When we don’t understand what’s going on in our lives

Genesis 41:1-57 We read about the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams. The interpretation didn't come from Joseph. It was given to Joseph by God. This is emphasized in verses15-16 - "Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a …

The spiritual dimension in a human story

Genesis 24:1-67 Finding a wife for Isaac - this seems such a human story. It's more than that! There's a real spiritual dimension - Guidance from the Lord (7) and prayer to the Lord (12). "Before he had finished speaking - there was Rebekkah" (15): God guided and God answered prayer. Worshipping and praising the …

Let us call on the name of the Lord.

Genesis 4:17-6:4 Already - we see a conflict between God and the devil. People are calling on the name of the Lord (4:26) and walking with the Lord (5:24) - but the majority of people are not calling on the name of the Lord: "And the Lord said - 'My Spirit will not remain with …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 27:1-14

The Lord brings light and salvation to us. He is our light and our salvation (Psalm 27:1). "The Lord is my light and my salvation" (Psalm 27:1). Whenever we confess our faith in the Lord, we must never forget what we were without the Lord. We were in darkness. We were lost. He has brought …

How great Jesus is!

Genesis 14:1-24 We read about the capture and recovery of Lot (vs 1-16). In these verses - we read about many kings. In verses 17-24 - we read about one king: Melchizedek. We wonder why we are told all this about the many kings. We wonder - "What is the meaning of Melchizedek's visit to …

Lord, keep us close to you.

Genesis 34:1-31 The name of God is never mentioned in this chapter! If there's any message coming through to us from the Lord - it is this: Read this - and see what happens when people forget about God! Things go from bad to worse - from sexual immorality to mass murder! Where are we …

Ask the Saviour to help you. He will carry you through.

Genesis 12:10-20 We read about Abram in Egypt. What do we learn from this? We learn that there are many temptations - and we learn that we are so easily distracted. We are sorely tempted and easily distracted. Let's remember the message that comes to us from the chorus of the hymn - "Yield not …

Looking beyond Cain and Abel – to Christ

Genesis 4:1-16 We read about Cain and Abel. We look beyond them to Christ. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He is "the Passover Lamb." He "has been sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). Jesus is "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). We read …

Think of God’s faithfulness – and count your blessings.

Comfort (Isaiah 40:1) - This comes from God's great faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23). In our past, present and future, we see the faithfulness of God - "His mercies never end. They are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23). Think of God's faithfulness, and "count your blessings." Think of this, that and the other blessing (good things in …

We are to give thanks to God for all his good gifts – and we are to praise him that he is with us at every stage of our journey through life.

Genesis 29:1-30:24 Jacob meets Rachel (1-12). This was significant. Rachel was to become the mother of Joseph - the next significant character in the Bible story. The meeting of Joseph and Rachel is not described in spiritual terms. There is no mention of God here. In verses 13 to 30 - we read about Jacob …

Promises – given by God and fulfilled by God

Genesis 15:7-21 God spoke his promises to Abram (7). There was uncertainty in Abram's mind (8). Abram was filled with "terror" (12). The way forward would not be easy. There would be four hundred years of slavery and oppression (13). After that - there would be the exodus from Egypt (14). This would be followed …

When bad things happen to us

Genesis 37:1-39:23 Joseph had dreams. They were God-given dreams. The dreams did come true - but not right away! The first thing that happened to Joseph was more like a nightmare - he was sold into slavery! God was giving Joseph a glimpse of what was going to happen to him - but he was …

Blessing for the world

Genesis 11:10-32 We read about the time between Noah and Abram. We must remember that God is preparing for his future - blessing for the world.

God is with us – all the time!

Genesis 10:1-32 So many names and so many years - What are we to say about all this? All of this is part of the history of God's salvation. We read the many names. We read about the many years. We wonder - "Where is God is all of this?" It seems like nothing is …

The bright shining light of God’s salvation

Genesis 6:9-9:7 The flood speaks to us of God's judgment. The ark speaks to us of his salvation. Great is the darkness. How much greater is the bright shining light of God's salvation. The darkness threatens to overwhelm the light - but it will not scucceed. In John 1:5 - we read about the light …

Do we long to play our part in what God is doing in our generation?

Genesis 40:1-23 In chapter 37 - we read about Joseph's dreams. Here - we read about Joseph interpreting dreams. The dreams did not come from Joseph's own mind. The interpretations did not come from Joseph's own mind. The dreams came from God - and the interpretations came from God. "Don't interpretations come from God?" (8) …

We look at the rainbow. We see the love of God.

Genesis 9:8-17 We look at the rainbow. We see the love of God. We look beyond the rainbow. We look to the Cross. There, we see the supreme demonstration of the love of God. There, we see Jesus, suffering for us. His suffering is the suffering of love. It wasn't the nails that held Him …

From the failure of Lot to the triumph of Jesus

Genesis 19:38-38 We read about the beginning of he Moabites and the Ammorites (36-38). It was a shameful beginning - and it's the last we hear of Lot! In Matthew 26:26-30 - there's a better outcome of drinking wine - and it wasn't the end of Jesus! Through faith in Jesus - we look forward …

It’s never too late to make a new beginning with God.

Genesis 12:1-9 This was a major step for Abraham - and for God. Abraham would never be the same again. For him, this was the beginning of a journey. It was more than a journey into a new land. It was a journey into God's blessing. Notice that Abraham was "75 years old" (Genesis 12:4) …

God keeps on pursuing his plan of salvation.

Genesis 16:1-16 We read about Hagar and Ishmael. We are reminded that the Bible story is not only the story of salvation. It's also the story of sin. We emphasize the greatness of God's salvation. We must not gloss over what God's Word says to us about our sin. If we fail to recognize the …

Looking back – and giving thanks to God for his salvation

Genesis19:1-29 We read about Sodom and Gomorrah - "Get out of this place - for the Lord is about to destroy the city!" (14); "Run for your lives! ! Don't look back and don't stop anywhere on the plain! Run for the mountains - or you will be swept away!" (17). Do we still need …

“Yes” – This is what God says to us. Will we say “Yes” to him?

Genesis 17:1-27 God's covenant is so different from human promises. We don't always keep our word. God never breaks his word. He is faithful. He never fails us. Behind his covenant - there's his love. His covenant is "an everlasting covenant" (7). His love is "an everlasting love" (Jeremiah 31:3). here are times when we …

By the grace of God – things can be turned around.

Genesis 6:5-8 Everything had gone wrong. Could things be turned around? Yes! - but only by the grace of God. It was grace that found Noah - and equipped him for service. By God's grace - let us move forward with God: trusting him and serving him.

It was all by grace

Genesis 20:1-21:7 It is difficult to see what we are to take from chapter 20. Perhaps - we should read it along with 20:1-7. We might contrast the weakness of Abraham and the power of God - "My grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). This is …

Jesus’ love for us – that’s what sent him to the cross and kept him on the cross.

Genesis 9:8-17 We look at the rainbow. We see the love of God. We look beyond the rainbow. We look to the cross. There - we see the supreme demonstration of the love of God. We see Jesus - suffering for us. His suffering is the suffering of love. It wasn't the nails that kept …

God’s grace is greater than our sin.

Genesis 9:18-28 When we read about this sad and shameful episode in Noah's life - we must remember this - "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (6:8). Behind this - there is 'Grace found Noah.' There is sin in our lives - and there is grace. When sin threatens to triumph over …

Righteousness – the blessing that comes to us through faith in Jesus

Genesis 15:1-6 These verses point us beyond the time of Abram. They point us to Jesus. Abram believed what God said to him. The blessing - "righteousness" - was given to him. This is the blessing that comes to us through faith in Jesus.

Worshipping and witnessing

Genesis 21:8-34 In these verses, we read about Hagar and Ishmael, and we read about Abimelech, but we don't focus attention on them. We focus attention on Abraham. More importantly, we focus attention on Abraham's God, "the Lord, the everlasting God" (33). Abraham worshipped "the Lord- the everlasting God" (33). Following these words, in verse …

Are we learning to look back over our lives – and see how much the Lord really means to us?

Genesis 35:1-14 "Go to Bethel" (1) - the place of blessing. On their way to Bethel - Jacob and his family were protected by the Lord (5). At Bethel - Jacob was blessed by the Lord (9). Jacob's name was changed to Israel (10). The name - "Jacob" - pointed to the past: what Jacob …

There is a great difference between the people of God and worldly people!

Genesis 35:16-36:43 Here - there are many names. We focus attention on the difference between the two brothers - Jacob and Esau. "Esau went to a land far away from his brother Jacob" (6). The explanation for Esau's move away from Canaan is given in verse 7 - "For their possessions were too many for …

Has God forgotten us?

Genesis 30:25-31:55 We read about Jacob and Laban. Jacob says that he wants to return to his homeland: "Send me on my way so that I can return to my homeland" (30:25). Laban persuades Jacob to "stay" (30:27). As time passed - it became clear that things weren't working out well. Jacob and Laban weren't …

I have been delivered.

Genesis 32:1-33:20 Between preparing for meeting Esau (32:1-23) and meeting Esau (33:1-20) - there is the mysterious incident of Jacob wrestling with an angel (32:24-32). This is the section on which we focus our attention We emphasize Jacob's words - "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (26). What was the blessing …

The priority of worship – we must never forget this.

Genesis 13:1-18 We read about Abram and Lot - and the choices that they made. There are choices to be made. We need to learn to choose the Lord's way - not the world's way. In verse 18 - we read something very encouraging about Abram. When he was in Egypt (12:10-20) - he let …

The elder – Esau – will serve the younger – Jacob.

Genesis 27:1-46 This is a story of deception - things are not as they seem. What are we to say about this chapter? We must begin by saying that this family is a mess. There's something else that we must say - there is more to this story than what's going on in this family. …

The grace of God reaches us and changes us.

Genesis 22:20-23:20 There are a lot of names (22:20-24) and a lot of details about Sarah's burial (23:1-20). Is there anything that stands out? Yes! - "You (Abraham) are God's chosen one among us" (23:5). This sentence speaks to us about the grace of God. Was there something special about Abraham? No! - but there …

Up on the mountaintop with God, and back down to the valley with God

Genesis 22:1-19 From verse 2 - "Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you" - we look ahead to God's words concerning Jesus: "my beloved Son" (Matthew 3:17 & 17:5). The second time …

Standing before the Lord

Genesis 18:20-33 "Abraham remained standing before the Lord" (22). Standing before the Lord - God is calling us to stand before him. When others are falling - we are to stand. When others are looking towards the world - we are to look to the Lord. Each of us must choose how we are going …

The laughter of unbelief and the laughter of rejoicing

Genesis 18:1-19 Abraham's three visitors - This was an appearance of the Lord to Abraham" (1). Abraham bowed down and sought favour from the Lord. He asked that the blessing would not pass him by. Everything about this visit indicates that the Lord was in it. He was preparing Abraham for the next stage in …

Less concerned with our own name – and more committed to exalting the name of Christ

Genesis 11:1-9 "Come - let us ... Come - let us build ourselves ... Come - let us make a name for ourselves" (3-4). This is all about us - not God. This is the way of man-centred pride - not the way of God's salvation. We do not begin with what we have ("bricks") …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 78:12-25

"He worked wonders" (Psalm 78:12), "He gave them drink as abundant as the depths" (Psalm 78:15), "He brought streams out of the stone and made water flow down like rivers" (Psalm 78:16), "They spoke against God - Is God able to provide food in the wilderness?" (Psalm 78:19), "waters gushed out, torrents overflowed" (Psalm 78:20), …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 81:1-16

"Listen" (Psalm 81:8,13). * Why should we listen? (a) We should listen because there's something worth hearing. (b) We should listen because there's something we need to hear. (c) We should listen because there's something we need to hear. * The call to listen - "My people" (Psalm 81:8,13); "I will admonish you" (Psalm 81:8); …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 100:1-5

"all the earth" (Psalm 100:1), "through all generations" (Psalm 100:5) - It wasn't just for there and then. It's for here and now. "Every person in every nation in each succeeding generation has the right to hear the news that Christ can save." The Good News of Christ is a message of triumph (Psalm 100:1). …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 32:1-11

The forgiveness of sins (Psalm 32:1-2); Confess and be forgiven (Psalm 32:5). Once we have begun our journey with the Lord, we are to seek instruction from His Word (Psalm 32:8). To receive instruction from the Lord, we need to have the right attitude (Psalm 32:9). When the Lord has saved us and we are …

Let us pray with humility, longing for God and repentance.

2 Chronicles 7:12-22 The gathering together of God’s people - “I... have chosen this place for Myself” (2 Chronicles 7:12). Note also 2 Chronicles 7:15-16 - “... this place... this temple.” The key verse is 2 Chronicles 7:14. Taking this verse together with Acts 1:12-14, we may say, ‘This is the kind of prayer that …

God plans to bring his blessing to all nations.

Genesis 42:1-46:34 As we read chapters 42-44 - we ask the question -"What's going to happen next?" To answer this question - we need to read chapters 45-46. As we read through chapters 42-44 -we find that the drama builds up more and more as the story unfolds. The story draws us in. It's a …

God’s work in us is more than “as long as I live.” It’s “forever.”

“The Lord is my Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1). He speaks to us. He calls us to Himself. He leads us on with Himself (John 10:3). He is all that we need for walking the walk as well as talking the talk. He works in us through the “oil” of the Holy Spirit and the “table” and …

We see how much God loves us, and we want to love Him more, and more…

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 We don't begin with the call to love God. We begin with His plan to bless us: "the land" (Deuteronomy 6:1,3): "There is a happy land, far, far away, where saints in glory stand, bright, bright as day." * "far, far away", "Your Kingdom come": What a great future! * "saints", That's what …

I will praise the Lord at all times – in the bad times as well as the good times.

Preaching the Word of the Lord, Psalm 34:1-22 "I will praise the Lord at all times" (Psalm 34:1), in the bad times as well as the good times. "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Philippians 4:4). "His praise will always be on my lips" (and in my heart) (Psalm 34:1). This Psalm begins with "I" (see …

The tragedy of Adam – and the triumph of Jesus

Genesis 3:1-7 The tragedy of Adam and Eve: their fall into sin. We compare this with the triumph of Jesus, His victory over Satan. What made the difference?: standing on the Word of God. Adam and Eve believed the lie of the devil. Jesus took His stand on the Word of God. What about us? …

When trouble comes our way, may we catch a glimpse of God’s eternal Kingdom.

Genesis 2:4-3:15 Do what God tells us to do. This leads to blessing. Do what God tells us not to do. This leads to trouble. It’s been trouble ever since. Here, on earth, things can be turned around. We can be set in the right direction. We are not yet at our final destination, but …

Before the creation, there is the Creator.

Genesis 1;1-2:3 Before the creation, there is the Creator. * He is the chief focus of attention in the Bible’s first chapter. Wherever we look in Genesis 1, we see the word, God. This is about Him. Genesis 1 speaks about us. It tells us where we have come from. We have come from God. …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 96:1-13

A call to worship: Our song of praise is a song of salvation (Psalm 96:2). We are to "proclaim His salvation from day to day" (Psalm 96:2). Every day, we are to praise the Lord. God is calling us to worship Him with joy (Psalm 96:11-12). Sometimes, this isn't easy. We must ask the Lord …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Exodus 20:1-21

Before the Ten Commandments, there is love (Exodus 20:2). There is more than law. There is more than the exodus. There is Jesus, our Saviour. He does for us what the law can never do for us. He saves us. The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) - What effect do they have on us? Read Exodus …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 95:1-11

A call to worship God (Psalm 95:1-2,6): "The Lord is a great God" (Psalm 95:3). "He is our God" (Psalm 95:7). He is the God of creation (Psalm 95:4-5). He is the God of salvation (Psalm 95:7). When we are gathered together for worship, we are to listen to the voice of the Lord. We …

We have glimpses of glory – but the full glory is still to come.

Exodus 3:1-22 Moses may have been content to remain in the background. God was calling him to step into the foreground - for God’s people. This is more than the story of Moses. It’s the story of Israel. It points forward to God’s purpose for all nations. When we read the Old Testament story, we …

Waiting on the Lord, we renew our strength (Preaching God’s Word: Acts).

Luke 11:13, 24:49, Acts 1:1–14, Ephesians 5:18 Waiting On The Lord, We Renew Our Strength. Jesus tells His apostles, ‘the Holy Spirit’ will ‘come upon you’ (Acts 1:11, 8). He gives them His Word of promise: ‘I send the promise of my Father upon you’. He gives them His Word of command: ‘stay in the …

The God of love is reaching out to us (Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 103:1-22).

What kind of person are you? Are you a forgiven man / woman? The God of love (Psalm 103:8) is reaching out to each and every one of us (Psalm 103:9-10). God's love is greater than we can put into words or even imagine (Psalm 103:11-12). Before there can be forgiven people, there needs to …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 98:1-9

"Be jubilant, shout for joy and sing to the Lord... " (Psalm 98:4-5). Our joyful worship goes to the Lord. First, it comes from Him (Psalm 98:1-3). Israel looked back to the Exodus. We look back to Jesus - His death and resurrection. We do more than look back. We look forward - "He is …

Preaching the Word of the Lord – Psalm 118:1-9

Some things are worth repeating (Psalm 118:1-4). Emphasis - This is important. We're speaking about God's love for us - not our love for God. Our love for God is changeable - sometimes strong, sometimes weak. His love for us is always unchangeable - always strong, never weak.

From grace, we receive salvation. Works can never earn salvation.

Genesis 25:1-34 In the first half of this chapter, we read about Abraham's family (1-6), Abraham's death (7-11) and - Ishmael's family. The sections which call for closer attention are the birth of Jacob and Esau (19-26) and Esau sells his birthright (27-34). In Romans 9, Paul contrasts the way of grace (Jacob) and the …