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Embracing the Struggle

God understands how necessary this process is. That is why we are allowed to experience difficult, often life-changing events. He even orchestrates them—all for our benefit. What the Israelites thought was a cruel joke when Pharaoh sent troops to pursue them after they had been freed and penned against the shore of the Red Sea became the stage for the most publicized miracle of all time—the parting of the Red Sea. Generation after Generation has heard this incredible story of deliverance. God puts us against the “Red Seas” [in our lives] in order to show His power in and through us. If we do not know God can deliver, then we can never learn to trust Him. Circumstances that go beyond our capabilities of solving them place us at God’s complete mercy. This is how He likes it.

Today God is First: Daily Workplace Inspiration, Os Hillman (September 13, 2021)

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

2 Corinthians 11:21b-31 English Standard Version (ESV)

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 New International Version (NIV)

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:36-39 (NIV)

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
(which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV)

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Romans 5:3-5 New Living Translation (NLT)

The Common Denominator

SPIRITUAL SUCCESS- Obedience to God, empowered by the Spirit of God, motivated by the love of God.

Disciplines do not earn us favor with God or measure spiritual success. They are exercises which equip us to live fully and freely in the present reality of God — and God works with us, giving us grace as we learn and grow.

-renovaré.org

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8 English Standard Version (ESV)

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God…

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5: 1-2; 15-21 (ESV)

The Talk: Part 3

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28 New International Version (NIV)

Tamar

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

Genesis 37: 26-27 New International Version (NIV)

At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and made love to her; she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah.

Genesis 38:1-5a (NIV)

Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death.

Genesis 38:6-7 (NIV)

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.

Genesis 38:8-10 (NIV)

“As a childless widow, she (Tamar) could hardly been more vulnerable in the society of the time. Only a child, preferably a son, would have given her standing and security. Yet both her brother-in-law and her father-in-law had refused – and in the cruelest possible manner – to give the minimal rights prescribed for her by clan custom. “

Daily Study Bible Series,
John C. L. Gibson

“Having no recourse to the courts, she will move beyond the law to fulfill the law, even at the cost of her honor and her life.”

“The New Interpreter’s Bible” Commentary pg. 605

When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,” she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “And what will you give me to sleep with you?” she asked. “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said. “Will you give me something as a pledge until
you send it?” she asked. He said, “What pledge should I give you?”
“Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered.
So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him. After she left, she took off
her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again.

Genesis 38:13-19 (NIV)

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave,
when first we practice to deceive!” – Sir Walter Scott, 1808

About three months later Judah was told,
“Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution,
and as a result she is now pregnant.”

Genesis 38:24A (NIV)

“I am pregnant by the man who owns these,”
she said. And she added, “See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.”
Judah recognized them and said,
“She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn’t give her to my son Shelah.”
And he did not sleep with her again.

Genesis 38:25-26 (NIV)

His guilt-admitting recognition that Tamar has been more righteous (sadequa) than he means that Tamar has done justice to this relationship in a way that he has not, in failing to give her his third son.

NIB Commentary, pg. 606

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Luke 12:48b (NIV)

If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless—
but from my youth I reared them as a father would, …. If I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing,
or the needy without garments, and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece
from my sheep, if I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
knowing that I had influence in court,
then let my arm fall from the shoulder, Let it be broken off at the joint. For I dreaded destruction from God,
and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

Job 31:16-23 (NIV)

Leah

When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved,
he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, “It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now. She conceived again, and when she
gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved, he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.

Genesis 29: 31-33 New International Version (NIV)

She conceived again, and when she gave
birth to a son she said, ‘This time I will praise the LORD.’ So she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

Genesis 29:35 (NIV)

During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, ‘Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.’ But she said to her, ‘Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?’ ‘Very well,’ Rachel said, ‘he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.’

Genesis 30: 14-15 (NIV)

5 TAKEAWAYS OF LEAH

Leah is tenderhearted
Leah is first
Leah is content
Leah is a Matriarch
Leah is Honored

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

So what about you?

Will you allow God to see you,
hear you and care for
the aches in your heart?

Or will you block God’s blessings
by focusing on what you don’t have?

Rebekah

Then he prayed, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a young woman, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.”

Genesis 24:12-14 New International Version (NIV)

After she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels too, until they have had enough to drink.” So she quickly emptied her jar into the trough, ran back to the well to draw more water, and drew enough for all his camels.

Genesis 24:19-20 (NIV)

Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother’s death.

Genesis 24:67 (NIV)

When the men of that place asked him [Isaac]about his wife [Rebekah], he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.” When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelek king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah. So Abimelek summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac answered him, “Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.” Then Abimelek said, “What is this you have done to us? One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” So Abimelek gave orders to all the people: “Anyone who harms this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

Genesis 26:7-11 (NIV)

Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his
son Esau [His favorite]. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob [HER favorite], “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’ Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.”

Genesis 27:5-10 NIV

Jacob brought it to him and he ate; and he brought some wine and he drank. Then his father Isaac said to him, “Come here, my son, and kiss me.” So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothes,
he blessed him and said,“Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the Lord has blessed. May God give you heaven’s dew and earth’s richness— an abundance of grain and new wine. May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”

Genesis 27:25b-29 (NIV)

His father Isaac answered him, “Your dwelling will be away from the earth’s richness, away from the dew of heaven above. You will live by the sword and you will serve your brother. But when you grow restless, you will throw his yoke from off your neck.”

Genesis 27:39-40 (NIV)

Hagar

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had not been able to bear children for him. But she had an Egyptian servant named Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.

Genesis 16:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)

Often these biblical women suffered deep shame as a consequence [of not giving birth], their barrenness attributed to some hidden wrong, sin, or flaw.

Rachel Adelman, “Barren Women in the Bible,”
JWA [Jewish Women’s Archive].org, June 23, 2021

shiphchah – servant, maid, maid-servant, handmaiden, slave

New King James: maid & maidservant
New Living Translation: servant
New International Version: slave

Then Sarai said to Abram, “This is all your fault! I put my servant into your arms, but now that she’s pregnant she treats me with contempt. The Lord will show who’s wrong—you or me!”
Abram replied, “Look, she is your servant, so deal with her as you see fit.” Then Sarai treated Hagar so harshly that she finally ran away.

Genesis 16:5-6 (NLT)

The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur. The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied.
The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.” And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”

Genesis 16:7-12 (NLT)

Ishmael > GOD HEARS

This upset Abraham very much because Ishmael was his son. But God told Abraham, “Do not be upset over the boy and your servant. Do whatever Sarah tells you, for Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted. But I will also make a nation of the descendants of Hagar’s son because he is your son, too.”

Genesis 21:11-13 (NLT)

But God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Do not be afraid! God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. Go to him and comfort him, for I will make a great nation from his descendants.”

Then God opened Hagar’s eyes, and she saw a well full of water. She quickly filled her water container and gave the boy a drink.
And God was with the boy as he grew up in
the wilderness. He became a skillful archer, and he settled in the wilderness of Paran. His mother arranged for him to marry a woman from the land of Egypt.

Genesis 21:17-21 (NLT)

W.A.I.T.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.

Psalm 40:1-3 New International Version (NIV)

“Think of it as that space, that time, when a flying acrobat has let go of one swinging trapeze and is in mid-air, anxiously seeking the grasp of another who is swinging their way.” – Rev. Dr. D. Scott Stoner (Livingcompass.org)

WATCH
ASK

NO: It may be for reasons beyond our understanding
SLOW: Slow down, be patient
GROW: You need to grow in your faith before you’re ready
GO: Yes- you’re going to get what you asked for

INVITE

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 130 (NIV)

TRUST

Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.
Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 40 (NIV)

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)

R.E.A.P.

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Galatians 6:7-10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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LASER- Light Amplification by the Simulated Emission of Radiation

SCUBA- Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus

CARE packages: Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe – Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere

All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NRSV)

R -Read
E- Explore
A- Apply
P- Pray

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 14:26 New Living Translation (NLT)

“I will fight for you. You only need to be still.”
“I am your fortress and your strength.”
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
“Be strong and courageous.”
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

F.E.A.R.

FEAR: Face everything and run?

FEAR: False expectations appearing real?

FEAR: Faith Enters and Rejoice!

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
though the earth give way and
the mountains fall
into the heart of the sea.

Psalm 46:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

FEAR: Face Everything and Rise

FEAR: Forget Everything and Relax

The Lord is with me;
I will not be afraid.
What Can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.

Psalm 118:6-7 (NIV)

There is no fear in love.
But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to
do with punishment. The one
who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)

4 ways to use faith to overcome your fears (Norman Vincent Peale)

Be bold & mighty forces will come to your aid
Deny adverse conditions
See and constantly picture good outcomes
Practice brotherly love toward everybody

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed,
for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

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Archives: Messages

Embracing the Struggle

The Common Denominator

The Talk: Part 3

Tamar

Leah

Rebekah

Hagar

W.A.I.T.

R.E.A.P.

F.E.A.R.

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