Sarah and Abraham were more than husband and wife. They were friends, life companions, and so much more. I cannot imagine how Abraham’s heart broke when his dear Sarah died. Death is never easy. Saying goodbye is hard. But there is the promise from Scripture that those who believe in Jesus will receive eternal life. This means for us that we will be reunited with our loved ones: husbands, wives, children, friends, etc. So, as cliché as it is to say, for Christians it is never goodbye, it’s see you later. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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We are blessed in so many more ways that the people of the Old Testament. Case in point, we know that every child is a blessing from God. In OT times sons were the only thing that mattered. Daughters were not desired. Over time, though, our eyes have been opened to the truth: each and every child that God has given is a blessing, boy or girl. As we move forward in our relationship with God we are taught many things. We must keep our eyes and ears open to what God is saying to us. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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There are two possible angles for this story. One, there is a cost to our relationship with God. Not in the literal sense that we have to sacrifice children, but in the sense that when we come to God in faith we are required to leave behind our former way of life and submit to God. Anything that gets in the way of that must be given up. Also, faith is not just a gift for us, it is a gift we are to share. In other words, we have work to do as God’s children. Two, Isaac does not die. God intervenes in the last minute, which seems to suggest, among other things, that God interacts with us to bring about his will, and to keep us from harm. And on top of all this this passage reminds us of another instance in which a son is sacrificed: Jesus. A lot to think about. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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The Scripture lesson for this Sunday is from 1 Timothy 6: 11-16, in which Timothy is given some final instructions by Paul. The sermon is titled ‘Final Instructions’ and will be some final instructions I have for you are we share our final worship service together. I hope to see you all in church on Sunday. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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It is better to make peace than fight. In Abraham’s time the most common way to deal with land disputes, and other things of that nature, was to fight. Abraham and Abimelek, though, choose to find a peaceful way to settle things. They make a treaty. We are called to peace by Jesus. Fighting, no matter how justified we think it is, is not God’s will. There is always a way to find peace, we just have to figure out what it is. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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When everything else falls apart God is there to bless. Hagar’s life has turned into a disaster. For a time everything was good. He had a son, through Abraham, which would normally grant her status and protection. But then she is sent away because of Sarah’s jealousy. As she is approaching death in the desert God comes and gives her what she needs: water, and a promise that he will bless Ishmael. This is the ‘pick-me-up’ Hagar needed. With those blessings she is able to go forth on the path God has laid out for her. Life does not always go the way we expect or desire, but God is always there, and he is always there to bless. Trust God with your life; allow him to work in and through you each day, just as Hagar did. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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Isaac is, quite literally, an answer to a prayer. Abraham and Sarah had been waiting for him for years and years, since even before God made them the promise that they would have a child. God answered their prayers. He gave them the blessing he promised. I have an exercise for you: what is your most recent answered prayer? I do not know what it is, but I do know it is recent, and the reason I know this is because God answers prayers. Keep praying, and keep believing that God will hear you. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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Lies and sin sometimes have a pretty big ripple effect. Sarah, I’m sure was not wild about the idea of pretending to be Abraham’s sister (only). And this is not the first time trouble has come to someone else because of this lie Abraham concocted. This passage can, in some ways, serve as a warning to us. We need to be careful about the life we live as our decisions can, no doubt, have an impact on many other people. It is very rare for a word or deed to impact just the person who says or does it. With that in mind we need to be careful about what we do and say as we run the risk of inadvertently hurting someone. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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Repentance is the key word here. We know, from the previous passage, that God would have been willing to spare the city of Sodom for only ten righteous people. The problem is, though, that there are not ten righteous people in the city to be found. If only Sodom and Gomorrah would have repented. Then they would have been saved. The good news for us, who have repented, is that no matter how great the sin is there is forgiveness for us if we come to God and repent. No sin is too great to not receive forgiveness. We are blessed with a God of power and love who will forgive us of our sins if only we repent of our sins, turn away from them and live our lives to the glory of God. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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This passage, perhaps more than any other in Scripture, speaks to the power of prayer. Abraham comes to God in payer asking again and again that the city ofSodombe saved. Each time God relents. If God’s mind was unchangeable, what would be the point of prayer? God may have a plan for us, but I do not believe it is set in stone. We are encouraged to come to God in prayer and ask for what we need. And God, who is gracious, will answer that prayer according to his perfect will. If we come to God in prayer we may just change his mind and receive what it is we seek. God bless you.

Pastor Josh

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