Old Testament

Genesis 29:1-30:43: Here we find some very interesting truths. Genesis 29:20 tells us that Jacob served Laban for seven years, so he could marry Laban’s daughter, Rachel. It states that the seven years seemed only like a few days. Wow, what a great effect deep love has upon us!!! Jacob had a goal, and that goal was motivated by his deep love for Rachel.

Goals you set, motivated by true love, will be a delight to finish, even though hard at times. The time it takes to finish will seem short.

If you have a true deep love for your spouse, not a surface love that is only based on the physical, when tough times and temptations come, you will work through, and walk away from anything that would try to destroy your marriage. I know some of you reading this have gone through some very heartbreaking times, and even divorce. But remember, the grace and mercies of God for you are abounding, and this is a new season. If you desire, God can still bring a new and godly love into your life. Before that happens, make sure you allow the healing process to take place and complete its work. Our pastoral counseling department can help you, if you so desire.

If we have a deep, true love for God, and His Word, a long church service will seem short, but if our love and desire is for worldly and carnal things, it will seem long and boring. If we can enjoy a two-hour movie, ball game, video game, Facebook, or any other thing that has no eternal value, and we can’t handle a two-hour church service of worship and the Word, then something is wrong with our present faith and desires. The sad thing about that statement is, those who need to see this, are probably not reading this message!!!! Keep the fire burning, stay in love with God, and His Word!!!!!

It is a joy to work and help in ministry because I have a deep love for God and for people. Therefore, I have a great opportunity to serve both by volunteering!!!

God gave His best gift to me; therefore, because of my deep love for Him, it is a joy to give my tithe and offerings!! Where you give and spend your money shows what you value most in life (Matthew 6:19-21).

We must have balance in our lives, if our lives only center around us, then something is wrong. God wants us to prosper, but He wants us to help and be a blessing for the Kingdom. You cannot out-give God!!! We give our tithe to our local church because the purpose of the local church is ministry; for that ministry to maintain and continue, we must respond to God’s ordained plan. He set this whole plan in place so He could and would bless us in this world’s system. Tithing was God’s plan, not man’s idea; it is also an indicator of our love for God, as well as the ministry of the local church.

As we read Genesis 30, we see the results of envy and jealousy, and how when decisions are made when we are emotionally distraught, it can bring misery to our lives and the lives of others. Bitterness will bring us into a position of trying to manipulate things for our own good, which will eventually backfire on us. Prayer is the answer to every situation in our lives, it may not be answered in our timing but God will bring what we desire in His timing. It is easier to believe for our prayers to be answered now, then waiting for the answers that may tarry.

Psalms

Psalm 8:1-5: It is so awesome how God is using our youth and children to proclaim His praises and Word!!!!

Proverbs

Proverbs 3:13-18: Look at all the blessings of wisdom and understanding. In Hosea 4:6, God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” This is why you have made a commitment to the Wednesday Discipleship classes. Look at the blessings of growing in wisdom and understanding! Wow!!!

New Testament

Matthew 10:21-42: Many great statements by Jesus – don’t miss one of them!! This is the price to follow Him 100%. Don’t be ashamed to let people know you are a Christian; just remember…actions sometimes speak louder than words.

Old Testament

Genesis 27:1-28:22: Here we find Jacob living up to his name; ‘Jacob’ means to supplant, and supplant means to take something by scheming or deceiving. Anytime we try to get things for ourselves by scheming and deception, we end up bringing grief and sorrow to our lives. We may get away with the deception for a while but it will eventually cost us greatly. We always need to let God help us through prayer, and trust Him that every situation will eventually work out for our good.

In Genesis 28, we find God moving on Isaac’s heart to speak a blessing upon Jacob. If you have children, have you spoken a blessing upon his or her life?

Esau was upset at what his father had done and rebelled against him. Always remember that rebellion is the same as the sin of witchcraft. (1 Samuel 15:23) If you have rebelled against any authority, repentance is necessary. (Romans 13:1-3)

We also find Jacob’s God given dream in Genesis 28:12-22. Jacob sees angels ascending and descending on a ladder that reaches into heaven. What he saw affected him in such a way that he committed to give God a tenth of all he would possess (Genesis 28:22).

Angels are sent by God to minister to those who have received salvation, and are in covenant with Him through Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 1:13-14)

In Malachi 3:10-11, God says He will open the windows of heaven on those who tithe. I believe that when we tithe, God sends the angels just like Jacob saw, to arrange the blessings, the increase, and the favor of God in our lives. If you are not tithing, you are missing numerous blessings God desires to give to you.

Psalms

Psalm 7:9-17: Why is God angry with the wicked? Look at verse 14; ‘wicked’ means ‘an actively bad, immoral, and ungodly person.’

Psalm 7:15-16 shows us the result of being wicked. Scary!!!!! (Romans 1:18-32)

But thank God for His salvation through Jesus that even the most wicked person can be saved and changed by the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit!!!!!!

Proverbs

Proverbs 3:11-12: He corrects us by His Word. He wants us to take responsibility for our actions and repent if we are disobedient.

New Testament

Matthew 10:1-20: Before Jesus sent out His disciples, He first called them to Himself. We must first establish our relationship with the Father, and then He will send us out.

Old Testament

Genesis 25:1-26:35: In Genesis 25:21, Isaac prays earnestly for his wife, who was barren in her womb. The word used is “pleaded”; it means to worship, pray, and to supplicate (to pray humbly but fervently and earnestly). Barren means unproductive, depleted, fruitless, childless, and impoverished. If you find yourself in any condition that relates to any of those definitions, then pray and seek God to change your situation; don’t settle for anything less than what God has promised you in His Word. 2 Corinthians 1:20 states that all the promises of God are Yes in Jesus!!!! (Luke 11:5-10, 18:1-8)

In Genesis 25:24-34, we see Esau did not treat his birthright with proper respect, and sold it for a pot of stew because his flesh was dictating his decision. When you or I make decisions based on our flesh, impulses, emotions, and feelings on the spur of the moment, we can make long lasting, hurtful, and devastating decisions. When we allow our flesh to dominate our decisions, we are disrespecting our birthright given to us by God, when we received Jesus as our Lord. (Romans 8:12-14; Galatians 6:7-9)

Chapter 26 is loaded with nuggets!! It starts out with an economic depression. Isaac wanted to go to Egypt but God tells him not to go, to stay right where he was, and that God would bless and protect him!! It is amazing when we have tough times, we can sometimes decide to do things that are contrary to God’s Word, and His leading, which can cause some heartbreaking results.

Notice in verse 12 that Isaac sowed in the middle of famine, and reaped a hundredfold in the same year. (Mark 4:20) Don’t let outward circumstances affect your sowing and giving; God will bless you if you sow. (2 Corinthians 9:6-11) It’s not what you keep that God multiplies; it’s what you sow and give.

Psalms

Psalm 7:6-8

Proverbs

Proverbs 3:9-10: Honor and respect the Lord with your tithe (the first fruits of your income); He will fill you, and there will be overflow.

New Testament

Matthew 9:18-38: The woman with the issue of blood gives us the principle of faith, and how to apply it. She made a declaration of what she was believing, she acted upon it, and she received what she believed. (2 Corinthians 4:13)

Notice in Matthew 9:23-26, Jesus spoke what He believed, and He was ridiculed for it. Therefore, He put the crowd outside. There are times you will have to put doubt and unbelief out of your mind, so you can see the power of God.

In Matthew 9:34-37, the religious folk were jealous and envious of Jesus’ ministry, so they attacked Him verbally. But Jesus kept on helping people that were sick and hurting. There are still plenty of sick and hurting people today, and we have the power of the Spirit of God living in us to pray for, and help them. Jesus said the harvest is great but lacking help. What are you doing to help? Be a part and get involved with your church!!!

Old Testament

Genesis 23:1-24:67: Notice the favor that Abraham received from the people of that land to have a place to bury Sarah. God causes favor to abound to those who belong to Him. (Psalm 5:12; Psalm 89:17; Psalm 106:4; Proverbs 11:27) Favor means excessive kindness, preferential treatment, and divine goodwill.

Thank God everyday for giving you supernatural favor in all you do! Confess that favor surrounds you like a shield, and that everywhere you go, you are blessed and highly favored!!!!!

Genesis 24:1: Notice that God had blessed Abraham in “all” things. Remember Psalm 1:1-3, Abraham’s key to his blessings from God; and it is our key as well.

Genesis 24 is also an analogy of how God sent the Holy Spirit to get a bride for His son Jesus, and how He has showered us with His precious promises and blessings. Abraham sent his servant to receive a bride for Isaac.

Psalms

Psalm 7:1-5

Proverbs

Proverbs 3:7-8: Depart and God will impart.

New Testament

Matthew 9:1-17: Matthew 9:2 declares that Jesus saw their faith; faith can be seen because of James 2:17-18.

Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost (Luke 19:10). We must have the same desire and focus.

Old Testament

Genesis 21:1-22:24: In Genesis 21:1, we see that God’s Word was fulfilled; look at the statement, “at the set time of which God had spoken to him”. We have the promises of God, but sometimes, as we pray, we have to wait for the fulfillment. Sometimes it is harder to wait than to believe. How do we wait? We wait in faith knowing what God has promised He will bring to fruition. (Numbers 23:19)

Study the story of Hagar and her son Ishmael. Hagar found herself being used for someone else’s purpose. Have you ever been used or felt like you were being used by someone; it’s a terrible feeling. She was being used to fill someone else’s emptiness!! Then she was abandoned and rejected by Abraham. It looked like her life, and her son’s life was over but in reality, it was just the beginning of a new season with God. She went from destitution to blessing, from having nothing to having all her needs met. Why did God do this for her – because of God’s covenant with Abraham and his seed.

My friend, you are the seed of Abraham and God’s covenant belongs to you through Christ Jesus!!!! (Galatians 3:26-29)

Be very careful if someone has rejected you, because it can lead to hatred, which can cut you off from God’s blessings. You must obey God, and forgive, or you will live in torment, and be in an emotional prison to that person. When you forgive, it doesn’t mean they have won. You are turning him or her over to God and allowing Him to deal with them. God still has a plan and provision for your life, so don’t let someone else’s selfish acts stop you from fulfilling your destiny, and the destiny of your family.

Genesis 22 is the testing of Abraham by God. The devil brings testing and temptation in our lives to cause us to fail, and to get us to move out of the will of God. Testing from God comes to us to reveal our heart, in our relationship with Him. We must ask ourselves; does the blessing of God mean more to me than the relationship of God? When God says give, what is my response? When God says sacrifice, what is my response? When God says go, what is my response? When God says serve, what is my response? When God says obey, what is my response? God’s testing, is our response to His Word, and our attitude in carrying it out. He knows our heart, and will test it, to show us what He already knows about us. He does this so we will grow and mature in our obedience to Him, and so that we can help others. God always has a provision and blessing for us in response to our obedience.

Look at Genesis 22:14-18: YHWH Yireh, which means, The-Lord-Will-Provide!!!! He will provide for all your needs, if you are obedient to His Word.

Psalms

Psalm 6:6-10: See how he goes through the same emotions and feelings just like we do. You are not the only one that has gone through tough times but see how he handles it, the key to every victorious outcome.

Proverbs

Proverbs 3:5-6: One of my favorite scriptures!!!! When you don’t know what to do, acknowledge God. Father God, I have no idea what is going on, and I don’t know what to do but I acknowledge You in this moment, and ask You to give me wisdom and direction. Help me and show me what I need to do.

New Testament

Matthew 8:18-34: The devil brought a storm to take out Jesus and his disciples. The disciples had not developed their faith so fear ruled their response, “We are going to die! It’s over for us!!!” Jesus knew His authority and used it!! Do you use the authority that God has given you or do you roll over and give in to every circumstance and attack? (Matthew 16:19; Mark 16:15-18)