Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

Acts 2:3&4 "3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." We are studying GOD'S Covenants with people. Focusing on Jesus's promise to His followers to send the Holy Ghost! In the Gospel of John, before the crucifixion Jesus says He will send "the COMFORTER, which is the HOLY GHOST..." Then, in the Book of Acts, chapter one, after the crucifixion the resurrected Jesus is guiding the Disciples to stay in Jerusalem for forty days so they can learn more and recive the Holy Ghost! When the forty days came, the day of Pentecost, the Disciples were gathered together in a closed room when "rushing mighty wind" filled the house they were in. Today's verses; "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with ...

Acts 1:8&9 "8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight." We are studying GOD'S Covenants with people. This week our focus is on Jesus's promise to His followers to send the Holy Ghost! GOD holds to His promises like they are Covenants! We read in the Gospel of John where before the crucifixion Jesus says He will send "the COMFORTER, which is the HOLY GHOST..." Then, in the Book of Acts, chapter one, after the crucifixion the resurrected Jesus is guiding the Disciples to stay in Jerusalem for forty days so they can learn more and most importantly; recive the Holy Ghost! The Disciples don't understand at first, they ask Jesus if He will "restore again the kingdom to Israel...

Acts 1:4&5 "4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." We are studying GOD'S Covenants with people. This week our focus is on Jesus's promise to His followers to send the Holy Ghost! We read from the Gospel of John where before the crucifixion says He will send "the COMFORTER, which is the HOLY GHOST..." The Holy Ghost will help the Disciples remember what they know and inspire them to put it into practice.  For today's verses we turn to the Book of Acts, chapter one, where the resurrected Jesus is guiding the Disciples to stay in Jerusalem for forty days so they can learn more and most importantly; recive the Holy Ghost! "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart fr...

Jolh 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Last week we studied the blood Covenant between GOD and Abraham. It is shocking because normally the loosing party would walk between the slain animal bodies. But, it was God who passed through. Even here it is GOD doing what people cannot and will not do. Abraham doesn't pay the price, God does. In the same unexplainable way we are saved by Jesus's blood. We don't pay the price Jesus DID!  Today we turn to the Gospel of John, to the time when Jesus is preparing His Disciples for His departure. Jesus tells them; "But the COMFORTER, which is the HOLY GHOST, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." This is Jesus's promise to His followers to send the Ho...

Genesis 15:17&18 "17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:" This is wild and crazy! It's a gruesome scene, God is directing Abraham to sacrifice animals, placing each half opposite the other along a path. It's the stage for a blood covenant. The loosing party would walk between the slain animal bodies saying; "If I do not fulfill this covenant, I will be sacrificed like these animals." It's brutally blunt in its meaning. ONLY, in today's verse it says "...a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces." Fire is the recognised symbol of GOD, as in the burning bush, the pillar of fire, and more. So, this is GOD who walks between the animal ca...

Genesis 15:14-16 "14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." This part of Abraham's story could be directed by Oliver Stone, it's really crazy! It's a gruesome scene, God is directing Abraham to sacrifice animals, placing each half opposite the other along a path. It's the stage for a blood covenant. The loosing party would walk between the slain animal bodies saying; "If I do not fulfill this covenant, I will be sacrificed like these animals." It's brutally blunt in its meaning. Then Abraham has to chase vultures away from the sacrificed animals. Then he passed out and God speaks to him prophecizing about Abraham's descendents being slaves held captive by the Egyptians for...

Genesis 15:11-13 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; We are reading about a gruesome scene, God is directing Abraham to sacrifice animals, placing each half opposite the other along a path. It's the stage for a blood covenant. The loosing party would walk between the slain animal bodies saying; "If I do not fulfill this covenant, I will be sacrificed like these animals." It's brutally blunt in its meaning. We can only imagine the thoughts going through Abraham's head. In today's verses it gets stranger still; Abraham has to chase vultures away from the sacrificed animals. Then he passed out and God speaks to him; "Know of a sur...

Genesis 15:8-10 "8 And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? 9 And He said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not." This is a gruesome scene that looks bizarre to our modern eyes. God is directing Abraham to sacrifice these animals, placing each half opposite the other along a path. Ancient eyes would recognize this setting immediately, it's the stage for a blood covenant. Where the loosing party would walk between the slain animal bodies saying; "If I do not fulfill this covenant, I will be sacrificed like these animals." It's brutally blunt in its meaning. We can only imagine the thoughts going through Abraham's head. God is keeping His promises, His plan is unfolding in the life of...

Genesis 15:5-7 "5 And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 6 And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness. 7 And He said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it." God tells Abraham; he can't see his descendents yet, but they will be like the stars in the sky, countless! And, this land is your land! Abraham had questions and GOD answered them. God is keeping His promises, His plan is unfolding in the life of Abraham.  Abraham is around eighty plus years old, he cannot see how GOD'S plan can be fulfilled with him. He thinks his servant Eliezer of Damascus will be his heir, not his own flesh and blood. And, he is wrong. After this he doubts again, Abraham and his wife, Sarah, feel they are not having a baby they conspired for Abraham to have a baby with Sarah...

Genesis 15:3&4 "3 And Abram said, Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir." We are studying GOD'S COVENANT with people. A couple a weeks ago we looked at God's Covenant with Abraham in Genesis chapter twelve.  There GOD makes promises to Abraham saying "I will..." God is doing all the work. Abraham is faithful. But it's GOD who keeps His promises. God who accomplished His plans.  Now, we turn to Genesis chapter fifteen; God promises protection to His loyal subject, who has just won a major war with violent enemies. Abraham believes and trusts GOD, and he has questions. God has promised him an heir and at the time he only has his servant as a potential heir. Around eighty plus years old Abraham cannot see how GOD'S plan can be fulfilled with him....

Genesis 15:1&2 "1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. 2 And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?" We are studying GOD'S COVENANT with people. Last week we focused on Holy Communion. A couple a weeks ago we looked in God Covenant with Abraham in Genesis chapter twelve where GOD makes promises to Abraham saying "I will..." God is doing all the work. What did Abraham have to do? Nothing. "All peoples of earth will be blessed through you." GOD tells Abraham. Abraham did do what God told him. Abraham is faithful. But it's GOD who keeps His promises. God who accomplished His plans.  In today's verses God and Abraham are entering conversation with God promising protection to His loyal subject, who has just won a major war with violent enemies. Abraham bel...

1 Corinthians 10:16&17 "16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread." Jesus instituted Holy Communion at the Last Supper, on the night in which He was betrayed. The Disciples were horrified and traumatized by the events that followed. Their teacher and friend gave His ALL on the cross. They did not understand His sacrifice was for the sins of the world. Jesus promised they would be in Heaven with Him. It's your promise too! Like the Disciples we don't have to understand what is happening. We just have to have faith in our Lord and Savior! By the time the Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, they understand a lot more. Today's verses communicate their understanding very well; "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the COMMUNION of the blood...

Matthew 26:29 "But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." Jesus instituted Holy Communion at the Last Supper, on the night in which He was betrayed. It begins as another Passover feast and then took a turn, the bread was Jesus's body? The wine was Jesus's blood? Jesus's blood is shed? This is a NEW COVENANT? What was Jesus talking about? The Disciples could not have known at the time, as these events unfolded.  The Disciples would go on to witness Jesus's betrayal, arrest, torture, abuse and execution. This horrified them and traumatized them. Their teacher and friend gave His ALL on the cross. He laid down His life. They had seen Him calm a storm at sea with just a mention of words. They had seen Him raise people back to life after dying! When they saw Him suffer and die on the cross, they did not dream that He would rise from the tomb on the third day! Th...

Matthew 26:28 "For this is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." This is the origin of Holy Communion. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave His Disciples bread saying; "TAKE, EAT; this is My BODY." Then He gives them WINE and says; "Drink ye all of it;" They are sharing what seems like a normal feast of the Passover. On everyone's mind is the first Passover, when the lamb was slain. It's blood painted on the doorposts and it's meat served at the dinner. All to save the FIRST born sons from the Angel of Death.  And, then things take a turn, in today's verse; "For this is My blood of the NEW testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." This is not part of the Passover tradition! Everyone's ears would have perked up. This is Jesus's blood? The NEW Testament? (Some translate it as NEW Covenant.) And! Jesus's blood shed? What is He talking about has to be on everyone...

Matthew 26:27 "27 And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;" In studying GOD'S Covenant of Holy Communion we covered that Jesus said; "I Am the BREAD of LIFE." And, at the table of The Last Supper, Jesus gave His Disciples bread saying; "TAKE, EAT; this is My BODY." GOD not only provides for the nourishment of our bodies but also our souls.  Jesus continues in today's verse; "And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;" The "BREAD" was eaten during the Passover meal. The cup after they were done eating. Nothing is too out of the ordinary so far as the Disciples can tell. It all seems like a normal feast of the Passover. Present in everyone's minds is the first Passover when the lamb was slain. It's blood painted on the doorposts and it's meat served at the dinner. All to save the FIRST born sons from the Angel of Death. And, here ...

Matthew 26:26 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My body." This week we are studying GOD'S Covenant of Holy Communion. Instituted by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In yesterday's verses Jesus gave us a deep insight; "I Am the BREAD of LIFE." And, not just the BREAD of LIFE for the Israelites but for the entire world! Today we turn to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter twenty-six, verse twenty-six, when Jesus is having The Last Supper with His Disciples. "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, TAKE, EAT; this is My BODY." Jesus is feeding His Disciples. God feeds His people. In the Garden of Eden. In the wilderness after being saved from slavery. When Elijah is on the run from Jezebel. On the hill side after Jesus preached a great lesson. At the supper table before being betrayed....

John 6:33-35 "33 For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." We were studying GOD'S Covenant symbolized by the RAINBOW. It's a VERY important message to know that the Great Flood will NOT happen again. When we see the RAINBOW we want to remember this Covenant. We also want to remember our own Covenant with GOD and how the waters of Baptism washed us clean and gives us the promise of eternal life. This week we will study another Covenant from GOD; The Covenant of Holy Communion. Instituted by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In today's verses He gave us a deep insight into how important and connected this promise from GOD is; "For the BREAD of GOD is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the wo...

Matthew 24:37-39 "37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." We have been studying GOD'S Covenant made with ALL life on earth after the Great Flood.  As the sign of His promise He showed the RAINBOW in the sky! It's a VERY important message to know that the Great Flood will NOT happen again. When we see the RAINBOW we want to remember this Covenant. We also want to remember our own Covenant with GOD and how the waters of Baptism washed us clean and gives us the promise of eternal life. Because we know one day Jesus will return! When Jesus returns it will be as unexpected and surprising as the GREAT FLOOD! 

Genesis 9:14&15 "14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." After the Great Flood, GOD established a Covenant with all life; NO MORE will He destroy all life with flood waters! As the sign of His promise He showed the RAINBOW in the sky! The "bow" is a reference to the ancient weapon as in bow and arrow. In these times it was a powerful instrument of death and destruction. GOD placing His "bow" in the sky is seen as Him laying down His weapon as a gesture of peace. When we consider how sinful people war with GOD this is a very significant gesture. It's a VERY important message to know that it will NOT happen again. These blessed souls now have to get busy starting all over. They have a second chance to get things rig...

Genesis 9:10&11 "10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. 11 And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth." After floating on the Great Flood waters for a year; FINALLY Noah and the rest are called out of their safe space. The waters receded, the sun was shining and tender young plants were growing again. The world is fresh and clean. Getting out of the Ark had to be a huge relief for everyone!  In today's verses GOD speaks to Noah and his family. GOD established a Covenant with them and everyone that comes after them; "...neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth." GOD will NOT flood the world again! It...

Genesis 8:15-17 "15 And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth." After floating on the Great Flood waters for a year; FINALLY Noah and the rest are called out of their safe space. The VIOLENCE and CORRUPTION that made the world so dangerous and scary was gone. The waters receded, the sun was shining and tender young plants were growing again. The world is fresh and clean. Getting out of the Ark had to be a huge relief for everyone!  Noah and family had to obey and follow GOD'S instructions. It had to be hard work. But, GOD did all the really hard work of cleansing the world with the flood waters. Noah was not perfect, he made mistakes, pleas...

Genesis 7:7-10 "7 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon the earth, 9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth." Our world was ruled by VIOLENCE and CORRUPTION. A world like that is very dangerous and scary. Fear and loathing rules the hearts of people. No one can be trusted. The weak and vulnerable are preyed upon. The wicked and ruthless thrive. It's the kind of place we might describe as dystopian; extremely bad, characterized by deprivation, oppression, and terror. The world was such a VERY bad place that God was "GRIEVED" that He had made man!  In today's verses we read about the GREAT FLOOD waters rising up to w...

Genesis 6:14&15 "14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits." We have returned to the pages of Genesis, where right before the Great Flood; VIOLENCE and CORRUPTION were the hallmarks of this age. A world like that is very dangerous and scary. Fear and loathing rules the hearts of people. No one can be trusted. The weak and vulnerable are preyed upon. The wicked and ruthless thrive. It's the kind of place we might describe as dystopian; extremely bad, characterized by deprivation, oppression, and terror. Some of the WORST aspects of society we see in our world today were widespread and commonplace then. The world was a VERY bad place. So much so that God was "grieved" that He had made man!  In this VERY bad pla...

Genesis 6:11-13 "11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted His way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." This week we will study a time when GOD cleansed the WORLD of unrighteousness and made a covenant with all creation! Even today people can't even live up to modest expectations we set for ourselves. People fail and come short of achieving their goals. For some reason people can't keep from sinning. And, believe it or not, back in the days before the Great Flood, THINGS WERE WORSE!!!  Today's verses communicate this to us; "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was FILLED with VIOLENCE. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was CORRUPT; for all flesh had CORRUP...

1 John 1:8&9 "8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We are studying GOD'S Covenant with people. Last week it was Abraham, before that the Ten Commandments, and before that Adam and Eve. It's becoming clearer that GOD makes Covenant promises and fulfills them, again and again. As GOD is coming through in one instance He is extending and adding to His promises in another. Also, in each of these recorded events GOD comes through fulfilling His promise and the people involved fail and come short of achieving their goals. People can't keep from sinning. We can't even live up to modest expectations we set for ourselves. Today's verses get to the heart of the matter; "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and jus...

Colossians 1:13 "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:" This week we have studied God's Covenant with Abraham. God "delivered" Abraham and family from a place descending into polytheism and idolatry. God makes Abraham's family the beginning of His Chosen Nation! God gives Abraham the land of Canaan. It's a very large area, located in the Levant region of present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. It is not merely the land where the Israelites would live, but the sworn inheritance of God’s chosen people! It's about forty-two generations later that Jesus is born. The Israelites long expected the Messiah and they desperately yearned to saved from the Romans that cruelly ruled over them. Only Jesus did not free His people from their Roman occupiers. Jesus did one better; He freed them and all people from their sins and death! Forgiving everyone who will believe in Him! Now and fore...

Genesis 12:5 "5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came." While you and I will not experience GOD speaking to us directly, we do have Holy Scriptures where GOD'S words are revealed to us. We need to read and understand His message. So we can trust God and go where He leads us. Knowing that "We love Him, because He first loved us." -1 John 4:19 GOD saved 75 years old and Abraham, his wife, Sarah, nephew, Lot, and their close family and servants. Haran was descending into polytheism and idolatry. God makes Abraham's family the beginning of His Chosen Nation! GOD protects Abraham and gives him victory over all that seek to harm him. AND, God gives Abraham the land of Canaan. It's a very large area, located in the Levant region of present-day Lebanon, Syria,...

Genesis 12:4 "4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran." 75 years old and Abraham picks up and leaves his hometown. He takes his wife, Sarah, nephew, Lot, and their close family and servants. Haran was descending into polytheism and idolatry. GOD saves Abraham and his family from that. God makes Abraham's family the beginning of His Chosen Nation! The sacrifice and loss that Abraham experience along the way is made up for by abundant prosperity. GOD protects Abraham and gives him victory over all that seek to harm him. GOD picked Abraham to save FAITH and grow His family of believers, from which GOD'S ultimate revelation of His LOVE and MERCY in the incarnate birth of the Son of GOD! While you and I will not experience GOD speaking to us directly, we do have Holy Scriptures where GOD'S words are revealed to us. We need to read and understand His message. So w...

Genesis 12:3 "3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." This week we are learning about GOD'S Covenant with Abraham. God's Covenant is different! God has a rescue plan for all people. He begins to share it at the very creation. From Genesis to Revelations is a record of God's Rescue Plan. It starts in ernest here in these verses with Abraham. Note; GOD'S DECLARATIONS with the words; "I WILL." In yesterday's verses and today's! God provides. It's all God’s doing. Abraham had NO IDEA what his role was in God's Rescue Plan. There is no way he could foresee his bloodline leads to Jesus. Abraham could not even know the many generations to come who would be faithful to GOD and pass their faith to the next generation. All the way to you and me, today, we are a spiritual descendants of Abraham. As our verse says; "...in thee shall ALL families of the...

Genesis 12:2 "2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:" This week we have returned to the book of Genesis, chapter twelve, to learn about GOD'S Covenant with Abraham. We don't talk about "Covenants" Today. We think of treaties, agreements, contracts but not "Covenants." Four THOUSAND years ago, when one nation conquered another the winner sets the terms of the "treaty" or covenant. People have to recognize that God is the winner in every situation. BUT! His Covenant is different! God has a rescue plan. He begins to share it at the very creation. From Genesis to Revelations is a record of God's Rescue Plan. It starts here in these verses with Abraham. Who is still know as "Abram." God tells him to "GO." Leave his homeland and head out to a place he does not know.  We begin to hear GOD'S DECLARATIONS with the words; "I WILL."...

Genesis 12:1 "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:" Last week we studied the Ten Commandments. God gave His Commandments to Moses and the Israelites who were recently freed from slavery in Egypt. They needed guidance then and we need guidance now! Yesterday we read Jesus's own summary of the Ten Commandments, from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus's summary of the two tables is in two short and snappy sentences. If we can remember this and strive to live up to this standard; litrally everything will be better. This is God's plan for you and me. This week we return to the book of Genesis, chapter twelve, verse one; "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, GET thee OUT of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a LAND that I WILL SHEW thee:" This week's focus will be on GOD'S Covenant with Abraham. We don't t...