This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Stand Firm Trust God", Genesis 26:1-25, 8./25/2019

            

STAND FIRM, TRUST GOD

Gen 26:1-25

TOUGH TIMES ARE IN GOD’S CONTROL

V:1-3. Now there was a famine in the land — besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time — and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. 2 The Lord  appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. 3 Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham.

A. What other people fear, people of God need not fear.

   1. A famine was something to fear.

   2. Certainly, you would want to get to a place where there

      is no famine.

   3. The man/woman of God need not fear what others fear

       because God is in control.

B. What others run from, the man/of man of God can stand firm.

    1. While others perish in a famine, the man/woman of God can

        prosper.

   2. Just because a situation affects the world one way, does not

       mean you under God will be affected the same way.

 C. In any troubling situation, before we panic, call on God

    1. God has plans for event in our lives

        a. Isaac was married at 40 years of age.

        b. Isaac had twin boys at 60 years of age

        c. God used the events in Isaac life to prepare him

           for role of being the father of many nations,

D. The famine was a test of Isaac’s faith.

   1. He failed the test, but God stepped in to assure Isaac

      that He would be taken care of during the famine.

 2. Isaac was getting ready to run, but God said stay where

    you are.

a.    His failure would affect his family.

b.   His failure would affect his servants.

c.    His failure would be a sign of weakness to his

enemies.

GOD’S PROMISES IN TOUGH TIMES

V:4-6.  I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspringa all nations on earth will be blessed, 5 because Abraham obeyed me and kept my requirements, my commands, my decrees and my laws." 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.

A. Having heard God Isaac stayed in Gerar

   1. We have to always be listening for God’s direction.

   2. There is more to life than we can see.

 B. God purpose for our lives is bigger than us and extends beyond

      our life span.

1.It is through our obedience to God that other families get

blessed.

2.There are families that are not yet born that will be blessed

by our obedience to God today.

3.Think about it. We are the blessed nations that God

    proclaimed to Isaac thousands of years ago.

Verses 7-11 tells of Isaac’s failure to trust God after the

the promise of God to him.

Isaac told the king that Rebekah was his sister to save his

life. There was no threat on his life, he just made it up

In his mind. Isaac did not consider the life of his wife

In his made up threat when he lied.

Luckily, we serve a God that steps in when we screw up to

Keep us from destroying the lives of others.

The king saw Isaac  caressing Rebekah and knew she was his

wife. The king scolded Isaac and ordered his men not to touch

Rebekah.

This was a failure on Isaac part to trust God with his life and the

lives of his family.

BLESSINGS IN TOUGH TIMES 

Gen 26:12-14

12 Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the Lord  blessed him. 13 The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy. 14 He had so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him.

A. To get us ready for the next stage of our spiritual             

     development, God has put us through some trials to show us

     our weakness.

1.   Isaac encounter with the king highlighted the weakness in

His faith.

2.   Trials and tribulations can show us areas we need to work

on.

3.   It is one thing to say you trust God, but it another thing to

Trust Him when you are in the middle of a problem.

4.   Not only did the trial show the weakness in Isaac faith but

Also his selfishness in putting his needs before the welfare

     of his wife, family and servants.

B. God blesses us in spite of our faults because His plan for

     us is bigger than us.

1.  God was getting Isaac ready for the next phase of His plan.

2.   Isaac would need to show his trust in God in mist of the

envy of the Philistines.

3.  When God blesses you, some folk will envy what you have.

4.   How you handle envy is also a test of your faith.

5.   Isaac need to understand that he with God was more than

the whole world against him.

TRUST GOD TO HANDLE TROUBLE IN TOUGH TIMES   

Gen 26:19-25

20 But the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen and said, "The water is ours!" So he named the well Esek,b because they disputed with him. 21 Then they dug another well, but they quarreled over that one also; so he named it Sitnah.c  22 He moved on from there and dug another well, and no one quarreled over it. He named it Rehoboth,d saying, "Now the Lord  has given us room and we will flourish in the land."

A. When you trust God to handle your situation, you can be the

better man.

1.    Even though the land was promised to Isaac and his

generations,  he did not try to take it at that time.

2.    Isaac dug a well, and the herdsmen of Gerar claimed it.

3.    Isaac dug another well, they claimed that to.

4.    Isaac dug a third well and the herdsmen of Gerar  left him alone.

B. Isaac trusted God and was blessed in his situation.   

PRAISE AND WORSHIP IN TOUGH TIMES

V:23-25 From there he went up to Beersheba. 24 That night the Lord  appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."

25 Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the Lord . There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

A.   We should always be in mode of worship and thanking God for

What He has done for us.

1.    Church begins when you worship God.

2. God will show up in your worship service.
3. God loves or sacrifice of praise.
4. We are not only responsible for our individual worship

But also involving our family members in worship of God.

B.   We should establish a place of worship dedicated to God.

1.    When we worship God, our family members will be affected.

2.     We set the examples for others to follow in worshipping

God.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

For More lessons follow me on facebook and visit my blogs:  revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Bible Basis, "Ministry Begins With Prayer"

THE WORK OF MINISTRY BEGINS WITH PRAYER

JOHN 5:1-10

Jesus spent much of His ministry around the sea of Galilee which is 700 feet below sea level. The trip to Jerusalem is 65 miles and would take 3 days of walking.

The elevation of Jerusalem is 2500 feet above sea level. The trip to Jerusalem from Galilee is an up hill walk.

The Sheep Gate is the gate where the lambs and sheep were brought

Into the temple to be offered for sacrifice. The Spiritual meaning of the Sheep Gate is death and offering of the Lamb (Jesus Christ)

John 5:1-10

 

THE MINISTRY MUST NOT BECOME STAGNENT   

John 5:1-3

After these things there was aa feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by athe sheep gate a pool, which is called bin 1Hebrew 2Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3

A.   The sheep pool is on the north end of the city out side the  

      temple wall.

1.    Jesus planned a trip to Jerusalem at the Jewish festival time to visit the a man at the Bethesda pool.

2.    The Bethesda pool was two pools covered with

Patios for the sick to sit or lie out of the sun.

3.    The word Bethesda means “house of mercy”. It was

A swimming bath.

B. Jesus is our house of mercy.

    1. His mercy endures for ever.

    2. For believers, the mercy of Jesus is unlimited.

    3. Jesus is the pool of living water.

MINISTRY MUST BE TAKEN TO PLACE WHERE PEOPLE NEED MINISTRY    

John 5:3-13

3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [1waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]

A. Here we have a mixture of the Word and tradition.

   1. It was the Word that stirred up the water in the pool and        

       made it a holy place of healing.

   2. It was tradition that the one who stepped in the water first

       was the only one that would be healed.

3.    They had their experience that the first in the water would be healed.

4.    No one tested the water to see if more would be healed who

entered the water.

B.   We hear of no cooperate prayer to God even though there was

A large crowd there to be healed.

  1. We do not hear that any teachers of the Words or priest are

      there at the time God visit the waters to witness His

      miracles or assist people to get in the water.

 2. Every year a miracle took place at the pool, but the House of

     prayer did  not claim God as the source of the miracle.

C. When the angel of the Lord enters the pool, it became

     Living water.

     1. There was healing in the water

     2. There was hope in the water

     3. There was joy in the water

     4. There was love in the water.

D. The thought of God ought to stir up our soul.

    1. The thought of God ought to draw us to the living

        water.

   2. People in need came to the water, but only one stepped in.

   3. It was tradition that limited the people’s faith in God.

   4. If God did it for one, He could do it for all.

   4. You shouldn’t let your traditions limit the power of God.

   6. You shouldn’t let your traditions limit the love of God.

GOD WILL PREPARE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE YOUR MINISTRY

5 A man was there who had been 1ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He *said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"

A. Jesus knows all about us.

    1. He knows what our needs are.

    2. He knows how long we have been in our present situation.

    3. He knows where we are and how we got to where we are.

    4. He knows what our desires are.

B. Jesus changes the focus from the place to Himself.

    1. Jesus makes our situation His priority.

    2. When we don’t know what to pray for, He comes to us.

    3. We are going to find out that this man did not know

        Jesus, yet Jesus showed up in his life.

    4. Jesus uses our ignorance to glorify Himself.

B. Jesus is not focused on your tradition. He is the living water

1. No need to wait by the pool for a healing, just go to Jesus

    in prayer.

2. The man was in the right place at the right time.

3. Sometime Jesus draws us into a relationship with Himself

    through our misery.

3. He had missed the troubling of the waters, but he didn’t

    miss the one who troubled the water.

4. He didn’t get a chance to get in the pool, but He

    met the one that filled the pool.

MINISTRY REQUIRES YOU TO SPEND TIME WITH THOSE IN NEED

7. The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when athe water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus *said to him, "aGet up, pick up your pallet and walk."

A. Sometimes people need to know that we are concerned about

    them before we can direct them to Jesus.

  1. Notice, Jesus does not identify Himself, He focuses on the

      man’s problem.

  2. The man does not ask Jesus what His name is, but he is

      glad to have someone talk about his problem.

  3. People who have no voice need an audience.

  4. They need to know someone cares.

  5. People what know you care unless you show you care.

B. If you can’t help the person, they will listen to your testimony

    About the one who can help them.

1.    When Jesus gets into your life, He will deliver you out of

Your situation.

2.    In verse 5, Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well

3.    Jesus listen to man’s explanation of why he couldn’t get

Into the water. (verse 6,7)

 

DON’T LET YOUR EXCUSES BE THE REASON FOR YOUR FAILURE 

C.   What is holding you back?

1.    What is keeping you from realizing your dream?

2.    The man does answer the question Jesus asked.

“Do you wish to get well”

3.    Instead he gives Jesus all his excuses for why he

couldn’t get to the water first.

4.    What excuses are you using for your failure?

5.    The man had been coming to the well many years.

a. He had being doing the same thing, but expecting

   different results.

b. Maybe he should have got to the pool earlier to get

    a front row seat.

 c. Maybe he should have requested who ever brought

     him to the well to stay with him.

6.    Jesus does not deal with your excuses.

a. Your excuses is what enable you to stop trying.

             b. Your excuses puts a wall between you and your

                 dreams.

SUCCESS FOLLOWS OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S COMMANDS

C. In verse 8 Jesus commands the man to do something he had

    not done in 38 years.

  1. Jesus expressed confidence that the man will walk.

  2. In Jesus command is His healing power.

  3. In Jesus command is His restoration power.

  4. In Jesus command is His love and compassion.

FAITH IS STRENGTHEN BY YOUR OBEDIENCE

9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

A. In Jesus command was the faith the man need to act on

    the command to walk.

   1. To each is given a measure of faith.

   2. The man didn’t know Jesus, so had no faith to call on,

       until Jesus gave it to him.

   3. “Get up pick up your pallet and walk”.

   4. In the man’s obedience to Jesus command was the

       healing, the restoration and strengthen of his body.

   5. In the obedience to Jesus command was all the training

       he need to walk. 

TRADITION IS A HINDERANCE TO GOD’S WORK

B. Jesus ignores the Jewish tradition of not working on the

    Sabbath day.

  1, The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

  2. His command put man in jeopardy of breaking the Jewish

      law.

  3. The man starts walking with his pallet.

  4. The man leaves Jesus without a word of thanksgiving.

  5. The man leaves Jesus without knowing His name.

  6. The man was so accustom to have folk do for him.

      a. Maybe he had not been taught to say think you.

      b. Maybe others had not required a thank you.

THE LAW DRAINS COMPASSION FROM THE HEART

10 So athe Jews were saying to the man who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and bit is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." 11 But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, 'Pick up your pallet and walk.'" 12 They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Pick up your pallet and walk'?"

A. Instead of being excited about the good work of Jesus,

 The Jewish leaders was concerned about their control.

1.   Instead of showing love for their brethren, the Jewish

leaders showed hatred for his recovery.

2.    There are people who would rather see you drown in your

sorrows than see you joyful in the Lord.

3.    There are people who are experts in spreading misery.

B. We serve a God who is the expert in joy, peace and well being.

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church