GOD IS AT WORK
GEN.28:1-28
INTRODUCTION:
~More than not we fail to see the Lord working on our half. I really wonder if we fully understand that the Lord is concerned with our every move, thought, word, and deed.
~I wonder if we know that He is working behind the scenes to see us through our day to day journey we call life.
~As we aimlessly go through our day to day functions, I fully believe that the God is working in EVERY area of our lives before we even get there.
~I have used the expression for ever…(our tomorrow is God’s yesterday)
~He fully understands and knows what we are doing or not doing, what we will encounter, and all the strength we need to get through it all.
~With all that in mind lets look at this text and see that God is at Work.
1. GOD IS WORKING: BEHIND THE SCENS V1
A. NO
~NO means NO. For all of us its probably one of the first words we have ever learned.
~NO to touching anything, No to saying anything, No to going someplace, just no, no, no
~NO to or from the Lord means…
Don’t hurt yourself or don’t bring hurt upon yourself.
~How many times has the Lord said to you…don’t say that, don’t do that?
No sooner have we done or said, and we’d wished we never had.
~No here is referring back to Gen24 where Abraham told his servant to swear to him that he would not allow or take his son Isaac to marry anyone of the Canaanites.
~Why follow this simple word?
~Listening to the Lord’s NO brings blessing…
B. BLESSING
~Following the Lords plan always brings blessing.
~He is the Blesser v3
~He makes us Fruitful v3
~He makes multiplies the seed v3
~The blessing was passed down from Abraham v4
Thy seed and inherit the land
C. FOLLOW THE PLAN
~Doing the wrong thing, in the wrong place, at the wrong time, will not bring blessing.
~We all know the saying (the straightest distance between to points is a strait lie).
Following the Lord’s plan will get us to the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing.
~It is really that simple. We make it harder than it is or has to be. AMEN?!
2. GOD IS WORKING: WHEN THE PATH IS ROUGH V2
A. WHEN THE JOURNEY IS LONG.
~The best I can come up with is Isaac was living in Gerar (Gen 26:6) to Padan-aram was about 500 miles
~Sometime the place that the Lord is trying to get us to seems so far away. Or it takes for ever to get there. Were in the back of the car asking the Lord, “How Many More Miles”
~There will be bumps, curves, hills and valleys along the way, just remember it worth it!
B. WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW THE OUTCOME
~I know that we have all heard these verses for ever, but here they are again
Isaiah 55:8-9 says…
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
C. IT IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT
~The Retirement plan is OUT of the World
~It is well worth the Investment
~We may lose on some investments here, but never there
3. GOD IS WORKING: WHEN HE IS THE FURTHEST FROM MY MIND V11
~Even while we are at TARRIED the Lord is ever working on our behalf
~Even when we are at SLEEP the Lord is working on our behalf
~When He is the furthest from our minds…He is working
A. He locked the jaws of Lions (Daniel 6)
B. He turned down the temperature of the flame (Daniel 3)
C. He sent fish to the other side of the boat (Luke 5)
D. He sent a fish to pay your taxes (Matthew 17)
~Even when we do not have the Lord in the forefront of our minds, He is ever working to make intercession for us
I Corinthians 10:13 says…
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
~Did you notice the words in that verse… but God is faithful?
The Gaither Vocal Band sing a song “God is Good”
God is Good, yes He is, He’s Good all the time
God is Good, you know He is, He’s Good all the time
You could search the whole world over, no greater friend you’ll find
He’s not Good just once and a while, He’s Good all the time
4 GOD IS WORKING: IT ASSURES ME OF HIS PRESENTS UNTIL HIS PROMISE IS FULFILLED V16
A. God blessed his seed with 12 sons One for each tribe of Israel
B. Blessed with the most cattle (Gen 30:43)
C. Blessed with the most servants (Gen 20:43)
D. Blessed with a new name (Gen 32:28)
~It took some 20 years for all this to come trough for Jacob.
~He was faithful unto God, and God was faithful unto him
~Stand firm in Him is the key
Closing:
For the Cause
Rev. Jerry Stepp
1/27/11
