illustration of letting God open and close doors.)
- Abram’s Response v. 15-18
“Abram’s moves were ordered by the Lord and he moved on in obedience to the known and revealed will of God for his life – a truly spiritual man.” – John Philips
Luke 12:16-22 16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Jesus called this man a fool. What do we know of this man just from outward appearance? He was a good man, neighbor, a law-abiding citizen, family man, the list goes on…except Jesus called him a fool. Why? He was a covetous man. He lived for himself. “Eat drink and be merry.” Here is a man who lived for himself. He laid up treasure for himself. He had his eyes on himself. Lot lifted up his eyes and saw Sodom. Abram returned to the altar physically, but also spiritually. He waited on God and when God spoke he obeyed.
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Genesis 12:1-3 1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
- Trust 2: 1-9
Here is a man who leaves the seen for the unseen. He literally steps out by Faith on the Word of God. He didn’t even know exactly where he was going, but he knew of the promise God gave him when he got there. God calls to Abram and he responds by leaving it all behind. He leaves Ur, a prosperous city of wealth and luxury for Canaan, a barbarous land of heathens. He steps out on by faith, putting his trust in the Lord.
Notice something; in verse 7 God appears to Abram again. In order for God to appear to Abram the second time, Abram had to respond and OBEY God. God tells Abraham in verse 7 “Unto thy seed will I give this land.” Here is a man who acted on faith, continued to put His trust and God and patiently waited for the Lord by continuing to move in the direction God had called Him. Prov 3:5b “lean not unto thine own understanding” I’m sure Abram’s own understanding of this land was not positive, but he trusted God and when he heard the voice of God he pitched his tent and built an altar.
Hebrews 11:8 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
A 400-mile journey, not even knowing the exact destination. Do you trust in God? I mean do you really Trust in God?
Trust (Hebrew Word)
2. to have confidence, be confident 3. to be bold 4. to be secure
There are a many of Christians today who say they trust God, but base their decisions on statistics, finances, stock market, housing market, professional opinions. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” and you can tell after talking to them for a while they put their trust and make their decisions in earthly things. Now, a person who truly Trust in God can be misunderstood, even by the Church. They may ask “why do you continue to work where you work? Why don’t go here, or go there? Why don’t you move? Why don’t have more of this or less of that?” (illustration of the system and rushing God’s plan) God does not work on our time ( makes us wait, He tests us and puts us through trials) The question is what does God want you to do? Where is He leading you. Oh do you trust Him, friend?
- Trials: 12:10-20
Genesis 12:9 9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.
Genesis 12:10 10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
Notice something, God does not tell Abram to do this! “Lean not unto thine own understanding”. Here is where Abram leans on his own understanding and backslides. Abram steps out by Faith, put’s his trust in God, God confirms he is where he should be, he builds an altar and then what happens? He keeps going. Bethel= house of God, Hai = a heap of ruin. Abram found the house of God but for whatever reason kept going to a heap of ruin and boy is that what resulted.
- A famine hits, so Abram goes down to Egypt and notice what comes next.
Genesis 12:11-13 11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon: 12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.
- Here is the Father of a nation, relying on his flesh and now using trickery and deceit as a strategy to get out of trouble. Even though Sarai was his half sister, she was still his wife. There is no such thing as a half lie. Abram lied to keep his family safe. Was this of God? Absolutely not.
- Genesis 12:17-20 17And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. 18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife? 19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had.
- What did God originally say to Abram when He called him? Genesis 12:2 “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”
- God did not call Abram out of Ur (sin) and set him apart to have him go in his own direction. He did not call him to go plague the house of Pharaoh. God called Abram to a blessing. Child of God, God did not call you to be a homewrecker. God did not call you to sew discord in his house. God did not call you to be a stumbling block to others. This is what happens when we lean on our own understanding. This is what happens when we backslide and get out of God’s Will. We wander from place to place and cause trouble wherever we go.
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Outline: When Job was looking back
I. Saw Gloom - 14:1 "The Sinful Days"
Gloom - darkness
Illustration of why Jesus had to come
John 1:1
Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
Job 22:15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
Job 22:16 Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflow
The days of Job were between Noah(flood) and Moses(law) in the land of Uz was a man named Job. He lived in a dark gloomy day like us.
Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
II. Saw Goodness - Job 1:8 "Serving Days"
Not the conviction of a sinner, but the consecration of a saint
God says if we serve Him He will hold us up.
Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Job was upright and honest and God was faithful
III. Saw Grief 1:9-22, 2:7 "Sad Days"
Job saw some sad days
Illustration nobody wants to compare to Job, but we all see grieving days.
- Job's Finiancial problems (lost his wealth)
- Job's Family problem's (lost family) his wife
- Job's Health Problem's (boil's from the top to the bottom)
IV. Saw Grudging 2:9 "Seperating Days"
Somebody who was to comfort him but was holding a grudge to God and was separated
V. Saw Gloating 16:10 "Selfish Days"
This is why you never take text out of context - Job's three friends were often wrong and even later rebuked in 42:7
His fickle friends - Chapter 4-37
Bildad - based his advise on tradition - supposed Job was a sinner
Eliphad - based his advise on personal experience Suggested Job was a sinner
Zohar - based his advise on pure dogmatism - Told Job he was a sinner
Elihu - based his advise on youth alone
Illustration of people who say distress or despair is caused by sin
Job 16:2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
VI. Saw God Job 42:5,6 "Shameful days"
Abhor - disguisted with himself
Stood before an all knowing God and repented in dust and ashes
Here is a man that just lost everything, and when he got his heart right with God he prayed for his friends.
God asks Job many questions
-He is allowed to see the Glory of God
-He sees himself as God see's Him
-He is vindcated by God before his friends
-He discovers the joy of praying for his 3 friends
-His health is restored
-He is conforted by brothers and sisters
-His former wealth is doubled
-7 more sons and 3 more daughters
VII. Saw Grace 42:17 "The Sum of all days"
Illustration of Grace
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
One of the most ancient books in the Bible
-The flood is mentioned in 22:16, but there is no mention of the law, the Exodus, the Red Sea crossing, or any of the Kings of ISrael. Also, Job does not go to the temple for his sacrifices but makes his own.
Historical character - Job was mentioned later by Ezekial and the Apostle James
Land of Uz (possibly was located northeast of the Sea of Galilee running toward the Euphrates river)
Job was a Godly man - v.1,8
upright, one that escheweth evil
eschew- deliberatly avoid, abstain from
Job was a blessed man - v.2,3
10 children, 7 seven sons and 3 daughters
Over 11,000 animals - great household. "greatest men in the east"
Introduction:
Job 42:17 So Job died, being old and full of days.
Died being old and full of days, saw children and childrens children
Maybe God will allow us to live out our life like this
"Full of days" Job was in his right mind
Remembered a lot of things (told his grandchildren about what he saw)
A special thank you to my Friend Michael Barnette for the song "All things new" and to my friend Dave Compton for the opening remarks.