PRAYER - "Rachel's Distress"
Laban made Jacob marry his oldest daughter, Leah, before he could take Rachel, the younger. Leah had four sons, but Rachel was barren. She verbalized her despair to God in prayer. After some time, she gave her handmaiden to Jacob, who then bore Dan. Dan, meaning "judge," became a tribe known for its judges, including Samson. Their homeland was the northern-most territory of Israel, above Galilee, against Lebanon.
Genesis 30:6 - "Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan."
PRINCIPALS - "Eliezer"
Abraham sent his eldest servant (presumably his steward, Eliezer) to find a wife for Isaac in the homeland of his grandfather, Nahor, in Mesopotamia. At one time, Eliezer had been the heir to Abraham's wealth, but after Isaac was born, that changed. Nevertheless, Eliezer was privileged to see God working miraculously for his master. I am thinking of the prodigal son who said, "How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare?" Any place in God's service is good.
Genesis 15:2 - "...the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus."
PRINCIPLES - "Freed Slaves"
Slavery existed on every continent before written history. Almost every culture practiced slavery. Greece, China, and Africa had slavery for 1000 years. The nation of Israel began in Egyptian slavery. Jewish law prescribed humane treatment of slaves. Christian teachings called for brotherly kindness and mutual respect among masters and servants. Eventually, slavery was seen as immoral. There is only one sovereign master who owns us all - God, Himself. He is altogether loving, kind and benevolent toward those who honor Him.
John 8:36 - "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."
PROPHECIES - "I Will Not Leave Thee"
When God spoke to Jacob in the dream at Bethel, he prophesied of Israel being scattered to the North, South, East and West. Then He said, "I will bring thee again into this land." That was a prophecy for 3,700 years later, fulfilled in 1948 when the modern State of Israel was born. The United Nations, with Resolution 181, fulfilled a divine mandate, opening the door for God's people to return to their homeland.
Genesis 28:15 - "...I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of."
What a great three services we had this week witnessing the Lord Jesus heal many!
1.Miracle Service in Ocala Florida ClickHere
The Grace of Giving
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
– 2 Corinthians 8:7
How do you give to the Lord?
Do you just drop some money in the plate at church without much thought? Or do you just write a check to God at the first of every month and pay Him like you pay all your other bills?
You need to think about that because how you give is a matter of deep concern to God. He’s particular about how offerings are given. He won’t receive just any old thing however you feel like giving it.
In Malachi, for example, God refused to receive Israel’s offerings. They were bringing Him their defective animals, their blind calves and the injured ones they couldn’t do anything else with—and God said it offended Him. He told them, “You don’t have any reverence or honor for Me, and I’m not going to accept your offering.”
That kind of thing didn’t die out after the book of Malachi. Many today don’t have any reverence for God at offering time. People wait for the preacher to beat them over the head until they feel so guilty they have to reach down in their pocketbooks and get some money out.
But I want you to know, that’s offensive to God. In fact, He spoke directly to a friend of mine about it. The statement He made to her so impressed me, I wrote it down word for word.
It grieves Me when the Church takes offerings, He told her. I said to worship Me. Don’t take from the people, but let them bring their gifts and worship Me. Then they will see the fruits of their giving.
If you and I want God to be pleased with our offerings, we’re going to have to do what the Apostle Paul wrote about in 2 Corinthians 8:7. We’re going to have to learn to “excel in this grace of giving” (New International Version). We’re going to have to quit being casual about it and to learn to give with faith and reverence in worship.
Next time the offering plate is passed, don’t just drop your gift carelessly in the plate. Get serious. Determine to obey God. Worship Him with your money and be thankful. He’ll do more than simply receive it, He’ll open the windows of blessing for you.
God heals Heart patient Her Testimony
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