Genesis 32

Day 25

Genesis 32

Genesis 32:24-26
²⁴ So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Whether or not Jacob wrestled with God or one of God’s angels, this is still a great passage!  I have never been a wrestler, but the parallel of this to my own life is scary.  I know God has called me to be a part of a church plant that is going to reach a lot of people who are far away from HIM.  I know God has called me to be a family pastor because he put a burden on my heart for the family. 

So here I am with this calling and what now?  Was I mistaken?  Did I not hear HIM right?  At times I have felt like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel and at other times I have felt like I had lost all hope…  Yet here I am…  Where is here?  Don’t know yet…  Where are you going?  Not sure…. 

Have you ever felt that way?  It’s when your vision for your life does not match your current position in life.  Pastor Steven Furtick said it best when he spoke about be prepared for the wedding.  He young man wearing a tux stops to get gas for his trip.  While pumping gas at a Texaco, he notices he is getting weird looks from people.   He feels like he needs to explain to the people that he is on his way to a wedding.  He feels overdressed and out of place…

That was when I realized - I am that guy pumping gas, I should feel out of place, and I am on my way to a where HE has called me… I’m on my way.  At this time in my life I am just passing through.  I’ve got a destination and I am determined to get there... 

You may feel like Jacob and you’re wrestling with what God has called you to do. 

·         Maybe God has called you to get your family out of debt. 

·         Maybe God has called you to be a fulltime mom and give up that second income

Whatever it is…  There is one thing I think Jacob would tell you and I agree with him.  DON’T LET GO!  When it seems like your spinning your wheels DON’T LET GO!  When that unexpected bill comes in?  DON’T LET GO!  When everyone looks at you like you are WEIRD and CRAZY – DON’T LET GO!

Don’t let go of the vision God has given you for your life!  Will it be hard?  Absolutely!  Will it be rewarding…?  It will be beyond your wildest dreams…  Will you have to wrestle strangers by campfire in the night…???  I’ll get back to you on that one, but if you do…  Don’t let go, His blessing waits!

Genesis 31

Day 24

Genesis 31

Genesis 31:38-40
³⁸ “I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. ³⁹ I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. ⁴⁰ This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. ⁴¹ It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. ⁴² If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”

Ever feel like you got taken advantage of?  Jacob had just left town because his mom was worried his brother Esau was going to kill her son…  Jacob goes back to his mom’s stomping grounds and meets Rachel daughter of Laban and fell madly in love…  Jacob had been working for Laban, when he offered to pay Jacob for his labor.  Jacob decided to ask Laban for the hand of his youngest daughter for his payment.  They struck an agreement and Jacob promised Laban to work seven years for the hand of his youngest daughter Rachel.  7 years is a long time to be engage to marry and Jacob became very anxious.

Genesis 29:21
²¹ Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.”

The ole switcheroo
Jacob got some of his own medicine when Laban pulled one over on him.  He gave Jacob Leah, his oldest (not so good looking daughter.)   Then when Jacob realized he’d been duped, Laban suckered into working 7 more years for Rachel’s hand…  He worked a total of 21 years for Laban and during that time Laban lowered Jacob’s wages 10 times.  To say the very least Laban squeezed every drop of sweat out of Jacob for the lowest wage!

The bible is the ultimate authority on ALL relationships; including employee – employer. 

Colossians 4:1
¹ And employers, treat your employees considerately. Be fair with them. Don't forget for a minute that you, too, serve a Master—God in heaven.

Colossians 3:22-24
²² Employees obey your earthly bosses in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. ²³ Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Remember whether you’re an employee or an employer, we are all working for a higher power!

Genesis 29-30

Day 23

Genesis 29-30

Genesis 30:1-2

¹ When Rachel realized that she wasn't having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She told Jacob, "Give me sons or I'll die!"

 ² Jacob got angry with Rachel and said, "Am I God? Am I the one who refused you babies?"

This is a story about a “let’s see whose is longer” match between Jacob’s two wives Rachel and Leah…

I’m going to give you the basic definition of jealously in regards to marriages.  It derives itself from fear.  It is the fear of abandonment! 
Have you ever been jealous in a relationship?  Ultimately the feelings of jealousy you were having stemmed from the fear of losing your partner…  The feeling you need to check behind them.  Maybe go through their phone to look for text messages or missed calls.  You are worried about being abandoned. 

Is jealousy is a sin?  Absolutely not…  Our God is incapable of sin and He calls Himself a jealous God when it comes to the love of His people. 

(Exodus 20:4-5)
⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me

However, our actions when we are jealous can most definitely be sin.  Unfaithfulness or infidelity in a marriage can bring on an onslaught of jealous feelings…  How can we overcome jealousy in a marriage relationship?
First of all, I don’t suggest you follow in the footsteps of Leah and Rachel…  Oh you know I was going to say it!
To beat jealousy in a marriage you must give up the 3 P’s to regain the trust…

·        Passwords – In a marriage there is nothing in your email that your spouse should not be able to read….

·        Phone – Your text messages and call history should be open for her anytime your spouse wants to see it, and not after you deleted the history…

·        Postponing – Your next move should be towards restoring confidence, so putting the first 2 p’s on hold only makes you look worse buddy…  Your marriage is worth way more than your privacy.

 

Always talk with other married couples who have overcome this issue – that is always a big help!  They can help you avoid the mistakes they have made!

Genesis 28

Day 22

Genesis 28-29

Genesis 28
¹⁵ I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

If you have ever been in a waiting room, you know the feeling I'm talking about...  First you waste a few minutes pretending to read a Golf Digest magazine.  Then comes staring at the clock....  Wait!  The anticipation when the door opens.  I think they are about to call my name!....  Nope they call the woman's name who just walked in the door 2 minutes ago.  You have been waiting an hour at the very least, and the seat she was sitting in is not even warm.  What's next is the worst part of waiting...  You guessed it - pacing!

What about when you were a kid and you kept bugging your parents from the back seat on the long vacation trip to Disney World...  "Dad, are we there yet?" not yet kids, "Dad, are we there yet?"

Now we can sometimes act the same way with God...

• God I know you have got a husband for me, you've been preparing me for him for 30 years... ARE WE THERE YET?
• God I have been praying for my marriage to get better and have done all I can do.... ARE WE THERE YET?
• God I know you have called me to start a church to reach 1000's of people are far from You.... ARE WE THERE YET?
• God you been preparing us to be godly parents for 8 years and this is our 3rd miscarriage... ARE WE THERE YET?

Don't give up...!  Don't walk away...!  Don't throw in the towel...!  My friends Jesus keeps his promises!  He has never broken one...  He keeps them on His time and on His terms, but He will keep them.... 

• Sarah was 90 before she gave birth to Abraham's son
• David got spears thrown at him by Saul before he became King
• Noah suffered ridicule for years while building the arc before God made good on His promise... 

Lean on His promise.... Trust in His calling...  Hold tight to the vision He gave you for your life...  You never know when that door will open and HE will call your name...  Stay in the waiting room or you might miss it!

Genesis 27

Day 21

Genesis 27

Genesis 27:11-12
¹¹ Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin. ¹² What if my father touches me? I would appear to be tricking him and would bring down a curse on myself rather than a blessing.”

"I would appear to be tricking him,"... SERIOUSLY  - That's candy coating it a bit don't you think!  Your swindling your brother and straight up lying to your pops...  Granted his brother Esau did not value his birthright, he still wanted the blessing that came with it.

We want to receive God's blessing, but our choices would reveal otherwise. That so reminds me of the foulest 3 letter word in the dictionary.

I want God to bless my health, BUT - I just can't stop shoveling unhealthy crap in my mouth.  Sometimes I even have the audacity to pray to God; "Lord bless this Big Mac to the nurishment of my body. -AMEN!..."

I want God to bless my marriage, BUT - I won't stop looking at porn... Guys - Your wife loves you...  That porn star does not know you exist...   

I want God to bless my finances, BUT - I just won't spend less than I earn...

I want God to bless my life, BUT - I just wont trust him with one dollar out of every ten...

I want God to bless my ___________, BUT - ___________________...

EVERYDAY we have a choice set before us...  BLESSING or CURSE...  Our decisions will determine our direction and our direction will ultimately determine our destination!  Is your BUT keeping you from your Blessing?

Genesis 26

Day 20

Genesis 26

Genesis 26:26
²⁶ Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with his personal adviser and the commander of his forces. ²⁷ Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” ²⁸ They answered, “We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you

Have you ever had someone be hostile toward you?  Maybe they were jealous or insecure.  The bible does give us good counsel on how to hand those people… 

The natural reaction is to defend yourself when you feel attacked for no reason…  I can think back to when the church I attend now was only a year old.  The church was different from most churches in the area.  We had a rock & roll style worship band.  We meet at a building that used to be a Kmart…  The ceilings were painted black…  We had no steeple…  No stained glass windows… No pews… No Sunday School (We did small group communities)

So many Christians spread straight up rumors about our church…  Saying things like we did not preach the truth…  We were a cult…  My favorite was, “Yeah don’t go to that church, they worship aliens…” 

None of this was true, but our church never attacked back or defended our name against these ridiculous claims which held no truth…  Instead we saw that a church in the community was in need of a new roof.  We sent over a team of men, bought all the materials and they had a new roof and they could continue meeting in their sanctuary.  Another Baptist church had just built a new multi million dollar sanctuary and was struggling to make their monthly payments…  Since we did not have a large cost to maintain our building, we gave the other church a check to help them make their monthly payment…  WHY DID WE DO THAT???

BECAUSE WE ARE ON THE SAME TEAM!!!

Denominations are not of God and they are man made factions…  Satan has used them for years to put Christians against other Christians and he has been very successful at it!

We have a bible believing church on every street corner in most cities and if they would all work together we could change the planet…

Eventually because we did not attack back we won favor with God and through our actions we won favor with the community…  Today our church is continuing to see the results of those actions, as we continue to grow and reach out to others…  The community had the same reaction to us as Abimelech did to Isaac – Don’t give up doing the right thing, God will bless obedience!  They will see the Lord is clearly with you!  

Genesis 25

Day 19

Genesis 25

The "Birthright" is the right which naturally belonged to the firstborn son.  The birthright consisted of a double portion of inheritance after the death of the father.  The birthright included livestock, land, and valuable possessions.  The birthright also gave the first born son a blessing, which put him in a favorable covenant relationship with God…

Esau was the first born to Isaac’s wife Rebekah…  He was the natural owner of the birthright passed down from his father.  Jacob came out clutching the heel of his brother Esau.  You are about to witness the first case of a male child being overly bonded with his mother.  In the south we like to call that “a mom’s boy!” 

Genesis 25:27-28
²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents. ²⁸ Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Jacob was staying in the tents with momma while big brother is learning to be a man’s man… One day he comes in famished and asks Jacob for some stew.  Jacob asks for a straight up trade…  Esau’s birthright for a bowl of stew…  I think if Jacob were alive today he would be a car salesman cause that seems like the worst deal of the century.  No offense car salesmen, but some of you have to have problem sleeping at night…

The problem is Esau did not value his birthright!
Genesis 25:33-34
³³ But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.

Isn’t that a picture of us sometimes?  We are so quick to trade God’s blessing for the immediate gratification this world has to offer…  I know countless people who claim to be Christians, but are totally disconnect from the body of Christ because it interferes with fishing trips.  People who claim they don’t have time to read their bibles, but they have time to watch like trash on T.V. Jersey Shore…  Seriously!  Your creator can’t even get 10 minutes of your day… 

The bible tells you how much HE loves you, the way we live our lives tells how much we love HIM.

I despise the best life God has for us when I   (Fill in the blank____________?)   

Genesis 23-24

Day 18

Genesis 23-24

Genesis 24:50
⁵⁰ Laban and Bethuel answered, “This is from the LORD; we can say nothing to you one way or the other.

Note to self - If God is doing something; don' try to stop it you will only get run over!  I am constanly hearing about churches who were on fire for God experiencing the reality of this statement!  At Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC a furniture store successfully and legally blocked the church from opening a campus next door.  Everyday Pastor Steven Furtick passed by the build he would claim it for Elevation Church in Jesus name...  In a few short months the furniture store went out of business and not just the store, but the entire chain of stores collapsed...  Elevation got their building...  In 6 short years elevation church has seen over 10,000 salvations and over 3,000 baptisms as of 2010...  They have opened up 4 new campuses in the Charlotte area including the Matthews location... 

We saw the same thing happen at my home church.  Our church was going so fast and we were running into parking issues.  The video store next door was complaing about the parking so our church reserved parking spaces for their comstomers and put up signs for those spaces.  They were still unhappy and we heard about it frequently...  After 2 years of complaining the video store went out of business....  We still have a parking problem though even with the extra spaces.  Every week more first time vistors are coming and getting connected to the body of Christ.  We have seen marriages restored, addictions broken, and lives changed.  As of today over 500 baptisms since Easter 2007... 

Wow!  Does that excite you that no one can stop what God has planned! Go GOD!

Isaiah 14:27
For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can stop him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

Genesis 22

Day 17

Genesis 22

Genesis 22:14

¹⁴ Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It). That's where we get the saying, "On the mountain of God, he sees to it."

As weird as it sounds, this passage reminds me of an aspect of one of my favorite games

In the game of baseball, if you have a runner on base that you need to move into scoring position; the batter can square his body and hold out his bat during the pitcher’s delivery.  This is called a bunt.  The goal is for the ball to strike the bat and deaden on the ground between home plate and 3^rd base.  Most of the time the batter gets thrown out at first, but the runner gets to move up a base into scoring position.  This is why it is often referred to as a sacrifice bunt… 

As a hitter I hated getting asked to bunt.  It meant basically that I was forfeiting my at bat for the good of the team.  That sounds terrible that I would want to be selfish by not wanting to bunt.  The correlation is that as a follower of Christ we are all on his team.  Sometimes He wants us to give up our prized possession for His purposes…  God was asking Abraham to sacrifice his prized possession (Isaac his only son) 

I have to mention my wife Franca here.  Before we were married she was involved in a business that she had helped build that was pretty successful.  It was like her baby...  Every Tuesday night while we were engaged, she went to her business meeting and I went to my small group for my church.  After we got married Franca wrestled with God about if she should continue the business or join me in our church small group meeting. I did not get involved because I wanted it to be her decision.  She gave it up and did not look back!  I have seen her grow tremendously in her walk with Lord since that decision and God has blessed her life with friends she never thought she would need. 

Just like Abraham God want honor our obedience when we give something valuable up for His sake…  God honored Abraham’s obedience with countless descendents…  God honored Franca’s obedience with great friends…  What will He do for you if you are willing to bunt for Him?  If the long run what you’re giving up is small compared to what He is going to do with you!

Genesis 21

Day 16

Genesis 21

Genesis 21:1

¹ Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised.

Has someone ever promised you something and it didn’t happen?  I sure everyone has experienced that at some point in your life.  Maybe your dad promised he’d be at your last game instead of working late…  Maybe it was your husband that promised he would love you for the rest of your life, but here you are divorced…

God’s promises are real and He will always deliver on His promises.

Unsure about your future – read Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Are you tired and life has beaten you down – read Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Worried about getting your needs met – read Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

These promises are just a few of the many promises from your creator. He wants you to know and experience His promises.  Best of all - He will never break His promise to you, even when you let Him down!  What a God we serve!

Genesis 19-20

 Day 15

Genesis 19-20

Genesis 19:30-36

³⁰ Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. ³¹ One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. ³² let’s get our father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through our father.”
³³ That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
³⁴ The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I lay with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” ³⁵ So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up.
³⁶ So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. ³⁷ The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. ³⁸ The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.

Whoever said that the bible is not an interesting book surely did not actually read it!  There are a lot of applications we can pull from this passage, but I’m going to try to highlight a few that apply to me

*Drunk – Lot was unaware of what was going on because he had too much wine…  We know it is not a sin to drink, but it is a sin to be drunk…

(Proverbs 20:1) Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. (1 Peter 5:8) be sober-minded (Ephesians 5:18) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit

*Deceit – Lot was deceived by his daughters…  Lot was more easily deceived because of his drunken state of mind.  Obviously some people are naturally gullible, but we are prone to deception when our mind is altered or not focused on what it is supposed to be focused on… (James 1:22) Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

*Danger – When we sin the danger comes from the consequences of our sin.  The consequences of Lot’s and his daughters produced to races of people that God’s people had to contend with.  The Amorites and the Moabites did not follow after God.  They created more problems for God’s people. 

Genesis 17-18

<sup>Day 14
Genesis 17-18
Genesis 18:10-12
10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”
   Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

Everyone has probably said at one point, "God must have a sense of humor." Noah was 500 years old when he built the arc.  Abraham was a 100 years old when God said go to a land I will show up.  Sarah was over ninety when God told her she would have a son...

What was going through their minds...?  The great theologian "Bill Cosby" once did his version of a conversation between Noah and God...  If you enjoy clean humor you check it out.  Here is the link Noah Talks to God

Sometimes God asks us to do the natural before HE will do the supernatural!  Countless times did this happen in the old and the new testament.  One of my favorite examples was the feeding of the five thousand in Mark chapter 6...  The disciples came to Jesus and told Jesus to send the crowd away to get something to eat.  Jesus told the disciples to feed them.  It would have taken almost a years wages to feed that many people...  Jesus told them to gather what food they could find.  Shortly after they returned with a few peices of fish and bread that a small boy had brought with him...  Jesus took the bread and fish and blessed it and they distributed the food.  After everyone had eaten they picked up 13 baskets of leftovers... 

Jesus asked the disciples to do the natural just like he is asking us to do the natural... 

- You might be praying for God to help you lose weight this year...  First put down the cookie and get up off the couch and into a gym...  That's the natural!

- You might be praying for God to bring a godly man into your life to start a family...  First get your behind out of the club on Friday and Saturday nights... Godly men are not there!  That's the natural!

- You might be praying for God to open the door for you to have your dream job...  Stop complaining about the job you don't have and get a resume together and get as many interviews as you can...  That's the natural!

We can't expect God to bless our passivity!  Prayer is not an excuse to be lazy...  Listen to the response from Sarah's laugh in verses 13 and 14...

13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

Nothing is to hard for the lord...  We know what the natural for Sarah was...  What is the natural you need to do to see God's supernatural show up for you?</sup>



 

Genesis 16

Day 13

Genesis 16

Genesis 16:1-5
Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, “The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her.”  
     Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
     When she knew she was pregnant, she began to despise her mistress. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for the wrong I am suffering. I put my servant in your arms, and now that she knows she is pregnant, she despises me. May the LORD judge between you and me.”

This pretty much disqualifies Abraham from the coveted “Husband of the Year” award…  On two occasions Abraham told strangers who were checking out his wife that she was his sister, so they might not kill him… (Genesis 12:10-13) and (Genesis 20:1)  Plus this incent in chapter 16..

Ladies I don’t know how you would feel if your husband told other great looking guys that you were his single sister…  Maybe you would like that – but I’m guessing most of you would be at the clerk of courts the next day filing for a divorce… 

From these verses I can find 3 things Abraham was lacking that all husbands need to keep the respect and admiration of their wife.

1)  INTEGRITY – Honesty is a big issue to your wife!  BOTTOM LINE - If your wife cannot trust you she will not respect you…  On two separate occasions for his own welfare, Abraham told people Sarai was his sister so they might treat him well… 

2)  INFLUENCE – Your wife wants you to step up and lead her.  If your wife wears the pants in your home, you’re NOT being the husband God wants you to be.  (Ephesians 5:22-23) That does not mean you need to be a dictator in your home and your wife does not need a drill sergeant…  She wants you to be the one to lead by example; in love, spiritually, financially, morally, in service, in raising your children.   

Abraham let his wife sway his faith in God.  He was passive – just like Adam in the garden.  He was not looking out for his wife’s welfare.  He did not think about how jealous this might make her or what kind of strain it would put on their marriage. 

3)  No INFIDELITY – This is kind of a no brainer…  Keep it in your pants if it’s not with your wife… Even a hint of being sexually immoral will cause your wife to lose respect for her husband!   Not only was Abraham sexually immoral, he gave his wife to the Pharaoh to marry. I suppose he knew what the Pharaoh and his wife would be doing after they got hitched! 

Wives if you thought your husband was a jerk...  You may want to compare him to good old father Abraham...  You may find your husband is not really as bad as you first thought...

Genesis 15

Day 12
Genesis
Genesis 15:5-6
5 He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

The ultimate question here is, “How Abraham was made right with God…?”  Was it through Faith as it says here in (Genesis 15:6) Maybe it was because Abraham obeyed God when he left and went to the land God would show him…? (Genesis 12:1-4)…
Many believers would argue that It is by faith we are made right with God and use scriptures like, “For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” – (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
It’s hard to argue with that…  I know right!   Does this let of off the hook to say, “Okay I believe in God and His son – guess that makes me right with God.  Now I’m going to go live for myself…!”

I believe James tells us the answer to this ageless dilemma in (James 2:21- 24, 26)21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone…  26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
 Both faith and works belong TOGETHER not SEPARATE…  However let’s not put the horse before the cart… Faith does come before works…  I person who tries to come to God through his works before He has faith will fall away and his works will not save him…

Genesis 13-14

Day 11


Genesis 13-14


Genesis 14:17-20
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
    “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
     Creator of heaven and earth.
 20 And blessed be God Most High,
     who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

A lot of times I hear people complain…  "Well I’d like to go to church, but all they want is my money…"  My first response to these people would be... “if everyone gave like they were commanded to by God, churches would not have to ask you for it!” 


I strongly believe in giving the tithes because it shows where your heart is in reference to God.  Here are 3 different types of givers God is not pleased with…


THE TIPPER - God’s not your waitress ready to take your order!!!                              

(Excuse) “I give to the church when I can, but times are tough right now” God wants the first fruit, not your leftovers.
(Proverbs 3:9-10)                                                                                 
9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
   with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
   and your vats will brim over with new wine

(Answer) Budget it out before you spend a penny of your check… 10% one out of every 10 dollars you make… 


(Heart condition) Lacking faith in God’s ability to provide for their needs.  Lacks trust in the word of God


THE TIMER – Serving is not a substitute for tithing


(Excuse) “I can’t afford to give, but I can give of my time so God understands…


(Answer) “You can’t afford not to give!”  Serving is a non negotiable!  Trying to replace tithing with serving is trying to rob God of what is already His…  Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.


(Heart Condition) Partial disobedience is full disobedience…  You value the relationships with God’s people more than you value obedience to God.  75% of the parables Jesus talked about was on Money, tithing, and the heart…


THE TOMORROW – The typical procrastinator… Intends to start tithing, but never does… 


(Excuse) I need to save up enough for (Fill in the blank______)  I will start tithing as soon as I get (_______) saved up.... 


(Answer)  Luke 12:20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you've accumulated?'


(Heart Condition) Unstable man wishy-washy in all his ways…


10% is less than what the government asks of you and it is God who allows you to be employed.  He gave you the ability to do you job!  No excuse is a good one not to tithe…  besides God says in                                                                                                                  Malachi 3:10
¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Genesis 12

Day 10

Genesis 12

Genesis 12:11 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”

If you are a Christian and you are comfortable where you are in life, WATCHOUT!  God will call you out of your comfort into a place of UNCERTAINTY…

Why would he do that?  Doesn’t God want us to be comfortable and have a nice easy life with relatively no bumps in the road?  The scriptures give example after example of God calling people out of their comfort zones…

Today’s example is the God’s calling of Abraham.  Let’s look at what God was asking Abraham to do? 

#1  Leave your country – I think it’s safe to say that America is a pretty comfortable place to live.  If God told me to leave, just the thought of being in another country would make me uncomfortable. 

#2  Leave your people – God’s not just referring to a people in general, but leaving his close friends behind…  Not just the thought of leaving his friends, but moving to a place where he knew no one and as we see later in Genesis 13 – Abraham tells Pharaoh’s servants that His wife was his sister to earn their favor…  (Guys that is not a suggestion for you to try…)

#3  Leave your Father’s household – This one should not be a problem.  The bible does say in      (Ephesians 5:31) that a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife…  Guys, if you are       over 30 and you still live with momma and daddy and have no plans on leaving, grow a pair and get out…  Yes it is a scary and uncertain world out there, but become a man! 

#4   Go to a land I will show you – Wow!  God did not even tell Abraham where he was going!  Not only was he leaving his parents, friends, and country; he had no destination.  God was going to tell him where at a later time.  With all of those uncertainties Abraham still listen to God (verse 4) So Abram left, as the LORD had told him.

Our God is the God of certain uncertainties!  He will call us to leave our comfort zones for the uncertain, but there are benefits to your obedience…  Listen to what he tells Abraham starting in verse 3…

2 “I will make you into a great nation
   and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
   and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
   and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
   will be blessed through you.”

That’s pretty powerful!  Are you comfortable where you are right now in life?  God may be about to call you out of it…  Don’t hang up on him!  In the end you’ll be glad you didn’t…

Genesis 10-11

Day 8

Genesis Chapters 10-11

 Genesis 11:3-9
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” 8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel — because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.


First of all it does not surprise me at all that the people of this time wanted to build a tower that reached into the heavens to make a name for themselves (verse 4)  What better way to impress The God of the heavens than to build a tower up to reach Him right…  Maybe that was not their strategy!  Who knows?  God places a desire in us to accomplish great things.  In fact we were created specifically by God to do great things for His glory… 
Here is where I believe the people went wrong.

1) They had the wrong MOTIVES.  Making a name for themselves instead of God! 

2) They had the wrong MATERIALS.  Notice how they chose bricks instead of stone.  Bricks are made by man.  Stone is made by God…  Another interesting note is that they used tar instead of mortar… Once again they chose man made over what God made…  The point is God wants us to build things HIS way not ours! 

How can this relate to you and me?                
We all have towers in our lives...Careers, Money, Status and Influence.

What is wrong with any of these things?  Nothing if your motives and materials are right.  We must always check our motives.  I want to tell you about a special lady at my church who got this right.  She was offered a position at work that would require her to spend even more time away from her family than she already did.  Did she earn that promotion?  Absolutely! Her track record at the company was outstanding.  So what’s the problem?  Her old position was being removed…  Some people would call that divine intervention and take the promotion.  But, not Maria.  She had a meeting with her boss and did the unthinkable.  She declined the promotion and asked for a demotion.  Some people would say that is weird; I say that is admirable, and I hope, if faced with a similar situation, I would be able to do the same.  Did she take a pay cut?  Yes, however, Maria now gets home to see her family every day by 5:30. She is able to use more of her time to volunteer as a small group leader for her church, and she is a better mom to her kids.  Every time I hear this story she gives God all the glory!  Maria is working definition of someone who has the right motives and materials in regards to her career!  I will never get tired of reading stories like that…

Proverbs 16:2-32

Everything a man does might seem right to him.
      But the Lord knows what that man is thinking.
 3 Commit to the Lord everything you do.
              Then your plans will succeed

Genesis 9

Day 7


Genesis Chapter 9


Genesis 9:13-15 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.


A covenant is a binding agreement or arrangement between two parties, involving obligations, responsibilities or obedience.  Covenants are a big part of Christianity.  The Bible itself a covenant document between God and man.  The word "testament "  in latin means covenant...  God made a covenant with Abraham, Noah, and with the entire nation of Israel.  There are also covenants between men and a man can make a covenant with himself. (Job 31:1)


One of the most over looked covenants today is the covenant of marriage.  Biblical marriage is a divine picture of Christ and His bride - (The Church).  Marriage is the only covenant in the Bible that allows two people to be perfectly joined in all areas of life, from the physical to the spiritual.  So with marriage being one of the greatest covenants made between God and man.  Over 1/2 of all marriages will end in divorce in America.  What is sad is that inside the church the numbers are not that different.   If 2 people are getting married for the second time the chance of them getting a divorce jump to 70%...   So why do we not take the obligations and responsibilties of marriage more seriously?  I believe there are 6 reasons I want to share with you...


1) Couples enter into marriage with unrealistic expectations for their partner to maintain...  One unrealist expectations put on women by men is about sex.  A lot of guys think marriage means I get it anytime I want it!  Guys sorry it does not work that way.  Another unrealistic expectation is that in marriage I should always be happy...  Women struggle with this one the most.  The design of marriage is not happiness, it's holiness.


2) Being irresponsible with money.  Money is the cause of most fights in a marriage.  


3) Couples are spending most of their time around other unhappy and unhealthy marriages.  Trust me if you are spending most of your time with couples who have a healthy marriage that will encourage yours .  Being involved in a small group through your local church also gives you added support fo a successful marriage. 


4) Couples stop persuing each other...  Date nights make sure to schedule them or they will never happen.  Good intentions don't help you reconnect with your spouse!


5) Not having the right priorities!  Your KIDS should never come before your MARRIAGE... Your JOB, although very important, should never come before your KIDS...  God, Spouse, Kids, Job, Hobbies - in that order...


6)  Not knowing the needs of your spouse.  Guys your wife needs you to make her feel loved and cherished...  Ladies your husband needs to feel respected and admired...  Check out Ephesians 5:21-33.  Its all there in black and white!  When couples don't practice this they can become entangled in what the book "Love And Respect" calls THE CRAZY CYCLE...  When the man responds in an unloving way toward his wife, she responds in a disrectful way to her husband....


If we can improve on these things I believe it will lower the divorce rate and the restore the covenant of marriage to its rightful place...

Genesis 7-8

Day 6

Genesis chapters 7-8

Genesis 8: 20-21
20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: “Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Even though this should not be a shocker to anyone who is a parent, it is true all the same.  Modern day psychology will argue that a child is born with a good nature and events that happen to the child throughout his or her childhood can cause a child to have an evil nature…

That totally goes against God’s word…  (Psalm 51:5) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.  This came about because of the fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  Adam and Eve were created without an evil nature, but their free will did them in and everyone born since was born with a sinful nature – including you and I…

Do you have to teach a child to disobey or rebel against the authority of his parents?  No!  The child comes equip and ready to do that on his or her own.  It is amazing to see the difference between how kids are raised today than they were in the 40 and 50’s.  All too often we turn to someone with some initials in front of their name instead of relying on our instruction manual “The Bible”  We also learned from psychology that high self esteem is more important than disciplining a child…  Let’s evaluate the word (SELF ESTEEM) 

SELF – meaning ME
ESTEEM – meaning TO WORSHIP

Self esteem is the worship of one’s self!  The bible clearly states in Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  In “Parenting By The Book” Former Psychologist John Rosemond talks about the differences between SELF ESTEEM and SELF RESPECT…

As self esteem grows respect for others diminishes and the person is subjugated to selfishness, recognition of status whether deserved or not, and a craving for dominance.

As self respect grows a person treats others with dignity and courtesy.  As self respect increases self value is gained from serving others and not based on wealth, status, intelligence… 

The two are polar opposites…  I have been a school teacher for over 10 years in the public schools of America and I see the sense of entitlement that is entrenched in too many of my students because self esteem was taught at home and not self respect…  As a future parent, I don’t want my child to grow up thinking the world revolves around her.  I want my child’s self value to come from putting others before herself and making a difference in the lives of others.  That will have to be taught because naturally we have a sinful nature!  I don’t want her to be in the words of my dear grandfather “too big for her britches…” 

Genesis 5-6

Day 5
 
Genesis 5-6
 
6:22  Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
Can it really be that easy to find God's favor?  Surely there is some secret formula
one must attain for God to find favor with you!  Maybe If I memorize enough scripture
or go on enough mission trips God will find favor with me and bless the work of my hands.

Although mission trips are needed to to take the Gospel to the ends of the Earth and
Hiding God's word in your heart will help to know God more intimately, they are not
prerequisites for God to find favor with you.  What is it then? 

As I think back to all the heroes of the Bible who found favor with God it is Noah who
stands out the most to me...  Maybe that was because as a kid I just loved that story!
However the meaning of that story has changed for me since my childhood.  2 things stick
to me now more than when I was a young tike in Sunday school...

5 The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every
inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Out of all the men in the world why did Noah receive God's favor?  I believe there
where 3 simple reasons.

1) Noah was was blameless amoung men (6:9)
That simply means he was not living one way on Sunday and living like everyone else
Monday through Saturday...  We make God sick when we live this way! (Revelation 3:16)

2) Noah walked with God (6:9)

Literally speaking, in order to walk with someone you have to walk in the same direction
as they are walking...  What a great word picture!  Noah walked in the same direction as
God. Which simply meant Noah and God were in agreement... 

3) Noah listened to God and did what he said. (6:22)
God told Noah to build an ark 3 stories high and as long as a football field because he was
going to destoy the Earth with rain.  Remember Noah was 500 years old and had never seen
rain before in his life!  Noah did not have cut lumber or power tools like we have today. 
What God asked of Noah was no easy task.  God maybe asking you to do something that is not
so easy too...

...Maybe it is parents God is calling you to give up one of your 2 incomes so one of you can home school your kids
...Maybe it is to walk away from a comfortable job to start a Christian based business?
...Maybe it is to adopt an orphan?

Whatever it is God is telling you to do.  Listen to God and do what he says!  His favor awaits!

Genesis 4

Day 4

Genesis 4:3-7
3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

The other day I went to Jacksonville to take my wife to get a 3D sonogram of our baby…  She's got her daddy’s nose!  After the sonogram I wanted to go get a pair of glasses form Pearl Vision because we had a 75 dollar off coupon.  After stopping in Pearl Vision I realized neither of us had remembered to bring the coupon and the store did not take my insurance…  There are strikes 1 and 2 on me!  So I remembered that Wal- Mart is across the street and they have a vision center.  We go over there and find out my prescription had expired and I had to get a new eye exam.  The only problem…  Yup, you guessed it, No optometrist working today.  It was her day off.  There is strike 3…  As I walked back to car I admit I was a little bit frustrated; okay I was mad.  I looked at my wife and I said, “I guess I have to chalk this one up as I’m having a bad luck day!”  She said, “No, you’re having a poorly planned day…”

She was right!  I had no one to blame but myself!  It was my lack of planning that had caused all this mess and wasted time.  Do you see the connection?

It was Cain’s fault!  He did NOT give God his best!  He offered God his leftovers.  If he had done what is right, he would have been accepted…  Since we are in the same boat as Cain in regards to sin, what can we do? 

There is only one answer, you must rule over the sin…  How can you do this…?  I can think of 3 ways…

1.  Admit you have a problem with the sin (lust, lying, coveting …etc)   (James 5:16)

2.  Find someone you trust who is not struggling with that same sin and hold each other accountable…  (Proverbs 27:17)

3.  Memorize scripture to combat your sin nature.  – (Romans 12:1-2) 

One doing one or two of these things will only result in temporary gains.  Using all 3 will be the most effective…  Also being involved in a small group church community of believers is a plus because as you know we were never made to do life alone!