THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
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THINGS YOU NEVER HEAR IN CHURCH:
Hey! It's MY turn to sit on the front pew!
I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went over time 25 minutes.
I've decided to give our church the $500.00 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.
I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.
Forget the denominational minimum salary: let's pay our pastor so he can live like we do.
I love it when we sing hymns I've never heard before!
Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!
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Gen 46:1-4
1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
KJV
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Jacob was on his way to Egypt, and he had to pass right by Beersheba. He was
familiar with this place. It was here his father Isaac had received reiteration of
"the covenant of Israel" from God. It was from this place that Jacob had once fled
when Essau was angry with him.
Jacob stopped here to thank God for completing his promise. We should always take
every opportunity to give thanks to God.
God came to Jacob in a vision and restated "the covenant of Israel" with him.
When we speak to God, He will speak to us.
God promised Jacob His presence. A Christian can go anywhere, under any
circumstances, as long as he has God's PRESENCE.
Notice that God promised to make a "great nation" of Jacob's descendents.
And God promised to bring Jacob back out of Egypt again.
But God also told Jacob that he would die there! (see vs 4)
In Genesis 49 we will see where Joseph carried Jacob's body back to Canaan land
to be buried.
God ALWAYS fulfills His promises!
It is a HIGH POINT when we meet God! But God always tells those who meet him and are saved to be witnesses for Him. And He promises to "bring thee up again."
We will be resurrected from the place of slavery (the world), and come "face
to face" with God in Glory!!
Remember to stop and say "thank you" to God today!
Love ya,
Bruce