MAHANAIM - Two Camps THE MISTAKE OF LIVING IN TWO CAMPS: Church Life / Regular Life Church Life / Regular Life - it’s all GOD’S KINGDOM "Depend upon it, OUR SINS WILL COME HOME TO US sooner or later." - Charles Spurgeon HUMAN STRENGTH IS FINITE AND RELATIVELY IMPOTENT Jacob finally PRAYS TO GOD Jacob had been WRESTLING GOD his entire life What’s in a name? JACOB --> ISRAEL Jacob: "Deceiver" --> Israel: "Governed by God" Brokenness would not be a prized virtue if there were not a loving God who powerfully leads all who surrender their life to Him

  JESUS CHOSE TO MANIFEST HIS DIVINE POWER AS MESSIAH at a wedding in Cana. What did Jesus turn into wine? WATER FOR CEREMONIAL CLEANSING The purpose of all religious ceremony is now FULFILLED IN JESUS ONLY JESUS BLOOD CAN CLEANSE OUR SIN - no amount of religious ceremony can do that JESUS REVEALED HIS DIVINE POWER ONLY TO THE SERVANTS

JEALOUSY CAUSES FRICTION WHEN SIN MUTES HEARING - GOD MAY SPEAK AGAIN IN PAIN JACOB IS BLIND to his own CHARACTER FLAWS SELF-CENTEREDNESS DESTROYS RELATIONSHIPS SELFLESSNESS BUILDS BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIPS PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR is so dysfunctional Passive aggressive behavior is CONCEALED AGGRESSION 1) DO NOT ENABLE 2) DO NOT MIRROR with passive aggressive behavior 3) Counter with OPEN COMMUNICATION

 

Matthew 1-2, The Omnipotent King And His Kingdom Eternal, the birth of Jesus is the beginning of the greatest event in human history. 2000 years later multitudes across the world still celebrate His birth. But what are we celebrating? The Bible reveals that this event was the birth of the final King of the earth. Yet for most, Jesus is not seen as King, and His Kingdom remains an enigma. This message in Matthew 1-2, examines The Omnipotent King and His Kingdom Eternal.    KING HEROD was troubled Messiah THE FINAL KING WHO RULES THE EARTH

Ishmael & Isaac - THE BATTLE Between the Flesh and the Spirit

The CONTENTS of the Abrahamic COVENANT 1) A PERMANENT HOMELAND (Israel) 2) A GREAT NATION / PEOPLE (Jews) 3) PERSONAL BLESSING AND GREATNESS (Abram / Jews) 4) DIVINE PROTECTION (Against Anti-Semitism) 5) DIVINE BLESSING UPON ALL NATIONS (Jesus) The Abrahamic Covenant is an UNCONDITIONAL COVENANT WALK BEFORE ME AND BE BLAMELESS  God Reaffirms HIS COVENANT with Abraham 1. God provides. Abram receives. 2. The Entire Land of Canaan (Israel) 3. An Everlasting Covenant   CIRCUMCISION - an Outward Sign of the Covenant We all walk with God BY FAITH God is making Abram into SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT

Genesis 15 - The Abrahamic Covenant (Part 2) reveals the mercy and unconditional love of God for His people. Like Abraham, many of us battle with fears and worries about our current circumstances or our future. God reminds Abraham of the promises in His Word and Abraham responds by waiting on the Lord. Waiting on God is not easy when we are stressed and afraid, but in Genesis 15 - Abrahamic Covenant (Part 2), the Good News of Jesus provides comfort and assurance now and in the future, for ages to come!  The Abrahamic Covenant - Part II, Genesis 15  Contents of the Abrahamic Covenant

1. A Permanent Homeland (Israel)
2. A Great Nation / People (Jews)
3. Personal Blessing and Greatness (Abram / Jews)
4. Divine Protection
5. Divine Blessing Upon All Nations (Jesus)

Do Not Be Afraid. I am Your Shield, Your Exceedingly Great Reward Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.  Galatians 3:16, (NKJV)     https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/gal/3/16/s_1094016 Abram Believed in the LORD, and God Accounted it to Him for Righteousness.  God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.  Hebrews 1:1-2, (NKJV)     https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/heb/1/1-2/s_1134001 SUZERAIN TREATY – COMMON AMONG KINGS.  ABRAM WAITS ON THE LORD  GOD PROPHESIED 400 YEARS OF JEWISH SLAVERY IN EGYPT - BEFORE ISRAEL WAS EVER A NATION.  NOTICE THE MERCY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT GOD  GOD’S COVENANT WITH ISRAEL IS 100% UNCONDITIONAL  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'"  Matthew 23:37-39, (NKJV)     https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/mat/23/37-39/s_952037  “Did all this Really Happen?”  I say then, have they (Israel) stumbled that they should fall (permanently)? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!