Sermon for 2/11/2007
Who Are You?
Genesis 24
Introduction:
A. Show the clip from Back to Future where George MyFly says, “You are my density.” On counter 1:04:00 to 1:05:12
B. Is there someone out there who is our density or destiny?
C. Are marriages made in heaven? Is there someone out there who is our destiny?
WBTU:
A. The idea that marriages are made in heaven sounds romantic, it sounds comforting and it’s appealing to people, but with the exception of Adam and Eve there is little evidence that God has ever “made” one person for another.
B. There are three major events in a man’s life: birth, marriage, and death. Marriage we have a choice. We need to choose wisely.
C. Some people believe that a wedding service is like a magic wand. Before two people were jerks but with the magic wand of marriage they suddenly become loving and wonderful people, a great couple. What hogwash!
D. The problems, difficulties, and character flaws we have before marriage are magnified after the wedding. Marriage is not a magic wand. After the honeymoon has worn away, it is more like a reality check.
E. So many couples have marriage problems! One reason is that they blame their spouse for the marriage problems. Something that has stuck in my mind is that I cannot control other people. This is what made me scared of marriage. I am at the mercy of someone else. I cannot control or predict what they will do.
F. Even a master manipulator has difficulties in controlling other people. However, we control us. My wife often says to our boys, “Who are you?” Who do you take care of?” Let me say that in our marriages we do not take care of our spouse, we take care of ourselves. We are responsible for our actions and decisions.
G. It is much more beneficial to point the finger back at us and say what can I do to help in this situation? What can I change about myself to help my marriage? It does no good to complain about our spouse, why because who are you? Who do you take care of?
H. This morning we have youth among us. I want to say to these youth that the best thing you can do to have a great marriage is not go on a quest for the best mate. The best thing you can do is to work upon yourself so that you can be a great mate to a man or woman. Again marriage is not a magic wand. How much are you working upon yourself to be all that you can be, for marriage yes, but more importantly to be all that God wants you to be? It begins right now.
I. Our Bible story comes from Genesis 24 this morning. Just going over portions. It is a wonderful story and I encourage you to read it this week for Valentines Day.
Thesis: This morning we are going to look at the characteristics of two individuals before they even saw each other. These characteristics lead to a great marriage. These are things that all of us need to work on to be a good spouse and a godly person.
For instances:
Rebekah, for the ladies but much of this applies to men.
A. Vs. 16, Attractive, very beautiful, fair to look upon.
1. Rebekah was a woman who kept up her body. 1 Timothy 4:8 says that physical training is of some value. It is a shame in our day how many people let their bodies just go. Never exercise or eat right! From childhood obesity is becoming a problem.
2. Can only work with what the Lord gave and to me he didn’t give much? Well, have we ever heard the saying, “Beauty is only skin deep.” It isn’t true. (1 Pet 3:3 NIV) Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.(1 Pet 3:4 NIV) Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
B. Vs. 16- Pure, a virgin.
1. The true love waits campaign. This is God’s design for marriage. Sex is to be enjoyed in the marriage relationship.
2. The best gift that anyone can give to their future mate is the gift of virginity.
3. Crystal and I were virgins on our wedding day. The world would call this a shame. The Bible lifts it up as a good thing.
C. VS. 16- 18. Gracious
1. This man was a stranger but she extended to him a great courtesy.
2. She took time out of her duties to be gracious and do small acts of kindness.
D. Vs. 19- 20, Hard worker
1. This lady Rebekah was not work brittle! She went out of her way to do not just small things but also things that took energy and time.
2. It was common courtesy in those days to draw water from a well for a stranger, kind of like a man opening a door for a woman. BUT for this servant to expect a young lady to water his camels was another thing entirely. Do you have any idea how much water a camel can drink? A really thirsty camel can drink up to 21 gallons of water – and there were 10 camels there at the well. This would have taken over an hour to water the camels. This goes way beyond just good manners.
3. This is precisely why the servant made this request. Any girl who would offer to water someone else’s camels had a servant’s heart. This would be a woman with a good heart, a woman who thought of someone other than herself. She wouldn’t be type to spend all her time looking in the mirror. She was going to be the type who seeks to please her husband.
E. Vs. 24-25, Hospitable
1. (1 Pet 4:9 NIV) Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
2. Our hospitality ministry. This is mainly women. However, the New Testament mentions this as a characteristic of leaders in the church.
F. Vs. 26-28, discerning attracted to the right kind of people.
1. This was a pagan land and many did not worship the one God. However, Abraham and his relatives did.
2. Rebekah heard this man pray and she knew that this man was a believer in the Lord God. He was different and she liked him. Some women are attracted to the wrong crowd but not Rebekah.
3. But she ran away. Yes, she did but it was to tell her family of this man.
4. Vs. 29- Laban her brother quickly goes to get this godly man.
G. Vs. 56-58, Submissive
1. Rebekah heard this man’s stories of Abraham and Isaac and how the Lord God had provided Rebekah as the answer to their prayers.
2. She believed and agreed to do what the Lord wanted. I will go. My will is God’s will. (2 Cor 8:5 NIV) And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.
H. Vs. 61, Adventurous
1. Saddle up your horses we’ve got a trail to blaze
Through the wild blue yonder of God’s amazing grace
Let’s follow our leader into the glorious unknown
This is a life like no other oh... this is The Great Adventure!
2. For Rebekah it definitely was an adventure. They would have to travel over 450 miles to get to Abraham and Isaac. How exciting! Faith is not dull!
I. Vs. 64- Respectful
1. She respected him enough to rise. (1 Pet 2:17 NIV) Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
2. (Eph 5:33 NIV) However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
J. Vs. 65- Modest
1. The lack of modesty we have today.
2. This also shows that she was not willing to push it with Isaac until they were married. Youth minister are always asked, How far is too far? This was not the mindset of Rebekah
Isaac, for men but much applies to ladies
A. Vs. 36- Responsible.
1. (Luke 16:10 NIV) “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
2. (1 Tim 3:10 NIV) They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
B. Vs. 3- Content
1. Isaac was 40 years old (Genesis 25:20) and he is not chomping at the bit to find a wife. This shows that he was content with what the Lord provided.
2. Many are consumed with finding that special someone that they do foolish and stupid things. Abraham his father was concerned but Isaac was content.
3. (Phil 4:11 NIV) I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Phil 4:13 NIV) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
4. One of the problems in people’s lives is the belief that if they don’t get married – it’s the end of the world. Let me pass along to you some wisdom I heard a long time ago: There are worse things to experience in this life than NOT getting married. You could get married to a terrible person. A person who’ll hurt you, or cheat on you, or spend all your savings on gambling or alcohol. There are all kinds of things that are worse than not being married.
5. This reminds me of when I was 27. I was a single man and a preacher. I was set up with everyone’s granddaughter and after a while it became miserable. After a bad relationship, I was spent emotionally and mentally. I prayed to the Lord that He would help me be content with whatever may be but that I would no longer pursue a woman. Two months later I met Crystal and the rest is history.
C. Vs. 63, worshiper.
1. Many Christian women want to find a man that goes to church. This is good but we must look deeper than that. Some men in these pews aren’t Christians.
2. Look at their devotional life. Not that they are like monks but if they have no interest in the Bible or prayer, then avoid them. They might be just putting on a show or following tradition more than the Lord.
3. Have a true love for the Lord.
D. Vs. 67, Lover.
1. Not that Isaac was a good kisser but that he was a lover of his mother.
2. If you want to know how a man will treat a woman, see how he treats his mother. It will show you a lot.
3. His first serious relationship with the opposite sex is with his mother.
Conclusion and invitation:
A. This fellow was very nervous as he contemplated asking Miss Jones to marry him. So he decided to ask her over the telephone. So he calls on the telephone.
And he says, "Is this Miss Jones?"
And she says, "Yes."
And he says, "Could I talk to you?"
And she says, "Yes."
And he says, "I want to ask you a question, may I?"
And she said, "Yes."
And he says, "Miss Jones, would you marry me?"
And she says, "Yes, who is this?"
This was the situation between Isaac and Rebekah. They were both ready and when the opportunity presented itself they jumped on it. However, they had never seen each other.
B. If you are single, desiring to be married, focus on the Lord and he will bring all to pass in his way, and in his time. If you spend all of your time trying to find a man or a woman and forget God, things are not going to work out at all. Ed Young, the author of Romancing the Home, says, “Horizontal relationships – relationships between people – are crippled at the outset unless the vertical relationship – the relationship between each person and God – is in place.” Nothing in life is in place until our relationship with God, through his Son Jesus, is in place.
C. (Eccl 4:12 NIV) A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
