Preach the Word Podcast

Exodus 24 "Access by Blood"

Title: "Access by Blood"
Text: Exodus 24

Introduction
Exodus 24 brings everything to a head.God has delivered His people, brought them to Sinai, and given them His law. Now the question is not just how they should live—but how a holy God can live among a sinful people.This chapter answers that.

The covenant is not just spoken—it is confirmed. The people agree to obey, sacrifices are made, and blood is applied. Then God allows leaders of Israel to come near and experience His presence.

The message is clear: Access to God is possible—but it is never casual. It is always through blood.

 

Outline: "Access by Blood"
I. Receive
Don’t just hear God’s Word—submit to it.
Exodus 24:3 — “All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.”
James 1:22 — “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…”

God’s standard hasn’t changed. We don’t define truth—God does.
- Don’t pick and choose what you obey
- Don’t just agree with truth—live it

II. Rely
Our access to God is not earned—it is provided.
Exodus 24:8 — “Behold the blood of the covenant…”
Hebrews 9:22 — “Without shedding of blood is no remission.”

What Exodus points to is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
- Stop trusting your performance to make you right with God
- When you fail, don’t run from God—run to Him through Christ. Rest in what has already been finished

III. Reverence
We have access—but we do not treat God lightly.
Exodus 24:9–10 — They saw God and stood in His presence

- God is still holy. Worship is still serious.
- Approach God with humility, not casualness
- Take your time with Him—don’t rush His presence
- Let your life reflect that you know who you are dealing with

Conclusion:
They agreed to obey…They were covered by blood…And they were brought near.

Access to God is real. But it was never cheap. It was bought with blood.

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.

To contact me, please email me at preachtheword@zohomail.com 

 

Exodus 20-23 "Missing the Mark"

Title: Missing the Mark
Text: Exodus 20–23

Introduction

The story so far. Israel is in bondage in Egypt. They cry out for deliverance and God sends them Moses. Moses and Aaron confront Pharaoh and exposes the false gods of Egypt as well as the hardened heart of Pharaoh who refuses to let the Israelites go despite the plagues God unleashes on Egypt. Pharaoh finally lets Israel go after the 10th and final plague where every firstborn of Egypt died because they were not protected by the blood of the Passover lamb. Israel was set free but then pursued by Egypt. God miraculously divided the Red Sea for Israel to cross but then the Egyptians were drowned in teh process of going after Israel. Through the plagues, the Passover, and the Red Sea, God makes it clear: salvation isn’t earned—it’s delivered. The people are brought out, but quickly show what’s in their hearts—complaining, doubting, missing the mark again and again. Yet God provides anyway—water from the rock, bread from heaven, and victory over enemies. By chapter 19, they’re standing at Sinai—not as slaves anymore, but as a people set apart.

The message is clear: God redeems first, then calls His people to Himself.

Now, we come to Exodus 20-23 which is known as when God gives His law to His people at Mt. Sinai.

Why Did God Give the Law?

A. To Command — God Establishes the law because He is the authority. He is Righteous and He is Just. 

Exodus 20:1–2 — “I am the LORD thy God…”
Deuteronomy 6:4–5 — “The LORD our God is one LORD…”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 — “Fear God, and keep his commandments…”

- Authority starts with God not man. God speaks first.
- The law flows from who God is, not the opinions of man.
- Obedience is a response to redemption (“I brought you out…”)
- Establishes God as the standard, not culture or self

B. To Constrain— (To keep His Children from sin)
Exodus 20:13–17 — Commands that restrain harm
Psalm 119:11 — “Thy word have I hid in mine heart…”
Galatians 3:23 — “Kept under the law…”

- The law sets clear boundaries for behavior and character
- Prevents society from descending into chaos. All out anarchy. It gives a mark. A standard.
- Protects life, marriage, truth, and property
- Functions as a guardrail, not just a rulebook
- Even unbelievers benefit from the law. (The law restrains which protects)

C. To Convict — God Reveals Sin
Romans 3:20 — “By the law is the knowledge of sin”
Romans 7:7 — “I had not known sin, but by the law…”
Galatians 3:24 — “The law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ”

- The law exposes not just actions—the Law exposes the Herth
- Shows we don’t just break rules—we fall short of God
- The Law Removes self-righteousness
- ** The Law shows us that we have missed the Mark for Righteousness*
- Drives us to see our need for grace and a Savior
- The law diagnoses—the gospel delivers

God commands what is right, contains what is wrong, and convicts the heart that’s off target.

Do We Still Keep All the Laws?
The Law Is Fulfilled in Christ

Short answer: 
- Matthew 5:17 — “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
- Colossians 2:16–17 — These things were a shadow—Christ is the reality.

Jesus perfectly obeyed the law
He fulfilled its purpose. The law pointed to Him

We Are No Longer Under the Law for Salvation
- Romans 6:14 — “Not under the law, but under grace.”
- Galatians 2:16 — Not justified by the works of the law
- We don’t keep the law to be saved
- Salvation is by grace through faith
- The law cannot make us righteous

God’s Moral Standard Still Matters
- Romans 13:8–10 — Love fulfills the law
- John 14:15 — “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

- God’s character hasn’t changed
- Right and wrong haven’t changed
- The moral law is reflected in loving God and loving people

What No Longer Applies the Same Way
Ceremonial Laws (sacrifices, feasts, rituals)
Fulfilled in Christ
Civil Laws for Israel (nation-specific laws)
Given to Israel as a nation, not directly binding today

The Key Distinction 
Moral Law = the principle (the mark)
Civil Law = the application (how Israel handled it)
Example:
Moral: “Thou shalt not steal”
Civil: “If someone steals an ox, repay fourfold” (application in Israel)

Why We Still Obey Moral laws (Commandments) 
1. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
2. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image…”
3. “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain…”
4. “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
5. “Honour thy father and thy mother…”
6. “Thou shalt not kill.”
7. “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
8. “Thou shalt not steal.”
9. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”
10. “Thou shalt not covet…”

We keep them: 
- Not to earn salvation → but because we are saved
- Not external pressure → but internal transformation
- Not fear-based → but love-driven

Clarifying Truth
Israel wasn’t saved by the law—they were saved by God, and the law was given to reveal His standard, guide His people, and expose their need.

Outline: “Missing the Mark”

I.  Our Standard (Chapter 20) God sets the Mark
-God establishes the standard—this is what holiness looks like
-1 Peter 1:15–16 — “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
-God’s standard didn’t change—His holiness is still the mark
-- We miss the mark of God's Holiness. This is why we have Jesus. 

II. Our Struggle (Chapters 21–22) We miss the mark
- Life reveals the reality—this is how people actually live (and miss the mark)
- Romans 3:23 — “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
- Real life proves it—we don’t live up to the standard
- Not only do we need Grace to be Saved, we also need Grace to live Holy lives.

III. Our Submission (Chapter 23) Through our yielding and surrender we can live Holy lives through Christ
- God still leads His people forward—this is how they are to walk with Him
- Ephesians 2:10 — “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…”
- We’re not just saved from something—we’re called to walk in something

Conclusion
God sets the standard, our lives fall short, but through Christ we live Holy. We hit the mark because of Jesus.  We are declared righteous through him.

 

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.

To contact me, please email me at preachtheword@zohomail.com 

Exodus 13-19 "Grace Despite our Failure"

02) Exodus 13-19
Title: Grace Despite our Failure
Text: Exodus 13-19

The Story so far:
So far in Exodus we’ve seen the people of Israel go from a family living in Egypt to a nation suffering under slavery. A new Pharaoh rose up who did not know Joseph, and he began to oppress God’s people because he feared their growing numbers. In the middle of that suffering, God preserved a baby boy named Moses, who would one day become the deliverer of Israel. God later called Moses at the burning bush and sent him back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh with a clear message: “Let my people go.” Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart, and God responded with a series of plagues that showed His power over Egypt and all of its gods. Finally, in Exodus 12, God established the Passover. The blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from judgment, and that night God struck Egypt with the final plague. Pharaoh finally let Israel go, and God began delivering His people out of slavery.

Now as we move forward into Exodus chapters 13 through 19, Israel has been delivered from Egypt—but their journey with God is really just beginning. They are no longer slaves, but they are still learning what it means to trust the Lord. And as we read these chapters, we see something very important: even though God has rescued them, the people struggle with fear, doubt, and complaining along the way. Yet through all of it, God continues to guide them, provide for them, and show patience toward them.

What happens in Exodus 13-19:

Exodus 13 – God Leads His People
After the Passover, God leads Israel out of Egypt with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The Lord personally guides His people as they begin their journey into the wilderness.
Grace: God leads His people even when they are inexperienced and uncertain.
“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night.” (Exodus 13:21 KJV)
Failure: Though God is visibly guiding them, the people will soon struggle with fear and trust as difficulties arise.

Exodus 14 – Crossing the Red Sea
When Pharaoh’s army pursues Israel, the people become terrified and accuse Moses of bringing them into the wilderness to die. Yet God miraculously parts the Red Sea and rescues them.
Grace: God saves His people even when they doubt Him.
“And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” (Exodus 14:22 KJV)
Failure: Fear replaces faith when danger appears.
“Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness?” (Exodus 14:11 KJV)

Exodus 15 – Celebration and Complaining
After the Red Sea, Israel sings a great song of victory praising God for delivering them from Egypt. Yet only a few days later, they begin complaining about the lack of water.
Grace: God provides for them by making the bitter waters of Marah sweet.
“There he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them.” (Exodus 15:25 KJV)
Failure: Their praise quickly turns into complaining.
“And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?” (Exodus 15:24 KJV)

Exodus 16 – Manna from Heaven
The people complain again, this time about food, saying they wish they had remained in Egypt. Instead of abandoning them, God sends manna from heaven and quail to feed them.
Grace: God faithfully provides their daily needs.
“Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.” (Exodus 16:4 KJV)
Failure: They long for the comfort of their old life in Egypt.
“Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 16:3 KJV)

Exodus 17 – Water from the Rock
The people again complain because they have no water and begin questioning whether God is truly with them. God commands Moses to strike the rock, and water flows out for the people.
Grace: God provides water and later gives Israel victory over Amalek.
“Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it.” (Exodus 17:6 KJV)
Failure: They openly question God’s presence among them.
“Is the LORD among us, or not?” (Exodus 17:7 KJV)

Exodus 18 – Wise Leadership
Moses becomes overwhelmed trying to judge every dispute among the people. Jethro advises him to appoint capable leaders to help share the responsibility.
Grace: God provides wisdom and structure through Jethro’s counsel to strengthen the nation.
Failure: Without wise leadership and organization, the burden becomes too great for one man.

Exodus 19 – Preparing for the Covenant
Israel arrives at Mount Sinai where God prepares to establish His covenant with them. Before giving the law, God reminds them how He rescued them from Egypt.
Grace: God reminds them of His mercy and deliverance before calling them to obedience.
“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.” (Exodus 19:4 KJV)
Failure: Even after everything God has done, the people will continue to struggle with trust and obedience in the chapters ahead.

The Key Pattern:
God rescues Israel
Israel celebrates
There is a problem
Israel panics and complains
God shows grace and provides again

We learning in these passages that God is Gracious and slow to Anger.
We learn that the day to day for Moses was too much and he needed wise council. 
We learn that Israel's pattern of murmuring and complaining is a theme until they reach the promised land.

Outline:

I. Grace in a Guilty World
Even in a fallen world full of sin and suffering, God still intervenes to redeem His people.
Romans 5:8 (KJV)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
This verse perfectly shows that God’s grace reaches us even in our guilt.

II. Grace Despite our Grievances
Israel repeatedly murmured and complained in the wilderness, yet God still showed patience and provision.
Exodus 16:8 (KJV)
“For that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the LORD.”
This connects directly to Israel’s complaining in the wilderness.

III. Grace through Godly Guidance
God often extends grace through the wise counsel and help of others.
Proverbs 11:14 (KJV)
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
This fits perfectly with Jethro’s counsel to Moses in Exodus 18.

Conclusion:
Romans 5:20 (KJV)
“Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.”

Even when people fail, even when they complain, even when the world is broken, God’s grace is greater.”

 

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.

To contact me, please email me at preachtheword@zohomail.com 

 

Exodus 12 "Jesus Christ our Passover"

Title:  "Jesus Christ, Our Passover"
Text:  1 Corinthians 5:7; Exodus 12:1-13
Theme: Jesus Christ is our Passover 
Key Verse:  1 Corinthians 5:7
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:

Exodus 12:1-13

3Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

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

The Passover 
“To set forth the great truth of the whole Bible, the deliverance of man from the bondage and slavery to sin and the world.”  - Dr. Tom Wallace, Digest of the Old Testament.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”- Eph 2:4

 Introduction:  Exodus 12:1-13

- To deliver the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt
- 1.)Water turned to blood
- 2.) Frogs infested the land
- 3.) Lice throughout the land
- 4.) Grievous swarm of flies
- 5.) Cattle of the Egyptians died, but the Israelites cattle lived
- 6.) Boils to man and beast
- 7.) Hail
- 8.) Locust
- 9.) Darkness
- 10.) The Firstborn slain

Psalm 78:49-51 King James Version (KJV)
49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.50 He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

What is the type of this story? What is the truth that is set forth?
“To set forth the great truth of the whole Bible, the deliverance of man from the bondage and slavery to sin and the world.”  - Dr. Tom Wallace, Digest of the Old Testament.

The deliverance of man from the bondage of sin.

1 Timothy 1:15 KJV: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

 

 

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.

To contact me, please email me at preachtheword@zohomail.com 

Exodus 6-11 "Keeping the Faith"

Title: “ Keeping the Faith”
Text: Exodus 6-11

Introduction:
A. Call
- God calls Moses in Exodus 3 and 4.
- He understands Israel’s affliction and pain.
- He promises deliverance and rest. Relate this as a type of Salvation as a whole.

B. Command
- God gives Moses a specific command to deliver people in Exodus 3 and 4.
- Tells Moses everything He needs to know and exactly what to do. 
- relate this to service as a whole.

C. Consistency
- God calls Moses and commands him.
- In exodus 5 Moses faces discouragement. He and Aaron are blamed by Israel. Pharaoh refuses to listen, and his people follow him blindly. (Contrast to earlier in book when midwives defied Pharaoh by not murdering male babies and pharaohs own daughter disobeyed him by saving Moses)
- tie consistency in with the title “keeping the faith”

Outline: 

Exodus 6–11 shows Moses and Aaron facing growing resistance and pressure as they obey God.
In Exodus 6, Moses feels discouraged. Pharaoh has already made Israel’s labor harder, and the people are losing heart. Even after God renews His promises, the Israelites “hearken not” because of their suffering.
In Exodus 7–10, Moses and Aaron repeatedly confront Pharaoh. Through the escalating plagues, Pharaoh’s heart is hardened—sometimes by himself, sometimes by God. Each time relief comes, Pharaoh backs out. The tension increases, and opposition becomes more intense.
By Exodus 11, Moses announces the final plague. The conflict has reached its peak. What began as doubt and discouragement has turned into a full spiritual and political showdown, with Moses standing firm—but under immense pressure.

To keep the faith, Remember three things:
1.  There is Provision found in God’s Promises. 
- Provision - "the action of providing or supplying something for use."
- God always makes a way.
- He is working in the background despite the actions of others.
- (strength - Phil 4:13; Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.)

2. There is Perseverance found in God’s Presence.
- God remains with His people through plagues and pressure 
- God promises to never leave us or forsake us.
- Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
- His strength is make perfect in weakness. 
- He will give us what we need for each task

3. There is Power found in God’s Purpose. 
- God’s purpose carries power because it will be accomplished, regardless of opposition.
-God’s purpose overrules human resistance. 
- “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”— Proverbs 19:21

Conclusion:
Gladiator illustration
- They were equipped for battle.
- They were empowered by their commander.
- And they were devoted to their leader

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.

To contact me, please email me at preachtheword@zohomail.com 

 

Exodus 5 "Going against the Mob"

Title: "Going against the Mob"
Text: Exodus 5
Theme: Mob Mentality

Introduction:

People can change when they are in crowds. We can lose our identity and critical thinking  to something called a "Mob Mentality". 

Herd Mentality: "the tendency of the people in a group to think and behave in ways that conform with others in the group rather than as individuals" - Webster

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect," - Mark Twain

Stanford Prison Experiment
Prisonexp.org 
" WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT GOOD PEOPLE IN AN EVIL PLACE? DOES HUMANITY WIN OVER EVIL, OR DOES EVIL TRIUMPH?"

"How we went about testing these questions and what we found may astound you. Our planned two-week investigation into the psychology of prison life had to be ended after only six days because of what the situation was doing to the college students who participated. In only a few days, our guards became sadistic and our prisoners became depressed and showed signs of extreme stress..."–Professor Philip G. Zimbardo

Mob Mentality is a real psychological phenomenon.  It can affect our: Behaviors; Morals; Emotional state; Intelligence; and even our Identity. 

Bible Examples:
- Israel (Golden Calf; The large group with Korah; murmuring in the wilderness; refusal to go into the Promised land; Angry mob at Jesus crcifixion; The Mob who went against Stephen
-  The Mob at Sodom
- Joseph's Brothers
- Riot in Ephesus against Paul

Historical Examples:
- New York Blackout of 1977
- Gordon Riots (London)
- Nazi Germany

Fiction examples:
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- 1984 George Orwell

Practical Examples:
- Wanting to be accepted (standing up video)
- Trends on Social media
- Social Gatherings
- Groupthink at work
- Us vs them mentality
- Cancel Culture

Before we self reflect, let's look at Exodus 5 and see how a Mob Mentality surfaces in our story.

Moses and Aaron obeyed God as individuals. They responded to God's command to deliver His people from Egypt. Unfortunately for them, they faced this Mob Mentality with not only Egypt, but with their own people.  Not only did Moses and Aaron have to fight the Mob of Egypts Oppression and Slavery, they also had to fight the Mob of Israel's pessimism and hopelessness. 

A. Egypts Blind Obedience and Defiance
- There was behavior of Ignorance with Egypt. No record of any discernment of Egyptian leaders showing Pharaoh's autocratic system.  Think of how far we have come from the midwives who resisted Pharaoh, from his own daughter who took a huge role in saving Moses. These people were not puppets. 
- There was Character and identity displayed in the early chapters of exodus. Now there appears to be silence and blind devotion. 

B. Israel's Blame and Discouragement (Israel blames Moses)
- Israel blamed Moses for making things worse
- The foreman approach Moses and Aaron
- Israel chose to be discouraged over keeping Faith in God

It's time to self-reflect on Mob/Herd mentality and ask those hard questions: 1.) Do I see this? 2.) How do I guard against it? 3) Am I someone who does this?

- Here is the million dollar question... If I can change so easily depending on who is around me or the circumstances I am in... than who am I?

Outline: Go against the Mob
Three Words:
I.  Identity
- know who you are. 
- ** personality test** pros and cons of each. Too confrontational; too passive (peace keeper. Difference between peace maker and keeper. We know scripture teaches us that peace is not the opposite of tribulation. Real peace is found in Tribulation.) 
- This is why knowing who you are in Christ is so important

- know why you believe what you believe
- Community becomes our identity if we are not careful. Have a strong identity in Christ.
- Our Identity will determine how we handle this. Message (Politics, etc.) Illlust. Of passive aggressive sermon

John 6:64-69
64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

II. Insight
- Ask for Wisdom
- Get Knowledge
- Pray for Discernment

James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 3:17 - But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Proverbs 3:13 "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."

- There is a difference between Group Decisions; Social norms and Mob/Herd Mentality or Groupthink. A huge difference between being a law abiding citizen and a person who loses all rational thinking because of a group. 
- Stopping and thinking. Knowing when to pause, process, and leave conversations or situations. 
- Why am I doing what I'm doing? Why do I believe what I believe? Why do I spend so much time with ...? Why am I so passionate about...? Will this even matter in Eternity? Etc. 
- Having insight is critical for our duty as Christians. We need to pray for Wisdom and Discernment ( our tasks; beliefs, passions; etc.) MARS hill example

III. Intent
- know the Why
- What are our goals? (Peacekeeper vs peacemaker) 
- "What you do is who you become"

 

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.

Exodus 3,4 "God's Answer for our Distress"

Title:  God's Answers for our Distress
Text: Exodus 3,4
Theme: Mental Health

What if I am not good enough? What if no one believes me? What if I mess up? What if something goes wrong?
There are many uncertainties we can face before undertaking a task. Some of them can be healthy, others can be unhealthy. 

Introduction:
A.E.W. Mason's novel "The Four Feathers" is about a young British officer, Harry Feversham,  who resigns from his regiment just before deployment to the Sudan. He is branded a coward by his fiancée and three fellow officers and friends, who each send him a feather to symbolize his cowardice. To restore his honor, Harry goes to the Sudan in disguise to prove his bravery and save his friends' lives. The orders to go to the Sudan leave Harry feeling uncertain. He is conflicted about the thoughts of war, and does not want to leave his fiancée. His friends and fiancée see his actions as cowardly, but it was also a very human response to the uncertainty he was feeling. Life can be very unpredictable, and the anxiety, fear, and doubts that Harry experiences are something we can all relate to one way or another. 

We also see Moses's uncertainty in response to God's call to deliver Egypt.

The story so far:
Exodus 1 describes the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt and Pharaoh's attempts to control their population growth through forced labor and the killing of male babies, which the Hebrew midwives defied. Exodus 2 details the birth of Moses, his mother's plan to save him in the Nile, his rescue by Pharaoh's daughter, and his eventual growth to adulthood. It also covers Moses killing an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew slave, fleeing to Midian, and the circumstances that led to his escape.  

The Israelites are in bondage in Egypt. Pharaoh has attempted to control them not only by cruel means of enslavement, but also by killing the boy babies. A little baby boy named Moses is born, and he is ultimately saved by Pharaoh's daughter, with the help of his sister. He is nursed by his own mother but is raised by Pharoahs daughter. The Israelites are still enslaved and a grown up Moses witnesses the mistreating of an Israelite by an Egyptian, and kills the Egyptian in cold blood. Fearing for his life, Moses fleas to Midian where he meets his wife and begins a new life as a Shepherd. 

This leads us to God's call of Moses. Moses is tending to his father-in-law's flock of sheep when he receives his divine calling. 

The call of God to Moses:
A. Clear
It is clear to Moses that this call is from God. God uses a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire to get Moses attention. This bush can be seen as a picture of Israel (on fire from the persecution of Egypt, but not totally consumed). God speaks to Moses in a clear voice and Moses knows who he is talking to. (God deserves our reverence. God's Word is clear to us. Tasks taht are unclear are hard. It's hard following leadership taht is unclear and non consistent illustration)
It is clear to Moses what God is calling him to do and why. 
"The most important role of a leader is to set a clear direction, be transparent about how to get there and to stay the course." — Irene Rosenfeld. 
"Clarity is kindness." — Jacqueline M. Usher

B. Comprehensive
"We will cross that bridge when we get there"; "I dont think that is going to happen"; "We can what-if this thing to death" are not words God gives Moses. (Illustration of being able to have a dialogue instead of a monologue when you command and challenge people.) God answers Moses questions and concerns with clear and direct responses. He tells him exactly what he will encounter and promises to give him what he needs. This is an example we should all follow.

C. Crucial
God's people have cried out to God for help and God is answering them. The call God is giving Moses is a crucial call. Not every opportunity is a crucial one and it does not demand our attention. God has made it clear to Moses that this call is from him, what he needs to do, and why he needs to do it. The why of our current objective is essential.

Before we get into Mosess uncertainty, let's keep a couple of things in mind:
Moses nearly escaped death as a baby. Egypt was a dangerous place, and the times had changed drastically after Joseph died and a new Pharaoh came into power.
Moses murdered an Egyptian, and the act was known. He fled Egypt for his life. His life started in Egypt by escaping death, and he left Egypt to escape death. Now God is calling him back.
Moses grew up in disguise as an Egyptian. While God's people were enslaved and suffering, Moses was in the house of Pharaoh, being raised by his daughter. Now, God is calling Moses to deliver these people and lead them.
History tells us that Moses fled Egypt when he was around 40 years old, the call of God to Moses doesn't take place until Moses is 80 years old.
The next three words describe words that make any task difficult, and God has answer for each one: 1.) Adversity; 2.)Anxiety; and 3.) Agreements.

Outline:

I. God has an answer for our Adversity - Exodus 3:10-22
God tells Moses who He is "I AM" The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph
God gives Moses what he needs for the Egyptians.
Isaiah 41:10, God will strengthen and help us, and John 16:33, where Jesus says he has overcome the world and we can have peace. Joshua 1:9, Philippians 4:13, and Psalm 46:1. 
Overcoming the world
Psalm 11:2, "For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart."

II. God has an answer for our Anxiety - Exodus 4:1-9

Philippians 4:6-7  "6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Summarize Exodus 4:1-9

III. God has an answer for our Agreements - Exodus 4:10-17

10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

I'm too ....... (I'm clumsy;'m stupid; etc.)
(Bible College)

I'll always be in bondage/addicted... PSALM 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

God won't forgive me/doesn't care." T(Romans 8, 1 John 1:9).

My mistakes define me (2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.).

I'm not good enough 2 Cor 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Conclusion:
God has an answer for:
Our Adversity
Our Anxiety
Our Agreements

 

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.

 

Exodus 2 "The Faith that Overcomes"

Title: The Faith that Overcomes
Text: Exodus 2
Theme: Faith

Key Verse: Exodus 2:23-25

Introduction: 

Exodus 1 describes the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt and Pharaoh's attempts to control their population growth through forced labor and the killing of male babies, which the Hebrew midwives defied. Exodus 2 details the birth of Moses, his mother's plan to save him in the Nile, his rescue by Pharaoh's daughter, and his eventual growth to adulthood. It also covers Moses killing an Egyptian for beating a Hebrew slave, fleeing to Midian, and the circumstances that led to his escape.  

Exodus 2:23-25 "23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them."

What are stress responses? Stress responses are our natural responses to perceived threats or challenges. You have probably heard of fight or flight, but there are two others: freeze or fawn.

Fight: You confront the threat head-on.
Flight: You run from the threat. 
Freeze: You don't move because of the threat. 
Fawn: You appease the threat. (Extreme passive, people pleasing, etc)

There are many scenarios we can use, but let's say you are at work and witness a coworker yelling at another coworker, which you perceive as a threat. 

Fight: You immediately step in and confront the threat head-on. You may yell back, physically restrain, tackle, or take any other necessary action to stop the threat, regardless of the context. In this scenario, you take the side of the victim.
Flight: You walk away. You turn around and leave the room, or pretend you never saw it. You go and ask for help. Regardless, your response involves you running away.
Freeze: You stand there and do nothing. 
Fawn: You appease the aggressor. You give in to their demands and do what you can to calm them down. In this scenario, it could almost appear that you are taking sides with the aggressor. 
(Flop= total resignation)

Just like you, I have reacted in all four of these ways at different times in many stories. Scenarios where I stayed and fought, where I ran away, froze,  or yielded. Here are some biblical examples:

Fight: Moses sees an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite, so he kills him. Cain killed Abel because God rejected Cain's offering of good works. 
Flight: Moses ran because of Pharaoh. Adam and the woman ran because they realized they were naked. Elijah ran to the Juniper tree.
Freeze: Based on what scripture tells us, Moses just stood there and feared when he realized others knew that he had killed the Egyptian. That is a freeze response. Saul, Jonathan, and the rest of the Israelites when Goliath initially challenged them. 
Fawn: Prov 29:5"A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his feet." , Proverbs 29: 26 "Many seek the rulers favor; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD" 

These are not healthy ways to respond. However, being able to perceive a threat and survive is by design. God gave us defense mechanisms that can sense danger and react to threats. However, it is essential to note that God does not want us to live in a state of constant fear and survival. Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn are all rooted in Fear. 

2 Timothy 1:7: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

So what is the alternative response to threats?
(explain the the three enemies)

1 John 5:4: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

NOTICE the last three words: "Even our Faith"

Faith: David fought Goliath, but this was not a response of fear. This was a response of Bravery and Courage rooted in David's Faith in God. 
Faith: Joseph ran from Potiphar's wife. Not because he was afraid of her, but because of His Faith.
Faith: Job was still and sat in dust in ashes. Not because he was frozen in fear, but because of His Faith that God knows best.  
Faith: Jesus told us to turn the other cheek, not to keep the peace by fawning out of fear to our oppressor, but to attempt to make peace by loving, praying for, and giving the truth to your oppressor. This is not fawning, but Following God and deeply rooted in Faith. 

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Fight, flight, freeze, fawn, or even flopping are rooted and fear. The other option is FAITH. 

Outline:

Exodus 2:23-25 "23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them."

I. Faith in God's Providence (Sovereign Control)
- His Divine and total Governance over all things. He upholds and directs all things to His ultimate Will. 
- Children of Israel were in bondage, but had Faith that God was ultimately in control
- Some verses about God's Providence:
- [ ] - Genesis 50:20 "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" 
- [ ] - Psalm 135:6 "Whatsoever the LORD pleased that did he in the heaven, and in the earth, in the seas, and all deep places."

II. Faith in God's Protection
- God protects His Children. Children of Israel cry out to God  and He hears them.
- "He that dwellers in the secret place of the most High shall abide under that shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge, and my fortress: my God' in Him will I trust."
-  Leah Example

III. Faith in God's Promises
- Proverbs 3:5,6 
- Emphasis on the last part "lean not unto thine own understanding"
- Trust is the key to intimacy 
-  Johnathan example 1 Sam 14

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.

 

To contact me, please email me at preachtheword@zohomail.com 

 

 

Exodus 1 "The Real You Comes Out"

Title: "The Real You Comes Out" or "True Character Reveals Itself"
Text: Exodus 1
Theme: Character

The definition of the word Character is "the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual."

Your character reveals the kind of person you are. It shows your true personality, underlying beliefs, top priorities, and deepest desires. Character reveals itself over time, mainly in moments of adversity, failure, or triumph. 

Some practical examples include doing the right thing when no one is watching, having the power or position to get away with something but refusing to do so, or choosing to take the moral high ground in a situation where you were wronged and can exact revenge.

There are Biblical examples of True Character:

David's true Character revealed itself in many different scenarios. As a young shepherd boy, he protected his flock by killing a lion and a bear. He defended the name of God and Israel by slaying the Giant Goliath. In all of this, he remained humble and gave God the Glory. As the future King of Israel, he had the opportunity to kill King Saul after being wrongfully hunted because of jealousy. David was not only anointed by God, but he was loyal to the King and country and a valiant warrior. Saul was so jealous of David that he tried to kill him, but his life was spared twice by David, in the cave of Adullam and the wilderness of Ziph. When he was King, David committed a great sin by having Uriah the Hittite put in the heat of the battle because he desired Uriah's wife, Bathsheba, and committed adultery with her. David's Character comes to light when he acknowledged his sin and repented in Psalm 51. 

Joseph showed his true Character after being betrayed by his brothers and wrongfully accused by Potiphar's wife, but then eventually rose to power and had an opportunity to get even. 

On earth, the Lord Jesus was challenged, interrupted, opposed, and mistreated; yet, in every situation and scenario, He demonstrated love, humility, patience, kindness, and compassion.

True Character reveals itself in Exodus chapter 1. Exodus chapter 1 is a continuation of the last chapter of Genesis. Joseph has passed away, but the Israelites are still in Egypt and have multiplied. There is a new King of Egypt, a different Pharaoh than the one Joseph had, and he sees the children of Israel as threats and chooses to be cruel by enslaving them and giving them taskmasters. They are obedient and built "treasured cities" for Pharaoh and even continued to multiply. Pharaoh sees them as a threat and tells his midwives to kill the Hebrew babies when they are born if they are male. The midwives refused to do this because they feared God, which in turn brought them blessings from God. The chapter concludes with Pharaoh commanding Egypt to murder the Hebrew babies that were born male by throwing them into the River.

How is true Character revealed in Exodus chapter 1?
(Maybe combine these? Remove them and then combine?)
God
- God keeps His Promises.
- God is Merciful
- God reveals Himself and is Gracious

Pharaoh
- He saw them (Israel) as a threat and a foe (Herod and Jesus' example). Why are your enemies your enemies? 
- He conspired against them using harsh methods and unspeakable acts of violence against innocent babies.

The Midwives
- Feared God
- Chose to disobey Pharaoh. They refused to kill innocent children even after their own King told them to.

The Children of Israel
- Obeyed Pharaoh despite being oppressed.
- Gave the Word of God to the midwives. 

As an application...
Read Title: "The Real You Comes Out" or "True Character Reveals Itself"

Q: WHO ARE YOU?

The Real you will be revealed...

A. Time
Time is a wonderful truth teller.

First impressions, cultural norms, performances,  can all be masks of a person's Character.
Over time, how a person spends their time and how much time is spent with someone will reveal who they are. 

(Work illustration)
- Best Resume and impressive clothes
- But over time, you will reveal if you were a good hire through (being on time, taking ownership, handling conflict, interruptible, etc.) 
- You can "fake it til you make it" all day long, but what happens once you make it?  (If you have the skillset for that job, and you just did what was needed to help get the job, you'll be fine...but if not, your in trouble)
You can use this for other areas of life (Finding a mate... impressing a person but then a marriage falls apart; reaching a goal... losing weight but gain in all back because no lifestyle change )

B. Trials

"Listen to what people say when they are mad, that's when the truth comes out."
Ziad K. Abdelnour (Zee-ad K. Ab-del-NOOR)

“You find out who your real friends are when you’re involved in a scandal.” — Elizabeth Taylor

One of the best ways to show a persons true colors is who they are during trials.
- During and after conflicts/scandals/etc. 

C. Tribe
If you truly want to get to know me, ask my Wife and Children who I am. Look to my friends and close family to figure out who I really am.
Family of some of the most renowned people have later came out and revealed who they really were.  Who you are at work and Church is one thing. Who you are at home is another. 

RECAP:
The Real You comes out...
The Lord Jesus said "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" - Matthew 12:34b
Exodus 1 tells us what we need to expect out of the rest of the Book ( A Merciful, Faithful, and Gracious God) 

Outline:
True Character Reveals itself through:

I. Our Identity
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

- Our old nature of: Shame, Lying; blame shifting; anger; hate; etc. is no longer our nature. We now want love, peace; joy; forgiveness
- Giving into sin is not who we want to be (Romans 7 tongue twister)
- Going against the Mob illustration

II. Our Intentions
Mark 16:15 "15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." 
Phil 1:21 "21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

There is an old saying that who you are when no one else is around is who you really are. This is very true. These are some very deep questions to ask ourselves.

III. Our Influence
Jim Rohn once famously stated, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with“.
Later on, we see examples of how Egypt and Israel will act and behave with a Mob Mentality. 

Proverbs 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed,"

Conclusion:
- Who are you?
- The people who see the real you, what do they see?
- What do you want the people who know you best to say about you as a recap of who you really are?

 

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.

 

"Joseph the Son of Jacob" Genesis 35-37

Title:  Joseph, the son of Jacob, a type of Jesus Christ.

Text: Gen. 37-45

Key Verses: Gen. 37:1-11

Introduction: 

Who?  Joseph, the son of Jacob

What?  The most complete type of Jesus Christ in all the Bible 

Where? The Old Testament

When? The Genesis stage (1898—1806 Joseph timeline)

Why?  A divinely appointed illustration of the ministry and exaltation of Jesus Christ through the life of Joseph.

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

How? Genesis 37:1-11

Genesis 37:1-11

King James Version

37 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

² These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

⁴ And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

⁵ And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

⁶ And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

⁷ For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

⁸ And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

⁹ And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

¹⁰ And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

¹¹ And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

 

1. His Caption: v.2a “Joseph”

• Joseph

The two names of Joseph typify the Lord Jesus Christ. 

1. Joseph – “let him add, he increases” (Cloud), is symbolic of the earthly nature of the Lord Jesus."Joseph means adding (see Genesis 30:24). 

Genesis 30:24 ²⁴And she called his name Joseph; and said, The LORD shall add to me another son.

The first Adam was the great subtractor, the last Adam is the great Adder: through the one, men became lost; by the other, all who believe are saved. Christ is the One who "adds" to Heaven's inhabitants. It was to this end that He came to this earth, tabernacled among men for more than thirty years, and then died on the Cross: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" – A.W. Pink

 

2. Zaphnathpaaneah – “Revealer of secrets” (Cloud) is symbolic of the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus. Joseph was the revealer of secrets in many ways. He revealed the hearts of both his Father and his brethren. When the Lord Jesus came, He revealed the heart of the Father as well as exposing the heart of His brethren. 

 

John 1:18 ¹⁸No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

 

Joseph was given this second name by Pharaoh because of his wisdom and understanding in interpreting dreams. Jesus Christ has all wisdom and understanding. 

 

Psalm 147:5 ⁵Great is our LORD, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

 

“His understanding is infinite. To His intelligence there is no number: though He numbers the stars, His understanding is without number. It is infinite; therefore, He can know, as He can do, all things.” – Adam Clarke

 

Jesus

There are many titles for Jesus; Lord, King, Creator, Alpha and Omega, etc. The two names are Jesus and Christ.

 

1. Jesus – “Savior” This was His earthly name given to Him because He would save His people from sin.

Matthew 1:21 ²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

 

2. Christ – “Messiah, The anointed one” 

“Messiah refers to the fact that Jesus was anointed by the Spirit of God and is the One chosen by God to be Lord and Savior.” – David Cloud

 

Isaiah 11:1-5 ¹And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: ²And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; ³And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: ⁴But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. ⁵And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

 

“It is striking to notice that the Lordship of Christ is never divorced from His Saviorhood. Wherever He is presented to us in the pages of the New Testament as our precious Savior, He is also mentioned as God’s anointed one.” 

 

 

2. His Career: v.2b

“Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren;”

Matthew 15:24 “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

 

Joseph as a shepherd, “feeding the flock”, points to the earthly ministry of Christ, who inclined to the needs of others. 

 

Matthew 9:36 - But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

 

“No figure of Christ is more beautiful than this: our favorite Psalm (the twenty-third) presents Him in this character. One of our earliest conceptions of the Savior, as children, was as the Good Shepherd. The figure suggests His watchful care, His unwearied devotion, His tender solicitude, His blessed patience, His protecting grace, His matchless love in giving His life for the sheep.” – A.W. Pink

 

3. His Character: v.2

“and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.”

Joseph displays his character early on by opposing evil and speaking the truth. Joseph did not give his father an evil report, because he himself was trying to be spiteful, but because he was upright, and he loved the truth. Saying nothing about his brother’s evil ways would have only meant Joseph partook in it. 

 

James 4:17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” 

 

Because of his uprightness and honesty, he was hated by his brethren. 

 

John 7:7 ⁷The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

 

John 8:40 “But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.”

 

D.  His Coat

Gen 37:2,3

Genesis 37:3 ³Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
   

  -Designed just for him by his Father, put on by his father
God has put something on every one of His Children- His Righteousness
Illustration of Self Righteousness
*This Garment Represents the believer's Change- Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 
 Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

 

Outline: Gen. 37:1-11

1. His Ridicule & Rejection: Gen 37-39
2. His Response & Revelation: Gen 40 
3. His Restoration & Rise: Gen 41-45

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.