Genesis 10:1-11:26 :: The Little Dogs

Reader:

In Genesis Canaan the son of Ham was cursed.

In the Gospels a woman of Canaan cried out to Jesus for mercy and help.

Jesus called this woman a “little dog” because of who she was by birth. She did not take offense but persisted in her demand in humility, recognizing both who she was and who Jesus is – the Son of David.

Jesus granted her desire in response to what He called her “great faith.”

This account, along with many others, gives us hope that there is deliverance and salvation for “the little dogs” (the Gentile nations) along with “the children” (Israel).

Genesis 10 and 11 accounts for the nations that were divided on the earth after the flood into their lands, languages, and families.

This division and scattering were the result of God’s judgment of man’s repetitious rebellion. Rather than obeying God’s command and blessing to swarm the earth the sons of men sought to make a name for themselves, to build themselves, to ascend into the heavens.

When unified, mankind is capable of great things.

Apart from God, unification results in evil things.

In Jesus Christ, all good things are possible.

(Mark 7:24-30; Mat t 15:21-28; Isa 13-14; Jer 50-51; Rev 17-18; Isa 63:12; Gen 12:2; 2 Sam 7:9; Ac ts 4:12; Ps 14:1; Josh 24:2; Zeph 3)

Genesis 9 :: Solemn Oath

Reader:

Jesus Christ became a servant for the truth of God, to confirm the promises, that we might glorify God for His mercy (Rom 15:8-9).

God has established multiple covenants with His creation – specifically with man.

In all His promises we see the high value God places on the life of man, for in the image of God He made man. We see His love. We see His mercy. We see His covering.

Ultimately, we see Jesus. For it is His life in His blood that has been given to us so that our sins may be covered.

Confess your sins, the errors of your way. Forsake them. Receive His mercy. Be saved from death. And know that His love covers all sins.

(Rom 15:8-9; Lev 17; Deut 12; Ac ts 15; Num 35:31; Heb 9:15-17; Ezek 1:28; Ex 13:21; Lev 18; Lev 17:11: Ps 32:1; Rom 4:7; Ps 85:2; Prov 10:12; 1 Pet 4:8; Prov 28:13; Jam 5:20)

Genesis 7:17-8:22 :: Remaking

Reader:

God is in undisputed control of His creation.

The LORD destroyed all living things – execution through His judgement.

Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive – salvation through His grace.

This is a very sobering passage of Scripture. At the same time, it is a passage that brings great hope.

Through the ark we see salvation, provision, security, protection, and guidance. We see the rest promised through faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see the renewal of the born again life. We see the commission to go out into His earth with His words of life and fruitfulness.

What Noah heard, saw, and experienced compelled him to worship the LORD by faith.

In response to His grace, may you present yourself as a living sacrifice to God, trusting that He will remake you in His image.

(Heb 11:7; Mat 11:25-30; Heb 3:16-4:13; Mrk 16:15; Rom 12:1-2)

Missions :: Strengthening the Churches

Guest Speaker :: Pastor Matt Lomeli

Guest Speaker :: Pastor Matt Lomeli

Genesis 6:9-7:16 :: The Beauty of Holiness

Reader:

How would you describe holiness – both what holiness is and what holiness does?

As King David meditated on the Flood he said, “The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood, and the LORD sits as King forever” (Psalm 29:10), after he exhorted all to, “Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (Psalm 29:2b).

King David understood holiness is what God is. In other words, to define holiness one must define God.

He also understood holiness does what God does. In other words, all of God’s actions are holy.

Proverbs 1:7 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.”

As you meditate on the Flood, begin by seeking and knowing the nature and character of God.

Understand how holiness reacts to wickedness.

And, understand how the grace of God overcomes wickedness and delivers from death.

This means as you meditate on the Flood you will also need to meditate on the Cross.

(Psalm 29; Heb 11:7; Ezek 14:12-20; Ex 2:3; John 10:7-10, 14:6; Rev 3:20; Mark 14:15-16)

Genesis 6:1-8 :: The Days of Noah

Reader:

Jesus told us plainly, “As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”

Noah’s days were marked by wickedness – great wickedness. The form, shape, imagination, thought, and intent of man’s heart was only evil all the time. The world was filled with violence.

God had once looked upon His creation and said it was very good. By the days of Noah, God’s view had changed dramatically. This world was completely ruined physically and spiritually. Therefore, God changed His actions and gave man 120 years to repent – to change their minds and actions.

One man out of the multitudes found grace in the eyes of the LORD – Noah. Only seven others listened to God’s warning about the impending judgment.

Those who choose to walk with Jesus, like Enoch and Noah, will be taken and delivered from God’s wrath.

Those who choose to walk away from Jesus, like the multitudes of Noah’s day who ignored truth, will be left to His righteous judgment.

Find God’s grace and love and peace by faith in Jesus.

(Heb 11:7; Mat t 24:36-44; Jude 6; 1 Pet 3:18-22; 2 Pet 2:4-11; Job 1:6. 2:1, 38:7; Num 13:33; John 16:8; Rom 7:18, 8:5; Gal 5:16-26; 1 Sam 15:11, 29)

Genesis 4:16-5:32 :: Walk With Jesus

Reader:

We are presented with the genealogies of two men.

Cain’s line describes what seems to be city life – great technological advancements and moral decline.

Seth’s line describes death as the result of the reign of sin.

Nevertheless, we see two other men whose faith in God, whose walk with God, pleased God. As a result, Enoch never experienced death and Noah received grace and was saved from God’s judgment.

And, we hear another declaration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ buried in the definitions of the names in the Messianic line of Genesis 5.

(Heb 11:5-6; Ex 3:13-15, 6:3-4; Luke 3:38; Rom 5:18-21; John 1:1-18; Gen 6:9; Jude 14, 15 [1 En 1:9]; Jos 1:7-9)

Genesis 4:1-15 :: True Worship

Reader:

How do you approach God?

There are only two options available.

The first is the way of Cain. Cain chose to worship God according to pride. He chose to worship God according to his desire. His choice was called evil.

The second is the way of Able. Able chose to worship God according to faith. He chose to worship God according to God’s desire. His choice was called righteous.

The way of Cain, in all its variety, hates the singular way of Able.

The way of Cain is the root of all religious violence.

The way of Able is the root of true worship

Worship God in truth. Choose faith in Jesus Christ.

(Heb 11:4, 12:24; Jude 11; Rom 6:12; 1 John 3:12; Mat t 23:35; Luke 11:51; James 5:4; Ex 13:12; Lev 2; Num 18:17; Ps 51:17; 1 Sam 2:17; Rev 3:20)

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Here are the slides of Pamela Martinez's artwork that she describes in the first part of this message. (pdmartinez.com)

Luke 19:1-10 :: Nick Della Valle as Zacchaeus

http://christwalk.us/

Genesis 3 :: Another Voice

Reader:

Something went terribly wrong in Eden.

The Voice that created the heavens and the earth, the Voice that created man, male and female, in the image of God, took second place to another voice – a cunning and deceiving voice; a questioning and contradicting voice.

The voice of God was rejected. The voice of the devil was accepted. Sound familiar?

Where there was only order, there was now disorder.

Where there was only blessing, there was now cursing.

Where there was only life, there was now death.

Where there was only good, there was now evil.

But faith, hope, and love remain. The LORD God clothed the shame of Adam and Eve’s nakedness with the skin of an animal, thereby giving man the image of a substitutionary, atoning sacrifice. The image points to the reality of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. The proof is His resurrection from the dead. The result is the remission of sin through faith in Him.

In Him a full restoration is coming!

( Job 1 & 2; Mat t 4:1-11; Isa 14:12-15; Eze 28:12-19; John 8:44; Jude 9; Rev 12:9; Luke 10:18; 1 John 2:16; Jam 3:15; Deut 4:10; Pr 1:7; 2 Cor 4:4; Rom 16:20; Isa 7:14; John 16:21; Gal 3:13; Isa 53:3, 5; Mark 15:17; Luke 22:44; Ps 22:15; Rev 2:7, 22:2, 14)

Genesis 2:4-25 :: Life & Death

Reader:

Life can only come from life.

The self-existent One, the LORD, gave of His life to form man and to build woman in His image.

He gave them blessings.

He gave them paradise.

He gave them food.

He gave them commands.

He gave them warnings.

He gave them each other.

All that He gave was very good.

All that He gave was for relationship.

(Ex 6:3, 18:4; Gen 6:17, 7:4, 22; Mat t 19:1-15; Mark 10:1-16; Eph 5:21-6:4; 1 Cor 15:45, 47; Rev 2:7, 22:2, 14, 19; Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 6:16, 11:8-9; 2 Cor 11:2)

Hebrews 11:1-3 // Genesis 1:1-2:3 :: Jesus Did It

Reader:

The main exhortation of this letter is to live by faith in Jesus.

Faith in Jesus is not an invisible vapor, but a solid foundation.

Faith in Jesus is not a wish, but a hope filled with confident expectation.

Faith in Jesus does not lack evidence, but abounds with convicting proof.

Faith in Jesus is not idle, but active.

By faith in Jesus we live.

By faith in Jesus we perceive that He created the heavens and the earth as described in Genesis.

Jesus did it.

(Ps 33:6, 9; Rom 1:20; Job 38:4-7, Ps 82; Heb 1:3; John 1; 2 Cor 4:4-6; 2 Pet 3:5; 1 Cor 15:38-39; Col 1:15, 3:10; Phil 2:7; Eph 4:24; Heb 4:4, 10)

Hebrews 10 :: Enter Boldly

Reader:

Jesus is not a shadow. He is the very image of all that is real.

The offering of His blood takes away sins. The offering of His body sets us apart as holy.

Through faith in Him, God does not remember our sins – in Him we abide in eternal remission.

Believe. Have faith.

Hold on. Have hope.

Stir up love and go to work in His will and in His way.

Do not cast Jesus away.

He is coming.

Jesus is better.

(2 Cor 7:1; Ps 40:6-8, 50:13, 51:16; 1 Sam 15:22-23; John 19:30; Ps 110:1; Jer 31:33, 34; 1 Cor 13:13; Matt 12:31-32; Deut 32:35-36; Hab 2:3-4; Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11)

Hebrews 9 :: Death & Life

Reader:

Jesus is better.

As our Great High Priest, Jesus is the Minister of a better sanctuary and the Mediator of a better covenant based on better promises.

He is also a better sacrifice. With His own blood He has made the way into the Holiest of All, into presence of God for us. With His own blood He has provided remission. With His own blood He has put away our sin. With His own blood He has obtained eternal redemption. With His own blood he has cleansed our consciences from dead works to serve the living God. With His own blood He has put into force the better covenant.

We are eagerly waiting for Jesus to return. The first time He appeared was for sin. The second time is for salvation.

(Ex 24-40; Lev 16-17; Rev 21:3)

Guest Speaker :: Pastor Michael Simati

Hebrews 8 :: Know the Lord

Reader:

Jesus is better. Therefore, know Jesus – know the Lord!

If you have already confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, then you are already saved. You have no need of anyone to tell you, “Know the Lord,” for He has given you a new mind and a new heart. He is your God and you are His child. The Eternal Spirit dwells in you and He is the One who reveals the Lord to you continually. The LORD is merciful, He remembers your sins no more.

If you have not already confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, then we implore you on Christ’s behalf, know the Lord, be reconciled to God.

Now is the time. Now is the day of salvation.

(Ps 110:1; Matt 26:64; Acts 7:56; Ex 25:40; 1 Tim 2:5; Jer 31:31-34; Gen 12:1-3; Ex 24:3-8; 2 Sam 7:1-16; Luke 22:20; Jer 17:1; Jam 2:8; John 13:31-35)

Hebrews 7 :: Indestructible Life

Reader:

Jesus is better because Jesus is our Great High Priest.

The implications of this statement are at the heart of this letter to the Hebrews.

As the Eternal Priest, Jesus is the only mediator we may go through to access the Eternal God.

The power of His indestructible life introduces us to the better hope, the better covenant, we have whereby we draw near to God.

His power saves to the uttermost those who come to God through Him.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” (Rev 20:17)

(Gen 14:18-20; Ps 110:4; 1 Pet 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6; Gal 3:19-25; Rom 8:26, 31-39)

Ladies Spring Tea :: Donna Byrd