Genesis 18:22-19:14 :: The Judge

Reader:

God is the Judge.

As Judge, He sees perfectly.

As Judge, He is always righteous and just.

As Judge, He distinguishes between the righteous and the wicked.

As Judge, He delivers the righteous and He destroys the wicked.  

In Genesis, we have seen God as Judge with Adam, Eve, the serpent, Cain, the people of Noah’s age, the people of Babel’s age, and now, with Lot and the people of Sodom.

As Judge, He declares that the people of Sodom are exceedingly wicked and sinful against Him – that their sin is very grave. Here, we are exposed to their violent homosexual desires. Ezekiel 16 reveals not only their abominations, but their pride, fullness, idleness, and injustice. God destroys Sodom.

As Judge, He declares Lot as righteous. God delivers Lot.

However, the people of Sodom left many marks upon Lot and his family.

(Eze 16:49-50; Jer 23:14; Isa 5:7; Ex 3:7, 22:21-23; Ps 146:8-9; Deut 16:18; Lev 18:22-24, 20:13, 23; Rom 1:26-27; 2 Pet 2:6-8; Jude 7)

Genesis 18:1-21 :: The Way

Reader:

Jesus of Nazareth declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

The Way.

Those who believe in Jesus are said to be, “of the Way.” Essentially, we are of Him – we are one with Him, we are in relationship with Him.

The Way is proclaimed to be the way of the LORD, the way of righteousness, the way of peace, the way of salvation, the way of escape, the way of truth, the way into the Holiest of All.

The LORD singled Abraham out to keep, and instruct his descendants to keep, the way of the LORD.

The way of the LORD demands loyalty, trust, obedience, and to look to the LORD’s provision in Jesus, the Way.

(John 14:4-6; Acts 9:2; Matt 3:3, 7:13-14, 10:5, 21:32; Luke 1:79; 1 Cor 10:13; Heb 9:8; 2 Pet 2:2; Rom 4:11; Gen 12:7, 15:6, 18:19, 22:14; Job 31; Ps 33:5)

Genesis 17 :: Narrow

Reader:

“Allegiance to God means to condition the entire range of human experience by the awareness of His presence and in response to His demands.”

From the beginning God has been revealing Himself to those whom He created in His image.

As He has revealed Himself He has given promises, confirmations, and demands.

If He is our God, we are to live our lives in the knowledge of His presence and in His perfection through faith in Jesus Christ.

As for Him, He can and will do all that He has promised.

As for us, we can and will – only in Jesus – do all that He has demanded.

Who He is causes us to humbly fall before Him in awe and submission.

What He demands causes us to respond without hesitation.

Today is the day.

(Ex 6:3; Isa 62:2; Rev 2:19, 3:12; Rom 2:28-29; Gal 6:12-13; Eph 2:11; Phil 3:3; Col 2:11; Lev 26:41; Deut 10:16; Ex 6:12, 30; Jer 6:10; Acts 7:51; Lev 20:1-6)

Genesis 16 :: See

Reader:

What name would you attribute to God?

How you answer depends on what you see.

Sarai saw her barrenness. She saw no children. She saw a slave girl she could use to get what she wanted. She saw God as One-Who-Holds-Back.

Abram heard the voice of God. He chose to obey the voice of his wife. He saw God as One-Who-Needs-Help.

Hagar saw those who owned her. She saw an opportunity to be elevated. She saw humiliation.

Hagar also saw the Angel of the LORD who found her, called her by name, directed her, and gave her a promise.

As an “expression of her personal discovery at God’s self-manifestation” she gave God a name: You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees.

What you see can cause you to attribute false names to God – “assuming God is other that He is.”

“In Christ and by Christ, God effects complete self-disclosure” – “by revelation [He has] declared certain things to be true of Himself.”

See the Truth.

(Heb 6:12, 10:35-36; Gen 11:30, 13:14-17, 15:2, 3:17; Ex 15:22; Gen 29:32; Ex 4:31, 3:7; D t 26:7; Gen 24:62, 25:11)

Guest Speaker :: Greg Socher

Genesis 15 :: Between the Pieces

Reader:

Fear.

Our response to this word should be to cast it away from ourselves and to take courage in the Lord.

He is our Protector.

He is our Reward.

We are to look to Him in stable, confident faith – believing that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

This faith is in Jesus Christ and in the promises that He has obligated Himself to perform.

This faith is the righteousness of God which is given to us by grace.

(Ps 3; 2 Cor 8:9; Heb 11:6; Rom 4; Jam 3:14-26; Neh 9:7-8; Num 25:6-13; Ps 106:30-31; Jer 34:17-20; Deut 9:4-6; Lev 18:24, 20:23; Ex 13:21-22, 19:18; Isa 4:5; Ac ts 7:6; Ex 6:14-27, 12:40; Gal 3:15-17; Gen 12:4, 21:12, 47:9)

Genesis 14 :: Give & Take

Reader:

You may have heard of the term give-and-take regarding balance in relationships. This is not the case with God Most High.

In this chapter we see a lot of taking by force and demands to give.

We also see clear pictures of what God has given – Himself.

There are some things we must give up so that we may take hold of the things God has offered.

(Deut 2:8-21; Eph 1:7; Ps 110; Heb 7; Luke 22:14-23; 1 Cor 11:23-34; Ps 78:35; Deut 14:22-29; Num18:21-32; 2 Cor 9; Isa 62:8; Dan 12:7; Rev 10:5-6)

Genesis 12:4-13:18 :: Abraham's Trees

Reader:

By faith Abraham obeyed.

His attitudes and actions may not always have been perfect, but his faith was continually in process as he journeyed through life with the LORD.

In these chapters we follow him from one tree to another. Moreh means “teaching.” Mamre means “strength.”

God was always with him. He repeatedly called upon the name of the LORD and built multiple altars to the LORD along the way.

The LORD blessed Abraham greatly, but that did not mean that his life was free from issues. The surrounding culture was often terrible. The necessities of life were sometimes lacking. Decisions had unknown consequences. Family relationships were occasionally tempestuous.

Such is a life of faith.

Abraham’s faith teaches us many things about our Lord and ourselves. As we apply the lessons learned we will be led to strength in the Lord.  

(Heb 11:8; Deut 16:18; Gen 20:13)

Genesis 11:27-12:3 :: Get Out...To

Reader:

The LORD turned His attention to an individual for the benefit of all.

Abraham was a man who served other gods. He was a man who, with his wife Sarah, sat in barrenness – not only that of being childless, but that of a spiritual wilderness. He was a man to whom the LORD revealed Himself and called unto Himself – out of barrenness into blessedness by faith.

To each of us the LORD declares, “Get out!” In the gospels Jesus communicates the same thing when He says, “Repent!” At the same time, He declares the “to” – the goal, the finish, the end.

Faith is in the middle. It’s our “–” and our “…”. This is Jesus’ command to, “Follow Me.” The “to” is, “I will make you,” “I will show you,” and “I will bless you.”

The gospel was preached by God to Abraham: “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Those who are of faith in Jesus are blessed with believing Abraham.

( Jos 24:2; Ac ts 7:2-4; Heb 11:8-10, 13-16; Isa 41:8, 51:2; Ps 105:42; 2 Chr 20:7; Gal 3:8-9; (Abraham) John 8:33-59; Rom 4:1-16, 9:7; Gal 3:6-29; Heb 2:16, 6:13, 7:1-9)

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/