Loving God with all my heart, mind and soul and loving my neighbor as myself by making disciples, baptizing and to teach all things commanded by Jesus Christ in the Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles and the Revelation. HEAR THIS GOSPEL - Romans 10:17 BELIEVE ON CHRIST - John 6:47 REPENT OF EVERY SIN - Luke 13:3 CONFESS JESUS AS CHRIST - Matthew 10:32 BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS - Acts 2:38 LIVE FAITHFULLY - I John 1:7 SPREAD THIS SAME GOSPEL - Acts 8:4
Based
Upon the Study Guide of the Same Title by: David R Pharr
Lesson
#1 – Introduction – Archdale church of Christ
ANSWER
GRID
Thesis: “These studies will show why we are
not praying “Thy Kingdom come.”Instead,
we are praying that people will come to the Kingdom.” From the Introduction, pg. 10
1.Matthew 4.23 – What did Jesus preach?
– The gospel of the Kingdom
2.Matthew 13.31 – What word does Jesus
use for “metaphor?” - Like
3.Matthew 16.18 – 19; 18.18 – What did
Jesus anticipate regarding “the key?” – That it would be specifically
implemented to lose and bind.
4.John 3.1 – 7 – How would one enter Christ’s
Kingdom? – Not by being born, but by being “born AGAIN.”
5.Matthew 18.3 – 4 – Being “born again”
is akin to what? – Entering the kingdom of God.
6.John 18.36 – What did Christ tell
Pilate that is central to this study? – “My Kingdom is NOT of this world, or
else my disciples would fight.”,
7.Matthew 4.17 – Christ taught that His
Kingdom was what? – At hand
8.Matthew 3.1 – 2 – Who else had this
same message? - John
9.Matthew 10.7 – Jesus taught His
disciples to preach what? – That the Kingdom was at hand.
10.Mark
9.1 – Just how soon did Christ anticipate the Kingdom coming? - Imminent
11.Matthew
6.10 – What was one thing that Christ’s disciples were to pray for? – The
coming of the Kingdom
12.Acts
2.30 – 36 – When did the Kingdom come? – The Day of Pentecost, 50 days after
the crucifixion.
13.Daniel
7.13 – 14 – Who had prophesied this? - Daniel
14.John
6.15 – Who did the Jews want to rule over them in an earthly Kingdom and who
would have none of it? – Jesus, Jesus
15.Luke
17.20 – 21 – Just where is the Kingdom of God located?
“What then is the Kingdom
of God?It is Heavenly rule in the Hearts
of men.”
16.What
passage is often twisted to support a coming earthly kingdom that would last 1,000
years? – Revelation 20
17.Titus
2.13 – For what do we look? – “The appearing of the glory of our great God and
Savior Jesus Christ”
18.Hebrews
9.28 – For what are we assured of? – His 2nd coming “to save those
who are eagerly awaiting Him.”
Ephesians 5 speaks about marriage, but it is not about marriage. Ephesians 5 speaks about Christian living, but it is not about Christian living. Ephesians 5 speaks about singing in Christian worship, but it is not about singing in Christian worship. If it is not about these things, just what IS it about?
Ephesians 5 is about God's great mystery, the church of Christ. It is illustrated here by Paul primarily by marriage and "clean" living which includes "singing to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs."
Ephesians 5 tells us primarily about Christ's relationship to the church which is a "great mystery." Since Paul in several places reveals the mysterious church of Christ (the mystery is that the gospel is for all, not just the Jews) and makes sure by inspiration that the church of Christ remain a mystery no longer!
The Jews organized their writings (including Inspired Scripture) is a way unlike extant Westerners (shocking!). Instead of lining up arguments in a line with a conclusion at the end, Hebraic literature would often have a thesis in the middle with arguments on the front end descending to the thesis and corresponding arguments ascending backwards to the thesis. These "chiasms" rendered emphasis without repetition. There also was an "internal tension" between the various top and bottom assertions. For example, the "no uncleanness to be named among you" of Ephesian 5.3 - 5 is contrasted by Ephesians 5.31's "For this reason..." It goes without saying that a faithful monogamous relationship will allow no uncleanness. This "chiastic" outline gets its name from the Greek alphabet letter "X" (chi) as it looks like a cut in half letter "X."
Here is Ephesians 5 outlined chiastically. As Paul did not leave us his outlines, this has been organized by me and me alone. The Word is without error but my outline might not be! Feel free to construct your own chiasm's to further your study of God's Word!
2Walk as
did Christ in love, sacrifice and offering
3 – 5No uncleanness to be named among you
6Be wary of deception
16Redeem the time
20
– 21Submit to all with
thanksgiving
22 – 23 Christ
is the head of the church – LEADER
Christ is the Savior of the Body - SERVANT
24aThe church is submissive to Christ
24bWives are subject to husbands in everything
25
– 26Husbands, love your wives AS
Christ loved the church
31“For this reason a man should leave his
father and mother and…
32This is a
great mystery BUT see Romans 16.25 – 26 & Colossians 1.26 - 29
This outline was presented to the Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 on 11 April 2018 by Russell H McCullough
One can go to hell by oneself but Heaven is a group destination! It's "if God is for us, who can be against us?" ...NOT... "if God is for me, who can be against me?"
We live in a society that rewards youth and disregards age. It's been that way for some time. When we were all growing up in the 50's, 60's, and 70's we all ignored this fact...we were young and in the spotlight. Now the tables are turning. WE are now the one's being "shuffled off to Buffalo."
There are, of course, many reasons for this shift in society. Before WWII, old age was far more rare. People died much earlier than people do today. If you were, say, north of 70 during WWII, you were from very deep in the 19th century. You would have been born 5 - 10 years after the Civil War ended. You were sort of a "national treasure" to be honored and respected.
Somewhere in our lives collective journeys, something radically changed. That something is called existentialism. It is a a philosophy that is self absorbed and sees the present and the future as glorious and the home of all hope, prosperity, and improvement. It also, at best, discredits everything and everyone from the past. People from the past were ignorant, inferior, and immoral per the standards of today. If you are old, you are part of the past and responsible for any and all extant societal problems. It's time for the old to go.
BUT...what is God's perspective? The Bible teaches us to "honor our fathers and mothers." It tells us to respect the "gray head." It promotes the accumulation of both knowledge and wisdom, the things that the elderly have more than anyone. Perhaps, though, most importantly when God had a job to do He often would choose the elderly to "lead the charge," so to speak.
Moses was not called until he was 80. Joshua became prime minister of Israel very late in life. Abraham reached his heyday as a very old man. David won a civil war in his old age. Jacob didn't unite his family until his ancient years. We could go on. But..just what is the point you might ask?
Archdale is a congregation made up of mainly, older people. Many of us are retired. Many of us are on Medicare and Social Security. Many of us are moving slower these days than in the recent past. HOWEVER,
...we are a congregation with more collective experience, more Bible knowledge, more wisdom and insight...than most congregations.
Jesus is calling us to action! He wants us to begin to use the talents He has been giving us over our lifetimes. He is challenging us to "charge the hill," and not to "go to the rear." We know more people - Jesus wants us to speak to more people. We know more Bible - Jesus wants us to teach more Bible, and do it more often. We have more time - Jesus wants us to use more time for Him. We have homes - Jesus wants them to be opened up for fellowship.
We need to cease to think that "life has passed us by." Zig Ziglar used to call this "stinkin' thinkin' " and said that "people need a check up from the neck up." In a recent interview Justice Clarence Thomas observed that his late grandfather used to tell him; "Old man "Can't" is dead, I helped bury him." We must change our perspective! When companies falter, they turn to experience. When crisis comes, it is the "old diplomat" that is called our of retirement. When we are at the "end of our rope" we seek out the sage advise of the ancient one.
We must open our eyes to our blessings, our talents, our opportunities, our wisdom, our knowledge, our experiences, our influence, and our abundance as God has blessed us.
There was a song some time ago that expressed this sentiment: "Don't carry your blessings around as if they are burdens." Senior citizenship is not a burden, it is a blessing and a vehicle for growth, personal growth and collective growth as well!
God wants Archdale to grow, and He's asking us to roll up our sleeves and get to work!
NOTE: Image courtesy of Bing Images.
Russ McCullough - 2 November 2017 - Mint Hill, NC - Share anywhere, anytime, and with anyone!
Life is perspective. Half full or half empty? Evolution or creation? Random or purposeful? Tile or art?
Mosaics have intrigued me for some time. Plain, boring and purposeless individual tiles become engaging, purposeful and definitional together. A community of tiles, if you please. Mosaics are an awful lot like life.
Life, like a Mosaic, requires a creator, a vision and a purpose. A random pile of tiles has no purpose, no message and no inspiration. With the reach of the artists hand randomness becomes purpose and tile becomes art. A single tile placed by the artist may for a time appear boring, out of place and questionable to the uninformed critic. Before the completion of the finished Mosaic, individual tiles may seem so awkward, unappealing and disquieting as to call out for their own immediate removal and discarding. The vast majority of these scattered tiles must be put in place before a vision of the finished product can be seen. The most talented of artists image and message may be hidden until the last few tiles are inserted. Such is life. Some lives defy purpose and understanding until the very last tile is placed. Remember Sampson? The very last act of faith in his life defined his entire life. His Mosaic was made with the tiles of sin, arrogance and defiance. When the final tile was placed his life took on a brand new, eternal and faithful significance that lives forever. [Hebrews 11.32 - 34]What beautiful art out of what such ugliness!
Ironically we are all interchangeable Mosaics. Individual tiles represent people, events and experiences that over time paint a picture of a life. You are a tile (or more) in my Mosaic and I am a tile (or more) in your Mosaic. God is the artist. As we near the end of our lives the people, events and experiences paint our life's picture plainly. The finished artwork is then hung in the hallway of remembrance by those we leave behind. Unlike mankind who forgets very quickly the Mosaic of a life, God never forgets! Not only does he long to have our Mosaic in His Heavenly Hallway, he continuously pays the highest prices ever for such art. The Blood of Jesus Christ redeems broken Mosaics out of the trash heap behind Satan's house. As we rise from the waters of baptism Jesus Christ restores, reassembles and remakes our broken Mosaics as our sins are remitted by His Blood. Sons of disobedience become Sons of God. What a beautiful Mosaic, redeemed, remitted and restored!
When I was in college I was on the road to perdition. I was bitter, lonely and without purpose. I had grown up in my most formative years without a father. Dad died suddenly at age 46 when I was 14. I reeled at his loss for years. I made many poor choices and was a "chief among sinners," having no direction most of the time. However, there was a tile in God's Hand of which I was unaware. Among my peers I was without friends. Among my professors and counselors not a one saw any good in me or even a potential for good...save for Dr. Ron Bever. During my 4 years of study only Dr. Bever took any kind of interest in me and my potential. In fact, only he and his wife Doris ever had me in their home. It all came as a shock to me. He actually asked for my participation in a mission trip to Belize! Me, non-descript me, became a missionary with Dr. Bever! What an amazing tile in my Mosaic! Even more amazing, two years later I was interested in a very pretty girl at church. I began seeing her in January of 1976. Just a few weeks later Dr. Bever asked me if I wanted to come over his place as he was having a number of young people over for a fellowship and devo one night. Guess who was there? You guessed right, my life long sweet heart of nearly 40 years now, my dear Nancy. On December 23, 1976 we were married. Who officiated? Dr. Ron Bever, the indisposable tile in the Mosaic of my life. God be praised!
If you are not a teacher, you can still teach by example. If you are not a leader, you can still lead someone to a Bible study. If you are not an elder you can still encourage a weaker brother or sister. If you are not a deacon you can still serve another with the love of God. If you are not a missionary, you can still pray for one, render kindnesses to one and support one. Regardless of our talents, regardless of our perceived self worth and regardless of any other factors...we all can be tiles in the Mosaics of others as we all have the "fragrance of Christ." [II Corinthians 2.14 - 17] God is always looking for otherwise ugly tiles with which to make beautiful art!
Thesis: First fiddles
can’t fiddle without a 2nd fiddle!
1Introduction
A. Source of phrase
B. Washington had his 2nd fiddle spies
1. The
landing of the French army
2. The
saving of West Point from Benedict Arnold
3. The
stealth of Yorktown
C. Grant had two 2nd fiddles, Sherman and Sheridan
D. Sometimes 2nd fiddles get promoted and 1st
fiddles get demoted.
1. Prior to
the 2nd WW, the Filipino commander was Douglas MacArthur. His aide?
Dwight Eisenhower.
2Caleb
spoke up for obedience before Joshua – Numbers 13.26 - 33
A. What’s right, not who’s right
B. Leadership was the result of faith, not ambition
C. He cared not for his own safety, reputation or career
3Caleb
took up his second fiddle willingly and played the same tune – Numbers 14.1 -
10
A. He tore his clothes with Joshua
B. He spoke with unison with Joshua
C. He accepted death as a consequence with Joshua
4Caleb
took up his 2nd fiddle willingly and publically – Deuteronomy 1.34 -
38
A. He accepted that Joshua was on the platform and he wasn’t
B. He accepted that he was in the audience and Joshua wasn’t
C. He was comfortable in the 2nd chair
5The
Meaning of the Text
A. There is no shame in the 2nd chair
B. The 1st chair fails without the 2nd
C. Accept elevation and demotion with equal grace
6The
Challenge of the Text
A. Am I subservient to God and others?
B. Am I ambitious to be 1st chair?
C. Do I see my worth to God regardless of chair?
7“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House
Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues to
inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 12, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
Thesis: God can, and will, bless our descendants by
faith as did our Father Abraham before us.
1Introduction
A. Abram was first called in Ur of the Chaldeans
B. Abram and his family were polytheistic pagans
1) Ur was the center of the
worship of the moon god
2) Joshua 24.1 – 3
3) God did more than just
“call” Abram, He APPEARED to
Abram!
a. Acts 7.2
C. Abram not only followed God, he convinced his family to go
with him!
1) Genesis
11.31 – 32
2) His
family was extended even unto his nephew Lot.
D. Abram’s faithfulness to God’s call was rife with
incredulity!
1) He had
to leave his country
a.
Ur was the center of the known world at the time
2) He had
to leave a good portion of his family
3) He had
to leave his father’s house
a.
He had to leave whatever blessing was his as his
older
brother, the heir, had just died leaving him the
heir
to his father’s house.
4) He had
to wrest control of the family from his father
In order to
lead this familial band in an unheard of journey
To unknown
places!
E. Faith has its reward!
1)
Salvation is the most self-serving thing one will ever do!
F. The rewards are in the promise.
2Reward
One: (12.1) I will show you!
A. I will show you the way
B. I will show you the truth
C. I will show you the life
3Reward
Two: (12.2) I will make of you a great nation!
A.God
makes patriarchs and progenitors
1) Patriarch:
“Founder…the oldest member or representative of a group.” MWOLD
2) Progenitor: “A person
who begins something.” MWOLD
B.God
will make Abram a nation
1)His
legacy is assured by the number of descendants
2)His
legacy will be numerous
C.Not
only will God make Abram numerous, He will make him GREAT!
1)Father
of the faithful
2)Father
of a nation
3)Father
of a Great Nation
4)Father
of the Land Promise
5)Father
of the child of promise
6)Father
of the Christ
7)Ruler
of the Bosom
4Reward
Three: I will bless you and make your name GREAT
A. Abram will bring fear into the hearts of the kings of
Canaan
B. Abram will bring fear into the heart of Pharaoh himself!
C. Abram will sweep his enemies before him in battle
D. Abram will receive a blessing from the greatest king – the
king and priest of Salem, Melchizedec
5. Reward Four: I will make YOU a blessing
a. He blesses Lot by saving him
b. He blesses the kings of the
Canaanites by defeating their
enemies.
c. He blesses himself by serving God
first and only
d. He blesses all nations by his
faithfulness
5The
Meaning of the Text – Abram and faithfulness are one in the same!
A. By faith God showed Abram the way
B. By faith God made of Abram a great nation
C. By faith God made great the name of Abram
D. By faith God made Abram a blessing to others
6The
Challenge of the Text is this: Will we become a FATHER ABRAHAM in our day the
time?
A.Will
we, by faith like Father Abraham, allow God to show us the way?
B. Will we be, like Father Abraham, a progenitor of a great
people?
C. Wil we, like Abraham, honor the Holy Name of God and He in
turn our name?
D. Will we, like Father Abraham, be a blessing to all others?
7“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
Why church events? Let's be candid. Church events are hard work! They require time, effort, planning and expense. They keep us from our normal routine and they break up "normality."
We have church events because, as Christians, we have a threefold mission according to Matthew 28.18 - 20:
Make disciples
Baptize those disciples
Teach those disciples "all things commanded" by Jesus.
In order to "make" a disciple, we first must understand just what IS a disciple? The word in the original Greek for "make disciples" is metheteusate, "to make learners," or to make "believing followers." This, of course, presupposes something far more foundational...a preexisting acquaintance, a friendship of at LEAST a casual acquaintance,
We now must ask the question; "How do we make friends?" It's odd asking how to do something we USED to do all the time without even thinking of it or of it's definition! We were all good at making lots of friends when we were young. Now, not so much. What's the difference between then and now? The lives of young people are filled with what? EVENTS. You remember, club meetings, communal lunch 5 days a week with your friends, weekly sporting events, group study, holiday concerts...and...just "hanging out." Back in the day, we all had more friends than we could count! Now...?
What's changed? A number of things. Adulthood is far more of an isolated time than was school. We work alone. We have daily contact with fewer and fewer people as time advances. Events become fewer and farther between. Events that were once both common and spontaneous are now un-common and are likely contrived, Another factor, far more difficult to cope with, is the fact that when existing friends either move away or die, we fail to replace them. Though totally unnecessary, "old and alone" often go hand in hand, What to do? We can't do anything about the "old" part but the "alone" part can be dispatched completely!
Simply put, those of us who are older must "prime the friendship pump." That requires meeting more people more often than we might be comfortable with. Events make that process easier. It's easier to invite a stranger, or an acquaintance to a planned event than it is to create an event specific to the same purpose. Whatever the reasons are, people today are very reluctant to having people in their homes. Events give us a reason to engage potential friends who can then become "believing followers." The first step is the hardest...talking to strangers. I think it was Will Rogers who said; "I don't know any strangers, only friends I've yet to meet."
This is why we have events at the Archdale church of Christ in Charlotte, NC. On June 5, 2016 we had a "Comedy Night" with Charlotte comedian, Dan Sinski/ It was a great success. People who were strangers to us are now acquaintances. People who had never heard the gospel, heard it. We all became closer because we did something that fewer and fewer people are doing these days...we laughed out loud together. "Laughter is the best medicine" we are often told. Dr. Cyntia Thaik says this; "If you can find a reason to laugh every day, you'll find that your mood will improve, your relationships with others will seem more meaningful and effortless, and life's hurdles wont' seem so daunting. Moreover, your body, mind and soul will reap the health benefits of the natural and free medicine." (1) More importantly, we are all created "in the image of God." Part of that creative genius is laughter! God made people to laugh!
We have events so we can talk to strangers, make them acquaintances, make them friends, make them disciples, baptize them and then teach them "all things commanded."
Besides all that, who doesn't want more friends?
(1) HUFFPOST HEALTHY LIVING, "Why Laughing is Good for Your Health," March 16, 2016
Thesis: The Love of God
conquerors all things including treachery, loathing and unrequited love!
1Introduction
A.The
Four Tops – “Just Ask the Lonely”
When
you feel that need
To make it all alone,
Remember no one is thinking of,
Going alone
Just
ask the lonely
They know the hurt and pain,
Of losing a love, you can never regain
B.Jacob
betrayed Esau at Beersheba
1.Located
75 miles SW of Jerusalem
2.Founded
when Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant regarding the well Abraham had dug
in Genesis 21.
3.The
name means “The Well of the Oath” or “Seven Wells.”
4.Isaac
built an altar of sacrifice there (Genesis 26)
5.Near
here Jacob had his vision of the Stairway to Heaven (Genesis 28)
C.Rebecca
told Jacob to flee to Paddan-aram
1.599
miles from Beersheba
2.Name
means “Field of Aram”
3.Actually
an area in which is located Haran
4.Laban
was Rebecca’s brother and Jacobs uncle
5.Rachael
and Leah were his cousins
D.Jacob
comes under the tent of his uncle Laban
1.Begins
as an extended visit
2.Employment
offered by Laban to Jacob because of kinship
3.The
wages – 7 years of labor in return for Rachael
2The
Treachery of a Father – Genesis 29.15 - 24
A. (We see how Jacob inherited his devious ways!)
B. Laban breaks his covenant with Jacob
C. Laban uses Leah as a bargaining chip to double his money
1. He saw
his daughter as not being valuable because of
Poor eyesight.
2. By his snookering (THE FREE DICTIONARY - To lead(another)into a situation in whichallpossiblechoicesareundesirable;trap.)
he got 7 extra
years of free labor by Using his daughter as a pawn in a business deal.
D. Leah’s father’s treachery must have left her very alone
and very afraid of her future.
1. Once bartered away, women were under 100% control of their
husbands, the father was no longer any factor whatsoever. Leah had no legal rights at all whatsoever.
E. We can hear the sobs and see the tears as her father “high
fives” over his business deal.
3The
Loathing of a Husband – Genesis 29.25 - 30
A. Leah is a trick to Jacob not a lover though she is his
wife
B. Jacob sees Leah as making him a victim
C. Jacob sees Leah as an instrument of deception
D. Jacob is told the “fine print” of the covenant and
realizes he’s been “snookered.” GOTCHA!
E. Jacob spends a week with Leah, not out of love for her but
for the love of her sister!
1. “I’m going through the motions so I can marry your sister
that, UNLIKE YOU, I love!”
F. Leah’s husbands open and notorious loathing of her must
have left her in absolute terror, loneliness and self-hatred.
G. We can hear the sobs and see the tears while Jacob sulks
in the corner over having been out maneuvered by his uncle as he yearns for
Leah’s sister.
4Unrequited
Love – Genesis 29.31 – 34; 30.8
A. Reuben is born – “Now my husband will love me.”
B. Levi is born – “Now this time my husband will be attached
to me because I have born him 3 sons.”
C. Intense competition erupts with her sister who claims
victory over her
D. We can hear the sobs and see the tears as time after time
with each new son the love and affection of Jacob elude her.
5. Love Conquerors All! – Genesis 29.35ff
A.
A progression of faith in God – HER TRUE FRIEND AND HELPER
1) 29.31 – The Lord came to her rescue when HE saw she was
hated.
2) 29.32 – “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction…”
3) 29.33 – “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated…”
4) 29.35 – “THIS TIME I WILL PRAISE THE LORD!”
a)
JOY HAS REPLACED SORROW FOR HER LOVE
IS
NOW FOCUSED ON GOD AND NOT JACOB.
b)
This is the turning point in Leah’s life when
she
ceases crying and begins rejoicing!
5) 30.11 – “Good fortune has come!”
6) 30.13 – “Happy am I!
For women have called me happy.”
7) 30.18 – “God has given me my wages because I gave my
servant to my husband.”
8) 30.20 – “God has endowed me with good endowment…”
6The
Legacy of Leah’s Life
A.With
God’s loving help:
1)Leah,
like Churchill said, “Never, never, never give up!”
2)Leah
did not allow loneliness to defeat her
3)Leah
did not allow treachery to destroy her
4)Leah
never rebelled against her father
5)Leah
never rebelled against her husband
6)Leah
did not allow her loathing husband to cease striving for his love and affection
7)Leah
did not allow jealousy of her sister embitter her
8)Leah
waited on the Lord to hear her case
9)Leah
always sought what was best for her husband
10)Leah
accepted her circumstances
11) Leah gave thanks to God for the
success of others
12)Leah
always gave God the glory
13)Leah
was given two great gifts that continue to bless us today!
a)It
was her son, Judah, that became the savior of the family and the familial
progenitor of the Lord Jesus Christ!
b)She
received the highest commendation of those who lived centuries later:
1.“Then
all the people who were at the gate and the elders said; “We are
witnesses. May the LORD make the woman,
who is coming into your house, like Rachael and LEAH, who TOGETHER built up the
house of Israel…” – Ruth 4.11a
7Leah
Challenges Us This Morning:
A. To know that when God is for us, no one can be against us
B. To realize that surrender to our circumstances is not an
option
C. To understand that suffering is not failure
D. To know that treachery is never final
E. To realize that every person has at least one other person
in life who loathes them
F. To understand that getting “snookered” is not a reflection
on me
G. To give God Thanks for every circumstance
H. To give God all the praise and glory for all achievements
I. To understand that a small faith can grow great
J. To grasp the fact that family is greater than all
possessions
k. To willingly rejoice with the success of our adversaries
l. To realize that rebellion against God, parents or spouses
is never an option
m. To come to grasp with the fact that true happiness is
found ONLY in God and nowhere else!
1. “I have
come to give you life and life more abundantly!”
n. To “Never, never, never give up!”
8“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
