Sunday, May 19, 2013

Genesis

We just finished up a yearlong study of Genesis in BSF and with that I learned so many things…  God’s love, promise, protection, forgiveness, salvation, judgment and his desire for personal relationships.

I’m so proud of Tristyn for her dedication to the study and her great attitude in doing her homework and going to class all year.   When I asked her one thing that stuck out to her from the study, she mentioned Joseph and how God was always with Him.  Joseph trusted God and God always provided what he needed.  
I’m also thankful to have a wife like Amity who also participated in the study and helped keep me accountable.  When I see her dedication to God and how she is growing closer to Him every year, it motivates me in my relationship with Him.  I am a blessed husband and father. 
Here are a few things that stuck out to me this year from our study.  These principles were adapted from our BSF lectures, courtesy S. Hicks.
1)      God revealed Himself in creation (God, Jesus, Creation)
2)      God is the creator and desires I know Him like he knows me (Creation)
3)      God created the heavens and earth for His glory and our enjoyment (Creation)
4)      God knows exactly what we each need to live and generously supplied it:  earth, air, atmosphere, water, fruit, etc. (Creation)
5)      God made man in His image to rule the earth (Creation)
6)      Sin has an immediate effect on spiritual death and a slow effect on physical death (Adam & Eve, Tree, Serpent)
7)      God’s plan from the beginning included sending Jesus as substitute payment for mine and all peoples sins (Adam, Eve, Serpent, Genesis 3:15)
8)      People glorify God when they enjoy Him and his purpose for them (God, Man, Creation)
9)      People glorify God when they embrace His design for human relationships (Adam & Eve)
10)   God cares deeply about our heart attitude, more than our external actions (Cain & Abel).
11)   Repentance, not regret, brings forgiveness  (Cain)
12)   Accomplishments without faith have no eternal value (Cain’s family)
13)   A relationship with God is more important than the length of your life (Enoch)
14)   When we ignore God, there will be judgment; Trust God and he will provide salvation (Noah and the Ark)
15)   God provides the only way to salvation (Noah and the Ark)
16)   God’s covenant reveals both His righteousness and grace (Abraham’s covenant)
17)   God desires everyone to come to Him through Jesus Christ (Abraham’s covenant)
18)   When we look away from God to focus on self, disobedience has started (Tower of Babel)
19)   God sets limits on wickedness (Tower of Babel)
20)   God regenerates the hearts of those who answer His call (Abram)
21)   Nothing we have should be placed as more important than our relationship with God (Abram, God call for his life)
22)   Our faith in God can reproduce and affect future generations (Abram and his family)
23)   Obedience to God’s plan brings blessings (Abram)
24)   No matter how big the sin, God’s hears his people when they earnestly cry out to Him (Abram, Sarai, Pharaoh)
25)   God restores those who confess and repent of their sins (Abram, Sarai, Pharaoh)
26)   Every true believer in Christ will face tests of their faith (Abram, Lot, Land)
27)   Decisions made with our eyes and our wisdom instead of Gods guidance & principles eventually lead to disaster (Lot, Land, Sodom)
28)   Faith in God is counted as Righteousness, then and now.  Gods imparted righteousness to man only happens by when we put our faith in only Him and His Son.  (Abraham)
29)   True faith expresses itself in obedience… not obedience expresses itself in true faith. (Abraham)
30)   God’s sovereign plan is revealed in His word and always comes to pass (Abraham, Issac, Jacob… Jesus)
31)   God fulfills His promises in His time, not ours (Abraham, Sarah, Barrenness)
32)   God meets us where we are, not where we ought to be. (Hagar running from Sarah)
33)   God hears the prayers of His people for others and uses our prayers to bless them (Abraham, Issac, Blessing)
34)   God’s grace depends on His character, not our goodness. (Abraham, Issac, Sacrifice)
35)   God will fulfill His purpose, despite our attempts to do it our way. (Issac, Jacob, Esau, Blessing)
36)   Sin has consequences but God blesses repentance (Jacob, Esau, Blessing)
37)   Vengeance belongs to God (Jacobs sons, Dinah, Shechem)
38)   God prepares and sustains His people for the suffering in life (Joseph, His Brothers, Potipher’s wife)
39)   God is in control even when life seems out of control (Josephs Dreams, Josephs brothers)
40)   God will highlight our sin to help us confess and be restored to Him (Josephs brothers)
41)   Obeying God sometimes results in unjust suffering (Joseph and Potiphers wife)
42)   Perseverance for God produces character growth (Joseph)
43)   God centered people prosper in His timing (Josephs family, Egypt)
44)   True character is revealed through testing (Joseph, Jacob)
45)   God centered people have the joy of being Gods agents to reconciliation (Joseph, His Brothers, Family Relationship and Relationship with God restored)
46)   The spiritually mature man runs the race all the way to the end of his life (Jacob)
47)   Death to the believer is just the beginning of life in God’s presence (Jacob, Joseph)
48)   Our love and trust in God allows us to be free to forgive others when they have wronged us (Joseph and His brothers)
49)   A life of faith in God prepares us to meet death without fear and regret (Jacob, Joseph)

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