Sermon from January 31, 2010
Speaker: Glenn Record

I.    Introduction
      A.  Of the three patriarchs with whom God connected Himself, Jacob surprises me most
            1.  Deception. (Gen. 27)
            2.  Family favoritism, competition, strife (Gen. 25:28; 29:30; 37:3-4)
      B.  How is it that God exalted him to such honor? (Matt. 8:11)
      C.  There are lessons to be drawn from the life of Jacob for us today.
II.   Jacob valued the birthright of his family
      A.  “Esau despised his birthright” (Gen. 25:34)
            1.  He valued the immediate, temporal satisfaction
            2.  He had little use for the long-term, down-the-road promises
      B.  Jacob understood the value of birthright
            1.  He knew that the promises God made would strongly impact his future
            2.  He understood that the value was lasting, the difference eternal
      C.  We would do well to learn this value lesson from Jacob (Heb. 12:15-16)
            1.  Birthright (John 1:12), inheritance (1 Peter 1:3,4)
            2.  We must choose righteousness over sensuality in order to maintain our birthright (Eph. 5:5)
III.  Jacob suffered wrong while doing right.
      A.  There is a lesson in his life that our poor choices sometimes result in suffering.
            1.  Jacob participated in the treacherous deception his mother suggested. (see Gen. 25:23)
            2.  The consequences of the action were painful – and God let him experience them
      B.  Yet Jacob bore hardship with righteousness
            1.  He endured the ill treatment of Laban without reciprocating (Gen. 31:38-41)
            2.  Sought a path of peace, rather than violence, with Esau (Gen. 32:20)
      C.  God was able to bless him in spite of the circumstances (Gen. 31:42; 33:4; 35:27)
      D.  We need to take heed to these lessons about doing right in the face of wrong
             1.  1 Thes. 5:15; Rom. 12:17
             2.  1 Peter 2:21-23
             3.  Rom. 12:19; 2 Thes. 1:6-7
IV.   Jacob actively looked to God for blessings
      A.  Jacob invoked God’s assurance and promise when facing decision (Gen. 32:9-12)
             1.  When he faced the uncertainty of the confrontation with Esau, he appealed to God (32:11)
             2.  He called upon God to remember the promises He had made (32:12)
      B.  Jacob struggled with God, refusing to let go until he received the blessing (Gen. 32:24,ff)
             1.  I’m not sure I understand why God wrestled with Jacob.(Symbolic of the change in Jacob?)
             2.  God used the occasion to give him a new name (32:27-28)
             3.  Because of his willingness to face life’s challenges by calling on God, God blessed him
      C.  We must look to God in faith, knowing He rewards (Heb. 11:6)
             1.  God’s promises to us are sure (Heb. 6:17-19)
             2.  He gives us a new identity in Christ (Rev. 3:12; Eph. 2:12; Rom 8:37)
V.   Conclusion
       A.  We can apply valuable lessons to our lives from Israel
       B.  The examples of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob continue to speak to us.
            1.  We don’t have to be perfect – we will make mistakes
            2.  We do have to believe, and act upon, the promises of God.

January 31, 2010
Glenn Record

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Speaker: Glenn Record

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Sermon from January 10, 2010
Speaker: Glenn Record

The God of Who? What’s So Special About Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
Part 1:  What Did Abraham Ever Accomplish?
Hebrews 11:8-19

I.        Introduction
          A.     God introduced Himself to Moses by His relationship to men. (Exodus 3:6)
          B.     The God of Abraham …
                   1.      We know Abraham must be special. (John 8:33,39; Luke 16:22,ff)
                   2.      But what makes him special?
          C.     Abraham truly is remarkable
                   1.      I can’t begin to explain why God chose Abram the son of Terah of the city Ur
                   2.      But there is a trait of his that we must all inherit. (Gal. 3:29)
                   3.      Let’s look at the pattern of Abraham’s life and discover what we must have in common.
II.     The Faith of Abraham
          A.     Put briefly, that which makes Abraham stand out is faith. (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:1- 3; Gal 3:6; James
                    2:23)
          B.     It is true in our case as well as his that righteousness comes through faith
                   1.      But what does faith consist of?
                   2.      What makes up a faith that makes righteous?
III.   What did this faith encompass?
           A.    Believed promises
                   1.      God made promises to Abraham, repeated and expanded upon them, time after time.
                              a.       Gen. 12:1-3, Genesis 15, Genesis 17:4-8; 17:19, Gen. 22:17-18
                   2.      God didn’t always make it easy on Abraham to believe
                   3.      Yet Abraham did believe (Gen 15:6; Gal. 3:9, “the believer”)
           B.     Obeyed commands
                   1.      The promises of God were part of a covenant agreement.
                   2.       “By faith Abraham obeyed…” (Heb. 11:8; James 2:24)
                   3.      Hebrews 11 shows Abrahams faith was active (v. 8, 9, 17)
           C.     Lived righteously
                   1.      Abraham’s righteous living was also required for the promises (Genesis 18:19)
                   2.      He did live righteously – “Lived as an alien in the land of promise” (Heb 11:9 NASB)
                   3.      “Friend of God” (James 2:23)
                   4.      “God is not ashamed to be called their God” (Heb. 11:16)
IV.  Abraham is our model of faith
         A.     Abraham is the father of those who have such a faith (Galatians 3:7-9)
                   1.      In him, we see the quality of faith we must have
                   2.      Our faith must have the same traits, if it is to have the same benefit
         B.     We must believe the promises of God through Christ
                   1.      God makes promises to us in the covenant of Christ (John 3:16; 14:1-6)
                   2.      He doesn’t tell us everything that will happen; just the outcome. (John 15:15)
                   3.      Hebrews 11:6
         C.     We respond to these promises in “obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26)
                   1.      Luke 9:23; Romans 12:1-2; Gal. 3:26-29
         D.     We live righteously in relationship with Him rather than the world (Phil. 3:20; 1 Pet. 2:11)
V.     Conclusion
         A.     God did the marvelous things through Jesus Christ.
         B.     He asks us to do the ordinary things, like Abraham.
         C.     Will you follow the model of faith that Abraham showed?

January 10, 2010
Glenn Record