Genesis 27:1-14

Some years ago, a remarkable picture was exhibited in London. As you looked at it from a distance, you seemed to see a monk engaged in prayer, his hands clasped, his head bowed. As you came nearer, however, and examined the painting more closely, you saw that in reality he was squeezing a lemon into a punch bowl!

What a picture that is of the human heart! Superficially examined, it is thought to be the seat of all that is good and noble and pleasing in a man; whereas in reality, until regenerated by the Holy Spirit, it is the seat of all corruption. “This is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light.” -D.L. Moody

• The Bible has so much to say about deception;
• The snake deceived Eve, Samson-Delilah, Ananias and Sapphira
• Well, that was then because we have already read about the consequences
• But even more so – the Bible clearly says “In the last days (Today) deception will increase significantly
• Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many – Matthew 24:11 (Nkjv)
• For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones) -Matthew 24:24 (AMP)
• Our reading today is about deception, and we will examine 3 types of deception that we have to watch out for:
• Deceived by the enemy
• Deceived by others
• Deceiving ourselves

Deceived by the enemy

• If we look back at Genesis 25 – Rebekah already has the word from God about the future of her sons
• Genesis 25:21-23 (NLT)- Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins. 22 But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the Lord about it. “Why is this happening to me?” she asked. 23 And the Lord told her, “The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son.”
• She has been entrusted with such a revelation that if she would trust/have faith in the Lord- this could literally strengthen her relationship with the Lord
• Rebekah knew the blessing belonged to Jacob but attempted to secure God’s promised outcome through deception. Her actions were wrong even though she was seeking an outcome God had already declared. (Matthew Henry)
• The Lord was NOT telling her so that she can safeguard the promise- it’s more like, I have plans above, beyond anything you can ever think or imagine and since I have called you to be a mom, here is how it’s going to play out – for my glory because this is MY plan
• Good men have gone very wrong when they have thought of aiding in the fulfillment of promises and prophecies. See how Rebecca erred in trying to get the promised blessing for Jacob. We had better leave the Lord’s decrees in the Lord’s hands.” (Spurgeon)
• The enemy is always watching and plotting. If you look at the history – this deception came when the boys were 77 years old – The enemy was there when Rebekah was being told about the future
• Same as when God said to Adam and Eve – you can eat everything else but this fruit – The enemy started to plot
• Daniel Fast: Daniel 10:12–13 (NKJV) Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. 13 But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia
• Beloved, your battles are not “I tripped” they are strategic board meetings and brainstorming meeting that are specific to robbing you of the gift or salvation and a relationship with God
• That is why I don’t understand people that do not put prayer as a priority in their lives
• How can you survive in this world without constant prayer?
• Ephesians 6:12 -For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
• despotisms – systems of absolute, oppressive, or tyrannical power and authority.
• I will tell you how – someone has been praying for you
• Rebekah – spoken to by God – the redemption of mankind depends on this line yet, the enemy found a way – same as in a perfect place -Garden of Eden – You are not IMMUNE
• 1 Corinthians 10:12 (Nkjv) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. – God help me
• David a man after God’s heart did not rely on himself to stand or even finish his race – he prayed to God for help:
• Psalm 17:5 (NKJV) – “Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.” – David recognizes his need for God to sustain him in righteousness
• Psalm 19:13 (NKJV) -“Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me.”- David asks God to restrain him from sin. He recognizes that he needs God’s help to resist wrongdoing
• Psalm 25:4–5 (NKJV) “Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all day.” -David is asking God not simply to show him the right path, but to lead him along it.
• This should have been Rebekah’s prayer – Keep me from independently acting on what I think is right
• I get it, Rebekah- there is panic, hearing that the promise is about to be corrupted. We go – God, I am sure you are busy with other things, or you are not seeing this – Let me help the ark from falling – suspending everything that God has already commanded
• But we forget that He says in (Isaiah 66:1 Nkjv) I am God – The heaven and earth are my foot stool
• My brothers and sisters, the enemy has not rested and will not rest until he puts you down – you need to stay prayed up – because you can’t win this battle without praying without ceasing

Deceived by others

• If we are honest with ourselves – knowingly and unknowingly we have been on either side of deception- how do I know this – Jeremiah tells us
• The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? – Jeremiah 17:9 (AMPC)
• Be careful of people’s intentions –I blame the lack of awareness that leaves the crack open. We have a major part to play
• Jacob is brought to the mix by his mom – He is not innocent – His character has already dictated the presence of the enemy through rebelliousness
• Jacob does not just go along with a lie – right there – The enemy has been chipping on his life – As P. Crystal preached- he has made his parent sad because of his choices
• Milk doesn’t go bad overnight – there is a process fueled by the right conditions that we allow
• James 1:14–15 -Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
• In Vs 6: when Rebekah says “I heard you father “– She could have let it be, but deception was the first things that came into her mind
• There is always a willingness – the enemy never invents anything new in our lives – he works on what is already there – Search my heart oh Lord
• The story of Samson, strongest and most potential Judge of all times – deception by others may cause death
• There is a participation aspect – vs 9- Go and get
• And God always provides an opportunity to escape – Vs 12- But what if – I am caught
• What “if” has to be louder than the desire of that thing- that relationship, benefit,
• Many of us are deceived not because we don’t know it, it’s just that we have chosen inheritance, power, money, friendship, influence – fill in the gap

Deceiving ourselves

• One of the most damaging lies is that – we will never be caught
• Luke 8:17 (NKJV)- For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light
• Mark 4:22 (NKJV) For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.
• Vs 14: So Jacob went and got the two young goats
• This story is far from being completed and if you have read ahead- Jacob is successful in deception
• But here is the thing – there are consequences and also, you may try to convince yourself that he kind of got away with it and that God’s will was accomplished
• Regardless- your story might be the story of the Samson – no power, blind and eventual death – do we want to chance that?
• Do you want your story to be like Samson’s – He woke up and said – I will – as I always do but his strength had already left him
• Deceiving ourselves looks like Samson playing with fire, thinking that he is in control, only to wake up and realize that God’s protection is gone
• Thinking that we have time, we have another opportunity – thinking like that retiring dude, let me keep that relationship one more night, let me double in that thing one more day, let me consume that one more time
• Beware that you don’t take grace for a spin
• Folks don’t miss this – this is a story of redemption- God has plan, tells man about the plan, man steps in and try to safeguard the plan, man messes up, and God provides a way to make it right, yet again
• That is the story of Jesus dying on the cross – that no one would perish but all would have a chance of life in heaven with Jesus
• Deception is not just coming after your life goals – 2 Peter 3:9 (Ampc) The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
• Close!!!

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The post A Bowl of Deception appeared first on Faith and Victory Church.

Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

There are some things in life that are finished, but you still have to be involved in them.

You get married but you still have to work on your marriage. You get a job and you still have to work. You get into school and you still need to study. You get saved and you still need to grow.

You cannot be anymore saved today than you were the day you came to Christ. You are completely justified before God in him. But God still requires you to grow. To Be sanctified.

Christ already accomplished it in you, but the spirit continues it in you and God eventually brings it to completion.

Israel

Israel is crossing over the Jordan into the promised land and Joshua tells the people to sanctify themselves to prepare for what God is going to do in them tomorrow.

They don’t know what tomorrow has in store for them, but they are obedient to Joshua’s call

The must be sanctified. Set apart. Made holy. Consecrated. They consciously ceremoniously prepare themselves for what lies ahead, because who they are now will not work tomorrow.

“for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” Consecration prepares not causes

If Israel was going to possess something they had to become something.

This is not a new phenomenon for the people of Israel. Its normal for them to consecrate

Josh. 3:5 Sanctify yourselves; Lev. 20:7 Consecrate yourselves, and be holy;1 Sam. 16:5 Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice; Num. 11:18 Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; 2 Chr. 29:5 Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers; 1 Chr. 15:12 Sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren; Joel 2:16 Sanctify the congregation.

Modern day Christianity has sold people this idea of a non-involved passive version of discipleship where its “all him and none of us” where you do nothing and God does it all

They are excited about “tomorrow he will do wonders among you” but not being sanctified.

Its unbiblical. You are to be fully involved in the process of being conformed to image of the son

Its also untenable. American Christianity is weak and vapid because the bulk of the Church does not take walking with God seriously.

To them, Christianity is a badge of morality and church is like minded social club of religion

Eph. 4:13 Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Its modern Americanism that has infiltrated the Church with a satisfaction of our laziness to enable us to be passive and uninvolved in our own spiritual development.

Israel saw themselves as a nation that was called to be different and set apart from other nations. They did not do what other nations did and they knew God wanted them holy

The early church was the same. They weren’t Romanizing the Church or Gentiling their faith

For them (and us) they answered the call to holiness and separation and saw it as central

Seeing the wonders of God was not predicated on their sanctification, but God required it.

God does not want you to come to him and stay the same. You change everything about you.

You’ve been saved for years. What have you refused to surrender? What sin have you learned to accommodate? What area of your life have you declared off-limits to God? How much longer will you postpone obedience?

Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

1. God’s Will Is Our Sanctification

God saved and set apart the Nation of Israel for his own special purpose. Same for you

Deut 7:6 For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.

Israel’s covenant identity did not eliminate their responsibility to live consecrated lives.

Titus 2:14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

To be consecrated is to be ‘set apart’ but if you don’t view yourself and the church as such, you’ll just acquiesce to culture, become like them, and be no different. Christian in name only

God wants you different. To live different, believe different, act different. Not like other nations

You will see the wonders of God! Maybe not the promised land, but HIS PROMISES!!!

Yes, we are not the Nation of Israel but we ARE in the Kingdom of God, the rulership of the son

And this kingdom has a way of living that we must submit to. Its countercultural and different

You are a 3 part person. Spirit, Soul and Body. All parts need to come under kingdom rule

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When I was in the military, I didn’t just take a job, I became something- a Soldier 24/7.

That required me to fully embrace the reality of submission and Uncle Sams Right to control every aspect of my life for the duration that I served him. I did it willingly because I agreed

Christ has saved you. You came to him. Now he is your savior and he must become your Lord.

You submit every part of your life and rule willingly and thank him for consecrating you for him.

Sanctification Through Christ’s Sacrifice

Now in Christ, you have ALREADY been sanctified. You are holy, righteous, blameless and pure

1 Corinthians 6:11 But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

There is a completeness in Christ in who you ARE and where you STAND that is permanent

Christ accomplished this on the Cross at Calvary and continues as our High Priest in Heaven

Heb 10:10 we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

This is an important distinction, because as we move through this sermon, you may begin to believe that your holiness is on you. Its not. Your conduct is. SINCE you’re holy you ACT holy

“that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor.”

You should know how to possess your own vessel, but controlling your flesh doesn’t save you

Christ saved you, but now you LIVE as someone who is saved. Israel was Israel regardless

They were moving into to promised land through the power of God not themselves.

But nonetheless, they were REQUIRED to sanctify themselves. To set themselves apart for him.

This is not ‘works based salvation’ this is Salvation that works. Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Its not of you. It never has been. But you are his WORKmanship for GOOD WORKS

God has prepared you for it. Its not even your strength that will accomplish it. You give over to it

This is an empowering endeavor fueled by Love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sanctification Is an Ongoing Process

Just like the aforementioned job, marriage, and school references, what you are in Christ and what he’s accomplished at the cross does not biblically mean you don’t progress in holiness

Who I am in Christ today isn’t who I was last year or when I got saved.

Its like the old saying goes “I’m not who I’m supposed to be, but PTL I’m not who I used to be”

A stupid example that isn’t embarrassing is my lawn. Its green, its lush, but I still find weeds

Same with my life. I’m faithful. I walk the walk, but there’s still weeds in my mind and life

2 Cor 3:18 – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

I’m being transformed. Some of you old FVCers have seen me change. Little by little.

And I’m amendable to the task. I have fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus in my life and I’m on board with the process of becoming more like him.

if you’re in the process, the longer you’re at it, you realize how much MORE needs to change

I believe: Philippians 2:12-13 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

I’m not worried I’m not saved. I don’t fear Hell. But I stay the course as I walk with him and he refines my character, my will, my desires and my outcomes. God is working something in you!

Ro 12:2 do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

I am, and you are being transformed. Who you are today will not be who you are tomorrow

You just fully submit to the process. Like a gym- one workout doesn’t change you, years do.

And you walk in CONFIDENCE Phil 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Christ saved you, you give yourself over to sanctification, knowing, Christ will complete it

But don’t hide behind the process to delay obedience. There are things you can change today and there’s no reason to delay- (me in mens group w Kenyon immediately removing SM)

key verse-Heb 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. One offering perfected us, but we ARE being Sanctified! Its an ongoing process!!

Every part sanctified

Every part of you must be sanctified 1 Thes 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Spirituality 1 Pet. 1:15 be holy in all your conduct. Heb. 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.- Set yourself apart for the master
2. Thoughts 2 Cor. 10:5 Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. Rom. 12:2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Be relentless in your thoughts
3. Desires Gal. 5:24 Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 1 Pet. 2:11 Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. Inventory what you desire
4. Words Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification. James 3:10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Stop cussing, gossip, slander, poor mouthing
5. Marriage Eph. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. Eph. 5:33 Let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. How long does it take? Quit netflix!
6. Relationships 1 Cor. 15:33 Evil company corrupts good habits. Who are your friends?
7. Entertainment Ps. 101:3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes. Phil. 4:8 Whatever things are true, are noble, are just, are pure… meditate on these things. Stop read/watch filth
8. Hlth/Body 1 Co6:20 you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body which are God’s.Ro12:1 Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. Exercise eat right
9. Time Eph. 5:15–16 Walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time.

Your phone is killing your walk, your relationships, your health and your brain. Dopamine!

10. Work Col. 3:23 Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. 1 Cor. 10:31 Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Early Church quit jobs that marred their witness
11. Finances Prov. 3:9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase. Matt. 6:24 You cannot serve God and mammon. Consistently sacrificially give!
12. Plans Prov. 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. James 4:15 If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. Its not your life, never was

What do we do to possess our own vessel

Separate from sin- 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Be sanctified Through the Word Ps 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

You need to be a daily bible reader to be sanctified. You wont listen to me, listen to God!

Read daily with an open mind and heart- Lord, reveal what in me needs to be aligned to you

Be Sanctified through the spirit Gal 5:16 Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

You pray and say- Holy Spirit have your way in me. I relinquish my will. Work in me to do yours

WORSHIP him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH. How can you be sanctified without worship of God?

Eph. 5:18–20 – Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Be sanctified through others

Prov. 27:17 Relationships that sharpen us. Heb. 3:13 Relationships that protect us from the deceitfulness of sin. Eph. 4:15–16 Relationships that help us grow into the likeness of Christ.

Here’s the end of it: Joshua commanded Israel to sanctify to prepare for the wonders

1. Be immediately obedient to what you know you do today. Right now. Don’t leave
2. Submit fully to the Lord to refine you in areas you are currently struggling
3. Commit to allowing God to reveal to you those areas you cant see, but want revealed

Israel Sanctified themselves to be holy for the God they loved and served. Willingly.

“he will do great wonders among you” I want to see all God has for me, so should you

Willingly commit to YHWH today. Give him your life. All of it. Every day.

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“When Esau was forty years old, he took as wives Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. And they were a grief of mind to Isaac and Rebekah.” Genesis 26:34-35 NKJV

Last week we saw Isaac’s example of persistence as he dug well after well until he finally found one that worked. Now in verses 34-35 we see that while Isaac was out digging wells, Esau was out taking wives. At the age of forty Esau married two Hittite women.

There are 139 references to the idols and the pagan gods worshipped by the Hittites and Canaanites. Their culture is one of paganism, where there’s no room for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Esau’s parents, Isaac, the one who builds altars to the LORD, the one who prays in the field seeking God’s best, and Rebekah who followed God’s direction to go with Abraham’s servant to begin a new life, were heart broken and grieved.

These seem like two simple little verses, but they carry huge significance. Esau married two Hittite women. These marriages “made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.” Esau was rebelling against God’s design, and against his family’s design for marriage in two key ways.

First of all, both Abraham and Isaac have modeled a monogamous marriage between one man and one woman for life, in accordance with God’s original design in Genesis 2. While Abraham slept with Sarah’s handmaiden, this was culturally understood to be different from marrying her. In practice, both Esau’s father and grandfather remained faithful to their one wife for all the days of their life.

Esau is upsetting his godly parents by marrying more than one wife. Some people today are unfortunately trying to follow Esau’s example by having numerous partners, and even trying to legalize polygamy as an acceptable form of marriage. Pastor Israel Ford of LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio (near Cleveland), sparked widespread public attention and controversy in October 2026 after he and his first wife publicly announced that they are living in a polygynous marriage.

On Sunday, October 25, 2026, Lydia Ford (Israel’s first wife and co-pastor) introduced Minister Shakayla Talley Ford to the congregation as her husband’s second wife and her “sister in marriage,” revealing that the three had shared a home and finances for nearly three years.Israel Ford defended the arrangement on social media and in church messages, claiming that traditional monogamy is “unbiblical” and that he and Shakayla shared a dream regarding polygamy before a 40-day fast and prayer period.

Good grief!

Secondly, Esau is violating God’s and his family’s design for marriage by marrying outside of his people. Do you remember just a few chapters earlier how many hoops Abraham was willing to go through so that his son would marry a woman from his own family? The longest chapter in the book is dedicated to the story of Abraham’s servant finding a wife for Isaac from their family line! Yet, Esau doesn’t seem to care about how important and significant marriage is: he just goes and grabs some local girl to marry, and then another.

The person whom you marry probably has more influence on your spiritual journey than any other person on this earth. I praise God that He has blessed me with a godly husband. Matt has been an incredible source of strength for me in my walk with the Lord.

God designed marriage to be a covenant relationship between one man and one woman for life; that marriage was designed to make each other holy and to glorify God.

Instead, our culture has followed after the way of Esau: we don’t hold exclusivity of the marriage bed in high esteem and encourage a multiplicity of sexual partners; we don’t think that relationships need to be between two people of likeminded religious beliefs but encourage pluralism. And we are reaping the punishment for our actions as we witness countless relationships fall apart and countless consequences of sexual infidelity.

Jesus tells us that we’re to love on people. He also tells us that we’re to be of the world but not in the world. Except for a very few of us who might be called to be a monk, we’re not to isolate ourselves from people outside of our faith. You can’t love on the people of the world if you’re not engaged with the people of the world.

So we’re to help people, love on people, witness to people that are of the world. You can and should show the LORD’s love to people of the world as their paths come near or intersect with yours.

But, if you’re yoked with someone on a worldly life path, it’s inevitable that you’ll be drug off the LORD’s path at some point. It’s just a matter of time until the yoke that you share will pull you off course, off the path that God has in mind for you and onto a different path, a worldly path.

Jesus said, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.” (John 15:19)

We are not of this world! Even though we’re to love the people of the world, we’re not to yoke ourselves to those of the world.

“Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.”” II Corinthians 6:14-18 NKJV

A yoke is a wooden beam or frame used to join a pair of draft animals (such as oxen, horses, or mules) at the neck or head so they can pull a heavy load or plow together. You cannot yoke an ox with a donkey, they are not equal to one another and so your fields will be thrashed. Esau yoked himself to wives who were of the world and it grieved Isaac and Rebekah. Yoking yourself to an unbeliever will always cause grief.

Paul put it very candidly when he said, Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. In other words: Yoke yourself with people who are also of Christ. Yoke yourself with those who follow Him.

Yoke yourself with others who love Jesus. If you do you’ll find that God’s spirit will dwell with you and walk among you. You’ll be blessed. But the opposite is also true-

Esau’s marriages became a source of grief to Isaac and Rebekah, illustrating the emotional and relational strain caused when a child rejects the family’s core values.

This event reinforces Esau’s portrayal as someone driven by immediate physical or worldly impulses, mirroring his earlier sale of his birthright for a bowl of stew, and foreshadows further family discord.

Some of you here tonight are polygamists, and some are pluralists

“For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” II Corinthians 11:2-4 NKJV

I have espoused you to one husband. The Apostle Paul, writes to the Christian church in Corinth. Paul compares his care for the believers to a parent who has promised them in marriage exclusively to Christ. God is our Father, who has redeemed the church and is preparing her to be a pure and holy bride for the soon-coming Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. Yet, we set up another lover in our hearts.

We have a good Heavenly Father that is grieved deeply when we “marry” other things.

The greatest failure of Israel was that they were called to be the virgin bride of the Lord and yet they played the harlot with the surrounding cultures. We are in Joshua, and they are commanded to go into the promised land and drive out and destroy all of the Canaanites. But they do not, and those cultures become a snare to Israel. God called them adulterers, they were married to Yahweh, but had multiple lovers.

The greatest threat to our heavenly engagement is the world and its culture. Because we live in this world, we are surrounded and influenced by its culture everyday. We are to be a pure and spotless bride, in robes of white righteousness- but what happens when you throw a red article of clothing in a load of whites? (Pause) Faith washed my white shirt with her blue jeans

“If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:26-27 NKJV (people stop after the first part)

We are to keep ourselves unspotted. But much of the church is pink.

Keeping ourselves unspotted is a constant battle.

When we are yoked to what the Lord despises, it brings Him great grief. You cannot miss this. We cannot be married to the world and its ways and married to the Lord at the same time. That makes you an adulterer and a polygamist. We become no different than Esau having two pagan wives.

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4 NKJV

Scripture warns believers that choosing to be a friend of the world makes you an enemy of God. The verse uses strong language (“adulterers and adulteresses”) to describe spiritual unfaithfulness: giving your devotion, love, and loyalty to worldly values and culture.

Let’s define “The World”: This does not mean hating other people or avoiding normal daily life. We live in this world. We work in this world. WE have dealings in this world. WE cannot take ourselves utterly out of the world and isolate. “The world”, as it relates in scripture refers to a fallen system of humanistic thinking, pride, selfishness, materialism, culture, ways and rebellion against God’s standards.

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.” I John 2:15-16 NKJV

Worldly friendship means adopting the world’s values, seeking status, and self-serving desires that directly oppose God’s holiness.

You cannot have a dual allegiance. You cannot simultaneously chase self-centered worldly desires and remain devoted to God’s will. It is a conscious choice- keep yourselves unspotted. Aligning your lifestyle, values, and affections with the anti-God culture places you in direct opposition to Him

WE do not act like the world, talk like the world, dress like the world-

“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness (sexually obscene or indecent, impurity), lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” I Peter 4:1-5 NKJV

The passage refers to former friends and associates or other non-believers who are surprised, confused, or offended when a Christian stops participating in their old lifestyles.

The old lifestyle is described by a behavior that others can visibly SEE- Describe my life before and after Christ. People will not understand! “You think you are more holy than we are” NO! I do not. In fact, I think I am worse than you. I have just been changed. I have a new Father and a new husband.

Because the believer steps away from these things, the outsiders insult, malign, and slander them.

There is a stark contrast between a life lived in accordance with the world and a new life in Christ. A changed life stands out and acts as a silent critique of destructive habits, ways and patterns, which often provokes hostility from those still in them.

People raised in a lukewarm Christian environment, may not do drugs, drink or have sex; but they just adopt the world’s culture in other ways because they have not been taught what is means to be holy and set apart.

“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”” I Peter 1:13-16 NKJV

Notice that we are not automatically holy because He is holy, as some teach. But holiness is also a pursuit. It is a daily turning from something to something. It is not only inwardly, but it is outwardly expressed.

According to the Bible, holiness has two main parts: separateness and moral purity.

1. God’s Holiness In Hebrew (qadosh), holiness primarily means “to be cut off,” “unique,” or “set apart”. God’s holiness means He is completely distinct from His creation, the Creator rather than a creature, transcendent, and above all rivals.

God is Absolute Perfection. God is free from any evil, darkness, or moral flaw.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.””

Isaiah 6:1-5 NKJV

By repeating “holy” three times, Scripture reveals that holiness is the core of who God is. So we could say, all His characteristics flow from this main one- God’s love is holy. God’s goodness is holy. God’s faithfulness is holy. God’s provision is holy.

2. Human Holiness (Being Set Apart for God) In Position- Believers are made holy (“sanctified”) through faith in Jesus Christ. This means God claims them as His own exclusive property. In Practice- Because God is holy, His people are commanded to reflect His character: “Be holy, for I am holy” This involves turning away from sin, coming out of the world, living by God’s Word, and letting the Holy Spirit guide daily actions.

To say that “I am under grace, I can live as I want”, has no place in Scripture.

“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.” Hebrews 12:14-17 NKJV

An inward expression of holiness cannot stay inward- it must be expressed outwardly.

Words of our mouth- cursing, slander, gossip

Appearance- how we present ourselves, I am going to step on some sacred cows. what women wear- Paul told the women in Corinth to wear a head covering- (you can find this in 1 Cor 11:2- 16) baldness was a sign of temple prostitution And immodesty. There are things that are immodest- revealing your stomach, too much skin, bikini pics, if clothes don’t matter, why don’t you go naked? If you would rather be sexy than holy, why? There is a place and time to be sexy ladies- in the marriage bed. Your husbands want a sexy wife. Pastor’s wife and daughter “this is cute” who told it was cute?

WE want to be culturally relevant. If you are honest, we are all a little pink.

Tattoos- On the church altar?? Paul told the same church that it was lawful to eat food offered to idols, but those idols have demons associated with them. Tattoos have pagan roots. Why is that the first rebellious thing a kid does it get a tattoo? Tattoo shops are dark. There are real demonic forces in the world. I do not believe that it is a sin, but if you want to look like the world, why?? Why is it that important to you?

Halloween- demons are associated with haunted and dead things, it is not benign

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” I Corinthians 6:12-17 NKJV

ALL Other Actions- We live in a way that honors God not just with our heart, but with our body. Can someone look at you, your life, your actions, what you do/do not do and say, “That person is different?”

Here’s what I know about all this- if you by your freedom to wear something, do something, or go somewhere; causes your brother to sin, then you are in sin. These things reveal selfishness and a lack of love for the Bride and the Bridegroom.

And it grieves the heart of God. In Genesis it grieved God that He had made man because man became so full of evil. It a term that describes someone who is angry and yet is deeply sad at the same time.

I like red hair. Matt does not. I got red highlights that I had to change. I told this story at a a women’s event and one lady said to me, “I would never do that!” And i told her that is

why she has been married 3 times. I am not under any law to not have red hair- I want to please my spouse, not bring him grief

I pursue holiness for no other reason than I love the Lord and I want to please Him and not grieve Him. You may call it legalism, I call it love.

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:8-14 NKJV

The LORD does not give us a set of rules to follow, but He makes His standards very clear. If your relationship to Him is that of love, you will do what HE says without hesitation. If you hesitate, it is because you love someone you have placed in competition with Him, mostly yourself. We want what we want. I am embarrassed of some of things I used to do, even in Christ. I humbly repent and move on in pursuit.

The commandments of God are not restrictive; they are protective. Our freedom exists in the ability to choose to live responsibly within the context of the protective guidelines God has established for our life. The false grace gospel has changed the meaning of grace and love. This is in fact teaching “another Jesus”.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11-14 NKJV

Grace is a teacher of righteousness. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.Grace acts as an instructor or trainer. Instead of leading to a careless lifestyle, true saving grace transforms a believer’s behavior and cultivates self-control. Extreme efforts at self-discipline without the grace of God lead to legalism, perfectionism and result in destruction

Grace teaches us to reject all ungodliness and worldly lusts – The word ungodliness describes a person’s attitude and posture specifically toward God. It is the active or passive failure to honor, respect, or fear God. It is to live as though God does not exist or matter.

“Worldly lusts” refers to all improper desires pertaining to this life – the desire of wealth, pleasure, honor, selfishness, sensual indulgence. It refers to the passions the people of this world are prone to. Worldliness grieves the Father. We do not want to be polygamists or pluralists. We have one Husband and His doctrine is the only one we should know and follow.

Fighting the world and its ways is HARD. Culture is demanding. It is hard to be different. It is hard to be set apart. It is hard to say NO. IT is hard to crucify your flesh and your feelings. It is hard to go against the grain. It is hard to be rejected. I am not standing here telling you it is easy and that I have done this perfectly. But I am endeavoring to live holy and set apart for the God that died for me and that I love with all my heart.

Here is the salve- we are in a process

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through Your truth: Your Word is truth.”

Sanctify them – This word means “to render pure”, also means “to consecrate, to set apart to a holy office or purpose.” God has a purpose for you- to be set apart and holy for Him, to give Him glory and honor, to live as His obedient child in a perverse world.

When you come to CHrist, you are a vessel full of the world’s contaminated water. You cannot just be dumped out, that’s not how the Holy Spirit works. He begins flowing into us as a steady stream of clean and pure water. The more pure water comes in, the bucket will begin to spill out the contaminated water.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:23-24 NKJV

Sanctification in the life of a Christian is progressive, but it also is a conscious choice. It consists in becoming more like God and less attached to, or like the world; in getting the victory over evil thoughts, and passions, and impure desires; and in becoming more and more weaned from worldly ways, and attached to the God who saved you.

You are not done and HE is not finished. He has not left you alone because you have messed up. HE is accomplishing this process in you, you have to let Him have His way and quit fighting His faithful and merciful hand. He loves you and wants good thing as for you.

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Often times when I go somewhere for the first time in a car and the road is unknown, the trip seems long, strange and difficult. Trying to find the place can be frustrating. don’t know where I’m going because I’ve never been there before. Turns taken carefully. Speed is less. Brake more.

But after I’ve traveled that road enough times, everything changes. It’s autopilot.

So much so that I’ve found myself taking exits and turns I hadn’t planned because I’m so used to the road. My mind automatically takes me where I’ve been before.

The future of your life after today is unknown to you. That creates a measure of uneasiness because you don’t know where you’re going or how you’re going to get there.

And the problem is that your future can actually become an idol. You plan and prepare mentally and physically because you don’t like the unknown.

In your mind, if you think about it enough, plan enough, prepare enough, somehow you can protect yourself from what you don’t know. But you can’t.

Planning for the future isn’t necessarily idolatry. Trusting your planning more than God is.

You don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. You don’t know where life is going to take you. You’ve never passed that way before. And the only answer is to trust God and follow Him.

You don’t have to know the way when you’re following the One who does.

1. Leave Where You Have Been — Joshua 3:1

There’s a wonderful connection in this text with Israel and where they are at today.

They are in Acacia Grove.

Joshua 3:1

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.

There’s two important parts of this location: 1. The wood that was there. 2. Where they were.

Acacia Grove was named that because it was a gathering of acacia trees. The Hebrew name is Shittim, meaning acacia trees. Shittah is the singular form.

Shittah, the wood: Desert hardy, drought resistant, deep rooted, thorny, slow growing, long-lived, dense hardwood, resistant to decay, and known historically as incorruptible wood.

Acacia trees grow in harsh desert environments where other trees struggle to survive. They provide shade and shelter in an otherwise barren landscape.

The acacia tree was an important material in the construction of Israel’s wilderness Tabernacle.

The Ark of the Covenant, its carrying poles, the Table of Showbread and its poles, the Altar of Incense and its poles, the Tabernacle boards, connecting bars, and supporting pillars were all made of acacia wood, all layered in gold.

So here Israel is, camped in Acacia Grove, surrounded by acacia trees, and preparing to follow the Ark of the Covenant, which was itself made from acacia wood.

Don’t miss this connection — They are leaving the place of the wood that symbolizes them and what they’ve been through. The heartiness and worship in the wilderness.

The Strength of the wood and the strength of their worship. (not a desert, a stream, a grove)

What happened at Acacia Grove?

What had happened there? Well back when Moses was still alive. Israel had encountered a foreign king named Balak, king of Moab, who hired a diviner named Balaam to curse Israel.

But Balaam couldn’t curse whom God had blessed. Instead, Balaam counseled a strategy that led Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry. Numbers 31:16; Revelation 2:14

Israel greatly failed at Acacia Grove. They gave themselves over to sin. As hearty as they were…

Read Numbers 25:1–9 What did they do? Committed harlotry, sacrificed to foreign gods, joined themselves to Baal of Peor. God’s anger was aroused against Israel. Moses commanded the judges to execute the men joined to Baal. Eventually this guy Phinehas took a javelin and thrust it through an Israelite man and a Midianite woman, stopping the plague!

24,000 Israelites died in the plague at Acacia Grove (Shittim).

So Israel is here, in this grove. Surrounded by the wood used in their worship. They have the articles of the Tabernacle with them, including the Ark made from acacia wood.

Think about the history of this place. Could they have forgotten what happened here? Those 24,000 people were someone’s fathers, brothers, sons, family.

Acacia Grove was arguably the place of one of greatest failures as a nation in the wilderness.

Yes, they bowed to the golden calf and 3k died. Kadesh Barnea caused a generation to die in the wilderness. Korah led a rebellion where some were swallowed by the earth, 250 consumed by fire, and 14k died in a subsequent plague.

But here at Acacia Grove, 24k died under God’s judgment because Israel had given itself over to sexual immorality, idolatry, and deliberate rebellion. it was a place of utter and complete failure

Right before their greatest victory was one of their greatest failures.

Leaving the place of failure

Israel is standing between Acacia Grove and the Promised Land. between the wilderness and their inheritance. Spiritually, we can see a picture of what they needed to leave behind and what God had prepared ahead. The strength of who they are, the failure of who they were

God had them in Acacia Grove, but they would not stay there. They were leaving the place associated with one of their greatest failures and moving toward the promise of God.

From Sin to Sanctification. From Failure to Grace.

Think about that. God was taking the very place associated with Israel’s failure and making it the starting point for their entrance into the Promised Land.

You remember your past sins, don’t you? the things you did that you wish you hadn’t.

Memories of sin can be devastating if you allow them to consume you. You can be forgiven of something and still be living under the weight of remembering it.

truthfully, those memories can keep you from moving forward in what God has called you to do.

there’s another problem: Some people aren’t just remembering Acacia Grove. They’re still living there.

can’t stay in your sin and expect to experience the victory that comes through following Christ.

Romans 6:1–2

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

nothing left for you in Acacia Grove. it happened: You fell into immorality, idolatry, rebellion, and judgment. But Christ offers deliverance from sin and freedom from the guilt of your past.

Just like Israel, you’ve been in Acacia Grove. But you don’t have to stay there.

And just like Israels incorruptible wood, 1 Peter 1 Says you were born of incorruptible seed with and incorruptible redemption and an incorruptible inheritance.

You cannot remain where God is calling you to leave. Leave the place of your failure.

2. Follow Where God Is Leading — Joshua 3:2–3

READ V2–4 Watch the Ark, the priests and Levites will carry it, stay back 2000 cubits, don’t come near it.

They were given basic instructions. Watch. Stay back. Move from your place. Follow.

They weren’t told to figure out how to cross the Jordan. They were told to follow the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. Their planning was not their redemption — the Lord was.

The Ark represented the presence of God among His people. And God was going before them.

They had never passed this way before. They didn’t know how they were going to get across the Jordan. But God did.

They didn’t need to know the way. They needed to follow the One who did.

Get this down into your spirit — You Cannot Deliver Yourself

There’s two problems for you in Acacia Grove. One, you won’t leave. Or two, you have your own plan.

Some people want deliverance from their circumstances but insist on determining how God is going to deliver them. They want to leave on their own terms with their own plans.

You can’t deliver yourself from sin. You can’t create your own way to salvation.

Romans 7:24–25

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!

It’s only through Jesus Christ that you can be delivered. Not through your own efforts, your own plans, or your own strength.

Christ Is the One Who Leads us out of our bondage and our past. Not us.

God had already promised Israel that He would go before them.

Exodus 23:20

Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.

God wasn’t asking Israel to find their own way into the promise. He was calling them to follow Him. Because how else does God get the glory unless its him that delivers us?

And Jesus tells us the same thing.

John 10:4

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

Christ is the One who leads. He goes before His sheep, and they follow Him.

Your job isn’t to invent your own way of deliverance. Your job is to trust and follow Christ.

You don’t need your own way when God has already provided the One to follow.

3. Trust Him Where You Have Never Been — Joshua 3:4

For you have not passed this way before. The text says. This is a WORD

Israel knew Acacia Grove. They knew the wilderness. They knew where they had been, but they didn’t know exactly what was ahead of them. They had to fully trust God in the unknown.

They knew God had promised them the land, but they didn’t know how He was going to take them across the Jordan or what it would require of them.

They were standing at the Jordan, preparing to enter the Promised Land.

They had never been this way before. But God had already told them whom to follow.

Your struggle may be directly correlated to your unwillingness to embrace the unknown.

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

We are people of faith. We embrace the unknown. We trust God in every area of our lives, knowing that as we follow Him, He will lead us.

Jeremiah understood this.

Jeremiah 10:23

O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

Israel couldn’t part the Jordan. They couldn’t accomplish what God was about to do through their own strength. They had to trust God with what they couldn’t control.

What Happens When You Don’t Trust God?

Here’s what can happen when you refuse to trust God to lead you into a future you cannot see.

Anxiety: You worry constantly about the future, the circumstances you can’t plan for, and the obstacles you can’t see.

Fear: You become unwilling to move forward because God hasn’t given you all the information you want.

Hoarding: You withhold resources because you’re convinced you might need them for some unknown future circumstance.

Faithlessness: Your faith becomes an exercise in planning instead of trusting the One who leads.

You cannot prepare your way into knowing the future. You cannot plan your way into controlling tomorrow.

Trust the One Who Knows the Way You haven’t been this way before! It’s OK.

You don’t need to know where you’re going. You need to know who you’re going with.

It’s like this. Many people demand that a pastor has a vision. Typically, this vision is to reach the lost, grow a church, and expand influence.

But I don’t have to know every detail of the plan. I need to follow the Lord.

I’ve never been this way before. How Can I know and plan for what I do not know?

Yes, we plan. Yes, we prepare. But ultimately, we trust God to direct our steps.

That’s what He requires of us. To walk by faith when we cannot see what is ahead.

Deuteronomy 1:33

Who went in the way before you to search out a place for you to pitch your tents, to show you the way you should go.

Isaiah 42:16

I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known.

Job 23:10

But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

Israel didn’t know everything that was ahead. They didn’t know the role their nation would play in God’s plan of redemption.

They didn’t know that generations later, Jesus Christ would come to this same Jordan River and be baptized.

They didn’t know how God would ultimately bring salvation to the world through Jesus Christ.

But they didn’t have to know all of that to obey God that day.

They simply needed to follow where God was leading.

And it’s the same for us. Christ has accomplished our redemption through His death and resurrection. He is the One who delivers us from sin and leads us into new life.

You don’t have to remain bound by your past. You don’t have to be controlled by your fear of the future. Leave Acacia grove behind. Come to Christ. Trust him to lead you into eternal life.

You haven’t been this way before, but God knows the way.

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All verses in NKJV

Context/history:

• Here in Genesis we have Isaac (son of Abraham). There was a famine in the land, so Isaac and his wife were going to flee to Egypt, but God stopped them.
• Then the Lord appeared to Isaac and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands… and through them all the nations of the earth shall be blessed… because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My commandments.”
• Blessings follow obedience. “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. Isaac began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.”
• There were still obstacles he had to overcome:
• Isaac got in an argument with Abimelech king of the Philistines, over his wife, Rebekah.
• The Philistines envied him, and they had stopped up all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham.
• So, Isaac moved to a couple different areas in the land, dug a couple wells, but the herdsman of the land kept arguing with him, saying it was their water….
• Isaac finally found an area to live at peace, dig a well, and set up shop. And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.”

Genesis 26:26-33

26 Then Abimelech came to him from Gerar with one of his friends, and with the commander of his army. 27 And Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?” 28 But they said, “We have certainly seen that the Lord is with you. So we said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between you and us; and let us make a covenant (treaty) with you, 29 that you will do us no harm, since we have not touched you, and since we have done nothing to you but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the Lord.’ ” 30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 It came to pass the same day that Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have found water.” 33 So he called it Shebah (Oath). Therefore the name of the city is Beersheba (Well of the Oath) to this day.

• Last week we saw in Pastor Kevin’s sermon that Isaac was blessed because he was obedient. Blessings follow obedience.
• Isaac is the blessed of the Lord. Because he trusts in the Lord, he has found peace in his life, and peace with others.
• Let’s look at Isaac’s journey and see how we can find peace in our own lives: (2 points)

1. In crisis, Isaac trusted the Lord, and that gave him personal peace.

• Isaac is in crisis:
• First, a famine threats their existence in the land, but God tells him to stay, and the Lord would bless him. (against logical judgement)
• The King is mad at him because of his wife (lie), and his neighbors are jealous of his success.
• Every time he tries to settle somewhere in the area, he gets pushed out by well disputes…
• He could have responded with anger back. He could have flexed his power. He could have demanded his rights… “THOSE ARE MY FATHER’S WELLS!!!” but he didn’t do that…
• He didn’t have to fight the world, because he knew the Lord was going to take care of him. He conceded the wells and the area, he didn’t demand his own way, and found a non-disputed place in that land to live, and the Lord blessed it.
• Often we use crisis and stress in our lives to justify acting out. We trust the Lord when times are good, but when they turn bad, we take it into our own hands… and say things like, “You wouldn’t understand.” Or, “Don’t I have the right?!”
• Media and politicians are using fear and stress to try to get you to do all kinds of things…. Look at how angry everybody is! The more you watch, the more stress and fear, the more anger and outrage!
• Don’t be swayed to act against your faith and your values. God is in control, and you acting like the world, returning evil for evil, is not God glorifying. The “ends” do NOT justify the “means.”
• Sometimes it can sneak up on us. You think you are walking in faith through crisis, but you don’t have peace… I think it’s time to reevaluate.
• Ex: Shelly’s cancer, I often reflected, “How am I supposed to feel?” Fear, worry, etc… but I didn’t. God is good and in control. We just took it one step at a time.
• BUT, after a year and many tests and treatments, I was becoming a little angry and anxious about the process… I had unconsciously created benchmarks and expectations… and was actually expecting the worst to happen…. I had lost my peace.
• In the grind of life, it is easy to get distracted and forget where your hope comes from!

Isaiah 26:3

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Isaac’s life showed the Lord was with him, and that was a path to peace with others.

Genesis 26:30-31

30 So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank. 31 Then they arose early in the morning and swore an oath with one another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

• Isaac’s decision to make a covenant reflects the biblical principle that peace is often a deliberate, God-honoring choice.

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.

• What does it mean to be a peacemaker? There is a lot in the NT about living at peace with the brethren and being of one accord, but I think the principle holds true for our place in society also. A few simple ways to bring peace to conflict:

1. Be humble, don’t think you are better than others, approach the conflict with grace assuming that you may not be right and show willingness to listen… Apologize FIRST! This is very disarming, and when the other person sees you do this, it deescalates things…
2. Don’t always have to have it YOUR way: look for the outcome you want, more than the process. What is the true intent of what you want/need? Look past the offense, don’t need the credit, outcome is your goal… (Ex: CPO, fitness equipment, “crossfit” vs “functional fitness”)

• Example of making peace: my neighbor mowing my other neighbors yard… instead of complaining, or “going to the city” or shaming, or being demanding or angry, etc… he made a deal with him to get paid to care for the yard. BOTH get what they want and the relationship is preserved!
• This will solve 90% of your personal conflicts. (You need to have boundaries though, and there are evil people and abusers out there, some people should be avoided…)
• Bonus tip: Find a close, trustworthy friend to vent all your frustration and anger to BEFORE trying to make peace… get it all off your chest in a safe, non-judgmental place, then have your important conversation…
• You are an example to others that will either draw them to Christ, or push them from him!
• We need to stop being a “Christian version” of what the world does, and start being true examples of the love and grace found in Jesus Christ… the grace Jesus has shown us!

Romans 12:9-21

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

3. Conclusion…

• Isaac was blessed of the Lord. He trusted God with his life, family, and future.
• The outcome was that he had peace through troubled times.
• The question to the Christian believer tonight is, Do you have peace?
• Spend time this week in prayer. Repent of where you have been wrong, and return to trust and faith in Jesus alone.
• alter call –
• – prayer –

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Joshua 2:22-24

“They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”” Joshua 2:22-24 NKJV

These final verses spotlight God’s protection over obedient servants. It is true! God’s Word is come to pass. By following Rahab’s counsel, the spies hid in the hills for three days, safely beyond the reach of diligent pursuers. Every element- their exit, the rugged refuge, the waiting period, the enemy’s futile search- demonstrates that when God directs, no earthly power can derail His mission.

These two sentences got stuck in my mind- “They departed and went to the mountain and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them.”

God will have His way. The Bible overwhelmingly declares that God’s Word and promises will be fulfilled. However, when you are on a mission from God, and obedient to His will, the enemy is not just going to leave you alone. But God will send people to guide you, He will frustrate the plans of the enemy, and lead you into paths of safety in order to accomplish His Word.

1. Obey wise counsel

The spies escaped out into the hill country. The rugged heights west of Jericho offered caves, ravines, and natural concealment beyond the Jordan Valley. Rahab had directed the men there, and their obedience to her counsel became part of the Lord’s preservation of them. Rahab had pointed them to this rugged terrain for concealment-

Joshua 2:16

“And she said to them, Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; hide yourselves there three days until the pursuers have returned; and afterward you may go your way.” Joshua 2:16 AMPC

Rahab, a Canaanite woman, was instrumental in God’s plan. She had believed and confessed that the Lord was God, and that she wanted to be saved. She showed her faith by hiding the spies, and so they trusted and obeyed her word. God sends you people to speak a word and you are to obey their counsel. There are people that actually know more than you. If you are visiting another country, it is wisdom to take directions from a resident. Let me share with you another story from the book of Acts 27:9-20

Acts 27:9-21

“By now much time had passed, and the voyage was already dangerous. Since the Fast was already over, Paul gave his advice and told them, “Men, I can see that this voyage is headed toward damage and heavy loss, not only of the cargo and the ship but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid attention to the captain and the owner of the ship rather than to what Paul said. Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided to set sail from there, hoping somehow to reach Phoenix, a harbor on Crete open to the southwest and northwest, and to winter there. When a gentle south wind sprang up, they thought they had achieved their purpose. They weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. But not long afterward, a fierce wind called the “northeaster” rushed down from the island. Since the ship was caught and was unable to head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. After running under the shelter of a little island called Cauda, we were barely able to get control of the skiff. After hoisting it up, they used ropes and tackle and girded the ship. Then, fearing they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the drift-anchor, and in this way they were driven along. Because we were being severely battered by the storm, they began to jettison the cargo the next day. On the third day, they threw the ship’s gear overboard with their own hands. For many days neither sun nor stars appeared, and the severe storm kept raging. Finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing. Since many were going without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “You men should have followed my advice not to sail from Crete and sustain this damage and loss.”” Acts 27:9-21 HCSB

They were severely battered by the storm. How many storms could you have avoided if you would have just listened and obeyed the counsel of the man or woman in the same boat with you?

Disobedience produces all sorts of storms that you could easily have avoided if you would have just listened and obeyed counsel.

Proverbs 5:7-14

“So now, my sons, listen to me, and don’t turn away from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her. Don’t go near the door of her house. Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others and your years to someone cruel; strangers will drain your resources, and your earnings will end up in a foreigner’s house. At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and how my heart despised correction. I didn’t obey my teachers or listen closely to my mentors. I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community.”” Proverbs 5:7-14 HCSB

I cannot tell you how many times myself, pastor Matt, or another pastor has given wise counsel and you go your way and continue to do what you want to do. I am trying to help you!

Me in the gym- Matt often corrects my posture in the gym. I rarely listen. It is not because I think he is wrong, it is because I am just lazy. Doing some squats, I often get too far forward. I don’t want to make the correct adjustments because it makes the exercise harder. I am just being honest. He is not trying to control me, he is trying to help me have good form.

Years ago, I had a friend that was married and flirting. I told her she was wrong and sinning, she decided to cut me off. She is no longer serving the Lord.

When I ask where you have been, it is because I care. When I tell you to be somewhere or attend Bible study, or stop hanging out with certain people, or to not date someone, wear something, watch something, it is because I care. I am not trying to control you anymore than Rahab was trying to control the spies. She knew the land. She knew where to have them go to be hidden. She wanted to keep them safe. I am trying to keep you safe. I have no ulterior motives.

This kind of obedience requires humility. In Scripture, the spies are not even named by names. They are just referred to as “the spies”. Are you OK with no one knowing your name? We want to do the exceptional things for God, but we want the accolades for just doing our job, which is to obey.

I met this 72 year old pastor, he is a professor of hermeneutics, but the thing that I was impressed with was his humility. I used to value knowledge when I was young, but the older I get the less i am impressed with what you know.

Do you know who is a know it all? Newly graduated high school students. Do you know who is worse? Newly graduated college students.

Knowledge does not translate to the wisdom of the Lord. The apostles were recognized not because of their knowledge, but because they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:13

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13

I do not care how much you know, I want to know if you have been with Jesus. Listen and obey those who have been with Jesus, our residence is in another kingdom and we know the kingdom paths of safety.

2. God often uses wilderness places.

The hills placed a natural barrier between the spies and the king’s men. Throughout Scripture, God used unique places.

David in Adullam

“So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When David’s brothers and his father’s whole family heard, they went down and joined him there. In addition, every man who was desperate, in debt, or discontented rallied around him, and he became their leader. About 400 men were with him.” 1 Samuel 22:1-2 HCSB

Elijah at Horeb

“Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! LORD, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the LORD returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. He entered a cave there and spent the night.” 1 Kings 19:3-9 HCSB

God’s design to get Paul to Rome in the book of Acts was from prison house to prison house.

God uses unique places to take care of His people.

God will safeguard His people, but it is not always in the ways that we think. We have to trust His provision. The wilderness is often a time of preparation for something bigger and better.

I remember when we were in Texas, we had a man of God come through our church and told my husband, “You have been running from God’s ministerial calling, but He sees you and He is sending you to the desert” (we thought it was a metaphorical word, we would be in a dry season) Shortly after that, Ps Matt came up on orders for the Sinai desert. This was a time of preparation for the ministry. Matt went and decided he would not watch movies, but only read the Bible, pray and attend church services. HE would use that time wisely to prepare.

Trust what God is doing when you are sent into the wilderness. God will provide for you. He will take care of you. It is for a season, if you will learn what you need to learn in that season.

Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years in what should have been an 11 day journey. Learn to be content, to not grumble and complain, and to have gratitude in your wilderness seasons. Try to turn your thinking around and remember, God is doing something in me in this season.

3. Wait to move.

“and stayed there three days”- The three days allowed the immediate danger to pass while the men remained hidden in the country God had promised to Israel. Their waiting required faith, restraint, and confidence that the mission would be completed in the Lord’s time.

Three days provided a complete cycle of waiting until danger passed, just as Israel would later wait three days before crossing the Jordan

Joshua 3:2-3

“After three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God carried by the Levitical priests, you must break camp and follow it.”” Joshua 3:2-3 HCSB

The number three is prominent in the Bible. Scripture frequently pairs “three days” with deliverance:

Genesis 42:17-18

“So Joseph imprisoned them together for three days. On the third day Joseph said to them, “I fear God — do this and you will live.”” Genesis 42:17-18 HCSB

Esther 4:15-16

“Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, day or night. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.”” Esther 4:15-16 HCSB

Jonah 1:17

“Now the LORD had appointed a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17 HCSB

Matthew 12:40

“For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.” Matthew 12:40 HCSB

I looked up the significance of the number three in scripture. The number 3 is recorded 485 times in 426 King James Bible verses. It occurs 410 times in the Old Testament and has 75 occurrences in the New Testament.

The number 3 conveys the meaning of completeness.

The 3 patriarchs before the flood were Abel, Enoch and Noah. After the flood, there was the three “fathers”, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

There are 27 books in the New Testament, which is 3 cubed, or completeness to the third power. Here are some unique things concerning the number three-

Jesus prayed 3 times in the garden of gethsemane. There were three hours of darkness while Jesus suffered on the cross. Christ was dead for 3 full days and nights. Jesus took only 3 of his disciples, James, Peter and John, up a large hill in order to view his transfiguration. Jesus showed himself alive only three times to all of his remaining apostles as a group. The bible only names 3 angels by name. Only three of Jesus’ original twelve disciples had their writings included in the New Testament. These writers were Matthew, John and Peter. Three sets of brothers existed within Jesus’ original twelve disciples! there were three rulers over the Kingdom of Judah who died in a foreign land. There are 3 places in the New Testament where sex sins are specially referenced. An angel is charged to cry three woes to those who live on earth to warn them of more trials to come (Revelation 8:13). God, when all prophecy has been fulfilled, will create a new Jerusalem which will be shaped like a square with 3 gates on each side (Revelation 21:13). God is described, in the very beginning of the book of Revelation, as a Being with the three-fold characteristic, “which is, and which was, and which is to come” (Revelation 1:4).

Here is what I know- it is a perfect time of waiting for God to fulfill His word. And I do not know why, but often the Lord wants it to look dead in the natural so that when he brings it alive, He gets all the glory.

Luke 24:5-7

“So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. Why are you looking for the living among the dead? Asked the men. He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was in Galilee? Saying The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day?” Luke 24:5-7 HCSB

It is not dead, it is waiting to be resurrected! God is the God of the living.

The story of Lazarus reveals that Jesus waited four days after Lazarus was dead, dead because He knew what He would do. Everyone around Him, including those closest to Him, did not know what He would do. But Jesus did. He waited on purpose to allow Lazarus to die, so He could raise him from the dead. Even when the situation looks impossible, and it appears as if the enemy has won; God knows what he will do.

Waiting is a Biblical mandate. God owns time. God is not bound by time, the way we are. He sees all things, past, present and future. He already know the outcome. It is a done deal. We can only see what is in front of us. God’s timing is wisdom. The three days of waiting mean He is preparing you for something greater.

Do not get ahead of God. Waiting seasons have a purpose- they test and strengthen faith

Psalms 27:14

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait for the LORD.” Psalms 27:14 HCSB

God was working in the waiting for His people to move ahead safely.

The searchers’ return after three days marked the failure of Jericho’s efforts to stop what God had determined to do.

4. The enemy pursues the faithful.

The pursuers had searched the road leading toward the Jordan, assuming the spies had attempted to cross back into Israel’s camp. Their mistaken pursuit gave the spies time to remain safely hidden before returning to Joshua with the report that the inhabitants of Canaan were fearful of Israel’s God. The pursuers relied on predictable routes; God through the wisdom of Rahab led the spies off-road. The enemy of your souls is not just going to let you get off Scott-free when you are on a mission for the Lord. HE is going to pursue you and he seeks to frustrate the works of your hands. No one is immune. We must recognize that we have a stealthy and strategic enemy, who seeks to devour you, and he does not play fair. You think you are in a boxing match with rules, he is in a street fight.

WE must recognize and be aware that we have a real enemy that hates us and seeks to destroy us. WE are not unaware of his plans and his ways, we cover our cracks and weaknesses and we give him no place in our lives by obeying the men/women of God and the Word of the Lord.

But even when the enemy comes, he cannot stop what God has purposed to do. (Say that again)

Isaiah 59:19

“So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19 NKJV

The enemy comes like a flood- a flood destroys everything in its path. But the Spirit lifts up a standard against him. When God’s people experience overwhelming adversity, God says He will “lift up a standard”, this means He calls together His armies to oppose the enemy’s progress. God intervenes in a powerful response to defend His people.

Prophecy reveals that the enemy tries to destroy God’s people and take over the world, but his plans will not succeed.

Psalms 33:10

“The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; He thwarts the plans of the peoples.” Psalms 33:10 HCSB

Proverbs 21:30

“There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD” Proverbs 21:30

Isaiah 54:17

“No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” Isaiah 54:17

Even when we fail, He never fails. Faith believes that God is working to stop the plans of the enemy. The enemy will raise up weapons, but those weapons have limited ability. God will only allow the enemy to do so much. Just look to Job. Satan was allowed to take everything from Job, but his life.

Even in pursuit, God is working. As soon as the children of Israel left Egypt, the enemy pursued. God specifically took Israel by way of the Red Sea. It was not by accident. he knew what HE would do. The story of Moses and the Red Sea reveal that we have an enemy that hates us, that will pursue us to destroy us, but God will make a way when, how and where He needs to.

God’s guidance from the enemy contradicts human logic, yet always has a good outcome.

5. God’s promise will be accomplished.

Without finding them- The spies escaped not merely through careful planning but through the Lord’s providence, working through Rahab’s courage and the shelter of the hill country. They report to Joshua, “It is true!!” Everything the Lord has told us will come to pass. Human opposition and the enemy’s hot pursuit could not prevent Israel from receiving the land God had pledged to Abraham’s descendants. The spies triumphantly proclaim, “Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”” It is so encouraging to me that God has safeguarded the land of Israel for thousands of years to honor His Word and promise to Abraham. Scripture reveals time and time again that God honors His Word and looks after it to make sure it comes to pass.

The Messiah came through the line of David as a promise to David that a man from his lineage would sit as King on the throne

2 Samuel 7:12-13

“when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come form your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-13 NKJV

And again in V. 16

David wants to build God a house, but God responds by promising David a “house”, an enduring royal dynasty.

At first glance it looks like he is talking about Solomon, but it is a reference to Jesus, The King of kings and Lord of lords. Matthew 21:9 calls Jesus “the Son of David”. This covenant is “unconditional”, thus not based on David’s obedience, but rests solely on God’s faithfulness.

We can trust the Word of God. It is a firm foundation and standard for our lives. We can trust everything He has said He will do. Every Word of God will be accomplish, even if it looks grim and impossible, and no matter the amount of tine it takes. God is not bound by people, events, the government, your family, not the weather nor time.

WE often do not make God big enough, we reduce Him to our human level and reasoning. God is God alone, He does not need humans, we need Him.

Imagine drawing a picture of the sun and claiming it to be the real thing. Some do the same to God. He is Creator, He made you out of dust, He breathed life into you. You cannot live exist without Him, but He has always existed before man ever was.

He is awesome and wonderful. You need a bigger view of God than today’s church.

Acts 28:30-31

“Paul lived in his own rented quarters for two full years and welcomed everyone who came to see him. Unhindered and with complete confidence, he continued to preach God’s kingdom and to teach about the Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 28:30–31 (CEB)

The final word of the original Greek text in Acts is akolutos, which translates to “unhindered” or “without hindrance”. Luke deliberately ends his historical account on this triumphant note to show that even though the apostle Paul was locked in chains under Roman house arrest, the Word of God cannot be bound or stopped.

Isaiah 46:10

“I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'” Isaiah 46:10 (NIV)

Job 42:2

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2 (NIV)

Proverbs 19:21

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Do not bring God down to your level. If you need more faith, listen to more biblical preaching and read your Bible until the Word pierces your heart and soul.

Faith in God’s Word does not mean there will not be any problems. Quite the contrary, faith and obedience mean that we will incite the enemy. We have an enemy that will see to it to disrupt and discourage your lives. HE will pursue you. But if you will listen to counsel, wait on the Lord and trust His plan and protection, you will experience the good of His promise.

One day, you will proclaim, It is true! All God said to me has come to pass.

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If you don’t pay attention while reading this story, you might think you are reading Genesis 12

There is a famine – just like (Abraham’s) time

History repeats itself – Solomon says it in the Bible- that there is nothing new under the sun

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man

History can either be a good teacher or a painful lesson

Isaac is on his way to do exactly what his father Abraham had done – using human wisdom

Ismael

Praise the Lord – God stops Him!!

Genesis 26:2

The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; stay in the land of which I will tell you.”

Stay where I WILL tell you

Genesis 26:3-4

I WILL bless you, I WILL favor you, I WILL give you land, I WILL give your descendant land, I WILL establish and carry the oath I swore to your father, I WILL make your descendant multiply, I WILL bless the rest of the world through you

Why – Not because you did well, not because you paused to listen to me, you are well spoken, you have enough followers on IG – Christian channel, not because you can preach well, teach well

But because your father Abraham;

Genesis 26:5

Listened to, obeyed my voice, and consistently kept my charge, My commandments, My statutes and my Laws

Abraham obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees and instructions (NLT)

What an investment Abraham made in heaven! Despite the failures of mankind, the Lord remembered Abraham’s heart of obedience, and the blessings of that obedience would extend to generations that came after him -including us.

Galatians 3:29

And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise. (AMP)

Hebrews 11:8

By faith Abraham, when he was called [by God], obeyed by going to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went, not knowing where he was going. (AMP)

James 2:23

And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

In our lives we are busy making investment that benefits us –in retirement – good

But we miss the fact that we need to invest in spiritual things that will bear benefit not just for us today and I but for generations to come

What kind of spiritual investments are you depositing today – is it good for a few hours, daily bread or good till your life is over or will it outlive you?

Do you study the word of God just enough for today? How is your prayer life?

Back to our text

Isaac has a choice to make – do I or do I not continue with my journey

On one side there is draught, run (Severe draught) or the other is going through it with God

I know it sounds very simple – but folks, how many times has God directed us to something only to choose the opposite

They should have run the ball – Seahawks (Obvious) – But our desires

And this right here sums it all: vs 6 – So Isaac stayed in Gerar

I love this because it’s a true representation of my favorite verse:

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Nkjv)

You saw how many ‘I will”, God said vs the one “I will” stay, that Isaac said

Ladies and Gentlemen, before God asks you to invest in His Kingdom, He has already shown you how

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son – John 3:16 (NKJV)

That while you were sinner – He still love you! – Romans 5:8 (NKJV)

Father, take away this cup but let your will be done!- Luke 22:42 (NKJV)

Obedience – Not the kind that comes with filters/adjectives – but one that comes with total surrender

Let us invest in Obedience

World obedience – complying with rules, laws, commands, or the directions of an authority figure – unfortunately these keeps changing

Biblical obedience is the active, wholehearted submission to God’s authority, rooted in listening to His Word and responding with trust, love, and action. Rather than mere legalistic rule-following, it reflects a personal relationship with God and a desire to align one’s life with His will

St. Augustine (AD 354–430) -He explained that God’s command to Adam and Eve concerned more than the fruit. The central issue was whether humanity would submit to its Creator or prefer its own will.

Andrew Murray (1828–1917) -The secret of true obedience … is the clear and close personal relationship to God.”

Fruits of Obedience

Protection

Vs 7 – Isaac lies about his wife for the fear of being killed

That even in our foolishness – God still looks at us with mercy and He rescues us

Genesis 26:11

So Abimelech charged all his people, saying, “He who touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.” (Nkjv)

This will be seen come to play, when there is jealousy and strive – but this right here protects his life – they choose to mess with the wells and not to touch him

Don’t be stupid – don’t test God. But we can all attest that God has used our foolishness many times to rescue us

Romans 8:28

Praise God, that He works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Nkjv)

Provision

Because Abraham obeyed, his son Isaac was blessed

Genesis 26:13

And the man [Isaac] became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and extremely distinguished (AMP)

Our culture demands for us to 10X, take cold showers/ice bath, be part of the 5am club, use chatgpt, grok, claude to create businesses that work while we are still sleeping – these are good – but we neglect the spiritual investments – Obedience to what God is asking us to do

What if we could join the 6am prayer line, Monday night prayer, Prayer before service, daily prayer and reading plans, Bible studies, studying the word of God daily

Jeremiah 29:13

Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (AMP)

Matthew 7:7

Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. (AMP)

Work hard and please provide for your family and your retirement- but start with obedience

Peace

Genesis 26:16

Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Go away from here, because you are far too powerful for us (AMP)

Isaac does not fight back – he just ups and goes

Even when the Philistines attacks his main source of life – water

He keeps on digging and moving

Naming the places so that he can remember what God has done and continues to do

I believe that these words kept Isaac from fighting back

Genesis 26:3

Live temporarily [as a resident] in this land and I will be with you and will bless and favor you, for I will give all these lands to you and to your descendants, and I will establish and carry out the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. (AMP)

These words gave him peace – Because he obeyed, he had peace

If you lack peace in any area of your life, I challenge you to go back to your path of obedience

Reverence

Genesis 26:24

So Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord [in prayer]. He pitched his tent there; and there Isaac’s servants dug a well. (AMP)

This is the first recording of Isaac building an altar unto the Lord

Isaac has a moment of revelation – he builds an altar and called on the name of the Lord i.e. – He prayed!

God does not change – He didn’t change when Isaac was running from the drought, and He was the same God when he has overcome so much and was prospering

Obedience allowed him to see God for who He was truly is! – Not just his fathers God

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man

Two things are true as we go through this life: a.k.a River

You are obedient to God and you have changed

You have not been obedient to God, and you have changed- to what? – don’t fool yourself that you are still the same

Are you going to run away from the draught, alone without God or are you going to stay in the draught with God?

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• • • The Power of an Oath

      Explain the story

      Joshua 2:15-21

      Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16 And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”

      17 So the men said to her: “We will be blameless[a] of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you [b]bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19 So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be [c]guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his [d]blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be [e]free from your oath which you made us swear.”

      21 Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

      Its easy for us as we read scripture to miss important details because of our culture now

      To the jews there are symbolisms that they would understand

      I want to give context to the scripture based on the culture and their understanding at that time

      First I will be talking about the scarlet chord and the symbolism

      The Hebrew word for chord in this context is Tikvah which has a dual meaning which is physical cord

      But its used 30 other times in Hebrew scripture and also means hope

      This is not the only symbolism, the red dye also has significant meaning

      The Israelites see this as sacrificial blood, atonement, human sin, and redemption

      The chord has in meaning has ties all throughout the old testament

      Going all the way back to Genesis 3

      Explain fall of man

      Genesis 3:21

      Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

      This was the first death, theologians believe this was the first sacrifice

      From this point on people needed to offer a blood sacrifice to atone for sin

      We see blood sacrifice all throughout the old testament

      I cant cover all of them but I want to show you a few showing Gods redemption for mankind

      In genesis 22 we see Abraham and Isaac

      Explain the story-God prepared a ram

      Genesis 22:12-13

      And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

      13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

      Abraham was acting with faith and obedience and God delivered a ram for sacrifice

      In this we see God’s redemptive plan for salvation by sending a replacement to atone

      There is one more story I want to show you to illustrate the symbolism of the scarlet chord and redemption

      In exodus 12 we see the Passover

      Rahab and the scarlet chord is a direct call back to the Passover

      Explain plagues in Egypt- Passover was the final plague-blood on doorpost

      Everyone with the blood was spared, just like Rahab and everyone under the cover of her home

      Rahab listened and put the chord out the window which would save her

      The scarlet chord not only was a symbol to the spies, but it had value

      It was expensive and rare

      We see red everywhere but in biblical times it was common

      The process in which they went through to get it was extensive

      It came from the female kermes scale insect

      Workers had a brief one month period to gather these insects

      Right after they laid their eggs

      They were dried and crushed into a powder which gave the scarlet color

      There was value in the chord

      It is represented in the valuable blood of Christ and His atonement for our sins

      The story of Rahab is a foreshadowing of Christ and His redemptive work on the cross

      Joshua is actually a Christ figure in this story

      He is coming to destroy the city

      Everyone under Rahabs roof will be saved and shown mercy

      While everyone else will receive judgement

      We also see Gods salvific plan for redemption

      That it is not just for the Jew alone but for gentiles as well

      Here is the application to this story

      it wasn’t the scarlet chord that saved Rahab

      It was an oath she made, an oath that required faith and obedience

      Rahab didn’t just believe there is a God she put her faith in Him

      It is possible to believe in God without having faith in Him

      We see this in the story

      The whole city heard of God, but it was a different reaction

      They believed yet instead of faith they were afraid and wanted to kill the spies

      Rahab put her faith in God and saved them which led to her salvation

      And ultimately led to a gentile woman being in the lineage of Christ

      And even being mention in what Christians call the faith hall of fame along side the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

      Hebrews 11:30-31

      By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who [a]did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

      As Christians we need to have faith like this

      Rahab forsook all she knew including the people to have faith in God

      She lived in this city, knew the people, she knew of the coming judgement

      But listened to the spies trusted God and placed her faith in Him knowing that the city would be destroyed

      We need to have an unwavering faith

      A faith that says “no matter what I am going to listen to You God”

      A complete trust in God, not just a belief that He exists

      We need to be completely dependent to God and His words

      Hebrews 11:1

      Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of things not seen.

      This isn’t a blind irrational faith

      It is a confident faith in God that we can trust Him which is proven through scripture

      We can trust His character, we can trust what He says

      It is your responsibility to put your faith in God

      That’s on you, Its not His responsibility to prove Himself to you

      Too many Christians walk around in despair and faithless because they have yet to actually put faith in God

      We should want faith like Rahab, a harlot, someone that was looked down on

      Yet she placed her faith in God

      And that faith led to obedience

      She didn’t just say she had faith, she showed it

      Making an oath with the spies

      It took action

      By her faith and obedience she received salvation by placing the scarlet chord out the window

      We are saved by faith in Christ, but I truly believe if you have received that salvation then it will lead to obedience

      They go hand in hand

      Week after week 10’s of millions of people will attend a church with no real change

      No obedience to God, Christ or the Word of God

      And its sad, the state of the church

      People use it as a social club, or to make friends

      They like the programs, they will deal with the preaching yet ignore the power in it

      Maybe even people in this room, the sad part is if that’s you its actually worse for you

      You might as well not attend, because you will be held accountable at judgement day for the things you heard and ignored

      Obedience is severely lacking within the body

      People want to live the way they want and not submit to obedience to God

      I attribute it to the hyper grace movement along with social media

      People will hear scripture ignore it, then go online and find a preacher that agrees with their theology

      And its damaging to you and the body

      There needs to be an obedience to Gods word, its reactive, we here it, read it then change

      Romans 6:1-2

      What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

      We walk out our faith by being obedient

      If there is no obedience have you really received salvation

      Because the bible makes it abundantly clear, there needs to be obedience

      If not, why did every disciple and apostle change and become obedient

      Why would there be in revelation 5 of the 7 churches being rebuked

      They stopped being obedient to God

      The church needs a change in the people

      We must be obedient

      1 peter 1:13-16

      Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

      Our faith in God must lead to obedience to Him

      People want to cry legalism when messages like this are preached

      But it isn’t legalism to follow what Gods word says

      Explain legalism

      The process of being obedient to God and changing your life is called sanctification

      And it doesn’t stop until you die

      Until then you must continue to make the changes in your life to the obedience of God

      Its for your good

      We are to become Christ-like its in the name Christian

      If you are in the room and have yet to have a faith that leads to obedience then repent now

      For all the people that live their life with faith and obedience this message should be an encouragement to you

      You are walking out your life with Christ how its intended

      Keep up the good work and don’t give up

      The world is going to continue to get worse

      The world will try to pull you away but stay encouraged living with faith and obedience

      In the end it will all be worth it, no matter how hard it its

      If Rahab the harlot can have this faith and obedience, then so can you

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He Who Promised is Faithful

[Gen 25:12-34 NKJV] – 12 Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s maidservant, bore to Abraham. 13 And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. 17 These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. 18 (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren. 19 This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham begot Isaac. 20 Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian. 21 Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” 24 So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them. 27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” 32 And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” 33 Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

At the beginning of this text we see the genealogy of Ishmael and a list of his sons who became twelve princes.

God made promises concerning Ishmael and this is the beginning of the fulfillment of those promises

[Gen 16:10-12 NKJV] – 10 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.” 11 And the Angel of the LORD said to her: “Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

[Gen 17:20 NKJV] – 20 “And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.

[Gen 21:18 NKJV] – 18 “Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.”

Again we see that Ishmael was blessed and also had a destiny to become a great nation

Much of the middle east today traces their lineage back to Ishmael and he has become a central figure in the Islamic religion

And to that point we see not only a fulfillment of Ishmael multiplying exceedingly but also the fulfillment of “His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him”

The muslims of history and today have been very warlike, waging jihad or holy war on much of the world, time and time again

Muslims teaching divides the world into two sections one is the House of Submission (Islam) and the other is the house of war

Within a century of Muhammad’s death the muslims had conquered the middle east, north africa, and spain all of which were Christian lands, and they were invading France while also besieging Constantinople so attacking both sides of europe

They also conquered Persia and northern India waging Jihad on Hindus and Zoroastrians

All within a hundred years of Muhammad’s death

All that is to say that this prophecy of “His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him” is clearly true

God’s promises concerning Ishmael were only part of a series of promises that He gave to Abraham

The first promise that God gave to Abraham is found in Gen 12:1-4

[Gen 12:1-4 NKJV] – 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

So Abraham, when he was still called Abram, was 75 years old when he received the promise that he would become a great nation but God expanded on this promise later multiple times.

After separating from Lot, God told Abram to look north, south, east, and west promising that all the land he could see would be given to him and his descendants forever

and that his descendants would become as numerous as the dust of the earth

Later, when speaking to God, Abram voiced concern that he had no children and that his heir was his servant Eliezer.

Then God had Abram divide numerous animals of different kinds and passed in the midst of them promising to Abram that his heir would come from his own body,

his descendents would be as many as the stars in the sky and they would return to the land after 400 years of affliction

Then God reaffirms the promise with Abram by changing his name to Abraham (father of many) and promises that Sarai whose name he also changed to Sarah would bear a son named Isaac through whom the covenant would be established

[Gen 17:1-8, 15-16 NKJV] – 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 “And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 “No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 “I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 “And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” … 15 Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 “And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.”

After this we see Isaac and Rebekah conceive and a promise was given that two nations were in her womb

in both the line of Ishmael and the line of Isaac God is beginning to fulfill his promises to Abraham and Sarah, to Hagar, to Ishmael, and to Isaac and Rebekah

This brings me to my first point:

God keeps his promises!

Scripture is adamant that God keeps his promises. God does not lie and He follows through on every covenant made, every vow uttered, and every word spoken

[Num 23:19 NKJV] – 19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

[Psa 89:34 NKJV] – 34 My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.

We are often let down by unreliable people who do not keep their word. Fathers who fail to keep their commitments, spouses who break their vows, a friends you thought you could rely on who didn’t come through just when you needed them most.

People break their promises all the time, they shirk their commitments, and do not keep their word

But God is not like them. He will follow through. He has for generation after generation. He kept His word to Abraham

[Heb 6:13, 17-18 NKJV] – 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, … 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

Did you know that there are thousands of promises in scripture some of which are, of course, for specific people or people groups but hundreds of them are for us, as christians

These are some of my favorite promises in scripture

Salvation

[Rom 10:9 NKJV] – 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Eternal Life

[Jhn 3:16 NKJV] – 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Forgiveness

[1Jo 1:9 NKJV] – 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Acceptance

[Jhn 6:37 NKJV] – 37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

He won’t abandon us

[Heb 13:5b NKJV] – 5 … For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.“

Provision

[Phl 4:19 NKJV] – 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

George Muller example

Wisdom

[Jas 1:5 NKJV] – 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and ***it will be given to him**.*

Rest

[Mat 11:28-30 NKJV] – 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Strength

[Isa 40:31 NKJV] – 31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Refuge

[Psa 46:7 NKJV] – 7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

That is just 10 promises but they are so powerful and God will fulfill everyone of them just like he fulfilled His promise to Abraham

And i am sure that God has given many of you individually promises that he has kept

Baby Hope example

Hope in God church, trust in Him, have faith in his word, believing His promises, and trust in His proven character

Don’t be discouraged any longer but wait with expectation no matter how long it takes

This brings me to my second point:

We must wait in faith for the promise

A large part of the Christian experience and the walk of faith is waiting on the promise

If we look back to Genesis, God first gave the promise to Abraham when he was still called Abram at 75 years of age and he had to wait 11 years for Ishmael and 25 years for Isaac just to see the beginning of the promise fulfilled

Here is the interesting part, Abraham had Isaac at the age of 100 and he lived to be 175 years old.

Now Isaac got married at 40 years old (v.20) and he did not have Jacob and Esua until he was 60 years old (v.26)

That means that Abraham was still alive and 160 years old when his grandchildren from Isaac were born

he saw Isaac and Rebekah struggle with infertility for 20 years just like he and Sarah did

Think about the amount of faith that Abraham had to muster from day to day

He was 75 and his wife was 65 and barren which was likely past her natural child bearing years

They had undoubtedly been attempting to have children all the time time they were married but to no avail

It was essential in ancient cultures to have sons it was considered a reproach to any if they had no children

Furthermore we know from the narrative that Abraham desired an heir

So when God promises Him an heir from his own body and that he would be the father of many nations he had to wait decades for that to come to pass all the while getting older and older

It would have seemed, to the natural mind, that each year after the promise was given, the chance of the fulfillment of that promise grew less and less

And yet along came Isaaac and God fulfilled His promise

That must have been a source of encouragement to Isaac and Rebekah but it still would have tested their faith as well

20 years is a long time to wait for anything but especially a child

There are many other examples in Scripture of saints having to wait for a promise

Joseph waited 22 years from the time he received his dreams at age 17 until his brothers finally bowed down to him in Egypt at 39 years old

Hannah prayed fervently and waited through years of painful barrenness before God answered her prayer with the birth of the prophet Samuel

David had to wait close to 15 years from the time he was anointed King by Samuel till he was crowned king over Judah and he had to wait another 7 years until he was crowned King of all Israel

Simeon and Anna had to wait their whole lives just to see the messiah with their own eyes

The church has been waiting for the return of Jesus Christ to establish His visible kingdom on earth for nearly 2000 years

all of these accounts were recorded for our edification for the building up of our faith

[Rom 15:4 NKJV] – 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Not only do we have examples in scripture of saints who had to wait on the promises of God but we have directives from scripture to wait on God and His promises

[Lam 3:24-26 NKJV] – 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. 26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

[Psa 27:13-14 NKJV] – 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!

**[Mic 7:7 NKJV] **– 7 Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.

Nearly all of what God has promised us will require us to wait and while we are waiting, our faith will be tested

but if we remember what the scripture has promised and how nearly every saint has had to wait in faith for the promise

If we keep this in our minds and in our hearts then we will not falter

When I am preaching about waiting for the promise, I can’t help but think of my friends James and Robyn O’Neil

They also had to wait for 20 years for John James

Another point to consider is that the fulfillment of God’s promise will not always look the way we expect

God has given us promises but He is not subject to our directives or demands on how to bring that promise to pass

In this text God declared that the older shall serve the younger but it is clear that Isaac favored Esau

And it makes a kind of sense, Esau was the firstborn and in the traditions of many cultures especially those of the middle east the firstborn son was the primary inheritor of the father’s wealth and position

But on top of that Esau was a manly man, he typified masculinity

He was hairy and a hunter, an outdoorsman, I like to imagine Gaston from Beauty and the Beast only hairier and with Red hair

Jacob not so much, he wasn’t effeminate, but he wasn’t the ideal specimen either

The scripture says he was a mild man dwelling in tents, kind of a moma’s boy if we’re being honest

Yet this was the man that God had chosen for the covenant promise not Esau.

There was another man in scripture who was an unexpected and unlikely choice

**[1Sa 16:1-13 NKJV] **– 1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 “Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.” 4 So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before Him!” 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” 10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

Just like the deliverance for Israel came in an unexpected way through a shepherd boy who thereafter slew Goliath

So the promise of the messiah came in an unexpected way.

Every time the Jews were oppressed by a foreign power in the past God would raise up a deliver who would fight the oppressors and put them to flight

But when the ultimate Messiah came, He came to deliver them in a completely different way than they expected

He came to deliver them from their sins, not the Romans

So the promise doesn’t always look the way we think or expect it should

Finally there is a sober warning in the text

Esau is an example here of a man who would not wait for the promise but rather profaned the promise by prioritizing immediate satisfaction over the greater fulfillment which would’ve come later

The birthright in this case was more than just a double inheritance he was abdicating his position as the recipient of the covenant promises

He failed to see the value of anything beyond the natural

Therefore he became an archetype of the carnal man, the natural man

He demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice something enduring for something immediately satisfying

The spiritual for the carnal, he profaned the promise

To profane something is to treat it like it is common and not holy

[Heb 12:14-17 NKJV] – 14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: 15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

This is a warning for us because if we lose sight of the promise and cast longing eyes on this world and covet the things of this world we are at risk of emulating Esau

And really all of us have behaved like Esau at one time or another

We have deliberately chosen sin in a moment to satisfy the flesh at the risk and jeopardy of drastic spiritual damage

This was a problem even in the early church Paul writes in Phillipians

[Phl 3:18-19 NKJV] – 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame–who set their mind on earthly things.

If our loyalty is to this world and to satisfying our earthly, sinful cravings to appease the flesh, to let it rule unopposed, then we might end up unrepentant apostates

abandoning the promise altogether and isolating ourselves from the grace of God and His covenant people

So don’t be like Esau. This world, these temporary pleasures, are not worth selling our birthright and inheritance for

So remain in Christ, in expectant faith, repenting and believing and you will be part of God’s covenant people and all these promises will apply to you

And just as God was faithful with Abraham and Isaac he will be with you also

**[Heb 10:23 NKJV] **– 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Let’s pray

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• • • Joshua 2:8-14 We have Heard 10 For we have heard how the Lord 

    • Lives are changed when the word of God is publicly preached. 

    • For the Christian that desires to honor God with their lives, they should welcome the word

    • Why? Because when you hear the word of God it changes you. You speak differently, your heart is different, you change how you live and you can be saved from destruction. 

    • The people of Jericho heard the word. Rahab responded. It changed her life. She was saved. 

    • Prioritize your life around hearing the word of God. It will do something to you.  

Second Intro- 

• • • Here’s where I’m going before I get there. This story shows us something about the supernatural power of the Word of God. The Word goes forth and accomplishes what God sends it to accomplish.

    • But the word must GO for it to accomplish Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? People need to hear what God can do. 

    • Throughout Scripture, God uses the preaching of His Word to bring people to salvation, fill them with the Holy Spirit, convict them, change them, direct them, and call them to repentance.

    • And I think it important to understand a basic theology of preaching here. Lets get into

    • The word is ALIVE and WORKS the heart- Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the THOUGHTS and INTENTS of the heart.

    • And ultimately, the Word points us to Jesus because Jesus IS the Word.

    • John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    • We are not preaching information. We are preaching the truth of God that reveals Jesus Christ.

    • The written Word brings us to the living Word. It draws us into relationship with Jesus Christ///

    • The word is Preached in the POWER of the HS 1Cor2:4–5 my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
      that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

    • The word+the Spirit= Power 1 Thess 1:5 NKJV For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, The WORD and SPIRIT together

    • Faith comes through hearing Ro 10:17 faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

    • The Holy Spirit moves through preaching Acts 10:44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

    • Nehemiah 8:5–8 NKJV READ

    • That is almost a prototype of expositional preaching: Read the text publicly, explain the meaning, help the people understand, and the congregation responds before God.

    • BC here’s the point- What does it mean to us to hear this story? How does it apply to US?

    • You’ll see the Word goes forth. Rahab hears it. Her heart is changed. She confesses what she believes, her faith produces commitment, and ultimately she is delivered from destruction.

    • We see a similar pattern in the life of faith. We hear the Word, the Spirit works in our hearts, we believe, we confess Christ, and genuine faith produces a committed life.

    • Now that you know where we’re going, let’s read it again. And this time, listen for what happened when Rahab heard the word of the Lord.  READ Joshua 2:8-14 AGAIN

 

• • 1. A Confession

  • • What Rahab heard about God changed what she believed, and what she believed came out of her mouth.

    • She tells the spies, I know that the LORD has given you the land. That is her confession. She is openly declaring what she now believes about God.

    • See, here’s what’s happened in Jericho. V10 They had heard how the Lord. 

    • when a person hears something that changes how they believe it changes what they confess

    • Rahab openly acknowledges what God has done and who is going to win this battle for Jericho

    • Humans are confessors. We speak what we believe to be true. We talk about our intentions, our hopes, our hurts, our beliefs. If you truly listen to people, you will hear what they believe. 

    • And God wants us to speak what we believe: Ro 10:9–10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

    • Biblical confession begins in the heart. If the mouth says one thing while the heart remains far from God, that is only lip service.

    •  God does not merely want words from your mouth. He wants your heart.///

    • Matt 15:8 These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips,
      But their heart is far from Me. HE DOESN’T WANT THE HEART THAT IS FAR AWAY

    • He wants-Matt 10:32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

    • God wants your confession to match with your heart. You can’t confess what you don’t believe

    • Do you believe that Jesus is Lord? Confess it! To God and to others- say- I believe in Jesus

    • 1 John 4:15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

    • This happens when you’re in prayer. You confess (speak) to God what you believe and speak it

    • This happens when you worship audibly You confess (speak) to God what you believe about him

    • Ph2:11 that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

    • Here’s an important distinction here- we confess what we know to be true about Jesus now, but also what he will do in the future- Rahab “I know he has given you the land” Us- “I know that you will sustain me, redeem me, heal me, stay with me, protect me, guide me, love me” etc

    • Hold fast to it!Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering

 

• • 2. A Change

  • • Notice– Joshua 2:11 And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. (She added another confession there as well)

    • Our hearts melted- there has to be a heart change from the hearing

    • What they heard about God produced an internal response. This is where you see the difference between fear that merely trembles and faith that actually turns toward God.

    • There is something mysterious and supernatural about heart change. I cannot explain every detail of how the Holy Spirit takes the Word and changes a human heart, but I know He does.///

    • You have to HEAR it for your HEART to be CHANGED- “oh, they beat other enemies, we’re next!”

    • It was what they HEARD that melted their hearts because what they heard was TRUE

    • Christians: We must operate from a position of belief. We must believe what the word says to us

    • Notice how preaching plays into this Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

    • Peter preaches, they hear, and conviction comes. Their hearts are changed by the word of God. 

    • Friends, we need to be in the word and we also need to be hearing the word. It will change you

    • God promises that we will get a new heart Ez 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

    • God promises it will be WHOLE for him Jer 24:7 Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.

    • Do you see why I preach Scripture after Scripture after Scripture? Because I know the Word of God can change hearts!

    • Here’s the charge: Read your Bible every day no matter what. Let it do the heavy lifting

    • When you read the word, it cuts to your heart, you are faced with what needs to change

    • then you align yourself with the word. You pray and ask God to change that part of your heart

    • Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

    • Also- Sit under the preaching of the word. It’s the biblical model. God calls a preacher and then the preacher preaches what God has already said and then the word can change the heart

    • This is why I rarely preach on Wednesdays. I need to sit under the word like anyone else

    • I need to have it cut to my heart and reveal things in my life that don’t line up with God’s word

    • Jesus once told a parable of the sower READ Luke 8:4-8, 11-15

    • Luke 8:15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

 

• • 3.  A Commitment

  • • Rahab moves beyond acknowledgment. She puts herself and her household under the promise of Israel’s God: Swear to me by the LORD

    • Rahabs commitment is to the spies, that when the battle happens, she’s standing with them. 

    • And we’ll get into the commitment next week- but she’s going to hang a scarlet cord in her window, the troops (and the spies) will see the scarlet cord and spare her family

    • But she makes a commitment. Yes her heart was changed, yes her mouth confessed, but she committed- there is something that I am going to do because my heart changed and I confessed

    • imagine for a minute what It would look like with a changed heart and no commitment?

    • Yes Mr Spies. I’ve heard the stories. I was changed by them! I told you! Them: “so we’re needing some assistance here, we need someone behind enemy lines, you in?” 

    • Rahab: No, I know I’ve been changed. I told you my confession, why is there any action required of me? Isn’t it enough that I was changed and I told you I was changed? I think that’s enough. 

    • A genuinely changed heart does not stop at confession. Genuine faith moves toward obedience.

    • God does not call us merely to say what we believe. He calls us to walk in what we believe.

    • 2 Chro 15:12 Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

    • Covenant = commitment. It is a public, covenantal commitment to seek God wholeheartedly.

    • This is what followers of Jesus do. They commit. They are committed to the ways of Jesus.

    • Psalm 119:106 I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments.

    • Psalm 37:5 NKJV Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

    • I think this is missing piece for many Christians. They are changed- they just aren’t committed

    • Here’s what commitment does– It sets you on a course of completion no matter the process

    • Like marriage- You stand, your heart is for the person, you confess and you COMMIT

    • You commit that through sickness and health, prosperity and adversity- you will not quit

    • The Spirit draws you. Faith saves you. Commitment keeps you walking in what you believe.

    • You say: I am committed to this. You- Pro 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD 

    • Many people do not experience the fullness of an experience because they quit when it hurts

    • My mom never let me quit a sports team. It got hard- She said- You made a commitment 

    • How much more spiritually? Battles will come. Make a commitment to God and stand on it

    • 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

 

• 4. A Covering

• • Rahab is asking for mercy, preservation, and rescue from the judgment that is coming.

  • She says- Deliver our lives from death. This is the end result of belief in God and his ways

  • Deliverance. Rahab and her family will now be protected when the battle ensues. 

  • I’m not going to conjecture that Rahabs confessed and committed only to be protected

  • If I were to guess, it was the heart change of belief- This God is real. He can protect me

  • She had heard of the protection through the red sea, through battles, Israel was protected. 

  • The truth that she believed was that YHWH was the protector and she wanted his protection

  • Look at the scriptures- Ps 91 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge. Ps 121:7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. Psalm 27:5 In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion.

  • This is the inheritance of the Child of God, that nothing can ultimately take us out of the protecting hand of God.

  • Do you see the connection? Heart change, confession, commitment, covering.

  • But our covering is not earned by our commitment. Our hope is Jesus Christ. ///

  • We believe in Him, and genuine faith produces a life committed to Him.

  • In Christ, we have an eternal covering that even death cannot defeat.

  • John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. John 11:25-26  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

  • 1 Cor 15:54–55 Death is swallowed up in victory.Ro 8:38–39 Neither death nor life… shall be able to separate us from the love of God.1 Peter 1:5 Kept by the power of God through faith for salvation. Jude 1:1 Preserved in Jesus Christ.

  • Friend. Embrace the story of Rahab. Hear it. Let it melt your heart. Confess that you believe it and commit to follow the Lord all the days of your life. You will be covered from your sin

  • This really is the life of faith. That we are able to overcome any battle that may come, because we are under the protection of the Lord in this life. Commit today to following him. 

  • 2 Timothy 4:18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.

•  

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