Hello Friends, I'm Jill Morikone
00:00:01.36\00:00:02.70
and I just want to
welcome you to this Quarter:
00:00:02.73\00:00:04.53
Managing for the
Master till He comes.
00:00:04.57\00:00:06.80
We're on Lesson Number 6:
Laying up Treasure in Heaven.
00:00:06.84\00:00:11.51
If you don't have your own copy
of the Adult Bible Study Guide,
00:00:11.57\00:00:14.91
you can go to
3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com
00:00:14.94\00:00:18.21
download a copy and
follow along with us.
00:00:18.25\00:00:21.42
Get ready for this
discovery of the Word of God.
00:00:21.45\00:00:24.19
Music...
00:00:24.22\00:00:54.62
Hello, I'm Jill Morikone,
we love Sabbath School Panel.
00:00:54.65\00:00:57.62
We love spending
this time with you.
00:00:57.65\00:01:00.26
We are journeying through
00:01:00.29\00:01:01.76
Managing for the
Master till He comes.
00:01:01.79\00:01:04.93
This entire Quarter
has been on Stewardship
00:01:04.96\00:01:07.46
and it's been a great practical
study of the Word of God.
00:01:07.50\00:01:11.13
This Lesson is:
Laying Up Treasure in Heaven
00:01:11.17\00:01:13.77
and I just want to
introduce to you...
00:01:13.80\00:01:15.40
they don't need any introduction
00:01:15.44\00:01:16.77
but I have my family
with me on the Panel,
00:01:16.81\00:01:18.81
to my left... my
Sister Shelley Quinn.
00:01:18.84\00:01:20.68
Shelley: Oh,
it's lovely to be here
00:01:20.71\00:01:22.54
and my Lesson is Monday's:
00:01:22.58\00:01:24.25
Abram, The
Father of the Faithful.
00:01:24.28\00:01:28.15
Jill: Wonderful, to your
left, Brother John Dinzey,
00:01:28.18\00:01:30.89
good to have you here.
00:01:30.92\00:01:32.25
Dinzey: It's a
blessing to be here.
00:01:32.29\00:01:33.62
I have something I
had never really studied:
00:01:33.66\00:01:35.56
Lot's Bad Decisions.
00:01:35.59\00:01:37.83
Jill: Ooooh, okay,
looking forward to that.
00:01:37.86\00:01:39.86
To your left,
Pastor John Lomacang.
00:01:39.89\00:01:41.40
Lomacang: Mine is
From Deceiver to Prince.
00:01:41.43\00:01:44.60
We're talking about
Jacob, what an amazing story!
00:01:44.63\00:01:47.80
Jill: Amen, last but not least,
Evangelist and Singer in Israel,
00:01:47.84\00:01:51.37
Ryan Day, glad you're here.
00:01:51.41\00:01:52.74
Ryan: Amen, I love
3ABN Sabbath School Panel
00:01:52.77\00:01:54.88
and I have Thursday's
Lesson entitled: Moses in Egypt.
00:01:54.91\00:01:58.05
Jill: Amen,
before we go any further,
00:01:58.08\00:01:59.55
we want to go to
the Lord in prayer,
00:01:59.58\00:02:01.08
Pastor John,
would you pray for us?
00:02:01.12\00:02:02.55
Lomacang: Sure,
"Loving Father in heaven,
00:02:02.58\00:02:04.52
we are so blessed to be able
to open the Word of God and find
00:02:04.55\00:02:07.62
that we always enter into a book
00:02:07.66\00:02:09.66
that's grander in thought
and depth than we can ever be
00:02:09.69\00:02:13.50
but humble our minds as
we walk through Your Word
00:02:13.53\00:02:16.90
that You have seen
so fit to reveal to us
00:02:16.97\00:02:20.34
and now today as we handle it,
00:02:20.40\00:02:21.74
help us to do so as
we handle a holy thing
00:02:21.77\00:02:24.71
and help us to communicate
00:02:24.74\00:02:26.51
to bring glory
and honor just to You,
00:02:26.54\00:02:28.58
in Jesus' name I pray... amen. "
00:02:28.61\00:02:30.38
Panel: "Amen. "
00:02:30.41\00:02:31.91
Jill: Thank you so much.
00:02:31.98\00:02:33.31
This week's
Lesson, Lesson Number 6
00:02:33.35\00:02:35.02
is: Laying Up
Treasure in Heaven.
00:02:35.05\00:02:37.19
So, I want to ask
you, "Where is your heart?"
00:02:37.22\00:02:40.19
Is it enjoying the
pleasures of sin for a season?
00:02:40.22\00:02:43.09
Or is it suffering affliction
with the people of God?
00:02:43.12\00:02:45.96
Where is your heart?
00:02:45.99\00:02:47.33
Is it invested in the temporary
00:02:47.36\00:02:50.57
or is it
invested in the eternal?
00:02:50.60\00:02:53.13
You know, I read an article...
00:02:53.17\00:02:55.00
it has something to do
with Where is your heart...
00:02:55.04\00:02:57.64
it came out a
couple of years ago
00:02:57.67\00:02:59.34
and it said, "Over
the past 100 years,
00:02:59.37\00:03:01.74
we have turned our
luxuries into necessities. "
00:03:01.78\00:03:05.75
Did you know in the year 1900
00:03:05.78\00:03:08.38
less than ten percent
of families owned a stove
00:03:08.45\00:03:11.89
or even had
access to electricity.
00:03:11.92\00:03:14.02
In 1915, less than ten
percent of families owned a car.
00:03:14.06\00:03:19.09
In 1930, less than ten percent
of families owned a refrigerator
00:03:19.13\00:03:23.83
or a washing machine.
00:03:23.87\00:03:25.70
In 1945,
00:03:25.73\00:03:27.74
less than ten percent of
families owned a clothes dryer
00:03:27.77\00:03:30.67
or an air conditioner.
00:03:30.71\00:03:32.37
In 1960, less than
ten percent of families
00:03:32.41\00:03:36.75
owned a
dishwasher or a color TV.
00:03:36.78\00:03:40.15
In 1975, less than ten percent
of families owned a microwave.
00:03:40.18\00:03:44.72
In 1990, less than ten percent
of families owned a cell phone
00:03:44.75\00:03:49.26
or had access to the Internet.
00:03:49.29\00:03:51.86
"Yet today," the
article continues,
00:03:51.89\00:03:54.36
"90 percent of the country
of the United States of America,
00:03:54.40\00:03:58.43
has a stove...
electricity... a fridge...
00:03:58.47\00:04:02.57
a clothes
washer... air conditioning...
00:04:02.60\00:04:04.81
color TV... microwave
00:04:04.84\00:04:06.44
and a cell phone. "
00:04:06.47\00:04:08.04
Those devices... those things
make our lives better for sure.
00:04:08.08\00:04:13.01
They make us happier
00:04:13.05\00:04:14.72
but for some of us,
they are never enough.
00:04:14.75\00:04:18.35
We look this week
at where is our heart?
00:04:18.42\00:04:21.96
Laying up treasure in
heaven, Matthew 6:19 through 21,
00:04:22.02\00:04:25.96
we read this
several times in the study,
00:04:25.99\00:04:28.10
"Do not lay up for
yourselves treasures on earth
00:04:28.16\00:04:30.90
where moth and rust destroy,
00:04:30.93\00:04:32.60
and where thieves
break in and steal:
00:04:32.63\00:04:34.70
lay up for
yourselves treasure in heaven,
00:04:34.74\00:04:36.77
where neither
moth nor rust destroy,
00:04:36.81\00:04:39.14
and where thieves do
not break in nor steal;
00:04:39.17\00:04:40.78
for where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also. "
00:04:40.81\00:04:44.68
The Lesson brought
this out... I love it.
00:04:44.71\00:04:47.12
If you see how
someone spends their money,
00:04:47.15\00:04:49.48
you discover
where their heart is
00:04:49.52\00:04:51.45
and you also discover
where their heart soon will be
00:04:51.49\00:04:55.89
because where we invest our time
00:04:55.92\00:04:58.29
and where we
invest our resources
00:04:58.33\00:05:00.30
is where our heart is right now
00:05:00.33\00:05:02.23
or where it will
become in the future.
00:05:02.26\00:05:06.27
This week we study the
radical lives of obedience
00:05:06.30\00:05:09.70
of Old Testament men of faith
00:05:09.74\00:05:11.64
in contrast to those who lived
only for temporal pleasure.
00:05:11.67\00:05:17.35
Our Memory Text is
Mark 8 verses 36 and 37.
00:05:17.38\00:05:22.48
Mark 8:36... 37...
00:05:22.52\00:05:24.95
"For what does it profit a man,
if he gains the whole world,
00:05:24.99\00:05:27.42
yet loses his own soul?
00:05:27.46\00:05:29.86
Or what will a man give
in exchange for his soul?"
00:05:29.89\00:05:33.76
On Sunday, I look at Noah.
00:05:33.80\00:05:35.90
Noah found grace... you can turn
with me to Genesis chapter 6.
00:05:35.93\00:05:41.04
The Lesson has this quote,
00:05:41.10\00:05:43.17
"Those who are
seeking heavenly treasure
00:05:43.20\00:05:46.11
are frequently called by God
00:05:46.14\00:05:48.01
to make major life
alterations here on earth.
00:05:48.04\00:05:51.65
Be prepared to face the
same thing if need be. "
00:05:51.68\00:05:54.98
Now, this is
Jill's interpretation
00:05:55.02\00:05:57.35
of those couple of
sentences and it goes like this,
00:05:57.39\00:06:00.66
"When you follow God,
sometimes He will ask you
00:06:00.69\00:06:03.93
for radical obedience. "
00:06:03.96\00:06:05.63
That's what I see
in our Lesson today...
00:06:05.69\00:06:08.56
Noah... man of God...
00:06:08.60\00:06:10.50
God called him to
radical obedience.
00:06:10.57\00:06:13.60
You see, Noah didn't
seek for treasure on earth,
00:06:13.64\00:06:15.90
He sought for the
heavenly treasure.
00:06:15.97\00:06:18.61
He walked in radical obedience.
00:06:18.64\00:06:21.34
We see the divine
judgment brought forth...
00:06:21.38\00:06:24.38
we see this in Genesis chapter
6 for that universal flood.
00:06:24.41\00:06:28.85
Yet, we still see God's plan to
fulfill His promise of salvation
00:06:28.88\00:06:33.76
by renewing the covenant between
the Creator and His creation.
00:06:33.79\00:06:38.63
There's an interesting
chiastic structure...
00:06:38.66\00:06:41.56
I like literary structures
00:06:41.60\00:06:42.93
and you know the chiastic...
00:06:42.96\00:06:44.30
just literally
means you have Part A
00:06:44.33\00:06:45.97
and then the second
part mirrors the first part
00:06:46.00\00:06:49.04
and if you look at this
entire story of the flood,
00:06:49.07\00:06:52.01
you have the chiastic structure
and it looks like this.
00:06:52.04\00:06:54.28
It begins with
Noah and his sons...
00:06:54.31\00:06:56.14
then we go to
violence in God's creation...
00:06:56.21\00:06:58.88
it continues... God's
resolution to destroy...
00:06:58.91\00:07:01.55
the command to enter the ark...
00:07:01.58\00:07:03.59
the beginning of the flood...
00:07:03.62\00:07:05.52
the rise in flood waters
and at the very center point,
00:07:05.55\00:07:09.19
God remembers Noah.
00:07:09.22\00:07:12.53
Then we start back...
the receding flood waters...
00:07:12.56\00:07:15.76
the drying up of the earth...
00:07:15.80\00:07:18.33
the command to leave the ark...
00:07:18.37\00:07:20.80
God's resolution
to preserve order.
00:07:20.84\00:07:24.31
The covenant blessing and peace
00:07:24.34\00:07:26.78
and then it ends where it
started with Noah and his three
00:07:26.81\00:07:31.58
sons. We're in
our story today...
00:07:31.61\00:07:33.92
I'm going to give
you seven takeaways
00:07:33.95\00:07:36.42
from the story of Noah.
00:07:36.45\00:07:37.79
Now it's a long and
comprehensive story...
00:07:37.82\00:07:39.85
we're only going to
look at verses 5 through 14
00:07:39.92\00:07:42.49
which is what our
lesson has us looking at.
00:07:42.52\00:07:44.89
We're in Genesis 6...
we pick it up in verse 5.
00:07:44.96\00:07:47.30
"Then the Lord saw
00:07:47.33\00:07:48.66
that the wickedness of
man was great in the earth,
00:07:48.70\00:07:51.77
and that every intent of the
heart... thoughts of his heart
00:07:51.83\00:07:55.74
was only evil continually. "
00:07:55.77\00:07:58.04
Now, it's interesting to
me when God sees... God acts.
00:07:58.07\00:08:01.14
Sometimes it's as Judge,
00:08:01.18\00:08:03.55
sometimes, it's as Savior.
00:08:03.58\00:08:05.88
Takeaway Number 1:
00:08:05.91\00:08:07.42
You can never hide from God.
00:08:07.45\00:08:09.38
You know, God saw that
the intent of their heart...
00:08:09.42\00:08:12.42
it doesn't say, "God saw
their actions were evil... "
00:08:12.45\00:08:15.42
God saw what the
people did was evil...
00:08:15.46\00:08:17.29
now, of course
their actions were evil
00:08:17.33\00:08:19.09
but God saw that the
intent of their heart...
00:08:19.13\00:08:21.33
the thoughts of their heart
were only evil continually.
00:08:21.36\00:08:24.87
We can never hide from
God... Psalm 139 verse 4,
00:08:24.90\00:08:28.40
"For there is not
a word on my tongue,
00:08:28.44\00:08:30.54
but behold, O Lord,
You know it altogether. "
00:08:30.57\00:08:34.28
We can't hide
our words from God.
00:08:34.31\00:08:35.64
We think we can hide...
00:08:35.68\00:08:37.01
we think we can go on in
the corner... we can't...
00:08:37.05\00:08:38.81
God hears everything.
00:08:38.85\00:08:40.68
Continuing on... same
Psalm... 139 verses 7 and 8,
00:08:40.72\00:08:44.25
"Where can I go
from Your Spirit?
00:08:44.29\00:08:46.15
Where can I flee
from Your presence?
00:08:46.19\00:08:48.02
If I ascend into
heaven, You are there.
00:08:48.06\00:08:49.86
If I make my bed in
hell, behold, You are there. "
00:08:49.89\00:08:53.33
You can never hide from God.
00:08:53.36\00:08:55.63
Let's go to verse 6,
we're in Genesis 6 verse 6,
00:08:55.66\00:08:58.57
"And the Lord was sorry that
He had made man on the earth,
00:08:58.60\00:09:04.04
and He was
grieved in His heart. "
00:09:04.07\00:09:07.74
Takeaway Number 2:
00:09:07.78\00:09:09.31
Our choices... they hurt God.
00:09:09.34\00:09:12.15
Wow!
00:09:12.18\00:09:13.85
You ever think, "I'll
just do what I want...
00:09:13.88\00:09:16.69
doesn't hurt anybody else...
00:09:16.75\00:09:18.09
it's not
influencing anybody else...
00:09:18.12\00:09:19.45
I'll just do what I want. "
00:09:19.49\00:09:20.99
Clearly, no person is an island
00:09:21.02\00:09:22.59
and we all have an
influence on someone else.
00:09:22.62\00:09:24.89
But I think, many times we
don't think about the words we
00:09:24.93\00:09:28.13
speak... the
decisions we make...
00:09:28.16\00:09:29.50
the thoughts we have...
00:09:29.53\00:09:30.87
they don't just impact
our circle of influence,
00:09:30.90\00:09:32.70
they can hurt God.
00:09:32.73\00:09:34.90
The New Living Translation...
this same verse...
00:09:34.94\00:09:37.34
this Genesis 6:6...
00:09:37.37\00:09:38.74
it says, "the Lord was
sorry He had ever made them
00:09:38.77\00:09:41.44
and put them on the
earth. It broke His heart. "
00:09:41.48\00:09:44.11
Reminds me of a parent, now,
00:09:44.15\00:09:46.38
Greg and I don't have
the pleasure of being parents
00:09:46.41\00:09:48.98
but I've watched
parents and their hearts break
00:09:49.02\00:09:51.55
with the choices that
sometimes their children make.
00:09:51.62\00:09:55.39
The Lord was hurt
because His creation...
00:09:55.42\00:09:59.09
He wanted them to
follow Him and serve Him...
00:09:59.13\00:10:01.46
and become like Him in character
and reflect Him to the world
00:10:01.50\00:10:05.73
and yet, they broke His
heart in how they were acting.
00:10:05.77\00:10:09.87
Verse 7 Genesis 6:7...
00:10:09.90\00:10:11.91
"The Lord said,
'I will destroy man
00:10:11.94\00:10:15.24
whom I have created
from the face of the earth,
00:10:15.28\00:10:17.38
both man and beast,
00:10:17.41\00:10:18.75
creeping things
and birds of the air,
00:10:18.78\00:10:20.92
for I am sorry that
I have made them. '"
00:10:20.95\00:10:23.85
The word "destroy" in
Hebrew literally means
00:10:23.89\00:10:26.82
"to wipe out as one
wipes a slate clean. "
00:10:26.86\00:10:29.76
Now, we don't...
Takeaway Number 3
00:10:29.79\00:10:32.46
is deliberate, intentional,
00:10:32.49\00:10:36.46
cherished sin has consequences.
00:10:36.50\00:10:39.70
The people held on to their sin
00:10:39.73\00:10:42.90
and there were many
opportunities for repentance,
00:10:42.94\00:10:46.41
many opportunities for
God calling to their heart
00:10:46.44\00:10:49.84
and then to have
opportunity to say,
00:10:49.91\00:10:51.81
"Yes, I want to follow You... "
00:10:51.85\00:10:53.68
but they hardened their hearts.
00:10:53.72\00:10:55.45
We know that when
God says I'm sorry,
00:10:55.48\00:10:58.85
it doesn't mean He's changing
His mind or a change of heart.
00:10:58.92\00:11:01.22
It's the
humanity's response to Him.
00:11:01.26\00:11:04.56
You know, you think
about the same sun...
00:11:04.59\00:11:07.60
it melts ice, does it not?
00:11:07.63\00:11:08.96
But yet it hardens clay.
00:11:09.00\00:11:10.33
Now, the difference
isn't in the sun at all.
00:11:10.37\00:11:12.00
The difference is in humanity
and our response to God.
00:11:12.03\00:11:17.17
Deliberate intentional cherished
sin... it has consequences.
00:11:17.21\00:11:20.88
Let's read verses 8
and 9, Genesis 6:8 and 9,
00:11:20.91\00:11:24.05
"But Noah found grace
in the eyes of the LORD.
00:11:24.08\00:11:27.15
This is the genealogy of Noah.
00:11:27.18\00:11:29.08
Noah was a just man,
perfect in his generations.
00:11:29.12\00:11:33.05
Noah walked with God. "
00:11:33.09\00:11:35.76
Takeaway Number 4:
00:11:35.82\00:11:37.16
Circumstances and environment
do not control your destiny.
00:11:37.19\00:11:40.66
You know, sometimes in
psychological understanding,
00:11:40.70\00:11:42.93
they say, "Oh if you're
raised in that environment,
00:11:42.96\00:11:45.20
you're going to
become like that.
00:11:45.23\00:11:46.57
If you're surrounded
by these types of people,
00:11:46.60\00:11:48.27
you're going to
become like that. "
00:11:48.30\00:11:49.64
Well, look at Noah, he
walked in a wicked world
00:11:49.67\00:11:51.74
and it was so wicked,
the Lord needed to destroy it
00:11:51.77\00:11:54.08
and yet, he was perfect.
00:11:54.14\00:11:56.04
He was a just man.
00:11:56.08\00:11:58.05
He walked with God
00:11:58.08\00:11:59.98
in the midst of outward
surrounding circumstances
00:12:00.02\00:12:03.22
that were not so good.
00:12:03.28\00:12:04.62
So, we have a choice to make.
00:12:04.65\00:12:06.39
I love Joshua 24:15,
00:12:06.42\00:12:08.99
"If it seems evil to
you to serve the LORD,
00:12:09.02\00:12:11.19
choose for yourselves
this day whom you will serve,
00:12:11.26\00:12:13.63
whether the gods
which your fathers served
00:12:13.66\00:12:15.33
which were on the
other side of the River... "
00:12:15.36\00:12:17.03
in other words, "Are you
going to follow tradition
00:12:17.07\00:12:18.70
and serve the
god of your parents
00:12:18.73\00:12:20.07
or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you dwell... "
00:12:20.10\00:12:22.67
That's the peer pressure of
the idol worship around them.
00:12:22.70\00:12:25.67
"But as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord. "
00:12:25.71\00:12:28.64
Circumstances and environment
00:12:28.68\00:12:30.01
do not have to
control your destiny.
00:12:30.05\00:12:32.51
We're back to
Genesis 6:11 and 12,
00:12:32.55\00:12:35.05
"The earth also
was corrupt before God,
00:12:35.08\00:12:37.09
and the earth was
filled with violence.
00:12:37.12\00:12:39.09
So the LORD
looked upon the earth,
00:12:39.12\00:12:40.69
and indeed it was corrupt;
00:12:40.72\00:12:42.06
for all flesh had corrupted
their way on the earth. "
00:12:42.09\00:12:44.39
Takeaway Number 5:
00:12:44.43\00:12:45.79
Trust God and His Word
even when you don't understand.
00:12:45.86\00:12:49.36
You see, the people of Noah's
day had never seen a flood.
00:12:49.40\00:12:52.90
They had never seen rain
00:12:52.93\00:12:54.27
and yet, Noah
was preaching to them
00:12:54.30\00:12:56.30
and calling to them to make
that decision to enter the ark.
00:12:56.34\00:13:00.54
Faith... it requires risk.
00:13:00.58\00:13:02.64
Faith means we obey even
when we don't always understand.
00:13:02.68\00:13:07.52
Verse 13, "And God said to Noah,
00:13:07.55\00:13:10.82
'The end of all
flesh has come before Me,
00:13:10.85\00:13:12.52
for the earth is filled
with violence through them;
00:13:12.55\00:13:15.02
and behold, I will destroy them
from the face of the earth. '"
00:13:15.06\00:13:18.46
Takeaway Number 6:
00:13:18.49\00:13:20.60
We don't have
time to unpack this
00:13:20.63\00:13:22.33
but judgment comes from God
00:13:22.36\00:13:25.13
and it is still part of love.
00:13:25.20\00:13:27.90
That's a complicated
subject for another time
00:13:27.94\00:13:32.14
but love has two
sides... the mercy and justice.
00:13:32.17\00:13:36.34
Finally, verse
14... our last verse,
00:13:36.38\00:13:38.71
Genesis 6:14, "Make
yourself an ark of gopher wood,
00:13:38.75\00:13:41.72
make rooms in the ark,
00:13:41.75\00:13:43.08
and cover it inside
and outside with pitch. "
00:13:43.12\00:13:45.52
Final Takeaway Number 7:
00:13:45.55\00:13:47.26
Walk in radical
obedience when God calls.
00:13:47.29\00:13:50.39
It had never rained
before nor flooded before
00:13:50.43\00:13:53.50
but when God said,
"Build and ark... "
00:13:53.53\00:13:55.50
Noah said, "Yes
Lord, I will do it. "
00:13:55.53\00:13:57.43
Shelley: Amen, thank you
Jill for that great foundation.
00:13:57.47\00:14:00.67
My name is Shelley Quinn
and I have Monday's Lesson:
00:14:00.70\00:14:03.91
Abram, the
Father of the Faithful.
00:14:03.94\00:14:07.38
You know, somebody that is
listening is probably saying,
00:14:07.44\00:14:11.18
"Ah, this is Old Testament,
00:14:11.21\00:14:12.95
why is that
relevant to us today?"
00:14:12.98\00:14:15.75
Let me tell you something,
00:14:15.78\00:14:17.12
the Old Testament records 4,000
years of God's interactions
00:14:17.15\00:14:22.39
with humanity,
00:14:22.42\00:14:23.76
whereas the New Testament...
it's barely even a 100 years.
00:14:23.79\00:14:28.46
It is important... the Old
Testament is relevant to us
00:14:28.50\00:14:33.50
because it shows us what
God expects of His people.
00:14:33.54\00:14:38.51
Abram's story is
critical to understand
00:14:38.54\00:14:42.04
because He is
called the father of us all
00:14:42.08\00:14:45.58
and who was Abram?
00:14:45.61\00:14:48.48
Did you know he was a Gentile?
00:14:48.52\00:14:50.85
Gentile simply means Nation
00:14:50.89\00:14:53.09
and there were no Jews...
00:14:53.12\00:14:55.29
the Jews were not
yet a distinct people
00:14:55.32\00:14:58.89
or ethnic group
during Abraham's lifetime
00:14:58.93\00:15:02.46
but he was from a pagan country.
00:15:02.50\00:15:06.00
Now, pagan has
to do with religion
00:15:06.03\00:15:09.44
and so, he came from
a polytheistic region...
00:15:09.47\00:15:14.44
the Ur of the Chaldees
00:15:14.48\00:15:15.81
but he witnessed
idolatry in his own home
00:15:15.84\00:15:20.08
because his father
worshipped more than one god
00:15:20.12\00:15:24.82
but Abram... ah... he loved the
Lord with all of his heart...
00:15:24.85\00:15:30.03
God knew it and
Abraham followed God.
00:15:30.06\00:15:35.66
You know, I wonder, where
did he get this childlike faith?
00:15:35.70\00:15:39.80
And I believe it was
from Shem, Noah's son
00:15:39.83\00:15:43.71
because of Shem...
00:15:43.74\00:15:45.07
a covenant blessing
was pronounced over him
00:15:45.11\00:15:49.11
and Shem lived 500
years after the flood...
00:15:49.14\00:15:53.08
the whole time almost the
whole span of Abraham's life.
00:15:53.11\00:15:56.69
So, I think maybe his
relative had told him.
00:15:56.72\00:15:59.95
So, Abram was so loyal to God
00:15:59.99\00:16:03.53
that 2nd Chronicles 20 verse 7
00:16:03.56\00:16:07.00
says that he was designated
00:16:07.03\00:16:10.13
as God's faithful friend.
00:16:10.17\00:16:13.20
He entered into
covenant with the Lord...
00:16:13.23\00:16:16.50
righteousness by faith.
00:16:16.57\00:16:18.84
It was the expression of
the everlasting covenant.
00:16:18.87\00:16:23.45
We see it in Genesis 3:15
when God talks about the seed
00:16:23.48\00:16:28.02
that's going to
be born to a woman...
00:16:28.05\00:16:29.65
a deliverer who will crush
the head of the serpent Satan
00:16:29.68\00:16:35.59
but then we see
in... with Abraham
00:16:35.62\00:16:41.06
that God ratifies this,
00:16:41.10\00:16:43.70
we're going to get
to that in just a moment
00:16:43.77\00:16:45.37
but here's the point...
00:16:45.40\00:16:46.87
the everlasting covenant
of righteousness by faith
00:16:46.90\00:16:50.81
introduced in the Garden...
ratified with Abraham...
00:16:50.84\00:16:54.91
that's the underpinning
for both the Old Testament
00:16:54.94\00:16:58.98
and the New Testament.
00:16:59.01\00:17:01.08
The first book that
the Apostle Paul wrote
00:17:01.12\00:17:04.65
was the letter to the Galatians.
00:17:04.69\00:17:06.76
Listen to what he
says, Galatians 3:8,
00:17:06.79\00:17:09.99
"The Scripture, foreseeing that
God would justify the Gentiles
00:17:10.03\00:17:14.20
by faith, preached the gospel. "
00:17:14.23\00:17:17.10
It's the same
gospel that you and I know.
00:17:17.17\00:17:19.97
The good news of Jesus Christ,
00:17:20.00\00:17:24.11
our Creator becoming
a man to deliver us...
00:17:24.14\00:17:27.84
he says, "He preached the gospel
to Abraham beforehand, saying,
00:17:27.88\00:17:32.21
'In you all the nations of
the earth will be blessed. '"
00:17:32.25\00:17:35.58
And then going
down to Galatians 3:16,
00:17:35.62\00:17:39.22
he says, "To
Abraham and his Seed
00:17:39.25\00:17:42.69
were the promises made.
00:17:42.72\00:17:44.49
He does not say, 'And
to seeds,' as of many,
00:17:44.53\00:17:48.33
"but to your
seed who is Christ? "
00:17:48.36\00:17:52.43
And I love Galatians 3:29...
00:17:52.47\00:17:55.67
"If you are Christ's,
you are Abraham's seed,
00:17:55.70\00:17:59.37
you are heirs
according to the promise. "
00:17:59.41\00:18:02.68
Everything that
God promised Abraham
00:18:02.71\00:18:05.55
was promised
through Jesus Christ...
00:18:05.58\00:18:08.42
we're heirs of the promise.
00:18:08.45\00:18:09.95
Paul says in Romans 4:16 and 17,
00:18:09.98\00:18:13.32
"Therefore the
promise comes by faith
00:18:13.36\00:18:15.49
so that it may be by
grace, if they be guaranteed
00:18:15.52\00:18:19.16
to all of Abraham's offspring,
00:18:19.19\00:18:22.80
not only to those
who are of the law
00:18:22.83\00:18:24.73
but to those who are
of the faith of Abraham.
00:18:24.77\00:18:28.54
He is the father of us all.
00:18:28.57\00:18:32.21
Well, if Abraham is
the father of us all,
00:18:32.24\00:18:34.84
do you agree that we need
to know how God interacted
00:18:34.88\00:18:39.21
with Abraham?
00:18:39.28\00:18:40.62
It is written... God...
this is continuing in Romans,
00:18:40.65\00:18:43.35
He said, "I have made you
a father of many nations... "
00:18:43.39\00:18:46.65
he is our father
in the sight of God
00:18:46.69\00:18:50.19
in whom he, Abraham, believed.
00:18:50.23\00:18:53.36
The God who
gives life to the dead
00:18:53.40\00:18:56.50
and calls those
things that are not
00:18:56.53\00:18:59.57
as though they already were.
00:18:59.60\00:19:01.50
Did you know
when God looks at you,
00:19:01.54\00:19:03.34
2nd Corinthians 5:17 says,
00:19:03.41\00:19:05.14
"You're a new
creation in Christ Jesus... "
00:19:05.17\00:19:07.38
and you may wake up
and something happens
00:19:07.41\00:19:09.48
and that old ugly
creation rears its ugly head
00:19:09.51\00:19:13.25
and you think... "Oh... ah...
I'm not a new creation... "
00:19:13.28\00:19:16.18
God looks down at you
00:19:16.22\00:19:17.89
and He knows you are a
saint under construction,
00:19:17.92\00:19:21.92
He knows He's going to complete
the good work He's begun in you
00:19:21.96\00:19:26.59
so, he calls things that are
not as though they already were,
00:19:26.63\00:19:31.23
He sees you as the new creation
00:19:31.27\00:19:33.67
but when we're
looking at Abraham,
00:19:33.70\00:19:36.07
why did God choose Abraham
to be the father of us all?
00:19:36.10\00:19:40.38
Why is he the
father of the faithful?
00:19:40.41\00:19:43.75
Genesis 18:19 says
that God knew Abraham
00:19:43.78\00:19:47.22
would command his
children and his household
00:19:47.25\00:19:50.62
to keep the way of the LORD,
00:19:50.65\00:19:53.66
to do righteousness and justice.
00:19:53.69\00:19:56.96
So God trusted
this heart of Abraham.
00:19:56.99\00:20:00.10
Any time the
LORD of glory called,
00:20:00.13\00:20:03.50
Abraham obeyed
in childlike faith.
00:20:03.53\00:20:06.84
So, when He called him
out of Ur of the Chaldees,
00:20:06.87\00:20:09.97
he first came out with his
father Terah and Sarai and Lot
00:20:10.01\00:20:14.91
and they got just as far as
Haran and they stopped there.
00:20:14.94\00:20:19.78
It must have been
a God-ordained stop
00:20:19.81\00:20:22.38
because Abraham
always followed the Lord.
00:20:22.42\00:20:24.89
Well, then we see in
Genesis 12, Abraham is 75 now
00:20:24.92\00:20:28.79
we don't know how old he
was when he left for there
00:20:28.82\00:20:32.63
but God repeats His call
00:20:32.66\00:20:34.86
and Abram just drops everything
00:20:34.90\00:20:38.50
and Abram responds to the call.
00:20:38.53\00:20:42.10
God was setting him apart
00:20:42.14\00:20:44.47
for divine purpose in
the everlasting covenant
00:20:44.51\00:20:47.28
and here's what God
said to him in Genesis 12,
00:20:47.31\00:20:50.05
"Now the LORD said to Abram,
00:20:50.08\00:20:52.11
'Get out of your
country, from your family,
00:20:52.15\00:20:54.25
from your father's house to
a land that I will show you. '"
00:20:54.28\00:20:57.45
And then He says, "I
will make you a great nation,
00:20:57.49\00:21:01.82
I will bless you and
make your name great;
00:21:01.86\00:21:05.36
and you shall be a blessing...
00:21:05.39\00:21:06.83
in all...
00:21:06.86\00:21:08.73
in you all the families of
the earth will be blessed. "
00:21:08.76\00:21:12.90
"I will... " is
God's covenant language.
00:21:12.93\00:21:16.91
That's God's promise.
00:21:16.94\00:21:19.07
Abram entered into
covenant with the Lord
00:21:19.11\00:21:22.11
and the... the
fact that He says,
00:21:22.14\00:21:24.18
"All the families of the earth
will be blessed through you... "
00:21:24.21\00:21:27.78
shows that God's plan of
salvation spans all ethnic
00:21:27.82\00:21:33.22
and all geographical boundaries.
00:21:33.25\00:21:36.42
So, Abram was quick to obey,
00:21:36.46\00:21:38.86
he knew that obedience was
the pathway to God's blessings.
00:21:38.89\00:21:44.03
Now, God promises in Genesis
13, this childless man...
00:21:44.07\00:21:49.27
his wife, Sarah had been
childless for many years,
00:21:49.30\00:21:54.48
He promises him
00:21:54.51\00:21:56.04
that his descendants are going
to be like the dust of the earth
00:21:56.08\00:22:00.05
and He assures him that He's
going to give the Promised Land.
00:22:00.08\00:22:04.02
They're wondering...
00:22:04.05\00:22:05.39
they're living in
tents like Nomads right now.
00:22:05.42\00:22:07.59
Genesis 15, He comes along...
00:22:07.62\00:22:10.16
Now He promises
him... still travelers...
00:22:10.23\00:22:13.33
that your
descendants are going to be
00:22:13.36\00:22:16.43
like the stars of heaven.
00:22:16.46\00:22:18.27
In my mind, I think
possible the dust into the earth
00:22:18.30\00:22:22.27
were the
biological descendants...
00:22:22.30\00:22:24.21
the Jews who
inherited the physical Canaan
00:22:24.24\00:22:27.21
and perhaps the stars
were all of the believers
00:22:27.24\00:22:30.61
who were His spiritual
descendants... you and I
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.95
but what happens is
00:22:33.98\00:22:37.15
God knows how
consistent Abraham's heart is,
00:22:37.19\00:22:41.02
and when He is... He
ratifies the covenant,
00:22:41.09\00:22:44.96
He says in Genesis
15:6, He tells him this
00:22:44.99\00:22:48.16
and it says,
"Abraham, believe the Lord... "
00:22:48.20\00:22:52.23
and He accounted it
to him... He credited...
00:22:52.27\00:22:56.27
He imputed it to
Him as righteousness.
00:22:56.30\00:22:59.44
That's the same
thing that you and I...
00:22:59.47\00:23:02.61
righteousness by faith.
00:23:02.64\00:23:04.61
So, what happens
00:23:04.65\00:23:06.51
when he is now 99 years old?
00:23:06.55\00:23:10.92
Here's a man made
righteous by faith...
00:23:10.95\00:23:13.76
that's what our pathway is
00:23:13.79\00:23:16.76
but when Abram is 99 years old,
00:23:16.79\00:23:20.03
in Genesis 17:1,
the Lord appears to him
00:23:20.10\00:23:23.73
and you know what He says?
00:23:23.77\00:23:25.20
"I am the LORD the Almighty God;
00:23:25.23\00:23:29.37
walk before me,
and be blameless. "
00:23:29.40\00:23:33.11
What?
00:23:33.17\00:23:35.18
Now some people may go,
00:23:35.24\00:23:36.58
"You're made
righteous by faith...
00:23:36.61\00:23:38.05
you don't need to
worry about obedience. "
00:23:38.08\00:23:39.88
Well, I'm going to
tell you something,
00:23:39.91\00:23:41.68
You talk about radical obedience
00:23:41.72\00:23:45.55
Abraham obeyed
and God expected it.
00:23:45.59\00:23:49.39
We need to know that.
00:23:49.42\00:23:50.76
So, from the time that he
actually left Haran at age 75,
00:23:50.79\00:23:55.86
did you know it was 25 years
00:23:55.90\00:23:58.57
before the promised son of the
covenant... Isaac... was born
00:23:58.63\00:24:03.64
but here is what I love
00:24:03.67\00:24:05.94
when Paul... or the writer
of Hebrews, we assume it's Paul,
00:24:05.97\00:24:10.21
he's talking about
Abraham and here's what he says
00:24:10.25\00:24:14.45
in Hebrews 11:8 through 10,
00:24:14.48\00:24:16.92
he says, "By
faith Abraham obeyed
00:24:16.95\00:24:19.99
when he was called
to go out to a place
00:24:20.06\00:24:21.56
where he would
receive an inheritance,
00:24:21.59\00:24:23.32
he went out, not
knowing where he went.
00:24:23.39\00:24:25.53
By faith, he dwelt
in the land of promise,
00:24:25.56\00:24:27.70
in a foreign land,
00:24:27.73\00:24:29.06
dwelling in tents
with Isaac and Jacob,
00:24:29.10\00:24:30.70
heirs with him
of the same promise:
00:24:30.73\00:24:33.30
for he waited for the
city which had its foundation,
00:24:33.34\00:24:37.47
whose builder
and maker is God. "
00:24:37.51\00:24:39.81
Jill: Amen, I love that,
thank you so much, Shelley,
00:24:39.84\00:24:42.68
what a wonderful
lesson! Radical obedience,
00:24:42.71\00:24:44.95
we see that in Noah's
life and in Abraham's life.
00:24:44.98\00:24:47.12
We're going to take a
break, we'll be right back.
00:24:47.15\00:24:49.28
Music...
00:24:49.32\00:24:54.29
Ever wish you could watch a
3abn Sabbath School Panel again
00:24:54.32\00:24:58.36
or share it on
Facebook, Instagram or Twitter?
00:24:58.39\00:25:01.66
Well, you can by visiting
3abnsabbathschoolpanel. com
00:25:01.70\00:25:06.43
A clean design makes it easy
00:25:06.47\00:25:09.04
to find the program
you are looking for.
00:25:09.07\00:25:10.84
There are also links to
the adult Bible Study Guide
00:25:10.87\00:25:14.68
so you can follow along.
00:25:14.71\00:25:16.68
Sharing is easy.
00:25:16.71\00:25:18.05
Just click "share" and choose
your favorite social media.
00:25:18.08\00:25:21.02
Share a Link Save
a Life for Eternity.
00:25:21.05\00:25:24.32
Jill: Welcome back to our study
on Laying Up Treasure in Heaven,
00:25:24.35\00:25:28.32
we go over to Pastor John
Dinzey and Tuesday's Lesson...
00:25:28.36\00:25:30.83
and somebody who didn't
have so much radical obedience.
00:25:30.86\00:25:33.29
Dinzey: Hmmm... yes,
00:25:33.33\00:25:34.83
we're talking
about Lot's bad decisions
00:25:34.86\00:25:39.10
and so, first, we're going to
talk a little bit about Abraham
00:25:39.13\00:25:42.47
and Lot and
that's where we take off,
00:25:42.50\00:25:45.04
Let's go ahead and
go to Genesis chapter 12
00:25:45.07\00:25:47.71
beginning in verse 1,
00:25:47.74\00:25:49.64
"Now the LORD had said to Abram,
00:25:49.68\00:25:51.61
'Get thee out of thy country,
00:25:51.68\00:25:53.55
and from thy kindred,
and from thy father's house,
00:25:53.62\00:25:56.25
unto a land that
I will show thee:
00:25:56.28\00:25:58.82
And I will make of
thee a great nation,
00:25:58.85\00:26:00.52
and I will bless thee,
and make thy name great;
00:26:00.56\00:26:03.32
and thou shalt be a blessing:
00:26:03.36\00:26:04.96
and I will bless
them that bless thee,
00:26:04.99\00:26:07.20
and curse him that curseth thee:
00:26:07.23\00:26:09.46
and in thee
00:26:09.50\00:26:10.83
shall all the families
of the earth be blessed. '
00:26:10.87\00:26:13.10
So Abram departed, as the
LORD had spoken unto him... "
00:26:13.13\00:26:16.50
and notice...
"and Lot went with him:
00:26:16.54\00:26:19.71
and Abram was
seventy-five years old
00:26:19.74\00:26:22.84
when he departed out of Haran. "
00:26:22.88\00:26:24.61
And so I say to you
00:26:24.65\00:26:26.31
that even though we see
the Bible records a... a...
00:26:26.35\00:26:29.42
Lot makes some bad
decisions, this was a good one.
00:26:29.45\00:26:32.45
He went with Abram.
00:26:32.49\00:26:34.36
We move now to
Genesis Chapter 12
00:26:34.39\00:26:38.09
where we see that
Abram continues his journey
00:26:38.13\00:26:43.90
as the Lord is guiding him
00:26:43.93\00:26:45.77
and in Genesis
chapter 12 verse 10 it says,
00:26:45.80\00:26:49.40
"Now there was a
famine in the land... "
00:26:49.44\00:26:52.51
by this time he
was... Abram was by Bethel
00:26:52.57\00:26:55.58
and so Lot was with
him... they were by a mountain,
00:26:55.61\00:26:58.31
it says that they
continued journeying...
00:26:58.35\00:27:00.78
going towards the south
00:27:00.82\00:27:02.25
and now there's a
famine in the land
00:27:02.28\00:27:04.45
it says... verse 10,
00:27:04.52\00:27:05.85
"And Abram went down
to Egypt to dwell there;
00:27:05.89\00:27:08.02
for the famine was
severe in the land. "
00:27:08.06\00:27:11.06
And you know the story
where Abram decides that
00:27:11.09\00:27:14.20
"Well, my wife is beautiful... "
00:27:14.23\00:27:15.56
now see, remember he left the
house when he was 75 years old,
00:27:15.60\00:27:18.73
his wife was about 65,
00:27:18.77\00:27:20.40
she was still beautiful
enough for him to say a lie...
00:27:20.44\00:27:22.84
"That's my
sister... that's my sister. "
00:27:22.87\00:27:24.54
But notice here that...
00:27:24.57\00:27:27.18
now chapter 13
beginning in verse 1,
00:27:27.21\00:27:31.51
"Then Abram went up from Egypt,
00:27:31.55\00:27:34.55
he, and his wife,
and all that he had,
00:27:34.58\00:27:37.79
and Lot went with
him, to the south. "
00:27:37.82\00:27:40.96
Again, Lot
makes a good decision.
00:27:40.99\00:27:43.73
Abram was very rich in
livestock, in silver and in
00:27:43.76\00:27:47.23
gold. And he went on his
journeys from the south as far
00:27:47.26\00:27:50.70
as Bethel, to the place
where his tent had been at the
00:27:50.73\00:27:53.54
beginning,
between Bethel and Ai;
00:27:53.57\00:27:55.84
to the place of the altar,
00:27:55.87\00:27:58.07
which he had
made there at first:
00:27:58.14\00:28:00.21
and there Abram called
on the name of the Lord. "
00:28:00.28\00:28:02.81
And so, as Abram
did... so did Lot.
00:28:02.84\00:28:06.25
Now, as we go to
Genesis 13:5 through 7,
00:28:06.28\00:28:11.49
this is where
you see a departure
00:28:11.52\00:28:14.09
that begins with Abram and Lot.
00:28:14.12\00:28:16.62
Lot also... I'm reading now in
Genesis 13 beginning in verse 5,
00:28:16.66\00:28:20.80
"Lot also, who went with Abram,
00:28:20.83\00:28:23.03
had flocks and herds and tents.
00:28:23.06\00:28:25.20
Now the land was not
able to support them,
00:28:25.23\00:28:27.70
that they might dwell together,
00:28:27.74\00:28:29.30
for their
possessions were so great
00:28:29.34\00:28:31.61
that they could
not dwell together. "
00:28:31.64\00:28:33.84
The Lord had blessed them...
00:28:33.88\00:28:35.21
blessed Abram...
blessed Lot as well.
00:28:35.24\00:28:38.21
"And there was a
strife between the herdsmen
00:28:38.25\00:28:40.72
of Abram's livestock and
the herdsmen of Lot's livestock.
00:28:40.75\00:28:45.55
The Canaanites
and the Perizzites
00:28:45.59\00:28:47.49
then dwelt in the land. "
00:28:47.52\00:28:49.52
So, this takes
us to Genesis 13:8,
00:28:49.56\00:28:53.96
"So Abram said to Lot,
00:28:54.00\00:28:55.66
'Please let there be no
strife between you and me,
00:28:55.70\00:28:59.10
and between my
herdsmen and your herdsmen;
00:28:59.13\00:29:02.27
for we are brethren.
00:29:02.30\00:29:04.21
Is not the
whole land before you?
00:29:04.24\00:29:07.31
Please separate from me.
00:29:07.34\00:29:09.71
If you take the left,
then I will go to the right;
00:29:09.74\00:29:12.68
or, if you go to the right,
then I will go to the left. '"
00:29:12.71\00:29:15.65
Now here is where Lot
has to make a decision
00:29:15.68\00:29:18.95
and this is one of those things
00:29:18.99\00:29:20.89
where you have to ask yourself,
00:29:20.92\00:29:22.76
"Did he do what Proverbs
chapter 3 verse 5 says?"
00:29:22.79\00:29:26.49
Verse... Proverbs
chapter 3 verse 5 and 6 says
00:29:26.53\00:29:30.17
that he acknowledged the Lord
00:29:30.20\00:29:32.13
and asked the
Lord to direct his path
00:29:32.17\00:29:34.27
and you know the story is
that he did not apparently.
00:29:34.30\00:29:37.44
Notice what
happens, Genesis 13 verse 10,
00:29:37.47\00:29:40.94
"And Lot lifted his eyes
and saw all the plain of Jordan,
00:29:40.98\00:29:46.95
that it was well
watered everywhere...
00:29:46.98\00:29:49.42
before the Lord
destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah...
00:29:49.45\00:29:51.92
like the garden of the Lord,
00:29:51.95\00:29:54.12
like the land of Egypt
as you go toward Zoar. "
00:29:54.16\00:29:57.79
So, we see, he looks at this
00:29:57.83\00:29:59.79
and he says, "Wow! this
is like the Garden of Eden,
00:29:59.83\00:30:02.46
like I heard...
that's where I'm going. "
00:30:02.50\00:30:04.40
It was a selfish motivation.
00:30:04.43\00:30:07.90
"Then Lot chose for
himself all the plain of Jordan,
00:30:07.94\00:30:11.47
and Lot journeyed east.
00:30:11.51\00:30:13.74
And they
separated from each other.
00:30:13.78\00:30:16.68
Abram dwelt in
the land of Canaan,
00:30:16.71\00:30:19.55
and Lot dwelt in
the cities of the plain
00:30:19.58\00:30:21.58
and notice, "and pitched
his tent even as far as Sodom. "
00:30:21.62\00:30:26.79
And this is when trouble
begins for Lot and his family.
00:30:26.82\00:30:31.96
This is when... now
his family is exposed
00:30:31.99\00:30:35.00
to things they
had never seen before,
00:30:35.03\00:30:37.97
or if they had seen it,
they completely ignored it
00:30:38.00\00:30:41.04
because Abram
and Lot were together
00:30:41.07\00:30:43.10
and this was a... a... a
place where they were able to
00:30:43.14\00:30:47.28
encourage one another.
00:30:47.31\00:30:48.64
Now, Lot has to be
the... the Head of the family
00:30:48.68\00:30:53.18
and preserve the
knowledge of God.
00:30:53.21\00:30:55.52
Unfortunately, we
see that his daughters
00:30:55.55\00:30:58.75
went to Sodom and married...
00:30:58.79\00:31:01.99
intermarried with
the people of Sodom
00:31:02.02\00:31:04.13
and this is why we
have the terrible situation
00:31:04.16\00:31:07.93
that takes place
for Lot and his family.
00:31:07.96\00:31:09.70
We do have a Scripture in
2nd Peter chapter 2 verse 6
00:31:09.73\00:31:14.67
that apparently Lot still
longed to have a relationship
00:31:14.70\00:31:19.61
with the Lord...
00:31:19.64\00:31:20.98
notice, 2nd Peter
chapter 2 beginning in verse 6,
00:31:21.01\00:31:24.78
"and turning the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,
00:31:24.81\00:31:27.92
condemned them
with an overthrow,
00:31:27.95\00:31:30.02
making them an
example unto those
00:31:30.05\00:31:32.45
that after should live ungodly;
00:31:32.49\00:31:34.86
and delivered... "
00:31:34.92\00:31:36.32
notice how the
Bible describes him,
00:31:36.36\00:31:38.26
"and delivered just Lot,
00:31:38.29\00:31:40.20
vexed with the filthy
conversation of the wicked.
00:31:40.23\00:31:44.47
So, even the conversation of
the people of Sodom was wicked.
00:31:44.50\00:31:48.87
Not only their actions but
their conversations were wicked.
00:31:48.90\00:31:53.24
And notice how
verse 8 describes it,
00:31:53.27\00:31:55.98
"For that righteous
man... " talking about Lot...
00:31:56.04\00:31:58.75
"dwelling among them,
00:31:58.78\00:32:00.22
in seeing and hearing
vexed his righteous soul
00:32:00.25\00:32:05.02
from day to day with
their unlawful deeds.
00:32:05.05\00:32:09.76
So, here we have a question
for... why would he stay there?
00:32:09.79\00:32:15.06
Seeing and
hearing all of that...
00:32:15.10\00:32:17.53
all that corrupting influence,
00:32:17.57\00:32:19.87
it could be, I believe
that his daughters had married
00:32:19.93\00:32:24.81
and they did not
want to move away.
00:32:24.84\00:32:27.51
They took deep roots in the area
00:32:27.54\00:32:29.91
and remember... he was rich...
00:32:29.94\00:32:32.25
increased with
goods... gold... silver...
00:32:32.28\00:32:35.82
but when he left
Sodom and Gomorrah,
00:32:35.85\00:32:38.95
he left with nothing.
00:32:38.99\00:32:41.12
The decisions of life
will either be for your good
00:32:41.16\00:32:45.69
or for your evil.
00:32:45.73\00:32:47.13
And I'm... I'm
dwelling on this because
00:32:47.16\00:32:49.30
there may be some
listening right now
00:32:49.33\00:32:51.30
that have either made
or about to make a decision
00:32:51.33\00:32:55.77
like Lot... they see some place
that appears to be well watered,
00:32:55.80\00:33:01.31
a place where
you can get rich...
00:33:01.34\00:33:03.38
a place where you can gain more
00:33:03.45\00:33:05.38
and you're
looking at that place as a
00:33:05.41\00:33:08.48
a place of temporal gain
00:33:08.52\00:33:10.85
where you have to weigh all
these things in the balances.
00:33:10.89\00:33:14.09
What will it do for my
relationship with the Lord?
00:33:14.12\00:33:17.39
What will it do
00:33:17.43\00:33:18.76
for the relationship
for my family with the Lord?
00:33:18.79\00:33:21.60
And this is what
Lot did not apparently
00:33:21.63\00:33:24.73
take into consideration.
00:33:24.77\00:33:26.40
Saw the place watered
00:33:26.43\00:33:28.00
and wonderful
place to really thrive
00:33:28.04\00:33:32.67
but it was a
seriously bad decision.
00:33:32.71\00:33:36.41
Notice... here the
Lesson brings out...
00:33:36.44\00:33:40.08
"However easily Lot could
have justified his decision
00:33:40.12\00:33:44.12
to move to the city,
00:33:44.15\00:33:45.49
things didn't turn
out so great for him. "
00:33:45.52\00:33:48.22
And it brings out
that the time came
00:33:48.26\00:33:51.39
when Abraham had
to come to the rescue
00:33:51.43\00:33:54.46
of Lot and his family
because they were taken captive
00:33:54.50\00:33:58.43
and you know, perhaps, this
is one of those wake-up calls
00:33:58.47\00:34:02.40
and still Lot went
back to Sodom and Gomorrah
00:34:02.44\00:34:06.57
and lived among
those wicked people.
00:34:06.61\00:34:09.14
Remember the conversation,
00:34:09.18\00:34:10.51
the things they were
seeing and hearing...
00:34:10.55\00:34:13.18
he vexed his
righteous soul day to day
00:34:13.21\00:34:15.78
and if you are
having that experience,
00:34:15.82\00:34:18.79
your... your
righteous soul is being vexed
00:34:18.85\00:34:21.79
by the things you see and hear,
00:34:21.82\00:34:23.16
if... if that's in your house,
if it's coming through the TV,
00:34:23.19\00:34:26.59
and you're not watching 3ABN,
00:34:26.63\00:34:28.16
you need... you need to
turn to 3ABN... stay on 3ABN.
00:34:28.20\00:34:32.03
If you're just watching 3ABN,
00:34:32.07\00:34:33.70
I think I watched 3ABN on
Friday night and Saturday...
00:34:33.74\00:34:36.87
and the rest of the
week, I'm walking the wicked...
00:34:36.91\00:34:40.01
watching the
wicked conversations
00:34:40.04\00:34:41.64
and the things of the world,
00:34:41.68\00:34:43.04
beware, you may be bringing
influence into your home
00:34:43.08\00:34:47.32
that could harm
you and your family.
00:34:47.35\00:34:50.82
I'd like to read this from
Testimony volume 4 page 110,
00:34:50.85\00:34:55.42
and then...
let's read that first.
00:34:55.46\00:34:57.96
"The dwellers in
Sodom were corrupt.
00:34:57.99\00:35:00.30
Vile conversation
greeted his ears daily
00:35:00.33\00:35:04.17
and his righteous soul was
vexed by the violence and crime
00:35:04.20\00:35:07.77
he was powerless to prevent.
00:35:07.80\00:35:09.30
His children were becoming
like these wicked people
00:35:09.34\00:35:12.97
for association with them
had perverted their morals.
00:35:13.01\00:35:16.58
Taking all these
things into consideration,
00:35:16.61\00:35:20.25
the worldly riches he
had gained seemed small
00:35:20.32\00:35:23.65
and not worth the
price he had paid for them.
00:35:23.69\00:35:27.02
His family
connections were extensive...
00:35:27.06\00:35:29.99
his children having
married among the Sodomites. "
00:35:30.03\00:35:34.56
And this decision led to
the horrible, horrible loss
00:35:34.60\00:35:39.10
that he incurred
00:35:39.13\00:35:40.47
and I encourage you... if you're
seeing these similar things,
00:35:40.50\00:35:42.94
go to the Lord... you may
need to leave where you are.
00:35:42.97\00:35:46.68
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm.
00:35:46.71\00:35:48.44
Lomacang: Thank you
John, I appreciate that.
00:35:48.48\00:35:49.94
Wednesday... From
Deceiver to Prince.
00:35:49.98\00:35:53.95
Let me just make this
statement at the very outset.
00:35:54.02\00:35:56.05
God's dream for
your life may be delayed
00:35:56.08\00:35:59.29
but God is so determined
it will not be denied.
00:35:59.32\00:36:02.42
God had a vision for this young
man from the time he was born
00:36:02.46\00:36:05.86
and lives may be
filled with bad decisions
00:36:05.89\00:36:09.66
but Jeremiah
29:11 when God says,
00:36:09.70\00:36:11.97
"I know the plans
I have for you... "
00:36:12.00\00:36:14.20
part of his story is
just like my story...
00:36:14.24\00:36:17.17
maybe like many of our stories.
00:36:17.21\00:36:18.54
God's dreams may be delayed
but God's grace is so great
00:36:18.57\00:36:22.51
those dreams are not denied.
00:36:22.54\00:36:24.15
You know, Jacob was a deceiver.
00:36:24.18\00:36:26.08
His very name meant that
00:36:26.11\00:36:27.45
and you know the story very well
00:36:27.48\00:36:28.82
how he conspired with his
mother to steal the birthright
00:36:28.85\00:36:34.12
of his older brother
00:36:34.16\00:36:35.82
and even putting skin on
his arm... you know hairy arms
00:36:35.86\00:36:40.56
to make his father think that
00:36:40.60\00:36:42.00
it was the other brother that
was receiving the birthright
00:36:42.03\00:36:44.97
rather than he
00:36:45.00\00:36:46.33
and then, we read how
this conspiracy continued to...
00:36:46.37\00:36:50.21
you know when you do
one thing that's wrong...
00:36:50.24\00:36:52.61
that's just... you
cannot correct a wrong.
00:36:52.64\00:36:54.98
You just exacerbate it
00:36:55.04\00:36:56.75
and trying to
cover up one bad decision
00:36:56.78\00:37:00.28
with another bad decision
00:37:00.32\00:37:01.95
is like sweeping
dirt under a rug.
00:37:01.98\00:37:04.29
After a while, it's
going to start pushing up
00:37:04.32\00:37:06.62
and people will know what they
see is accumulative effect...
00:37:06.65\00:37:10.19
not something done
at one particular time.
00:37:10.23\00:37:13.29
In Genesis chapter
27 verses 43 to 45,
00:37:13.33\00:37:16.36
we find the questions...
they are... the story really
00:37:16.40\00:37:20.24
reveals the conspiracy
between the mother and son.
00:37:20.27\00:37:24.01
"Now therefore, my
son, obey my voice: arise,
00:37:24.04\00:37:29.71
flee to my
brother Laban in Haran.
00:37:29.74\00:37:34.05
And stay with him a few days,
00:37:34.12\00:37:36.35
until your
brother's fury turns away,
00:37:36.38\00:37:40.56
until your brother's
anger turns away from you,
00:37:40.59\00:37:43.66
and he forgets what
you have done to him;
00:37:43.69\00:37:47.50
then I will send and
bring you from there.
00:37:47.53\00:37:51.27
Why should you
be bereaved also...
00:37:51.30\00:37:54.70
of you... why
should I be bereaved
00:37:54.77\00:37:58.14
of you both in one day?"
00:37:58.17\00:37:59.84
Now this is crazy...
I'm reading this statement
00:37:59.87\00:38:03.68
and not believing
that she's saying this.
00:38:03.75\00:38:05.48
"Wait there until your brother
forgets what you did to him. "
00:38:05.51\00:38:08.28
Ah ha... how many of us
forget what people do to us?
00:38:08.32\00:38:12.22
This was not a
matter of Esau forgetting...
00:38:12.25\00:38:14.96
this was a
matter of Esau relenting
00:38:14.99\00:38:17.39
because Esau pursued
his brother determinedly.
00:38:17.43\00:38:21.13
You know the story
of Jacob's ladder...
00:38:21.16\00:38:23.30
all of these are
part of the evidences
00:38:23.37\00:38:25.57
that even though
Jacob was a deceiver,
00:38:25.60\00:38:27.80
God was still with him
00:38:27.84\00:38:29.74
and this... this
whole conspiracy...
00:38:29.77\00:38:33.68
"go away and stay away long
enough and when the time comes,
00:38:33.71\00:38:37.48
I'll call for you. "
00:38:37.51\00:38:38.91
When you read the story... Jacob
never saw his mother again.
00:38:38.95\00:38:42.98
Twenty years had gone by
00:38:43.02\00:38:45.62
and he never saw
his mother's face again.
00:38:45.65\00:38:48.72
So, this is where
conspiracy never pays.
00:38:48.76\00:38:51.83
When you conspire
together to do wrong,
00:38:51.89\00:38:54.93
time may pass
00:38:54.96\00:38:56.73
but that conspiracy
never becomes a right deed
00:38:56.77\00:38:59.77
and Jacob surely missed his mom.
00:38:59.80\00:39:02.54
I did a story many years ago,
00:39:02.57\00:39:05.21
as a matter of fact, a sermon
called: From Pits to Palaces
00:39:05.24\00:39:07.78
and the moment I got this page,
Shelley, I want to tell you,
00:39:07.81\00:39:10.35
that whole
thing came back to me.
00:39:10.38\00:39:13.08
Some of the points I
made out there was um...
00:39:13.11\00:39:15.78
he was a... our
greatest trials are introduced
00:39:15.82\00:39:18.45
through God's greatest dreams.
00:39:18.52\00:39:20.19
Our greatest trial will prepare
us for God's greatest dream.
00:39:20.26\00:39:23.63
The brightest
morning only rises on those
00:39:23.66\00:39:26.06
who endure the darkest nights.
00:39:26.09\00:39:27.90
And there were some dark
nights in the life of Jacob,
00:39:27.93\00:39:31.40
I believe that one of the
reasons why he went through
00:39:31.43\00:39:34.84
and endured some
of the things he did
00:39:34.87\00:39:36.20
was because of
his bad decisions.
00:39:36.24\00:39:37.57
Let's go to Genesis chapter 32
and look together at verses 22
00:39:37.61\00:39:42.04
down to verse 31
00:39:42.21\00:39:44.15
and after we read that,
we have to ask the question,
00:39:44.18\00:39:46.21
what happened here to Jacob
00:39:46.25\00:39:47.75
and what spiritual
lesson can we draw from this.
00:39:47.78\00:39:51.19
Here it is, and it
says, "And he arose that night
00:39:51.22\00:39:54.59
Genesis 32 verses 22 to 31.
00:39:54.62\00:39:58.39
I speak fast sometimes,
I hit my New York stride,
00:39:58.46\00:40:02.43
here we are, Genesis
chapter 32 verses 22 to 31,
00:40:02.46\00:40:06.63
"And he arose that
night and took his two wives,
00:40:06.67\00:40:10.81
his two female servants,
00:40:10.84\00:40:12.64
and his eleven sons, and
crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
00:40:12.67\00:40:17.78
He took them, sent
them over the brook,
00:40:17.81\00:40:21.42
and sent over what he had.
00:40:21.45\00:40:24.39
Then Jacob was left alone;
00:40:24.42\00:40:27.26
and a Man wrestled with
him until the breaking of day.
00:40:27.29\00:40:31.36
Now when He saw that He
did not prevail against him,
00:40:31.39\00:40:35.43
He touched the
socket of his hip;
00:40:35.46\00:40:38.33
and the socket of
Jacob's hip was out of joint
00:40:38.37\00:40:41.70
as He wrestled with him.
00:40:41.74\00:40:44.51
And He said, 'Let Me go,
00:40:44.54\00:40:47.04
for the day breaks. '
00:40:47.08\00:40:49.51
But he said, 'I will not let
you go unless You bless me!'"
00:40:49.54\00:40:54.08
I got to make a point here
00:40:54.12\00:40:55.45
that's really in
the back of my mind,
00:40:55.48\00:40:57.25
some of us let go
just short of the blessing.
00:40:57.29\00:41:00.72
If you would just hold
on and wrestle with God
00:41:00.76\00:41:04.16
a little longer...
00:41:04.19\00:41:05.53
some of us are wrestling with
issues in our lives right now
00:41:05.56\00:41:07.83
hold on and say as he
did, "I will not let You go
00:41:07.86\00:41:12.33
until You bless me. "
00:41:12.40\00:41:14.47
We... we let go just shy
of the blessing... hold on
00:41:14.50\00:41:19.11
and wrestle with God...
00:41:19.14\00:41:20.48
wrestle with God
for your marriage.
00:41:20.51\00:41:22.41
Wrestle with God
for your children.
00:41:22.44\00:41:24.25
Wrestle with God
for your spiritual walk.
00:41:24.31\00:41:26.85
You know, it's better to wrestle
with God and get the blessing
00:41:26.88\00:41:29.48
that will come if
you do not give up...
00:41:29.52\00:41:32.49
if you do not relent...
00:41:32.52\00:41:33.96
wrestle with God and
the blessing will come
00:41:33.99\00:41:36.56
but some of us want
to avoid the wrestling.
00:41:36.59\00:41:39.13
Panel: Laughing...
00:41:39.16\00:41:40.50
Lomacang: The
wrestling has to happen
00:41:40.53\00:41:41.86
for the blessing to come.
00:41:41.90\00:41:43.23
So, if the Lord comes
into the darkness of your night
00:41:43.26\00:41:47.10
and allows you to embrace Him,
00:41:47.14\00:41:49.40
He's there not
for you to defeat Him
00:41:49.44\00:41:51.77
but for Him to bless you.
00:41:51.81\00:41:54.01
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:41:54.04\00:41:56.24
Lomacang: It's going to come
in the moments of wrestling.
00:41:56.28\00:41:58.01
Let's continue the story,
00:41:58.05\00:41:59.38
because I have four
points that go along with this.
00:41:59.41\00:42:01.78
We now start... go in verse...
00:42:01.82\00:42:04.89
verse 26,
00:42:04.92\00:42:08.02
"And He said, 'Let Me
go, for the day breaks. '
00:42:08.06\00:42:10.33
But he said, 'I will not
let You go unless You bless me!'
00:42:10.36\00:42:12.96
So He said to him,
'What is your name?'"
00:42:12.99\00:42:14.80
Did the... did
the Lord know that?
00:42:14.83\00:42:16.60
Panel: Yes.
Lomacang: You know the answer.
00:42:16.63\00:42:18.13
"He said, 'Jacob. '
00:42:18.17\00:42:19.50
And He said, 'Your name shall
no longer be called a deceiver,
00:42:19.53\00:42:23.87
but Israel; for you have
struggled with God and with men,
00:42:23.91\00:42:28.44
and have prevailed. '"
00:42:28.48\00:42:29.81
That's why the word
"Israel" means Overcomer.
00:42:29.84\00:42:32.88
Jacob...
Deceiver... Israel... Overcomer.
00:42:32.91\00:42:35.42
"You shall...
because you have prevailed...
00:42:35.45\00:42:37.82
Then Jacob
asked... " in verse 29,
00:42:37.85\00:42:40.56
"Tell me Your name, I pray. "
00:42:40.59\00:42:42.29
And He said,
00:42:42.32\00:42:44.19
"Why is that you
ask about My name?
00:42:44.23\00:42:47.20
Why is it that you
ask about My name?"
00:42:47.23\00:42:50.20
And He blessed him there.
00:42:50.23\00:42:52.43
So Jacob called the
name of the place Peniel:
00:42:52.47\00:42:55.70
"For I have seen
God face to face,
00:42:55.74\00:42:58.21
and my life is preserved. "
00:42:58.24\00:42:59.97
Just as he crossed over
Penuel the sun rose on him,
00:43:00.01\00:43:04.51
and he limped on his hip. "
00:43:04.55\00:43:07.18
Now, this is a very
interesting parallel here.
00:43:07.22\00:43:09.32
It's better to
limp into righteousness
00:43:09.35\00:43:11.45
than to walk into wickedness.
00:43:11.52\00:43:13.25
Panel: Hmmm... hmmm... hmmm...
00:43:13.29\00:43:14.92
Lomacang: It is better to
limp and live righteously...
00:43:14.96\00:43:16.93
to be in great shape
and live a wicked life.
00:43:16.96\00:43:20.66
This is a... the
result of his wickedness
00:43:20.70\00:43:22.76
was a reminder in his limp.
00:43:22.80\00:43:25.40
You know, that's
why the Lord says,
00:43:25.43\00:43:27.14
"It's better to enter
into heaven with one eye
00:43:27.17\00:43:29.17
than to hell with two or...
00:43:29.20\00:43:30.54
with one arm and...
and to hell with two. "
00:43:30.57\00:43:32.97
The limp of this life is worth
the joy that comes hereafter.
00:43:33.01\00:43:36.95
Panel: That's right, amen.
00:43:36.98\00:43:38.31
Lomacang: And in the statement
that was made here in...
00:43:38.35\00:43:40.85
in Patriarchs and Prophets,
I will choose not to read it
00:43:40.88\00:43:43.69
if time prevails,
I will go back to it
00:43:43.72\00:43:45.35
but let me bring out a couple
of points here because we find
00:43:45.39\00:43:48.42
later on... the
life that he lived
00:43:48.46\00:43:51.43
left him pretty
much not very much
00:43:51.46\00:43:54.20
but a... but a...
but a request was made
00:43:54.23\00:43:57.03
to... about his
final resting place
00:43:57.07\00:43:59.83
and with the meagre
sum of what he had left,
00:43:59.87\00:44:04.67
the question is,
00:44:04.71\00:44:06.04
who else was buried where
Jacob requested to be buried.
00:44:06.07\00:44:11.58
We find the answer in
Genesis chapter 49 and
00:44:11.61\00:44:16.82
let's look at verse 31,
00:44:16.89\00:44:19.62
"There they buried
Abraham and Sarah his wife;
00:44:19.65\00:44:23.49
there they buried
Isaac and Rebekah his wife;
00:44:23.53\00:44:27.20
and there I buried Leah.
00:44:27.23\00:44:30.03
The field and the cave
that is there was purchased
00:44:30.07\00:44:34.47
from his son Heth.
00:44:34.50\00:44:35.94
And when Jacob had
finished commanding his sons,
00:44:35.97\00:44:38.64
he drew his
feet up into the bed,
00:44:38.67\00:44:41.94
and breathed his last, and
was gathered unto his people. "
00:44:41.98\00:44:45.61
In the closing
moments of his life...
00:44:45.65\00:44:47.65
in spite of all of
the deception of his past,
00:44:47.68\00:44:50.09
in spite of the
limited blessings,
00:44:50.12\00:44:52.42
his request was still promised.
00:44:52.45\00:44:54.69
Four quick takeaways
in a minute and 2 seconds,
00:44:54.72\00:44:57.09
Your present decisions will
impact your future options...
00:44:57.13\00:45:00.40
your present decision will
impact your future options.
00:45:00.43\00:45:03.70
Hosea 8 verse 7,
00:45:03.73\00:45:05.13
"They sow the wind, and
they reap the whirlwind. "
00:45:05.17\00:45:08.10
Once again, your
present decisions
00:45:08.14\00:45:10.57
are the seeds of
your future product.
00:45:10.61\00:45:13.01
"Whatever a man sows,
that shall he also reap. "
00:45:13.04\00:45:16.98
Galatians 6 and verse 7
00:45:17.01\00:45:19.11
and when you are
blessed... you will be blessed.
00:45:19.15\00:45:22.25
2nd Corinthians 9 verse 6,
00:45:22.28\00:45:24.49
"He who sows bountifully
will also reap bountifully. "
00:45:24.55\00:45:28.32
God blesses us
not because of us...
00:45:28.36\00:45:31.36
God blesses us in spite of us.
00:45:31.39\00:45:33.80
And finally,
liberality begets liberality.
00:45:33.83\00:45:37.27
Luke 6 and verse 38,
00:45:37.30\00:45:39.33
"Give, and it
will be given to you:
00:45:39.37\00:45:40.74
good measure pressed
down, shaken together,
00:45:40.77\00:45:43.41
and running over will
be put into your bosom.
00:45:43.44\00:45:46.01
For with the same
measure that you use,
00:45:46.04\00:45:48.94
it will be
measured back to you. "
00:45:48.98\00:45:51.61
When we get to heaven,
00:45:51.65\00:45:53.05
I am looking forward to meeting
the man that may be limping.
00:45:53.08\00:45:56.28
Panel: Hmmm...
laughter... that's good.
00:45:56.32\00:45:58.55
Ryan: Amen, thank you, Pastor,
00:45:58.62\00:45:59.95
thank you, guys, so much
for the powerful lessons.
00:45:59.99\00:46:01.96
I have Thursday's
lesson, my name is Ryan Day
00:46:01.99\00:46:04.19
and I am studying...
we're going to study together
00:46:04.23\00:46:07.13
Moses in Egypt
00:46:07.16\00:46:08.56
and the Lesson brings out
that the character of Moses
00:46:08.60\00:46:11.87
dominated the early
years of sacred history.
00:46:11.90\00:46:14.74
He was kept alive in
the providence of God
00:46:14.80\00:46:17.61
who worked through
an enterprising mother
00:46:17.64\00:46:20.41
and a caring sister.
00:46:20.44\00:46:21.78
Of course when Pharaoh's
daughter found baby Moses
00:46:21.81\00:46:24.11
in the ark of bulrushes,
00:46:24.15\00:46:25.48
she asked his Hebrew
mother to care for him
00:46:25.51\00:46:28.22
and paid her to do so
00:46:28.25\00:46:29.98
and, of course,
the lesson brings out
00:46:30.02\00:46:32.05
that what a
blessed challenge this was
00:46:32.09\00:46:34.06
for a young mother
who was in exile and slave
00:46:34.12\00:46:37.29
Jochebed... I guess we
say Yochebed... Jochebed...
00:46:37.33\00:46:40.43
however you say her name,
00:46:40.46\00:46:41.80
only had 12 years to
teach her child to pray
00:46:41.83\00:46:44.37
and, of course, to
trust and honor God
00:46:44.40\00:46:46.37
and shape his
character for a life of service.
00:46:46.40\00:46:48.60
And, of course, for years, Moses
was trained in the royal courts
00:46:48.67\00:46:51.67
of Egypt and this
brings... brings out this...
00:46:51.71\00:46:54.11
in Acts chapter 7,
verses 20 through 22,
00:46:54.14\00:46:56.85
and if you read
those texts it says,
00:46:56.88\00:46:59.55
"At this time Moses was born,
00:46:59.61\00:47:01.22
and was well pleasing to God;
00:47:01.28\00:47:02.88
and he was brought up in his
father's house for three months.
00:47:02.92\00:47:08.82
But when he was set out,
Pharaoh's daughter took him away
00:47:08.86\00:47:12.26
and brought him
up as her own son.
00:47:12.29\00:47:14.90
And Moses was learned in
all the wisdom of the Egyptians,
00:47:14.93\00:47:17.70
and was mighty in
words and deeds. "
00:47:17.73\00:47:20.90
This is just a little bit
of the background of course
00:47:20.94\00:47:22.80
of Moses' life early on
00:47:22.84\00:47:25.51
being raised up as
a young man in Egypt
00:47:25.54\00:47:28.08
and, I mean, my goodness,
00:47:28.11\00:47:29.81
you're talking
about... in this situation...
00:47:29.84\00:47:31.88
rags to riches,
00:47:31.91\00:47:33.25
I mean literally the
brother went from a slave family
00:47:33.28\00:47:35.78
to, you know, the upper
courts of... of... of Egypt
00:47:35.82\00:47:38.92
but the blessing
asking the question,
00:47:38.95\00:47:41.79
but ultimately Moses
was confronted with reality
00:47:41.82\00:47:46.23
that he had to address
00:47:46.26\00:47:47.60
because, of course, he
became known of his history...
00:47:47.63\00:47:51.17
who his people were
00:47:51.20\00:47:52.53
and was he going to continue
in the path of the Egyptians,
00:47:52.57\00:47:55.84
would he
continue down that path of
00:47:55.87\00:47:58.51
technically... unrighteousness
and pagan culture
00:47:58.54\00:48:02.18
or would he eventually
be brought to the decision
00:48:02.21\00:48:05.81
of living among his people
00:48:05.85\00:48:08.55
and... and basically
being brought in harmony
00:48:08.58\00:48:11.95
with the same reality
that his people were having
00:48:12.19\00:48:14.29
and, of course, the Bible
brings this out very clearly
00:48:14.32\00:48:17.13
of what Moses
ultimately left behind.
00:48:17.16\00:48:19.36
Hebrews chapter 11...
that great faith chapter...
00:48:19.39\00:48:21.76
verses 23 through
29, let's go there,
00:48:21.80\00:48:25.00
Hebrews chapter
11 verses 23 to 29
00:48:25.03\00:48:27.74
and it gives us
a clear indication
00:48:27.77\00:48:30.44
as to what Moses left behind
00:48:30.47\00:48:32.67
and what decision
he ultimately made.
00:48:32.74\00:48:34.54
Verse 23 of Hebrews 11 says,
00:48:34.58\00:48:37.95
"By faith Moses,
when he was born,
00:48:37.98\00:48:39.88
was hidden three
months by his parents,
00:48:39.91\00:48:42.55
because they saw he
was a beautiful child;
00:48:42.58\00:48:45.12
and they were not
afraid of the king's command.
00:48:45.15\00:48:47.96
By faith Moses,
when he became of age,
00:48:47.99\00:48:51.76
refused to call the
son of Pharaoh's daughter,
00:48:51.79\00:48:55.16
choosing rather
to suffer affliction
00:48:55.20\00:48:58.37
with the people of God
00:48:58.40\00:48:59.73
than to enjoy the
passing pleasures of sin,
00:48:59.77\00:49:02.64
esteeming the reproach of Christ
00:49:02.67\00:49:04.74
greater riches than
the treasurers in Egypt;
00:49:04.77\00:49:07.48
for he looked to the reward. "
00:49:07.51\00:49:09.98
Verse 27,
00:49:10.01\00:49:11.48
"By faith he forsook Egypt,
00:49:11.51\00:49:12.98
not fearing the
wrath of the king;
00:49:13.01\00:49:14.72
for he endured as
seeing Him who is invisible.
00:49:14.75\00:49:18.32
By faith, he kept the Passover
and the sprinkling of blood,
00:49:18.35\00:49:22.26
lest he who destroyed the
firstborn should touch them. "
00:49:22.29\00:49:26.13
And then, verse 29,
00:49:26.16\00:49:27.66
By faith, they passed through
the Red Sea as by dry land,
00:49:27.70\00:49:30.93
whereas the
Egyptians, attempting to do so,
00:49:30.97\00:49:33.34
were drowned. "
00:49:33.37\00:49:35.04
So, that's a real
quick kind of juiced version
00:49:35.07\00:49:37.54
of what decision ultimately
Moses decided to make.
00:49:37.57\00:49:40.01
He wanted to relate and to
be joined in with his people
00:49:40.04\00:49:43.48
because he was not going
to take on the path of...
00:49:43.51\00:49:46.65
of unrighteousness...
the path of paganism...
00:49:46.68\00:49:48.88
the path of a
polytheistic culture
00:49:48.92\00:49:51.05
worshipping many false gods
00:49:51.09\00:49:52.52
when he could
worship the one true God.
00:49:52.55\00:49:54.92
We want to really break down
what Moses ultimately gave up,
00:49:54.96\00:49:58.29
we are talking
about a man of faith
00:49:58.33\00:50:00.16
and what he really
was confronted with,
00:50:00.20\00:50:02.40
when you consider
the life he had in Egypt
00:50:02.43\00:50:04.57
and what was set up for him
00:50:04.60\00:50:06.17
as not just...
just any ordinary man,
00:50:06.20\00:50:08.64
this Brother would have
eventually probably became
00:50:08.67\00:50:11.44
maybe even a Pharaoh...
00:50:11.47\00:50:13.17
but for sure the
second highest man in Egypt.
00:50:13.21\00:50:15.74
Egypt was most
likely during Moses' time...
00:50:15.78\00:50:18.25
the greatest superpower in
the known world at the time
00:50:18.28\00:50:21.32
and, of course, the abundance
of wealth was immeasurable
00:50:21.35\00:50:24.32
in comparison to other nations.
00:50:24.35\00:50:25.82
Treasures and resources unlike
any other nation at that time
00:50:25.85\00:50:29.62
and, of course, the Nile River
which flowed right through Egypt
00:50:29.66\00:50:33.43
nourished perhaps the
most lush and fertile land
00:50:33.46\00:50:36.13
which made Egypt
champions of agriculture
00:50:36.16\00:50:38.50
which boosted their
already booming economy.
00:50:38.53\00:50:40.84
So, this brother was set, right?
00:50:40.87\00:50:42.20
He's set in a very,
very rich environment,
00:50:42.24\00:50:44.47
a very rich nation...
00:50:44.51\00:50:45.84
vast and advanced
architecture and beauty...
00:50:45.87\00:50:48.14
Egypt had one of the most
advanced and powerful militaries
00:50:48.18\00:50:51.21
at the time
00:50:51.25\00:50:52.58
and, of course, again, contrary
to Christian principles and...
00:50:52.61\00:50:56.28
and... and... in...
in the biblical truth,
00:50:56.32\00:50:58.52
Pharaohs and Egyptian governors
00:50:58.55\00:51:00.79
were known to have
many wives and concubines.
00:51:00.82\00:51:03.32
And then, of course,
the last note I read here is
00:51:03.36\00:51:05.79
they had some of the most
advanced educated scientists
00:51:05.83\00:51:08.56
and sciences in the world
00:51:08.63\00:51:10.83
so, Egypt was... was a
very, very advanced region,
00:51:10.87\00:51:15.40
very advanced
culture during that time
00:51:15.44\00:51:17.84
and that's what
Moses was giving up.
00:51:17.87\00:51:20.28
What was he giving it up for?
00:51:20.31\00:51:22.01
You just read the Scripture,
read the story of Scripture,
00:51:22.04\00:51:25.15
it's like, "Whoa... " many
of us would look at it and go,
00:51:25.21\00:51:28.12
"Ah, I think I'll take Egypt,
I'm going to take the easy way,
00:51:28.15\00:51:31.02
I'm not going to take
this... this hard way. "
00:51:31.05\00:51:33.25
We're talking about
eventually having to be exiled
00:51:33.29\00:51:35.46
from his
family... and this people...
00:51:35.49\00:51:37.36
the culture that he grew up in
00:51:37.39\00:51:38.73
because of a bad
decision he made...
00:51:38.76\00:51:40.13
he goes into the wilderness
in exile for many years
00:51:40.16\00:51:42.63
but eventually comes
back and now has to endure
00:51:42.66\00:51:45.10
ten devastating plagues...
00:51:45.13\00:51:46.84
of Egyptian armies attempting
to wipe out him and his people
00:51:46.87\00:51:51.41
Israelites...
00:51:51.47\00:51:52.81
he went through some
literal bitter water experiences
00:51:52.84\00:51:55.91
but also a lack of water...
00:51:55.94\00:51:57.85
also a lack of
food for the Israelites
00:51:57.88\00:52:00.68
in a couple of occasions...
00:52:00.72\00:52:02.05
complaining and
grumbling by the Israelites
00:52:02.08\00:52:04.12
refusing to heed to instruction
00:52:04.19\00:52:06.19
as God called them
stubborn and stiff-necked,
00:52:06.22\00:52:08.46
these were the
people he was dealing with.
00:52:08.49\00:52:10.53
A lack of faith from the people
00:52:10.56\00:52:12.29
who ended up right
there at Mount Sinai,
00:52:12.36\00:52:14.70
God giving him...
establishing the covenant,
00:52:14.73\00:52:17.03
giving them the Ten Commandments
00:52:17.07\00:52:18.57
and before Moses
could even return,
00:52:18.60\00:52:20.04
back down from the mountain,
00:52:20.07\00:52:21.40
there the people are
worshipping the golden calf,
00:52:21.44\00:52:23.71
breaking God's commandments.
00:52:24.34\00:52:25.67
He had to deal with
warring tribes in the desert
00:52:25.71\00:52:27.71
like the
Midianites and the Amalekites.
00:52:27.74\00:52:29.71
Settling disputes all
the time among his people,
00:52:29.74\00:52:33.08
traveling in hostile and
harsh climate conditions.
00:52:33.11\00:52:36.38
Rebellion and
opposition from his own family
00:52:36.42\00:52:39.72
and, of course,
he also had to endure
00:52:39.75\00:52:42.36
a horrible, dreadful
invasion of deadly snakes.
00:52:42.39\00:52:45.86
Forty years... okay...
00:52:45.89\00:52:48.00
40 years wandering
in a dry desolate desert
00:52:48.03\00:52:51.27
and, of course,
at the end of it all,
00:52:51.30\00:52:53.50
refused entry
into the Promised Land.
00:52:53.54\00:52:55.67
I mean, this
Brother gave up a lot
00:52:55.70\00:52:57.77
and, again, we're
not uplifting the man,
00:52:57.81\00:53:00.31
we uplift the God in the man
00:53:00.38\00:53:01.84
but at the end of the day,
Moses had to make a decision.
00:53:01.88\00:53:04.65
He weighed in the balances,
00:53:04.68\00:53:06.15
he could see
what it possibly was
00:53:06.18\00:53:07.85
that he was
going to have to endure
00:53:07.88\00:53:09.48
and he decided to
suffer with his people
00:53:09.52\00:53:12.99
and to relate to his people
00:53:13.02\00:53:15.02
and to walk in the way and
in the righteousness of God.
00:53:15.06\00:53:17.76
You know, we are also the same.
00:53:17.79\00:53:19.53
We have sometimes the same
decisions that we must make
00:53:19.56\00:53:23.06
also. Are we going to walk down
the broad path of destruction?
00:53:23.10\00:53:26.57
It may be smooth
now... it may be calm now...
00:53:26.60\00:53:28.44
it may be very nice
and... and... and pleasant now,
00:53:28.47\00:53:31.74
but it leads to destruction.
00:53:31.77\00:53:33.71
Are we going to take that path
00:53:33.74\00:53:35.34
that may have some
bumps in the roads...
00:53:35.38\00:53:36.78
may have some challenges...
00:53:36.81\00:53:38.15
may have some difficulties
and some trials and tribulations
00:53:38.18\00:53:41.42
along the way but
ultimately it leads to life.
00:53:41.45\00:53:44.72
We also must make the decision,
00:53:44.75\00:53:47.36
"Are we going to walk
in the ways of the Lord
00:53:47.39\00:53:50.03
or are we going to
relate and also endure
00:53:50.06\00:53:52.66
the sufferings... also that
Christ must have and could have
00:53:52.69\00:53:55.83
and also went through.
00:53:55.86\00:53:57.20
1st Peter chapter 4
verses 12 through 16,
00:53:57.23\00:54:00.17
and verse 19 highlights
this and it should be...
00:54:00.20\00:54:03.64
we should consider it an honor
00:54:03.67\00:54:05.17
to be able to
suffer as Christ suffered.
00:54:05.21\00:54:07.34
It says, "Beloved,
do not think it strange
00:54:07.38\00:54:09.48
concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you,
00:54:09.51\00:54:12.85
as though some
strange thing happened to you;
00:54:12.88\00:54:15.72
but rejoice to the
extent that you partake
00:54:15.78\00:54:18.59
of Christ's sufferings,
00:54:18.62\00:54:20.36
that when His glory is revealed,
00:54:20.39\00:54:22.16
you also... " excuse me...
00:54:22.19\00:54:24.36
"you may also be
glad with exceeding joy.
00:54:24.39\00:54:27.70
For the Spirit of
glory of God rests upon you.
00:54:27.73\00:54:30.47
On their part, he is blasphemed,
by on your part, He is
00:54:30.50\00:54:34.70
glorified. But let none of you
suffer as a murderer, a thief,
00:54:34.74\00:54:38.91
an evildoer, or as a busybody
in other people's matters.
00:54:38.94\00:54:41.31
Yet if anyone
suffers as a Christian,
00:54:41.34\00:54:43.71
let him not be ashamed... "
00:54:43.75\00:54:45.88
Moses wasn't ashamed...
00:54:45.91\00:54:47.32
he suffered with his people
00:54:47.35\00:54:48.68
but he knew there was a promised
end... a blessed end to it all
00:54:48.72\00:54:52.99
"So let him not be ashamed,
00:54:53.02\00:54:54.89
but let him glorify
God in this matter. "
00:54:54.92\00:54:57.43
And of course verse 19,
00:54:57.46\00:54:58.79
"Therefore, let those who suffer
according to the will of God
00:54:58.83\00:55:01.90
commit their souls
to Him in doing good,
00:55:01.93\00:55:04.60
as to a faithful Creator. "
00:55:04.63\00:55:07.07
But at the end of the
day if we're going to partake
00:55:07.10\00:55:10.41
also in those trials
that Christ went through,
00:55:10.44\00:55:13.78
and to count it
all a joy to be...
00:55:13.81\00:55:15.74
to suffer as Christ suffered.
00:55:15.78\00:55:17.25
We also have to
have the proper mindset.
00:55:17.28\00:55:19.61
Moses had the mind of his God.
00:55:19.65\00:55:22.28
We must have the mind of Christ,
00:55:22.32\00:55:24.92
that mind which was
also in Christ Jesus
00:55:24.95\00:55:27.46
and, of course, 1st John
chapter 2 verses 15 through 17
00:55:27.49\00:55:31.69
highlights for us
and reminds us of what
00:55:31.73\00:55:34.53
ultimate decision we have today
00:55:34.56\00:55:36.46
and that is, "Do
not love the world
00:55:36.50\00:55:38.37
or the things of the world.
00:55:38.40\00:55:39.93
If anyone loves the world,
00:55:39.97\00:55:41.40
the love of the
Father is not in him.
00:55:41.44\00:55:42.87
for all that is in the
world... the lust of the flesh,
00:55:42.90\00:55:45.47
the lust of the eyes,
00:55:45.54\00:55:46.88
and the pride of life...
00:55:46.91\00:55:48.24
is not of the
Father but is of the world.
00:55:48.28\00:55:50.21
And this world...
it's passing away,
00:55:50.25\00:55:52.61
and the lust of it;
00:55:52.68\00:55:54.02
but he who does the
will of God abides forever. "
00:55:54.05\00:55:57.02
Moses was a mighty man of God.
00:55:57.05\00:55:58.72
Yes, Moses once
lived and dwelt in Egypt,
00:55:58.75\00:56:01.96
he once was an Egyptian
00:56:01.99\00:56:03.36
but he
ultimately decided to become
00:56:03.39\00:56:05.83
that blessed seed of Abraham.
00:56:05.86\00:56:08.13
Jill: Amen, thank you so
much Brother Ryan, Pastor John,
00:56:08.16\00:56:11.47
Brother Johnny and Shelley.
00:56:11.50\00:56:12.93
What an incredible study.
00:56:12.97\00:56:14.30
I want to give
each one of you a moment
00:56:14.34\00:56:15.97
to share a final thought.
00:56:16.00\00:56:17.34
Shelley: Thinking
about radical obedience...
00:56:17.37\00:56:20.61
Moses... Abraham
was the father of us all
00:56:20.64\00:56:24.21
is the father of us all.
00:56:24.25\00:56:25.65
Genesis 26:5
says that Abraham...
00:56:25.68\00:56:28.58
this is God speaking,
"kept... obeyed My voice...
00:56:28.62\00:56:32.69
kept My charge, My commandments,
00:56:32.72\00:56:34.66
My statutes, and My laws. "
00:56:34.69\00:56:36.36
Abraham knew that
God was his shield
00:56:36.42\00:56:40.20
and exceedingly great reward.
00:56:40.26\00:56:42.46
He gave up
everything to follow Him
00:56:42.50\00:56:45.30
because he looked for
the city that's coming.
00:56:45.33\00:56:49.14
Dinzey: Thank you so much.
00:56:49.20\00:56:50.91
When we consider Lot
and the decisions he made,
00:56:50.94\00:56:53.88
these things are set
for us for an example
00:56:53.94\00:56:57.35
so that we can avoid unnecessary
suffering in this world.
00:56:57.38\00:57:01.88
Lomacang: With Christ involved,
00:57:01.92\00:57:04.39
the discomfort of your present
00:57:04.42\00:57:06.35
will yield to the
blessings of your future.
00:57:06.39\00:57:08.72
Be patient and wrestle with God.
00:57:08.76\00:57:10.86
Jill: Amen. Ryan: Amen.
00:57:10.89\00:57:12.33
I just want to reiterate
the text I read earlier.
00:57:12.36\00:57:14.20
1st Peter chapter 4 verse 19,
00:57:14.23\00:57:16.03
"Therefore let those who suffer
according to the will of God
00:57:16.06\00:57:18.83
commit their souls
to Him in doing good,
00:57:18.87\00:57:21.17
as to a faithful Creator. "
00:57:21.20\00:57:23.61
Jill: Amen...
00:57:23.64\00:57:24.97
this week we've been looking
at laying up treasure in heaven.
00:57:25.01\00:57:27.98
I want to leave you
with Romans 15 verse 4,
00:57:28.01\00:57:30.65
it says, "Whatever
things were written before
00:57:30.68\00:57:33.28
were written for our learning,
00:57:33.31\00:57:35.38
that we through patience
and comfort of the Scriptures
00:57:35.42\00:57:38.49
might have hope. "
00:57:38.52\00:57:40.12
These men of God...
00:57:40.16\00:57:41.69
these Old
Testament heroes of faith
00:57:41.72\00:57:44.16
as we see their
sometimes mistakes
00:57:44.23\00:57:46.59
and their decisions to
follow God can inspire us today
00:57:46.63\00:57:51.47
that we need to make that choice
00:57:51.50\00:57:53.64
in radical obedience
00:57:53.67\00:57:55.00
and to lay up
treasure in heaven.
00:57:55.04\00:57:57.11
I invite you to
join us next week...
00:57:57.14\00:57:59.14
Lesson Number 7:
Unto the Least of These.
00:57:59.17\00:58:03.14