True Gospel Notes

         We are going to be reading from the book of Genesis this morning. To be more specific, it will be about the later years of Jacob after he has made a covenant with his uncle Laban. Earlier chapters in Jacob's story tell of Jacob having a hold of Esau's ankle at birth. We read Jacob getting Esau's birthright over a pot of stew. We read Jacob receiving Issac's, his father's blessing with deception by his mother. Jacob traveled to his uncle's Laban's home where Jacob married 2 sisters while Esau went to Ishmael's land to obtain his wives. This morning's text will be in chapter 32 of Genesis and we will begin in verse 1.         And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.          2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Ma-ha-na-im.          3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land ...

         The end of the year, you reflect upon your gains, victories, and accomplishments. The beginning of the year is for setting goals and adjusting expectations. Our scripture reading will be from the book of 1 Samuel chapter 30. We will be reading beginning at verse 1.         And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Zik-lag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Zik-lag, and smitten Zik-lag, and burned it with fire;          2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.          3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.          4 Then David and the people that where with him lifted up their voice and wept,...

              You have to be careful what you support as well as allow in your life. Don't take things merely at face value. For example in the story of Jesus' birth, it has been told, through various stories and plays, of the 3 wise men bring the newborn gifts on the night Jesus was born. This is not so. It was quite a while before they appeared. We have been brought up in abbreviating the scripture and boiling down biblical events into a series of bullet points.                     You know what a good measurement of growth is in your life? It's in the amount of drama or hysterics present in your life. If you have a high amount of those in your life, it's a direct reflection of how much your flesh is in charge of your life. Things don't just happen to us. You are not the victim of some malevolent force that is dropping you into trials randomly. It all goes back to sowing and reapin...

         This morning's message is going to be about humility. We will be in several different places in both the old and new testament to add scripture to 3 examples all of us have been in through life. Three scenarios that call for humility.           Our first scenario is this. When I get ready to walk through a door that's open and it closes suddenly, it's important that I remain calm in the moment and remember to trust in God and know his hand of protection is on me.          Now, many many times, an opportunity presents itself that seems good and closes all of sudden, and our immediate reaction is to be angry and lash out. Let's go to 2 Corinthians 10:5 and read.         5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.          Of...

          This morning we are going to be reading from the book of 2 Timothy. Our scripture is going to be in chapter 3, but we will back up to chapter 2 for a few minutes in adding context to what is being preached this morning. The letters written to Timothy were written differently than the letters Paul had written to the early churches. The letters to Timothy detail more Paul's personal relationship with God. Paul's experiences in the faith was being shared to Timothy.          We are going to chapter 2 first and begin to read with verse 9.         9 Wherein I suffer double, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.         10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.         At the time this letter was written, Paul was...