Alright let's get into the sermon now. Please take your Bibles and turn to
Genesis 28. Genesis 28. Genesis 28 and look at verse number 17. The Bible says
and he was afraid and said how dreadful is this place there is none other but
sorry this is none other but the house of God. The title for the sermon this
morning is the house of God and this is the beginning of what we identify as the
local New Testament church. The local New Testament church is known as the house of
God and if you hear or you listen to the sermon on Wednesday I was
explaining the books of the Bible and how the book of Genesis begins all the
core doctrines all the all the fundamental doctrines you're aware of
even the New Testament church we start seeing many of the truths many of the
applications associated with the church just here in Genesis chapter 28 but
let's start with verse number one. Genesis 28 verse 1 the Bible says and
Isaac called Jacob and blessed him and charged him and said unto him thou
shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan arise go to Padanaram to the
house of Bethel thy mother's father and take thee a wife from thence of the
daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. You may remember the name Laban. Laban
was the brother the older brother of Rebekah and it seems like her father had
passed away and it seems like from the story that were introduced to Laban and
Rebekah that he's taken a prominent position in the family kind of like you
know being being that you know taking over the house because the father was
not there. Now keep your finger there go back to Genesis 24. Genesis 24 please
just four chapters back Genesis 24 verse 3. Now this might sound familiar
because it's the same instruction that Abraham said to Isaac or to his
servant to find a wife for Isaac. Verse number 3
Genesis 24 3 it says that I will make thee swear by the Lord the God of heaven
and the God of the earth that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the
daughters of the Canaanites among whom I dwell but thou go to my country and to
my kindred and take a wife unto my son Isaac. So just to bring to remembrance
now we're seeing Abraham we saw there in Matthew in Genesis 24 Abraham saying to
his servant to his most loyal servant or to the second commander of his house
hey go back to the place go back to where was it to Padanaram and go find a
wife for Isaac and so here in Genesis 28 we're seeing the same process
Isaac having passed the blessings of the you know of the birthright the
blessings of the seed the blessings of all nations being blessed for this
lineage being passed down to Jacob and the same instruction Isaac is telling to
Jacob look don't take a wife from the Canaanites and fathers mothers we need
to teach our children you know don't take a wife or don't take a husband of
the unsaved Canaanites of this land we need to make sure we instruct our
children to make sure they go find a godly spouse somebody that can have a
fear of the Lord someone that is saved and we see the same concerns we don't
want these Canaanites they worship false gods they go look and plus they know
they know the promise that God has given them that that land will become theirs
they know the promise you know there was the curse of Canaan that fell upon Canaan
and we see the promises here that you know knowing that God's going to
destroy these people one day that one day this land we taken by the nation of
Israel and they did not want a wife from this land and so we see the same thing
playing out here go back to Genesis 28 verse 3 Genesis 28 verse 3 and while
you're going back there please also go to Hebrews 11 keep your finger then go
to Hebrews 11 I want to clarify a couple of things here go to Hebrews chapter 11
verse 20 Hebrews chapter 11 verse 20
because Hebrews 11 of course is known as the the chapter of faith right the
Hall of Faith great men that had great faith and if you recall last week that
Isaac blessed Jacob right with the blessing but did he mean to bless him
no he was deceived wasn't he he was deceived and he blessed Isaac he blessed
Jacob instead of Esau and so one thing as you're reading through the great Hall
of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11 look at verse number 20 Hebrews chapter 11 verse
20 the Bible says by faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come
now I don't know about you but I remember reading Hebrews chapter 11 at
some point in my life and go by faith Isaac blessed well we know he blessed
Esau later on but he blessed Isaac I mean by faith he was deceived in the
previous chapter was that really by faith did he do it by faith or was he
deceived well here's the clarification if you go back to to Genesis 28 verse 3
Genesis 28 verse 3 have a look at this what does Isaac say to Jacob verse number
3 and God Almighty bless thee and make thee fruitful and multiply thee that
thou mayest be a multitude of people and give thee the blessing of Abraham to
thee and to thy seed with thee thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou at
a stranger which God gave unto Abraham and Isaac sent away Jacob and he went to
Padan Aram unto Laban son of Bethuel the Syrian the brother of Rebekah Jacobs and
Esau's mother so here it is guys you know once again we see Isaac blessing
Jacob with the same blessing the same promises the same blessing but this time
he's doing it by faith all right in the previous chapter he did it by deception
but this time now we see not only you know he's not given a new blessing he's
repeating the same blessing but now he's confirming it you know it says yes you
know Jacob is the one Jacob is the one that will be blessed Jacob is the one by
which the promised seed will come through his lineage and so this is the
time he does it by faith right this is the time he does it by faith so in the
read Hebrews 11 verse 20 I used to get confused by it until I recognized well
hold on yes he blessed him by deception but now in the pretty next chapter he
confirms it not deceived and he blesses him properly and then we have verse
number six in Genesis 28 verse 6 when Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and
sent him away to Padan Aram to take him away a wife from thence and that as he
blessed him he gave him a charge saying thou shall not take a wife of the
daughters of Canaan and that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother and was
gone to Padan Aram and Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan please not
Isaac his father then when Esau unto Ishmael and took unto the wise which he
had a halaf the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son the sister of Nebuchadnezzar
to be his wife now when it says there in verse number nine then when Esau
unto Ishmael Ishmael we already saw had passed away okay what he's saying is he
went to Ishmael's family all right and he took for a wife one of Ishmael's
daughters there okay so why did he do this and the thing that I wanted to talk
about here is we start to see the effect of favoritism in the family if you
remember Rebecca favored Jacob and and Isaac preferred Esau okay but now he
sees both parents blessing Jacob both parents blessing him and what I what I
think we can take out of this lesson when you start to show favoritism toward
a child you start to give them special privileges special blessings you know
you think you might be doing a great thing for that child you think that
child needs it or deserves it but it has an effect on your other children
your other children are watching that and what's going to happen they're
going to want to emulate that other child instead of being the person that
they are they are instead of being you know someone that feels validated by
their family you know they this they desire to be like their sibling and so
here we see with Esau remember he already had two wives the previous
chapters told us about this he really took two wives which were wrong he took
them from the land of Canaan where he shouldn't have taken a wife and they
were grief they were a burden to his mother to his father to his parents and
he sees Jacob being blessed he sees instruction don't take away from Canaan
go go back to Padan Aram then he goes oh wow Jacob's done that I better go do
something similar you know so he goes to the family of Ishmael which was part of
the family of course the father of the son of Abraham and he takes a third wife
all right now the lesson here is two wrongs don't make a right okay he tried
to fix things I can see at least with Esau he's trying to do what's right
right he's trying I'm gonna take a wife hopefully this pleases mum and dad you
can see the insecurities he has you can see that he's trying to emulate his
brother you know he doesn't feel validated by his family now because both
of them you know have Jacob as were in his view as their favorite so he's
observed this and he's trying to emulate that he's trying to do something and
this is what happens when you show favoritism the other child might just
might mean well they might be trying to do what's right but they end up doing
what's wrong you know and and here Esau's trying to fix the fact that he
took two wives he takes a third wife I mean it's committing adultery it's
committing polygamy and just makes things worse you know two wrongs do not
make right and so please be careful parents with how you demonstrate love
and favoritism you know if you do to a child it's going to have an effect on
your other children let's go back to Genesis 28 verse 10 oh you guys are
there ready to verse 10 the Bible says and Jacob went out from Beersheba and
went to what Haran and he lights it upon a certain place and tarry there all
night because the Sun was set so this is a this is a you know several day journey
so he's on his way he needs to find a place to sleep and he took of the stones
of that place and put them for his pillows and lay down in that place to
sleep I mean I've always wondered about this how I mean I want to use the stone
as a pillow I'm assuming these are like smooth out stones or something I really
don't know but anyway he lays down to sleep verse number 12 and he dreamed and
behold a letter ladder set up on the earth and the top of it reached to
heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it now
before I keep reading this is not a vision or this is not something is seen
with his physical eyes he's gone to sleep he's having this dream and God is
showing him this dream so there's a ladder from the earth all the way to
heaven angels descending and ascending up and down on that ladder verse number
13 and behold the Lord stood above it and said I am the Lord God of Abraham
thy father and the God of Isaac the land where on thou liest to thee will I
give it and to thy seed now just a reminder of course the seed who is the
seed Jesus Christ okay so we saw Isaac bless Jacob with this blessing and here
comes God confirming this confirming this himself saying the same thing that
it's coming from God himself verse number 14 and thy seed shall be as the
dust of the earth and thou shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and
to the north and to the south now you might say hold on how can one see Jesus
Christ be as the dust of the earth that's because if you're in Christ you
are Abraham's seed everyone that saved all generations you know over the time
period if you're in Jesus Christ you make up that seed and yeah if you put
all the believers together we'd be as the dust of the earth or the sand of the
sea and it says he keeps going and in thee verse number 14 and in thee and in thy
seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed what was that blessing
salvation Jesus Christ the gospel right verse number 15 and behold I am with thee
and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest and will bring thee again
into this land for I will not leave thee until I have done that which I've spoken
to thee of and Jacob awaked out of his sleep and he said surely the Lord is in
this place and I knew it not and he was afraid and said how dreadful is this
place there is none other this is none other but the house of God and this is
the gates of heaven I mean the next verses are so much in these verses I
mean I can just think about several sermons that I could preach on the
following verses now I don't know how much you know Jacob is speaking you know
by the Spirit of God you know I don't know how much he's speaking kind of out
of ignorance or just out of the fear of God that he has but so much of what he
says now applies to the church okay so much of what he says let's look at verse
number 17 again it says and he was afraid and said how dreadful is this
place and I mentioned how the house of God is also the name given to the New
Testament Church you know when you come to church it ought not to be a casual
thing it ought not to be something that you know just monotonous part of your
life that you don't really care about when you come to God you ought to say
how dreadful is this place and of course by dread it's all about fear it's also
about something bad it's something a fearful place it says he was afraid when
you come to church you ought to have you know a fear of God and let me tell you
brethren when I get up to preach I have a fear of God I don't want to preach the
wrong thing you know I don't want to mislead you I have a fear of the people
of God even you know to make sure that I teach what's right because I don't want
the chastisement of God I don't want God to be ashamed of me I don't want God to
say well you're not studied you don't know the scriptures you know I have a
fear of God just to preach we ought to have a healthy fear of God when he comes
to this place why was he afraid look at verse number 16 and Jake and Jacob
awake that we sleep and he said surely the Lord is in this place hey that's
why we ought to have a fear of God when you come to church because the Lord is
in this place praise God for his promises you come to church you come to
his house the Lord is here and he says and I knew it not you know and that's
what we need to realize sometimes you might come to church you know that
monotonous part of your life no fear just casual at that point you knew or
not you forgot that the Lord is here the Lord wants to work with you the Lord
wants us you know wants you to learn from the preacher the Lord wants you to
fellowship and serve one another the Lord wants you to learn from the hymns
the Lord wants you to lift up your hearts and your voices to worship him
and we need to remember how important the local church is and but the church
is not the only place that's known as a house of God so I want to look at this
title the house of God please keep your finger there in Genesis 28 and go to
Exodus 34 let's have a look at the several places in the Bible that are
known as the house of God and these things develop over time these things
develop over time and they basically take over the previous thing that we saw
here where Jacob is at he identifies this as the house of God because this is
where God is right and if we go to Exodus 34 verse 26 Exodus 34 verse 26 so
God is passing down the law to Moses and explaining how things need to operate in
this new nation of Israel and God he instructs Moses how to build the
tabernacle so if you recall before the temple God instructed them to instruct
to build a tabernacle it was basically like a temple but it was something they
could carry with them it was basically covered by a tent they could pack up
carried it with them as they journeyed in the wilderness you know it's carried
with them as they went to the land of Canaan and it says here in verse number
26 Exodus 34 26 the first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shall bring
unto the house of the Lord thy God thou shalt not see a kid in his mother's milk
so you can see here the tabernacle that they're required to give to to the
sacrifices in is known as the house of the Lord thy God now go to Exodus 25
please just a few chapters back Exodus 25 look at verse number 8 Exodus 25
verse 8 the Bible says and let them make me a sanctuary that's the tabernacle
look at this that I may dwell among them that's something you'll notice about the
house of God right is that is that it is it is a place not as his house but the
purpose for it is that he will be amongst us you know his presence will be
there and of course his presence was there in that tabernacle now please go
to 1st Kings chapter 8 1st Kings chapter 8 now we're going to look at the temple
we're fast forward in several centuries later and King David wanted to build a
temple for the Lord he wasn't satisfied with the tabernacle he thought the Lord
deserves something a little bit more solid a little bit more permanent but
the Lord did not allow King David to build it but he allowed his son Solomon
to build it so we're going to 1st Kings chapter 8 verse 10 1st Kings chapter 8
verse 10 of course this is speaking about the temple once it was completed
and it says here and it came to pass when the priests were come out of the
holy place that the cloud filled the house of the Lord so you can see the
temple being called the house of the Lord verse 11 so that the priests could
not stand to minister because of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had
filled the house of the Lord so you can see again when the temple is built the
Lord comes with a fullness of his glory there's a cloud they can't even serve
they can't even minister it's too much for them the glory of the Lord appeared
there in this new resurrected completed temple that they had set up but you can
see it's known as a house of the Lord and the Lord's presence is there once
again his glory was there just a reminder remember these are the house of
the Lord the things we learn from these previous places is applicable to the New
Testament Church you know our church ought to be filled with the glory of God
okay with the glory of God this is why we sing him the praises because of his
glory he's deserving of our worship now please go to Ezra chapter 1 Ezra chapter
1 because the first temple got destroyed during the Babylonian captivity the
entire city of Jerusalem destroyed including the temple and then after the
seven years of captivity in Babylon they you know the Jews went back and they
started to rebuild the city they real and they built a new temple okay it's
the river builds temple the second temple and it's the second temple by
which Jesus Christ when he came on the earth that's the temple that he would
refer to wasn't Solomon's temple it was the second temple that was built and in
Ezra chapter 1 verse 5 Ezra chapter 1 verse 5 the Bible says then rose up the
chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the
Levites with all them whose spirit God raised to go up to build the house of
the Lord which is in Jerusalem which is in Jerusalem the house of the Lord so
if there's any doubts you might wonder was that second temple really you know
just as valuable as as important to God as the first temple yes it is we see
here the Bible oh you know we have the Holy Ghost as our narrator and the Holy
Ghost calls it the house of the Lord okay but what we don't have recorded
with the second temple is the glory of God or the cloud of God fill in that
temple now I'm not saying it never happened I'm not I'm not really sure
it's just not recorded for us in the Bible nevertheless I'll just read to you
from Matthew 21 verse 13 Jesus Christ goes into the temple right Jesus Christ
goes into the second temple and he says here and he said unto them it is written
my house shall be called the house of prayer but you have made it a den of
thieves what does Jesus call the house of God he calls it my house and where
was Jesus Christ in the temple in the house of God so even though we don't
have the glory of God feel in that temple the presence of God recorded for
us we still see when Jesus Christ God manifest in the flesh will work work in
the earth where was he in the house of God his presence was there as well he
taught he taught from the temple he spent you know spent many times they
especially during the Passover he would go there and teach the people so what I
want to notice the tabernacle well we have a you know Jacob identifying where
he was as the house of God but then it gets overtaken by the tabernacle we no
longer have that reference as the house of God we have a tabernacle known as the
house of God then that place gets replaced by the first temple known as
the house of God that gets destroyed then we have the second temple which is
known as the house of the Lord again okay what happens in 70 AD that temple
is destroyed okay so where's the house of God now I've already been talking
about it it's right here you know in this body the body of Christ the local
New Testament Church if you guys can go to Matthew 18 that'd be great Matthew
18 verse 20 Matthew 18 go to Matthew 18 and I'll read to you from first Timothy
3 15 first Timothy 3 15 you guys go to Matthew 18 the Bible says in first
Timothy 3 15 but if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou ought'st to
behave thyself in the house of God which is the church of the living God the
pillar and ground of the truth now I'm gonna read that verse later on again but
I just want you to notice it says in the house of God which is the church of the
living God right now you're in the house of God what a privilege that we can come
every week we have free service every week you have the privilege of being in
the house of God now if you go to Matthew 18 verse 20 where I asked you to
turn Matthew 18 verse 20 what does Jesus say he says for where two or three
are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them what I
promised by God what I promised by Jesus Christ that when we gathered in his name
we gathered here in this church he said is going to be in the midst of us the
Lord's presence is here this morning whether you feel it or not easier he
wants to work in you he wants you to learn and grow know the Bible more grow
as a Christian be more Christlike you know when you come to church you ought
to be asking the Lord please Lord I'm going to meet you I'm gonna be with you
not pastor Kevin right I'm gonna be with you the word of the Lord is going to be
preached I want to meet you Lord I want to I want to see you please show
yourself to me please show me where I can fix things in my life please show me
how I can grow and mature in the Lord don't take you know for advantage the
presence of God Jesus promises us he's going to be promises us that and you
might say well does that mean if we gather two or three you know me my
mates me my family the Lord's in the midst of them look at verse number 17
just backtrack a little bit some people take that you know they start their home
church and say well we don't need the local church we can just meet up with
friends and the Lord says it's going to be in the midst of us right two or three
gather together for the context Matthew 18 verse 17 of course was church
discipline here that leads up to that and it says here and if he shall neglect
to hear them tell it unto the church but if you neglect to hear the church let
him be unto thee as an heathen man and a Republican so you can see the context of
the two or three gathered together is the church or if you just read it within
the context it's not just me my mates hanging out having a Bible study okay
it's in context of the church so appreciate what you have here on the
Sunshine Coast you know New Life Baptist Church it's the house of God so
the next thing that I want you to cover for you just quickly for actually stay
there in Matthew 18 stay there Matthew 18 but Jacob also caught it the gate of
heaven didn't he right what did he say that let me have a quick look for it
again Matthew 28 what verse was that 17 this is none other but the house of God
and this is the gate of heaven what an amazing thing this is the gate of heaven
have you ever considered your local church to be the gates of heaven that's
what Jacob says I don't know again I don't know how ignorant is but there's
so much truth to this you know and but here's where it gets abused you have the
Catholic Church right now the Catholic Church that say basically the only way
you can be saved is being part of the Roman Catholic Church because we're the
gate of heaven is what they'll say please yes of course that's not what's
being said you know go you know being saved has nothing to do with your church
attendance but if you guys are you guys are in Matthew 18 verse 18 Matthew 18
verse 18 we just read the bit where we talked about you know if there's a
dispute within the church how to handle things you know things will eventually
they don't aren't dealt with need to be brought to the church and the church is
meant to decide on that matter but look at verse number 18 verily I said to you
what server you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever
you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven what's the context of that or
just what you read Church discipline right you know dealing with conflicts in
a church if they can't be rectified and the church has to step in but we're
saying here whatever the church decides will be decided in heaven you know and
this is the power that God gives us you know that that basically what this
church body decides to do God ticks it off as long as we are following the
principles the teachings of God we're doing things according to his will
whatever we decide to do even if it's Church discipline God says yes what you
decide to do what you loose on the earth will be loosed in heaven what you bind
on the earth will be bound in heaven you know this is why it's the gates of
heaven this is where you come in and learn how God feels about things how God
thinks about things and our decisions that we make as a church need to be made
with prayer with a lot of deep thought because what we decide will be decided
in heaven as well okay the gates of heaven go to Matthew 16 now Matthew 16
verse 18 Matthew 16 verse 18 this isn't the only time that Jesus says what the
church does or the authority we have to bind and on and loose on earth will also
be done in heaven Matthew 16 verse 18 Matthew 16 verse 18 and I say unto thee
speaking to Peter thou that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my
church and of course that rock is Jesus Christ and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it so we're talking about the gate of heaven alright and the
gates of hell here and some people have misinterpreted this to say the gates of
hell are the forces of the devil I don't believe that because the devil has no
authority in hell it's just that the local church is made up of saved
believers and we don't have to have any fear of hell you know the fear there
should be no concern of us ever going to hell we shouldn't you know the gates of
hell should not have any concern on us because we're saved we're going to
heaven but look at verse number 19 and I will give unto thee the keys of the
kingdom of heaven and whatsoever that shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven and whatsoever that shall loose on the earth shall be loosed in heaven
and so we see that Christ has given us his church remember the previous verse
the keys of heaven and here you know I believe what are the keys of heaven how
does someone enter heaven it's the gospel right it's salvation you know God
has given that to the church says look I'm giving you the key to heaven you
know and how horrible is it when you have you know churches you know that
that are right in the gospel but they're not doing any gospel preaching they're
not knocking the doors they're not soul winning they've been given the keys but
they're not unlocking the door they're not unlocking the gate they're not
leading anybody to salvation that's a sad thing when God has given that to us
the house of God these keys and you know what I take out of that is basically you
know we have it's hard to say but it's the truth you know we have the power to
see people saved or unsaved you know if you don't go and preach the gospel you
don't give people the gospel you're withholding them from going to heaven
you go out and you preach the gospel you are opening that door to heaven you know
it's not like there's no middle ground on this you know if you're not giving
the gospel you're closing the door on people now let me show you this go to
Luke 11 go to Luke 11 verse 52 I know we're going to a lot of verses but go to
Luke 11 verse 52 I don't want anyone in this church to be like these people that
were about to read okay Luke 11 verse 52 this is a time when Jesus Christ is just
ripping face against all the religious leaders but this time he goes to the
lawyers and the lawyers you know people that know the law the law of God right
lawyers Luke 11 verse 52 it says woe unto you lawyers for ye have taken away
the key of knowledge ye entered not in yourselves and then they were entering
in ye hindered ye hindered I don't want us to be like this you know now first of
all these lawyers are entering heaven themselves anyway but those that are
striving to enter in those that want to know and I know how unaccepted this
place is but you know there's someone right now and how in their house wanting
to know how to get to heaven we just need to find them we just need to keep
knocking those doors until we find them we might find them today okay but we
just need to keep going and someone's wanting to know but if we don't do it
you know we're hiding the key from them we're hiding the entrance from them I
don't want to be like that as a church we need to get out there preach the
gospel to the lost you know the Lord has given us his word he's given us all 66
books of the Bible we've got all the ammunition ammunition we need we've got
it all you know some of those soul winners before us did not have the
completed Bible in their hands you know the disciples of old they only had
whatever they had a few scriptures here and there people would have to come to
the to the synagogue to hear the Bible read and preached you got it in your
hands you probably have several copies in your house we've got how many copies
here you know of the Bible you know we've got no we've got so many keys
that God has given us so many privileges we need to make sure we open the gates
of heaven to those that are seeking to enter in back to Genesis 28 please
Genesis 28 if we can just backtrack to verse 12 for a minute verse 12 and I
want to give you some thoughts on this Genesis 28 verse 12 and it says here and
he dreamed and behold a ladder set up on the earth and the top of it preached I
reached to heaven and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it
now keep your finger then go to John chapter 1 John chapter 1 I'm gonna give
you my thoughts on this I'm not going to be completely dogmatic if you disagree
with me you disagree with me but I believe this ladder now remember it's a
dream okay and so it's not something you seen physically with his eyes it's a
dream but I believe this ladder is symbolic or represents Jesus Christ okay
it's a ladder from earth going all the way to heaven and the angels are these
ascending and descending on it I believe this is Jesus Christ because it's only
Jesus Christ that can link us to heaven it's only through him that we can make
it there okay and if you look at John chapter 1 verse 51 John chapter 1 verse
51 this is after he meets Nathaniel under the tree John chapter 1 verse 51
this is Jesus what he says to him and he saith unto him verily verily I say unto
you hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of Man so we see now you know that that verse has always
made me scratch my head a little bit they're sending and sending now we do
see several instances where the angels come in and minister to Christ you know
after the temptation in the wilderness we see the angels come to minister to
him when we see Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before his
crucifixion we see an angel come to comfort him and to strengthen him what
are the times we have angels associated with Christ and his resurrection so when
the people come to the tomb to see the body of Christ and the stones rolled
away you know the ladies are met by some angels there also the ascension of
Christ as he ascends up to heaven in the cloud the angels come and say what are
you looking at right the angels are there as well so maybe that's a
reference to that to Nathaniel maybe yeah you know they physically saw these
angels but I just believe what's being referred to here is that Jesus is
referring to himself as that ladder pointing back to what Jacob said
pointing back to that ladder where the angels are ascending and descending and
maybe Nathaniel maybe he just finished reading that recently and he's been
oh you're the ladder you're the way to heaven right I think that's what's going
on here but that's I'm not gonna be totally dogmatic on that you might have
some different views but go back to Genesis 28 please Genesis 28 verse 18
Genesis 28 verse 18 it says and Jacob rose up early in the morning and took
the stone that he had put for his pillows and set it up for a pillar and
poured oil upon the top of it again how much does Jacob know what he's doing
did God instruct him to do this no but he's doing something he takes those
stones that he slept here that vision puts it up as a pillar you know I like a
memorial you know something like a monument and he anoints it with oil he
pulls oil upon the top of it now please go to 1st John chapter 2 1st John
chapter 2 and while you're turning there I'm going to read once again from 1st
Timothy 3 15 already read it but just a reminder it says here but if I tarry
along but thou mayst know how they ought us to behave thyself in the house of God
right which is the church of the living God but what is the New Testament called
here the pillar and ground of the truth you know how amazing is that right Jacob
I don't know how much he knows but he sets it up as a pillar this is the house
of God and the New Testament Church is known as the pillar and ground of the
truth and so I think you know God is just honoring what Jacob did and he
takes those principles and applies it to his house you know there were pillars
set up in the temple for example as well which was the house of God and here in
John chapter 1 so not only does it set up the pillar sorry first sorry 1st John
chapter 2 I asked you to go to 1st John chapter 2 not only does it set up the
pillar but then he anoints it with oil ok he anoints it with oil and this is
what I believe is going on here let's have a look at 1st John chapter 2 verse
27 we've also been anointed the Bible says here 1st John chapter 2 verse 27 but
the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that
any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and
is truth and is no lie and even as it have taught you you shall abide in him
what's that anointing that you have that teaches you all things we know it's the
Holy Spirit yeah it's the Holy Spirit of God and that's the anointing and so we
have this pillar that Jacob sets up he anoints it with oil and what do we get
how can we you know relate that to local church well that our church ought to be
a pillar of the truth all right the ground of truth it's where you come to
hear the truth preached all right you're not going to hear the truth preached on
the media you're not going to hear the truth preached in your magazines all
right on radio this is the ground of truth this is the pillar but that pillar
was anointed with oil and I believe what's been represented here is that the
Church of God needs to be made up of saved people people that are believers
people that have been anointed with the Holy Spirit that's what the church is
for but what are the churches doing these days well no no the church is for
the world let's open the floodgates let's let everybody in that's not how it
is church is not for the young believer no church are for those that are
anointed with the Holy Spirit that's what church ought to be okay I would
rather a small church made up of believers then a church of a thousand
people where most are not even saved don't even know the gospel all right I
mean that's what it is right the pillar and the ground of truth and Jacob does
he anoint it with oil for whatever reason well I know I know the reason now
alright because it's made up of anointed people that have the Holy
Ghost living in them back to Genesis 28 verse 19
Genesis 28 verse 19 and he called the name of that place Bethel but the name
of that city was called Luz at the first and Jacob vowed avowed saying if God be
with me and will keep me in keep me in this way that I go and will give me
bread to eat and raiment to put on so that I come against my father's house in
peace then shall the Lord be my God it's interesting what he says here you know
if the Lord be with now they'll just finish saying to him yeah you know I'm
gonna be with you he just finished saying that right I'm gonna be with you
I'm gonna bring you back to the land I'm gonna bless you all these kinds of
things and he says you know if God does that for me and not only that but gives
me bread and to eat and raiment to put on if God can just provide my food and
my clothing is what he says and again so profound what he says so profound I
don't know if you realize because the Bible says in 1st Timothy 6 6 and having
food and raiment let us be there with content all right having food and
raiment God wants us to be content full of joy happy and joy in life being
satisfied if all we have is food and raiment but our society teaches us
that's not enough to make you content our society teaches that you've got to
have the house get out of the car you go in the internet connection the whatever
the Netflix the Fox Fox tell I don't know whatever other you know
subscription services there are you know fill your life with merchandise and
fill your life with all these kinds you know we've riches you know go on
holidays you know go all over the world and there's nothing wrong with some of
these things but you know that's not what ought to drive you to be content I
mean if you're seeking possessions material wealth to make you happy it's
not gonna happen once you have it you're gonna want more you know God says be
content with just the food and the raiment and if you can tell me today
you've eaten you know you've got clothes then guess what God's provided for you
be happy be content he says look if God's able to do that and in verse 21 I
think is kind of relevant so that I come against my father's house in peace it's
all about of course eyes are coming back because he's on his journey but you know
we got the father's house we finished what is our father here in heaven and
father the house of God you know we ought to be you know can you have you
come to church today in peace will you persecuted on your way here you know
were you arrested and thrown into jail today this morning now you come to the
father's house in peace those will give God's able to do all these things you
know and then shall the Lord be my God is is the Lord God of of Jacob your God
is the God of Abraham your God you know and before I keep going I'll just read
to you from Matthew 6 31 Matthew 6 31 just you don't need to turn there Jesus
says take therefore take no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall
we drink or wither or wither with all shall be clothed for after all these
things of the Gentiles seek for your heavenly father know if that you have
need of these things what things eating and what you wear verse number 33 but
seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall
be added unto you you see if you put God first you put his laws his ways do
things according to God's Word he's gonna make sure you at least have the
food in the rain at the very least and all of you I'm sure will say well we've
got more than that praise God you've been blessed your cups overflowing then
be content with the food and the rain man Jesus says that's enough that's
enough but look Jacob says look if you're able to do that for me God and
then look at verse number 22 in Genesis 28 22 and this stone which I have set
for a pillar shall be God's house so you come to God's house and of all that thou
shall give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee Jacob says God if you
take care of me you're my God I'm saved I come to the house of God you give me
food arraignment you give me peace then I'm gonna tithe he says if you're able
to do all those things that's when you time okay you give a tenth unto thee
again I don't understand I don't fully can't wrap my head around all this you
know that did Jacob continue we don't have this recorded you know did he
continually come to the same place every time he was increased with goods that he
always come back and give a tenth to it sounds like it this is a vow that he's
making to God every time he would come to this pillar come to the house of God
you know all that he was able to to we see later on he becomes a very rich man
full of possessions full of things that he would come here and give a tenth you
give his tithe that's what tithe means a tenth to the house of God and so I
believe in tithing you know I believe it's a very important thing that needs
to be done in the house of God and we see the principles here very quickly in
the book of Genesis you say when should I tithe when you come to the house of
God when should I tithe when you're saved when should I tithe when you have
food arraignment oh but I gotta pay for other things food arraignment that's
what you should be content with if you have those things then you should be
tied into the house of God and it's you know it's one of these things that's
difficult for a pastor to preach honestly I don't like really talking
about it much because you don't want to you know there's always someone critical
in church there's always there's always someone that's always preaching it
because he wants more money you know the pastor once he wants money and then so
you know he wants more and more no this isn't about the pastor this is about the
house of God okay and the house of God is known as the body of Christ when you
come and you bring your tithe to the body of Christ you're not tithing to the
pastor you're tithing to Jesus Christ you're tithing to the house of the Lord
now I'm going to preach on tithing soon coming up in a few weeks you know with
the rightly dividing series but I don't want to steal all my thunder from that
but let's go to let's go back a few verses now go to Genesis 14 a few
chapters sorry Genesis 14 verse 18 this is the second time the tithe is mentioned
in the book of Genesis the 10th Genesis 14 verse 18 you may remember this story
with Melchizedek the king of Salem Genesis 14 verse 18 so the Bible says in
Melchizedek the king of Salem brought forth bread and wine and he was the
priest of the Most High God and he blessed him that's blessed Abraham and
said or Abram at the time and said blessed be Abram of the Most High God
possessor of heaven and earth and blessed be the Most High God which have
delivered thine enemies into thine hands and he gave him tithes of all okay so
should the tithe go to the house of the Lord yes but it's also to be given once
it gives the house so those that are serving those that are ministering in
the house of the Lord those that are serving in the house of the Lord and I'm
going to quickly read to you don't need to turn I'm gonna read to you from
Numbers 18 verse 20 the Bible says and this is of course with a tabernacle and
the Lord spake unto Aaron remember Aaron was the first high priest of Israel thou
shall have no inheritance in their land neither shall I have any part among them
I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel now before I
read verse 21 Jesus God says look to Aaron look I am your inheritance in
other words I'll take care I'll take care of your needs because verse 21
explains this inheritance and behold I have given the children of Levi all the
tenth of Israel for an inheritance for their service which they serve even the
service of the tabernacle of the congregation so should the tithe should
the tenth that's given to the house of God be given to the ministers of the
house of God absolutely that's God's business that's what God instructs the
ministers should receive that's what they should be earning you know serving
the church being being a pastor or back in these days the priests it was right
for them to take the tenth that is given to the house of the Lord for the service
that they do so that's the end of that chapter guys Genesis 28 I hope you've
learned some truths there it's just amazing all these things that Jacob does
how it's still applicable for us today and remember these things of the house
of the Lord are done you know centuries before the Old Testament is in effect
all right now I know this is an Old Testament book but the covenant that God
gives to Moses and Mount Sinai man it's several hundred hundreds of years before
that happens you know people that say well tithing was done away with well it
was before the covenant it was before you know and we see the house of the Lord
the New Testament Church you know also being a place then that we should bring
our tires and out and our offerings as well so you know I hope this this chapter
gives you a great appreciation for your church I hope you're reminded when you
come here have a fear of God God's presence is here you know and be seeking
for the Lord to work in your hearts as well let's pray