God is ready to give you a fresh start.

Genesis 35:7

1.      Jacob’s invitation-“Bethel” means “House of God” > When Jacob had his amazing dream in Genesis 28, he knows that such a place with angels ascending and descending could be none other than the House of God. “Beth” means “house” and “El” means “God” so Bethel is the “House of God.”  > When you are going through difficulties, don't go to lonely place but go to the house of God.

2.      Bethel is the place where he was converted- His pillow was a Rock, which represents Jesus Himself, Jacob was resting on Jesus in wilderness. > When you are going through difficulties in your life, you have to rest on Jesus.

§  An angel can overcome 180000 enemies, but he cannot overcome broken heart whipping for The Lord. 

§  Moses was a murderer, but God re-commission him.

§  Jonah was in the whale house, but God re-commission him to ministering people.

§  Peter denied three times, but God re-commission him.

§   “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Jacob did not sit down and quit and neither should we.

3.      Genesis 35:4, Jacob’s determination

                                i.            definite choice

                              ii.            divine cleansing

                            iii.            sanctification

Why should you worship the God?

Ø  Psalms 145

1.      Psalm 145:3 > Greatness

2.      Psalm 145:8 > Grace- causes you to open your heart.

3.      Psalm 145:17 > Generosity.

4.      Psalm 145: 20 > Glory of God

Genesis 35:7, El-beth-el

§  El means, majesty, strength of God

§  "Remember who you are, remember whose you are". 

§  Genesis 35:13-14, Jacob’s dedication- first drink offering in the Bible.

Sermon Notes from www.intlcog.org; Date: 3/30/2014

"God turns the Nobody to somebody so everybody can see He can use nobody."

God uses the nobodies –Joseph

Ø Genesis 37:1-4

§  Joseph means “God shall act.”

§  Jacob loves Joseph because Joseph is his son of his old age.

§  Joseph was preferred more than his brothers.

Ø Genesis 37:23-28 - Stages of Joseph's life

1.     Pit 

2.     Slavery

3.     Imprisonment

4.     Throne

QUESTION: What did Joseph loose to become nobody?

1.     Genesis 37:23, Joseph lost his personal identity.

2.     Genesis 37:28, Joseph lost his freedom.

3.     Genesis 37:36, Joseph lost his national identity.

4.     Genesis 37:3, Joseph lost his safety network.

Ø Genesis 39-40, Joseph had two experiences

1.     He was a slave/servant in Potiphar's house.

2.     He was in prison.

In each phase we see:

1.     Nobody to somebody-Genesis 39:4, The Lord promoted Joseph, even Joseph was a prisoner. 

§  Advantage of Christian life > When we become nobody The Lord promote us.

2.     Genesis 39:6; 23, Joseph's superiors trusted in Joseph.

§  When you become nobody and when Lord is with you, people will trust you.

3.     Somebody to nobody-God was developing Joseph's gifts:

§  Gift of running away from temptation, running away from sin, his robe was stripped and now he became nobody.

§  When you encounter temptation just run away from temptation, do not entertain temptation.

4.     Genesis 40:23, Joseph was tested. God was testing Joseph to show that man is not promoted by man. Joseph was tested by his passion

5.     Nobody to somebody- God prospered Everything Joseph did 

Although righteous Joseph suffered many drawbacks, he remained faithful to God.  Therefore, God was able to use him to accomplish great things.

Sermon notes from www.intlcog.org; Date: 3/23/2013

Communion

Luke 24:49 > Post resurrection appearance

§  Jesus left the crowd and brought down his focus to His disciples.

§  This is the promise given to Jesus by His Father. “You are going to be clothed with power"- garment of Holy Spirit.

§  Though Disciple have perceived all the miracle Jesus did, Peter denied him three times.

§  Just like flag represent United States, bread represents His body & juice represents His blood.

§  We take the communion by looking backward to see how He delivered us; and we look forward for His return.

§  When we take communion, pray to receive for the cloth of His Divine power.

§  Genesis 40: 6, Joseph, the great grandson of Abraham, in prison due to falsely accused, looked upon them.

§  Though he was falsely accused, hatred, jealous- none of these caught him; with the heart of compassion he looked at the people – This is also a ministry.

§  Joseph said, dream interpretation belong to God; if you minister to the people with the heart of compassion, God will take care of your problem.

§  Genesis 40:14, God make sure these people forget the recommendation of Joseph, God want to make sure that the promotion don't come from men but from God.

Ø What happen when you received Holy Spirit power?

§  Acts 4:18-20- "seen and heard" - true witness.

§  Acts 4: 22-23, the advantage of family church - to share individual burden in prayer in one accord.

§  Acts 4: 24-28

1.    Confidence of the mighty prayer - they gone from visible to invisible, they acknowledge God as a creator, controller & Conquer of the universe.

2.    Acts 4:29, your prayer will be answer when you make commitment to God as a servant.

3.    Acts 4:31, Consequence of prayer( not the length of the prayer but the strength of the prayer)

§  Acts 4:32, by the power of the Holy Spirit - we can come in one accord & achieve unity.

§  Acts 4:33, unity is achieved & gospel is believed.

§  Jesus is the head of the body & we are His body.

§  Greatest Christian strength is prayer; and greatest Christian failure is lack of prayer.

Sermon notes from www.intlcog.org, Date: 3/16/2014