Genesis 30:17

"And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son."

One of several times in the Bible that God answers the prayer, but there was no prayer recorded. Jacob came out of the field and Leah went out to fetch him home with her for the night. And the beginning of our verse declares that God was answering a prayer that was not made out loud or recorded for us. But how many prayers of the heart go out hourly and the Lord knows them. How many unrecorded prayers for us? How many prayers not shared nor discussed with any one else, only the Lord knows in our silence. Earlier we had seen where Leah had left off bearing children. Only by guessing did we look at two possibilities: 1. she was not able to bear; or 2. Jacob had left her for Rachel, and she could not conceive. If the second reason is the cause, what would the prayer be from Leah that the Lord hearkened unto her? 'Bring me back my husband'. Or was her prayer give me more children? We don't know, but either case I could record volumes of those that are praying tonight the same things. Spouses praying for their spouses, to restore their love and attention. Divorce so rampant among the society, and even more frightening among the church today. Why? they have left their first love, whom they said they would not leave nor depart from until death. But I know of many an unhappy household tonight, becasue God is absent. And in the darkness and silence they pray, "Lord help me"; "Lord rescue them and save my marriage'. The Lord hears the prayers of His children just as He heard and answered Leah. What is it that goes forth form you tonight unto the Lord? What is it that you are laying before His holy throne and making request silently from your heart? Let us not ask amiss; let us not ask against His will; let us not ask for selfish reasons; let it be for His glory. For Leah to conceive and bear another son, it was honor unto the Lord. For nobody else could this but God. Crying out to the Lord for Him to shew Himself mighty towards His children. And God hearkened - the ears of the Lord are not deaf that He cannot hear; the eyes of the Lord are not blind that He cannot see, for He is the Lord God Almighty, omnipotent, and omnipresent. The Lord stands ready to do these things laid upon your heart. the prayers that have been breathed into you; do not take credit for holy passions, when we know that no good thing is in our flesh, it must come from the Lord. And when it is given unto us we are entrusted that the Lord wishes to do something through our prayers and intercessions. It is a holy work, and to these things, God hearkens. Can you not count the past of how many times the Lord God has hearkened?

Genesis 29:35

"And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing."

This is an ugly section of verses. we learn that in this double marriage of sisters there is favoritism toward Rachel over Leah. Inside the family there should never be favorites, but all equal in love, discipline and time. Leah eases her pain by consoling herself that becasue she has had four sons that this will make everything better. More is not always better in anything, unless it be more of Christ and more of the Holy Spirit. this verse begins, And she conceived again - God opens the womb and God is able to close the womb. The gift of a child is from the Lord for His Divine purpose. No matter how the child is conceived, whether by sin or purpose, the life of the child is the Lord's. And bare a son - this society always had pride about having a son. And I believe that it has to some degree continued to be boastful of sons. But again, what is the Lord's design and will, let the Lord create what He desires to accomplish His end. And we know that this son, Judah had a specific purpose. HE was the lineage of Christ. The passages in Luke and Matthew that give the generations of Jesus lead back to this 'son'. As already mentioned, God knows all the family lines of past, present and future. this brings us to the best part of this verse, "Now will I praise the Lord" - the fulness of God giving her four sons was more than she could stand and it spilled over into praise. Because of the sorrow, there was no mention of praising the Lord with the first three. Recognizing that every birth is life and death and is always to be counted as a gift for praising Him. It took her three births to get her to this point. I wonder if there are Christians today practicing the same rule of thumb. 'When the Lord gives me what I am asking, then I will praise and serve Him.' I know of many that are exercising selfish desires, 'Lord, if you give me this, then I will do what you want.' This is not the true passion of a child of God. the true child of God is Job's statement, "The Lord gives and takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord." She should have been praising the Lord fromthe first child right on down to having Judah. What has it taken for you to praise the Lord? How much has God had to bless you before you will finally lift praise unto Him? In Psalm 119 there is verse that says, "seven times a day will I praise Thee". Let this be our standard whether the Lord gives or not, 'I will praise the Lord'. The hand of the Lord has always been upon us, for He knew us while we were in sin and He loved us. This is today, "Now", the appointed time to draw near unto Him. He is always awaiting our coming to Him. Let it not be great amount of time between prayers and intercessions. Let it always be at the time of "now'. 'I will praise the Lord', this day offers the blessings of the Lord. How true and pleasant should our praise be unto Him, Who is worthy. Coutning our blessings and naming them one by one for His praise. The Psalmist wrote over and over 'I will praise the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever.' Let it flow from your heart and soul. Give praise and worship Him. I feel this is so far from the pattern of Christians, a lost art, as Tozer says. It is not demonstrated nor practiced for the body of Christ to grow in learning of this. She called his name Judah - Adam Clarke defines this as confesor, one that acknowledges God; it is all prophetic and the leading of the Lord that name matches purpose. what is your name and what is your purpose? Do not think that is doesn't matter, or your name doesn't matter. If God engraves our names on His hands and knows the hairs of our head then there is purpose and cause for each of us. It is not accidental when God is behind it. Your life is not an accident but one of purpose for His kingdom. she left bearing - no more children; as mentioned, the Lord gives and the Lrod takes away. We know that she had more chidlren later, so this does not mean that her womb was closed. I beleive it to mean that she had had four sons and Jacob moved onto the other wifes. She was left now to nurse and raise this four and that was enought for now. I believe Jacob departed from her for a season and there was no more fruit of the womb. I wonder at the beginning of this day, have you left bearing? You no longer produce fruit for your Lord. there has been a drought, a lull, a void and no fruit is being born in righteousness or for the kingdom. We have the fruits fo the Spirit , how many do you bear daily and weekly? Bearing fruit for His kingdom and for His glory, laboring for more fruit, not to cease from bearing. Left us examine today, have I left bearing fruit for my Lord? If there is no fruit, something is wrong, find out what it is. Is ther sin? Is there unbelief? Have we lost our way? or is there another reason? The church has left off bearing for a great season but it neglects the basics of growth. Just a fruit tree comes from the right seed, the right ground, the right amount of water and sun, so a Christian grows in like manner. With out any of these things there is no fruit to be gathered. the church is guilty of neglect in prayer, in Bible, in fellowship of purpose and no evangleistic effort in the power of God. their idea of evangleistic effort is always now in man made programs. The absecne of prayer means sin is not confessed nor the Lord's will sought. the church complains that the Bible was taken out of the school system, but how many churches have removed consistent Bible study from Sundays and mid-week Bible study? How many families have no time of prayer or Bible study together? This is why there is no fruit. But if we return and 'Now' praise the Lord, fruit can come again by the Master's Hand. Seek it today, my beloved.

Genesis 28:16

"And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not."

The theme of sleeping, slumbering and then arising and waking up is found throughout Scripture. Adam was put ot sleep and when he woke up Eve was there. In the New Testament we ahve the reference of the church asleep and needing to wake up lest they miss something. jacob laid himself down and gave no thought of the Lord. But the Lord, Who is merciful, stands ready to meet us, whether we are ready for it or not. Do we need to be awakened? what is said of the church today, 'it is fast asleep'. Asleep, while the world perishes, how shameful that we are found in such a state. Is it because God has left us? No, God stands ready to meet us and empower if we would wake up. Oh, how we need Him today! Wake us up O God, make us to be what you want us to be; let us live for Thee and if need be, let us die for Thee. But don't let us slumber any longer for we have lost enough time. This is the hard part of the prayer - 'whatever it takes to waken us up O God so let it be done'. Most are not ready nor willing for whatever, for they know that it will be pain and suffering. But we cannot afford to sleep any longer. This slumbering and wasting time sleeping is the sin of sloth; laziness; waste; these are things that must be confessed. We are accountable for our time, every second we will have to answer for. And when we are awakened, Surely the Lord is in this place - He is present; what we did not realize was that He is always present. He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." It is not that 'He was here' or 'He will be here' but 'He is here. ;How long have You been here Lord? I have always been here. Waiting for us. Now what happens when the Lord is in the place? 1. When He is in the soul and heart He redeems and sanctifies; 2. when He is inthe family He provides and secures the souls of our loved ones; 3. When He is in the church He empowers and leads for His glory to be manifested to the nations. He must be present, or else we can do nothing. Without Him we cannot do anything; but with Him all things are possible. And I knew it not - missed blessing and opporutnity;

Genesis 27:2

"And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:"

And neither do we, it is only known by the Lord when we shall die. But there is much for us to consider with this verse. First, honesty is needed. There is in this vain generation the grasping for eternal youth. No wonder the fountain of youth is so popular. Maybe it is embedded somewhere in our being to want to live forever? But a 40 year old is not 20, nor a 60 year old 30. It is to be the age that you are in honesty. I was young, now I am old. Isaac knew his life and was honest about it. I feel those that get upset at birthdays and hide their age or lie about their age are in sin for deception. We are given life and the process of life is we are young and we grow old. And if it is that God says you will not grow old, but your days shall be short, then that is what will be. Secondly, it is to learn that as we grow older that there are things to learn and from experience and maturity. If a person is 60 years old and still acting like a 20 year old something is wrong. We must become seasoned in our old age. This is where concept is everything. If your view of old age is fraility, bad health and inability then probably that is what you will become. but we see Isaac here, he has lost his eyesight in old age, but his discernment is still present. He heard Jacob's voice and he discerned that, but he was deceived by the clothes (smell) and the false hair (touch). Learning to discern using all other faculities is necessary. Praying for wisdom and discernment is necessary. "Let me not be a fool in my old age." This was Paul's prayer of finishing in old age. He lived to be older, even though he was matyred. "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith and I have finished my course." Completiong is here, he saw this and recognized this as he understood what his life was about and Who it was for. What say you? Another year is passing, we are getting older every minute. what are you doing with your life? I am 40 years old at this point, I an not 20; I recognize how much time I have lost, squandered and wasted. But I resolve to use my remaining time, however long that may be, to grow and serve as best I can. Do you see where you are in life? Where God wants you to go? Who He wants you to become? I know not the day of my death - 'it is appointed unto man one time to die and after this the judgment.' We are given a life and then that life is over and then eternity. This is the simplicity of existence. I care not to argue with those that doubt or do not believe it. None of us know when we are going to die. I think there has been those that understood that time was drawing to an end. Isaac knew he was old and that time was shortening on him, so whatever was needed to be done he needed to get it done. If we have continued to put things off with procrastination let us understand this phrase. Whatever your going to do, your death may come at any moment so hasten to finish. Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today. Why? For you may not have tomorrow. The parable that Jesus told us emphasizes this: the rich man took stock of what he had and thought that he would retire and settle down with his inc reased goods. but the Lord comes and says that that was foolish, for tonight thy soul shall be required of thee. Don't say, when I am retired I will serve the Lord; when I am old I will do that. You don't have that time, you have today. Only in eternity will we understand how much loss of that which was given in time.

Genesis 26:5

"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statues, and my laws."

This is a verse from the Lord about a man. Look and see the faithfulness of Abraham. Look at how many things he was faithful in. Can this be said of us? Is this our desire to obey in all things and not just a few? God has appeared unto Isaac to speak to him of what He had promised Abraham in the covenant. Those same things are given unto Isaac, he has been blest because of his father. it is possible to pass on blessings from generation to generation. And God is explaining why he has received the blessing, because Abrahm was obedient in all things. the reward of the Lord is because of obedience unto the Lord. What say you? Have you been as obedient unto the Lord? Or do you see disobedience to be found within or in a practice of life? It is layed out before us that we know we ought to obey. But knowing it and doing it is two different things. Abraham obeyed His voice. We have are no different. Have you not heard His voice speak to you? in the Word? by the Spirit? from the man of God? He has spoken and we have heard. What did we do when we heard Him, that is the question for us? He obeyed the words that he heard in all things, and so must we. Let not one thing fall away but make it all. He kept my charge - the charge was to be faithful and believing. the Lord told him to get up and go to a land he never saw before, trust Him and he did. Sacrifice your only son, trust Me, and he did. The charge to walk by faith and believe that the Lord is able to do all things. He kept my commandements - the ten commandments had not been given as of yet, so what commandements? The command to do; our world and the church still splits on the commandments. It is as clear as 'thou shalt' or 'thou shalt not', one or the other. But the church still tries to play both sides. They try to live for self as well as the Lord, and it cannot be done. Jesus said, 'If you love Me, you will keep my commandments'. this is the same word here, to keep all the commandments of whatever the Lord will speak and declare. He kept my statues - the teachings of right living. there is a way that seemeth right unto man, but we must know the way of righteousness in Christ. It is not to be found in self-righteousness, it is when Christ robes us in His righteousness. The statues are the declarations from the Lord on how to live, how to think, how to act, how to perform. there is right, and there is wrong, choose you this day, Who you will serve? He kept my laws - from His voice to the charge, to the commandements to the statues and lastly to the laws. Moses had not been given the laws to live by. But there has always been the law of the Lord. That which God sets is law. He commanded the sun and moon to operate, it is the law of day and night. God spoke it and it is and no one can change the laws fo the Lord. Man shall live 120 years, that is a law of life, it cannot be broken. Living is according to the laws that God has set. Living outside the laws is to bring judgment or death. Man has tried to change the laws of life but they can not. Abraham lived according to the law of the Lord and so must we. Act and be according to what is naturally right in the sight of the Lord. Keep all His ways and know His hand of mercy is guiding and leading us. We are not our own but His and He has spoken so walk ye in it. Be faithful in little and much and be blest as Abraham was.

Genesis 25:21

"And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived."

The key to this verse is the word 'entreat'. There is no problem understanding that Isaac would be praying unto the Lord for his wife to have a child. There is still that need today, where parents cry out to God for mercy and His Divine help. The word to entreat means to plead for, urgently request. Prayers like this touch the heart and do not come about with weak hearts and feeble thoughts. This is a form of intercession; it is the prayer of importunity. It had been almost 20 years of marriage and no child. The promise of God to Abraham and Isaac was a continued line that would be a nation and God's mercy extended to them. This could not happen unless a child was given. Those that go through such things do not think of it the first months or years after marriage. But as time goes on, the weight and expectancy grows. We would do well to live a life of faith and understanding. but for most such times cause anxiety and grief and lead to unbelief. A Christain facing such things needs the Lord more than ever. By watching and observing people you see those that have a life of fatih, because the first things they do is go to the Lord. those that ahve little faith, stagger around trying everything and anything. isaac went to the Lord and entreated the Lord for his wife. A category of prayer must be the family. Holding up our loved ones is so necessary. The devil knows our weakness in our love for our family. and by hurting them we hurt. The story of Job is about this same tatic of the devil. He could not get to Job so he took his 10 children. For Isaac and Rebekah, no children meant the line of their heritage ended. The lines of family generations throughout the earth is designed by God for His own purpose. You and I are apart of that, else we would never have been given life. But God is able to end a line because of their wickedeness. We see several instances of this in the Old Testament with the kings of Israel because of their evil, all their family was wiped out. But to entreat the Lord for our loved ones is so necessary to safeguard them. To not pray for them is to leave them unprotected throughout the day. such moments of trials and tribulations cause us an urgency to approach God with importunity on behalf of them. And accepting God's will to be done must be resigned within the prayer. this is not a random prayer of generalities, "Lord, bless all my family". This is a specific prayer, a specific request and a specific need. We should not pray in generalities, it is the trademark of a self-righteous hyporcrite. They pray in such a manner to say that they prayed, it is not to accomplish anything. When you pray, prayer with purpose and specific requests for the Lord's doing. And the Lord was intreated of him - God granted them their request. They came with a need unto the Lord God Almighty Who is able to do all things. Can He Who made the womb not open or close it? Yea; Can He Who made man from the dust not give life? Yea. this is God; this is Who He is. why go to anyone else? Bill McCloud, "If the Lord knows the need why should anyone else know it?" Faith says, 'I have poured myself out unto the Lord and now the will of the Lord be done.' God heard their prayer, their intercession and God answered according to His Divine will. And how did the Lord answer - and Rebekah his wife conceived. Answered prayer. What is it that you are seeking? Who are you interceding for? what path are you walking in faith? What presses sore to your heart that you need to bring unto the Lord? Do you pray with importuntiy? Do you cry out ot Him morning, noon and night? this is the path of powerful praying. this is the sin of the church today, in that they do not seek Him nor labor after souls of men. Selfish praying, asking amiss, no praying or praying in generalties is what stains our prayer lives. To turn from this and seek Him with all our hearts is what is needed. may God grant us a desire to wait before Him and seek His face with all that we are.

Genesis 24:27

"And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethern."

The servant had his prayer answered and found out even greater news of the hand of the Lord. And upon hearing this good news that he found Abraham's family, he worships the Lord. It is a short phrase, part, but still he lifts up honor unto the Lord. For he knows that the Lord is the only one that could have done this. This was no accident or chance fate, but a divine leading from the Lord. He was in an oath to Abraham to find Isaac a wife, no small duty to be performed. And he had learned enough from Abraham to pray insuch times to seek the Lord. 'Seek the Lord with all your heart and He shall be found'. He had laid out a fleece for specific things to happen to lead and confirm that the woman was the right one. Watching with his eyes to see everything that he had prayed for happen was a holy moment. Many of the Psalms are blessings unto the Lord. A question was asked me one time, 'how can we, being flesh, bless the Lord?' And I still chew onthat thought, if it be possible other than to lift up His Name. I being in the way - another word study full of truth and teachings for us; found throughout this chapter, verses 27 40, 42, 48, 56, 68; the servant is expressing the way of life; ways that lead to the Lord and ways that lead away from the Lord; it is the straight and narrow ways versus the broad and wide way; we make a choice upon which way we will go; The Lord knows our footsteps of life, He knows the way in which we shall choose. the servant of the Lord will seek the way of the Lord through prayer and devotion, knowing that if left to themsevles the flesh will lead them into the wrong way. Ask of the Lord the way for your life? Ask for His hand of mercy and truth to lead rightly for His glory. The Lord led me - how strong the faith of one that can see the hand of the Lord leading us; there is nothing else like it, for we know that events and people in our life could only be by the hand of the Lord leading. Do you see andn recognize this miracle in your life? Can you meditate on the faithfulness of the Lord in every turn? From the time of my birth, to the decision of my parents, to the place fo up bringing, to the day of my salvation and on and on it goes I see the hand of the Lord leading. For who you are is determined by these events and the Lord knows it. Allow for God to shape and mold you this day and this week and this month and the year long. Be led of Him and you know then you will be walking rightly and in the right way. Seek Him early for His blessing and His glory will be manifested.

Genesis 23:2

"And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham, came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her."

The time of sorrow. Such a long life together, such a building of faith and miracles together. Life is lived in moments and memories. And when death comes the living ceases and only memories is to be had. For those that have lived rightly, there is no regrets, but for those that lived foolishly, there are many regrets and sorrow of heart. As in all things of life, there is no mistakes on the part of God when life begins and when it ends. Neither is it a mistake that she died in Hebron. The city that even today they are still fighting over. But because Sarah did die in Hebron the land was purchased and the tomb secured. A personal place to be bought and future place for Abraham to be laid to rest. The way of death is becoming less moving today. Almost an attitude of, 'lets hurry up and get this over with so we can get back to our living'. such selfishness is found behind the motives of today in death and dying. but death comes and sorrow is present. In observing so many funeral homes and deaths, I have learned of 'heathly' grief and 'unhealthy' death. those that lose it completely and those that are as Job, 'The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord'. Very few like Job though. Abrahm came to mourn and to weep - when true sorrow is present, tears are natural. for those who can't cry and weep there is something else at the root of the cause. But healthy mourning is from sorrow. Tears may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Jesus wept. Tears over Jerusaelum. Tears from the church over the lost and the extremem of sin. These are expressions of the heart. Tears and weeping are a natural part of life in a soul that grieves rightly. Not that I am the expert on such things, but observing for 40 years and plenty of hands on expression of sorrow is shown here to rightly done by Abraham over his wife. He mourns and weeps, buries her and then proceeds with life. Life does not end simply because someone else's life did. Those that lay in dearth and despair are not grieving healthy either. For those in such a manner I find that they do not include the Lord except to blame Him for the death. True enough, God gives life and God can take life. But to accuse God that something was wrong for them to die is wrong and evil. Accept the place of death just he same as life, God is wise and knows all that needs to be done. sorrow is present at all times in this world. There is enough wrong to make us sorrow over it. so how can we find joy or keep joy? sorrow is present for the day and the afflictions thereof, but joy is that God is above all the sorrow and to make it right and can make it right. Resting in the Lord is where the strength is to be found. Abraham had this, so he sorrowed over Sarah's death and trusted in the Lord. The Lord cannot fail, will not fail and is faithful. To believe this is necessary for heatlhy grieving. This time may have already come for you, how did you face it? Did you bring glory and honor to the Lord? Or was your actions unfaithful and seriously sinful against the Lord that holds you and keeps you. No one ever wants to talk about dying or deal with it until after the fact. A part of healthy grief is to know now what your response will be when such a time comes.

Genesis 22:12

"And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

The hand is stayed. And oh, what relief and joy must have filled his heart. Words that he was desiring at any moment to hear from the Lord, but was faithful to obey the command of offering his only son up. He had been commanded to slay the child as an offering unto the Lord and Abraham was following the Word of the Lord. What a moment of climax here just as he was getting ready to plunge the knife into the child's body, the Lord speaks. The Lord is never too early or too late, but always right on time. The Lord had waited until He knew that Abraham would follow through with the act of obedience. Neither do thou any thing unto him - for his hurt or destruction. and this is far deeper than the story at hand. For how many fathers have done much damage unto their children out of abuse of words and physical hand of abuse. I am not speaking of the discipline and correction as instructed by the Scriptures, I am talking about fathers that are abusive with their anger and selfishness. They do much harm to the children and prodcue the next generation to be just like them. This is the explanation of why our society is the way that it is. Children are impressionable, they learn their behaviors from those that influence them. This is the good and the bad. A parent should learn from this phrase not to do anything unto him for harm. Bad habits, bad words, bad manners, horrible way of life, void of God, these are examples of harm to the child. Is not God able to change the ways fo sinful man? Absolutely, but only to those that die to self completely. Many a Christian still struggles with cuss words, bad thoughts, anger, pride selfishness all becuase the parent did harm to the child. for now I know - for God knowest all things; One of the attributes to worship the Lord with is His Omnipotence, His ability to know everything that is thoughts, said and done. There is no secrets to the Lord in the ways of man. that thou fearest God - the beginning of all wisdom is to fear the Lord; It is often spoken that this generation has no fear of the Lord. This is the explanation as to why they can continue to grossly sin and have no conviction, they do not fear the judgment of the Lord. Fear is to revere Him, for He is God and He holds the breath that we breathe in His hand. Fear Him for is Creator of all things and sustainer of all things and is able to uncreate that which He created. False teachings go out today to not be afraid of the Lord. I find this foolish considering that any sinful man must fear God's holiness and justice that must be shown to those that have gone against His nature. A true child of God fears the Lord and all His ways. Abraham fear Him and kept His ways for a blessing. Seest thou hast not withheld thy sonh, thine only son from me - it is the lost message of today, you must die to everything of self in order to have the abundant life of God; Even my son? Even my spouse? Even my parents? 'Unless a man hates his father and mother he cannot be my disciple', Jesus said. Nothing, especially family, can separate us from obedience unto Him. He requires that we die to everything. Perhaps Abraham in his old age had settled down and was becoming content to his only son. so it must be that occasionally the Lord may ask us, 'Have you died to that?' It is a hard thing to surrender your loved ones, but very necessary. For the one that will not die to self cannot move forward to the ways of the Lord. I have heard many a Chrsitian say that they could not do what Abraham did here. What they are saying is that they have not died to the things of this world, the things of the flesh. I am not sugar coating it for anyone, it is hard to search what you love and cherish and lay it down on the altar but it must be done. What is there in your life that you have died to? that you have not withheld from Him to give or take away from you; Search the mind, the home you live in, the possessions you have, your loved ones, your way of living life, is all sacrificed? the old hymn, I love so well, 'is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid' do not withhold one penny, one item, one loved one, one habit, one thought, all must be given up. this is the blessing of Abraham, nothing was withheld, even his only son, from being offered up to the Lord. It must be complete in your life.

Genesis 21:33

"And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God."

A season of blessings are found here at the close of this chapter. 1. He was the blessed of the Lord; 2. He had his promised son in his old age; 3. His enemies came to seek his favor; 4. the oath is made between them; 5. water is supplied at the well. It seems everything was going right and nothing was amiss. There are such seasons to life, when God favors us with moments of bliss. The same measure that there are seasons of trouble and trials. But for Abraham at this point everything was bliss. Which leads to his reponse here in this verse. He planted a grove - the only reason to plant something is to glean from it and enjoy it. It seems that he has found peace and is willing to stay awhile inthis place. Some people never move. Various reasons for this, but we know that Abraham had movede several times. But now he settles down. and why not, he now has a son in his old age and needs to raise him. And being older would warrant less activtiy of moving. He was in the place that God had blessed him there. But the faith that Abraham had was that if God would say to him at night, 'Move', Abraham would get up and move. Obedience is above comfort and establishment. Are you where God would have you? Living in the place God has selected and given. Some have lands and homes and are settled, others live day to day on faith that God provides a place to live. But more than being in the place where God wants you, are you at peace in the place you are at? The finest homes do not have love. The best land does not have blessings. Which would you rather? Be where God wants you and you will always have peace of heart. In Beersheba - the place where he made the oath with Abimelech and the seven lambs were the agreement. Called there on the name of the Lord - prayer was made here. Earlier in Genesis we had the verse where men began to call on the Lord. Here Abraham follows suit with those that adore and worship Him. In the times of joy or sorrow, who do you call on? How often the phrase, 'I just need to talk with someone', as if the Lord was not suitable. A Christian should first call upon the Lord. It is our privilege and right and blessing. But how few exercise the means of calling upon Him, Who is faithful. Call upon Him for that is what He desires. Jeremiah 33:3, "Call upon me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." This is the will of the Lord that His servants call upon His great Name. Look at the practice - there is a place for it; there is a time for it; and there is a Person for it. Develop your place, time and Person for calling. Learn of Him and learn how best to pray. The need of the hour for the church is for them to call upon the Lord. The hour is late and the night is coming and the Lord is waiting to hear from us. is there silence? Is there no one to call upon Him? A life of prayer to be devleoped and practiced is pleasing to Him. What say of you your prayer life? the sad confession of the church is that they are silent before Him. They have not come to their Beersheba and know nothing of peace of heart and soul. The Everlasting God - another of the descriptions and expressions of God; they are numberless in the Scriptures. Write it down and rehearse it, He is everlasting, without end. the Lord God who we worship is without end, never ceasing, grasp hold of this truth. His ways are everlasting; His love is everlasting; His mercy is everlasting and on and on His ways go before us. To meditate on these things is to bring us joy of heart, that the God we worship is described here in such a manner. O Lord, the God of Abraham, the blessing of Beersheba, the everlasting Lord; You are mine and I am Yours; bless now Your servant and lead me into Your perfect way. IN Jesus Name, Amen.

Genesis 20:6

"And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her."



As far as we know this was the land of the Philistines, and throughout the Old Testament the people that was there was at enemity with Israel. Abraham and Sarah had both lied about their marriage. They had said that they was brother and sister, which was a half-truth; and a half truth is a whole lie. so Abimelech takes Sarah into his house to be his wife. And when he does God answers him at night in a dream. It is a dream of warning; for to hear fromthe Lord Almighty, "Thou art a dead man", is a nightmare. But Abimelech was innocent as far as being ignorant of what was going on. Now God is just, and His ways are right and there is no fault to be found in Him. Would God slay the innocent? No; see His hand of mercy to those that do not serve Him nor worship Him. God answers Abimelech that the only reason that he is still alive is that God knows that Abraham and Sarah have done the wrong. God knows the heart of all men, for He is God. I know that hou didst this in the integrity of thy heart - God knows that Abimelech had done no wrong here, for He knew Abimelech's heart. Isn't it amazing that men think that God does not know their heart today? He knows it better than we know it. Deep within our heart there lays much against God. Our motives, our patterns, our feelings, our ways of life, and to some we are ignorant that they offend God, but they do, and God knows this. The reason of the Scriptures that tell us that God searches the heart is for this cause that He might root out all that is wicked and unholy in us. And when a soul is searching to clean out all the debris that is offensive God aids us to reveal what lies in the darkness of our heart. what is that laying over there in the corner? there in the shadows of our heart, barely able to make out a glimpse of it, the outline of it - it is feelings of pride that we forgot was there; but when Jesus, the light of the world comes into our heart and we ask Him to reveal who we really are to Him, He shows us the corners of our heart and the light reveals what has been in the shadows. Then we are left to throw it out with confession and repentance. This is one of the tricks of the devil to the church today. He blinds us to the truth about what is in our heart. And very few Christians know how to search their hearts for such evil things. Most have never done a heart search and never deals with the sin that is present, therefore the powerlessness remains because the sin remains. but you get a church and a Christian to examine their hearts and root out the evil and now you have a clean vessel, clean hands and a pure heart and the one that can ascend to the hill of the Lord. This is what is missing and what is needed today so very desperately. and even though we may not know what is there, God does. He knows whether we have integrity of heart or only evil continually, for God knows the heart of man. And becasue Abimelech did this in ignorance of sin, that Sarah was Abraham's wife, God withheld him from sinning. Look at the mercy of God that is able to keep a lost person from sinning. And if He is able to do it for the lost, how much more will He do for you and me? The thought of this should penetrate into our soul to know that God is willing and able to do such. Of course, the question will be asked, then why doesn't the Lord keep us from all sin? The soul that is completely yielded to Him will be kept from sin; this is the verses that compliment this theme. 'Abide in Me and I in you;' Christ presence in us is able to thwart the works of the flesh which is sin. 'Now unto Him Who is able to keep us from falling' - He is able to succour us. then why so much sin in the Christian life? We do not abide in Him; nor do we believe these verses that they are for us. Rejection of the hope that is stated here, God is able to keep us. Read again what the Lord said, 'I withheld thee from sinning against Me'. God withheld, who is stronger than the Lord? None. But God will allow for our choices to dictate our future; abide in Him and wait upon Him and sin is absent; live half-heartedly and in the flesh and the self-life and sin will be present. But do not doubt what the Lord has said, He is able to withold us from sinning against Him. If sin is present, it is because we chose to sin, not because God was not able to keep us. 'Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her' - He is able to keep us from touching; Abimelech took Sarah to be his, but she was another man's wife, Abraham's wife, the blest one. God would not allow for a man to touch her and defile her. He caused him not to touch her and defile Sarah. She would bear the covenant child for Abraham. What strength is found here for a Christian. Remember the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever; and if He did for Abraham's sake would He not do it for ours. How often I used to pray this verse with those very words. God is faithful and may He make us to be withheld from sinning against Him for His glory.

Genesis 19:26

"But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."

The beginning of the Morton's salt boxes! Why? Because Lot's wife woulde not obey. They were strictly warned not to look behind them (v. 17). But what did she do? His wife looked back from behind him; So had she been in front of him, would he have been able to stop her and prohibit her from looking back? Never able to resolve such questions of 'what if?' but still in need to reflect on. Note the closeness of all this - thousands had died in the city left behind, but they were getting their just rewards from the hand of the Lord in their ungodliness. But the personal part here is, this is his wife, a spouse, is very precious and near to the heart. And to know that they perish is unthinkable not to be moved with compassion unto the Lord for their salvation. The spouse that does not care, nor labors for the saving of the souls of family is not saved themselves. I have watched and observed enough funerals of spouses and know the ones that loved each other and the others that had regrets. No doubt, Lot, as the man, was leading the way to Zoar. The only thing he knew of his wife and two daughters that they was not to look behind. And apparently his wife followed him, where the daughters where we do not know, but they had enough knowledge to know that they were not look behind. Only the wife, the mother, was the fool here that disobeyed and suffered. Many an evil way has been done 'behind his back'. Sneaking, trickery, and deception are the result of behind his back. Note that all failed marriages have come from this. Adultery begins when one goes behind the back of the other. They are cowards and use deceit to profess their love to their face but behind their back they lust after someone else. what trust is found in such? A life spent in such a manner of behind the back is always a failure and always pays the price of such actions. Truthfulness and honest in relationships is always upfront and to the face, heart to heart not back to back. she did this behind him and she perished. I wonder how many Christians think they are sneaky and crafty and even think they are fooling the Lord? They think nobody knows, nobody will find out, but the Lord knows, for He sees and knows all. There is nothing done behind His back. Until, heed these words - until, the Lord turns His back on the soul. There is no hope when that happens. A Scripture at the end of II Chronicles, "till there was no remedy"; God turned His back because of the continual evil and sin of Israel and Judah. The soul that turns their back on God pays the price of such actions to his/her Creator. Why? why did she turn back? This has led to great sermons and meditations. But I do beleive that the one constant answer is that she desired what was behind her. I think all four were curious about the events behind them and all had affections of home, but the three would not disobey the word of the Lord. But her desire, I believe, was so great that she had to have one more look. Disregarding the warning and look behind. Many a soul is perishing today in like, "One look won't hurt", they say. But does it hurt to look only once? We read of the results. "One look doesn't hurt, as long as you don't touch", they say. But that one look as costs many a soul their eternity. It was a harmful look, and took them down a path to destruction. The book that I entitled, 'Letters from hell' is about this very same theme, how much it costs for small actions. One look is innocent enough, but enough to harm. The song, "Be careful little eyes what you see", is truth for us and this Scripture tells us so. Where the heart is, is where the eyes will look. A heart for the things of this world will lead to destruciton; a heart for the Lord will 'Look unto Jesus,. . .the Author and Finisher of our faith'. What are you lookikng at? And why? is it because your heart is evil? or righteous? She looked behind because she was of the world and her own desires were more precious than the Lord's word, her husband, her daughters and her own life. Sin will swallow you up with one look. Pray that your eyes will be fixed on the right things. Psalm 119:37, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity"; the Lord which created your eyes to see and behold His glory is able to steer your eyesight to things of Him and not of the world. Fight the fight when the eyes want to stray and behold the things of the world. 'Remember Lot's wife'.

Genesis 18:14

"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."

This question is another study that one could do in the Bible; using their daily Bible readings to go through from Genesis to Revelation in a year is needed for the church today to build christian lives. I have already given examples of the word studies that one can look to, there is also characters and this is another one, all the questions of the Bible. What a blessed study it is!
Is any thing too hard for the Lord? - it is the first of three (there may be a few more, but I have referenced three places) places in the scriptures that gives us the sure promise of God that He is God. The Lord is asking Abraham about His own self. The question must be answered by each one of us. For why go on if you do not the answer, settle it now that the answer tells everything about Whose you are. This question is the answer of hope for us today. What problems are at hand? What lost souls do you encounter? What trials and tribulations seem overwhelming? What sickness is upon you or loved ones? Well know this, there is nothing too hard for the Lord. Know it with faith and assurance and never doubt it. When trials come and when problems are present then say this verse, "Lord, Is anything too hard for You? No Lord, nothing is too hard for You!." It is a promise from the Lord to confirm to us that He knows everything that happens and how it will happen. NOthing is beyond Him. what prayers are you offering up that have not been answered yet? Know that nothing you are asking for is beyond Him, if it is in His will and you are not asking amiss. Your life is set before you; and where so many want ot make excuses as to why they can't be what the Lord wants them to be, know that He is able to take the life of a soul yielded to Him and make it for His glory. Remember the lesson of the potters hand; he makes the clay to form and when a mar is in it, he destroys and begins again. Our life is in His hand for His glory. May you anchor each and each situation with the confidence, that the God Who cannot lie, has declared about Himself, 'there is nothing too hard for Me'. Now the miracle in this verse follows the question of what God is able to do. The miracle is expressed to abraham and Sarah. Note the progression of events, the promise had been made almost 25 years ago; God showed and appeared to Abram several times; in chapter 17 He made a covenant with Abram and changed his name to show that something was getting ready to happen. Here we have the specifics of what was going to happen. Sarah was going to have a child at 90 years of age. Now I know most women would not want to consider this, but when you know that Sarah had always wanted a child for Abraham, this was blessed. It did not matter about the age, God was going to do something in her that had not been done yet. And knowing that nothing is too hard for Him, He brings His own Son into this world through a virgin. Who is able to do such things? Science, doctors, other false gods? None, only the Lord God Almighty. God is very specific, she will have a son. God has a plan, He has a purpose, there is nothing of chance or luck in this. I have known those that have had children in sin, those that have been left in barreness, those that have abused God's gift, those that have aborted, in each of these God already knew. Most of these examples are not God's will, but man is given unto evil and practices it against the innocent. But God works despite the evil of man, so that He may receive glory and honor. Let us not lose sight of the hope here, God is able to do all things, no matter the circumstances of life. Only believe in Him. what shall we say of the families today? In disaray, in chaos, divorce, abuse, chidlren against their parents, neglect, not teaching nor instrucitng them in the ways of the Lord, we have a mess. And left to continue on its course, the next generation in about 15 years will have removed a whole generation of believers from families and society. Converts to Christianity will not replace the loss of the older generation. And a society of such proportions of lost men will be a generation that we have never known before. So what hope is there? Is anything too hard for the Lord? Nothing is too hard for Him to win, save, change this generation and renew society for His own sake. What of the church? Failing, floundering, less and less like Christ, more and more like the world, nothing is too hard. He is able to work and has shown Himself faithful to His own. He will perfect His bride and work wondrously in us and through us. What of your heart today? Do you see the lack service and belief that is needed to hold fast to Him? Do we see it in our every day life all around us? Our God is able to do it - Why? For there is nothing too hard for Him!

Genesis 17:1

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be thou perfect."

Study words: verb tenses of come (came), to know, well, give (gave), take heed, see (saw) and perfect; walk before me, and be thou perfect - it is one of the commandments that we read that should touch our hearts the most. But how many will dispell the command before the Lord has any chance to teach and instruct. It was no problem with Abram to hear these words, he and the Lord had a relationship of indepthness. We learn that Abram left his land and came to the new land when he was 75 years old. We read here that he was now 99 years old, so almost 25 years has past. He has learned and grown in the Lord for these two and half decades. When people use the saying, "My, hasn't time flown?" Has it? It seems when looking back in great quanities of time that it is eclipsed in moments of memories. Years and decades are thought of in seconds and minutes, remembering the events of life that stand out most. Not every detail, just the main memory makers. Can you say, if you are at least 25 years old, that you have grown in the Lord? I often refer to self-examination. I think it to be needful to see how much you have grown or if your growing. Because if your are not, there is somethng wrong with your relationship to the Lord. If the verse describes 25 years of your Christian life: "You have left your first love", something has gone wrong in your development and daily living. But note the fact here with abram, the command to be perfect was taking him to a new level of knwoing God. It wasn't making up for lost time or missed moments it was going deeper. This is a sign of healthy living in the spiritual world. Abram's 25 years of serving the Lord was still growing, you see, there is no end to learning of His depths. The Lord appeared unto him - for any child of God, this is noteable, He appears to us; I wonder how often He appeared unto Abram and they spoke and worshipped together? But it is needful for you to see your own place, how long since He appeared unto you? How long since He spoke to you? Someone will ask, 'How does He appear? For we cannoot look upon Him face to face while here.' He appears in many ways, you must see Him active and alive in the Scriptures; you must see Him in prayer and meditation; you must see Him in His creation; you must see Him in moments of blessings; you must see Him in Divine appointments, He is always present, but does the scales remain to blind us from seeing Him. There are moments in the Christian walk that God appears and there is nothing else like it. Just the same experience when in a crowd of people (strangers) and all of a sudden someone you know appears instantly from behind someone. WE say, "I didn't see you there"; when in fact they was in close proximity, was they not? So is He, always present but how often does His appearing allow for us to see and know. the next phrase, And said unto him, I am the Almighty God - there is first the visual, He appears, then there is the audible, He speaks; Most of the time it is one or the other, but here and in moments of greatness it is both, hearing and seeing. His declaration of Himse of Who He is; two phrases, "I Am" and "The Almighty God"; both of power and description of words of holiness and awe of His Divine Presence. There is none like Him; there is none that compares to this; He alone is God and there is no other god in this existence. He is the only, I Am; He is the only, Almighty God. And we msut rest in faith of this whether He appears or speaks to us or not, He is. Walk before me, and be thou perfect - walking is needed to be perfect; 'Can two walk together unless they are agreed?' the old hymn I refer to almost every time in studying the word, to walk, 'When We Walk with the Lord'. One that does not daily, hourly, moment to moment walk with the Lord will never be perfect with Him. And to note the staggering difficulty for Christians in the church today and all their hardships and trails, is it not because they have a faulty walk with the Lord? Confession is often that they do not meet the Lord each day, they do not pray, they do not read or study His Word. A Christian that is defeated and struggling you can find the root of the reason in their faulty walk with Him. Somewhere along the way they left Him, they fell, they stopped short; it is not God's fault, it is theirs, the Lord cannot fail, for He is perfect. The imperfect part is only of us. Check your daily walk and see how consistent and deep it is. A couple of things to do: 1. record what you do over a 30 day to one year long time frame;

Genesis 16:8

"And he said, Hagar, sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai."

the angel of the Lord was speaking to her. The previous verse says that the angel had sought for her. Does this not show the Lord's resolve to seek and find us for the saving of the soul. And past the saving of the soul to keep us and help us. This verse we find with two questions, 'whence camest thou?. . .whither wilt thou go?' two good questions for us to ask of our ownselves. Now God knows the answer to these, but still the angel of the Lord wanted Hagar to know and think about what she was doing. This was not the will fo the Lord. So often the children of God get out of step and need brought back to the straight and narrow way. Whence camest thou? - what has been your past; You are what you are today because of your past. But many a soul has not examined their past to understand what has made them. Why they act, talk , behave, do the things they do is directly related to their past. People that have influenced us, events that have shaped us. these are the things of life, whether good or bad, they make us. And we either grow from learning or sorrow away in defeat of them. But you must know your past and see what God has allowed and done to bring you to 'such a times as this'. Those experiences and moments that have been instrumental in shaping us have not happened to anyone else, we are unique with that. Bad experiences and events have been allowed so that we might 'comfort those that have experienced the same things'. Is there anything more profound and heart felt than someone that says, 'I have been there'? somebody needs that, learn from it and apply it for the glory of God. Hagar had come from where? She was a slave girl; moved up to serve Sarai, the master Abram's wife; given in marriage to him for conceiving a child; having an heir to her husband and master; she has blossomed into something, from nothing to wife of Abram. But in the midst of sorrow, she does what? She flees away from all that has been given her to escape the hardship of life. How many times have we done this? We have been blest by God, but the first moment of trial and difficulty we run away, forgetting the blessings that we have received and focusing on the pain. I assume it is in our nature to avoid and flee from pain, but the difference is those that face it and hold up against it. But the angel asks of her, where have come from, in other words, don't you see what the Lord has done for you? And now the bigger question, whither wilt thou go? - how hard to know the answer to this, for we cannot see our future. A Christian must reply, whereever I go will be in faith, resting and trusting in the Lord. But if we are out of the will fo the Lord like she was, we cannot go with His blessing. Where are you going with the life the Lord has given you? Are you pressing closer to the throne of God or sinking deeper into the carnality of this world. Do we know our final destination in heaven through Christs gift of eternal life? Many do not know this, only a few are confident. This is one of the reason death is feared and avoided at all costs. But a child of God has confidence to know whom they have believed and are persuaded. Do you know that the new year approaching is going to be an opportunity for drawer closer to Him? 'Draw night to Me, and I will draw night to you.' Here is the message of hope, where are you going? "I am going deeper with my Lord." This is one who will plan and make a way to go deeper, not jsut waiting for it to fall on them. Make a plan and pursue after Him. To help with this, read AW Tozer's, 'The Pursuit of God'. Lastly, Hagar answers, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. She is getting away from the hatered expressed towards her. She is running from one thing and missing so much more, and she does not know where she is going. is this not society today? Running from one pain to the next and never knowing where they are going. How much I would love to spend volumes on expressing this in detail about peoples lives. Example: a woman marries, they are unequally yoked, sin is presnet right there, what comes next? Misery and pain, sorrow. what next? Divorce and more pain. then what? she goes right back into it in the same conditions. This is the problem fo every facet of life today from families, to churches, to individuals, decisions hold the key to where we are going. And it seems the fault is no one knows from where they have come from. In this, we are doomed to repeat over and over again the sorrows of life. I have watched, warned and waited for some to learn so that they might avoid. I have only seen a few escape it, and have determined in my own opinion that the ones that escape it, are not because they are smarter or more wise, but it is a gift of God's grace granted for a paticualr purpose of His Divine will.

Genesis 15:6

"And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

He believed in the Lord - Abram had just received the promise of an heir to come from his loins. God had just spoken a wonderful promised unto him. The Lord God which is able to do all things, for He has all power, and knows all things, this Lord God. When we believe Who the Lord is it is easier to let our faith take hold upon His words. Abram did that. What of you? how much do you know of the Lord? How much do you discern about what He has spoken? Most Chrisitans do not read the Bible, do not memorize the Word, do not know what God hath promised. This is one of the reasons of our lack of ability to change the world. We don't know the God who we serve. But let a man or woman begin to see Who the Lord is and what He has promised and there is joy and hope. You cannot be found with pure faith if you are always doubting the Lord and His ways. Many a Christina today is always blaming God for something in their life; they are doubting Him and His faithfulness because they do not the ways of the Lord. Avoid such things in your heart and mind and resolve that God is faithful and His ways are right, there is no sin nor lie found with the Lord.

Genesis 14:14

"And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan."

It does not seem like a lot of people, 318, against several bands of nations that had taken Lot. But we must remember, numbers are not important. Abram, was the blessed of the Lord, and God was on his side, 'if God be for us, who can be against us?'. Oh, may we learn that no matter how long the trials, no matter how big the problem, no matter how deep the resolve of hell and the world, no matter how weak the flesh - God is God! (A quote from TW Hunt) And for us, as His children, God stands ready to work wondrously. How weak our faith to not believe in all the promises and blessings God has already done and will do for us. I would like to break up this verse for our study and apply some of the phrases for our benefit of what we face daily. And when Abram heard that his brother - this was not his brother, it was his nephew; But there are those that are closer than an actual brother, who the Lord has placed in our life. They are dear to us, they are preicous to us. They had lived together for so long and this relationship, I believe, had deepened in respect and love. There are those who are involved in our families and life that sit in our homes, eat at our tables, and are involved with our daily activities, they are like a brother or sister. The dynamics of families has changed so much today, the roles of parents to children has eroded; brothers and sisters have parted ways and are not inclined one to another. thank the Lord there are our Christian brothers and sisters that fill the gap. And there must be, one of the reasons God gave us family was to strengthen and build our life for togetherness. It is not so strange to hear a brother or sister in Christ speak fondly of each other. I called one man, who was new in the faith, "Brother, how are you?". Later as he was driving that thought spoke to his heart, he had a brother, for he was an only child, and he burst into tears. The relationship we see here is deepened, what of those around you? Seeking their welfare above your own is the way of the cross. Look at the church with deep love and interest in their affairs is our duty.
was taken captive - now look to those in our life, real family or church family are they in captivity? This world, the flesh and hells forces have damaged many a soul. Having bound them in captivity of habits, routines, sins and deadness. Do you see it? Many explain it away that that is just the way it is. But it is a way of destruction to life itself. We should be void of being trapped in sin. We are dismayed in the tricks of the devil to be allured away from the things of God to the thngs of transgression. there is this one trapped in continual sin of neglect, they know what they should do but they don't do it (James 4:17). There is that one who stays in continaul ignorance of the Christian way becuase they never come to Bible study, read the Word or think upon things of the spiritual world. There is the one practicing evil, some of which they know, maybe, some of which they don't know but they still practice sin. These things ought not to be named among the body of the church. But we are trapped and ensnared. What shall we do? He armed his trained servants. . .and pursued them unto Dan - the church is the trained servants, worked at for years to develop a righteous lifestyle. To be trained at something is to be learned of it, trained for duty. The church has enough examples, programs, teachings, models etc. to make us fit for any battle out there. We are without excuse. He only had 318 to go out of his group, not counting from the others that were aligned with Abram. The church is not a majority, it is a minority and getting smaller it seemss in these day. Why? We have not been trained upon the basics of Christianity, lack of discipleship. And if not taught of one who knows such things, teach yourself, the works are there before us and preserved. Pray for the Spirit to give you a desire to know and serve and be trained in the things of God. He pursued them, until he found them. Those that are taken in captivity of sin should be pursued until recovered. Prayers should daily cover them; tears should shower them; words exchanged should reprove and edify them. But they should not be left without warning and greeting to return unto their first love. The church working together in this way is health. But because of the disease of interest only in self, there is no purusit. They allow for the body to disappear and remove themselves without care. 'Too busy', is there excuse; 'Let the preacher do it, that's his job', is the passing of the buck. But it is he duty of the church to seek after those ensnared int he ways of sin so that it might be put from them. The danger is that most that do it today are found in harsh judgement against their brother or sister, not out of compassion for the soul. Remember the words of our Lord, 'Pull out the mote that is in thy own eye, then, remove the mote out of thy brother's eye.' I find those that are trying to break people of their captivity, pursuing after them in wrath and anger, only to find out, they are guilty of the same sin in some degree. It must be done out of love.

Genesis 13:4

"Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first and there Abram called on the name of the Lord."

Unto the place of the altar - the definite place where one meets God and bows to worship Him; Unto - toward, to it; Is there not a movement of the Spirit when we go unto the Lord? Is there not a purpose when we go unto the place of the altar? Oh, how long has it been since you went unto the place of the altar? The church today has forgotten this and lost their way. But if they would return unto the place of the altar there would be strength, forgiveness and comfort. It cannot be found without going unto. When searching the hearts and minds of souls, what are they going unto? Does man not live for themselves alone? Oh, what wondrous work is done at the altar by the hand of God. At the altar prayers are made, sins confessed, sacrifices received, glory brought unto His blessed Name. A holy place where God beckons unto us to meet Him. I wonder how often how many Christians, knowing in their minds and hearts that they should meet God daily, actually pass by the days without in dialogue with God? Can it be possible that such a people of the Lord would treat the Lord in such a manner? Yet how often is the sin confessed among the meetings, 'I have no quiet time; I have no prayer life'. Is this not the explanation of what is happening among the church today in North America? God has not changed, He is still all powerful, all knowing and able to do above all that we ask or think. It is us; not Him. He stands ready to meet us and to pour out all that He has promised those that would seek Him early. But if a child of God does not go unto the place of the altar, their life is in vain.
which he had made - it was a built, designed and purposeful place; no different than why someone builds a house, a piece of furniture, a cake; they make it for a purpose. He made it so he would have a place to meet God. Can you not meet God anywhere? Absolutely, but I do not know a lot of saints that walk in the continual Presence of the Lord. A designated place of purpose to meet God. Daniel had his place and three times a day he met the Lord. The place of the altar is found from Genesis to Revelation, a place of purpose to meet God. It may be that you have continued without it and think it not necessary, but it is has costs us dearly in this generation. The last generation was the ones who started to get so busy that they had no time for the family altar and it slowly sunk away from an active part of the Christians life. He made it, he wanted to meet God, he needed to meet God, is it so with you? Then rise up and set a place to meet with God not only for the closing of this year but for the New Year as well. There at the first - how precious is that place where it all began. A church, a bedside, those places carved in our memories where we met God and He met us. Such places of familarity should always remind us of God's great hand of grace and mercy to reach us and endue us with His fulness. The ones who can declare, in their testimonies, that a paticular song, a Bible verse, a trace, a person was so instrumental in bringing them the Gospel and how it spoke to their hearts at the first. Most recently I walked across the top of my parents land, and as I passed by there was my altar, at the first, that God worked wondrously in my early days of the ministry. An old stump underneath a cedar tree. Oh how many hours were spent there praying, memorizing and reciting Scriptures and preaching sermons. The stump is rotten and the place grown up but at the first, it was my place to meet God.
And Abram called on the name of the Lord - the first reference of Abram here for us at the end of this verse. We have the first reference of this in Genesis 4:26, after Abel had been killed and Adam and Eve had another son, Seth. He had a son, Enos and then, note that word, then, 'men began to call upon the name of the Lord. Why was they not calling on it earlier? Why is it not referenced more of men? Why is it missing today? It is a rare mark of the ones who will call upon the name of the Lord. Why call upon the Name of the Lord? Who else is there to call upon? There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved, but the Name of Jesus. The Name of Jesus, to save his people from their sins. There is no one else, You are God and God alone. Call upon His Name today and everyday and walk with Him in newness. Allow for Him to speak unto you. Lift up a prayer of worship that declares Who He is and what He has done and magnify His Name for all His wondrous works.

Genesis 12:7

"And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him."

Cain and Abel offered sacrifice, most likely at some place of an altar. Noah, upon exiting the ark built an altar and sacrificed unto the Lord. And here, upon hearing from the Lord to go to a new land, the Lord meets with Abram and an altar is built. It is one of the most precious things a Christian can have here on this earth, an altar. An Altar - a place upon which one meets God, bowed at His throne and before His Presence; it is holy; it is a much sought after place because the child of God wants to meet with His Lord. And the Lord appeared unto abram - what would you and I give for such a meeting; Why Abram? God, Who is all knowing and has seen everything in this life from start to finish, knows those that are His. Abram, was one that the Lord saw who would live for Him, and serve Him rightly. God honors such that keep His Word with all their heart. And upon such favor Abram received this Divine visitation. This is God's grace. Grace - a Divine favor from God to man for His rengeneration and sanctification; God knows who to extend His grace. He knows that will receive it and those that will abhor it. The Gospel hath appeared unto all men. . ., but grace is the Divine nod that says to the soul, "Be thou saved" and they accept it. Grace to Abram out of all man kind is because God knows his heart and actions. Are they always perfect? No; but He knows that their heart is drawn after Him. What does your heart long for? Who do you seek after this day? Has the Lord appeared unto you and given you His Divine grace for such a time as this? God was at work here. And from this first encounter came the covenant with Israel, the line of Christ and the means of God working in and through man. God appeared unto him - it was grace; it was a blessing; and it is what you and I should seek after. Not only did God appear unto him, but He spoke the second time. The first time was calling him to a new land, why? Because God would give him this land. And the second statement to Abram was, 'Unto thy seed will I give this land' Does God not promise us a land, as well? "Do not be afraid, I go to prepare a place for you". A land is provided and given. The word here, to give, is one of the study words for us to note. Action words, verbs, to go , to come, to heed, to see, to know, to be perfect, to give. These are the study words and phrases sought out that I have marked and gleaned from. God gives, we receivve. Understanding that what we are given, is a privlege and one that we must use wisely. The Lord created all things, and it was His for the giving. Abram, out of grace, now receives a work of mercy, he is given land that he did not buy nor inherit nor work for. God simply did it. Oh, the testimony of God's mercy in our lives to recount how God has given such blessings unto us. The time to share is needful to say, 'Look what the Lord has done'. Abram, no doubt, did nto understand everything, nor did he have to, God gave, he received the promise of this land for his generations. Again the promise is going out about his future generations being preserved and blessed by God. Who can thwart such a promise as this? No one. David received it. God is able to do all things which are beyond are understadning but a part of His Divine plan. And out of receiving this promise from God, and the appearing of God, he builds an altar. To our knowledge it is his first one. No doubt, he had seen other altars built for the false idols and gods, but this is for the Lord Who met him and spoke to him. No idol or false god can do this. God appeared unto him, and note that he did not make a false image of God. The children of Israel would be warned later not to make an image of God, when He appeared unto them on mount Sinai. But Abram builds an altar for the sake of worshipping the Lord. How can I stress unto you, dear reader, to build an altar and have for your place before God? The church has departed fromt he use of the altar greatly, which should be restored. The home must have a family altar where the family meets God together. And every individual Christian should have that place where they meet God face to face in the secret closet, where no one is there but you and the Lord. There the Lord appears. The use of the altar is in worshipping God and dying to self daily. the old hymn, "Is your All on the Altar Laid?" is the dying to self and receiving the blessing of the Lord just like Abram did. God will appear and God will speak. Why? 'Because the eyes of the Lord run to and from throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of them whose hearts are perfect with Him." God wants to meet with His chidlren. But the sad truth is they do not want to meet with Him. They have forsaken such moments and said iit is not for them. the church has lost it quiet time to listen to the Lord. If we would be still more before Him, we would have more word from Him and know His appearing.

Genesis 11:28

"And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees."

Haran was the father of Lot; the brother of Abraham; and the son of Terah. We have here an early reminder that life is not guaranted to old age. Many quote the Scripture in Psalms of having three-score and ten for life but you only need to read the obituaries to realize that is not the case. It is not the norm for a father to have to bury his children, but it is for the children to bury their parents. The sad estate when this happens becuase it is not expected nor realized that life is a gift that far too often is taken for granted. We have at the very beginning Cain killing Abel. We have, Lamech killing a man, who no doubt was of his own family. Early death was not unheard of, but those were murders. There is no specifics as to how he died, whether murder or an accident. Cause should not be the issue, but the substance of ones own life should be. What did Haran do with his life? We have one mark to remember him by, he had Lot. We will discover and study the story of Lot later on, but let us ask the question, what kind of man would Lot have been had he continued to be reared by Haran? Abram found grace in the sight of the Lord and all those that was with him, including Lot. why? Because they picked up and left the land of their nativity. If Haran would have remained alive, would he have gone with them or stayed? Then would we even have had the story of Lot. For out of Lot comes two countries, people, Moab and Ammon. And as the Lord later says of Abram, 'he will rule his household well'. I believe this to mean in teaching them the ways of the Lord. Had Lot practiced the same, the children of Moab and Ammon may not have been rebellious against Israel and the ways of the Lord. But Terah and the sons were in a land that worshipped and identified false gods. That practice is hard to break away from. The consistency of fathers and sons being like each other is the majority of the practice. Only remotely does one break away to find a different path. And this is only by the grace of God. So Haran died early, his father and family buried him and his life was over. what did he know of the hope and change that was to come? They left after he died and he missed out on the new life in a new land and the hope of knowing the Lord God. The brevity of life is what you should consider from this passage. Do you know when you are going to die? Do you know when anyone is going to die? Of course not. Then we should move to live life according to what God intended. As the phrase goes, 'live as if it was your last moment'. So many live life with regrets because they took it for granted. And after the fact, after death of a loved one, nothing can be changed. It should be addressed and dealt with in the here and the now. Words said, experiences savored and made, moments captured with love and purpose, this is life. And if it would be that life would end for us or our loved ones early, as it did for Haran, have we made it right? Have we lived for ourself? Or for the Lord? When I consider some of the saints who died before 30 years of age and left a legacy of hope for the church, how much should we consider for our sakes to leave a legacy for His glory? The question is not how long life was, but what did you do with what you had? Examine your life today, whether on track or off track and steer your path of decisions onto the straight and narrow way. Live a life void of offence against God and man. Live in the fulness of His power, joy and love. So that, whether a long life or a short life make the most of it.

Genesis 10:9

"He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord."

In simple context, hunter - would mean that he was a sportsman, who hunted wild game. But there is too many other references in the verse before and after that confuse information about Nimrod. So let us go forward with my own outlook on Nimrod. I would say that we stay simple to begin with, he was a mighty hunter - he had learned the skill of hunting better than anyone else. Maybe he developed tools and ways that helped him to provide meat and slay the animals that threatened his family and community. We learned that after the animals left the ark, there was populations issues now to replenish the earth. It could have been that some of the fiercer animals like lions, and tigers were a threat to dominance in the land. In chapter nine, we learn that there was now hostility between the animals and man, man would be held in fear by everything else. We see this in the survival of animals today to avoid man in hunting. And because of Nimrod's ability to kill, perhaps he was look to as a leader or simply took the role which leads to the next verse, he had a kingdom. but perhaps, he was a hunter of men, who subdued those that would threaten him and he became a warrior. He was a combatant that learned the skills of war and how to prevail which exalted him above everyone else. God grants to some, ingenuity and ability to excel in life. Others struggle for ability at many things. We simply call it talent. Referenced, mainly, in the New Testament, our abilities before the Lord. Which leads us to the second half of the first sentence, before the Lord. I find it odd that if he was simply good at killing animals that this would be mentioned, before the Lord. the reason I believe that he may have been a good sportsman and could have created new weapons that gave him an advantage but this phrase, before the Lord, holds a deeper meaning. A meaning which is unclear in the Scriptures. But the references that he excelled above everyone else is his mark in life. He was compared to by all others by the second sentence in this Scripture. Because he excelled, no doubt, pride rose up, for it was now in man to sin against God. And read on several occasions that the sons of God have to appear before the Lord. Satan in the beginning of Job, appeared before the Lord. Satan had pride rise up to exalt himself above God. I attribute the same reference to Nimrod that because man is weak and frail most accomplishments and abilities give place to pride instead of humility that leads to glory to God. He was before the Lord , not above him or away from Him. As is the final place of all, 'every knee shall bow and every tongue confess', before the Lords' throne. And if he was, in pride, hunting and waging war of conquest against other men, we will learn of Babel the city that thought to rise its self up to heaven. No doubt to put themselves againsdt God, perhaps learning this from Nimrod. Exalt yourself, seek to rise above everyone else and become a god. Is this not the history of man? They do not want God to rule and reign over them. the Jews said, "We will not have this man to rule over us; we have no king but Caesar". And in the hearts of men, women and children there is the same rebellion found in the hearts, which are desperately wicked and evil. As in the earlier chapter, God found the hearts of men, continaully evil. And now we have the answer to why men live the way they do, they are in rebellion before the Lord. Now, how do you find yourself before the Lord? Is it a chore to meet Him? to worship Him? On which side will you be found on judgment day? On the right hand, which are the sheep, who shall hear the words, "Well done, enter now into the joys of the Lord" or On the left hand, which are the goats, who shall hear the words, "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity". All will appear before the Lord, the question is, in rebellion or in worship. Choose you this day who you will serve. As for me and my household we will serve the Lord.

Genesis 9:1

"And God blessed NOah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."

And God blessed - how wondrous to receive blessing from the Lord. Better than what we have been reading where God cursed. Knowing the nature of God is so needful to understand that it is God's desire to bless His children. II Chronicles 16:9, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." This is what God desire, our actions prohibit this when we practice disobedience and sin. Oh, how we would draw near unto Him and stay in His Presence and learn of what boutniful blessingsHe can impart. The church could gain a generation if it waited for the blessing of the Lord instead of moving forward without His blessing. The lessons of when God blesses and how God blesses are found consistently in the Scripture. Learning from these experiences can help us to understand why we are blessed and why we are not. Noah and his sons - another repeated them of God's favor, not only the individual but the children. How faithful God is upon a father and mother that yields themselves unto the Lord. He knows their heart is after their loved one and He moves the chidlren and family to respond to His obedience. We discussed this in the book of Acts and see it other Old Testament families. But we also see where there is separation where one is saved and the rest lost, this is a hard time for the believer. Faith is tested and many falter under this, instead of believing that God is mighty to save and wait for the Lord's working. They take it upon themselves to push and thwart the work of God's grace. Wait in the presence of the Lord for His blessing and go not without it and the rest will be for His glory and honor. Children are committed unto the Lord at birth, and should be taught in the formative years of the things of God. Noah's sons were already grown but they were obedient unto their father to build the ark. And consider the lesson learned for them, they sat upon the waters for months and knew that all man was destroyed but them for one reason - evil. This will wake you up when you consider the wrath of God and the experiences of God's punishment upon those in rebellion. And instead of critizing, saying, 'the will of the Lord be done'. Wait for the blessing and commit you loved ones unto Him, Who is able to do all things. The command from the Lord, Be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth - what a huge tasks lay upon their shoulders. What we have just discussed should be upon our minds and hearts. Anybody can replenish and be fruitful, or can they? Is it not God Who closes the womb and opens the womb? Only God can do this, just the same as He made ADam and Eve. Man must be obedient unto the Lord in all ways. For it is not just enought to have chidlren and say you have done the tasks, how will they be for Him as they grow. For an evil tree cannot produce good fruit, neither can a good tree produce evil fruit. It is the law of design that God set into motion, that Noah and his sons should have and produce and replensish the world with righteous chidlren. But what are the ways of man? Before we even get out of this chapter, Noah gets drunk, and Ham does wickedly against his father. this didn't last long, for this is the way of man when they depart from the ways of the Lord. It is not a question of just simply reproducing, it is a question of what kind of reproduction will they be. It is the same spiritually for the church. Carnal Christians cannot produce spiritual Christians, we produce no greater than what we are. Then we should seek and desire to be rooted, faithful Christians in the things of the Lord, for it matters.

Genesis 8:21

"And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done."

It is seen throughout Scripture, the sacrifice is given and the Lord honors it. Noah had just finished building an altar and offering thereon the sacrifice. The aroma came up into the nostrils of God and was sweet, acceptable to Him. The image of the Lord's nostrils is threefold in Scriptures. We have the sweet aroma from acceptable sacrifice; we have abominations which produce a stink in His nostrils; and lastly, we have His nostrils to flare in zeal and wrath. But let us remind ourselves that after the Lord had destroyed flesh because of their sin, Noah intercedes with sacrifice. You and I are to learn this lesson, that the Lord will have accetpabel offerings from us. The Lord smells - we go back to man being made in the image of God and here we see abilities to smell from the nose is a part of the make up of God, which He imparted to us. Now the Lord speaks to Himself, in his heart. Again, it is not a personal conversation but one between the Trinity that gives reference to the heart. Example, when a person says to someone else, "Let me share my heart with you"; it is the expression of communication about serious things. And when God speaks from His heart, to His heart, in His heart, He is resolving to do something. It is the dual aspect that in chapter 6, God's heart was grieved over the sin, and now His heart was moved with compassion and mercy. Isn't it amazing that the heart has so many characteristics about it, all emotions come out of the heart? The Lord Who is perfect, has emotions from and in His heart. But unlike us, without sin, for our hearts are wicked and this is what leads men to sin.
I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake - because of man's capactiy of sin, all things were destroyed, except that which was on the ark. But the earth, God's creation was flooded and destroyed because of man's sin. The earth groaneth, because of the sin even now happening upon the earth. The Lord declares in the next chapter that He will never destroy by flood again. It is not to confuse this verse with God's heart that creation would not be destroyed because of man's sin again. Becasue we read in II peter 3 that God will destroy everything by fire at the end of time. All will be purged by fire, and everything consumed. This destruction will not be for man's sin, but for the Lord's cause that the end has come. I think we should put all these things in perspective and understand that this verse is grouped with chapter 9 that the Lord will not allow another flood on the earth. for the imagaination of man's heart is evil from his youth - can any Christian not say, 'Amen' to this phrase? The whole labor of the soul, as a child of God, is found within this verse. We are flesh, we are born in sin and our flesh is corrupted to sin. The flesh and the eye are constant in this assault to bring sin into the heart. Only the disciplined, stron, watchful ones prevent sin from entering into the heart. It is a life long struggle. The lusts, the pleasures, the enjoyments are what the heart, in its basic application, is all about. Serving the flesh for its own self enjoyment is from the heart of wickedness. But when a chidl is saved, their is a new heart now. One that is aware of the battle and realizes the battle is not in the mind nor in the flesh but in the heart. For the Spirit declares one way, and the fleshly heart another, and thus, the battle is joined. The soul that becomes aware that their heart is evil continually and that no good thing is in the heart realizes they must ahve a heart transplant. Old things are past away and behold all things become new. New desires, new enjoyments, new experiences, new relationships all coming from the heart that has been changed. This is the reason I say every child of God must become a their own cardiologist and by the leading of the Holy Spirit check their hearts. Remembering that always the capacity for sin is present in the flesh, but the heart is the will in a person and decides what they will do. A person that is lost, has a great capactiy to sin and chooses to do so. A lost soul is capable of doing anything in wickedness. When a person wonders how men can do such evil things as we hear and read of today, it is found that their hearts are evil and they follow after that. And when a church asks, why doesn't people do better and try harder? It is because they are lost, and you cannot expect lost people to act like saved people. And when Christians struggle with sin, and unfaithfulness, and people wonder why their actions are the way that they are, it is because of the heart. Their heart is not right with the Lord, the battle is raging. From their youth - it starts early, in their development from a child. Experience and understanding in maturity matters in the ways of the heart. Wisdom and age can have its advantage to one that has been raised froma child in the ways of the Lord. Possibly, the great teaching of Proverbs, 'bring up a child in the ways that you would have them to go, and they will not depart from them when they are old'. Change the heart early and it is easier to keep the heart. But a problem today is that the church does not teach Christians how to know their hearts. How to guard their hearts, how to mature their hearts, how to decide in their hearts for good and not evil. their is an old hymn, "Speak to my heart, dear Jesus" and found here is the beginning of letting the Lord speak to our hearts in His ways and teachings. Very few have quiet times to allow the Lord to speak and know nothing then but the heart of flesh. For most they are bombarded by sin all day long and school, work, TV and other influences and are pressed sore in their hearts because of this outward influence, they must have quiet time that flushes out all the evil and allows for the Spirit to purge the heart from continual evil. But most don't do this and are very weak and prone to sin, it is the missed blessing of being with the Lord. Resolve today to have that quiet time with the Lord and build off of that. Check your heart and know it; you must ask why you do somethings? The motive is from the heart. Is it for self or the Lord? Allow for the Spirit to help you grow in this.

Genesis 7:1

"And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."

God speaks unto him, unto Noah. How often God's children have desired for the same thing to happen to them. And because there is so little taught on hearing the voice of God and being before the Lord, they do not know His voice. But let all doubts and frustrations be put away from us, God still speaks and will continue to do so until He calls us home. The problem is not on God speaking, but on us hearing. We don't have the ability or the desire to hear Him. When asked recently from a brother in Christ, "What has the Lord been saying to you?" I understood what he was asking and had a word from the Lord. But he stated that huge numbers of preachers today have no word. Why? Because they are not before Him saying, 'Speak Lord; for Thy servant heareth". Come - one of my word studies in the Bibe was the verb, come, came, camest; it is a directive from the Lord; it is found throughout the Bible; 'Come ye out from among them and be ye separate'; "come unto Me all ye that thirst"; "Come apart a while"; and on and on it gives a command from the Lord to us, His dear children. Noah received this command from the Lord. And not only him, but it was to all his house into the ark. In the book of Acts, that glorious passage is repeated, "And they were saved and all their house with them". Noah was the righteous one in the sight of God, and God had mercy on his family. Don't think that your actions doesn't matter. that your decision doesn't have an impact on anyone else. It does matter. It is not just for your family, it is for your community and for the nation. if God was to remove all the church from any nation, what protection would that nation have against the anger of God. Just as Lot was Sodom and Gomorrah's only safety and that as soon as he was out judgment fell. We carry a huge responsiblity for so many around us. God's mercy is extended to the lives entrusted unto us. for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation - what a statement of Noah; what does He say of thee? Of the 7 billion people in this generation, what difference do you make? Of the very few in the remnant that are righteous are you one of these? It is nothing beyond the eyes of the Lord, for He sees all and knows all. What is He looking for, we have the answer here, righteousness. Righteousness - to be right with God in all our ways; are you right with Him this day? or are there sins that you have not surrendered and held for Him to remove and forgive? How wayward His church and individual Christian lives are today. He would not have it so, therefore, we must put away the evil from us and be found righteous in His sight. Allow for the Spirit to search and reveal the sins that keep you from being righteous and then give them up to Him. To be covered with the blood that cleanseth us from all unrighteousness. And once done, we are found righteous in His sight. He searches for a man or woman that would fill this role that He may show His wondrous works. And know that if we allow for the unrighteousness to continue in our life then we not only harm ourselves but all those that are entrusted to us. Let us come into the ark, even now, and find safety in Him and be refreshed for the work that is set before us. There in His Presence He will reveal to us all that is right and compel us to look for sin that defiles us. A true child of God must have this, this is a part of righteousness. For a child of God that knows to do right and does not do it, to him it is sin. And a true child of God cannot be content with sin for it keeps them from righteous. There is a true calling to seek righteous, this is a Divine breath into our souls to long to be one with Him. He abhors sin and so does a true child of God; as He is so we are. I often wonder what the Lord sees in this generation? How far are we from the generation of Noah, that he was the only one righteous. God has His remnant, I know, but Jesus prophesied, "So as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Lord returns". Are we far from this?

Genesis 6:6

"and it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart."

What a horrible verse to read as a creation of the Creator! We behold the wondrous works of God in the beginnings of these first six chapters of Genesis and marvel at what God had designed and made. Granted, there are the verses that declare of the fall and sin, but nothing compared in the first five chapters compared to the this chapter. It seems in a short time frame everything collapsed. All mankind was corrupt and only Noah was found with grace by the Lord. This corruption and the limited soul, of Noah, that desired to worship Him, led to this verse. This verse is a response to the last part of verse 5, "the thoughts of his heart5 was onlyh evil continually". Man never tired of evil thoughts, it never ended. Such corruption is close at hand, which would remind us of the prophecy from Christ, "as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man returns." We are evil in this generation continually. Praise the Lord that I do not have the eyes of Him, Who can see all the vileness that goes on. No wonder that God has limited Himself that He would not look upon sin. For our flesh looks upon sin continually through the TV, magazines, out in the public, it is all around us and it 'besets our soul' continually. No wonder so many Christians struggle and fall. they are consumed with sin all around them and because they have knocked out any time of meditation and devotion with the Lord, they are quickly overrun in this present day. God knows the hearts and minds of men, and He knows those Who are His, just like Noah. Does He know you? And as God viewed the works of man that it was only evil continually, this produced a holy response from God - "it repented . . .and it grieved Him at his heart". Repented Him - now let us state the truths so there is no misunderstanding. Because, no doubt, there are those that read these words and question the motive of God because of the terminology used here. God does not sin; God does not lie; God cannot make mistakes; these are truths that are given about the nature and attributes of Himself; to believe otherwise that God could sin or make a mistake means that He cannot be God, which is perfect. God is perfect and all His ways are right, hold to that truth no matter what else of emotions, thoughts that betray or circumstances. A soul that holds forth this in faith knows that 'all things work together for good to them that love Him'. The word repent (using Wester's) means 'to feel regret or contrition'. We use the word to repent from sin, from lostness in our life. Therefore, many associate the Lord repented as God had made a mistake or erred, this is imppossilbe because of the nature of God. God repented, which means He regretted that man, whom He had given life and breath, had corrupted themselves. this corruption is the opposite of the nature of God, Who is holy and just. this is in direct conflict. And the order of God set in motion, when opposites collide, one must give in and one must prevail. this is shown in physical studies, emotional, and spiritual issues. Ultimate victory goes that good overcomes evil; salvation is dominant to lostness; heaven to hell; righteousness to unrighteousness, it is the order that God prevails over Satan. For those that say these verses of corruption give place to why men always sins is not true for the church. For 'greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world'; 'I have overcome. . .and I abide within you'. there is a way for man that evil does not need to continue. Upon such seasons of God working through men so that the continual evil that 'repents and grieves' God is turned and God pours out blessings of grace and mercy. but this condition repented and grieved God to the place that God must act against it, we know the cause was that God would destroy all flesh but Noah and his family. so attributing the word 'repent' with the right definition we get a grasp of God's divine love and divine judgment, He must respond to that which is in conflict with Himself. His ways are right upon sinful, evil man. Hell is a just place for the wicked; we understand this and it makes us that much more appreciative of His salvation and redemption, because we know we all deserve hell. But to the touch the heart of God with grief is a horrible thing. Again, emotions are used to describe God and men read such words and view God as man; be careful not to do this. Grief, hate, jealousy, anger are all used to describe the nature of God in the Bible. we assoicate these emotions with sin; but remember, God cannot sin, therefore, these attributes must not be sinful. And then we understand that the emotions are not sinful but the actions that are produced from these emotions are sinful. Just the same to understand that to be tempted is not sin, but to act on the temptation is to give in to lusts, which is sin. we should examine our actions and not judge God by the terminology that is used. He was grieved over the souls of men. Why? Because He made man to worship Him and have fellowship with Him. Adam sinned and man lost the ability to worship Him and broke the fellowship with Him. Those that we learned of, Enoch and Noah, walked with God, thus, the fellowship and worhsip was restored to God's honor and glory. but the vast amount of men did evil continaully which thrust them further away from Him. This was not God's desire, the same as it is not God's desire that any should perish or go away from Him. Remember the truths about and of the Lord and do not let personal intrepataions and experiences dictate about God. This verse is one of the great verses in the Bible that reveals so much about Who God is. When we get to heaven, we will know about this. But for now, we learn more each day that we spend with Him in fellowship and study of His Word. No man can know the deep things of God, but the Spirit reveals the deep things of Him to us. We see what God desired and how He experienced the continual evil that was upon the earth. So we must understand that God is immutable ( does not change) and thus He is the same today about the sins of the world, about our sins and the sins of the church. You and I should take on the nature of God and repent and grieve in our hearts over the sins of lost man. This would lead us to pray and work more urgently for the saving of the souls. If the sins of the world, or your own sin does not bother you in such a manner, something is wrong and you should proceed to the Father and ask He give you His heart. His heart was grieved, why is the church's heart not grieved?

Genesis 5:24

"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."

This is one of the verses in the Bible that marvels me. We know that their were only two men in the Bible that never died, Enoch and Elijah. They did not die, for God took them. why? For God's own purpose to be decided later, and I believe found in Revelation. But in order to have such an end as these two men did something must be different about their life. For whatever cause, I am led to watch and observe from people. I am not a master at it, but it is in my make-up to watch and listen. A lot of people do this, but their's is another reason for doing such, busy-bodyiness (if that is a word). I read Proverbs and Ecclessiastes and understand that wisdom for Solomon was in the observance and application of life's experiences. What good does it do to watch people and listen to people and then make the same mistakes that they did? This is foolishness, vanity. But to learn from the mistakes of the past ( my history teachers implored us with this) is wisdom - understadning. I consdier myself foolish having not learned, but desperately desiring wisdom, 'For he that winneth souls is wise'; 'And if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, Who giveth to all men liberally'. then let us observe and learn from Enoch today - what kind of man was he? and more importantly, why was he the man that he was? Physical attributes do not play on this very much, this is inward observation - the heart, the soul. The relationship to God is everything about the person. With God, something to learn and grow from; without God, markt he person and having nothing to do with them but intercede for their lost soul and be the witness you should be unto them. But as for their lifestyle, avoid all together. This disspells the idea that a Christian has to become like the lost person in order to win them. A masterful lie of the devil to deceive and corrupt the church. Follow Enoch's pattern and avoid all this nonsense. 'Walk with God' this is the lesson from the saints, everyone of them. You want to know what a Christian is, this is the statement of a true child of God, they walk with God. They rise up early and meet with Him; they have discourse with Him throughout the day and they ponder and beseech Him for direction and leadings by His Holy Spirit throughout every situation. They do not miss a day with Him, for then they do not walk with Him. To walk with Him is to be with Him, there is no separation. and the more you walk with somebody you know them and become like them. I consider the life of my father an example here, which I will spell out in length at this time. My father had a leg disease as a child, one doctor wanted to take his leg off. Had that happened, no doubt, my father and mother probably would not have married and nor would I have been born. I see the instrumental hand of God in such things. But because of this disease, one of my father's legs is shorter than the other one. He wears out one shoe faster than the other because of this. Now as a child, we always walked behind my dad, never in front or beside him. And because of this, I walked like he did, and unknown to me, I patterened his lopsided walk and wore out one shoe faster than the other, but there is no difference in the length of my legs. but the pattern I followed that was set before me. This is a Christian when they are following the Lord, not in front, nor in unreveren ed position walking beside, but behind and learning of Him all things. enoch walked with God and learned and knew Him; and the closer one gets to Him the more one learns of Him. Is it not obvious that the church today is so far out of step with the Master because the walk of a Chrsitian is messed up. Something is wrong with Christians today in their pursuit of God. we have settled for a distant relationship instead of an intimate realtionship. How long can we last like this? Not very long. One of two things will happen: 1. God will judge us for our separation from Him; He divorced Himself from israel because they was out of step with Him and we should not think any less than for ourselves as the church; 2. God will reprove and correct the relationship and make us walk with Himi. History has shown this for the church. that when they departed, through means, God brought the church back into a right relationship with Him. As a child would wonder away from a parent in a busy street, the parent takes them by force and takes their hand and makes them walk with them. This is not a desired end that I am presenting to you today, for Enoch I do not believe was taken to walk with God. there is a level for a Christian in their spiritual growth that it is not a (have to do so) but a (want to do so), it is all about desire. A child of God, like Enoch, desired to be with God. Other saints that I could list and declare unto you, desired to be with God, it was all pleasure and learned from Him. That is why they were the way they were, they met God. Have you met God today? Have you lingered in His Presence? Are you walking daily with Him? Not, most of the time, or part of the time, but whole heartedly walking with God? there is no question whose you are, you are His and He is yours. The basic problem in the church today and individual Chrsitian living is found within this one verse, their walk with God. Learning what is right and wrong from those around us and before us will teach us what pleases God and what does not. Ask for wisdom to learn and apply and go walk with Him. And may you take the old hymn with you for meditation, "When we walk with the Lord" - there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!

Genesis 4:7

"If thou doest well, shall thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

The simple standard of the Gospel, do well. But the sad fact of man, they have not done well. Would you thus judge yourself today, have you done well with your life? One of the great word studies of the Bible is this word well. For found within its meaning is what Christ desires of His church. If a man does well, it is for the glory of the Father, it is obedience. And the reward of such actions is to be accepted by God. Cain and Abel were to bring gifts unto the Lord. There is no command in Scripture that they God commanded it but we read that they had their own respective occupations and thy brought an offering. You see it is not enough just to bring an offering. It is not enough just to throw things at God, there must be essence behind it. The offering must be accepted, it must be right in His sight. Jesus watching the tithers at the temple, noted the difference between those that gave of their excess and the woman who gave her all. Does the Scriptures not remind us how much God pays attention to the details of what we ahve and how we offer unto Him? Is it our best? Is it with joy? Is it accepted? this is compared with how little is done by us to examine how we give. Cain's offering was refused and Abel's was accepted. This caused division. Cain was angry and God spoke to him about it here in verse 7. God offered him an opportunity for another chance. This is God's nature that when we fail He grants us mercy. Note how many times God has granted you another opportunity in the experiences of life. Praise Him that it is not one strike and you are out! Although I would mention many times I feel that in witnessing we have one time to share and many have refuse d the opportunity and the person died and the one that did not take the opportunity to share at the given moment laments over their failure. But the vast majority of the time God gives us another chance, as He did for Cain. But the problem is Cain did not make the most of his second chance. God laid out to him the fact, 'Do well'. We should search and make sure that is our desire. Do well and God accepts us; but if don't do well, sin is now present. Now is based on the knoweldge that Christians have been granted on truth. In the book of James, "If a man knows to do right and does not do it, to him it is sin". I believe that most know what it is to do right, Cain did. The church is to be taught and shown what it is to do right. Their are babes in Christ that would say, 'I didn't know, that that was wrong'. but upon learning the truth of right and wrong it is time to repent of not doing well and start to do well. The church and Christians must know the sad fact of not doing well that ushers sin into our midst. This quenches the Holy Spirit, stops our growth and hinders the work of the kingdom. It is a high price to pay for not doin well. It should grieve to see it in the church and labor to for our own selves to do well. We must make sure the mote is out of our eyes before we attempt to correct others. But in observation, I would say that most are unmoved about the condition of the church not doing well, it doesn't seem to bother anyone. It doesn't matter that it brings sin to the door. but we forget, what does this do to God? It grieves Him, and there is a price to pay for not doing well. Pray for the church do well in His sight; make sure your life is well pleasing to Him. And note that most people's problems come from them not doing well in service and obedience unto God. You can trace it, they disobey and sin (not doing well) and problems and trials come from this. The way they handle it is as much important. If Cain would have repented and done well, God would have accepted it and moved on. But the sad fact is Cain would not do well and the price was payed in Abel's blood being shed. If you are not doing well, repent, confess and do well and God will ahve compassion and mercy. Note the conclusion of this verse, which is normally, over shadowed by the first part: unto theee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. do well and a right relationship will be between the brothers. He was first born and he would continue to rule over him. God is laying out the price to be paid, that if Cain would not listen all this would be lost. the same that He says to us, if you sin and do not well, all this will be lost, for their is a high cost to sin. We have reaped much of this in our life, may we resign today to do well and not miss the opportunity of serving as we should. May this verse penetrate inside of us for His glory to do well.

Genesis 3:9

"And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where are thou?"

Some would read this and question God's ability to know all things. For they would say, if He knows everything then why as where Adam is? But the question is not asked because God did not know where Adam was, for God sees all and knows all. Let the facts that we know about God rule our understanding of the Scriptures and not the deceptive critique. Man will try to undermine the Bible as Absolute Truth because it does not want anything to rule or reign over him. Just the same as when Adam fell in sin a few verses before hand. We notice that they were naked but no shame, now they hide in shame. The tender heart and soul that realizes their offence against a holy God is far better than the ones that sin and have no conviction. God is able to find us out. Some think they can hide, some think they are smater, some they think that God doesn't see them. But the truth is already laid that God saw us before the world ever was and knoweth all things concerning us. But upon this verse, let us see first that even though God knew of their sin, still He calleth for him. How thankful and blessed are many today that despite their sin, God still calls. Where would we be if God had not called, we would be lost and perishing. How great is a sinless God that looks upon sinful man and calls. It is not the way it should be, He should destroy the sin but God has made a way for us. Listen even today and know that He calleth unto you. Can you hear Him? Do you know that His still small voice is beckoning unto you? What does He say, Where are thou? Does He not know? Does He not see you? Yes, He sees and knows but He calls you out. He gave Adam the opportunity to reveal himself. No different than when a parent knows when a child has been disobedient and still they ask, Who did this?" they know they want the child ot confess, to announce their wrong and turn from being disobedient. God knew that they never would have sinned had Satan not entered the serpent and led them astray. God knows that we would not sin if our flesh was not weak and sinful. He has made a way for us, praise His Name! But He calls for us today, where are thou? And I would wonder today, dear child of God, where are you? On that path of the straight and narrow how far have you come? Are you faithful? Are you steadfast and unmoveable? Our place is before Him, are you there? Or has the world and the flesh corrupted and swept you away from His Holy Presence. Peter cried out, "I will never forsake you"; and yet he did, is this your place, you have forsaken Him? Where are thou? IN your place of time; Esther was given life and beauty for 'such a time as this', why have you been given life and talents for such a time as this. Have you takent he opportunity of life from God and able to declare, "I am in the place fo God"; 'I am in the will of the Lord'. Where are thou in thy growth in Christ? Are you still a babe on the milk bottle or are you growing and in need of meat from His table? We grow in different patterns but you must know where you are in this process of growth and how you should be maturing. Many a Chrsitian, if asked, does not know and does not care. How can we afford to lose our place with Him. Or are we found out and hiding with Adam because our sin is too great. We have offended and forsaken Him and as He comes calling for us, our guilt is sore pressed upon our souls. And as He comes, we rise up and meet Him saying, "I am at the throne, O God, beseeching You for mercy and forgiveness. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; Renew my passions as in old and let me not fall short of Your glory." Know where you are and know where you are going and be faithful unto Him in great and small things.

Genesis 2:7

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

God is creator of all things, including man. There is no decsion to follow after the hypothesis of evolutions distorted philosophy of creation. I have no interest in their wonderings, I am content in my faith. God made man from the dust. The same reflection from Solomon in Ecclesiates 12, man returns to the dust as he was. Born of dust, death returns our physical structure to dust. An acknowledgement of where we come from should hinder us from thinking more of our ourselves than we do. Self says, "I am made of my own making"; this is a lie and no truth abides, I am made of God Who holds me in His hand to do what He wants with me. Upon forming man, meaning He took the creation of man with deliberation. For the rest of His creation in chapter one, we see where He simply spoke it into existence, but here God formed. Truly this supports Psalm 139, 'we are fearfully and wonderfully made". Any one that has given time to study the human body sees how we are put together and how God holds it all by His power and desire for man to accomplish what God wants. Life is not given for man but for Himself.
"Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" - man was made and formed, but one thing was missing, the life that only God could give. We have several instances of thsi found within Scripture. We have Ezekiel, in the valley of dry bones. Hearing from God, "Can these bones live?' And God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the four winds and the spirit of life to be breathed into them and they shall become living souls. God is the giver of life and there is not any other source to hear from it. Deuteronomy 32:39, "See now that I , even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive. . ." God gives life and no one else. But for Adam is was unique for God created man to be able to reproduce and life is given from birth by God's design. Adam was given life having been formed as a man and not fromt he womb. Only God can do this. the Breath of life is God's discerning ability to produce creation in life. His source of breath is His living spirit, not the Holy Spirit, it is God's essence, an attribute of His for God is life. The same as sin cannot abide with God neither can death, for it is against His nature. God gave, it is a gift from Him and can be reclaimed again at death. The spirit of life goes back to God Who gave it. the other verses that should remind us of this are Daniel and Job, 'God holds our breath in His hands." Who is able to wrestle from God life? Only God chooses this.
Man became a living soul - God gave it and now man has a responsibility to hold fast to it. what do we do with this gift? Many live for themselves; they indulge, they sin, they perish. The sin of waste of life having been giving now removed with nothing to remain as good or lasting. The one king had this epitath - 'there was no good thing found within him'; 'he left without being desired'. How awful to take such precious life and opportunity and miss out on the grand opportunity of experiencing what angels cannot. We have the chance the moment of existence to seize life and live to the fullest in Him. Only to watch as Satan devours and destroys most of this living soul. We owe Him all, what are you doing for Him? How much have you wasted and thrown away? Will you live for Him and in Him? Will you make the most of this short existence before your spirit of life goes back to your Maker? then let it begin now with thanksgiving that God saw fit to give you life; to use this life for Him and not for yourself.

Genesis 1:2

***Even though I have just finished my second reading through this year, I will not begin till the middle of the month. But I do not wish to lose any days in sharing devotions from my daily Bible reading. I have been using the days to study, memorize afresh and go over Psalm 119. I may be able to share later of those Divine revlations and blessings. But for now I will start again in Genesis and cover the verses in the earlier chapters. Ultimate goal: more than 31,000 verses in the Bible and to do a devotion of the whole Bible. Continue to learn Scriptures and read twice through the Bible every year. Every day is precious, every week is made of opportunities and every year is made of time built from moment to moment. How do you use your moments and time? I have wasted enough time, enough opportunities and enough moments, I do not wish to lose any more by God's hand of mercy. What say ye? ***

"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

No earth of substance, just water was the abiding physical form. Space, empty space filled the void. Did it have the elements of oxygen, carbon, and other dynamics that we study and know of today? There is no way of knowing, God does not need what we need. But the fact to notice here is that there is no structure. Look upon the world and all things created. Everything has structure and relationship to one another. The earth was formed with structure, for what purpose? To support man. Man is fearfully and wonderfully made but how was he made? out of the dust, without form and void. For what purpose? to glorify God. Chaos abides to some degree, simply because our minds must have structure to capture it, to understand it. It is hard for us to understand 'without form, and void'. No substance, yet abiding; no form, yet existence. Is this not God? He is Spirit and truth; how can we grasp hold of this, it is beyond us without His help in taking form and substance.
"darkness was upon the face of the deep" - what deep? the depths of water? the depths of His eternity? the depths of His Being? I believe the last half of this verse to inticate that the waters were the deep (depths), until later in this chapter the details of how God pulled them assunder and land was formed and shape and purpose was given to this voidless, formless deep. No light, for it says darkness - but God is light; the Scripture tells us that God shall abide in the thick darkness. I often wondered if it is not like the spiritual light - man abides in darkness until the Light of God comes crashing in and makes the darkness to flee. God abides in light, is light, but darkness apart from Him is all around. In Daniel, chapter 2 verse 22 we have another claim upon God in the darkness, "He knoweth what is in the darkness" It does not say He is in the darkness for He is light, but He knoweth what is in it. And Who was there in the darkness? The Spirit, the third part of the Trinity; always existing, Three in One, Father Son and Spirit being God. What was He doing? moving upon the face of the waters. One preacher termed it, "the Spirit was brooding over the face of the waters" as a hen broods over her eggs. In the midst of this brooding He was contemplating. For the Spirit has the same attributes of the God head, therefore, He knew past, present and future. He knew us. the Scripture becomes clearer when Paul writes and shares, that God knew us while we was yet in sin. God knew us before the world was created. Because the Spirit was abiding in the midst of the dark, deep brooding over lost man. Preparing the work that would need to be done to win the elect and secure glory to Himself. Oh, the depths to know that I was being thought of here in Genesis chapter 1, verse 2. How infinite is God Who thinks upon us, sinful, failures though we be. God's Spirit brooding over me and over you for the work to be done in us. How then can any creature of His claim that God has forgotten me, God doesn't know of my plight, when the Spirit was seeing and knowing everything right here. Oh, the hope that is beofore us here today, that whatever happens God is in control and knows all about it. He has made a way, He has made a path, walk ye in it. Pray unto the Spirit that He complete that brooding thought and prayer for the children of God. In me, let no evil thing exist; nor, let my will be done, but let Thy blessed will be done as You thought of it before creation ever took place. And what will He say or think of me as He broods upon the deep? He will see me in my birth, conceived and brought into this world by His knowledge and His power. For God is the giver of life and He says to all existence, "Let there be life"; and if God says it who can thwart it? Brought into this world knowing all my existence from this chaos to Adam's creation to Noah and on down the generational tree to form me. God know it all and how it fitly works together, it is amazing to consider. Now beyond my line of existence, God has a purpose for my life; He has made others to influence and shape me. Events, memories, moments in time that have developed to be who I am, God's holy spirit abiding upon the face fo the deep contemplating each step, each event to shape me to be what God desires. Yet, knowing that my sin is a factor to disrupt and pull me away fromHim. God made a way for lost sinful man to be redeemed, and to be kept in His care. For He knew it all!! It is enough to know that in this verse God has made a way and thought it all out. There is no mysteries to Him, there is no secrets to Him, there is no by chance or luck instances, but all is by design and the Spirit brooded over it all.

Revelation 12:10

"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."

It is the last phrase of this verse which strikes more to the heart than anything else. The accuser of our brethern, the devil himself, brings accusation constantly. I began at first to look at what he may accuse me of. Then I considered what he accused other of. I remembered the story of Job, how all the sons of God had to appear before Him and give an account of what they had been doing. (there is much found of this than we have time to stay with today) The devil answered that he had been up and down throughout earth and saw man. God raised Job out of all men to present him as an example of God's grace. The devil accused Job twice to destroy him and God permitted for him to afflict Job. He lost all possessions, chidlren and health, all because the devil accused Job that he would crumble under the weight of despair. Then I remembered the second instance in the Bible of Joshua the High Priest in Zechariah 3 and the devil standing at his right hand accusing and (resisting) him. Now how much does he accuse us of? He brought against these faithful witnesses great reproach and hard words, what says he of us? He accuses us day and night. I know I have given him enough arsenal to attack and accuse me of unfaithful, unbelieving, sinful, trangressor. And what right do I have to answer except to say, 'I am poured out as water and my iniquity has found me out.' And what do I find but mercy and forgiveness from my blessed Lord. How often the children of God come and ask for forgiveness from His hand but they never think or hear the words of accusation that come from him, the Evil one. There he stands before our Lord and Redeemer, claiming that we are unworthy, vile creatures who do not deserve the mercy and divine love of Almighty God. but God dismisses his accusations and pardons and grants us His favor. And these are a two fold accusations, one is that which is true, we have failed and sinned; and the second, he accuses us falsely, as he did of Job, to set his hand against us. May we strive that it is the second accusations against us and not the first. I hear and know of my own self; but also, of the church today what he accuses us of. How slanderous are his words, how destroying of Whose we are. and he never rests but day and night he comes to accuse the church of their sinful plight. name all the sins and acts of treason committed today by the church and he has enough to last generations to accuse us of. How many promises broken? How many words left unsaid? How many opportunities shattered? How many hopes dashed? How much faith minimized? All because we do not walk worthy of His calling. But these things from us and let us rest on His saving blood. Even though the verse is not included with out study, I cannot leave you without it. For the next verse, verse 11, is for our hope amidst such accusations of horrible deeds against our Master and Father above all; "For they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. . ." What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; what can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; Oh how precious, oh, how blessed. Victory is not found in the efforts of man, nor in the self helps of religion but in Christ alone. When he accuses you may you remember to fly to Jesus and wait before the throne of God. and there at His blessed feet to hear those words, "I have removed your sins from you and you are set free" He strips us of the filthy rags and clothes us with His righteous garments. Glory be to God the Father for His unspeakable gift.

Jude v. 19

"These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."

My firmest belief is that this is the problem in the North American churches today - "having not the Spirit". We find that everything is done out of the wisdom of man, the glory for man, the self life is consuming. In each of these things they are not small portions they are the leading majority. Oliver B. Green, an old evanelist, declared that 'religion has sent more people to hell than anything else.' I agree with this; the world is full of religion today, and even they who declare their Christianity are not Christian but simply religious. When they are asked of their salvation they have no answer from the Truth only an experience of emotions and religious duty. It is not for me to sit an judge all the church only to use this verse to show where we are at and why we are the way we are in this present day. There are many who have separated themselves and joined a church. They have been faithful for decades. The horror of one couple comes to mind, in their 70's, having been raised and attended the church for decades, but lost. When upon hearing the Word of the Lord they realized they had been deceived and the truth had been held from them. The womans statement, "they would have let me go to hell without knowing the truth." maybe I ask 'why' to much but answers need to be found within for correction lest much of the same antics continue for the glory of hell instead of the glory of our Lord. The devil laughs and mocks and has much gain for these that having separated themselves, are sensual. Oh, how great are his ways and man is sinking fast. The complexity of it is masterful in his deception of the world. how great is it - 7 billion people on the face of the planet and over 6 billion lost and perishing, not bad with almost 90% going to hell if the Lord returns - 500 recently having died of chlorea in the Zimbabwe how many lost? 200 killed in India attacks, how many lost? how fast they go out and without Christ there is no hope. And why so many lost and perishing? Because we do not have the Spirit. We are the ones who live in the flesh, sensual, self consumed, void of compassion on the lost and no regard for the person of Christ. And yet, how many will claim they are His'. this verse describes us, the church today, not just the lost world. What hope is there to be found? Only by casting aside the sensual and the self life and being filled with the Spirit. when the Spirit comes in fulness then everything changes, it has to change for people cannot go on in the same direction. the church is awakened and stirred to arise up and be in His presence. This is what we need; this is what we must pray for, yearn for, desire. How many does? FEw there be that find it; few there be that want it. But a few are enough for the Lord to remove the separated (religous), sensual ones and restore the broken cisterns to their place. I close this last month of the year having seen great and marvellous things from the hand of the Lord this year. "Consider His wondrous works" and I have. God is moving and working and I love it; but I know the vast majority will miss it because they are separate and sensual not having the Holy Spirit. The church will miss it because they are the testimony to this verse. God will restore righteousness and faithfulness and steadfastness, for He is able. Do you believe He is able? Yea, I believe; for there is nothing to hard for Thee. Dear child of God, finish this month with expectation, lean upon Him Who is worthy to be praised. Consider His wondrous works in your own life and aroudn you. Pray for the church to be rooted out of this deception and plunged into the precious blood of redemption. Cry for the Spirit to fall in fulness, no matter how dreadful it will be it will restore the church to prominence for His glory. masses of these lost will be ushered into the kingdom in weeks and months as in revivals of old. why? (there's that question again) Because of a wonderful verse, ' Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again". This is God! And as TW Hunt says, "God is God".

III John v. 4

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

What gives you joy? A question that has a wide range for most that I ask and contemplate on. Here the writer expresses his joy in the Lord. I view the church and watch and observe Christians daily life and see little if next to none of joy in their life. It is absent from them. They express great delight in their possessions but nothing of spiritual nature. They show me their cars, their homes, their collections and in sorrow I wonder what joy in the Lord of their labors for their Master. A vessel that fills them self with carnal things has little room for the spiritual blessings of the Lord. I go to an old saint, and they show me their library, filled with wonderful books. Not books of literature from earthly matters but spiritual books, the old saints the ones that being dead yet speaketh. There is joy to read of these saints that have found the Truest joy, dig into this wealth and glean abundantly from it. Music offers joy, there is nothing better than to find a soul that uses their talent unto the Lord for His glory. And many will express joy in a song that has aided and helped them through troubled times. There is joy in the Scriptures, promises, accounts of the siants of God's faithfulness, and lines and words of hope for the weary worker of heaven. This joy can stay and be built on, it is not like the joy people take in from the world. That joy from the world passes away and is gone and is quickly forgtotten. But the joy of the Lord is sustaining and worth its weight for future moments. For in such times of distress, guilt, depression and trials a Christian can remember how faithful God was in days gone by and know that He is the same today as He was yesterday - and it brings joy. Now knowing that true joy only comes in spiritual matters let us look again at this verse and see where joy is found. It is found in the children of his works. Now God is the author of salvation and God does the saving of a soul, but He uses us to present and deliver the Gospel unto the lost. And upon a person exercising faithfulness to witness and declare the Gospel, the souls that receive Christ are their children of the faith. These chidlren were walking in the truth, meaning they was obedient and faithful to the call of Christ. A soul can look with joy to know that they was used by God to help that soul and what a blessing it is. Not for pride or arrogance; but for the glory of the Lord which fits all things together for His delight. A preacher's great joy in seeing a child raised up in the church and walking with the Lord through to their adult life only to pass it on to the their children, what joy. But what of the child of faith that departs and goes away, oh, what sorrow. Why did they go away? Why did they cease to run the race set before them? the joy is gone. Look upon the souls of weight that God has entrusted to you, where are they? What of your children? What of your grandchildren? What of your Sunday School class? What of your contacts? Are they walking in truth and filling your joy? or is their sorrow and remorse for reasons of despair? Is this not why the church today is not filled with joy? The first church in Acts was filled with joy in souls being added daily unto the church and when they was persecuted for the cause of Christ. Joy was constant with them, why not now? We do not see the chidlren walking in truth. How should you pray then? Pray for their deliverance and faithfulness unto the path of the straight and narrow. And pray until your joy returns.

II John v. 9

"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son."

why do Christian men sin? Because they do not abide in the doctrine of Christ and hath not God. For who could possibly endure this lifetime without sin when God is restricted or absent? But to one that abides in Him the doctrine of Christ is present, then God is present. And is not the verse appropiate, "Greater is He that is in us, than He that is in the world". But sin is so easy and dismissed today inside the church. The writer of this epistle is addressing the church, the Christian. Why is sin present in the church and the Christian? Something has happened in their walk with God, something has broke down. They have left their first love, they have forgotten Who He is that they serve. The flesh has prevailed and Christ has been removed from Lord and Master. The doctrine of Christ here is the teaching and example that Christ set forth among the disciples and the church in ACts gathered and taught. What teachings set forth for the church today is the same as yesterday. What did Christ say of Himself? How needful to read the Gospels and memorize the verses to hold close what Christ said about Himself. "I and the Father are one"; "I am the way, the truth and the life"; "No man can come to the Father, except through me"; "If ye abide in me, and I in you, ye shall ask what ye will"; "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" and on and on, there is not place nor time to rewrite all that Christ said to us in the Gospels. But the doctirne is also what was said of Him through the Old Testament and the writings that followed, the Bible as a whole is needful to see the vastness of Christ. One of the reasons of trangression against God in this holding the doctrine of Christ is because of the sin of neglect of the church and Christians in studying the Word and being with Him in prayer and meditation. Absence of His Divine Presence is evident for the cause of sin and transgression among us and in us. And to those that assume and pretend that they are Christians but abide by some other doctrine than that of Christ, hear the word here, hath not God. What can a person do without God? How horrible for the deceived to believe a lie and deception all their life and reject the absolute truth to face hell for eternity. False preachers and teachers today sour thesoul of the church and give hell a foothold among the masses. Faithful preachers and teachers are scorned and derided as being judgmental, closed minded and out of touch with reality. But the fulness of God erodes all the deceptions and false teachings and the Light of Christ is manifested to the nations. Pray for this and seek this in His guidance. For the ones that abide in the doctrine of Christ, hear what he says, 'hath both the Father and the Son'. But this isn't the Trinity. But how can any man come unto Christ without the drawing of the Spirit ? No man can come unto me unless the Spirit draws him. And even though only the two, Father and Son are specifically mentioned here of the Trinity, know the truth that the Spirit is present and working. For the doctirne of Christ, the Anointed One, was that he breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Spirit"; and if I go away I will send the Comforter unto you and He will teach you allthings". when we are obeident unto Him and maintain and hold fast the doctrine of Christ, the Trinity holds us and abides within us. The fulness of God is around us, in us and over us. We are kept in the Father's and Son's hand (John 10). The less we restrict the doctrine of Christ the more we are kept from sin. But shun and refuse the Trinity doing the work in us for His glory, and sin returns and rules and reigns. Whose are you? Who abides within you? SEarch your thoughts, heart intent and practices to see if the doctrine of Christ is yours. If condemned that you do not know the doctrine of Christ, study to shew yourself approved unto God. Confess your neglect of Bible study and dive into the Word that teaches all about the doctirne of Christ. I beleive that one of the first steps in awakening is that the doctirne of Christ is restored to number one priority among the churh and Christian living. The weakness of the church today is that we have neglected this and refuse it and to such they "hath not God". This answers a lot about the conditions of life in the church today to those that will consider it.