Order at the Lord’s Supper

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Order at the Lord’s Supper

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 NLT

Order at the Lord’s Supper
17 But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you. For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!
20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper. 21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this!
23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.
27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
33 So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.

 Examine the scriptures:

The Corinthian Church was having a great deal of difficulty doing communion right.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 NLT
Order at the Lord’s Supper
17 But in the following instructions, I cannot praise you.

 Hebrews 12:11 (NLT)
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

 Proverbs 13:24 (NLT)
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 

  • Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.

 For it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. 

 What is communion?

Communion

At Corinth, an experience meant to build up the church was having the opposite effect.  This was not o.k.

Paul needed to address some serious abuses in worship.

18 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, and to some extent I believe it. 

The church was divided at a celebration which was meant to express unity.

Paul appealed for unity in the Corinthian Church.

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)
Divisions in the Church
10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

 1 Corinthians 3:3 (NLT)
… for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? 

  • The division in the Corinthian Church carried over into their participation of the Lord’s Supper.

 

19 But, of course, there must be divisions among you so that you who have God’s approval will be recognized!

Divisions:
to make it clear who is genuine. CEB
to show who the real believers are! ERV
they who are genuine and of approved fitness may become evident and plainly recognized among you. AMPC
to show which of you have God’s approval. NIV
in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. ESV

  • Genuine believers should be easily identifiable as Children of God.

Matthew 7:16 (NLT)
You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act.

 Abuses in the Corinthian Church communion services.

 20 When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper.

 Instead of celebrating communion, church members were feasting and drinking.

  21 For some of you hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk.

 Some individuals were eating meals and getting drunk while others were going hungry.

 22 What? Don’t you have your own homes for eating and drinking? Or do you really want to disgrace God’s church and shame the poor? What am I supposed to say? Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly will not praise you for this! 

  • The Corinthian Church was disgracing God’s church and shaming the poor by the way they did communion.

 Communion, a very sacred event.

 23 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 

  • Communion is a reminder of the sacrifice of the LORD Jesus Christ.

 27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

 Christians need to take communion seriously.

  • Anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup.  

  • Believers should examine themselves, their heart, mind, and motives, before taking communion.

 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 

 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.

  • Violating the Lord’s Supper has serious consequences.

Sin has serious consequences.

Psalm 32:1-5 (NLT)
A psalm of David.
1 Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
3 When I refused to confess my sin,
my body wasted away,
and I groaned all day long.
4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 

 31 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 

1 John 1:9 (NLT)
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

 32 Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 

  • The deplorable behavior of the Corinthians did not cost them their salvation.

 33 So, my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord’s Supper, wait for each other. 34 If you are really hungry, eat at home so you won’t bring judgment upon yourselves when you meet together. I’ll give you instructions about the other matters after I arrive.

The Death of Abraham

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The Death of Abraham

Genesis 25:1-18 (NLT)
1 Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 4 Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.
5 Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac. 6 But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.
7 Abraham lived for 175 years, 8 and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. 10 This was the field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites and where he had buried his wife Sarah. 11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.
Ishmael’s Descendants
12 This is the account of the family of Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant. 13 Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael’s descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped. 17 Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 18 Ishmael’s descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 25:1-18 (NLT)
The Death of Abraham
1 Abraham (approximately 140 years old) married another wife, whose name was Keturah. 

 1 Chronicles 1:32-33 (NLT)
32 The sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.
33 The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.
All these were descendants of Abraham through his concubine Keturah.

 2 She gave birth to Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. Dedan’s descendants were the Asshurites, Letushites, and Leummites. 4 Midian’s sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. These were all descendants of Abraham through Keturah.

 Refer to genealogy chart.

When Moses fled the wrath of Pharaoh, he traveled to Midian (Exodus 2:15). There, Moses met and married his wife, Zipporah, and served his father-in-law, Jethro, as a shepherd for forty years.

The Midianites were the descendants of Midian and therefore children of Abraham. They settled in “the land of the east” (Genesis 25:6). Most scholars believe the land of Midian was officially on both sides of the Gulf of Aqaba, although the Midianites showed nomadic tendencies later in their history. 

  • Abraham’s genealogy includes six sons through his wife (concubine) Keturah.

A concubine has a lower status than a wife.

5 Abraham gave everything he owned to his son Isaac. 

  • Isaac was the rightful heir of Abraham’s estate.

More importantly:

The promise (God’s covenant) was first made to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-21), then confirmed to his son Isaac (Genesis 26:3), and then to Isaac’s son Jacob (Genesis 28:13), Abraham’s grandson.

Genesis 17: 21 (NLT)
21 … my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

 Genesis 26:2-4  (NLT)
2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 

  • God’s covenant with Abraham was confirmed with Isaac. 

Deuteronomy 7:6 (NLT)
6 For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.

More about Isaac to follow in future lessons.

 6 But before he died, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them off to a land in the east, away from Isaac.

 The earliest ancestors of the Arabs??

Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, but these sons were never considered to be Israelites, or God’s chosen people.

  • The sons of Abraham’s concubines were not considered a part of the Jewish nation.

7 Abraham lived for 175 years, 8 and he died at a ripe old age, having lived a long and satisfying life. He breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 

 Rabbit trail:

No one is indispensable. God’s plan is bigger than individuals.

James 4:14 (NLT)
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)
Living by the Spirit’s Power
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

9 His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, near Mamre, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite. 10 This was the field Abraham had purchased from the Hittites and where he had buried his wife Sarah. 

  • Isaac and Ishmael reunited to bury their father.

 11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac, who settled near Beer-lahai-roi in the Negev.

 The torch (God’s blessing) was passed on to Isaac.

Ishmael’s Descendants

Genesis 17:20-21 (NLT)
20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.21 But my covenant will be confirmed with Isaac, who will be born to you and Sarah about this time next year.”

12 This is the account of the family of Ishmael, the son of Abraham through Hagar, Sarah’s Egyptian servant. 13 Here is a list, by their names and clans, of Ishmael’s descendants: The oldest was Nebaioth, followed by Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 14 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, 15 Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. 16 These twelve sons of Ishmael became the founders of twelve tribes named after them, listed according to the places they settled and camped.  

  • God also blessed Ishmael with numerous descendants. 

17 Ishmael lived for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. 18 Ishmael’s descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur.

 There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives.

 Israel’s neighbors

Ishmael’s descendants lived in open hostility toward all their relatives.

 

In Biblical times, there were certain nations who were specifically identified as the descendants of Keturah, such as the nation of Midian. Today, however, the children of Keturah have more or less assimilated in with the children of Ishmael.

Instructions for Public Worship

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Instructions for Public Worship

Disclaimer: There are various interpretations of this passage.

1 Corinthians 11:4-16 NLT

4 A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5 But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. 6 Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.
7 A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory. 8 For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9 And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. 10 For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.
11 But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 12 For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 14 Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 15 And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

Examine the scriptures:

Review:

1 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)
But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Paul was addressing the “Everything is permissible”,   we can dress and do as we please mentality.

1 Corinthians 11:4-16 NLT

Begin with verse 16.

16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches. 

  • Paul based many of his comments on common customs in the churches and in the culture. 

 4 A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 

Praying according to pagan customs.

Roman men sometimes covered their heads while worshipping pagan gods.

Out of respect to Christ (God), a man prayed with his head uncovered.

Or

This signifies a different role for men than for women.

5 But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head,

The preponderance of evidence points toward the public head covering of women as the universal custom in the first century in both the Jewish culture and the Greco-Roman culture.

A symbol of a subordinate relationship to her husband.

In the first century Roman society, the woman’s head covering was a sign of marriage.

Today women wear rings to show that they are married.

A married woman praying with her head uncovered was a sign of loose morals.

For this is the same as shaving her head. 

  • In the first century in both the Jewish culture and the Greco-Roman culture it was a disgrace for a woman to pray in public without covering her head.

6 Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair!

 In that culture, only a prostitute or feminist would shave her head.

 But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.

  • Corinthian women showed respect for and submission to their husband by covering their heads during public worship.

 7 A man should not wear anything on his head when worshiping, for man is made in God’s image and reflects God’s glory. And woman reflects man’s glory. 8 For the first man didn’t come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 9 And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man.  

  • The roles of men and women differ.

 1 Corinthians 11:3 (NLT)
But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

  10 For this reason, and because the angels are watching,

Matthew 18:10 (NLT)
10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father.

Ephesians 3:10 (NLT)
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 

  • Our actions do not go unnoticed.

 a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority.

  • Corinthian women showed respect for and submission to their husband by covering their heads during public worship.

11 But among the Lord’s people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women. 

Husbands and wives are dependent on each other.  This is not a display of superiority.
There is no superiority.  Just different roles.
One is not more important than the other.
One was not more spiritual than the other.

  • Husbands and wives are dependent on each other.

 12 For although the first woman came from man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God.

 13 Judge for yourselves. Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 

 14 Isn’t it obvious that it’s disgraceful for a man to have long hair? 

 15 And isn’t long hair a woman’s pride and joy? For it has been given to her as a covering. 

 Deuteronomy 22:5 (NLT)
5 “A woman must not put on men’s clothing, and a man must not wear women’s clothing. Anyone who does this is detestable in the sight of the Lord your God. 

  • Simple interpretation. A man should not try to look like a girl and a woman should not try to look like a boy.

16 But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have no other custom than this, and neither do God’s other churches.

I simply say that we have no other custom than this.

Throwing off the head covering was an act of insubordination.

Maintain their distinctive feminine hairdos.

When custom dictated, women should wear a head covering.

 

Related scripture not tied to customs.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (NLT)
9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. 10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.

1 Peter 3:1-5 (NLT)
1 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands.

Mission Accomplished!

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Mission Accomplished!

Genesis 24:50-67 (NLT)
50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The Lord has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”
52 When Abraham’s servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 53 Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother. 54 Then they ate their meal, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight.
But early the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.”
55 “But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days,” her brother and mother said. “Then she can go.”
56 But he said, “Don’t delay me. The Lord has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master.”
57 “Well,” they said, “we’ll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks.”58 So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her
.And she replied, “Yes, I will go.”
59 So they said good-bye to Rebekah and sent her away with Abraham’s servant and his men. The woman who had been Rebekah’s childhood nurse went along with her. 60 They gave her this blessing as she parted:
“Our sister, may you become
the mother of many millions!
May your descendants be strong
and conquer the cities of their enemies.”
61 Then Rebekah and her servant girls mounted the camels and followed the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and went on his way.
62 Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi. 63 One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming. 64 When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel.65 “Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?” she asked the servant.
And he replied, “It is my master.” So Rebekah covered her face with her veil. 66 Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.
67 And Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.

Examine the Scriptures

Review:

Genesis 24:12 (NLT) (The servant’s prayer)
12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.

Genesis 24:50-67 (NLT)
50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The Lord has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. 

“The Lord has obviously brought you here.”

  • Laban and Bethuel recognized that God was actively working through Abraham’s servant.

1 Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”

 “… as the Lord has directed.”

God was directing these events and Laban and Bethuel, along with others, were responding appropriately.

 52 When Abraham’s servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 

“… he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord.”

Genesis 24:26-27 (NLT)
26 The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. 27 “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

 Genesis 24:48 (NLT) (repeating Genesis 24:26-27)
48 “Then I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master’s niece to be his son’s wife. 

  • Abraham’s servant continued to recognize God’s sovereignty and continued to worship and praise the Lord.

 53 Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother. 

 “… expensive presents …” “Bride price” not dowry

  • Presenting expensive presents to Laban and Bethuel finalized these arrangements.

 54 Then they ate their meal, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight.

 But early the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.”

 As before, Abraham’s servant wanted to get right down to business.

His mission was successful. (As a servant he had to be “dismissed”.)

 33 Then food was served. But Abraham’s servant said, “I don’t want to eat until I have told you why I have come.”

55 “But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days,” her brother and mother said. “Then she can go.”

Time to prepare for the departure. (a reasonable request.)

 56 But he said, “Don’t delay me. The Lord has made my mission successful;

 “The Lord has made my mission successful.”

Genesis 24:26-27 (NLT)
26 The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. 27 “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

Genesis 24:48 (NLT)
48 “Then I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master’s niece to be his son’s wife. 

  • God made Abraham’s servant mission successful. 

now send me back so I can return to my master.”
57 “Well,” they said, “we’ll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks.”58 So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her.

 And she replied, “Yes, I will go.” 

  • When asked, Rebekah was willing to return immediately with Abraham’s servant.

 59 So they said good-bye to Rebekah and sent her away with Abraham’s servant and his men. The woman who had been Rebekah’s childhood nurse went along with her. 60 They gave her this blessing as she parted:

 “Our sister, may you become
the mother of many millions!
May your descendants be strong
and conquer the cities of their enemies.”

 This blessing echoed the promises God made to Abraham.

  • The blessing given to Rebekah echoed the promises God had previously made to Abraham.

 Genesis 13:14-16 (NLT)
14 After Lot had gone, the Lord said to Abram, “Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. 15 I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. 16 And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!

Genesis 15:5-7 (NLT)
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”

Genesis 17:6-8 (NLT)
6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!
7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.” 

61 Then Rebekah and her servant girls mounted the camels and followed the man. So Abraham’s servant took Rebekah and went on his way.
62 Meanwhile, Isaac, whose home was in the Negev, had returned from Beer-lahai-roi.
 63 One evening as he was walking and meditating in the fields, he looked up and saw the camels coming. 64 When Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac, she quickly dismounted from her camel.65 “Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?” she asked the servant.
And he replied, “It is my master.” So Rebekah covered her face with her veil. 66 Then the servant told Isaac everything he had done.
67 And Isaac (age 40) brought Rebekah into his mother Sarah’s tent, and she became his wife. He loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him after the death of his mother.

  • Rebekah became Isaac’s wife.

Review

Four participants:

Abraham in preparing for the future.

Genesis 24:1-4 (NLT)
A Wife for Isaac
1 Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. 3 Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”

The servant in carrying it out.

Genesis 24:9-10 (NLT)
9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions. 10 Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled.

Rebekah in responding to it.

Genesis 24:57-58 (NLT)
57 “Well,” they said, “we’ll call Rebekah and ask her what she thinks.”58 So they called Rebekah. “Are you willing to go with this man?” they asked her.
And she replied, “Yes, I will go.”

Human responsibility was evident

God in performing it.  27, 48, 50-51 God was not visibly active.  No word from God, no miracle, no prophetic oracle.

Genesis 12:2-3 (NLT)
2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

 Genesis 15:18-21 (NLT)
18 So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River— 19 the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, 20 Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites,21 Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.”

Genesis 17:3-8 (NLT)
3 At this, Abram fell face down on the ground. Then God said to him,4 “This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! 5 What’s more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. 6 I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!
7 “I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 And I will give the entire land of Canaan, where you now live as a foreigner, to you and your descendants. It will be their possession forever, and I will be their God.”

Genesis 24:6-7 (NLT)
6 “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. 7 For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son.

Genesis 24:48 (NLT)
48 “Then I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master’s niece to be his son’s wife.

Genesis 24:50-51 (NLT)
50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The Lord has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”

God was behind the scenes directing the actions.

 

What role has God given to you?

Will your response be similar to that of Abraham’s servant?

Setting the Stage for Our Next Lesson

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A Biblical principle which is not popular in our society, in fact it is rejected by the majority.

A Biblical principle you will not see promoted on TV

Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Setting the stage for our next lesson.

1 Corinthians 11:2-3 NLT

Instructions for Public Worship
2 I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. 3 But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

Examine the scriptures:

Instructions for Public Worship
2 I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts,

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

  • Be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.

 John 8:31-32 (NLT)
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

 Deuteronomy 5:33 (NLT)
33 Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

 John 14:23 (NLT)
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

 James 1:22 (NLT)
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

  • Don’t just listen to God’s word. Do what it says.

 3 But there is one thing I want you to know:

Paul moved from praised to correction.

The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.  

  • The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

 What do other passages in the Bible teach about this topic?

Colossians 1:18 (NLT)
18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning,
supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

  • Christ is the head of the church.

 Ephesians 1:22-23 (NLT)
22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. 

  • The head of Christ is God.

Ephesians 5:21-33
Spirit-Guided Relationships: Wives and Husbands
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. 24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. 27 He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. 28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself. 29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.30 And we are members of his body.
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. 33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. 

  • Wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
  • Husbands shoul love their wives.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 (NLT)
11 Women should learn quietly and submissively. 12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. 13 For God made Adam first, and afterward he made Eve. 14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty.

1 Peter 3:1-7 (NLT)
Wives
1 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives.
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They put their trust in God and accepted the authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.
Husbands
7 In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

  • Wives should clothe themselves with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.
  • Husbands must give honor to their wives.

The Mission Continues

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            The mission continues.

Abraham’s servant:

Obedient
Respectful
A man of prayer
Patient
Dependable

Abraham’s servant introduced to Laban

Genesis 24:28-49 (NLT)
28 The young woman ran home to tell her family everything that had happened. 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring. 30 He had seen the nose-ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said. So he rushed out to the spring, where the man was still standing beside his camels. 31 Laban said to him, “Come and stay with us, you who are blessed by the Lord! Why are you standing here outside the town when I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels?”
32 So the man went home with Laban, and Laban unloaded the camels, gave him straw for their bedding, fed them, and provided water for the man and the camel drivers to wash their feet. 33 Then food was served. But Abraham’s servant said, “I don’t want to eat until I have told you why I have come.”“All right,” Laban said, “tell us.”
34 “I am Abraham’s servant,” he explained. 35 “And the Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The Lord has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.
36 “When Sarah, my master’s wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master’s son, and my master has given him everything he owns. 37 And my master made me take an oath. He said, ‘Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 38 Go instead to my father’s house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.’
39 “But I said to my master, ‘What if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to go back with me?’ 40 He responded, ‘The Lord, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family. 41 Then you will have fulfilled your obligation. But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her go with you, you will be free from my oath.’
42 “So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission.43 See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.” 44 If she says, “Yes, have a drink, and I will draw water for your camels, too,” let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master’s son.’
45 “Before I had finished praying in my heart, I saw Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ So I drank, and then she watered the camels.
47 “Then I asked, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, and my grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.’ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 “Then I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master’s niece to be his son’s wife. 49 So tell me—will you or won’t you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master? Please tell me yes or no, and then I’ll know what to do next.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 24:28-49 (NLT)
28 The young woman ran home to tell her family everything that had happened. 

 Why do you think the young woman ran?

 29 Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, who ran out to meet the man at the spring. 

“the man” again no name

Laban served as the grown spokesman for his father Bethuel’s house.

Laban played a key part in arranging the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah.

Genesis 24:50-55  (NLT)
50 Then Laban and Bethuel replied, “The Lord has obviously brought you here, so there is nothing we can say. 51 Here is Rebekah; take her and go. Yes, let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord has directed.”

 52 When Abraham’s servant heard their answer, he bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 53 Then he brought out silver and gold jewelry and clothing and presented them to Rebekah. He also gave expensive presents to her brother and mother. 

 54 Then they ate their meal, and the servant and the men with him stayed there overnight.
But early the next morning, Abraham’s servant said, “Send me back to my master.”
55 “But we want Rebekah to stay with us at least ten days,” her brother and mother said. “Then she can go.”

  • Laban served as the spokesman for his father Bethuel’s house.

What do you know about Laban from other passages in scripture?

Abraham’s servant was described as obedient, respectful, a man of prayer, patient, and dependable

Laban proved to be crooked, deceptive, dishonest, double-dealing, fraudulent, shady, shifty, and underhanded.

Laban repeatedly mistreated Jacob throughout his and Jacob’s twenty-year relationship.

Genesis 31:38-42 (NLT)
38 “For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food. 39 If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night.
40 “I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights. 41 Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times! 42 In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side—the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac—you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. 

  • God can use anyone to carry out His plans.

 30 He had seen the nose-ring and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists,

Laban was impressed by the gold jewelry given to his sister on behalf of Isaac.

and had heard Rebekah tell what the man had said. So he rushed out to the spring, where the man was still standing beside his camels. 

 Why do you think Laban rushed out to meet Abraham’s servant?

 31 Laban said to him, “Come and stay with us, 

  • The sight of all of the gifts on the ten camels may have generated the warm welcome from Laban. (This is only an opinion.)

 you who are blessed by the Lord!

 This comment was made shortly after meeting Abraham’s servant.

Why did Laban make this comment?

More importantly, why would you make this comment about someone?

Proverbs 16:3  (NLT)
3 Commit your actions to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed.

Behavior matters

Proverbs 20:11 (NLT)
11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. 

  • We are known by the way we act, whether our conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

Christians are called to be salt and light

Matthew 5:13-16 (NLT)
Teaching about Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Ephesians 4 (NLT)
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 

 2 Always be humble and gentle.

 Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 

 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

 15 … speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

 23 … let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

 25 … stop telling lies.

 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 

 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

1 Peter 2:12 (NLT)
12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors.

Proverbs 22:1 (NLT)
Choose a good reputation over great riches;
being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold.

Matthew 7:16-17 (NLT)
16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. 

  • Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 
  • We are known by the way we act, whether our conduct is pure, and whether it is right. (repeated) 

Why are you standing here outside the town when I have a room all ready for you and a place prepared for the camels?”

 32 So the man went home with Laban,

and Laban unloaded the camels,

gave him straw for their bedding, fed them, and provided water for the man and the camel drivers to wash their feet. 33 Then food was served. But Abraham’s servant said, “I don’t want to eat until I have told you why I have come.”

Abraham’s servant wanted to get right down to business.

“All right,” Laban said, “tell us.”

34 “I am Abraham’s servant,” he explained. 35 “And the Lord has greatly blessed my master; he has become a wealthy man. The Lord has given him flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, a fortune in silver and gold, and many male and female servants and camels and donkeys.
36 “When Sarah, my master’s wife, was very old, she gave birth to my master’s son,

 and my master has given him everything he owns. 

Told how God had blessed Abraham.

Verses 37-48 are a retelling of Genesis 24:9-26

Details matter!

37 And my master made me take an oath. He said, ‘Do not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 38 Go instead to my father’s house, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son.’
39 “But I said to my master, ‘What if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to go back with me?’ 40 He responded, ‘The Lord, in whose presence I have lived, will send his angel with you and will make your mission successful. Yes, you must find a wife for my son from among my relatives, from my father’s family. 41 Then you will have fulfilled your obligation. But if you go to my relatives and they refuse to let her go with you, you will be free from my oath.’
42 “So today when I came to the spring, I prayed this prayer: ‘O Lord, God of my master, Abraham, please give me success on this mission.43 See, I am standing here beside this spring. This is my request. When a young woman comes to draw water, I will say to her, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.” 44 If she says, “Yes, have a drink, and I will draw water for your camels, too,” let her be the one you have selected to be the wife of my master’s son.’
45 “Before I had finished praying in my heart, I saw Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, ‘Please give me a drink.’ 46 She quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and said, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ So I drank, and then she watered the camels.
47 “Then I asked, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She replied, ‘I am the daughter of Bethuel, and my grandparents are Nahor and Milcah.’ So I put the ring on her nose, and the bracelets on her wrists.
48 “Then I bowed low and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me straight to my master’s niece to be his son’s wife. 

 Told how God had blessed his mission.

A committed, faithful, and selfless servant.

  • Details matter!

49 So tell me—will you or won’t you show unfailing love and faithfulness to my master?

Did the servant recognize Laban’s character?

Please tell me yes or no, and then I’ll know what to do next.”

 Abraham’s servant stayed focused.

  • Get on with the business at hand.

Matthew 5:37 (NLT)
37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

  • Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

Do All To The Glory Of God

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Do All To The Glory Of God

1 Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1 NLT
23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 11 1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Examine the scriptures:

John 8:36 (NLT)
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

 Be careful not to misinterpret John 8:36.

 This is not saying “Now I can do anything I want to do.”

The Corinthian Christians had (and believed) a saying, “I am allowed to do anything.”

 The Corinthians were misinterpreting their “freedom”.

 

1 Corinthians 10:23 – 11:1 NLT

23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you.

  You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 

 Romans 6:6 (NLT)
We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

Romans 6:14 (NLT)
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.

 1 Peter 2:16 (NLT)
For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

  • Activities that are not beneficial or not good for you should be avoided.
  • Don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.
  • Christians are not free to do anything their sinful nature wants to do.

24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

Galatians 5:13 (NLT)
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

 Philippians 2:4 (NLT)
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Romans 6:18 (NLT)
Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 

  • Use your freedom to serve one another in love.
  • Our focus should be on others, not ourselves.

 25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)

No longer under the law.

Galatians 2:19 (NLT)
For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God.

Romans 7:6 (NLT)
But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

 

Acts 10:9-15
Peter Visits Cornelius
9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.”
15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 

  • The Corinthian Christians were free to eat any meat that was sold in the marketplace.

 27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.

  28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.)

 1 Corinthians 8:9 (NLT)
But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.

  • Don’t use your freedom in a way that could cause a weaker brother to sin.

For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 

Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)
Fearing people is a dangerous trap,
but trusting the Lord means safety.

 30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?

 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  

  • So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 

  • Avoid behaviors that would cause others, Jews or Gentiles or the church of God, to stumble.

 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

  • Do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

 11 1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

The Earnest Prayer of a Righteous Person Has Great Power and Produces Wonderful Results.

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The Earnest Prayer of a Righteous Person Has Great Power and Produces Wonderful Results.

Obedience, prayer, worship and praise all combined together.

Genesis 24:10-27 (NLT)
10 Then he loaded ten of Abraham’s camels with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master, and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled. 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.
12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”
15 Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah. 16 Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. 17 Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”
18 “Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. 19 When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” 20 So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.
21 The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission. 22 Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists.
23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?”
24 “I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah. 25 Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.”
26 The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. 27 “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 24:10-27 (NLT)

10 Then he

 Abraham’s oldest servant, the man in charge of his household,

Genesis 15:2 (NLT)
But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth.

 Abraham’s oldest servant may have been Eliezer.  Scripture does not name the servant in chapter 24.

  loaded ten of Abraham’s camels

 Obedience

9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.

 Ephesians 6:5 (NLT)
Slaves and Masters
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ.

Colossians 3:22 (NLT)
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.

  • Abraham’s servant obeyed his earthly master with deep respect.

 with all kinds of expensive gifts from his master,

Transport the gifts as well as transport the bride and her companions.

Gifts for the bride and her family.

and he traveled to distant Aram-naharaim. (Aram of the two rivers)

Between Euphrates and Tigris Rivers (or between Euphrates and Habur rivers.)

There he went to the town where Abraham’s brother Nahor had settled. 

 The city of Nahor (Nakhur)

4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”

 Near Haran – 500 miles away (450-550)

  • Abraham’s servant traveled a long distance in service to his earthly master.

 11 He made the camels kneel beside a well just outside the town. It was evening, and the women were coming out to draw water.

 Camels rest kneeling.

The servant’s prayer.

 12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed.

 “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham. 

He prayed for himself as well as for Abraham.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

  • Abraham’s servant prayed for his earthly master.

 13 See, I am standing here beside this spring, and the young women of the town are coming out to draw water. 14 This is my request. I will ask one of them, ‘Please give me a drink from your jug.’ If she says, ‘Yes, have a drink, and I will water your camels, too!’ 

  • Abraham’s servant’s prayer included very specific requests.

—let her be the one you have selected as Isaac’s wife. This is how I will know that you have shown unfailing love to my master.”

Asked for a sign

Judges 6:36-40 (NLT)
36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” 38 And that is just what happened. When Gideon got up early the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water.
39 Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew. 

  • Abraham’s servant prayed a prayer asking God for a sign.

15 Before he had finished praying, he saw a young woman named Rebekah coming out with her water jug on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel, who was the son of Abraham’s brother Nahor and his wife, Milcah.   (Isaac’s father’s grandniece)

 James 5:16 (NLT)
16 …. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

  • Abraham’s servant prayed a prayer that had great power and produced wonderful results.

16 Rebekah was very beautiful and old enough to be married, but she was still a virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came up again. 17 Running over to her, the servant said, “Please give me a little drink of water from your jug.”
18 “Yes, my lord,” she answered, “have a drink.” And she quickly lowered her jug from her shoulder and gave him a drink. 19 When she had given him a drink, she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, until they have had enough to drink.” 

10 camels would drink a lot of water.
25 gallons per camel.
8.5 X 25 = 212.5 lbs. x 10 = 2,125 lbs.  (Plus the weight of the water jug.)
This was beyond the call of duty.

 20 So she quickly emptied her jug into the watering trough and ran back to the well to draw water for all his camels.

 21 The servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the Lord had given him success in his mission. 22 Then at last, when the camels had finished drinking, he took out a gold ring for her nose and two large gold bracelets for her wrists. 

  • Abraham’s servant was patient. (It would have taken a long time to water the ten camels.)

 23 “Whose daughter are you?” he asked. “And please tell me, would your father have any room to put us up for the night?”

 24 “I am the daughter of Bethuel,” she replied. “My grandparents are Nahor and Milcah. 25 Yes, we have plenty of straw and feed for the camels, and we have room for guests.”

 4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives,

 26 The man bowed low and worshiped the Lord. 

27 “Praise the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham,” he said. “The Lord has shown unfailing love and faithfulness to my master, for he has led me straight to my master’s relatives.”

“he has led me”

Psalm 145:18 (NLT)
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.

  • Abraham’s servant witnessed God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.
  • Abraham’s servant responded with worship and praise.

“Praise the Lord.”

 

  • We can learn a great deal from Abraham’s servant.

Christians Interacting With Pagans.

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Christians Interacting With Pagans.

1 Corinthians 10:16-22 NLT
16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?
19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. 22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

Examine the scriptures:

1 Corinthians 10:16-22 NLT
16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 

Communion:

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NLT)
23 … On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”26 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 

Communion: “to have in common, to participate and have partnership with.”

A picture of unity.

Worship

  • The collective worship of Christians at the Lord’s Supper is a picture of unity and worship as Believers all eat from one loaf of bread.

The common bond to all Christians, celebrated at communion, is the gift of salvation, adoption into the family of God, paid for by the blood of Jesus.

Our relationship with Jesus needs to be taken seriously.  This is not designed to be a causal relationship.

18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?

A similar picture of unity and worship was when the people of Israel ate the sacrifices at the altar.

The Israelites messed up.

 19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? 

This issue is not about food.

It is not the food that is significant.

20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God.

It is the recipients of the food that is significant.

This is about relationships.

  • An offering to an idol is an offering to demons.

And I don’t want you to participate with demons. 21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.  

  • The Corinthians were eating at the table of demons when they participated in pagan feasts.
  • When we participate in the evil behaviors of the world we are eating at the table of demons.
  • Christians must flee from all forms of idolatry.

 Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

John 17:15 (NLT)
15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.

  • Christians are in a spiritual battle.
  • Participation with demons is unthinkable.
  • Participation in any form of idolatry is unacceptable.

Who would do this?

King Solomon

1 Kings 11:1-11 (NLT)
Solomon’s Many Wives
1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women. Besides Pharaoh’s daughter, he married women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, Sidon, and from among the Hittites. 2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway. 3 He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the Lord.
4 In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship other gods instead of being completely faithful to the Lord his God, as his father, David, had been. 5 Solomon worshiped Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 In this way, Solomon did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he refused to follow the Lord completely, as his father, David, had done.
7 On the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, he even built a pagan shrine for Chemosh, the detestable god of Moab, and another for Molech, the detestable god of the Ammonites. 8 Solomon built such shrines for all his foreign wives to use for burning incense and sacrificing to their gods.
9 The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. 11 So now the Lord said to him, “Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my decrees, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants.

 Who would do this? We all did.

We did live in sin.

Ephesians 2:2 (NLT)
2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

We were taken out of this lifestyle.

Colossians 1:13 (NLT)
13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,

We are being renewed.  The process is not complete.

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT)
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

We are in a battle.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT)
The Whole Armor of God
10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?

1 Corinthians 11:27-28 (NLT)
27 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 

  • Examine yourself.

Now our idols are things like pride, money, popularity, hobbies, careers, fame, status, education, houses, cars, and the like.

Are any of these causing you to eat at the table of demons?

Preparing For The Next Generation

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The Commission – Genesis 24:1-9

Equipping the next generation.

Genesis 24:1-9 (NLT)
A Wife for Isaac
1 Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. 3 Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”
5 The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”
6 “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. 7 For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. 8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine. But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”
9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.

Examine the Scriptures

Abraham had buried Sarah in Canaan.

He understood that Canaan was the Promised Land.

Now he was thinking about the next generation.

Genesis 24:1-9 (NLT)
A Wife for Isaac
1 Abraham was now a very old man, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. 

Abraham was 137 years old in our last lesson and died when he was 175 years old.

Most likely this story takes place a number of years later then the last lesson.

  • Abraham was blessed by God.
  • God’s covenant with Abraham required Abraham’s obedience.

Genesis 22:16-18 (NLT)
16 “This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

  • God’s blessings did not end with Abraham.

Genesis 25:11 (NLT)
11 After Abraham’s death, God blessed his son Isaac …

Genesis 26:2-5 (NLT)
2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.”

  • God’s loves individuals, but His plans are universal.

Individual

Matthew 10:29-31 (NLT)
29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Universal

Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT)
15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
    He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through him God created everything
    in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
    and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
    Everything was created through him and for him.
17 He existed before anything else,
    and he holds all creation together.

2 One day Abraham said to his oldest servant, the man in charge of his household, “Take an oath by putting your hand under my thigh. 

An oath

Again, Abraham acted. He wanted to be sure Isaac was not living outside of God’s will.

The oath was related to the continuation of Abraham’s line through Isaac.

If the oath were not carried out, the children of Abraham would avenge the servant’s unfaithfulness.

3 Swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, that you will not allow my son to marry one of these local Canaanite women. 

Abraham was not thinking about himself, he was looking out for Isaac.

  • Abraham was looking out for future generations.
  • Abraham wanted to make sure Isaac did not marry a Canaanite woman, which would have been outside of God’s will.

Deuteronomy 7:1-4  (NLT)
7 “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are about to enter and occupy, he will clear away many nations ahead of you: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. These seven nations are greater and more numerous than you. 2 When the Lord your God hands these nations over to you and you conquer them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaties with them and show them no mercy. 3 You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters, 4 for they will lead your children away from me to worship other gods. Then the anger of the Lord will burn against you, and he will quickly destroy you.

Joshua 23:11-13 (NLT)
11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God.
12 “But if you turn away from him and cling to the customs of the survivors of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry with them, 13 then know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive them out of your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes, and you will vanish from this good land the Lord your God has given you.

1 Kings 11:2 (NLT)
2 The Lord had clearly instructed the people of Israel, “You must not marry them, because they will turn your hearts to their gods.” Yet Solomon insisted on loving them anyway.

  • Abraham was aware of some of the pitfalls the next generation would face.

4 Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”

500 miles away  (450-550)

It was customary for parents to arrange the marriage of their children and it was also customary to marry relatives.

5 The servant asked, “But what if I can’t find a young woman who is willing to travel so far from home? Should I then take Isaac there to live among your relatives in the land you came from?”

  • Abraham wanted to be sure Isaac stayed in Canaan.

6 “No!” Abraham responded. “Be careful never to take my son there. 7 For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. 

“The Lord … solemnly promised …”

  • Abraham believed and had faith in God’s promise to give the land of Canaan to his descendants.
  • Abraham understood that God’s promises applied to future generations.

He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son. 

Divine oversight

  • Abraham understood the sovereignty of God.

8 If she is unwilling to come back with you, then you are free from this oath of mine.

But under no circumstances are you to take my son there.”

Abraham understood that this would be contrary to God’s plan.

9 So the servant took an oath by putting his hand under the thigh of his master, Abraham. He swore to follow Abraham’s instructions.

Abraham’s servant took his assignment very seriously and prayed and asked God to give him success.

12 “O Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.

Genesis 24:12 (NLT)
12 “ Lord, God of my master, Abraham,” he prayed. “Please give me success today, and show unfailing love to my master, Abraham.

Application:

            What can you take away from this lesson?