What Kind of Consequences do Your Sacrifices Reap?

Scripture: Genesis 4:9-10

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. "Now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. "When you cultivate the ground, it will no longer yield its strength to you; you will be a vagrant and a wanderer on the earth."

Insights: Every decision and action we make has a consequence.  Cain, for example, killed his brother.  The consequence of such an action was the ground would not cultivate crops for him and he would be a vagrant and a wanderer throughout the earth.  Just as Cain reaped a harvest of cursing for his action of murder, so we, reap a harvest of blessing or cursing for our actions as well.  Let me explain this from a positive perspective (considering Cain gives us a negative one).  We are presently reading through the Bible in one year as a church.  If you are joining us in this campaign, then you are sowing seeds of Bible reading in your life.  Now, do you think that as you read through the Bible there will be times in which you will read something and find that it applies directly to your life right now?  The answer is an obvious “yes!”  Do you think after a year of reading the Bible your attitude and way of handling difficult situations will be different?  Again, the answer is a resounding “yes!”  If you continued reading the Bible every day for the rest of your life, you would reap a harvest of righteousness that would amaze and astound you.  Beloved, we are called to live holy lives because the Lord our God is holy.  I encourage you to think about the consequences of your words and deeds before you commit to them.  There will be consequences.  Some consequences will be positive and helpful and others will be negative and harmful.  The amazing part is you get to choose how you are going to respond to every situation in your life.  Beloved, choose obedience to the Father.  I promise you it will be worth everything in the end.

Questions:

1. What are you presently reaping in your life from your previous times of sowing seed?
2. What kind of seed are you willing to sow from this day forward?

Prayer: Father, I understand there are consequences to my action.  Some of those consequences are positive and some of them are negative.  I pray You empower me to sow seeds of faith and grace me with a harvest of righteousness.  Amen.

What Kind of Relationship do You Present to God?

Scripture: Genesis 4:8

Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Insights: This particular question we must answer today is the one that breaks my heart as a pastor the most.  At the same time it is one of the hardest areas for me when it comes to ministry.  I can say I truly do love those who the Lord has placed in my ministry path throughout the years.  That statement does not mean all of my relationships have been healthy or full of “kumbaya” experiences.  The church is one army that shots its wounded.  We are, unfortunately, very good at hurting each other when we are supposed to be encouraging one another.  As a result we avoid some brothers and sisters in the Lord and we stop participating in church activities.  In other words, we stop living out the purpose of the body of Christ and the church eventually shrivels up and dies.  Cain literally killed his brother and often times the church kills each other in our thoughts and actions.  Beloved, let me challenge you to go back one more time to those with whom you are having relational challenges and see if the Lord will restore the love relationship.  It is absolutely crucial to the health and future well-being of the local church.  Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  ‘By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.’”  A lost world is bound up in their sin and their relationships are horrific in nature.  They strive to please themselves only and put the concerns of others to the wayside.  We, the church, are to be an example of a different kind of life.  We need to love each other.  We need to care for each other.  We need to serve each other.  We need Christ Jesus to be brought glory through our lives.  What we must NOT do, however, is say, “God bless me and let Your favor fall on me, but I am not going to change my relational habits with those whom I am at odds.”  It is a complete contradiction to believe God is going to bless FBCBG while we retain our relational selfishness and pride.  Beloved, humble yourselves before the mighty hand of God and let Him heal you!

Questions:

1. Is there anyone who came to mind as you read today’s Thoughts by Scott?
2. Are you willing to go to that person and attempt to reconcile the relationship?

Prayer: Father, relationships are so hard on this side of eternity. Help me to live at peace with all people as far as it depends on me.  Let Your Spirit guide and direct my relationships with people and may they bring You glory.  Amen.

What Kind of Worship do You Present to God?

Scripture: Genesis 4:6-7

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it."

Insights: As I have pondered these verses and thought about my preaching point regarding worship; I feel as if I did not preach this point very clearly.  FBCBG blog readers, please encourage those who attended the service this past Sunday to read this blog today for further clarification.  My point in the outline was What Kind of Worship do You Present to God?  At that point I began explaining about our churches attendance patterns over the past eight weeks and how many active and inactive members we have on our role at FBCBG.  Here is the connecting point I failed to make in regards to the verses for today’s Thoughts by Scott.  Notice God’s conversation with Cain for a moment.  God warns him that sin is crouching at the door and that it desires to consume him.  The Lord continues His admonition as He tells Cain he must master this temptation.  There is only one way we as believers are going to master the temptations in our lives and not enter into sin, which desires to devour us.  The one way is private worship of the Lord on a daily basis as we have our quiet times with Him.  Here is where the connecting point comes together.  As we spend private time with the Lord and gain mastery over the temptations in our lives, it will compel us to desire corporate worship with the body of Christ.  As we worship together it further strengthens us and encourages us to surrender to the Lordship of Christ Jesus and experience His deliverance over temptation in our lives—mastery of temptation.  Beloved, Satan desires to drive us away from our daily quiet times, as well as, our corporate worship times.  When we abandon these two aspects of our Christian walk, I can promise you it will not be long before you succumb to the temptations and walk the path of Cain.  Beloved, draw near to God and worship Him in private and corporate worship and allow His strength to be your strength.  Walk in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Questions:

1. How is your attendance in corporate worship?
2. How is your involvement in daily private worship with the Lord?

Prayer: Father, You are the only One worthy of praise and adoration.  Spending time with You in private worship is the only thing that prevents me from falling prey to the temptations of this world.  Out of this private worship I am compelled to worship with my fellow brothers and sisters corporately.  May my worship be pleasing to You, my Lord and God.  Amen.

What Kind of Offering do You Presenting to God?

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-5  

Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, "I have gotten a manchild with the help of the LORD." Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the LORD of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell.

Insights: In today’s world we no longer present offerings to the Lord in the form of animal sacrifice or produce gifts.  In modern day economy our finances exist in the form of money.  In today’s verses we observe the central truth regarding offerings to the Lord.  This truth regarding offerings is that the Lord requires our first fruits.  In other words, Abel gave of the firstlings of his flock; whereas, Cain just brought some produce and it was not the first and the best.  He kept those for himself.  Later in the Scriptures we learn God’s standard is a minimum of ten percent.  The word tithe literally means tenth.  Because of the grace gift the Lord gave to us through His death and resurrection, our tithe is the bear minimum of our offering to the Lord.  As a side note, this tithe comes off of the gross and not the net of our income.  There are a couple of things that amaze me about people and tithes.  One, is people do not give their tithes to the Lord, yet expect Him to bless them for the little leftover they do give to Him. Two, is the amount of ministry in which local churches are incapable of participating because of the lack of financial resources.  In other words, if every believer actually gave their tithe, then we would never have a financial crisis in the life of churches.  Unfortunately, the average “believer” only gives two percent to the Lord as a form of his/her tithe.  Obviously, two percent is not a tithe.  Let me encourage you, Beloved, to truly test the Lord in your finances this year and give your tithe to Him.  If you have been tithing regularly already, then let me encourage you to ask the Lord what kind of percentage increase the Lord would have you start giving to Him.  You will never out give the Lord!

Questions:

1. Are you tithing?
2. Do you see the contradiction between blessing and disobedience to God’s command regard tithing?

Prayer: Father, You have told me to test You with my finances.  Let me see Your hand of provision as I obediently give to You my tithe of first fruits.  Amen.

The Meaning of the Message: The Gospel is Jesus came to Die

Scripture: Matthew 2:11-12

After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

Insights: Today’s verses reveal the last aspect of the magi’s message.  Jesus was born for the purpose of dying for us.  Notice the three gifts the magi brought.  The first gift was that of gold.  Gold represents Jesus Kingly role He would one day have.  The second gift was frankincense.  Frankincense was a spice used by the priestly order as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.  So, the frankincense represents Jesus Priestly role He did fulfill as the intermediary between God and man.  The final gift was myrrh.  Myrrh was used in the embalming process by ancient Israel.  The myrrh represents Jesus death.  In other words, Jesus was born to die as a sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world.  What an amazing Gift the Lord God gave to humanity.  Beloved, it is our job to tell the world about this unbelievable gift of grace.  We need to pray to the Lord that we would have boldness in proclaiming such truth to the world.  He needs to be exalted and lifted up and we must never forget why He came.  Even His birth points to His death.  What a beautiful picture of God’s grace and love.

Questions:

1. Have you received the sacrificial gift Jesus came to give to you?
2. Does God’s plan ever overwhelm because of His unfailing love?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation.  Thank You that Jesus came to die on our behalf.  You are glorious and good.  Thank You for the life You give to me.  Amen.

The How of the Message: The Gospel must be Sought After

Scripture: Matthew 2:8-10

And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him." After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Insights: Today’s verses reveal another aspect of the magi’s message.  Notice they had seen the Christ Child’s star in the east and began their journey to Bethlehem. In other words, they sought after the Lord Jesus.  Now, I know it is true that no one seeks after the Lord.  He must be the One to draw on the hearts of men. After He begins the drawing process, however, it is man’s responsibility to search for Him.  Isaiah wrote it this way, “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near (55:6).”  The process begins with the Father and He is constantly drawing on our hearts.  We have the choice to pursue Him or our own agendas.  An obedient child of the King will pursue hard after Jesus.  Beloved, as we enter into this New Year, let us seek the Lord with all of our hearts, soul, mind and strength.  He is near and desires for us to call unto Him.  One of the ways we can draw near to Him and search for Him is through reading the Bible.  As you know we at FBCBG are reading through the Bible in a year in 2014.  If for some reason you fall behind, don’t worry.  Just pick up on whatever day we presently are reading and on those days you have a little extra time, then you can go back and get caught up.  The objective is to have a consistent daily quiet time with the Lord.

Questions:

1. Is the Lord drawing on your heart?
2. Is there anything in your life preventing you from seeking after Him with all of who you are?

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your gift of salvation.  I pray that all who do not have a relationship with You will seek You while You may be found.  Let them call on You as their Lord and Savior.  Amen.

The Where and When of the Message: The Gospel started in Bethlehem 2 Years Prior to the Magi

Scripture: Matthew 2:4-7

Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 'AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH, ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.'" Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.

Insights: Today’s verses also give us two more parts of the magi’s message for us to consider.  In many ways these two points are more factual in nature and less directive for our lives.  At the same time, however, there are life truths we can instill in our walk with the Lord. The first message of the magi answers the question where.  In other words, where did the gospel message originate?  The answer is Bethlehem.  Over this past month we have over and over again emphasized the sovereignty of God.  The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem also points to this divine reality because it fulfills Old Testament prophecy regarding the Christ Child.  The second message of the magi answers the question when.  In other words, when did the gospel message begin?  The answer is two years before the magi arrive on the scene.  We know this because Herod kills all the male children two years old and younger in accordance to the words he heard from the magi.  Secondly, when the magi arrive, Joseph, Mary and Jesus are living in a house.  If it had actually been on the day of His birth, then they would have gone to the stable.  Beloved, we can apply these historical facts to our lives.  Jesus does have a location each day in which He desires for us to serve Him.  Our job is to be pliable in His hands and obedient to His direction.  The same truth goes for the timing of our conversations with other people.  We need to make certain we know exactly when the Lord has ordained a time for us to speak and serve.  The way we know the answer to both of those questions in our lives is by spending time with the Lord daily in personal quiet times.  As we grow closer to Him we are better able to recognize His voice and promptings in our lives.  Today is the first day of the New Year.  We at FBCBG are reading through the Bible in one year.  What better way to begin hearing the Lord than starting today reading His Word.

Questions:

1. Where is the Lord asking you to serve Him today?
2. When are you going to start your obedient service with Him?

Prayer: Father, You have a perfect time and place for my service to You.  Grant me the wisdom and discernment to know Your will in regards to my service to You.  Amen.