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"And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing."
(Genesis 29:35 KJV) Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, whose mother was Leah, was a natural leader. It is important to note that Judah’s decisions were often shaped more by the pressures of the moment than by a conscious desire to cooperate with Our Awesome God’s plan. But once he did recognize his mistakes, he was willing to admit them and do something about them. There is a situation in Genesis 37:26-28, where Judah recommended that his brothers sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites instead of taking his life and his brothers listened. Then they actually sold him and took his torn and bloodied coat of many colors to Jacob, their father. Judah's experience with Tamar, his daughter-in-law, (Genesis 38:1-11) and the final confrontation over Joseph (Genesis 37:26-27) are both examples of Judah’s willingness to bear the blame when confronted. Most people have problems seeing that the sin was theirs, then admitting it, and then doing something about it. But he didn't. In these instances, he tried to make restitution for what he had done. Our Awesome God uses sinners who know they have sinned and repent of that sin. The experience with Tamar, when she became pregnant by Judah, produced the only set of twins recorded by the twelve sons. (Jacob was a twin.) And through one of those twins, Perez, Judah is in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God wants us to get involved in His (and our) ministry to the world. Our Awesome God used kings David and Solomon of the tribe of Judah to demonstrate leadership with His direction to make our efforts work the best (2 Chronicles 6) and later with Kings, Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:1,3,5) and Josiah (2 Kings 22:1-2). Jesus Christ now reigns as the King from the Tribe of Judah for eternity. Praise the Lord! Our Awesome God can use an unsaved sinner as well as a saved sinner but prefers to use someone who can and does admit to his or her sins. God used the Tribe of Judah for leadership for His people in the Southern Kingdom or Judah after the Kingdom of Israel divided. Our church is a loving church that wants to help others to a better understanding of Our Awesome God and His love, mercy and grace for all of mankind. Join us at Living Word Baptist Church as we love others while preaching and teaching from our Holy Bible about God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Our church has a Bible Study at 9:30 AM on Sunday and Worship Service at 10:30 AM and then at 6:00 PM there is another Bible Study along with a children's program called AWANA which goes until 7:30 PM. We love visitors! Are you a Judah?
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"All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them."
(Genesis 49:28 KJV) Here are a few facts about Isaac's son, Jacob (Israel). Jacob was one of the great patriarchs of the Old Testament, but at times he was also a schemer, liar, and manipulator. Our Awesome God gave him twelve sons. At one time, Jacob even wrestled with an angel because the angel wouldn't give him what he wanted and he walked with a limp after (Genesis 32:24-32). After wrestling all night, God renamed him Israel, which means, "he struggles with God." In fact, Jacob struggled with God his entire life, as many of us do. As he matured in faith, Jacob depended on God more and more. Jacob or Israel needed Our Awesome God frequently as Jacob's sons matured and increased in number. These twelve men were slowly becoming the men God would work through to produce the Twelve Tribes of Israel. They were always doing something they shouldn't have done (1 Chronicles 5:1-2; Genesis 34:25). They were jealous of each other and often hated each other, especially Joseph (Genesis 37:5-8). Reuben lost his birthright because he slept with his father's concubine. Judah slept with his daughter-in-law but kings came from his tribe (Genesis 38:25-26). Levi was the son that produced the priests for God and they sinned. All the sons, like their father, sinned many times and were a heart ache to Jacob and God. These were the men Our Awesome God chose to become founders of the twelve tribes of Israel that made up His chosen people. Just like we sin, they sinned (remember, God views all sins as equal). But God can and will use sinners for His purposes. He prefers to use His obedient people (who are forgiven sinners), but He does not hesitate to use pagans and atheists. We need to fully understand: His purpose will be done. Are we going to help Him or are we going to slow up our maturity in Christ as sinning always does? We (as a church) want all people in church, worshipping Our Awesome God with faith and obedience every Sunday. If you are not yet a Christian, it is time that you should know and love Our Awesome God as your Creator and Savior. Join us at Living Word Baptist Church as we pray and worship Him this Sunday at 10:30 AM and at 6:00 PM for Bible Study along with AWANA for children 7:30 PM. On Wednesdays, we meet at 7:00 PM for Prayer Requests and a Bible Study follows until 8:00 PM. We love visitors! |
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December 2016
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