Participants:
Series Code: SSP
Program Code: SSP230006S
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00:01 Hello Friends, I'm Jill Morikone
00:02 and I just want to welcome you to this Quarter: 00:04 Managing for the Master till He comes. 00:06 We're on Lesson Number 6: Laying up Treasure in Heaven. 00:11 If you don't have your own copy of the Adult Bible Study Guide, 00:14 you can go to 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 00:18 download a copy and follow along with us. 00:21 Get ready for this discovery of the Word of God. 00:24 Music... 00:54 Hello, I'm Jill Morikone, we love Sabbath School Panel. 00:57 We love spending this time with you. 01:00 We are journeying through 01:01 Managing for the Master till He comes. 01:04 This entire Quarter has been on Stewardship 01:07 and it's been a great practical study of the Word of God. 01:11 This Lesson is: Laying Up Treasure in Heaven 01:13 and I just want to introduce to you... 01:15 they don't need any introduction 01:16 but I have my family with me on the Panel, 01:18 to my left... my Sister Shelley Quinn. 01:20 Shelley: Oh, it's lovely to be here 01:22 and my Lesson is Monday's: 01:24 Abram, The Father of the Faithful. 01:28 Jill: Wonderful, to your left, Brother John Dinzey, 01:30 good to have you here. 01:32 Dinzey: It's a blessing to be here. 01:33 I have something I had never really studied: 01:35 Lot's Bad Decisions. 01:37 Jill: Ooooh, okay, looking forward to that. 01:39 To your left, Pastor John Lomacang. 01:41 Lomacang: Mine is From Deceiver to Prince. 01:44 We're talking about Jacob, what an amazing story! 01:47 Jill: Amen, last but not least, Evangelist and Singer in Israel, 01:51 Ryan Day, glad you're here. 01:52 Ryan: Amen, I love 3ABN Sabbath School Panel 01:54 and I have Thursday's Lesson entitled: Moses in Egypt. 01:58 Jill: Amen, before we go any further, 01:59 we want to go to the Lord in prayer, 02:01 Pastor John, would you pray for us? 02:02 Lomacang: Sure, "Loving Father in heaven, 02:04 we are so blessed to be able to open the Word of God and find 02:07 that we always enter into a book 02:09 that's grander in thought and depth than we can ever be 02:13 but humble our minds as we walk through Your Word 02:16 that You have seen so fit to reveal to us 02:20 and now today as we handle it, 02:21 help us to do so as we handle a holy thing 02:24 and help us to communicate 02:26 to bring glory and honor just to You, 02:28 in Jesus' name I pray... amen. " 02:30 Panel: "Amen. " 02:31 Jill: Thank you so much. 02:33 This week's Lesson, Lesson Number 6 02:35 is: Laying Up Treasure in Heaven. 02:37 So, I want to ask you, "Where is your heart?" 02:40 Is it enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season? 02:43 Or is it suffering affliction with the people of God? 02:45 Where is your heart? 02:47 Is it invested in the temporary 02:50 or is it invested in the eternal? 02:53 You know, I read an article... 02:55 it has something to do with Where is your heart... 02:57 it came out a couple of years ago 02:59 and it said, "Over the past 100 years, 03:01 we have turned our luxuries into necessities. " 03:05 Did you know in the year 1900 03:08 less than ten percent of families owned a stove 03:11 or even had access to electricity. 03:14 In 1915, less than ten percent of families owned a car. 03:19 In 1930, less than ten percent of families owned a refrigerator 03:23 or a washing machine. 03:25 In 1945, 03:27 less than ten percent of families owned a clothes dryer 03:30 or an air conditioner. 03:32 In 1960, less than ten percent of families 03:36 owned a dishwasher or a color TV. 03:40 In 1975, less than ten percent of families owned a microwave. 03:44 In 1990, less than ten percent of families owned a cell phone 03:49 or had access to the Internet. 03:51 "Yet today," the article continues, 03:54 "90 percent of the country of the United States of America, 03:58 has a stove... electricity... a fridge... 04:02 a clothes washer... air conditioning... 04:04 color TV... microwave 04:06 and a cell phone. " 04:08 Those devices... those things make our lives better for sure. 04:13 They make us happier 04:14 but for some of us, they are never enough. 04:18 We look this week at where is our heart? 04:22 Laying up treasure in heaven, Matthew 6:19 through 21, 04:25 we read this several times in the study, 04:28 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth 04:30 where moth and rust destroy, 04:32 and where thieves break in and steal: 04:34 lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, 04:36 where neither moth nor rust destroy, 04:39 and where thieves do not break in nor steal; 04:40 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. " 04:44 The Lesson brought this out... I love it. 04:47 If you see how someone spends their money, 04:49 you discover where their heart is 04:51 and you also discover where their heart soon will be 04:55 because where we invest our time 04:58 and where we invest our resources 05:00 is where our heart is right now 05:02 or where it will become in the future. 05:06 This week we study the radical lives of obedience 05:09 of Old Testament men of faith 05:11 in contrast to those who lived only for temporal pleasure. 05:17 Our Memory Text is Mark 8 verses 36 and 37. 05:22 Mark 8:36... 37... 05:24 "For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, 05:27 yet loses his own soul? 05:29 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" 05:33 On Sunday, I look at Noah. 05:35 Noah found grace... you can turn with me to Genesis chapter 6. 05:41 The Lesson has this quote, 05:43 "Those who are seeking heavenly treasure 05:46 are frequently called by God 05:48 to make major life alterations here on earth. 05:51 Be prepared to face the same thing if need be. " 05:55 Now, this is Jill's interpretation 05:57 of those couple of sentences and it goes like this, 06:00 "When you follow God, sometimes He will ask you 06:03 for radical obedience. " 06:05 That's what I see in our Lesson today... 06:08 Noah... man of God... 06:10 God called him to radical obedience. 06:13 You see, Noah didn't seek for treasure on earth, 06:15 He sought for the heavenly treasure. 06:18 He walked in radical obedience. 06:21 We see the divine judgment brought forth... 06:24 we see this in Genesis chapter 6 for that universal flood. 06:28 Yet, we still see God's plan to fulfill His promise of salvation 06:33 by renewing the covenant between the Creator and His creation. 06:38 There's an interesting chiastic structure... 06:41 I like literary structures 06:42 and you know the chiastic... 06:44 just literally means you have Part A 06:46 and then the second part mirrors the first part 06:49 and if you look at this entire story of the flood, 06:52 you have the chiastic structure and it looks like this. 06:54 It begins with Noah and his sons... 06:56 then we go to violence in God's creation... 06:58 it continues... God's resolution to destroy... 07:01 the command to enter the ark... 07:03 the beginning of the flood... 07:05 the rise in flood waters and at the very center point, 07:09 God remembers Noah. 07:12 Then we start back... the receding flood waters... 07:15 the drying up of the earth... 07:18 the command to leave the ark... 07:20 God's resolution to preserve order. 07:24 The covenant blessing and peace 07:26 and then it ends where it started with Noah and his three sons. 07:31 We're in our story today... 07:33 I'm going to give you seven takeaways 07:36 from the story of Noah. 07:37 Now it's a long and comprehensive story... 07:39 we're only going to look at verses 5 through 14 07:42 which is what our lesson has us looking at. 07:44 We're in Genesis 6... we pick it up in verse 5. 07:47 "Then the Lord saw 07:48 that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, 07:51 and that every intent of the heart... thoughts of his heart 07:55 was only evil continually. " 07:58 Now, it's interesting to me when God sees... God acts. 08:01 Sometimes it's as Judge, 08:03 sometimes, it's as Savior. 08:05 Takeaway Number 1: 08:07 You can never hide from God. 08:09 You know, God saw that the intent of their heart... 08:12 it doesn't say, "God saw their actions were evil... " 08:15 God saw what the people did was evil... 08:17 now, of course their actions were evil 08:19 but God saw that the intent of their heart... 08:21 the thoughts of their heart were only evil continually. 08:24 We can never hide from God... Psalm 139 verse 4, 08:28 "For there is not a word on my tongue, 08:30 but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. " 08:34 We can't hide our words from God. 08:35 We think we can hide... 08:37 we think we can go on in the corner... we can't... 08:38 God hears everything. 08:40 Continuing on... same Psalm... 139 verses 7 and 8, 08:44 "Where can I go from Your Spirit? 08:46 Where can I flee from Your presence? 08:48 If I ascend into heaven, You are there. 08:49 If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. " 08:53 You can never hide from God. 08:55 Let's go to verse 6, we're in Genesis 6 verse 6, 08:58 "And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, 09:04 and He was grieved in His heart. " 09:07 Takeaway Number 2: 09:09 Our choices... they hurt God. 09:12 Wow! 09:13 You ever think, "I'll just do what I want... 09:16 doesn't hurt anybody else... 09:18 it's not influencing anybody else... 09:19 I'll just do what I want. " 09:21 Clearly, no person is an island 09:22 and we all have an influence on someone else. 09:24 But I think, many times we don't think about the words we speak... 09:28 the decisions we make... 09:29 the thoughts we have... 09:30 they don't just impact our circle of influence, 09:32 they can hurt God. 09:34 The New Living Translation... this same verse... 09:37 this Genesis 6:6... 09:38 it says, "the Lord was sorry He had ever made them 09:41 and put them on the earth. It broke His heart. " 09:44 Reminds me of a parent, now, 09:46 Greg and I don't have the pleasure of being parents 09:49 but I've watched parents and their hearts break 09:51 with the choices that sometimes their children make. 09:55 The Lord was hurt because His creation... 09:59 He wanted them to follow Him and serve Him... 10:01 and become like Him in character and reflect Him to the world 10:05 and yet, they broke His heart in how they were acting. 10:09 Verse 7 Genesis 6:7... 10:11 "The Lord said, 'I will destroy man 10:15 whom I have created from the face of the earth, 10:17 both man and beast, 10:18 creeping things and birds of the air, 10:20 for I am sorry that I have made them. '" 10:23 The word "destroy" in Hebrew literally means 10:26 "to wipe out as one wipes a slate clean. " 10:29 Now, we don't... Takeaway Number 3 10:32 is deliberate, intentional, 10:36 cherished sin has consequences. 10:39 The people held on to their sin 10:42 and there were many opportunities for repentance, 10:46 many opportunities for God calling to their heart 10:49 and then to have opportunity to say, 10:51 "Yes, I want to follow You... " 10:53 but they hardened their hearts. 10:55 We know that when God says I'm sorry, 10:58 it doesn't mean He's changing His mind or a change of heart. 11:01 It's the humanity's response to Him. 11:04 You know, you think about the same sun... 11:07 it melts ice, does it not? 11:09 But yet it hardens clay. 11:10 Now, the difference isn't in the sun at all. 11:12 The difference is in humanity and our response to God. 11:17 Deliberate intentional cherished sin... it has consequences. 11:20 Let's read verses 8 and 9, Genesis 6:8 and 9, 11:24 "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 11:27 This is the genealogy of Noah. 11:29 Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. 11:33 Noah walked with God. " 11:35 Takeaway Number 4: 11:37 Circumstances and environment do not control your destiny. 11:40 You know, sometimes in psychological understanding, 11:42 they say, "Oh if you're raised in that environment, 11:45 you're going to become like that. 11:46 If you're surrounded by these types of people, 11:48 you're going to become like that. " 11:49 Well, look at Noah, he walked in a wicked world 11:51 and it was so wicked, the Lord needed to destroy it 11:54 and yet, he was perfect. 11:56 He was a just man. 11:58 He walked with God 12:00 in the midst of outward surrounding circumstances 12:03 that were not so good. 12:04 So, we have a choice to make. 12:06 I love Joshua 24:15, 12:09 "If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, 12:11 choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, 12:13 whether the gods which your fathers served 12:15 which were on the other side of the River... " 12:17 in other words, "Are you going to follow tradition 12:18 and serve the god of your parents 12:20 or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell... " 12:22 That's the peer pressure of the idol worship around them. 12:25 "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. " 12:28 Circumstances and environment 12:30 do not have to control your destiny. 12:32 We're back to Genesis 6:11 and 12, 12:35 "The earth also was corrupt before God, 12:37 and the earth was filled with violence. 12:39 So the LORD looked upon the earth, 12:40 and indeed it was corrupt; 12:42 for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. " 12:44 Takeaway Number 5: 12:45 Trust God and His Word even when you don't understand. 12:49 You see, the people of Noah's day had never seen a flood. 12:52 They had never seen rain 12:54 and yet, Noah was preaching to them 12:56 and calling to them to make that decision to enter the ark. 13:00 Faith... it requires risk. 13:02 Faith means we obey even when we don't always understand. 13:07 Verse 13, "And God said to Noah, 13:10 'The end of all flesh has come before Me, 13:12 for the earth is filled with violence through them; 13:15 and behold, I will destroy them from the face of the earth. '" 13:18 Takeaway Number 6: 13:20 We don't have time to unpack this 13:22 but judgment comes from God 13:25 and it is still part of love. 13:27 That's a complicated subject for another time 13:32 but love has two sides... the mercy and justice. 13:36 Finally, verse 14... our last verse, 13:38 Genesis 6:14, "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood, 13:41 make rooms in the ark, 13:43 and cover it inside and outside with pitch. " 13:45 Final Takeaway Number 7: 13:47 Walk in radical obedience when God calls. 13:50 It had never rained before nor flooded before 13:53 but when God said, "Build and ark... " 13:55 Noah said, "Yes Lord, I will do it. " 13:57 Shelley: Amen, thank you Jill for that great foundation. 14:00 My name is Shelley Quinn and I have Monday's Lesson: 14:03 Abram, the Father of the Faithful. 14:07 You know, somebody that is listening is probably saying, 14:11 "Ah, this is Old Testament, 14:12 why is that relevant to us today?" 14:15 Let me tell you something, 14:17 the Old Testament records 4,000 years of God's interactions 14:22 with humanity, 14:23 whereas the New Testament... it's barely even a 100 years. 14:28 It is important... the Old Testament is relevant to us 14:33 because it shows us what God expects of His people. 14:38 Abram's story is critical to understand 14:42 because He is called the father of us all 14:45 and who was Abram? 14:48 Did you know he was a Gentile? 14:50 Gentile simply means Nation 14:53 and there were no Jews... 14:55 the Jews were not yet a distinct people 14:58 or ethnic group during Abraham's lifetime 15:02 but he was from a pagan country. 15:06 Now, pagan has to do with religion 15:09 and so, he came from a polytheistic region... 15:14 the Ur of the Chaldees 15:15 but he witnessed idolatry in his own home 15:20 because his father worshipped more than one god 15:24 but Abram... ah... he loved the Lord with all of his heart... 15:30 God knew it and Abraham followed God. 15:35 You know, I wonder, where did he get this childlike faith? 15:39 And I believe it was from Shem, Noah's son 15:43 because of Shem... 15:45 a covenant blessing was pronounced over him 15:49 and Shem lived 500 years after the flood... 15:53 the whole time almost the whole span of Abraham's life. 15:56 So, I think maybe his relative had told him. 15:59 So, Abram was so loyal to God 16:03 that 2nd Chronicles 20 verse 7 16:07 says that he was designated 16:10 as God's faithful friend. 16:13 He entered into covenant with the Lord... 16:16 righteousness by faith. 16:18 It was the expression of the everlasting covenant. 16:23 We see it in Genesis 3:15 when God talks about the seed 16:28 that's going to be born to a woman... 16:29 a deliverer who will crush the head of the serpent Satan 16:35 but then we see in... with Abraham 16:41 that God ratifies this, 16:43 we're going to get to that in just a moment 16:45 but here's the point... 16:46 the everlasting covenant of righteousness by faith 16:50 introduced in the Garden... ratified with Abraham... 16:54 that's the underpinning for both the Old Testament 16:59 and the New Testament. 17:01 The first book that the Apostle Paul wrote 17:04 was the letter to the Galatians. 17:06 Listen to what he says, Galatians 3:8, 17:10 "The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles 17:14 by faith, preached the gospel. " 17:17 It's the same gospel that you and I know. 17:20 The good news of Jesus Christ, 17:24 our Creator becoming a man to deliver us... 17:27 he says, "He preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, 17:32 'In you all the nations of the earth will be blessed. '" 17:35 And then going down to Galatians 3:16, 17:39 he says, "To Abraham and his Seed 17:42 were the promises made. 17:44 He does not say, 'And to seeds,' as of many, 17:48 "but to your seed who is Christ? " 17:52 And I love Galatians 3:29... 17:55 "If you are Christ's, you are Abraham's seed, 17:59 you are heirs according to the promise. " 18:02 Everything that God promised Abraham 18:05 was promised through Jesus Christ... 18:08 we're heirs of the promise. 18:09 Paul says in Romans 4:16 and 17, 18:13 "Therefore the promise comes by faith 18:15 so that it may be by grace, if they be guaranteed 18:19 to all of Abraham's offspring, 18:22 not only to those who are of the law 18:24 but to those who are of the faith of Abraham. 18:28 He is the father of us all. 18:32 Well, if Abraham is the father of us all, 18:34 do you agree that we need to know how God interacted 18:39 with Abraham? 18:40 It is written... God... this is continuing in Romans, 18:43 He said, "I have made you a father of many nations... " 18:46 he is our father in the sight of God 18:50 in whom he, Abraham, believed. 18:53 The God who gives life to the dead 18:56 and calls those things that are not 18:59 as though they already were. 19:01 Did you know when God looks at you, 19:03 2nd Corinthians 5:17 says, 19:05 "You're a new creation in Christ Jesus... " 19:07 and you may wake up and something happens 19:09 and that old ugly creation rears its ugly head 19:13 and you think... "Oh... ah... I'm not a new creation... " 19:16 God looks down at you 19:17 and He knows you are a saint under construction, 19:21 He knows He's going to complete the good work He's begun in you 19:26 so, he calls things that are not as though they already were, 19:31 He sees you as the new creation 19:33 but when we're looking at Abraham, 19:36 why did God choose Abraham to be the father of us all? 19:40 Why is he the father of the faithful? 19:43 Genesis 18:19 says that God knew Abraham 19:47 would command his children and his household 19:50 to keep the way of the LORD, 19:53 to do righteousness and justice. 19:56 So God trusted this heart of Abraham. 20:00 Any time the LORD of glory called, 20:03 Abraham obeyed in childlike faith. 20:06 So, when He called him out of Ur of the Chaldees, 20:10 he first came out with his father Terah and Sarai and Lot 20:14 and they got just as far as Haran and they stopped there. 20:19 It must have been a God-ordained stop 20:22 because Abraham always followed the Lord. 20:24 Well, then we see in Genesis 12, Abraham is 75 now 20:28 we don't know how old he was when he left for there 20:32 but God repeats His call 20:34 and Abram just drops everything 20:38 and Abram responds to the call. 20:42 God was setting him apart 20:44 for divine purpose in the everlasting covenant 20:47 and here's what God said to him in Genesis 12, 20:50 "Now the LORD said to Abram, 20:52 'Get out of your country, from your family, 20:54 from your father's house to a land that I will show you. '" 20:57 And then He says, "I will make you a great nation, 21:01 I will bless you and make your name great; 21:05 and you shall be a blessing... 21:06 in all... 21:08 in you all the families of the earth will be blessed. " 21:12 "I will... " is God's covenant language. 21:16 That's God's promise. 21:19 Abram entered into covenant with the Lord 21:22 and the... the fact that He says, 21:24 "All the families of the earth will be blessed through you... " 21:27 shows that God's plan of salvation spans all ethnic 21:33 and all geographical boundaries. 21:36 So, Abram was quick to obey, 21:38 he knew that obedience was the pathway to God's blessings. 21:44 Now, God promises in Genesis 13, this childless man... 21:49 his wife, Sarah had been childless for many years, 21:54 He promises him 21:56 that his descendants are going to be like the dust of the earth 22:00 and He assures him that He's going to give the Promised Land. 22:04 They're wondering... 22:05 they're living in tents like Nomads right now. 22:07 Genesis 15, He comes along... 22:10 Now He promises him... still travelers... 22:13 that your descendants are going to be 22:16 like the stars of heaven. 22:18 In my mind, I think possible the dust into the earth 22:22 were the biological descendants... 22:24 the Jews who inherited the physical Canaan 22:27 and perhaps the stars were all of the believers 22:30 who were His spiritual descendants... you and I 22:33 but what happens is 22:37 God knows how consistent Abraham's heart is, 22:41 and when He is... He ratifies the covenant, 22:44 He says in Genesis 15:6, He tells him this 22:48 and it says, "Abraham, believe the Lord... " 22:52 and He accounted it to him... He credited... 22:56 He imputed it to Him as righteousness. 22:59 That's the same thing that you and I... 23:02 righteousness by faith. 23:04 So, what happens 23:06 when he is now 99 years old? 23:10 Here's a man made righteous by faith... 23:13 that's what our pathway is 23:16 but when Abram is 99 years old, 23:20 in Genesis 17:1, the Lord appears to him 23:23 and you know what He says? 23:25 "I am the LORD the Almighty God; 23:29 walk before me, and be blameless. " 23:33 What? 23:35 Now some people may go, 23:36 "You're made righteous by faith... 23:38 you don't need to worry about obedience. " 23:39 Well, I'm going to tell you something, 23:41 You talk about radical obedience 23:45 Abraham obeyed and God expected it. 23:49 We need to know that. 23:50 So, from the time that he actually left Haran at age 75, 23:55 did you know it was 25 years 23:58 before the promised son of the covenant... Isaac... was born 24:03 but here is what I love 24:05 when Paul... or the writer of Hebrews, we assume it's Paul, 24:10 he's talking about Abraham and here's what he says 24:14 in Hebrews 11:8 through 10, 24:16 he says, "By faith Abraham obeyed 24:20 when he was called to go out to a place 24:21 where he would receive an inheritance, 24:23 he went out, not knowing where he went. 24:25 By faith, he dwelt in the land of promise, 24:27 in a foreign land, 24:29 dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, 24:30 heirs with him of the same promise: 24:33 for he waited for the city which had its foundation, 24:37 whose builder and maker is God. " 24:39 Jill: Amen, I love that, thank you so much, Shelley, 24:42 what a wonderful lesson! Radical obedience, 24:44 we see that in Noah's life and in Abraham's life. 24:47 We're going to take a break, we'll be right back. 24:49 Music... 24:54 Ever wish you could watch a 3abn Sabbath School Panel again 24:58 or share it on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? 25:01 Well, you can by visiting 3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com 25:06 A clean design makes it easy 25:09 to find the program you are looking for. 25:10 There are also links to the adult Bible Study Guide 25:14 so you can follow along. 25:16 Sharing is easy. 25:18 Just click "share" and choose your favorite social media. 25:21 Share a Link Save a Life for Eternity. 25:24 Jill: Welcome back to our study on Laying Up Treasure in Heaven, 25:28 we go over to Pastor John Dinzey and Tuesday's Lesson... 25:30 and somebody who didn't have so much radical obedience. 25:33 Dinzey: Hmmm... yes, 25:34 we're talking about Lot's bad decisions 25:39 and so, first, we're going to talk a little bit about Abraham 25:42 and Lot and that's where we take off, 25:45 Let's go ahead and go to Genesis chapter 12 25:47 beginning in verse 1, 25:49 "Now the LORD had said to Abram, 25:51 'Get thee out of thy country, 25:53 and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, 25:56 unto a land that I will show thee: 25:58 And I will make of thee a great nation, 26:00 and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; 26:03 and thou shalt be a blessing: 26:04 and I will bless them that bless thee, 26:07 and curse him that curseth thee: 26:09 and in thee 26:10 shall all the families of the earth be blessed. ' 26:13 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him... " 26:16 and notice... "and Lot went with him: 26:19 and Abram was seventy-five years old 26:22 when he departed out of Haran. " 26:24 And so I say to you 26:26 that even though we see the Bible records a... a... 26:29 Lot makes some bad decisions, this was a good one. 26:32 He went with Abram. 26:34 We move now to Genesis Chapter 12 26:38 where we see that Abram continues his journey 26:43 as the Lord is guiding him 26:45 and in Genesis chapter 12 verse 10 it says, 26:49 "Now there was a famine in the land... " 26:52 by this time he was... Abram was by Bethel 26:55 and so Lot was with him... they were by a mountain, 26:58 it says that they continued journeying... 27:00 going towards the south 27:02 and now there's a famine in the land 27:04 it says... verse 10, 27:05 "And Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there; 27:08 for the famine was severe in the land. " 27:11 And you know the story where Abram decides that 27:14 "Well, my wife is beautiful... " 27:15 now see, remember he left the house when he was 75 years old, 27:18 his wife was about 65, 27:20 she was still beautiful enough for him to say a lie... 27:22 "That's my sister... that's my sister. " 27:24 But notice here that... 27:27 now chapter 13 beginning in verse 1, 27:31 "Then Abram went up from Egypt, 27:34 he, and his wife, and all that he had, 27:37 and Lot went with him, to the south. " 27:40 Again, Lot makes a good decision. 27:43 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. 27:47 And he went on his journeys from the south as far as Bethel, 27:50 to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, 27:53 between Bethel and Ai; 27:55 to the place of the altar, 27:58 which he had made there at first: 28:00 and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. " 28:02 And so, as Abram did... so did Lot. 28:06 Now, as we go to Genesis 13:5 through 7, 28:11 this is where you see a departure 28:14 that begins with Abram and Lot. 28:16 Lot also... I'm reading now in Genesis 13 beginning in verse 5, 28:20 "Lot also, who went with Abram, 28:23 had flocks and herds and tents. 28:25 Now the land was not able to support them, 28:27 that they might dwell together, 28:29 for their possessions were so great 28:31 that they could not dwell together. " 28:33 The Lord had blessed them... 28:35 blessed Abram... blessed Lot as well. 28:38 "And there was a strife between the herdsmen 28:40 of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. 28:45 The Canaanites and the Perizzites 28:47 then dwelt in the land. " 28:49 So, this takes us to Genesis 13:8, 28:54 "So Abram said to Lot, 28:55 'Please let there be no strife between you and me, 28:59 and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; 29:02 for we are brethren. 29:04 Is not the whole land before you? 29:07 Please separate from me. 29:09 If you take the left, then I will go to the right; 29:12 or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left. '" 29:15 Now here is where Lot has to make a decision 29:18 and this is one of those things 29:20 where you have to ask yourself, 29:22 "Did he do what Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 says?" 29:26 Verse... Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 and 6 says 29:30 that he acknowledged the Lord 29:32 and asked the Lord to direct his path 29:34 and you know the story is that he did not apparently. 29:37 Notice what happens, Genesis 13 verse 10, 29:40 "And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, 29:46 that it was well watered everywhere... 29:49 before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah... 29:51 like the garden of the Lord, 29:54 like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. " 29:57 So, we see, he looks at this 29:59 and he says, "Wow! this is like the Garden of Eden, 30:02 like I heard... that's where I'm going. " 30:04 It was a selfish motivation. 30:07 "Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, 30:11 and Lot journeyed east. 30:13 And they separated from each other. 30:16 Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, 30:19 and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain 30:21 and notice, "and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom. " 30:26 And this is when trouble begins for Lot and his family. 30:31 This is when... now his family is exposed 30:35 to things they had never seen before, 30:38 or if they had seen it, they completely ignored it 30:41 because Abram and Lot were together 30:43 and this was a... a... a place where they were able to 30:47 encourage one another. 30:48 Now, Lot has to be the... the Head of the family 30:53 and preserve the knowledge of God. 30:55 Unfortunately, we see that his daughters 30:58 went to Sodom and married... 31:02 intermarried with the people of Sodom 31:04 and this is why we have the terrible situation 31:07 that takes place for Lot and his family. 31:09 We do have a Scripture in 2nd Peter chapter 2 verse 6 31:14 that apparently Lot still longed to have a relationship 31:19 with the Lord... 31:21 notice, 2nd Peter chapter 2 beginning in verse 6, 31:24 "and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, 31:27 condemned them with an overthrow, 31:30 making them an example unto those 31:32 that after should live ungodly; 31:34 and delivered... " 31:36 notice how the Bible describes him, 31:38 "and delivered just Lot, 31:40 vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. 31:44 So, even the conversation of the people of Sodom was wicked. 31:48 Not only their actions but their conversations were wicked. 31:53 And notice how verse 8 describes it, 31:56 "For that righteous man... " talking about Lot... 31:58 "dwelling among them, 32:00 in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul 32:05 from day to day with their unlawful deeds. 32:09 So, here we have a question for... why would he stay there? 32:15 Seeing and hearing all of that... 32:17 all that corrupting influence, 32:19 it could be, I believe that his daughters had married 32:24 and they did not want to move away. 32:27 They took deep roots in the area 32:29 and remember... he was rich... 32:32 increased with goods... gold... silver... 32:35 but when he left Sodom and Gomorrah, 32:38 he left with nothing. 32:41 The decisions of life will either be for your good 32:45 or for your evil. 32:47 And I'm... I'm dwelling on this because 32:49 there may be some listening right now 32:51 that have either made or about to make a decision 32:55 like Lot... they see some place that appears to be well watered, 33:01 a place where you can get rich... 33:03 a place where you can gain more 33:05 and you're looking at that place as a 33:08 a place of temporal gain 33:10 where you have to weigh all these things in the balances. 33:14 What will it do for my relationship with the Lord? 33:17 What will it do 33:18 for the relationship for my family with the Lord? 33:21 And this is what Lot did not apparently 33:24 take into consideration. 33:26 Saw the place watered 33:28 and wonderful place to really thrive 33:32 but it was a seriously bad decision. 33:36 Notice... here the Lesson brings out... 33:40 "However easily Lot could have justified his decision 33:44 to move to the city, 33:45 things didn't turn out so great for him. " 33:48 And it brings out that the time came 33:51 when Abraham had to come to the rescue 33:54 of Lot and his family because they were taken captive 33:58 and you know, perhaps, this is one of those wake-up calls 34:02 and still Lot went back to Sodom and Gomorrah 34:06 and lived among those wicked people. 34:09 Remember the conversation, 34:10 the things they were seeing and hearing... 34:13 he vexed his righteous soul day to day 34:15 and if you are having that experience, 34:18 your... your righteous soul is being vexed 34:21 by the things you see and hear, 34:23 if... if that's in your house, if it's coming through the TV, 34:26 and you're not watching 3ABN, 34:28 you need... you need to turn to 3ABN... stay on 3ABN. 34:32 If you're just watching 3ABN, 34:33 I think I watched 3ABN on Friday night and Saturday... 34:36 and the rest of the week, I'm walking the wicked... 34:40 watching the wicked conversations 34:41 and the things of the world, 34:43 beware, you may be bringing influence into your home 34:47 that could harm you and your family. 34:50 I'd like to read this from Testimony volume 4 page 110, 34:55 and then... let's read that first. 34:57 "The dwellers in Sodom were corrupt. 35:00 Vile conversation greeted his ears daily 35:04 and his righteous soul was vexed by the violence and crime 35:07 he was powerless to prevent. 35:09 His children were becoming like these wicked people 35:13 for association with them had perverted their morals. 35:16 Taking all these things into consideration, 35:20 the worldly riches he had gained seemed small 35:23 and not worth the price he had paid for them. 35:27 His family connections were extensive... 35:30 his children having married among the Sodomites. " 35:34 And this decision led to the horrible, horrible loss 35:39 that he incurred 35:40 and I encourage you... if you're seeing these similar things, 35:42 go to the Lord... you may need to leave where you are. 35:46 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm. 35:48 Lomacang: Thank you John, I appreciate that. 35:49 Wednesday... From Deceiver to Prince. 35:54 Let me just make this statement at the very outset. 35:56 God's dream for your life may be delayed 35:59 but God is so determined it will not be denied. 36:02 God had a vision for this young man from the time he was born 36:05 and lives may be filled with bad decisions 36:09 but Jeremiah 29:11 when God says, 36:12 "I know the plans I have for you... " 36:14 part of his story is just like my story... 36:17 maybe like many of our stories. 36:18 God's dreams may be delayed but God's grace is so great 36:22 those dreams are not denied. 36:24 You know, Jacob was a deceiver. 36:26 His very name meant that 36:27 and you know the story very well 36:28 how he conspired with his mother to steal the birthright 36:34 of his older brother 36:35 and even putting skin on his arm... you know hairy arms 36:40 to make his father think that 36:42 it was the other brother that was receiving the birthright 36:45 rather than he 36:46 and then, we read how this conspiracy continued to... 36:50 you know when you do one thing that's wrong... 36:52 that's just... you cannot correct a wrong. 36:55 You just exacerbate it 36:56 and trying to cover up one bad decision 37:00 with another bad decision 37:01 is like sweeping dirt under a rug. 37:04 After a while, it's going to start pushing up 37:06 and people will know what they see is accumulative effect... 37:10 not something done at one particular time. 37:13 In Genesis chapter 27 verses 43 to 45, 37:16 we find the questions... they are... the story really 37:20 reveals the conspiracy between the mother and son. 37:24 "Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, 37:29 flee to my brother Laban in Haran. 37:34 And stay with him a few days, 37:36 until your brother's fury turns away, 37:40 until your brother's anger turns away from you, 37:43 and he forgets what you have done to him; 37:47 then I will send and bring you from there. 37:51 Why should you be bereaved also... 37:54 of you... why should I be bereaved 37:58 of you both in one day?" 37:59 Now this is crazy... I'm reading this statement 38:03 and not believing that she's saying this. 38:05 "Wait there until your brother forgets what you did to him. " 38:08 Ah ha... how many of us forget what people do to us? 38:12 This was not a matter of Esau forgetting... 38:14 this was a matter of Esau relenting 38:17 because Esau pursued his brother determinedly. 38:21 You know the story of Jacob's ladder... 38:23 all of these are part of the evidences 38:25 that even though Jacob was a deceiver, 38:27 God was still with him 38:29 and this... this whole conspiracy... 38:33 "go away and stay away long enough and when the time comes, 38:37 I'll call for you. " 38:38 When you read the story... Jacob never saw his mother again. 38:43 Twenty years had gone by 38:45 and he never saw his mother's face again. 38:48 So, this is where conspiracy never pays. 38:51 When you conspire together to do wrong, 38:54 time may pass 38:56 but that conspiracy never becomes a right deed 38:59 and Jacob surely missed his mom. 39:02 I did a story many years ago, 39:05 as a matter of fact, a sermon called: From Pits to Palaces 39:07 and the moment I got this page, Shelley, I want to tell you, 39:10 that whole thing came back to me. 39:13 Some of the points I made out there was um... 39:15 he was a... our greatest trials are introduced 39:18 through God's greatest dreams. 39:20 Our greatest trial will prepare us for God's greatest dream. 39:23 The brightest morning only rises on those 39:26 who endure the darkest nights. 39:27 And there were some dark nights in the life of Jacob, 39:31 I believe that one of the reasons why he went through 39:34 and endured some of the things he did 39:36 was because of his bad decisions. 39:37 Let's go to Genesis chapter 32 and look together at verses 22 39:42 down to verse 31 39:44 and after we read that, we have to ask the question, 39:46 what happened here to Jacob 39:47 and what spiritual lesson can we draw from this. 39:51 Here it is, and it says, "And he arose that night 39:54 Genesis 32 verses 22 to 31. 39:58 I speak fast sometimes, I hit my New York stride, 40:02 here we are, Genesis chapter 32 verses 22 to 31, 40:06 "And he arose that night and took his two wives, 40:10 his two female servants, 40:12 and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. 40:17 He took them, sent them over the brook, 40:21 and sent over what he had. 40:24 Then Jacob was left alone; 40:27 and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 40:31 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, 40:35 He touched the socket of his hip; 40:38 and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint 40:41 as He wrestled with him. 40:44 And He said, 'Let Me go, 40:47 for the day breaks. ' 40:49 But he said, 'I will not let you go unless You bless me!'" 40:54 I got to make a point here 40:55 that's really in the back of my mind, 40:57 some of us let go just short of the blessing. 41:00 If you would just hold on and wrestle with God 41:04 a little longer... 41:05 some of us are wrestling with issues in our lives right now 41:07 hold on and say as he did, "I will not let You go 41:12 until You bless me. " 41:14 We... we let go just shy of the blessing... hold on 41:19 and wrestle with God... 41:20 wrestle with God for your marriage. 41:22 Wrestle with God for your children. 41:24 Wrestle with God for your spiritual walk. 41:26 You know, it's better to wrestle with God and get the blessing 41:29 that will come if you do not give up... 41:32 if you do not relent... 41:33 wrestle with God and the blessing will come 41:36 but some of us want to avoid the wrestling. 41:39 Panel: Laughing... 41:40 Lomacang: The wrestling has to happen 41:41 for the blessing to come. 41:43 So, if the Lord comes into the darkness of your night 41:47 and allows you to embrace Him, 41:49 He's there not for you to defeat Him 41:51 but for Him to bless you. 41:54 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... 41:56 Lomacang: It's going to come in the moments of wrestling. 41:58 Let's continue the story, 41:59 because I have four points that go along with this. 42:01 We now start... go in verse... 42:04 verse 26, 42:08 "And He said, 'Let Me go, for the day breaks. ' 42:10 But he said, 'I will not let You go unless You bless me!' 42:12 So He said to him, 'What is your name?'" 42:14 Did the... did the Lord know that? 42:16 Panel: Yes. Lomacang: You know the answer. 42:18 "He said, 'Jacob. ' 42:19 And He said, 'Your name shall no longer be called a deceiver, 42:23 but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, 42:28 and have prevailed. '" 42:29 That's why the word "Israel" means Overcomer. 42:32 Jacob... Deceiver... Israel... Overcomer. 42:35 "You shall... because you have prevailed... 42:37 Then Jacob asked... " in verse 29, 42:40 "Tell me Your name, I pray. " 42:42 And He said, 42:44 "Why is that you ask about My name? 42:47 Why is it that you ask about My name?" 42:50 And He blessed him there. 42:52 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: 42:55 "For I have seen God face to face, 42:58 and my life is preserved. " 43:00 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, 43:04 and he limped on his hip. " 43:07 Now, this is a very interesting parallel here. 43:09 It's better to limp into righteousness 43:11 than to walk into wickedness. 43:13 Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm... 43:14 Lomacang: It is better to limp and live righteously... 43:16 to be in great shape and live a wicked life. 43:20 This is a... the result of his wickedness 43:22 was a reminder in his limp. 43:25 You know, that's why the Lord says, 43:27 "It's better to enter into heaven with one eye 43:29 than to hell with two or... 43:30 with one arm and... and to hell with two. " 43:33 The limp of this life is worth the joy that comes hereafter. 43:36 Panel: That's right, amen. 43:38 Lomacang: And in the statement that was made here in... 43:40 in Patriarchs and Prophets, I will choose not to read it 43:43 if time prevails, I will go back to it 43:45 but let me bring out a couple of points here because we find 43:48 later on... the life that he lived 43:51 left him pretty much not very much 43:54 but a... but a... but a request was made 43:57 to... about his final resting place 43:59 and with the meagre sum of what he had left, 44:04 the question is, 44:06 who else was buried where Jacob requested to be buried. 44:11 We find the answer in Genesis chapter 49 and 44:16 let's look at verse 31, 44:19 "There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; 44:23 there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; 44:27 and there I buried Leah. 44:30 The field and the cave that is there was purchased 44:34 from his son Heth. 44:35 And when Jacob had finished commanding his sons, 44:38 he drew his feet up into the bed, 44:41 and breathed his last, and was gathered unto his people. " 44:45 In the closing moments of his life... 44:47 in spite of all of the deception of his past, 44:50 in spite of the limited blessings, 44:52 his request was still promised. 44:54 Four quick takeaways in a minute and 2 seconds, 44:57 Your present decisions will impact your future options... 45:00 your present decision will impact your future options. 45:03 Hosea 8 verse 7, 45:05 "They sow the wind, and they reap the whirlwind. " 45:08 Once again, your present decisions 45:10 are the seeds of your future product. 45:13 "Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. " 45:17 Galatians 6 and verse 7 45:19 and when you are blessed... you will be blessed. 45:22 2nd Corinthians 9 verse 6, 45:24 "He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. " 45:28 God blesses us not because of us... 45:31 God blesses us in spite of us. 45:33 And finally, liberality begets liberality. 45:37 Luke 6 and verse 38, 45:39 "Give, and it will be given to you: 45:40 good measure pressed down, shaken together, 45:43 and running over will be put into your bosom. 45:46 For with the same measure that you use, 45:48 it will be measured back to you. " 45:51 When we get to heaven, 45:53 I am looking forward to meeting the man that may be limping. 45:56 Panel: Hmmm... laughter... that's good. 45:58 Ryan: Amen, thank you, Pastor, 45:59 thank you, guys, so much for the powerful lessons. 46:01 I have Thursday's lesson, my name is Ryan Day 46:04 and I am studying... we're going to study together 46:07 Moses in Egypt 46:08 and the Lesson brings out that the character of Moses 46:11 dominated the early years of sacred history. 46:14 He was kept alive in the providence of God 46:17 who worked through an enterprising mother 46:20 and a caring sister. 46:21 Of course when Pharaoh's daughter found baby Moses 46:24 in the ark of bulrushes, 46:25 she asked his Hebrew mother to care for him 46:28 and paid her to do so 46:30 and, of course, the lesson brings out 46:32 that what a blessed challenge this was 46:34 for a young mother who was in exile and slave 46:37 Jochebed... I guess we say Yochebed... Jochebed... 46:40 however you say her name, 46:41 only had 12 years to teach her child to pray 46:44 and, of course, to trust and honor God 46:46 and shape his character for a life of service. 46:48 And, of course, for years, Moses was trained in the royal courts 46:51 of Egypt and this brings... brings out this... 46:54 in Acts chapter 7, verses 20 through 22, 46:56 and if you read those texts it says, 46:59 "At this time Moses was born, 47:01 and was well pleasing to God; 47:02 and he was brought up in his father's house for three months. 47:08 But when he was set out, Pharaoh's daughter took him away 47:12 and brought him up as her own son. 47:14 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, 47:17 and was mighty in words and deeds. " 47:20 This is just a little bit of the background of course 47:22 of Moses' life early on 47:25 being raised up as a young man in Egypt 47:28 and, I mean, my goodness, 47:29 you're talking about... in this situation... 47:31 rags to riches, 47:33 I mean literally the brother went from a slave family 47:35 to, you know, the upper courts of... of... of Egypt 47:38 but the blessing asking the question, 47:41 but ultimately Moses was confronted with reality 47:46 that he had to address 47:47 because, of course, he became known of his history... 47:51 who his people were 47:52 and was he going to continue in the path of the Egyptians, 47:55 would he continue down that path of 47:58 technically... unrighteousness and pagan culture 48:02 or would he eventually be brought to the decision 48:05 of living among his people 48:08 and... and basically being brought in harmony 48:12 with the same reality that his people were having 48:14 and, of course, the Bible brings this out very clearly 48:17 of what Moses ultimately left behind. 48:19 Hebrews chapter 11... that great faith chapter... 48:21 verses 23 through 29, let's go there, 48:25 Hebrews chapter 11 verses 23 to 29 48:27 and it gives us a clear indication 48:30 as to what Moses left behind 48:32 and what decision he ultimately made. 48:34 Verse 23 of Hebrews 11 says, 48:37 "By faith Moses, when he was born, 48:39 was hidden three months by his parents, 48:42 because they saw he was a beautiful child; 48:45 and they were not afraid of the king's command. 48:47 By faith Moses, when he became of age, 48:51 refused to call the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 48:55 choosing rather to suffer affliction 48:58 with the people of God 48:59 than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 49:02 esteeming the reproach of Christ 49:04 greater riches than the treasurers in Egypt; 49:07 for he looked to the reward. " 49:10 Verse 27, 49:11 "By faith he forsook Egypt, 49:13 not fearing the wrath of the king; 49:14 for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 49:18 By faith, he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, 49:22 lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. " 49:26 And then, verse 29, 49:27 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, 49:30 whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, 49:33 were drowned. " 49:35 So, that's a real quick kind of juiced version 49:37 of what decision ultimately Moses decided to make. 49:40 He wanted to relate and to be joined in with his people 49:43 because he was not going to take on the path of... 49:46 of unrighteousness... the path of paganism... 49:48 the path of a polytheistic culture 49:51 worshipping many false gods 49:52 when he could worship the one true God. 49:54 We want to really break down what Moses ultimately gave up, 49:58 we are talking about a man of faith 50:00 and what he really was confronted with, 50:02 when you consider the life he had in Egypt 50:04 and what was set up for him 50:06 as not just... just any ordinary man, 50:08 this Brother would have eventually probably became 50:11 maybe even a Pharaoh... 50:13 but for sure the second highest man in Egypt. 50:15 Egypt was most likely during Moses' time... 50:18 the greatest superpower in the known world at the time 50:21 and, of course, the abundance of wealth was immeasurable 50:24 in comparison to other nations. 50:25 Treasures and resources unlike any other nation at that time 50:29 and, of course, the Nile River which flowed right through Egypt 50:33 nourished perhaps the most lush and fertile land 50:36 which made Egypt champions of agriculture 50:38 which boosted their already booming economy. 50:40 So, this brother was set, right? 50:42 He's set in a very, very rich environment, 50:44 a very rich nation... 50:45 vast and advanced architecture and beauty... 50:48 Egypt had one of the most advanced and powerful militaries 50:51 at the time 50:52 and, of course, again, contrary to Christian principles and... 50:56 and... and... in... in the biblical truth, 50:58 Pharaohs and Egyptian governors 51:00 were known to have many wives and concubines. 51:03 And then, of course, the last note I read here is 51:05 they had some of the most advanced educated scientists 51:08 and sciences in the world 51:10 so, Egypt was... was a very, very advanced region, 51:15 very advanced culture during that time 51:17 and that's what Moses was giving up. 51:20 What was he giving it up for? 51:22 You just read the Scripture, read the story of Scripture, 51:25 it's like, "Whoa... " many of us would look at it and go, 51:28 "Ah, I think I'll take Egypt, I'm going to take the easy way, 51:31 I'm not going to take this... this hard way. " 51:33 We're talking about eventually having to be exiled 51:35 from his family... and this people... 51:37 the culture that he grew up in 51:38 because of a bad decision he made... 51:40 he goes into the wilderness in exile for many years 51:42 but eventually comes back and now has to endure 51:45 ten devastating plagues... 51:46 of Egyptian armies attempting to wipe out him and his people 51:51 Israelites... 51:52 he went through some literal bitter water experiences 51:55 but also a lack of water... 51:57 also a lack of food for the Israelites 52:00 in a couple of occasions... 52:02 complaining and grumbling by the Israelites 52:04 refusing to heed to instruction 52:06 as God called them stubborn and stiff-necked, 52:08 these were the people he was dealing with. 52:10 A lack of faith from the people 52:12 who ended up right there at Mount Sinai, 52:14 God giving him... establishing the covenant, 52:17 giving them the Ten Commandments 52:18 and before Moses could even return, 52:20 back down from the mountain, 52:21 there the people are worshipping the golden calf, 52:24 breaking God's commandments. 52:25 He had to deal with warring tribes in the desert 52:27 like the Midianites and the Amalekites. 52:29 Settling disputes all the time among his people, 52:33 traveling in hostile and harsh climate conditions. 52:36 Rebellion and opposition from his own family 52:39 and, of course, he also had to endure 52:42 a horrible, dreadful invasion of deadly snakes. 52:45 Forty years... okay... 52:48 40 years wandering in a dry desolate desert 52:51 and, of course, at the end of it all, 52:53 refused entry into the Promised Land. 52:55 I mean, this Brother gave up a lot 52:57 and, again, we're not uplifting the man, 53:00 we uplift the God in the man 53:01 but at the end of the day, Moses had to make a decision. 53:04 He weighed in the balances, 53:06 he could see what it possibly was 53:07 that he was going to have to endure 53:09 and he decided to suffer with his people 53:13 and to relate to his people 53:15 and to walk in the way and in the righteousness of God. 53:17 You know, we are also the same. 53:19 We have sometimes the same decisions that we must make also. 53:23 Are we going to walk down the broad path of destruction? 53:26 It may be smooth now... it may be calm now... 53:28 it may be very nice and... and... and pleasant now, 53:31 but it leads to destruction. 53:33 Are we going to take that path 53:35 that may have some bumps in the roads... 53:36 may have some challenges... 53:38 may have some difficulties and some trials and tribulations 53:41 along the way but ultimately it leads to life. 53:44 We also must make the decision, 53:47 "Are we going to walk in the ways of the Lord 53:50 or are we going to relate and also endure 53:52 the sufferings... also that Christ must have and could have 53:55 and also went through. 53:57 1st Peter chapter 4 verses 12 through 16, 54:00 and verse 19 highlights this and it should be... 54:03 we should consider it an honor 54:05 to be able to suffer as Christ suffered. 54:07 It says, "Beloved, do not think it strange 54:09 concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, 54:12 as though some strange thing happened to you; 54:15 but rejoice to the extent that you partake 54:18 of Christ's sufferings, 54:20 that when His glory is revealed, 54:22 you also... " excuse me... 54:24 "you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 54:27 For the Spirit of glory of God rests upon you. 54:30 On their part, he is blasphemed, by on your part, He is glorified. 54:34 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, 54:38 or as a busybody in other people's matters. 54:41 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, 54:43 let him not be ashamed... " 54:45 Moses wasn't ashamed... 54:47 he suffered with his people 54:48 but he knew there was a promised end... a blessed end to it all 54:53 "So let him not be ashamed, 54:54 but let him glorify God in this matter. " 54:57 And of course verse 19, 54:58 "Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God 55:01 commit their souls to Him in doing good, 55:04 as to a faithful Creator. " 55:07 But at the end of the day if we're going to partake 55:10 also in those trials that Christ went through, 55:13 and to count it all a joy to be... 55:15 to suffer as Christ suffered. 55:17 We also have to have the proper mindset. 55:19 Moses had the mind of his God. 55:22 We must have the mind of Christ, 55:24 that mind which was also in Christ Jesus 55:27 and, of course, 1st John chapter 2 verses 15 through 17 55:31 highlights for us and reminds us of what 55:34 ultimate decision we have today 55:36 and that is, "Do not love the world 55:38 or the things of the world. 55:39 If anyone loves the world, 55:41 the love of the Father is not in him. 55:42 for all that is in the world... the lust of the flesh, 55:45 the lust of the eyes, 55:46 and the pride of life... 55:48 is not of the Father but is of the world. 55:50 And this world... it's passing away, 55:52 and the lust of it; 55:54 but he who does the will of God abides forever. " 55:57 Moses was a mighty man of God. 55:58 Yes, Moses once lived and dwelt in Egypt, 56:01 he once was an Egyptian 56:03 but he ultimately decided to become 56:05 that blessed seed of Abraham. 56:08 Jill: Amen, thank you so much Brother Ryan, Pastor John, 56:11 Brother Johnny and Shelley. 56:12 What an incredible study. 56:14 I want to give each one of you a moment 56:16 to share a final thought. 56:17 Shelley: Thinking about radical obedience... 56:20 Moses... Abraham was the father of us all 56:24 is the father of us all. 56:25 Genesis 26:5 says that Abraham... 56:28 this is God speaking, "kept... obeyed My voice... 56:32 kept My charge, My commandments, 56:34 My statutes, and My laws. " 56:36 Abraham knew that God was his shield 56:40 and exceedingly great reward. 56:42 He gave up everything to follow Him 56:45 because he looked for the city that's coming. 56:49 Dinzey: Thank you so much. 56:50 When we consider Lot and the decisions he made, 56:53 these things are set for us for an example 56:57 so that we can avoid unnecessary suffering in this world. 57:01 Lomacang: With Christ involved, 57:04 the discomfort of your present 57:06 will yield to the blessings of your future. 57:08 Be patient and wrestle with God. 57:10 Jill: Amen. Ryan: Amen. 57:12 I just want to reiterate the text I read earlier. 57:14 1st Peter chapter 4 verse 19, 57:16 "Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God 57:18 commit their souls to Him in doing good, 57:21 as to a faithful Creator. " 57:23 Jill: Amen... 57:25 this week we've been looking at laying up treasure in heaven. 57:28 I want to leave you with Romans 15 verse 4, 57:30 it says, "Whatever things were written before 57:33 were written for our learning, 57:35 that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures 57:38 might have hope. " 57:40 These men of God... 57:41 these Old Testament heroes of faith 57:44 as we see their sometimes mistakes 57:46 and their decisions to follow God can inspire us today 57:51 that we need to make that choice 57:53 in radical obedience 57:55 and to lay up treasure in heaven. 57:57 I invite you to join us next week... 57:59 Lesson Number 7: Unto the Least of These. |
Revised 2023-03-21