I FOUND LOVE WHILST MOURNING MY MUM
GENESIS 23-24
_____________________________________________________________________
“Sarah lived to be a hundred and twenty-seven years old. She died at Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to weep over her. Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead
The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Sir, listen to us. You are a mighty prince among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.” (Genesis 23:1-6)
“ So the field and the cave in it were deeded to Abraham by the Hittites as a burial site.” (Genesis 23:20)
The “Quadruple Lock” Promise to Abraham (Genesis 12)
- God’s People,
- in God’s Place,
- enjoying God’s Presence
- and God’s Prospering/Blessing (to everyone)
If we want God to Transform our lives, it’s going to take:
(i) Trust
– What new way do you need to trust the Lord in 2014?
(ii) Time.
– What are you trying to “microwave” when patience is called for?
The servant’s two criteria:
“you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites” (Genesis 24:3)
“ Only do not take my son back there.” (Genesis 24:8)
” Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master.” (Genesis 24:10)
“…gold and silver jewellery and articles of clothing…” (Genesis 24:53)
We should never be afraid to pray bold and specific prayers. We have a God who loves to answer them.
” Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. …May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’–let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor. 16 The girl was very beautiful, a virgin; no man had ever lain with her. She went down to the spring, filled her jar and came up again.
17 The servant hurried to meet her and said, “Please give me a little water from your jar.” 18 “Drink, my lord,” she said, and quickly lowered the jar to her hands and gave him a drink. 19 After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have finished drinking.” (Genesis 24:12-19)
“ Then the man bowed down and worshiped the LORD, 27 saying, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the LORD has led me on the journey to the house of my master’s relatives.” (Genesis 24:26-27)
It’s Not About Marriage…
1) Adam and Eve.
2) Isaac and Rebekah,
3) Samson and his Philistine wife –
4) Hosea and Gomer the unfaithful prostitute
5) Joseph and Mary.
” Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.” (Genesis 24:67)
God’s criteria
- Opposite gender (Genesis 2:24)
- Single (1Cor.7:39, Matthew 5:32)
- Christian (2Cor.6:14, 1Cor.7:39)
…It’s about an extraordinary servant of God’s people
- Obedient & Faithful
- Prayerful (24:12)
- Puts God first (24:33)
- Hard working
- Shrewd (Gen.24:33-50)
And points to an even greater servant
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
How are you going to grow in 2014?
Evaluate your week day by day, hour by hour, and work out how much time you give to: work, play, rest, sleep, relaxation, family, friends, serving the Lord. What would you have to sacrifice to double the time you spend serving the Lord?
If you want to help grow St James church and are willing to give time to make that possible, email barry(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)stjamesnewbarnet.com or speak to me after the service.
______________________________________________________________
I want to know more:
- To Discuss: book onto Christianity Explored www.stjamesnewbarnet.com/courses starting Wed Jan 15th 8pm
- To read: for men: The Code, by Carl Beech
- To read; God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible, Vaughan Roberts