THE SMUGGLER

PRAYER - "Repenting for Someone Else"

Hezekiah Prayed

Who would you pray for if you knew YOUR prayers would prevent harsh judgment for sins? Hezekiah repented for the people's failures, and God showed mercy.

2 Chronicles 30:18-20 - "...had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one that prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleaned according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people."  Lets read the story. Bible

PRINCIPALS - "Ishmael"

Sarai brought Hagar to Abraham
To have a son with. The child
was Ismauel. But God rejested
Ismauel to place his blessing on.
Isaac was born and he received
The blessing from God.
The Story

This story is enormously important today. One-fourth the world's population (Muslims) believe God's Abrahamic covenant was through Ishmael, not Isaac. But Ishmael was a surrogate child. His mother despised Sarai. He mocked Sarai. They both had bad attitudes. That is why they were cast away. God TOLD Abraham to put them away. God said Ishmael's descendants would be many, wild, and against every man. Abraham circumcised Ishmael at age 13, but today, the Qu'ran does not teach circumcision.

Genesis 17:21 - "But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee."  Lets read the story. Bible
PRINCIPLES - "Law of Diminishing Return"

Right now ask Jesus Christ to forgive you
of all your sins.  Here is a deeper study.
Into His Marvelous Light

 

Life on earth has little promise. In economics, any system that requires constantly increasing input to maintain equal output is said to have a diminishing return. That law dominates this world. Alcoholics require more liquor. Drug addicts need more drugs. More money. More food. More sex. More parties. Bigger houses. Fancier cars. Solomon concluded that life is a vain pursuit. Solution? Seek God's kingdom - only God can give unlimited satisfaction with no diminishing return.

Ecclesiastes 6:7 - "All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled."  Lets read the story. Bible

   PROPHECIES - "The Time of Life"

The angel spoke and Sarah laughed
God's Thoughts

Sarah was ninety years old when the LORD told Abraham she would conceive. They both laughed. But God had the last laugh. He ordered them to call the baby Isaac - "laughter." God works on a schedule, but we do not always know His schedule unless He chooses to tell us what it is. If God says, "nine months from now," get ready! 

Genesis 18:13-15 - "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."  Lets read the story. Bible

 

The Smuggler