Genesis 32

Wrestling with God. Gen 32:22-32

INTRODUCTION: Jacob has been a less than commendable person. He takes advantage of his brother, steals the family blessing, and deceives Laban his father in law. On the other hand he left the family inheritance to his brother, and he worked hard for Laban who took advantage of Jacob. There comes a time when each of us must wrestle with God. We all wrestle with God from time to time but there is one time that is different from the rest. Just as Abraham had his day, now it is Jacob’s turn.

1. WRESTLING WITH THE PAST

A. FACING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LABIN

B. FACING HIS BROTHER

C. FACING HIMSELF

D. THERE COMES A TIME WE MUST FACE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN.

2. WRESTLING WITH GOD

A. HE BELIEVED IN GOD

B. HE HAD BEEN BLESSED BY GOD

C. HE STRIVED TO GET THE BLESSINGS

D. HE NEVER TRUSTED GOD TO BLESS HIM (HE WANTED ASURANCE)

E. WE WRESTLE WITH GOD AS WELL

3. FOREVER CHANGED

A. JACOB WAS SCARED BY THE BATTLE

a. PAUL WAS SCARED BY THE BATTLE (HIS EYES)

b. PETER WAS SCARED EMOTIONALY ( HIS DENIAL OF JESUS)

c. THE SCARS OF OUR BATTLE DO NOT LEAVE US

B. JACOB WAS GIVEN A NEW NAME, A NEW LIFE

a. JACOB BECOMES ISRAEL

b. ABRAM BECOMES ABRAHAM

c. SARI BECOMES SARAHA

d. SAUL BECOMES PAUL

e. WE ARE GIVEN A NEW LIFE

CONCLUSION: We are all flawed like Jacob. We all face a time when we must stop running from our flaws and face them, and our selves. There comes a time when each of us must choose to trust God more than our selves, and allow God to change us, give us a new life. Are you wrestling with God for control somewhere in your life today? Right now before we leave this place, tell God you surrender to Him. Tell Jesus you will trust Him, allow Him to change you and give you a new life.

Mothers service

I would disagree with my sister, we did not grow up in three bedroom house we grew up in a two bedroom house with a closet which Wayne and I shared.
You may not have known that my mother had a hard life, living in 24 diffrent places during the first 18 years of her life, from East Jorden to Kalimazoo to Midland and Sanford. She worked in a factory during WWII. And because the old guy at the lumberyard could not say Athelia, she would be called Sussie most of her life. I was out of high school before I knew my mothers real name.
She raised 7 children in our tiny house which was so small that when we sat down to eat you were stuck there. Go to the bathroom first because there was no getting out. The only way was to go out the back door and around the house to the front door which was usaly locked.
My perspective was diffrent in another way, I had a brother and three sister who happened to have diffrent last names.
Mom had the diffaculties in dealing with all our issues and there were many. Just dealing with me and my ADHD and all that went with it was enough for most people. Trips to Detroit and Saganaw for theripoist and Doctors.
She also had a diffacult time dealing with the death of her close friend Donna Garner from Bone Cancer.
Mom always did what needed to be done.
When grandpa, grandma and who ever else was in the boat dropped the motor overboard she was the only one who could swimm. They quickly tied a rope around her and through her into the freezxing water so she could dive down and tie a rope to it and save it, it was a borrowed motor.
She would blance budgets which were always tight.
She would have to deal with dad, who when having a family discussion with, and he would see he was loosing would reach up and flip his hearing aid off. She would make a face that I know I did not like to see.
Once she had a party planned with her friends comming over, she arived home to find that I had taken apart my motorcycle engine in the living room and spread it all over the room. She did not even kill me.
She took us to church every sunday and we always sat in the same pew fourth row back on the right.
Mom taught Sunday School, aranged flowers, helped clean and even took comunion to people who were shuttins so they would know they were not forgotten.
She tought me Jesus loved me. Though it would be much later in life that I would understand that it cost Him His life to do so.
To love me it cost my mom much of her life to do so as well.
She loved cooking and canning, she loved playing cards and dominos first with dad, grandma and grandpa and then her friends at the aparment.
She loved flowers, and had wonderfull gardens, to which Wayne could attest because he shovled load after load of black dirt, which she recived as a birthday present, to make them.
She loved the birds especialy all the grossebeakes. She loved to fish for walliee and pearch.
She would call me to give me the family news, Proud of connies job, what Linda and Scot were doing, Wayne, Shirly and Adle. Then the grand kids news after which she would say well thats all goodbye, and hang up. Once she called said a few words then asked if Kathy was there, when I said no she replied oh well, by, and then hung up.
My final story is about an old cat we had named Tiger. We had a screen door which was missing the middle glass at the time. The old tiger cat struggled up the back porach to the door. Mom and I stood there and mom said "Poor old Tiger, he can hardly make it up the steps". Then Tiger jumped through the hole in the door. Do not feel sad for my mom today, thank God for her life and Love, because she has jumped through the door and into the arms of Jesus.

Genesis 25

INTRODUCTION: We have all heard this story and a sermon of two about it. Esau the first born who does not value God’s blessing. Jacob the selfish conman who buys the birthright for a bowl of soup and some bread. Jacob later cons his father into blessing him. He later pulls a fast one on Laban, increasing his flock while decreasing Labans. It is only fitting that after working for 7 years and wakes up after the wedding married to the wrong woman. I was all set to spend time looking at how Esau disrespected the gifts of God and traded them, and how we often trade of the blessing of God for short term worldly things like money, sex, or power. But something drew me to Jacob.

1. JACOB IS AFTER GODS BLESSING

A. HE IS BORN GRABING ESAU’S HEAL TRYING TO GET THE BLESSING

B. HE GETS ESAU TO SELL IT FOR A BOWL OF SOUP AND BREAD

C. HE DECIEVES HIS FATHER INTO BLESSING HIM

D. HE WRESTLES WITH GOD UNTIL GOD BLESSES HIM

E. JACOB WANTS THE BEST FROM GOD

F. WHILE HIS METHODS ARE NOT COMENDABLE HIS DRIVE AND DESIRE ARE.

2. GOD BLESSIS THOSE WHO WILL GO FOR IT, RISK IT.

A. ABRAHAM WILLING TO GIVE UP HIS HOME

B. ABRAHAM WILLING TO GIVE UP ISAAC

C. MOSES TRIES TO FREE HIS PEOPLE

D. MOSES GOING TO THE BURNING BUSH

E. JOSHUA, GIDEON AND DAVID WHO ALL FOUGHT AMAZING ODDS

F. MAT 5:6 BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR

G. BE THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE EARTH

H. GIVE WITHOUT EXPECTATION

I. MATTHEW 7:7 ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

J. THE POOR WIDOW HOW PUTS ALL SHE HAS

3. YOU GOT TO GO FOR IT

A. THE BLIND MAN ON THE ROAD SIDE SHOUTED

B. THE BLIND MAN HAD TO OPEN HIS EYES

C. THE LAME MAN HAD TO TRY AND STAND

D. ZACKEUS HAD TO CLIMB A TREE

E. LAZRUS HAD TO WALK OUT OF A GRAVE

F. PETER HAD TO GET UP AND PREACH

G. ARE YOU SITTING BACK WATCHING THE BLESSING CHANEL WAIT FO A FREE GIFT?

H. OR ARE YOU STRIVING AFTER GOD, IN YOUR READING, IN YOUR PRAYERS, THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS.

CONCLUSION: GOD HAS SHOWN THROUGH HISTORY THAT HE FAVORS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEART. GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO RISK IT ALL FOR HIM.

looking for Jesus

I looked for you beside a happy little stream which sang its way through a flower filled meadow. The sun was bright and warm masking me sure that you could be found, yet I did not see you.

I climbed the high mountains covered with snow until I was high above the clouds, standing on the outer rim of the earth. Standing there, looking over all the mountains and valleys I felt sure to see your face but I did not.

I went to Warm Ocean swimming under the waves surrounded by blue and red coral and softly waving sea anomies. Fish of every color and shape surrounded me, as sea turtles swam lazily by and ells poked out their bright heads from their hiding places to greet me. Surely here in this place I would see you, yet I did not.

I traveled to the desert void of life and distractions. The hard packed sand stretched out as far as I could see; only broken by the waves of heat rising into the hot air. As the sun beat down through a cloudless sky I though now I would find you, but still I did not see your face.

I went to the forest lush and green with giant trees towering above me. Enveloped and covered by the life all around me. An eagle soared over head, squirrels chattered from the trees, and little birds sang their songs that only I could hear. A deer silently drifted past and a bear picked apart a log for his lunch. As I sat on a moss covered stump where I waited to see you but my eyes failed me once again.

I disappointment I went home sure to never see you. I in the bleachers at the school to pass the time watching kids play basketball. Suddenly I saw you laughing, running hard and celebrating a basket made.

Later I saw you in the crying eyes of a grieving friend as we held hands and prayed.

Again I saw your compassionate face carrying boxes us the steps of the food pantry for someone who could not carry them on their own.

Then I understood my mistake in looking for you it the works of your hand, and not in the hearts of man. We are your temple and you live in and through us. You laugh with us, cry with us, love with us and live within us.

Have you really seen Jesus? Maybe you have been looking in the wrong place or at the wrong thing.

Matthew 2:1-12 "What Wil You Do"

Matthew 2:1-12 “What Will You Do”

INTRODUCTION: The after Christmas questions are here, how do I fit this chicken napkin holder into my sailing theme kitchen? Where could I wear this sweater, and have no one see me? Should I just return this? Can I just re-rap this and send it to uncial Joe? You know this thing you sent us for Christmas, what is it? Should we just stop giving gifts to our brothers, sister, and friends? What do I do with Jesus? Where or how does Jesus fit into my life? That is the question of the Magi.

1. WHO THE MAGI WERE

A. WISE MEN, PREIST IN PERSIA,

B. POLITICAL RULERS WHO CORINATED THE KINGS OF PERSIA

C. PERSIA HAD BEATEN ROME AND TOOK JERSULAM FROM THEM

D. IT TOOK A 3 YEAR WAR TO GAIN HEROD BACK HIS THRONE

E. WHAT DISTURBES HEROD IS THAT THEY CAME TO WORSHIP OR CROINATE A KING.

2. THEY FOLLOWED A STAR

A. THEY HAD SEEN IN THE EAST (SEEN FROM THE EAST)

B. A SPECIAL STAR FOR ALL STARS MOVE WITH THE ORBIT AND ROTATION OF THE EARTH.

C. THIS STAR IS VISIBLE FOR A LONG TIME, SEEN, DESIDE IT’S MEANING, COMPUTE IT’S PATH, PREPAIR FOR THE TRIP, TRAVLE 400 – 500 MILES

D. HEROD KILLS ALL THE CHILDREN 2 YEARS AND YOUNGER, NO DOUBT KILLING THOSE A YEAR OLDER THAN JESUS JUST TO BE SURE.

E. THEN IT IS GONE AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN

3. WHAT THEY FOUND AND DID

A. WHAT THEY EXPECTED, A MONTH OLD TO ONE YEAR OLD BOY

B. GAVE HIM CORINATION GIFTS

C. PROTECTED HIM BY GOING HOME ANOTHER WAY

D. WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY DID IS ALL RECORDED FOR US

4. WHAT WILL YOUR RECORD SAY

A. WHO IS JESUS TO YOU, FICTION, HISTORICAL, RELIGIOUS, SAVOUR?

B. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH HIM? PUT AWAY TILL NEXT YEAR, WORSHIP, FOLLOW?

C. WHAT WILL YOU GIVE HIM? MONEY, SPARE TIME, YOUR RESPECT, YOUR LOVE, YOUR LIFE?

CONCLUSION: What we do with Jesus is recorded. Recorded in the hearts, minds, and lives of our families, our children and grandchildren. Recorded in the people we share life with at school and work. Recorded in the people we see each day and the people we meet only once in our lives. What will we do with Jesus? What will we give Him? What will the record of our life say? We must choose wisely for it is our story to write.

John 1:1-14

John 1:1-14 “From the Beginning”

INTRODUCTION:

GOD KNEW

A. FROM THE BEGINNING

In Gen 1 God creates and it is all good yet God knows so John starts his Gospel there in the beginning and not in Bethlehem.

B. ADAM AND EVE WOULD CHOOSE TO DISOBEY

God knew that though the garden was a wonderful and perfect place there was danger there in allowing Adam and Eve a choice. He knew they would disobey, and hide from Him.

C. MANKIND’S SINFUL NATURE AND WHAT IT WOULD BRING

God knew that people would destroy and distort His creation. That we would be cruel and hurtful to each other. God knew that many if not most of the people who ever lived would reject Him and His love.

D. YOUR OWN ACTIONS AND CHOICES

Psalm 139 God has known before you were born the choices you would make. He knows the sinful things you have done and the ones you will do. He knows how you have forgotten Him in the past and how you will forget Him in the future.

GOD CHOSE

A. THE LOGICAL CHOICE WOULD BE NOT TO CREATE HUMANS

Many people think God made a mistake creating humans. He should make us behave, stop people from sinning, or kill all the bad people. But God did not want you to be a robot he wanted you to be free. And since at one point or another we are all bad people killing off all the bad ones would mean us too.

B. PARENTS AND PARENTING

We know they cry half the night, have dirty dippers, and we will have to carry enough equipment for a small army everywhere we go for their first couple of years. We know they will skin their knees and get hurt, go through childhood diseases and face dangers every day of their life. They will get their hearts broken and maybe even break ours. They may choose to love us and they may not. Yet we choose to have children. We don’t make them into robots or tie them up so they will behave or lock them away under protective doors. At some point we let them go on their own and make their own choices and pray they are good ones. Like God in the beginning we made a choice.

C. TO LOVE, TO DIE, TO FORGIVE

D. TO MAKE YOU CHILDREN OF GOD

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

A. GOD HAD A PLAN

B. GOD STILL HAS A PLAN

C. GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL

CONCLUSION: This year as you set up the manger scene or walk past one, as you read the Christmas story together as a family, send someone a card, or listen to favorite Christmas Carol, remember that the true meaning of Christmas is that God choose to love you before the world began. He chooses to still love you today, and will continue to love you tomorrow.

Isaiah 42:1-7 light in our darkness

Isaiah 42 is a rich chapter of the Bible. You notice from the start the words proclaimed by God from heaven at the baptism of Jesus. Later when Jesus is asked by John the Baptist “are you the one? Jesus’ answer includes fulfillment of Isaiah 42, “The blind see and the Deaf hear.” This is a chapter that tells of the great mercy of God, the rejection of God by Israel, and the judgment of being concurred and taken into exile. In verse 42:4 the continents of the earth are mentioned. Today I want to focus on sight and light. All around us are lights especially this time of year. Three lights, store lights, house lights. I have to wonder if all these artificial lights keep us from seeing the true light of Jesus in our world. Verse 6 and 7 hold great promise to our world and to us.

1. TO OPEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND

A. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF BLINDNESS

B. FLASHLIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, NEON LIGHTS

C. A BLINDNESS OF THE HEART

D. A BLINDNESS OF SPIRIT

E. A BLINDNESS OF THE MIND

F. 1 COR 2:14

G. JOHN 16:12-15

2. SET FREE THOSE IN A PRISON OF DARKNESS

A. WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF DARKNESS

a. ECONOMIC

b. POLITICAL

c. SOCIAL

d. EMOTIONAL

e. FLOOD AND FAMINE AND DISEASE

B. EPH 6:12 OUR FIGHT “DARK WORLD”

3. REFLECTING THE LIGHT

A. SPEAKING IN PARABLES MATTHEW 13:13-16

B. BLESSED WITH VISSION

C. REFLECTING THE LIGHT

CONCLUSION: What will we do with what we have seen? Is there a part of your life where you have been blind to God? Is there a place where you have not let the light of Jesus transform you? A relationship, a habit, your job, at school, friendships? Let Jesus transform them, you, today.

Have you been living surrounded by darkness? Friends, coworkers, people at school, or family that surround you with darkness and hold you like a prison? The dark dungeon of the past or the prison of abuse? No matter what prison holds you or dark dungeon you are in Jesus has the key to the locks and the door. Step into the light of forgiveness, reflect the light of God’s grace.