14 May 06
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Taegue, South Korea
BIG IDEA: When God calls us out of our comfort zone, we need to do as REBEKAH did, Trust in the LORD.
REFERENCES: Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths; Genesis 24:1-20, 20-67; Genesis 2:7, 18, 21-23; 1 Peter 3:1-5 (GW) Wives, in a similar way, place yourselves under your husbands’ authority. Some husbands may not obey God’s word. Their wives could win these men {for Christ} by the way they live without saying anything. 2 Their husbands would see how pure and reverent their lives are. 3 Wives must not let their beauty be something external. Beauty doesn’t come from hairstyles, gold jewelry, or clothes. 4 Rather, beauty is something internal that can’t be destroyed. Beauty expresses itself in a gentle and quiet attitude which God considers precious. 5 After all, this is how holy women who had confidence in God expressed their beauty in the past. They placed themselves under their husbands’ authority); Mark 7:24-30 (Woman of Great Faith: The Syrophoenician Woman);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Genesis 24:57-67
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Genesis 24:57-67
III. READ THE TEXT: Genesis 24:61 (MSG) Rebekah and her young maids
mounted the camels and followed the man. The servant
took Rebekah and set off for home.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate Mothers Day hearers to affirm to others that when God calls them out of their comfort zone, do as REBEKAH did – Trust in the LORD.
V. INTRODUCTION:
Last Friday, South Korea celebrated its annual Children Day: A Day when the parents of Korea acknowledged their Children. Three days later, South Korea celebrated Parents Day. A day when the Children of Korea acknowledged their parents … and their lasting contribution to their life and family.
Now, early this Sunday Morning (14 May 2006) before the break of day, while most were still fast asleep, my wife (Dedra) received an email from our new Victorious Women Christian Council (VWCC) Ministry Leader: Minister Bert Grant … wishing all of our ladies a “Happy Mothers’ Day”.
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MOVE 1: Thanks, Bert …. your email prompted me to also send our Multicultural Gospel Service (MCGS) ladies an email of appreciation which read:
a. It is with my whole heart, and mind, that I sincerely wish each of you MCGS Mothers a Happy Mothers’ Day 2006.
b. My prayer, for each of you (this Mothers Day 2006) is for you to "REBEKAH" - TRUST GOD when He calls you out of your comfort zone to do a WORK for HIM.
c. Again, and especially to those of you that don’t do emails, Happy Mothers Day 2006.
d. Now, as most of you can attest to, In the United States Mother’s Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace.
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MOVE 2: Notwithstanding, in 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother’s Day.
a. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother’s Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.
b. Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessmen, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother’s Day. It was successful. By 1911 Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state.
c. In fact, President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.
d. While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother’s Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.
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MOVE 3: Still, in spite of all of the celebrations, flowers and gifts, we are very much aware of the fact that today is not a day of happiness for all mothers.
a. And, I would think that those of us that are in this military setting are more aware of this … than most would be.
b. For many of our relatives, friends, and co-workers have had MOTHERS become recipients of military notifications, due to the loss of their child … and our military member … in Iraq or Afghanistan.
c. But, mothers aren’t just losing their children in the military setting only.
d. Many mothers around the world are losing children to drugs, drunk driving, jealousy, AIDS, and gangs.
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MOVE 4: One of the headliners on MSN.COM today is “USC (University Southern California) Starting Point Guard Killed in Louisiana.
a. Apparently, 19 years old Ryan Francis was visiting his mother early Saturday Morning in Louisiana when a gunman opened fire on the 4 passenger car that he was in which was pulled up a stoplight.
b. The driver of the car attempted to drive away, but Francis who was sitting in the backseat was shot multiple times. Francis was the only one injured in the shooting.
c. Therefore, lets us render a MOMENT of SILENCE on behalf of those Mothers around the World that have loss their children.
d. Words can’t bring back what has been loss.
e. But words and loving deeds can contribute towards the healing process; and the building of those MOTHERS’ FAITH … and TRUST in God.
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MOVE 5: For who can ever forget the Story of The Syrophoenician Mother who had a daughter that was possessed by an UNCLEAN SPIRIT in Mark 7 (24-30)?
a. Theological research indicates that this particular child that was mentally disturbed. In fact, if you would allow your sanctified imaginations to work with you …
b. you would see that this young child was NOT acting her age.
c. She, no doubt, was constantly doing things that were indicative on someone that was mentally challenged.
d. Inevitably … other children would make fun of her.
e. As a result, no one wanted to be hang-out with her or be a friend. Because she was strange.
f. The Bible doesn’t say specifically, but perhaps this child was constantly ripping-off her own clothes … every attempt her mother made to get her the medical assistant …
g. … she needed …failed.
h. Perhaps, even her father was embarrassed by her.
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MOVE 6: The Syrophoenician Mother and her daughter had fatly become the talk of the town and the community.
a. So, the mother … as only a mother would do …
b. … when she HEARD that JESUS was SECRETLY resting in her town … went … with heavy heart and all and intruded upon JESUS …
c. She fell at his feet. She was so intrusive that the disciples encouraged Jesus to send her away …
d. BUT THE MOTHER WOULD NOT HAVE IT ….
e. … Because her child was ill and she believed that JESUS could heal her.
f. The Syrophoenician Mother was willing to PUT both … her FAITH and HER TRUST in the LORD.
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MOVE 7: Some doctors had diagnosed her child Mentally Retarded, while others had said that she was Artistic and severely handicapped.
a. The Mother’s back was against the wall, but she was willing to put forth both her FAITH and HER TRUST in the LORD.
b. She refused to accept Demonic Defeat in her child’s life.
c. The devil was claiming her baby … but she was claiming her child would be healed by JESUS.
d. When The LORD told her to wait in line because He had to feed the Jews first, and then the dogs; She responded … even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.
e. Her FAITH and TRUST in The LORD was impressive.
f. As a result, of Her Great FAITH … the LORD made a healing exception for the Syrophoenician Mother’s
g. … He said unto her, in Mark 7:29, Because you have said this ….the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
h. And it was at that point, the MOTHER demonstrated her TRUST in GOD’s WORD … for the Bible says she LEFT …when JESUS told her do so …
i. And when she got home … SHE FOUND HER DAUGHTER, free of the devil, lying on the BED in her RIGHT MIND …
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MOVE 8: ALL BECAUSE SHE TRUST GOD AT HIS WORD …
a. Likewise, my brothers and my sisters … in our text today …
b. … we find ourselves in the Old Testament … many years after Abraham and Isaac had gone up the mountain to offer sacrifices to God.
c. For don’t you remember … God provided himself a RAM in the Bush. Now, Abraham was very old, and Sarah had just died.
d. Isaac was grown, but he was not married.
e. And there was no one nearby who would be a good wife for Isaac.
f. Because the women in Canaan was unsaved and wicked. And in those days parents chose who their children would marry!
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MOVE 9: So, Abraham called his Servant Eliezar and had him to promise that he would go to Abraham’s native country and family to get a wife for Isaac. And the servant agreed to do as Abraham asked.
a. In our particular scripture today, it’s now evening; and women were getting water from the wells for their families.
b. Abraham servant made his camels kneel near the town’s well.
c. And then he prayed to God. The Bible indicates that he prayed because he was concerned about being led of God in choosing a wife of Isaac.
d. In fact, his prayer is even recorded for us (Genesis 24:12-15):
e. He prayed, “LORD, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today. Show your kindness to Abraham. 13 Here I am standing by the spring, and the girls of the city are coming out to draw water. 14 I will ask a girl, ‘May I please have a drink from your jar?’ If she answers, ‘Have a drink, and I’ll also water your camels,’ let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. This way I’ll know that you’ve shown your kindness to my master.” 15 Before he had finished praying,
f. Rebekah had come down to the Well!
g. She gave him a drink; and seeing that his carmel looked thirsty, gave them a drink too.
h. The servant knew that she was the one!
i. Ultimately, the servant asked Rebekah family if she could be Isaac’s wife.
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MOVE 10: The family turned to Rebekah and asked her what she thought of the situation.
a. Amazingly, Rebekah trusted the Servant at his WORD. She didn’t know him; but she TRUSTED him.
b. She was willing to LEAVE HER COMFORT ZONE TO go with the SERVANT to MEET AND LIVE WITH HER new husband. And she did.
c. Rebekah left all that was familiar to her to do what she believed was God’s Will for her life.
d. Likewise, there might be a time when we are called outside of our COMFORT.
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CELEBRATION:
Whatever God calls us to do … we must NOT lean to our own understanding …
For the Proverbial writer says … (in Proverbs 3:8) … Trust in the LORD with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct your paths
