A. WHAT PULLS US FROM GOD?
1. Money, making it, spending it, not having it
2. Difficulties
3. Job
4. Striving for acceptance or recognition of people
5. Family problems, divorce, spouse, etc.
6. Sin
7. Addiction to sports, sex, porn, alcohol, etc.
“God told Jacob to move his family back to Bethel, and build a home and altar there because ‘that is where I appeared to you when you were running away from Esau.’ So Jacob commanded everyone with him, ‘Get rid of your idols of foreign gods, purify yourself, and put on clean clothes. I’m going to build an altar to God who answers my prayers and has been with me.’ So they gave their idols to Jacob and he buried them under an oak tree at Shechem. As they traveled, a terror of God settled over the people they passed in different towns, and no one attacked Jacob. Eventually, they arrived and called it Bethel. They built an altar and called it El Bethel which means “the God of Bethel,” because God appeared to him there. When they got there, Rebekah’s nurse (Deborah) died and she was buried under a tree (it’s called Allon Bachuth) which means oak of weeping.
When Jacob arrived, God appeared to him, ‘Your name is no longer Jacob (Deceiver), you shall be called Israel (Prince with God).’ God said to him, ‘I am God Almighty (El Shaddai). Be fruitful and multiply. Kings and a great nation shall come from you. The land I promised to Abraham and Isaac, I promise to you and your descendants.’ When God left, Jacob set up an altar of stones and poured oil on it” (Gen. 35:1-15, Condensed).
B. WHAT MADE JACOB JOURNEY BACK TO GOD?
1. Danger. “Laban’s sons . . . grumbled . . . Jacob has robbed our father” (31:1, NLT).
2. His boss turned against him. “Jacob began to notice a change in Laban’s attitude toward him” (31:2, NLT).
3. Inner conscience. “God made me wealthy at your father’s expense” (31:9, LB).
4. Memory. “Crossed the Euphrates River, heading for . . . Gilead” (31:21, NLT).
C. HOW TO JOURNEY BACK TO GOD
1. Jacob remembers meeting God at Bethel. “Lord, you told me to return” (32:9, NLT).
2. The Word of God pulls us back, “God said . . . ‘Arise go up to Bethel’” (35:1, NKJV).
3. The pull of God’s presence, “There God appeared to him” (35:7).
4. Returning involves a journey, more than a single decision or desire.
5. The atmospheric presence of God; where we touch God and He touches us.
6. Repentance from foreign gods. A god is anything that gets between you and the Lord. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Ex. 20:3).
7. Separate or destroy idols so they won’t tempt you again.
a. You demonstrate sincerity to yourself and others.
b. You show God you are serious.
c. You do it completely. “Dig a hole and bury them” (Gen. 35:2, ELT).
8. Repentance comes at beginning of your journey. “Buried them . . . Shechem” (35:4, NLT).
9. Others know when you are on the journey with God. “The terror of God was upon them” (35:5, NKJV).
10. Build an altar (35:7); the place of blood to cleanse from sin (1 John 1:7).
11. Tie your rededication to your salvation. First, “I will build an altar to God” (Gen. 35:3, NLT). Then, finally they arrived . . . built an altar (35:6).
12. Rededication results in a new calling and vision. “I will give it (the land) to you and your descendants” (35:12, NLT).
13. Document your rededication. Jacob set up a stone pillar . . . marked the place . . . poured wine . . . anointed with olive oil (35:14). We write in Bible, or journal, letters, public testimony, etc.
14. A rededication service ends and we go on living. “God went up from the place” (35:13).
15. Rededication does remove life’s problems that come. “So Rachel died and was buried” (35:19).
16. Spiritual problems and compromise surrounds those who rededicate to God.
a. Jacob’s son, Reuben, slept with his father’s concubine (35:22).
b. Jacob’s Father, Isaac, died, “Esau and Jacob buried him” (35:29).
c. Rededication doesn’t eliminate life’s problems; it gives you strength and purpose to go through them.
D. WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT AFTER REDEDICATION?
1. Rejoice in a new relationship with God. “Your name is no longer Jacob . . . but Israel” (35:14, ELT).
2. Strength from a new vision, “The land . . . I will give it to you and your descendants” (35:12, NLT).
3. New purpose in life. “Your descendants” (35:12).
4. Revitalized by the memory of encountering God.
5. Expect new opposition when God works in your life.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
www.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-elmer-towns
Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
