Sermon Notes & Videos
2020-12–04 | Genesis 32-36 | Spiritual Tenacity — For Those with Ears to Hear
Jacob wrestled with God all night long and when God insisted he let go, we notice a different side of the son “who dwelled in tents.” Jacob’s response was a resounding, “I WILL NOT let You go!” Yet, the Hebrew words behind the scene give us even greater insight into how violent this encounter truly was, and how tenaciously Jacob resisted. The adverb, “I will not” has a permanent and resolute quality as it modifies a verb, in this case, “let You go!” “I will not” demands absolute prohibition of “let you go.” Yes, Jacob is violent in his encounter: forceful, ferocious, intense, potent, and furious; and Jacob is tenacious in his engagement: locked-on, relentless, fixated, resolute, and steadfast!
What does this mean for us? Spiritual tenacity and violence require a well-developed sense of who God is, plus an unadulterated understanding of who you are to God. Yahweh is steadfast, never lies, and is, of course, infinitely capable of doing what He promised. We are the wild cards in the relationship. If we fail to recognize who we are to Him, it is easy to get swept away in a flood of anxieties, doubts, and Spiritual Amnesia. Yahweh will certainly do His part; will you do yours? Y’shua taught us, “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
If you want on the team, it’s going to take some violent and tenacious wrestling with God. To do so, you must invest as much time as it takes to know God intimately, and spend equal time learning who you are to Him! I promise, accomplish these and you will never stumble! “Therefore, brethren, [as a team member] be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.” II Peter 1:10 NKJV
2020-11-27 | Genesis 28-32 | A Nation Divided
Each week as I explore the portion of scripture we will be studying, I wait on the Lord to highlight something to me. Sometimes it’s something big right there in the text; and sometimes it’s an idea that just jumps off the pages. You know, the Word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than a two edged sword, and it pierces us right down to the core. This week I saw the great controversy that emerged when Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but was forced to marry Leah first. “That’s how we do things around here,” Laban insisted.
This launched Jacob into the midst of a baby war. What jumped off the pages was that Leah birthed the line that became the priesthood and the Messiah, and Rachel birthed the line of Joseph who saved Israel from extinction and seems to be the representation of the Church. History has recorded the great schism as Israel became a divided nation after King Solomon’s death, and later both kingdoms were exiled for disobedience! Benjamin, Rachel’s second son and Jacob’s twelfth, became the only tribe to land in both kingdoms during the exiles! And Paul, the Jewish Apostle to the Gentiles, was from the line of Benjamin. Wow! Jews and Gentiles uniting as “One New Man!” Y’shua taught us that a kingdom divided cannot stand, so today, as we live in a divided nation, never before has unity of the faith been more crucial.
2020-11-20 | Genesis 25-28 | The Impetuous Seed
Impetuous: impulsive, rash, hasty, reckless, heedless, foolhardy, imprudent, injudicious, ill-conceived, ill-considered, unplanned, unreasoned, unthought-out, unthinking, precipitate, precipitous, headlong, hurried, rushed. Anything but a cautious and sober-minded decision. For years I have taught my children, “Stop…think before you do anything.” At one point I had rubber bracelets made with these words on them: “What would dad think?” I’m not joking; I forced my children to wear them.
How many times have you wished you could stuff your words back into your mouth? As they leave your lips you’re thinking, “please no!” I am sure Esau felt that way the moment after his belly was full. “Sure, take my entire inheritance for a bowl of soup.” No more impetuous words were ever spoken. Let’s take a trip through the Bible and find the many instances when man spoke too soon, without thinking, sometimes extensively. It never works out well. We will land in the modern day and see how this is playing out in our world, even now.
2020-11-13 | Genesis 23-25 | Fleeces and Testimonies
Have you ever been pressed to the limit and you know that beyond any doubt the only way you will find peace, the only way you will be certain, is if God Almighty answers your petition in every detail? I’m not talking about a vague feeling or gentle leading; I’m talking exact and detailed answers. I’ve been there! We all have. In my three decades as a devout Christian I can recall those testimonies as if they were yesterday. They seem so fresh in my mind, I’m sure because I have told the stories over and over and over again. I believe it glorifies God as it testifies to His majesty.
But, it also encourages me and others to keep the faith when times are tough and when “there I am again” needing another specific and detailed answer from the Lord. He has never let me down. And that’s the thing; His track record in my life is so long and so predictable that every time I’m up against it, I know just what to do. It’s who He is and it’s how I’ve learned to live, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. For those of you who have been there, you know what I mean. For some of you who have yet to test the deep waters of radical faith, jump in; “the water is fine!” Finally, let me leave you with this; I love to tell stories, mostly because I love to tell of my testimonies, which has led me to this simple yet profound conclusion: “If you tell your testimony, God will give you more testimonies to tell!”
2020-11-06 | Genesis 18-22 | A Prophetic Bailiwick
I’m not certain you’ll find a portion of Scripture that has more prophetic big ticket items than Genesis 18 to 22. We could certainly grab any one of them and teach an entire sermon on it. Let’s see: nothing is impossible with God; all things happen in their appointed times; God does not hide what He will do from His prophets; who are you to judge me; don’t look back, forget the past; God always shows us what He will do in the future; God provides where He guides; faith is a combination of hearing and doing; what happens when you don’t withhold your only begotten son; what it means to be a living sacrifice; a third day return to life; the worship and faith connection; the ram of God and lamb of God; the significance of descendants as numerous as stars and sands; the singular “seed” of promise; fear not, He already has your spouse picked out!
But, instead of just one, I decided—let’s do them all! Hence “A Prophetic Bailiwick.” In other words, let’s operate in a certain sweet spot, in this case, the prophetic! Besides, you can’t build THE CHURCH without it. Remember, “You are members of the household of God, which is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Y’shua Himself being the chief corner stone.”
2020-10-30 | Genesis 12-17 | Are You the One?
Are you the one or should I look for another? It’s hard to imagine that you can experience so many encounters with God, and still have doubts. At times, even after you have tasted the promises of God, you still might end up in a difficult situation. In those moments do you look for another? At other times you have to wait on the Lord for what seems like a lifetime. During those long dry seasons, do you look for another? Do you find another? And what happens while you are enjoying the other, and Yahweh encounters you with what you have been waiting for?
Only, you’re no longer waiting, as you already took matters into your own hands. All of a sudden you’re in a sticky wicket; on one hand you have been enjoying “another,” and now God is ready to fulfill His promises. If your reaction is, “God, can’t I just keep what I already have, and You can bless that?”, you’re in good company! Abram soon to become Abraham did just that. “Why not let Ishmael inherit what you have promised me?” Let’s explore this all too common occurrence in our walk of faith, “Are you the one, or should I look for another?”