Afleveringen
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Are you ready for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Are you prepared to experience the power of God at work in your life and generation? Well, you need to get ready because God is about to shine a great light into a world of increasing darkness.
As we sense God is preparing us for a move of God that we have never seen before in our church and in our nation, it is helpful to see how the first disciples were prepared for the Day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. The coming of the Holy Spirit did not happen out of nowhere. It followed a process of preparation.
Acts 1 tells us that a lot happened in the 50 days between the resurrection of Jesus and the Day of Pentecost. For 40 of those days, they were in a period of accelerated teaching from Jesus. Then for the next days they had to take some actions. It took just over seven weeks for them to be positioned for what was to come. So much can happen in a short space of time. We see some significant factors in the preparation for the Day of Pentecost:
1. We need to clearly understand Godâs plan to establish His kingdom (Acts 1:3; Matthew 4:23; Luke 5:43)
2. We need to stay focussed on receiving the promised Holy Spirit (Acts⏠1:4-8)
3. We need to unite in continuous prayer (Acts 1:12-14)
4. We need to strengthen teams of 12 leaders (Acts 1:15-26)
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1. We need to clearly understand Godâs plan to establish His kingdom (Acts 1:3). Jesus made sure His disciples were thoroughly grounded in their understanding of the Kingdom of God - Godâs new society. Throughout His ministry Jesus had repeatedly taught about the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:23; Luke 5:43). In a kind of revision school before He returned to heaven, Jesus wanted His disciples to understand that He never came to start a new religious order. He came to announce a new whole new world order known as the kingdom of God. That is why He taught His disciples to pray, âYour Kingdom come, Your will be done.â Christianity is not just a matter of personal faith. Kingdom Christianity will affect every area of life and shape our vision, values and how we act and react. To truly be a subject of the Kingdom of God means that God rules over every area of our lives and that He wants us to advance His kingdom in every area of life: home life, business life, political life, cultural life, educational life etc. So we must understand the big vision that we are part of.
2. We need to stay focussed on receiving the promised Holy Spirit (Acts⏠1:4-8). Jesus was trying to impress on His disciples the need to be focussed on the Holy Spirit, but they were distracted by earthly and political matters. As Christians we too can easily focus too much on this life and the state of the world around us or even get caught up in trying to figure out when Jesus will return. Of course it is important to do our best as Jesus taught to be salt and light in the world. But the first thing is to be sure that we receive the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:7-8). Jesus knew the disciples needed the power of God in their lives and ministries and so do we. Just as we need to be baptised in water, so we also need to be immersed with the Holy Spirit. We need to receive a new dimension of spiritual authority when we know Godâs power has come on us. Only when this happens can we be energised to be witnesses for Jesus in cities and nations. Thatâs why we must wait for the promise and not rush off in our own strength. So letâs get real: how much power of the Holy Spirit do you have? If you need the Holy Spirit, then you need to really hunger and thirst for this happen. You must no longer live in defeat, allowing the devourer of your finances to steal from you, you cannot accept that the enemy steals your home, your health, your love. You must cry out to God for His power. This is how you get ready for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
3. We need to unite in continuous prayer (Acts 1:12-14). They all joined together constantly in prayer. They didnât just pray now and again. They prayed constantly. They kept on praying towards the fulfilment of their goal. And it was not some of them who prayed but all of them. Here was a group of people joined together with a common desire to seek God. This included:
- The disciples: All of the disciples in every life group should pray together.
- The women: These were not just ladies who lunched together but faithful women who prayed together.
- The family of Jesus: His mother and brothers all joined in the prayer. Itâs so powerful when families pray together.
Every move of the Holy Spirit can be traced to small groups of people getting serious about prayer (i.e.: 18th Century and John Wesley; Welsh Revival and Evan Roberts; Berkshire with Thomas Russell and John Ride). Such zealous praying is what is needed today at every level of the church and in every home and family. Revivals grow in ground that has been well prepared through prayer.
4. We need to strengthen teams of 12 leaders (Acts 1:15-26). Why was this so important? Because 12 represents governance. In the Old Testament when God wanted to establish the kingdom of Israel He chose 12 Tribes. When Jesus wanted to establish His Church, He chose 12 disciples and when one betrayed Him, they did not just keep going with the 11 faithful disciples. Peter said in Acts 1:21 that it was ânecessaryâ to replace him, so they considered those who had proved faithful in following Jesus. Then they chose Matthias to take the place of Judas. Now the 12 were back to full strength and soon they would stand together on the Day of Pentecost when 3000 people became believers. You need a strong team in place to deal with that kind of harvest. If we are to be ready for many new people to come to Christ and into the church, we too need to develop strong teams of 12 faithful people. So first be part of a team and then build a team of 12. Together we can be prepared to move forward when the Holy Spirit brings great growth and acceleration. Make the most of the time we have to get ready for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
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The reality of life is that we all need help, and that we need help at every age and stage of life. Jesus talked about the Holy Spirit as the one who would help us.
The Holy Spirit, is not an âitâ but a person: He is a He. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, but often described as the neglected person of the Trinity. Many have heard and know about the Father and the Son, but need to know a bit more about the Holy Spirit.
Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and He made incredible promises about Him which are as life-changing for us today as when they were first given:
1. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer (Joel 2:28-29; Numbers 11:25; Mark 1:8; John 16:6-7)
2. The promise of the Holy Spirit brings new life (Ezekiel 36:25-27; Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 2:1,4-5; John 16:8; John 3:6)
3. The Holy Spirit brings the presence of God to live inside us (John 14:16-18; John 15:9-10; Ephesians 3:14-19; John 14:27; John 15:11; Acts 16)
4. The Holy Spirit will be your teacher (John 14:26; Jeremiah 31:33-34; John 16:13)
5. The Holy Spirit gives us power to share our faith (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; John 7:37-38)
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1. The promise of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. Several centuries before Jesus was born, the prophet Joel recorded a great promise from God about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28-29). This is an astonishing promise that every Christian can take hold of. This promise is available for all people: it is equally for men and for women, and no-one is too young or too old to receive it. It is especially for those who serve in low positions. It is for the servants, slaves and handmaids. It is for ex-prisoners, those in debt, distress or discontented. No one is discounted. All are precious in Godâs sight. In the Old Testament, there were just over a hundred people who are recorded as receiving the Holy Spirit, and that includes the seventy elders who received a share of Moses power at the same time (Numbers 11:25). The anointing of the Holy Spirit came upon roughly one person every 120 years. But at the day of Pentecost, Joelâs prophetic promise was fulfilled and about 120 people were filled with the Holy Spirit in one go. Thatâs more people in one day than the previous four thousand years combined! And that was just the start. We are living in a time that has seen the largest number of spirit-filled Christians in the whole of history. John the Baptist knew Jesus would usher in the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8). Jesus Himself declared it to His disciples too (John 16:6-7). We are very fortunate that the invitation to receive the Holy Spirit is so generously offered to us, and we must never devalue it.
2. The promise of the Holy Spirit brings new life. 600 years before the Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the prophet Ezekiel also received a great promise from God about the life-changing work of the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:25-27). This means we can be cleansed from bad attitudes and sin, have our hard hearts softened with compassion, be restored to life and relationship with our Father in Heaven. The Bible makes it clear that we are all dead men walking until we receive Jesusâ death for us. Itâs not just that weâve committed sins, but our human hearts have turned completely away from the God who created us, feeling we are free to do anything we want (Romans 3:10-12). Jesus told His disciples he had to be handed over to death to pay our ransom (Ephesians 2:1,4-5). Now, while it was Jesusâ death on the cross that brings the payment for salvation, it is the Holy Spirit who comes alongside us to soften our hearts, urging and appealing to us to turn back to God (John 16:8):
- He convinces the world of sin: awakening your conscience to recognise how you have rebelled and done wrong;
- He convicts the world of righteousness: to see that your self-righteousness is filthy compared to the righteousness of God;
- He convicts the world of judgement: that youâre under a death sentence unless you surrender your life at the cross. But when you surrender to Jesus, you can freely receive His Spirit (John 3:6). When the Holy Spirit gives life to your spirit you are âborn againâ â no longer cut off from God because of sin, but restored into a spiritual relationship with Him.
3. The Holy Spirit brings the presence of God to live inside us. Jesus promises that you donât need to go it alone, for the Holy Spirit will always be with You (John 14:16). This brings great hope for anyone struggling in the battles of life. Whenever you feel overwhelmed or afraid you can just invite Him, âCome Holy Spiritâ, and experience His presence. This is more than a feeling, itâs a relationship you experience in your spirit (John 14:17). The presence of the Holy Spirit brings comfort (John 14:18). No matter who or what you might lose in this life, thereâs One person who can never die and you can never be separated from. For many, the grief of losing your parents is one of the toughest of times in life. But when the Holy Spirit lives inside us we know we have been adopted by a Heavenly Father, and this is such an anchor of comfort. The presence of the Holy Spirit brings love (John 15:9-10). This is not just a nice-to-have, itâs actually an instruction! God is love and we need to experience it. If youâre a born again Christian but youâre feeling distant from the love of God, thereâs an important detail in this command from Jesus: we need to keep His commands to remain in His love. Are you living in obedience to His commands? The Apostle Paul wrote extensively about love (e.g. Ephesians 3:14-19). The presence of the Holy Spirit brings peace (John 14:27). The peace that the Holy Spirit brings is not dependant on calm and tranquil circumstances but there to take hold of by faith, no matter what is going on around us. This is not a practice of mind over matter, it is about being filled with and surrendered to the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:6). The presence of the Holy Spirit brings joy (John 15:11) Paul and Silas, having just been wrongfully accused, arrested, severely flogged and locked in a dungeon, decided to sing their hearts out to God in a midnight praise party (Acts 16). Their joy was irrepressible!
4. The Holy Spirit will be your teacher (John 14:26). This is another promise that was also given through the prophets hundreds of years before Jesus was born (Jeremiah 31:33-34). As our Teacher, the Holy Spirit helps us to know Godâs character, to deeply understand the words of the Bible, and for His laws to become ingrained in our hearts and minds as a natural part of who we are. He is the âSpirit of Truthâ who will never lie to you (John 16:13). You can trust what He says. As we learn to stay humble and submitted to Him, we can listen to and hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit, and be so helped. He is our guide but we must always remember He is God. When we sense His prompting in our spirit we must choose to quickly obey. This is the gift of intuition. When we recognise Him speaking to us, we must trust and obey, not over-analyse and assess what He says or we can miss it.
5. The Holy Spirit gives us power to share our faith (Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit gives powerful, spiritual gifts to his children to make us effective in telling other people about this good news weâve received in Jesus. But thereâs a clause here: you canât expect power if you donât want to be His witness! If weâve got the same spirit as Jesus, and an obedient heart to serve His purposes, we can expect Him to help us minister with many of the same gifts as He did. We just need to stick close to and treasure the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today you can receive the Holy Spirit in a personal way to make God real to you at a level youâve never known before. It may be that you have heard about the Holy Spirit but need to know Him in a personal way or want to know Him more. If thatâs your desire, the Bible promises that you will receive Him, just ask right now (Acts 2:38-39; John 7:37-38).
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Who cares for you? Who do you care for? Itâs clear that the world and every person in it are in great need of love.
2000 years ago, an expert in the law asked Jesus: âwhat must I do to inherit eternal life?â (Luke 10:25). Whilst this question may have seemed well meaning, the Bible says he was actually a lawyer testing Jesus (Luke 10:26-29). The legal expert gave the right theological answer but had entirely missed the real heart of these commands to love God and love others with everything we are - no excuses.
Jesusâ next answer was brilliant, and it deals with the heart of Christianity. For your and my neighbour is anyone and everyone. To illustrate this, Jesus told a famous story about a man travelling on one of the most notorious roads in Israel. Many people had been attacked on this 17-mile road from Jerusalem to Jericho.
Everyone knew this road. Everyone knew it was best to take an alternative road. But one guy was on this road and was badly beaten up, left for dead (Luke 10:30-37). This story brought home what it really means to love your neighbour and who your neighbour is. In a few sentences Jesus showed how we must never become too busy or self-absorbed to care for one another as we go about our own business in life. Everyone is our neighbour, no matter what race, creed or colour.
We see some simple lessons which will help us show Godâs love to our neighbours too:
1. He saw the man and took pity on him (Luke 10:33)
2. He stopped what he was doing and went to the man (Luke 10:31-34)
3. He bandaged the manâs wounds (Luke 10:34; Isaiah 40:1)
4. He poured on oil and wine (Luke 10:34; Matthew 26:27-28)
5. He brought the man to safety and looked after him (Luke 10:34)
6. He sacrificed to care for the man (Luke 10:35; Matthew 25:40)
7. He made a plan to look after him in future (Luke 10:35-37; James 2:15-17; Acts 4:34; 1 John 4:20-21 MSG)
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1. He saw the man and took pity on him (Luke 10:33). He saw a human being who was attacked by robbers: so many people today have suffered physical violence and been robbed not only of possessions but of their hope and peace of mind; Stripped of his clothes: To be stripped is to be humiliated. Maybe you have been stripped of your dignity and self-image by being abused or by wrong actions of others; beaten: means you have lost the battle. Youâve been overpowered by enemies, addictions or circumstances; abandoned: means you are on your own, rejected and cast aside; left to die: means you are in such a bad way that itâs all over unless someone helps you. Of course this describes the experiences of Jesus, who gave His life so that we can have life. But it also describes the experiences of so many people and maybe also where you are at right now. Do we see the pain in peopleâs eyes? Do we see evil that is ruining people right before our eyes? So often we donât see the need. We need to stop and look in peopleâs eyes. For example the growing incidents of sex trafficking involving people working in public places has been called âhuman slavery hidden in plain sight.â Often the need is not hidden, we just arenât seeing it. The Good Samaritan is a wonderful example of love that begins with really seeing the needs of others.
2. He stopped what he was doing and went to the man (Luke 10:34). The Good Samaritan stopped, and we need to stop too. Stop what weâre doing. Stop our plans. See the need in front of us and actually do something about it! How often do we make excuses? There were two others in this story who also saw this victim (Luke 10:31-32). Not one but two religious leaders found the man, one after the other. When he saw them, the man must have thought his rescue had come! But both chose to distance themselves and continued walking by. Maybe they were too busy. Maybe they didnât want to get dirty. Maybe they thought the whole situation was just too risky. For whatever reason, they didnât stop and go to him. But then a sworn enemy of the Jews came: a Samaritan. Yet this enemy, from a race despised by the Jews, came to the rescue. Both priest and Levite here show how it is possible to have a religious identity without really having a love for people in need.
Before we condemn them, it would be better to examine our own hearts: how much need do we see without doing anything about it? How easy is it for you to focus on your own life when actually you could be helping a lot more people? If we really see a need it should lead us to stop and go to people.
3. He bandaged the manâs wounds (Luke 10:34). So many people have wounds in their hearts: wounds of abuse, wounds caused by cruel words, wounds from rejection, betrayal and broken relationships. He put bandages on the man to stop the bleeding. How can we put bandages on and minister to peopleâs hearts? We can do what God said to the Jewish people and speak words of comfort, words of hope (Isaiah 40:1). Speak kindly to people. Show them the love of Jesus. Let them see it in your eyes, words and actions.
4. He poured on oil and wine (Luke 10:34). The Good Samaritan used oil and wine to sooth and disinfect the wounds. We always need to be sensitive and gentle with people whose wounds may or may not be obvious. The oil is widely understood to symbolise the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, priests, prophets and kings were anointed with oil and the Holy Spirit would come upon them. We receive the Holy Spirit when we give our lives to Jesus, believing in His death and resurrection, and accepting Him as our Lord. The Holy Spirit compels us to see Godâs kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Through the power of the Holy Spirit working through us we can see peopleâs lives transformed. The wine symbolises the blood of Jesus (Matthew 26:27-28). Derek Prince writes of the Divine Exchange that we can receive: forgiveness for punishment; healing instead of wounds; righteousness for sinfulness; life for death; glory for shame; poverty for riches; and acceptance instead of rejection. The blood of Jesus has power to transform lives and situations.
5. He brought the man to safety and looked after him (Luke 10:34). The Good Samaritan did everything he could to look after the person in need in front of him and take him out of that dangerous place. Would you use your nice car to get a bleeding, dirty person to hospital, or call a taxi? In that moment, his own needs and comfort took second place. The early days of a personâs recovery or new life as a Christian need careful oversight. He changed his plans, his priorities, and was willing to personally commit to caring for the other man, to ensure he was out of danger and could make a full recovery.
6. He sacrificed to care for the man (Luke 10:35). Real care requires real sacrifice. He paid a significant sum of money â 2 daysâ wages - to ensure this total stranger was well cared for. Jesus said we must go out of our way to care for the people that no one else cares for. It will always cost us something to care. It will cost us time, effort and maybe cash to do what Jesus said we must: feed the hungry, give the thirsty a drink, look after the homeless, clothe the naked, care for the sick and visit those in prison (Matthew 25:40). As a church weâve always given generously to people in need (e.g. support during the pandemic in South Africa; 40 years+ supporting schools and projects like clean water wells in Burkina Faso). Are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, your plans or âquiet night inâ, or your comfort to really care for those in need?
7. He made a plan to look after him in future (Luke 10:35). He consolidates him, showing him aftercare. The Good Samaritan doesnât just leave him. He intended to return to help his recovery. We too must be faithful in ministering to people at all stages of their development. This is real Christianity. Every action of the Good Samaritan showed that he really loved and cared. And Jesus said âGo and do likewiseâ. Real Christianity then is for sure about words, but it is also shown by our actions (James 2:15-17). Thank God that the early church modelled this all-round care for people (Acts 4:34). All through history and still today, many of the greatest social care projects and humanitarian reforms have been led and supported by Christians. Great movements like the Salvation Army were started by Christians and continue to be supported by those who care for peopleâs bodies as well as their souls. Today, God wants you to know that you are cared for. But He wants to make us also His agents of care to show in every way His compassion for the world. Our first love for God must spread to all people - beyond the bounds of age, race, and social status (1 John 4:20-21 MSG).
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Each woman, as well as each man, has a great destiny. Today woman are often devalued in the world, but the Bible puts the highest value on women.
Right back in Genesis 3:15 God said: âAnd I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; It will crush your head, and you will strike its heel.â God was saying that the seed of woman would crush the head of Satan. This is a promise that was fulfilled when Christ came into the world, born of a woman, to defeat Satan.
Mary, who was just a poor young woman, knew that she was highly favoured to give birth to the Messiah. Throughout the ministry of Jesus, we see that He gave high value to women and treated them with great kindness. As a result, many women followed Jesus and supported his ministry financially. Women were last to stay at the Cross and the first to the empty tomb. All through history women have been some of the strongest and most faithful followers of Jesus. You too can be a Christian who can make a big difference in the lives of many people, starting with your own family.
Rahab was a woman with a bad past who gave her family a great future (Joshua 2:2-6). The Bible says that she was a prostitute. Her life was not very pretty and she was socially worthless. But although her past was bad her future was bright, and she is mentioned as one of the great examples of faith in Hebrews 11.
She was a woman who was not from God's people. She was part of one of the people that the Lord had told the Israelites that they would conquer. In fact they were a people that was going to disappear, that was her destiny along with her people in Jericho. But her storyâs ending was totally different because of the decisions she made. So what led her to make completely out of the ordinary decisions? What led her to prefer God's people over her own people?
1. She feared God (Joshua 2:8-11; Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 31:30)
2. She asked for the mercy of God (Joshua 2:12-16; Hebrews 4:16)
3. She chose to obey and trust God (Joshua 2:17-21; James 2:24-26; Hebrews 11:31)
4. She saved her whole family because of her obedience to God (Joshua 6:22-25)
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1. She feared God (Joshua 2:8-11). This woman knew that God was real. She knew that the Israelites had seen Godâs awesome power at the Red Sea and when they destroyed other cities. Rahab and her people were so fearful that they were now coming towards Jericho. What really scared them was they understood that the God of the Israelites was âGod in heaven above and on the earth below.â Rahab had supreme respect and submission to Jehovah, the God of the Israelites, above the gods of her people. We too should have a proper respect for God (Proverbs 9:10; Proverbs 31:30). Rahabâs destiny started to change from the moment she recognised the greatness and power of God. The new value that was coming to her life started when she valued God.
2. She asked for the mercy of God (Joshua 2:12-16). Rahab feared God but she also believed that she could receive kindness from these Israelite spies. She probably didnât receive a lot of kindness in her life, but she still hoped for kindness for herself and her family. She knew that her only hope was to plead for mercy and thatâs what the spies promised. This is a great picture of how we should come to God because He is a God of love and mercy. He is full of love who wants to forgive us of our sins and save us from destruction (Hebrews 4:16).
3. She chose to obey and trust God. Rahab decided to completely come on to Godâs side. She did what she had been told to do (Joshua 2:17-21). Her trust in God caused her to take action to obey God. Rahabâs faith did not remain just a thought because that would be a dead faith; it would only be an illusion (James 2:24-26). Her faith was seen by her actions. She hid the spies. She made an agreement with them. She tied the red cord to the window. She didn't wait for the spies to go back and give their report. She didn't delay until she knew that the Israelites were about to invade Jericho. She believed and acted immediately. And thatâs what we must do: we donât have to put a red cord in our windows, but we do have to believe that the red blood that Jesus shed at the cross can save us from our sins. We need to identify with Christ now. We need to start immediately to live a new life as a believer. Rahab, despite her terrible past, understood that this was her moment of decision and from that day on she lived accordingly. Her faith changed her value and that took her off the list of prostitutes and onto the list of Bible heroes (Hebrews 11:31). Many of us have heard the word of God and may have been coming to church for a long time. Maybe you have heard many promises from God but you have to come to the moment when you really believe them yourself and take action to follow Jesus and to live differently for Him. That is what Rahab experienced; her moment of decision arrived and so has yours.
4. She saved her whole family because of her obedience to God. In the moment when the walls of Jericho were falling and everyone around them were being killed, Rahab and all her family were rescued (Joshua 6:22-25). Because of Rahabâs faith and actions, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters, and anyone closely connected to her were saved. Today not only can you be saved but you can be the one person who changes the future of all your family and friends. It doesnât matter if you had a bad background. When you believe in Jesus and obey Him, you will see Godâs goodness and mercy in your own life and in the lives of all your loved ones. What the Lord did for Rahab, He can do for you and your family. Just put your faith in Jesus. And do it today.
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God has great plans for young people. Christianity has certainly accelerated when the Holy Spirit was poured out on many young people.
Peter said in Acts 2:17, âGod says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.â All through history young people have been key to spiritual revolutions in their generation (e.g. the story of Billy Graham; the âJesus Revolutionâ film).
In China, they are experiencing perhaps the greatest growth in the Christian faith. According to a recent estimate, more than half of China's one billion population are under 20. China is a nation of young people, so it is not surprising that the house churches have a preponderance of people in their 20's and 30's. Some sources estimate over 72,000 people a day are being converted in China.
Across the world there are indications of a significant move of the Holy Spirit in our generation. In the UK the time is ripe for many young people to discover the new life and hope that Jesus promised. A BBC news report suggested nearly three-quarters of young Brits identify as having no religion.
So how can todayâs generation of young people both inside and outside of the church receive a spiritual awakening? We can find some answers by considering a dramatic story recorded in Acts 20.
After leaving the great city of Ephesus where the gospel made a big impact, the apostle Paul and his companions had travelled in Greece and modern-day Turkey, encouraging many people. Then they came to a place called Troas, a Greek port city, where one young man called Eutychus, probably aged between 8 and 14, was saved from what could have been a tragic and early end to his life (Acts 20:7-11).
The great apostle Paul was preaching on a short visit where crowds came in to hear him. He had so much to share and, as Luke writes, he talked on and on! The young Eutychus became very sleepy and fell out of an upstairs window to his death. Panic arose, but the Apostle Paul did not worry, he knew that this was not the end for this young man. And the difficult situations that many young people find themselves in today are not terminal either. God has a great love and purpose for each young person and is ready to bring a great spiritual awakening to this generation of young people. Letâs look at some lessons here:
1. Young people are often in great danger (Acts 20:8-9; 1 Peter 5:8 MSG; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6)
2. Young people need to be brought back to life (Acts 20:9-10)
3. Young people need to be looked after by the family of God (Acts 20:11-12)
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1. Young people are often in great danger. Your surroundings can make you spiritually sleepy (Acts 20:8-9). Most likely the combination of heat from the candles and the people crowded into an upstairs room, created an atmosphere to make you feel drowsy. Today the constant bombardment of sexual images, bad language, rebelliousness, peer pressure, anti-Christian media bias can slowly cause you to go to sleep. You may be in a more dangerous position than you imagine (Acts 20:9) Eutychus was in the room with everyone else hearing great teaching. Eutychus was in the right place, right? He was present in this church meeting, but he wasnât completely in the room, he was sat on the edge of a window. The edge is a dangerous place to be, in this instance practically and physically. But when we read the Word, we see that God doesnât want us to be half in and half out. Unhealthy influences and relationships, a love for self, materialism, stubbornness: These are just a few areas where we can find ourselves not sitting where God wants us to be. We have to be aware there is a great spiritual battle for every life (1 Peter 5:8 MSG; 1 Corinthians 16:13). Are you spiritually on guard? Are you aware of where you are positioned right now? If you want to experience the move into the purpose of God, you must come off the ledge. You may have been troubled, you may feel like you have fallen away. But today is the day where you can come alive again in the spirit and receive great things from God (1 Thessalonians 5:6). If you are spiritually asleep you can fall. Itâs time to wake up.
2. Young people need to be brought back to life (Acts 20:9-10). Eutychus fell and he fell a long way, all looked lost. As they went down to find him, they picked him up dead - he was lifeless. But when the people of faith are in the building what seems lost - dead and gone - can be brought back to life. Paul came down from ministering to the crowd of people upstairs and threw himself on this young man here before him, and he embraced him. This was similar to the story of Elisha bringing a boy back to life in the Old Testament. He didnât care that his message was interrupted and wasnât intimidated by the circumstance, he had great faith and did not accept that this young man was dead. Where others saw death, Paul saw life. He spoke faith over him. Donât just see people as they are, but what they can be. We as a church need to see what the youth can be. Donât just leave it to others. Declare life over the youth. If you have fallen asleep, if you feel spiritually dead, God wants to bring you back to life. God is not finished with you. Just like He had compassion and grace for Eutychus, He sees where you are and has the same for you too. He wants to embrace you and bring you back to life.
3. Young people need to be looked after by the family of God. They must be brought into fellowship with people who are focused on Jesus (Acts 20:11). They must also be brought home (Acts 20:12). For those of you that are standing for your friends, your children, your family; after all of this had happened, Eutychusâ family were blown away at how Eutychus had been brought back to life. Have faith for your children and be confident that God has a plan for them. Donât stop interceding for them, donât give up encouraging and supporting them. Eutychus was revived because he had the right people around him. We need to bring the young people back into the house of God. Now is the time, now is your time.
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History has witnessed many amazing moments of change. Yet there have been no events, no discoveries and no inventions that have had more impact on the world than what happened on that first Easter in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.
For the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ shifted forever the worldâs moral and spiritual axis and opened a whole new age of freedom and hope. The darkness of Good Friday was replaced by the bright new dawn of Easter Sunday. Sadness was replaced by joy. Life had conquered death.
The big truth of Christianity is that Jesus certainly was dead but that he didnât stay dead (Matthew 28:5-6). In other words, the Easter story is fact not fiction (see: Lee Strobel, âThe Case for Christâ).
The most compelling reasons for belief, however, are so often not through intellectual arguments, but by seeing the power of Christ at work in real people which literally billions of people have experienced. Easter changes everything and can give us all new life.
1. Easter changes our past (1 Corinthians 15:14-22; Matthew 27:51; Romans 5:7-8; 1 John 4:10; Ephesians 1:7; Isaiah 53:4-5; Psalm 34:18)
2. Easter changes our present (Matthew 28:20; John 20:25; John 20:29; Luke 24:13-16,32)
3. Easter changes everything about our future (Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:18; Revelation 1:17-18; John 11:25-26; John 14:19)
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1. Easter changes our past. The great writer CS Lewis, in his parable the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, said that when the lion Aslan, representing Christ died, death started âworking backward.â In other words, God can reverse our history and cause us to be justified with God âjust as if Iâd never sinned.â Through the shedding of the pure blood of Jesus and His resurrection, our hearts can be cleansed from past sins and healed from past hurts. We can be forgiven for past sins (1 Corinthians 15:14-22). When Jesus died, He made possible access to God which had previously been impossible. The 90-foot-high thick curtain blocking access to the most Holy Place in Jerusalemâs temple was miraculously ripped in two from top to bottom symbolising the removal of the barrier between a Holy God and sinful humanity (Matthew 27:51). At the Cross Jesus Christ paid the full price of sin and made a way for repentant former sinners to come into fellowship with a holy God (Hebrews 10:19-22). Jesus took on Himself the punishment due for our sins (Romans 5:7-8; 1 John 4:10; Ephesians 1:7). Because of Godâs grace and love for every person, Jesus made it possible for us to be totally forgiven. The good news of Easter is that whatever sins you have committed, whatever mistakes you have made, you can be forgiven by God for every sin and washed clean and made a new person from the inside out. Your past will no longer define you. You can be made new in Christ. You can also be healed from past griefs (Isaiah 53:4-5). On the cross Jesus bore our sorrows as well as our sins and He wants to carry yours and comfort you (Psalm 34:18). Today give your grief to God and open your heart to receive His healing. You do not have to live any longer with the pain of your past.
2. Easter changes our present. The big shock for the first disciples was that Jesus was no longer dead. They were not alone as they had imagined. Jesus was with them, and He promises to be with us (Matthew 28:20). Jesus is with us despite our failures. Peter was full of guilt for how he had panicked and denied the Lord. But he found that the Lord was looking out for him. In Galilee Jesus had breakfast with Peter and recommissioned him to be one of the great leaders of the first century church. Jesus is with us when we doubt. Thomas wasnât there where Jesus first appeared to his fellow disciples, and he was cynical about their report (John 20:25). But his doubts disappeared when Jesus appeared before him and invited Thomas to see for himself that He was real (John 20:29). Jesus is with us when we donât realise it (Luke 24:13-16, 32). Today you may or may not feel the presence of God, but you can. For He is nearer to you than you think. He is the good shepherd who doesnât want us to walk alone through life. Thatâs why we need to reach out to Him and always ask the Holy Spirit to let you know that He is always with you and in all situations.
3. Easter changes everything about our future. As the song says: âBecause He lives, I can face tomorrow/Because He lives, all fear is gone/Because I know He holds the future/And life is worth the living/Just because He lives!â Jesus has gone ahead of you in life (Matthew 28:7). Just like a good shepherd goes ahead of his sheep, so we can have joy in our lives by knowing that Christ has gone ahead of us in life. Jesus came to earth to experience what we experience and show us how to conquer over all that life can throw at us (Hebrews 2:18). There is nothing on lifeâs road that God is unfamiliar with and He can guide us through all troubles and trials, highs and lows. Godâs grace is available for every situation because He knows the ways we take. Jesus has also gone ahead of you in death. Death, the final enemy was put to death, through Christâs death and resurrection (Revelation 1:17-18). Through the death and resurrection of Christ, the curse and power of death have been broken. You donât have to fear death anymore. When you die and are buried or cremated itâs not the end. For the Christian, death is the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christâs presence. To know that truth brings great joy and confidence through the passing years. On earth Jesus showed his authority over sickness, evil spirits and even storms. But it was in his death that he showed his ultimate authority (John 11:25-26; John 14:19).
Billy Graham said: âThe Christian has it all ways, abundant life now and eternal life to come.â
As his time of death drew near at the age of 99 he said: âI know I'm going to heaven. I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation because of what Jesus did on that cross. He died for us and was raised by God. When you read I am dead donât you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.â
Jesusâ death and resurrection then has big implications for our past, present, and future. Since Jesus came back from death we also can come back in life. We can all have a total new start in life. We can have a new identity as a Christian. We can have a brand-new history and a very different destiny. Easter changes everything and Jesus can change you from this Easter Sunday.
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One of the most difficult and significant decisions that you will ever need to make in your life is the decision to fully surrender control of your life to God. For when you stop struggling to be in control of every detail of your life, your family and future, you will discover that Godâs plans are far better than any of your plans and that His ways are higher than your ways.
Many times in the Bible we see that great breakthroughs and blessings come when people decide to stop fighting on their own and let God take charge of every challenge and every crisis (e.g. Esther 4:16; Luke 22:42).
As we conclude our series on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we see it was only when Jacob finally gave up what was most precious to him that he unlocked great and wonderful blessings for himself and for all his family. As we have already learned in our series on God of each generation, Jacob was a man who liked to be in control. And if he wasnât in control, he would do whatever he could to be the boss of his own destiny, even if that meant deceiving his brother, his father-in-law and his ageing father.
Important as it is for us to decide to take responsibility for our lives, ultimately we are not the masters of our fate. However much you may consider yourself a self-made man or woman, there are experiences and events that are beyond your control.
Jacob experienced one such moment when his brother who had vowed to kill him for deceiving him, was heading his way with 400 men. This was why Jacob had his night of prayer and wrestling with God. But despite the blessing he received in that encounter, and the powerful promises that God had given him in a dream, there was still one area of his life that he wanted to keep control of. And it is to this part of Jacobâs life that we now turn to learn some important lessons about letting go to let God have full control of your life.
1. Jacob found it so hard to let go (Genesis 42:33-38; Genesis 29:20)
2. Jacob finally decided to let go (Genesis 43:14)
3. Jacob was stunned by Godâs blessings when he let go (Genesis 39-45; Genesis 45:25-28; Romans 8:28)
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1. Jacob found it so hard to let go. Jacobâs family had been saved from starving when 10 of his 12 sons went to Egypt to buy grain. They had personally met with the powerful ruler who controlled all the food supplies, but he questioned them about their family and accused them of spying. When they returned to Jacob, they told their father how harsh he had been with them (Genesis 42:33-36). Jacobâs reaction to this news was immediately negative. No matter what this powerful figure in Egypt was saying, this was a total no go area for Jacob. Jacob was blaming his sons for Simeon being kept as a hostage in Egypt and for the loss of his favourite son Joseph who they had led him to believe had been killed by a wild animal. And now they wanted him to let go of his second favourite son, Josephâs younger brother Benjamin. In all Jacob had 12 sons through four different mothers, but it was the two who were born to him and his wife Rachel that were closest to his heart (Genesis 29:20). Joseph and Benjamin were results of Jacobâs love for Rachel but tragically she died giving birth to Benjamin and Jacob was devastated. Benjamin was the last surviving link to his lovely Rachel and an enduring comfort after losing Joseph. He had loved and lost Rachel. He had loved and lost Joseph. He did not intend to lose his last surviving great love, Benjamin (Genesis 42:38). Jacob struggled so much to let go. And maybe you do too. So, what or who do you find it is so hard to let go of? Is it a child, a parent, a loved one you have lost? Is it the pain of grief? Is it anger at the way you have been treated? Is it a grudge, a resentment, an argument? Is it an image and reputation? Is it money, comfort, a hobby, a sport, a friendship? What are you holding on to deep in your heart? You must not hold on if you want to be opened to all the new things that God has for you.
2. Jacob finally decided to let go. Jacob resisted for as long as he could, even though a long time passed, and Simeon was still in an Egyptian prison. By now a return to Egypt was now urgently needed for more grain. That meant Benjamin had to go on the trip with them as the Egyptian ruler had insisted. It was Judah, the fourth born son, who tried to persuade his aged Dad to make the decision that he so feared. This was the same Judah to who had convinced his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave rather than kill him. Although his dad knew nothing about this, Jacob finally accepted the promise of Judah to take personal responsibility for Benjamin. Here at last is Jacobâs moment of surrender where he finally threw himself on to Godâs mercy and he gave in to let events take their course (Genesis 43:14). And thatâs what you need to do also. There comes a time when you must let go of your pain, your fear and defensiveness. The point of your breakthrough is the moment you fully put yourself in the hands of the Lord. This is the time when you must stop struggling and let God be God in your life. You need to decide to surrender everything to the Lord: your sins, your sorrows, your fears, pain, hopes dreams, and your control. This is how you will find peace and open the door to Godâs purposes for you.
3. Jacob was stunned by Godâs blessings when he let go. The 11 brothers went back to Egypt for food and to face the wrath of the ruler who had kept their brother in prison, but they made the most incredible discovery in the most dramatic circumstances (Genesis 39-45). For the powerful ruler of Egypt who controlled the food supply for millions, the man they so feared, was in fact their brother Joseph who they had sold into Egypt years before. When he revealed himself to them the first question he asked was âis dad still alive?â. At first, they were shocked and feared for their lives, but they found that Joseph had forgiven them. They spent a lot of time crying over each other and finally Joseph asked them to go back to his dad and tell him that the son who he thought had died long ago was still very much alive. Meanwhile Jacob who had been waiting and hoping for the return of his sons, especially Benjamin, was about to have the greatest shock of his life (Genesis 45:25-28) No wonder the Bible says that âJacob was stunned; he did not believe them.â How could this possibly be true? How could there still be hope after so much pain? How could circumstances that had been so negative turn out so positive? How could God turn around such a mess? Yet after more than 22 years of not knowing what had happened to each other, father and son were reunited (Genesis 46:29). As soon as Joseph appeared before Jacob, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. Years after Jacob thought everything was finished, he discovered that God was still at work when everything seemed lost; he hadnât known it but all through his pain and grief God was always still faithfully continuing with His plans. God was at work in ways that He could never have imagined; not only was Joseph alive, but he was the ruler of all Egypt. Only God could have orchestrated such a turn of events. God brought great healing to hurting hearts, both his and Josephâs. God brought great reconciliation in his family and prospered them greatly. God worked to save multitudes from starvation and prepared Jacob to bless future generations. Jacob blessed Pharaoh, his own sons and blessed his grandsons. God fulfilled everything He had promised. When Jacob died, after 17 years in Egypt it was not only Joseph who wept over him, but all the high officials of Egypt accompanied him and his brothers to bury Jacob in a field bought by his grandfather Abraham back in the land of Canaan that God had repeatedly promised to him and his descendants. And so the faithfulness of God, throughout all the twists and turns of Jacobâs life, continued through each generation, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to Joseph and beyond and it continues to this moment.
Today you need to know that the God of Jacob can be your God too. You may have thought your purpose in life is over or that you can never recover from your pain. But God is not finished with you. God has had His hand on you through every season of life. God has much better things in store for you than you can imagine. Today put your full trust in the Lord, leave your fear, give up your control, get rid of your arguments, and let God work out his perfect purposes for you and in you and through you. For just as Jacob saw Godâs good plans unfold in his life, so we who are followers of Jesus will too (Romans 8:28). And thatâs why we can do no better than to fully surrender our lives to God and always trust Him.
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Do you ever feel lonely? Do you sometimes think that your problems and pressures are about to overwhelm you? Do you ever wonder where God is? There is good news for you: God is much closer than you know.
As we continue our inspirational series on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob from the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we see it has much relevance for us today. Genesis is an action packed book full of stories about a God who is good, faithful and wants to bless you, your family and every generation. Maybe you especially need to hear today that God loves you, knows you and watches over you.
In Genesis 28, after Jacob received the blessing from his father Isaac, he went from Beersheba to Harran (southeastern Turkey, near Syria today). As night fell, he rested using a stone for a pillow, and had an amazing dream of a stairway rooted on earth with its top touching heaven, with angels going up and down. Above it, the Lord appeared, reiterating the covenantal promises made to Abraham and Isaac, now extending them to Jacob and his descendants. God promised the land on which Jacob was lying, numerous descendants, blessings for all earthâs peoples through him, and divine presence and protection.
When he awoke, Jacob called the place "the house of God" and "the gate of heaven" (Genesis 28:16-17). He took the stone he slept on and set it up as an altar, anointing it with oil, and naming the place Bethel. Jacob then committed himself to God, promising that the Lord would be his God and he would give a tenth of everything he received back to Him. This story not only marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's personal spiritual journey but also in the unfolding narrative of God's covenant with His people.
Today, God is much closer than you know. He is near, even when you are not aware of it (Matthew 4:17). We see:
1. God wants to speak to you while you rest (Genesis 28:10-11; Exodus 3:4; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 34:18; Matthew 11:29; Psalms 46:10)
2. God wants to give you a dream (Genesis 28:12-15; Matthew 6:10; Romans 8:31)
3. God wants you to experience amazing grace (Genesis 28:16-22; Psalm 18:2; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Mark 12:30-31)
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1. God wants to speak to you while you rest (Genesis 28:10-11). Many times we are looking ahead to the future, busy with the daily reality of our lives. Jacob certainly had a lot of drama going on. Heâd just received the blessing and promise from his father in questionable circumstances, heâd seriously fallen out with his brother, heâs leaving his home and is on a mission to find a wife. But it is on this journey in the wilderness, at night, when heâs trying to rest in a hard place that God chooses to speak to him. God speaks to us when we simply rest. He speaks to us when we are quiet in ourselves. He speaks in the wilderness seasons (Genesis 28:10). God speaks to Jacob when he is out on his own in the middle of nowhere! It was when he was on his own that he came to know how close God was. This is so often the time we discover that God is with us in a powerful way. This was also Mosesâ experience, 40 years in the desert when God appeared to him through the burning bush (Exodus 3:4). The wilderness is the place of preparation. It is the place of character formation. Itâs the place where we grow in humility and come to truly recognise our need of God, learning to rely on Him. Maybe youâre not seeing everything you want to see in your life right now. Maybe you havenât achieved the goals you want to achieve. Maybe youâre not where you thought youâd be. Well good news, youâre in the right place for God to speak to you in a powerful way! He speaks in the dark times (Genesis 28:11). When did God speak to him? It was night. God was close to him in the darkness. We can all go through dark times in life. There can be times in life that are intimidating, where you canât see the way forward. You can experience fear, heaviness and maybe even depression. But just as day follows night, Godâs word gives hope even in the darkest of times (Psalm 30:5). God speaks in the hard times (Genesis 28:11). In the hard times of life, God speaks powerfully (Psalm 34:18). In this hard time, Jacob suddenly realised that God was much closer than he had understood. But he only had this revelation when he was resting. We must also learn to rest to hear the voice of God and to draw near to Him (Matthew 11:29; Psalms 46:10). Today, you need to slow down and listen. Find a quiet place in your heart and find a quiet place. So today, this week, this season, how busy are you? You need to slow down and find rest in your spirit for God to speak to you.
2. God wants to give you a dream. Jacob had a dream that changed his life. God is closer than you know and wants to give you a dream for your life. A dream that is supernatural (Genesis 28:12-13). Whilst he was resting, he had a vision of the glory of God. Angels were all around. God was over all. Heaven was touching earth. Jacob saw the bigger picture that there is a spiritual world outside of our natural experiences. Jesus says we must pray for an experience like this in the Lordâs Prayer (Matthew 6:10). As believers we need to be launched into a life of visions and dreams. We need a much more spiritual and supernatural mentality (See David Yonggi Cho âThe Fourth Dimensionâ and Pastor Cesar Castellanos 'Dream And You Will Win The Worldâ). Our own pastors in Kingâs Church International, Pastors Wes & Adriana Richards, constantly encourage us to dream big dreams and believe that God wants to give us the very best in our lives. God is close and He will give you a powerful dream for your life. But for us to receive this dream, we need to be still, we need to rest. When you have a revelation of the greatness and goodness of God you can live with boldness, confidence and purpose. God will give you a dream that is based on a promise (Genesis 28:13-14). Jacobâs dream was of the most amazing partnership, promise, and plan. He had heard this from his father, but now he was hearing it and receiving it in his spirit from God. This is also Godâs promise to you. Just as God blessed and multiplied Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He wants to bless you and your family so that you can flourish in life and be all that you are called to be. God will also give you a dream that shapes your life (Genesis 28:15). Jacob from this point knew that God was with him. He was close and would be with him wherever he went and whatever he faced. You need to have this dream and live with the knowledge that God is with you, He is close, He watches over you and is with you wherever you go. He will not leave you and will do what He has promised (Romans 8:31).
3. God wants you to experience amazing grace. Grace is the unmerited favour of God at work in your life. Jacobâs dream and revelation changed his life. Grace awakened his spirit and changed his perspective (Genesis 28:16-18). This was like Jesusâ disciplesâ experience after the resurrection when they walked with Him on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32). Jacob realised that God was close to him and he wasnât even aware of it. He realised the hard place was a holy place and God was deeply at work in his life and would be with him every step of the way. Jacobâs whole mentality, perspective and culture changed through this encounter. Grace gave him a spirit of worship (Genesis 28:18-19). He went from sleeping on a rock to realising that the Lord is his Rock (Psalm 18:2). His worry was transformed to worship (2 Corinthians 3:17). Your hard place can become the place of praise and freedom where your vision of God is bigger than your present circumstances. Grace inspired Jacob to give his best (Genesis 28:20-22). Jacob decided to make God the Lord of his life. He was committed to establishing the house of the Lord and decided that, as a sign he will give his best, he will give back to God a tenth of everything he receives. The heart behind the principle of tithing is that we give God our best and seek Him first (Mark 12:30-31). Today, God is much closer than you know. God wants to speak to you, to give you big dreams and visions and for you to see that He is over and above everything. God wants you to have a supernatural encounter so His many promises to you can be fulfilled. Decide to slow down and receive a fresh revelation from God that will change your life forever.
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In our series on Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we see how God had a great plan for every generation. He made promises of limitless multiplication and of the land of Israel to the Jewish people.âšBut each generation had to learn how to take hold of their blessing. The third generation, Jacob, also had to press through to receive his blessing.
God warns against praying with vain repetition, saying the words but theyâre not from the heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Jacob was a man who got Godâs attention with a breakthrough prayer and in doing so got his life, family and future back on track (Genesis 32:24-28).
This is a message of hope for you and for your family. You might be âon the runâ from God, ducking and diving, putting on a brave face to cover your desperation or wondering if thereâs a future for you. Well God has not forgotten you. God loves you, He still has a plan for your life, and He wants to introduce you to the new life He has for you, just like He did for Jacob. Jacob didnât assume Godâs blessing on his life was automatic. To receive his blessing, we see some key points from Jacobâs life:
1. Jacob had to be brought to a place of desperation (Genesis 25:22-23; Genesis 5:24; Genesis 25:29-33; Genesis 27; Genesis 31; Genesis 32:7-8; Ephesians 2:8)
2. Jacob had to cry out in his desperation (Psalm 34:17; Genesis 32:24; Psalm 145:19)
3. Jacob had to push through (Genesis 32:25-28)
4. Jacob was changed forever (Genesis 32:27-32)
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1. Jacob had to be brought to a place of desperation. Jacob had a past that had caught up with him. He had been a deceiver and he had been deceived. After a long time of barrenness, his mother Rebekah became pregnant with twins (Genesis 25:22-23).âšBeing born first meant that Esau was entitled to the birthright - the inheritance, wealth and blessings from his father. The name Jacob means deceiver/supplanted/heel grabber (be careful how you name your children!) - and Jacob went on to live up to this name (Genesis 5:24). To get ahead of his older brother, Jacob tricked Esau into selling him his birthright (Genesis 25:29-33). Then, when his father Isaac was at his lifeâs end, he wanted to bless his firstborn son, but Jacob and his mother plotted to steal the blessing from Esau. Jacob successfully conned his father into giving him Esauâs blessing, which enraged Esau (Genesis 27). Jacob had become a deceiver and got what he wanted. But sure enough, when he was forced to leave the family home, he began to reap what he had sown. Whilst working for his uncle Laban, Jacob was deceived into marrying the wrong woman after a 7 year wait, and then had to work another 7 years to get the wife he had been promised (Genesis 29). Additionally, his uncle Laban changed his wages 10 times (Genesis 31). It was at this time he decided to return to his fatherâs household and face up to his past that was catching up with him. So Jacob sent a message to his brother along with some gifts to pacify him.âšâšThe message came back to him that Esau was on his way to meet him with 400 men, and Jacob was terrified. Desperation brings us to a place where we acknowledge our deep need for the Lord. For Jacob that was after his brother had vowed to kill him, forcing him to run for his life. Trouble drives us to our knees (Genesis 32:7-8). Jacob prepared for the worst and tried to put things right by sending gifts ahead of himself. Spiritual death comes when we think we have everything under control. When you are brought to a place of desperation, you realise your breakthrough isnât going to come from your own efforts. You realise that something bigger than you is needed. God is not looking for our performance, Heâs looking for our surrender, our admission that weâre undone without Him. Jacob had to come to a new humility. God is not out to humiliate us, but to bring us to reality so that He can give us a brand new life (Ephesians 2:8). What matters in your crisis is who you turn to. If that person is Jesus, your life will start from the moment you invite Him in and totally surrender to Him. Turn to Jesus in your desperation today.
2. Jacob had to cry out in his desperation. Alone in the wilderness, after he had sent all his family ahead of him, Jacob had the ultimate restless night. There is nothing that will develop your prayer life like being under pressure. We have to get to the place where we cry out to God (Psalm 34:17). That night the Lord visited Jacob and the Bible says that Jacob wrestled with him until daybreak. Jacob, in his weakness and fear, finally faced God (Genesis 32:24). Some things must be settled between just you and God. Deep things about you that only He knows, when you settle who you really are with God and where youâre going in your life. Donât settle for second hand faith when you can get your own.âšGod is inviting you to take Him at His word and prove His promises for your own life. It starts when you cry out (Psalm 145:19).
3. Jacob had to push through (Genesis 32:25-28). Jacob remembered the promise God gave him about his life and family to keep him safe if he returned to his fatherâs household. Jacob refused to let anything stand in the way of its fulfilment in his life. He remembered what his grandfather Abraham stood for, and how Isaac prayed for his wife so she could bear children. So all though the long night till daybreak, Jacob insisted âI will not let you go unless you bless meâ. What mattered, was not that he was fighting with God, itâs that he was turning to God. He was learning how to get past his pride, his self-sufficiency, scheming instead of trusting. He learned to pray through to a place of intimacy with God, a place of reality before God, a place of peace and assurance that God had this all under His control. God never wants us to go through fears, battles, stress on our own: He wants to meet us right in the middle of them. It is through Him that we receive freedom, endurance, faith, courage, miracles.
4. Jacob was changed forever (Genesis 32:27-32). From this time forward, whenever Jacob acted according to his new nature with confidence and strength, he is called Israel. The thing that Jacob feared most didnât ever happen. Instead of fighting him, Esau then came and embraced him and Jacob was saved. But he continued to walk with a limp from his fight to remind him all his life that it is better to trust in God than to rely on yourself. Maybe youâve been fighting and struggling for your blessings, you may have received a calling from the Lord or a great promise that is not yet fulfilled. Like Jacob, you might have taken some short cuts, compromised yourself, maybe putting on a show of religion, keeping a brave smiley face on but deep down knowing youâre living well below what God has for you. God is looking for your surrender, not your performance. Breakthrough is when God breaks through because you let Him into every area in whatever way He wants and you agree with it. When you encounter God everything changes. Now is the time for you to have a change of nature â where youâre no longer in the driving seat, where you surrender all to Jesus.
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Times of purification and prayer amongst the people of God are how every Christian movement of revival and restoration has begun. This is also an essential process if we seriously want to see great change in our lives, our families and in our nations, and indeed if we are focussed on seeing a Great Harvest of people turning to Christ.
As we have already discovered in our current series on the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, God wants to bless every generation.
He greatly blessed Abraham, with a long-promised son, with great wealth and promises of limitless descendants. He also blessed Isaac in so many ways and He would later greatly bless Jacob and his descendants. But to keep the blessing flowing, there were obstacles to overcome, as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all discovered.
Genesis 26:18 talks of how Isaac unblocked his blessings, saying: âIsaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his father Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same names his father had given them.â
Isaac was in big trouble. In a time of famine, he had gone to the land of the Philistines and God has blessed him greatly - so much so that locals became envious, and he had to move on. He did so - to Gerar, approximately 11 miles southeast of Gaza.
But he and his family had a very urgent need - not of land but of water. Wells that you could access water from were essential to their survival and prosperity. This is something our brothers and sisters in Burkina Faso also know which is why we have supported different projects over the years to sink wells in the worldâs third poorest country.
A well represents life, blocking up a well represents death. Now just as access to natural water is of the highest importance, so too the spiritual water of the Holy Spirit is vital to the health and growth of the Christian church.
As Christians we constantly need the streams of living water (the Holy Spirit, the life giver) that Jesus promised (John 7:38). Without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we will remain thirsty and fruitless. As individuals and churches, we need to always remove anything that would block us from finding water from God.
This passage is very relevant to where we are today in the Christian church in the U.K and other nations as well as to many of us are personally. We see some key points:
1. Generations that have gone before us have dug life giving wells (Hebrews 12:1-3)
2. Enemies have blocked up the wells of a previous generation (Matthew 13:24-43)
3. Each generation needs to unblock old wells (Jeremiah 29:13; Hebrews 11:6; Isaiah 12:3)
Apply
1. Generations that have gone before us have dug life giving wells. Father Abraham had dug wells. Isaac had no need to re-invent the wheel, to dig fresh wells. Excellent wells had already been dug. In one sense much of the hard work had been done. Others had been this way before him. His father had learnt how to sink wells. Today we need to realise much ground has already been won. Battles for biblical truth, for political freedom of worship, for recognition of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. A century ago Pentecostal Christians were ridiculed for their emphasis on the Holy Spirit. Now today Spirit filled Christians and churches are at the forefront of global Christianity. For sure many great men and women of God gone before us:
- John and Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, William Wilberforce, William and Catherine Booth, Corrie Ten Boom, Billy GrahamâŠThe list is endless:
- Gladys Alyward, the pioneer missionary to China, Smith Wiggleworth, the Bradford plumber, Teddy Hodgson, who was martyred in Congo and our own pioneer founder, W.T.H. âBillyâ Richards.
They have shown the way forward by faith, vision and action. In one sense they knew how to sink wells, they knew what worked, they knew how to tap into the blessing of God. We are part of a long line of heroes of faith and their lives and ministries should be a source of instruction and inspiration (Hebrews 12:1-3). In the UK and elsewhere, there are many families, churches, communities and institutions that continue to this day because of previous godly generations, including generations of believers in this church. You too personally may have a rich spiritual history where you can point to many times where you have experienced the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. The wells of God have been sunk deep in your life. But the question is: what is the state of the wells today?
2. Enemies have blocked up the wells of a previous generation. Since Abraham died, enemies with hostile intent, moved in to block what had been conquered. This is the similar scenario that Jesus described in the parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:24-43). Today we can see much evidence of the work of the enemies of God, and of the arch enemy Satan, in countless lives and maybe also in our own lives and families. In Britain, we can see that after many great revivals, Christianity has been under sustained attack for a long time and today faces many challenges to our national Christian identity. Forces hostile to Christianity include:
- Aggressive secular humanists who deny the reality of any absolute truths or standards and who legislate morality as seems best to them
- Evolutionists who ridicule the possibility of any creator
- Growing numbers of Paganists who literally worship the devil
- Radical Islamists who are anti-democracy, anti-Jewish and who are intent on making Britain submit to Islam
- Militant transgender activists who violently oppose the concept of biological genders and traditional morality
Just as in the parable that Jesus told, much of this has happened while the church has been spiritually asleep, divided and often pre-occupied with its own concerns. It is time to wake up and see the big spiritual picture but also for to take immediate actions to first face up to what is causing what any blockage in any areas of our lives. It may be one thing or many things:
- Hidden and unconfessed sin
- Bitterness of spirit
- Pride
- Judgmentalism
- Criticism of leaders and fellow believers: Donât be like the generation who always criticised Moses and failed to get into the promised land. Or like those who wouldnât recognise Jesus even as a prophet as they had known him for many years which blocked him from working miracles in his home town
- Withholding of tithes and offerings
- Unbelief and cynicism
- Love of money and this world more than God
- Neglect of your spiritual life and family life
- Overbusyness
All these things and others also can, and maybe have, brought great blockage in your life. And they need to be removed by a decision to get real and repent in order to once more access the life-giving water of Godâs grace and anointing.
3. Each generation needs to unblock old wells. Our political and cultural elite have turned their backs on this countryâs spiritual heritage - the old wells. Many church leaders, including evangelical leaders, have also turned away from many of the emphases of our spiritual forefathers. But we can be among those who re-open the wells of blessing in our generation. Now of course every generation needs to communicate in a way that can cause the gospel to be understood by each generation. But what we need at root is a return to true spiritual roots. Back to what is tested and proven and sure. This means that we must:
- Unblock the Wells of Christ centred Christianity: Christianity is primarily about Christ. We need to put Jesus at the centre of our lives and share boldly the good news of his saving love through his death and resurrection.
- Unblock the wells of holy living: Itâs the pure in heart who will see God. Holiness is how close I can get to God, not how much can I get away with. Holiness means running from sexual immorality and unclean thoughts and words and relationships. Holiness means treating people right in life and business and caring for the poor.
- Unblock the wells of sacrificial service: Christ has made the ultimate sacrifice, but we too are called to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow him. The great stories of the advance of the gospel and Christian mission are stories of individuals who have sacrificed time, money, sleep, careers, health and sometimes life itself.
- Unblock the wells of Prayer: Prayer is essential to spiritual life and vitality. It is time once again to seek the Lord (Jeremiah 29:13).
- Unblock the wells of Bible study: The Bible is a book of life. There is power, protection and prosperity when we are focussed on the Word of God. We should constantly read the Word of God, meditate on it, study it and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate it.
- Unblock the wells of forgiveness: Itâs time to let go of grudges and arguments and to be reconciled like the Prodigal was with His father and Joseph was with his brothers.
- Unblock the wells of honour for leadership authority: Break with an old culture of dishonour and disrespect.
- Unblock the wells of generous giving: Bring all the tithes into the storehouse and give your best offerings.
- Unblock the wells of faith in God: Unbelief, doubt and negative speech and thought patterns must go for the blessing to flow. Start to believe Godâs word and step out. Faith is not faith until it is an act (Hebrews 11:6).
- Unblock the wells of praise and worship: Itâs time for you to sing again.
- Unblock the wells of evangelism and Salvation: Go out to the multitudes and share the good news of Jesus at every opportunity.
- Unblock the wells of dependence on the anointing of the Holy Spirit
Thatâs quite a lot of unblocking to do. But it is totally worth doing. For when you do, âwith joy you will draw water from the wells of salvationâ (Isaiah 12:3). Isaac discovered the blessings of re-opening old wells and he learnt also how to sink new wells as this chapter also reveals. He was blessed in his life and generation. By following his example, you also will know great life and blessing for yourselves and for your generations.
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You can see more blessings in your life than you can possibly imagine. When you come close to God you enter a world of new possibilities.
As we continue looking at the life of Isaac, we see a time whereâŻIsaac came into a year of unprecedented favour from God.âŻHe went through tough times and faced difficulties, including similar situations to his father Abraham, but when he stayed in the right place with God, put Him first in everything and obeyed Him, the Bible tells us that Isaac reaped a hundredfold in one year.
Genesis 26:12-14 tells us: âThen Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants.â
As a church, our theme for this year is âThe Great Harvest'. This can be a year like no other year for you, your family and the church as we learn some key lessons from Isaac's life.
1. We have to sow in order to reap (Galatians 6:7-8; Matthew 6:33; Hosea 10:12; Psalm 24:3-4; Romans 12:2; Psalm 126:5-6; Matthew 22:9; Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Corinthians 9:6)
2. We can see blessings on a scale that we never imagined (Genesis 26:12; Genesis 15:5; Luke 5:4-7)
3. We need to understand that the source of blessing is God Himself (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19)
Apply
1. We have to sow in order to reap. Isaac planted. We have to sow. We cannot expect to reap a great harvest if we do not sow. As much as a farmer prepares the soil and the ground for his harvest, we too need to do the same to see people come to Christ (Galatians 6:7-8). If we sow in the flesh, we shall reap in the flesh but if we sow with the Lord and into His kingdom, we shall reap not only in this life but for eternity. So, what are you sowing into? Are you sowing more into your career, your business, your social life more than your spiritual life? These are only questions that you can answer, maybe the Lord is revealing things to you right now. Maybe it's time for you to readdress your priorities. To seek the God life, not just the good life. We need to trust the Lord to provide and bless us, as we seek His kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). We can be sure that He will pour out His blessing on us as He did for Isaac. We need to ensure that we sow the right things in order to reap a great harvest in our families and in our church.
- Sow by living right with God and man: To know the blessing of God we need to live the right way and to have a right relationship with the Lord. We need to live right in every area of our lives, to treat each person with respect in how we speak and in our actions towards them. We need to ensure that everything we do is âabove boardâ in our business lives and our personal lives. We must not just be saints on Sundays but treat people right every day (Hosea 10:12). Everything in life stems from our relationship with the Lord. We need to come into the right relationship with Him each day. Just as we need fresh food and water each day, we need fresh spiritual food from the Lord every day. Each day we need to start by asking the Holy Spirit to come into our lives afresh, to cleanse and purify us, to lead and guide us, to train and correct us (Psalm 24:3-4). Whilst we live in the world it is important that we stay close to the Holy Spirit, that we are sensitive to His voice and prompting. That we put our trust in Him alone and not the things that the world tries to get us to focus on like power, fame, success. Abandon the chase for pleasure, possessions and status, and stop living like everyone else (Romans 12:2).
- Sow in tears with prayer: If you need a change in your situation you need to cry out to the Lord in tears and prayer (Psalm 126:5-6). Hannah sowed in tears for a child and the Lord heard her. Cry out to the Lord. If you have spiritual, physical, or financial barrenness then now is your time to cry out to the Lord and we will reap. Prayer is essential to our life as Christians. Martin Luther said: âTo be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.â Before we do anything, we must pray. Pray for the great harvest to come. We need to learn and develop this more, to sow in passion for our loved ones and the lost of the world.
- Sow in evangelism: We need to invite people to share in the good news of the Lord Jesus, to invite them to our life groups and church services. All we need to do is invite them; the Lord will work the rest out. If we never invite anyone, how will we expect them to come? To share the good news is a fundamental part of being a Christian a follower of Christ (Matthew 22:9). One of Jesusâ last requests to His disciples which is known as the Great Commission to âGo and make disciples of all nationsâ (Matthew 28:19-20). This was not a suggestion but an instruction from God Himself.
- Sow in giving: We will reap according to what we sow (2 Corinthians 9:6). We can expect that God will honour us if we sow into His kingdom. If we invest in God, He will invest In is. What is your attitude to giving? Do you give freely? Is your attitude âfreely I have received so freely I giveâ or do we struggle with this? Are we happy to sow generously with our time but not our finances? or perhaps our finances but not our time. When we sacrifice to the Lord by giving to Him, we are not only saying we trust you Lord, but we are putting a spiritual stake in the ground for our families and our generations to come. Today we can ask the Lord to help us to give freely. He wants each of us to give Him first place in every area, and to sow generously with our time and our finances.
2. We can see blessings on a scale that we never imagined. We can see a great harvest. Isaac reaped a hundredfold (Genesis 26:12). You may think of it as he reaped 100 times what he had sown but in fact it is much greater than this. A hundredfold return means simply the greatest possible return on any particular seed sown. When we sow with the Lord and according to His will andâŻthrough the power of the Holy Spirit, we can see far more than we ever imagined possible. God can totally expand all possibilities and every horizon in our lives, just as he did for Isaacâs father Abraham (Genesis 15:5). The blessing came quickly for Isaac - in one year. In one season of time, he went from a little to a lot. This is the year when we can see abundance. With Jesus by our side, we can achieve great things. Just like the disciples who had fished all night and caught nothing saw a complete turnaround when they partnered with Jesus (Luke 5:4-7), or Joseph who went from prison to parliament in one day, God can quickly bring changes. Isaac reaped a great harvest in the year that he sowed - it didn't take a long time. We can be sure that the same God who blessed Isaac a hundredfold wants to bless you and your family too.
3. We need to understand that the source of blessing is God Himself. Isaac prospered because the Lord blessed Him. The Bible tells us he became very wealthy. We need the blessing of God in our lives, and we can receive it when we line up with the purposes of God. The blessing of the Lord kept coming to Isaac and also for the generations beyond him. We can know God's blessing in our lives too: blessings in our finance, business, family, and ministry. God wants to do greater things with you than you can ever imagine. The blessing was not Isaac's making, it was because the Lord blessed him according to the promise. God has given us the vision for the Great Harvest so we must believe this and work in the areas that God shows us, but also, we need to allow God to work where He needs to. He wants to bless you and your family. When we receive the Lord's blessing, it's not only for us but for our family and future generations. He wants to give you abundance in every area of your life (2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19). If we want to see God's abundant blessing poured out, we need to be full of the Holy Spirit. God wants to bless us but what is our focus? What are you sowing into? Donât waste your life by sowing into the wrong things. When we sow according to Godâs will, look what happens: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph were all blessed, and we can be too.
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God is interested in every person and in every generation. As we continue our series on the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, we now start looking at the next stage in this line of family and generational blessings.
The line of blessing started with Abraham, but Abrahamâs son Isaac was key to keeping that going in his generation. Isaacâs life was the result of great faith:âšHe was the believed for child, when the dream of Abraham and Sarah having a child of their own seemed impossible due to their age (Hebrews 11:11-12).
Isaac was a source of great joy: âšhis name means âlaughterâ. People would have seen that he was a living embodiment of how God can do miracles can bring great joy to us, no matter our age and stage of life or the challenges we have experienced. And Isaac is also seen to represent a Christ-like figure in the Old Testament, because, when God tested Abraham, it looked like Isaac was going to be sacrificed and then he was received back to life (Hebrews 11:17-19).
Yet Isaac was not simply a product of his upbringing with his best days in the past. Like each one of us, he needed to take action to ensure he and his family continued to receive the promised generational blessings. We see from Isaacâs life how each one of us can keep the blessing of God flowing in our generation:
1. Isaac prayed for the continuation of Godâs purposes in his generation (Genesis 25:19-21; Genesis 25:21, 26; Luke 18:1)
2. Isaac had his own encounter where he received the promises of God for his generation (Genesis 17:8; Genesis 26:24; 2 Kings 2:14; Joshua 1:3-5; Genesis 17:17; Genesis 25:2-5; 35:12; Deuteronomy 4:37)
3. Isaac prioritised obeying Godâs will over his own comfort for the sake of his generations (Genesis 26:1-6; Ruth 1:6)
Apply
1. Isaac prayed for the continuation of Godâs purposes in his generation. While Isaac was a child of promise whose very life was a miracle from God, that alone was not enough to guarantee the continuation of Godâs blessings down the generations. Isaac had to take his own stand and conquer for his generation and the generations to come (Genesis 25:19-21). Isaac had been blessed with a godly wife, just as Abraham was blessed with Sarah. But like Abraham, Isaac faced the reality of natural and spiritual barrenness. While there was a promise of generational blessings to come, there was a very real and naturally unsurmountable challenge to seeing the line of blessing continue: Rebekah was barren. Maybe you are confronted with barrenness. Maybe the issues you face have also been a challenge to your parents or previous generations. Perhaps it is natural barrenness, of wanting your own children but not yet seeing that answer. Maybe itâs spiritual barrenness, where youâve invested in people but havenât yet started your life group or been able to develop in the ministry. It might be financial barrenness and debt. Or maybe you are looking at the state of your nation and seeing how desperate it looks. Unlike his father, Isaac did not take matters into his own hands, but he âprayed to the Lord on behalf of his wifeâ. Isaac prayed and waited for 20 years for a child (Genesis 25:21, 26). The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. Despite the waiting, there came a double blessing of twins, Jacob and Esau. There comes a time for every Christian to make a stand of faith for their generation. However impossible the situation looks, God cares for you and wants to bless you, your family, your ministry and your nation. So each of us must pray for Godâs purposes to continue in our generation, just as Isaac did. We cannot assume that the blessings of God for you and your generation are going to come easily and be handed to you. You must pray for your generation, for fruitfulness both naturally and spiritually. Pray for your marriage, pray for your children, both those you have and those you long to have, at every stage. Pray your family though every challenge. Pray that everything God has purposed for you and your generations will come to pass. Determine today that you are going to do as Jesus said, and âpray and not give upâ (Luke 18:1). We are told to âwatch and prayâ (Matthew 26:41): donât let the enemy come and rob you and your kids, both natural and spiritual descendants, at any stage. You started well, donât stop now! Pray, pray, pray!
2. Isaac had his own encounter where he received the promises of God for his generation. Isaac didnât just hear about the old stories of Godâs promises to the previous generation (Genesis 17:8): Isaac received the same promises from God for his generation as Abraham received (Genesis 26:2-5). In fact God repeated these promises to Isaac (Genesis 26:24). The promises of God are for all generations, but we must have our own encounter with God. Isaac knew heâd had good parents who had themselves experienced big battles and seen great victories in their lives, of which he was a living example. But now Isaac had to have his own encounter with God. This is what happened with the prophet Elisha when his mentor, the prophet Elijah, went to heaven (2 Kings 2:14). After the death of Moses, Joshua had to know that God was with him. It wasnât enough to have been close to Moses and hear the promises he had received. Joshua needed a personal encounter with God for himself and to receive the promises for his generation (Joshua 1:3-5). You have to know that God is with you, to know the promises of God for yourself and the promises of God for your family and your descendants after you. The God of the Bible is the multi-generational, covenant keeping God (Genesis 17:17; Genesis 25:2-5; 35:12; Deuteronomy 4:37). Yet we wonât see the line of blessing continue to flow if we just live with handed down convictions. Each of us must live being confident in the promises of God for us and our descendants after us, promises that are impressed on your heart, that are your own personal convictions. Have you had the promises of God for yourself? Our Senior Pastor, Wes Richards, has had to know that the God of his father, the founding pastor of this church, Billy Richards, was also his God when his father died at a young age and Pastor Wes became Senior Pastor aged just 27. We have the living example of how the Lord has been with him and his family. Do you not only know the promises to be able to recite them, but are they truly rock solid promises your life is built on, part of your very being that no matter what anyone else says or does, what your circumstances look like and whichever generations come and go, that you are secure in your call and know that you know Godâs promises for yourself? Every one of us needs that encounter with God to know the promises for ourselves, and for our marriage, for our family, for the church and our nation.
3. Isaac prioritised obeying Godâs will over his own comfort for the sake of his generations. It's very important to stay where we have been planted by God. Isaac made it a priority to obey God over his own will, comfort and desires. He paid the price in staying where God had placed him to ensure the continuation of God's blessing. (Genesis 26:1-6). Isaac was clearly thinking about moving on and was tempted to go down to Egypt. On the surface, the prospects probably looked better for Isaac and his family there. Isaac wanted to go, but God told him to stay. How often do we want to go and pursue our own goals and, the vision we have for our life? Isaac had to pioneer something for his generation. Abrahamâs act of faith had been to obey Godâs command to âgoâ; now Isaacâs was to obey the command to âstayâ (Genesis 26:6). Gerar was a place where the Philistines were in charge. But this was Canaan. Isaac was in Canaan, in the Promised Land. He was in the place of blessing, even though it might not have looked that way at the time. Many times people move from the place of blessing. That's what happened with Naomi, whose family moved away from Bethlehem when famine came, yet experienced more hardships as a result of going away from the place of God's blessing. Naomi lost her husband and two sons, and came back in bitterness and distress when she saw how âthe Lord had come to the aid of his peopleâ (Ruth 1:6). When God has placed you somewhere, that is where you need to stay. Are you committed to pay the price to be obedient? Maybe this is something you must face right now - youâve been unsettled and youâre looking somewhere else, the grass is looking greener elsewhere and you think you should move. Be very careful what youâre looking at and not to entertain any doubts and temptations in your thoughts and feelings which can ultimately rob you and your generations from Godâs blessings and His best for your life. Whether that be in your marriage, your family, or this church - when God has placed you, thatâs where you need to stay, where you have to work and be committed to pay the price to see the blessing. Like Isaac, when you determine to stay where God has put you, both you and your descendants will be blessed. God has the best plans for your generation and for every generation, so donât miss out!
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Abraham was determined to follow Godâs plan and continue the line of blessing he had received into the next generation. We too can learn how to find the will of God for our lives: to find the right partner, pursue the right career and receive Godâs best in every area of life.
Abraham did all he could to pursue the blessing of God not just for his generation but for the generations to come. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were all determined to live differently to the culture around them. In particular we see this in how Abraham advanced and protected his family line in finding a wife for Isaac.
This is a very important decision, and we are defined by the choice we make in this area. Who you marry and choose to partner with in life will either help you and build you up in your life and spiritual walk with God, or they will ultimately pull you down and away from Godâs plans for you.
Whether you need to find Godâs will in this area of finding the right partner, choosing your future career, a decision in your family, a business decision, or in your ministry, we can understand very practically through Genesis chapter 24 how we can seek Godâs will.
1. You must want to find the will of God (Isaiah 55:9; Genesis 24:1-4)
2. Receive the best help you can (Genesis 24:2)
3. You must seek God's will through prayer (Genesis 24:12-14; Matthew 6:10)
4. You must be patient as you look for God's confirmation (Genesis 24:15-21)
5. You need to stay focused and avoid distraction (Genesis 24:54-56)
6. You must be prepared to act on Godâs direction (Genesis 24:58)
7. You will receive Godâs best for you (Genesis 24:66-67)
Apply
1. You must want to find the will of God. You must want to do things Godâs way and not your way. Many people believe that getting your own way is what will bring happiness and a life well lived. But we must be clear that Godâs ways are better than our ways (Isaiah 55:9). Jesus both knew and exemplified this, praying in the Garden of Gethsemane 'not my will but Yours be doneâ. We see how Abraham wanted God's best for his son Isaac. He wanted him to have a wife who shared a common faith in God and who was faithful to God (Genesis 24:1-4). Abraham didnât want Isaacâs wife to come from the people living around them, those who were serving other gods and had completely different values. This was a decision that was going to impact generations to come. He was devoted to obeying God and he would not compromise on the direction and promise from God that he had received. Do we seriously want to find God's will, or do we just want him to support us in our own will? You need to make that choice and settle it in your heart, like Abraham and like Jesus did, that you want to seek the will of God for your life over your own will.
2. Receive the best help you can. Abraham chose a senior servant who he trusted with all he had (Genesis 24:2). He wasnât acting alone in trying to seek the will of God, he knew he needed the help of others, so he made a plan and sent his servant. Although Abraham couldnât physically go, he wanted someone who he knew was faithful to fulfil this mission. We too need help if we are to find God's will for our lives. People who naturally and spiritually have proved to be faithful, e.g. our leaders, our parents, not just because they have authority, but because they are people who have been faithful to you. Often asking for help like this takes a lot of humility. If we want to find the will of God â be it when finding a spouse, or maybe trying to decide what to study, or which career to accept or pursue â we need to be prepared to ask for help.
3. You must seek God's will through prayer (Genesis 24:12-14). Before the servant started searching for Isaac's wife, before he did anything, he was very specific in his prayers. Maybe in the past you have been guilty of diving into things before first seeking God in prayer? Prayer is one of the greatest blessings we unlock when we become a Christian. But how can we pray effectively? How can we pray in a way that reveals the will of God to us? Jesus taught us to pray in teaching us the Lordâs prayer (Matthew 6:10). To see the purposes of God fulfilled in our lives, to see Him answer our prayers, we have to be in a place of submission where Godâs will always wins over our own. Maybe today you need to start praying for God to direct you in a situation where you have been trying to figure it out on your own or making decisions based on your own ideas of what would be best. Today choose to pray and ask what God's will in your circumstance is.
4. You must be patient as you look for God's confirmation (Genesis 24:15-21). The servant didnât interfere or try to force anything to happen. We read how Rebekah approached the well and started to fulfil many of the signs that the servant had prayed for. It would have been easy for him to jump in and approach Rebekah as sheâd ticked so many of the boxes already, she must be the one! But he ensured he followed God's lead and waited. It says he watched closely. We canât just look for signs that look to back up what we want. We need to be very prudent and open. When you are seeking the will of God, you have got to lay down your own desires and wait. Do not rush into anything: check, watch and wait for confirmation.
5. You need to stay focused and avoid distraction. Reading on, we see God confirm Rebekah was the one, before the servant revealed all this to her and her family. They agreed this plan was from the Lord and for her to marry Isaac (Genesis 24:54-56). Abrahamâs servant stayed faithful to his mission. He didnât just sit back after seeming to find success when the breakthrough from God to provide the perfect wife for Isaac had come. How easy it would have been for the servant to give himself a pat on the back for a job well done and stay feasting with the family for 10 days instead of a long, hot, camel ride home! But he stayed focused and alert. When we are pursuing Godâs will for our lives, temptations can come at any stage; temptation to take matters into your own hands, to do it your way and not God's way, or to give up altogether. When God has confirmed His will to you, you need to focus on its fulfilment. Put these dreams into your dream book, in your devotional journal. Keep praying, stay focused.
6. You must be prepared to act on Godâs direction (Genesis 24:58). Rebekah was faithful in answering the call of God. This whole experience would have been a whirlwind for her, but she was spiritually alert and could see this was the will of God. She did not hesitate or delay in answering the call to action and to leave for her new life. Itâs one thing to know something is the will of God, but itâs another to do something about it. Faith without works is fruitless. Maybe God has confirmed His will for you in an area of your life already e.g. that you should share your faith with a friend or colleague, launch a life group, take a new job, start a family. You need to be quick to answer, go in faith with the knowledge that God is with you and will be for you!
7. You will receive Godâs best for you (Genesis 24:66-67). Through faithfully pursuing the will of God, Godâs best was released over this family: Rebekah very quickly had a husband who loved her deeply; Isaac was comforted and found peace; and Abraham ensured the blessing and promise he had received would pass to the next generation. Godâs best wasnât just individual - it wasnât just God's best for Isaac, for Rebekah, for Abraham - it was God's best for the future and how He would ultimately bless the whole world. So, we must pay attention and be sure that if we turn away from independence and start doing things God's way instead of our way, we too are going to be blessed and so will our decedents after us. When we walk in God's will for our lives, not just in His will for a partner, but also His will for a career, for our purpose, we too will receive His best. Today you can make that decision to say like Jesus, God ânot my will but Yours be doneâ.
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God is interested in you! He has great plans for you which you will discover as you learn to put Him first wherever you go. Abraham was a man who always put God first wherever he was and in whatever situation he was in.
Abraham travelled extensively throughout his lifetime. He travelled 700 miles from Ur to the borders of present-day Iraq, then 700 miles into Syria, another 800 miles to Egypt, and then back into Canaan which is part of present-day Israel. Just as he travelled up and down mountains and valleys, his life was full of highs and lows. But he always put God first. How do we know this? Because we read many times in the Bible that âhe built an altarâ. An altar is a place to meet with God. Where are your altars? Where do you meet with God?
Abraham was going into a land of vision, of promise, of discovery, with great promises, but the reality was that he would be in a hostile culture and environment. He would need to really put a stake in the ground wherever he went. That stake was called building an altar. This was all about his devotion to God. Abraham knew that building an altar was not an add-on or something that can be dropped in times of pressure. It was his priority; it was essential and foundational.
Each altar was a declaration that âI am going to put first things first. I am going to seek God first for me and my house by building an altar.â In Genesis we read about four altars that Abraham built and we can learn from each one of them. Abraham built:
1. An Altar of Praise (Genesis 12:2-3,7; Job 1:21b)
2. An Altar of Prayer (Genesis 12:8; Jeremiah 33:3; Genesis 12:13)
3. An Altar of Peace (Genesis 13:8-9; Philippians 4:7)
4. An Altar of Provision (Genesis 22:7-9; Hebrews 11:19; Genesis 22:14; Matthew 6:33)
Apply
1. An Altar of Praise. Abraham built this altar to honour the Lord as a response to Godâs promises to him (Genesis 12:2-3,7). Abraham praised God before he did anything else, and he thanked God for His promises. Praising God should be the first thing we do every day and by thanking Him for His promises to us, we remind ourselves that it is only through the power of the blood of Jesus that we will conquer in every situation. Abraham had just been given huge promises from God, so of course he felt like praising Him. But what about when things are not going well? Recent neuroscience studies have discovered itâs impossible for the human brain to experience feelings of anxiety and gratitude at the same time. When Job was told that his family were killed, he still worshipped God (Job 1:21b). Worshipping God is aâŻchoice, and theâŻbest choice we'll ever make. Whatever you are going through, remember that praising God is your weapon. When you praise God, you gain His perspective and you will receive your breakthrough. The altar Abraham built would have been a simple stone structure which would have remained standing for generations to come. Every time Abraham saw it, he would have been reminded of Godâs promises to him. There will come a day when that test youâre going through right now will become your testimony of Godâs faithfulness and goodness to you. This is why it is so good to keep a prayer diary or create an annual dream board which you can look back on to remind yourself of the promises God has spoken to you and the answers He has given you.
2. An Altar of Prayer. Abram moved on from the lowlands of Canaan to a mountain (Genesis 12:8). Just as a phone call is a two-way conversation, so Itâs the same with prayer. When Abram âcalled on the name of the Lordâ, he would have been expecting answers. When we pray, we need to allow time for God to speak back to us. He often does this through the scriptures which is why our daily Bible readings are so important (see the free KCI App). We need to make prayer our number one priority. Are you taking time every day to meet with God by reading the Bible and praying? We read in the Gospels how Jesus frequently withdrew to be on His own with God because He knew this was the source of His strength. When you pray, itâs important to ask God what His plans are for you that day, not to use your prayer time to present your plans to God and ask Him to bless them (Jeremiah 33:3). Abram left the mountain to go down to Egypt to escape the famine, where he made the mistake of putting his wife in danger (Genesis 12:13). God was merciful and overruled Abramâs mistake, releasing him and his wife from Pharaoh. Abram then went back to where he had pitched his tent before and saw the stone altar he had made earlier. This caused him to call on the Lord in prayer again, but this time most likely in repentance. Whenever you make mistakes, it is only through prayer that you can be restored to the Lord.
3. An Altar of Peace. What causes you to lose your peace? Busyness, stress, conflict? Arguing and division broke out between Abrahamâs herdsmen and his nephew Lotâs, and it got so bad that they could no longer live together (Genesis 13). Division in the home can affect every area of life. It can be totally consuming and remove all peace. Abraham took the lead firstly bringing rule and then offering a solution (Genesis 13:8-9). So, now he was free of conflict and able to experience complete security. It was here, that he pitched his tent, built an altar, and enjoyed the peace and presence of God. To keep your peace, you must seek to experience the presence of God daily and be touched by His presence every day. You do this by finding a place at home, your altar, where you can start every day in the presence of God. You must also have a family altar â a weekly time where you pray together as a family. Then you will live with the peace of God (Philippians 4:7).
4. An Altar of Provision. Provision and sacrifice are very much linked. Abraham, now over 100 years old, travelled almost 60 miles over 3 days with his son Isaac to the mountain in the region of Moriah. Abraham obeyed but also trusted God for provision (Genesis 22:7-9). When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there, arranged the wood on it, bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar.âŻTake note of the emotional weight in the situation. As Abraham constructed the altar on Mount Moriah, his heart likely experienced intense anguish. He was on the verge of presenting his only cherished son as a sacrifice to God, not just for slaughter but to be consumed by flames as a burnt offering. Despite Isaac being the promised heir, Abraham understood that God required this sacrifice, leading him to lift the sacrificial knife (Hebrews 11:19). However, what was anticipated as a moment of death transformed into a moment of victory. A substitute, a provision, emerged, and Isaac was spared. Abraham's faith had undergone a rigorous test, was ultimately rewarded, and God did indeed provide the lamb for the burnt offering. Nicky Gumbel said in his Bible in One Year commentary: "God sometimes allows us to be tested. Personally, I donât think God ever intended for a moment that Abraham should actually sacrifice his son Isaac. The sacrifice of children was always an abomination to the Lord. But he wanted to establish Abrahamâs priorities." It was here that God was first called Jehovah Jireh: God will provide (Genesis 22:14). Is Godâs work your number one priority? When you sacrifice in your giving to God, He will provide (Matthew 6:33). God calls us to obey Him, and the blessings come out of the obedience. If you want your life to count, if you want to have an influence, then you and your house, like Abraham and his house, must say that 'we are going to give our absolute bestâ. Of course, the biggest sacrifice was made at the Cross by God who didn't spare His own Son but gave Him up so that we can not only be saved from our sins, but also come into a new line of blessing. Today, the challenge is to build an altar in our hearts to God, in our marriages and in our homes. Put God first wherever we are. Don't let God and the things of God get choked out. Put Him first and you will see every blessing.
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God has a plan for every generation. In the Bible, God is known as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This shows how God is interested in every generation. God is interested in families: Heâs interested in your family, Heâs interested in every generation of our families, and Heâs interested in bringing great multiplication and influence through your family.
Whatever the state of your family, God has great plans for your family. This is the foundation of our new series, and we continue by going into more detail with the first generation which is Abraham. One of the key characteristics of Abraham was that he was a man of faith (Hebrews 11:8-9,12). So we see that:
1. Faith to leave the familiar (Genesis 12:1-5; Hebrews 11:8; Hebrews 11:1 CEV; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 12:4-5)
2. Faith to embrace the future (Genesis 13; Genesis 15:1-6; Galatians 3:29 NLT; John 15:5)
3. Faith to remain faithful (Philippians 1:6; Romans 4:20-21; Hebrews 6:12; Genesis 17:1-6; 15-16; Genesis 21:1-5; Romans 10:17)
Apply
1. Faith to leave the familiar. The Bible tells us that Abrahamâs story begins with an encounter with God (Genesis 12:1-5). God made huge promises to Abram that would impact his life, his family, and all people on earth! Prior to this, Abramâs father Terah had settled the family in Harran, which is where Abram was when God spoke to him. Terah had been on his way to Canaan but had stopped short of his destination. God told Abraham to go further than the previous generation of his family. To not be a settler like his father, but to be a pioneer. Godâs command was clear: God wanted him to leave the familiar, the country and people that he knew well and had become accustomed to, and all his relatives. God wanted him to make a clean break with his past so he could take hold of his promised future. Wherever you were born, whatever your background, wherever you are living right now, God wants you to know that your past does not have to define your future. Your future can be defined by Him. He has a plan for you and your family and for generations of your family. You might be trapped in overpowering addictions you canât shake off, bad habits that have been in your family for generations, like a foul temper, or alcohol and drug addiction. But God is offering each one of us and our families a new beginning that can start the moment you decide to follow Him. Aged 75, Abraham decided to believe what God had said and do what God had told him (Hebrews 11:8). He first had to become fully convinced that this was the right decision, before trying to convince his family. So where did his certainty come from? The Bible tells us that it was faith (Hebrews 11:1 CEV). When God is speaking to our hearts, He gives us the assurance and conviction we need to do whatever He asks us to do. When it comes to making major decisions, it is wise to recognise and be grateful for those God has given to us as shepherds who can advise us and help us. We need not be fearful and just do things entirely on our own. Husbands and wives can bring godly wisdom and help each other too. Like Abraham, you might not have all the details worked out, but when God speaks to your heart, you must go in obedience with the confidence and certainty He provides and work out the specifics as you go. The danger is when we over complicate and over analyse things. God wants us to be people who know how to live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Itâs time to set aside business as usual. We canât stand still when there is so much at stake, when there is so much promised by God that we havenât seen yet. Donât let the past define your future, believe that God has a better future for you with your name on it, a future you havenât met yet. Leave the past behind you and cut ties with it. Resolve fear, resolve bitterness, remove the roadblocks youâve been putting up that prevent you from moving forward (Genesis 12:4-5).
2. Faith to embrace the future. For the next 10 years, Abraham enjoyed the land of Canaan, he walked the length and breadth of it (Genesis 13) and travelled further afield. He received a reminder of the rest of Godâs vision for his life (Genesis 15:1-6). Incredible as it might seem, God still speaks to people today in the way that He spoke to Abraham. Through Jesus we inherit all promises made to Abraham so we too can have big dreams (see âDream And You Will Win The Worldâ by Pastor Cesar Castellanos). God has big dreams and He is still fulfilling His promise to Abraham to this very day through ordinary people who discover and remain in His perfect will for their lives. Abraham had to realise that God intended his life would have a big impact. He realised he needed to embrace this promise and let it change the way he thought, the decisions he made, and the way he conducted himself towards other people. He realised God had made him the seed of a great nation that God was raising up to bless all nations. Can you visualise that God will do something in your life? Yes (Galatians 3:29 NLT)! God wants us to be fruitful and to reproduce the character of Jesus in others by letting God change us first (John 15:5). Abraham realised that Godâs vision required miracles: his wife could not and had not given birth to children before. Can you believe that God wants to do miracles in you and through you? Well, He does and He will if you will remain in Him and let His words remain in you. Make the decision that you too are going to become a person of faith who expects miracles to fulfil Godâs promises for you and for generations after you.
3. Faith to remain faithful. It is one thing to start on a journey of faith and take hold of some things God has promised, but it also takes faith in God to remain faithful to the end (Philippians 1:6). You can have confidence that God will bring to completion what He has started in you, if you will remain faithful and continue to obey Him. Aged 99, 24 years later, Abraham remained faithful and did not stop believing God would keep His promise (Romans 4:20-21). We need to realise that Godâs timing is perfect! Remaining faithful is part of what it takes to make us into the people who can handle what God wants to give us (Hebrews 6:12). We see how God rewarded Abraham and Sarahâs faithfulness (Genesis 17:1-6; 15-16). Because they had remained faithful to God, continuing to believe His promise would come to pass, God gave them new names to more accurately describe the people they had become. If we continue to do this, we can be sure that at the right time, just as He did with Abraham and Sarah, God will fulfil his promises to us to give us many spiritual descendants. Donât waste your waiting. Use it to learn all you can, make course corrections and learn from mistakes. Finally, as a 100th birthday year gift, Isaac was born to Sarah the wife of Abraham (Genesis 21:1-5). God gives us grace for every challenge when we choose to trust Him and act on that trust. So how can you become a person of faith?
- By listening to God: God spoke to Abraham because He knew he would listen to Him (Romans 10:17). Faith comes to you as a free gift from God when He speaks to your heart. This can happen as you go about your day quite naturally as Abraham did, and when reading the Bible, or in daily prayer
- By believing in the God of the Bible: Decide to believe that God is good. Believe that His words are true and He will do what He has said.
- By obeying Godâs word: Abrahamâs life changed when he obeyed God, left the past and embraced the future God had for him. You too can do the same.
- By remaining faithful to God: This means waiting patiently for God to answer in His time and way, not going your own way (Philippians 1:6).
Perhaps you have been drifting off course or you are far from God and you want to come close again. It is never too late to return to God and rebuild your life again differently, this time with friendship and obedience to God. God wants to change your nature so you naturally begin taking every opportunity to speak to people wherever you go. We are human beings not human doings. Perhaps it will mean obeying the Holy Spiritâs prompting to go and speak to someone youâve never spoken to before, starting your life group with the help of your leader, or serving by faith in a capacity youâve never had before.
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Do you want to enjoy the best family life? Do you know that God wants to bless you and every generation of your family?
Today most people are living shortsightedly, whether or not they are physically short sighted. They are focussed only on the immediate, the here and now, the short term and whatever will provide instant gratification.
As Christians, we certainly need to have a short-term vision where we live for God every day and receive our daily bread from heaven. But we also need to have a very clear long-term vision of Godâs plans and purpose. Every Christian needs a multi-generational vision. Just as naturally short-sighted people need help to have a longer distant vision, whether with glasses, contact lenses or laser surgery, so most of us need help in adjusting to a longer-term Biblical vision.
With this is in mind, we start this new series based on one of the most significant descriptions of God in the Scriptures that reveal his purposes to all generations. Time and again in the Bible, God is referred to as the God of Abraham, God of Isaac and God of Jacob. This phrase is mentioned at key moments in both Old and New Testaments, and it speaks of God whose promises continue throughout all generations.
The great figures of the Bible were confident to serve God in their generation because they knew that they were part of a long line of spiritual descendants from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6; Exodus 3:16; 1 Kings 18:36; Matthew 22:3; Acts 3:13; Acts 7:8). This description of God is foundational to understanding who God is. He is not some vague and unknowable cosmic force. He is not a god made of wood, stone or metal. He is not one god among many. He is the one true God, creator of the heavens and the earth, who is clearly identifiable by the eternal promises He has to specific historic individuals, namely Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and who is finally and fully revealed in his only Son Jesus Christ, a descendant of Abraham.
Coming to an understanding of the importance of this description of God will greatly help you to value your spiritual history. It will shape your identity and it will enable you to step into your destiny as part of the long-established people of God. At the start of this series, we see:
1. God is committed to bless families (Genesis 12:1-5)
2. God wants to bless every generation of families (Genesis 17:7; Genesis 26:3-4; Genesis 28:13-14; Psalm 105:8-10; Galatians 3:29; Psalm 103:17-18)
2a. You need to train your descendant in the ways of the Lord from a young age (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)
2b. You need to do all you can to ensure that your child marries a fellow believer (Genesis 24:3-4; Genesis 28:2)
2c. You need to stay in faith and pray that there will be fruitfulness not barrenness in each generation (Genesis 25:21; Genesis 30:1; Genesis 30:22-24)
3. God promises to multiply the influence of families (Genesis 15)
Apply
1. God is committed to bless families. Real Biblical Christianity is rooted in family life, not buildings. It begins in the heart and is nurtured in the home. If you want to see strong churches and strong nations, then you must prioritise the development of strong families. In the Bible we see that God entrusted one family with the responsibility to bless the families and nations of the world: the family of Abraham. God chose Abraham and made binding and eternal promises to him which is called a covenant (Genesis 12:1-5). God started a new family line after Abram left his fatherâs household. At first it was just him, Sarah and his nephew Lot, but later along came his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob. Even so they were just a small family and, as the Bible makes clear, they were far from perfect. Lot was a selfish, me-first character. When Abram gave him the choice of land, Lot selected the best well-watered land for himself rather than his uncle who always looked out for him. Abram himself was also not without faults. Once he was so scared that foreigners would kill him on account of his beautiful wife that he made her pretend she was his sister. Consequently, a King took her and very nearly slept with her before God warned him in a dream and saved Sarah. Imagine what that would have done for Sarahâs feelings towards a husband who was prepared to sacrifice her to protect his own life. The same thing happened when later Isaac also pretended that his beautiful wife Rebekah was his sister, which resulted in her being at the mercy of other men. This is what is known as iniquity, a particular area of family weakness or sin. Further down the family line you find Jacob who was a serial deceiver especially towards his brother who in turn wanted to murder him. Despite their imperfections, God had his hand on this family, and He made great promises to Abraham and his family. And God can do great things in your family, whatever problems you have. For when someone in the family starts to really believe and obey God, whole families can be changed. God can heal broken families. God can take hold of imperfect families and use them greatly. Church history is full of such examples (i.e. the Wesley, Booth, Graham and Castellanos families).
2. God wants to bless every generation of families (Genesis 17:7; Genesis 26:3-4; Genesis 28:13-14). God confirms to three foundational generations, His eternal promises of land (which Israel today still takes as their mandate from God), many descendants, and continuing blessings. Many who do not accept the authority of the Bible or the God of the Bible dispute all of the above. But for all who do accept the Bible as Godâs word then we see that God is not just focussed on one present generation but that He also has plans for generations to come. He is the God of Abrahamâs generation, of Isaacâs generation, of Jacobâs generations and every succeeding generation, including ours (Psalm 105:8-10). The New Testament makes clear that through our faith in Christ, we also come into the line of blessing (Galatians 3:29). So, God wants to bless you and all your descendants after you. Thatâs the dream, thatâs the plan of God, and thatâs why God gives so many promises about children and childrenâs children (e.g. Psalm 103:17-18). But such blessings do not go uncontested. There are battles to win and strategies of Satan to be overcome, as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob all experienced. You are going to have to watch and pray and believe and play your part in seeing faith in God effectively passed on from one generation to another.
- You need to train your descendant in the ways of the Lord from a young age (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)
- You need to do all you can to ensure that your child marries a fellow believer (Genesis 24:3-4): Through their history the Jewish people were warned of the dangers of inter-marriage with those who followed other gods. This was such an important issue that there are 61 verses detailing how Isaac ended up with a beautiful and godly wife. Later Isaac blessed Jacob and commanded to do the same (Genesis 28:2). His rebellious brother Esau did just the opposite, marrying a woman from the corrupt and immoral Canaanite culture and consequently caused a lot of grief. In todayâs independent Western culture, many people sneer at the idea of such parental involvement in the choice of a partner. Of course you need to marry someone you love, but you would be wise to listen to the counsel of godly parents. And parents should not passively accept a developing relationship but pray hard and talk wisely with your spiritual descendant. Be in a place of faith that the person your son or daughter will marry will be wholeheartedly committed to the Lord so they can be a powerful team for God.
- You need to stay in faith and pray that there will be fruitfulness not barrenness in each generation: Barrenness is a basic way of stopping the reproduction of godly seed. Abrahamâs wife Sarah, Isaacâs wife Rebekah, and Jacobâs wife Rachel each had difficulty conceiving. Abraham and Sarah had to wait a long time for their promised baby, so did Isaac and Rachel (Genesis 25:21). The blockage to continuing the line of blessing into the third generation was revealed (Genesis 30:1), and happily, Rachel later had a baby, Joseph, who was to become one of Israelâs greatest figures (Genesis 30:22-24).
Maybe you can identify with some or all these challenges to continuing a godly family line but as we zoom out and see the big picture, we see that God helped each generation to overcome every obstacle and ensure that the line of blessing continued for the next generation. And we to can experience the same conquests.
3. God promises to multiply the influence of families. The limitless multitudes that God promised Abraham in Genesis 15 became a reality. After the three generations conquered their destiny, the 12 tribes of Jacob became the take off point for a great nation and huge numbers of natural and spiritual descendants that continues to this day. Similarly, you see great strength in a family with godly grandparents, parents and children. The same is also true when one person can form a second-generation team of 12 disciples and they, in turn, each form a third-generation team of 12 disciples. Then the 144 becomes the point of take-off, of acceleration and multiplication. Today when we receive a multi-generational vision, we can see great transformation in our lives, families, churches and even nations. For the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob wants to bless our generation and all generations to come.
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Do you want to live the best life in 2024? Do you want to be set free in every part of your life? Do you want to know Godâs blessing of your life? This year can be the best year of your life and in the life of the church. At a time when there is so much trouble in the world, you can learn how to live this year with Godâs favour.
Today is no ordinary day to be alive. Today is a day for the church to shine the light of Jesus into our dark world. Today we are living in a moment where we expect to see a great harvest of people into the kingdom of God. Today is the day of Godâs favour.
This is a phrase that Jesus used right at the start of His earthly ministry. In His home synagogue, He read some familiar scriptures from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.
Luke 4:18-19 says He read: âThe spirit of the sovereign Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lordâs favour.â
What happened next was not so familiar. Suddenly, unexpectantly He stopped. Surprisingly He did not go on to read the next phrase from Isaiah 61 that spoke of the day of vengeance of our God. That day of Godâs ultimate judgement was yet to come. But at this moment in time, Jesus declared that they were living in a special season of mercy and favour.
He said in verse 21: âToday this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.â Jesus was declaring that the age of the Promised Messiah was now here. Jesus was Himself that Messiah who was announcing the start of the new age of the kingdom of God.
What this means to us today is that while a day of judgement is coming for the whole world, at this moment we are still living in a time of grace and mercy. The apostle Paul also emphasised this in 2 Corinthians 6:2, saying âI tell you now is the time of Godâs favour, now is the day of salvationâ. Favour means goodwill, approval and blessing (Psalm 84:11).
1. This is a day and year of liberation (Luke 4:18; Leviticus 25:8; John 8:34-36; Acts 26:17)
2. This is a day and year of mobilisation (Luke 4:18; Matthew 4:23; Luke 9:1-2, 6)
3. Today is a day and year of impartation (Luke 4:18)
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1. This is a day and year of liberation (Luke 4:18). The âyear of favourâ that Jesus spoke about that day in Nazareth was a reference to a Jubilee Year in the Hebrew tradition. The year of Jubilee, every fifty years, was a special year in which everyoneâs debts were written off, lands were restored to their original owners, and all slaves were set free. The trumpet must be sounded to proclaim liberty throughout the land (Leviticus 25:8). Jesus here was sounding the trumpet proclaiming that He had come to set people free from captivity of many kinds (John 8:34-36). The gospel of Jesus is the gospel of power where real people can be truly set free. Thatâs why Jesus is called the Saviour.âšSalvation comes from the Greek word Sozo. Itâs found in the New Testament more than 110 times. It means to be saved, to be delivered from evil powers and to be healed. Jesus came to break the rule of Satan off peopleâs lives. The Apostle Paul said that God told him, âI am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to GodâŠâ (Acts 26:17). Being a Christian starts with you being forgiven, but continues with you being set free in your life. The Lord will deliver you today in your body (from every pain, from illnesses). He will deliver you in your mind, in your emotions, in your heart, in your spirit. He will free you from all fear, from every lie that you have heard and that has contaminated your ears, your thoughts, your heart and your spirit. He is going to free you from the prison of fear. He will free you from the addictions to those pills, to alcohol, to cigarettes, He is going to free you from the addiction to pornography, He is going to cleanse your vision, you are going to have a true vision of the spiritual world. God is going to deliver your mind from all the distractions and of all doubt that have prevented you from reading and understanding the word of God. The Lord will deliver you from your terrible pride, from anger and sadness. The Lord will free you from every incorrect path and you will enter into the purpose of God. Now you will be free to follow Jesus, to be His disciple, to serve Him and enjoy His kingdom on this earth. You will be free to reap the great harvest that is ready for this time, for this year 2024.
2. This is a day and year of mobilisation (Luke 4:18). Jesus came on a rescue mission to earth and He began by going out into all the areas in Galilee (Matthew 4:23). And Jesus also sent out His disciples on a mission to preach the full gospel of salvation (Luke 9:1-2, 6). Jesus insisted that first there must be focus on preaching the good news to the poor. Jesus went to the literal poor, the hurting and the marginalised, the ordinary people that usually no one cared for. And thatâs where every movement of revival has found its greatest success.âš John Wesley said in 1771, âEverywhere we find the labouring part of mankind the readiest to receive the Gospelâ. Going to the poor and hurting means go to prisoners â go to the captives, literally to prisons. Our prisons are full. But God is concerned for the prisoners. Many prisons are seeing powerful conversions. Go to the abused, the down and outs. The blind and the lame. Go to the people and the places that no one else is interested in. God is sending you âto proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisonersâ. Jesus wants all His followers mobilised to go out and share the good news of Jesus and minister healing and deliverance. That means He is recruiting you! As a church the Lord is calling us to share the good news all over this area, in every village, every neighbourhood, every town and every city. Itâs a big task and we canât do it on our own. Itâs a team challenge and the good news is that Holy Spirit is part of the team.
3. Today is a day and year of impartation (Luke 4:18). The anointing of the Lord makes all the difference. The early disciples filled Jerusalem and the first century world with the good news of the gospel as they were constantly filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus himself knew that âhe was anointed by the Spirit of God.â Today God wants to pour out His spirit on you so that all of us can say, âThe Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lordâs favour.â Do you need to be set free from sin or in other ways? Well take a moment to repent of your sins or unbelief and ask God to show His favour to you. Today God wants to mobilise you to share the good news of Jesus in word and ministry to the hurting. Choose to accept this calling and that you will always depend on the Lord to fill you with His Holy Spirit.
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Every day is a gift. Time is temporary. Both ourselves, and the world we live in, are not here forever. Only God and His kingdom is eternal. Thatâs why at the start of every day and every year we should remember the opening words of the Bible âin the beginning God.â
And thatâs why we should always seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We each have one life and we must be careful not to waste our days and years. Jesus was very clear about the importance investing our lives in what really matters in life.
To maximise our time on earth we should live with a constant perspective of heaven as well as praying for Godâs kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven. That, of course, requires that we have some idea of what heaven is like. Thankfully, the Bible tells us a lot about heaven.
For example, in the last book of the Bible the apostle John describes a remarkable vision of heaven. It is an amazing world that is the destiny of everyone who gains access through the blood of Jesus.
Revelation⏠22:1-2 says: âThen the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.â
We see in these verses some lessons that will help us maximise every day and help us live more effectively on earth this year and every year we have:
1. Stay filled with the life of God (Revelation 22:1-2; John 14:6; John 7:37-38 NLT)
2. Stay fruitful (Revelation 22:2; Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1; John 15:5,8; Ezekiel 47:2-12)
3. Stay focussed (Revelation 2:22; Ezekiel 47:12; Matthew 28:19; Psalm 147:3)
Apply
1. Stay filled with the life of God. The images here are all about life (Revelation 22:1-2). A river of the water of life flowing from Godâs throne and the Lamb. A tree of life. In other words, all life finds its source in God. God is the giver of life. He is the sustainer of life. He is the re-creator of life. In every way God is totally pro-life. With the description of the tree of life, the Bible comes full circle. Human history started out with the tree of life in the centre of the Garden of Eden. But when Adam and Eve sinned, they and their descendants were barred from accessing that tree. They were doomed to death both naturally and spiritually. Then Christ came to save sinners so that those who trust in Him will be granted full access to the tree of life once again. Today people are looking for life in all kinds of places and in all kinds of ways but without God you will not discover what you are looking for. And the basic reason that you canât know what it is to be truly alive, is because without God you are what the Bible calls âdead in your transgressions and sins.â Only Christ can make us spiritually alive (John 14:6). Becoming a Christian is much more than simply repenting of our sins, it involves receiving new life from God, what the Bible calls being âborn againâ or âborn from above.â Many people may be religious, even regular churchgoers, but they can still be spiritually dead. If you are not lit up by the word of God or have no impulse to worship, maybe hereâs is the basic reason. You need to be born again, and you can be today. But coming to Christ is only a beginning. For God wants you to overflow with His life (John 7:37-38 NLT). Hereâs these pictures of rivers of flowing water that are essential to life. Without water we dry up and could soon die. God doesnât want that to happen to you. Thereâs only one way to avoid that. Stay full of the Holy Spirit. Get into the river of God and stay there. This river, as John saw, is always a life-giving river, a river that is totally pure, clear as crystal and it comes only from God. At the start of this year and every day be sure to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
2. Stay fruitful (Revelation 22:2). From the beginning God wanted everything to be alive and to multiply (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 9:1). Jesus told His disciples that if they stayed close to Him, they would have very fruitful lives and experience great growth (John 15:5,8). And thatâs what happened as the first century church rapidly accelerated in numbers both on and after the Day of Pentecost. In the book of Ezekiel there is a very similar picture of fruitfulness to what John described in Revelation (Ezekiel 47:2-12). We too need to believe for many churches in many nations teeming with many thousands of people enjoying the life of God. This is a year for us both as churches and individuals to see overflowing growth and blessing. Also we see that Ezekiel and Johnâs visions both emphasise monthly fruitfulness, in other words a continual harvest. As Ezekiel observed the banks of the river, he saw many fruitful trees (Ezekiel 47:12). Again, we too should expect to continually grow in the quality of our characters - what the Bible calls the fruit of the Spirit - but also in our influence and in winning people to Christ. And we would be wise to check our progress every month. Every month should be a month of harvest in our lives, our groups, and throughout the church.
3. Stay focussed. To maximise our time on earth we must not just focus on ourselves, our families, our church but on the peoples and nations of the world that God so loves (Revelation 2:22; Ezekiel 47:12; Matthew 28:19). That requires that we Christians become agents of Godâs healing in the world. Healing is central to the gospel. Jesus healed many sick people, and He sent His disciples out to heal as well as preach. The good news is that people can still be healed in their bodies. And people can be healed in their hearts (Psalm 147:3). Broken families can also be healed and so can divided communities and nations. Our job as Christians is not to analyse the sorry state of the world, but to be full of the life of God and bring the healing mercies of Jesus to our generation. Call on the Lord now to fill you up with His Holy Spirit so that you can come to a new level of fruitfulness and focus. Pray for new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And receive a new anointing of fresh life that will overflow to others.
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As we reflect on the year gone by and look ahead to 2024, we see three simple keys to help us leave the past and embrace the future:
1. Listen to God (Genesis 15:1)
2. Look to God (Genesis 15:5, Joel 2:23-24)
3. Live by faith (Genesis 15:6)
Apply
Genesis 15:1, 5-6: After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: âDo not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.
5 He took him outside and said, âLook up at the sky and count the starsâif indeed you can count them.â Then he said to him, âSo shall your offspring be.â 6 Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
1. Listen to God (Genesis 15:1). We need to hear the Word of the Lord, not simply listen to the opinions of others. We need to read the word of God and let God light up His word to us. Of course, God can speak to us in dreams and visions as well, but is always consistent with His word, the Bible.
2. Look to God (Genesis 15:5). This is when Abram needed to see the possibilities and began to visualise something much greater that he had never seen before. He was one man, but he was promised a limitless inheritance. We need to dream big, much bigger in this coming year. Believe what God can do in you. You are more than you think you are. You can achieve more than you think you can. God has brought you, families, life groups and churches together with a great purpose. Big things are happening in the world, and we need to ask the Lord to do bigger things still as He is well able to. Do not look at just what you currently see. Look to what God can do. We need to see many people rising up with faith. He can provide total turnaround in your life. He can bring many to know Him. We get this vision not just by dreaming of what we want, but by looking at His Word and listening to the promises of God (i.e. Joel 2:23-24). We need to look not with natural eyes but with God-given vision.
3. Live by faith (Genesis 15:6). You may have a dream which does not seem possible to accomplish naturally. But as you surrender to the Lord, declaring that you believe Him no matter your age, your stage of life, your situation, the state of your bank account or anything else, God will do amazing things. What happened in the last year is paving the way for all God wants to do in 2024.
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On October 7 this year, the peace of small communities in Southern Israel was suddenly shattered when invading Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals in their homes and quiet neighbourhoods. Men, women, children and babies were butchered in the worst atrocities against Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Since then, a brutal war has raged with great devastation, resulting in great upheaval in Israel, thousands of deaths in Gaza and protests around the world. At the same time the brutal war in the Ukraine grinds on relentlessly having already claimed many thousands of lives.
Peace, without doubt, is one of the greatest needs of our world today. We need peace between nations and within nations. We need peace in communities, families and in countless individuals.
So many people are stressed and agitated today. You see it on the roads. You see it in shopping centres. You see it in schools. You see it in the workplace.
Bestselling author and pastor Rick Warren said: âI talk to thousands of people. I meet people who are active, who are busy, who are stressed, who are tired, who are ambitious and have great dreams, âŠI rarely meet people who are totally at peace... people who at peace with themselves, at peace with the world, ...people who are literally walking in peace. Itâs a rare quality.â
Are one of those rare people who are walking in peace or whether you are in serious need of peace. Is your mind overloaded right now? Can you ever switch off from thinking about problems and responsibilities? Is there stillness or a storm on the inside of you? Do you need Godâs Christmas gift of peace?
The good news is that that through Jesus you can have peace in all situations. 700 years before He was born, Jesus was described by the prophet Isaiah as âthe Prince of Peace, Prince of Peace, of the increase of His government and peace there will be no endâ (Isaiah 9:6-7).
When Jesus was born, the angels praised the Saviour who would bring peace to all who received Him (Luke 2:13). One of the central messages of Christmas and of Christianity is that Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of all true peace. Only He can bring real peace on earth. Because of the Prince of Peace:
1. You can know peace with yourself (John 14:27; Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:6-7)
2. You can know peace with others (Hebrews 12:14; Galatians 3:26,28)
3. You can know peace with God (Romans 5:1, 6-9)
Apply
1. You can know peace with yourself. The peace of God is a peace that is strong and enduring. It stops our hearts being troubled and removes our fears (John 14:27). The Jewish word for peace is âshalomâ. Shalom means well-being, harmony and serenity. The apostle Paul, who himself survived shipwreck and many other negative experiences, discovered how to have inner peace in all circumstances (Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:6-7). How is this possible? Well the peace of God is not like a temporary and fragile human peace. It is a supernatural peace which defies logic and circumstances. Itâs a peace that literally stands guard like a soldier and it is interesting what it guards: your hearts and your minds. When our minds are attacked and our hearts are wounded we must learn to be quick to come to the Lord and receive His peace that steadies us and protects us. The Prince of Peace stands ready to give us peace within ourselves. Today whatever it is that is bringing unrest to your heart and mind, you need to know too that you can have peace with yourself.
2. You can know peace with others. You can know peace in every relationship (Hebrews 12:14).
- You can know peace in your marriage: A study has shown that January 8th is the busiest day of the year for divorce lawyers when up to one in five couples will enquire about divorce after the pressures of Christmas. But it doesnât have to be this way. When the Prince of peace come into your marriage, His presence will cause anger and bitterness to melt away. Instead of rows and tensions, you will come closer together with a new gentleness and love towards each other.
- You can know peace in your home: Sadly, today the home, instead of being a haven of peace, is more like a battle ground with visible or hidden conflict between children, parents and partners. Some families are so used to shouting, arguing and backchat that they think this is normal life. But this isnât Godâs plan for your home. You can all learn to appreciate each other. You can know new joy and peace in your family. You can laugh together and cry together and be there for one another. If your family is struggling right now, donât give up. Godâs peace can come to any home and it takes just one member of the home to have the peace and to speak peacefully for that peace to spread.
- You can know peace with all people: The nearer we come to God the closer we can come to one another. All division and discrimination can be broken down when we have the peace and love of Christ hearts.
As Christians we are called to live differently in a world of agitation, sexism, racism, and anti-Semitism and social, economic and political divisions. We are to have love and respect for all people. Everyone matters. Everyone is loved by God even though they may not walk with God (Galatians 3:26,28). So this is all very good news: when we discover the Prince of Peace, we ourselves can personally experience new peace.
3. You can know peace with God. Peace with God is the foundation for peace in every area of life. When you donât have peace with God it affects everything else. When your relationship with God is right everything else can line up right. When you get your relationship with God in order, all other relationships fall into place. One man who led a very wild and immoral life later became one of the great leaders and thinkers of the Christian church after turning from his sin and committing to follow Jesus. His name was Augustine and he told how he had hungered for inner peace. He finally concluded that: âour heart is restless until it rests in You." You too may have a God sized gap in your life. Maybe you never realised it or maybe you did and ran away from it. But either way making your peace with God is the biggest and best decision you will ever make in your life. The Bible teaches that not only that there is a God but also that Jesus alone can bring us into fellowship with God. Jesus came to restore peace between us and God. When He died the heavy curtain in the Temple in Jerusalem which separated unholy people from a holy God was torn in two from top to bottom. We have peace with God because of what Jesus has done for us (Romans 5:1). We canât make peace. He is the ultimate peacemaker. Jesus came to give his life to pay the price of our sins that separate us from God (Romans 5:6-9). Today is a moment for you to discover the Prince of Peace. Make your peace with God and enjoy the peace of God in your heart and mind and in every experience in life.
How much peace is there in your life? Do you need to have peace with yourself? Do you need to be more peaceful towards your husband, wife, family and others? Do you need to make your peace with God? You can when you ask the Prince of Peace to still every storm in your life and let His peace rule your heart and mind. Today receive the greatest gift of peace.
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