GENESIS-Babel to Abraham

It is Sunday morning today.  The second day of 2011 and the very first Sunday.  I'm so excited.  Dr. Raymond Barber is with us this morning and his dear wife.  They will be speaking at all of the services today.  What a blessing that will be.  He has been in the ministry for 60 years and married for 60 years as well.  Wow!  I'm looking forward to hearing the wisdom that God will use him to speak to us.  I'm in Genesis today and here are a few truths to share with you that jumped out at me today:   1) UNITY?  In Genesis 11: 6, it says: "And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language;...."  They had unity, and had that been the goal, they achieved it.  Unity is not the goal of the Church, it is a condition God wants, but not as the goal, as a by product of doing His will together.  We could have unity and not be fulfilling God's purpose for our church, our country, or our world;  unity is never enough without the right purpose.  God gives us purpose and it is His will we should be concerned about fulfilling.  Let us enjoy unity, but work at fulfilling God's plan for us and our church! 2) HAGAR- In Gen. 16:13, Hagar says:  "And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me:  for she said, have I also here looked after him that seeth me?"  Hagar was the Egyptian maid that served Sarai.  Sarai gave her to Abraham to have a child with and he took up the offer.  She conceived and was then hated by Sarai for so easily conceiving.  She was banished and sit by a well of water.  Here the Angel of the LORD, spoke to her.  Here she acknowledged the angel as being God's representative.  Now, the interesting thing in the whole event is this:  Hagar had more interaction with God and the angel of the LORD than Sarai did though she would be the one to bear the son of promise, Isaac.  God spoke to her, God cared for her, God directed and instructed her, God mightily blessed her and her son; but, she was not the one through whom the promised son would come.  God loves everyone, and will use everyone that will let him.  Here we see the compassion of God in His dealings with Hagar, the rejected one.  By Sarai, and by Abraham, but not rejected by God.  This same God loves us too!!  3) I KNOW HIM- God wants a relationship with us.  He wants us to know Him, and He wants to know us.  By know, I mean an intimate relationship, a deep friendship, a love for one another.  In Genesis 18:19, it says:  "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."  God said:  "I know him".  In John 10:14, it says:  "I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."  God wants that vital relationship with us.  Here in Genesis, He sets the stage for history is saying that His plan is to know us.... and be known of us.  Do you know God friend?  Do you have that vital relationship with Him?  Do we walk, and talk, and sing, and praise Him?  Let that be our goal each day, all throughout the day.  Amen! Well, that is all for this morning.  I hope you have a blessed day at Church and a wonderful start to 2011!  May God's richest blessings be your!  Pastor Mike Mutchler