THE BIRTH OF PRAISE

THE BIRTH OF PRAISE

Genesis 29:31-35. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren. 32And Leah conceived, and bare a son and she called his name Reuben: for she said, surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33And she conceived again, and bares a son; and said, because the LORD hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And she conceived again, and bares a son; and said; Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi. 35And she conceived again, and bares a son: and she said, now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

I.                   The story of Leah

A.                Her beauty

1.                 Leah knew that she did not look as good as her little sister Rachel

a)                Whether it was in her face or her figure

b)                She understood that Rachel was more attractive than her

(1)             The Bible even declares that Rachel was beautiful

c)                 She suffered with feelings of inadequacy

2.                 This was reinforced in Leah on the day of her wedding

a)                She was only able to be married to Jacob due to deception

b)                Her Father, Laban was basically saying, “You’ll never be able to get married on your own

c)                 Jacob never chose Leah, she was never special to him

B.                 Her Marriage

1.                 After she was married to Jacob, he worked another seven years to be able to marry Rachel.

a)                He was never content with her.

b)                She could never please or satisfy her husband

2.                 She was hated – disfavored

a)                Jacob was indifferent to her

b)                He did not care for her at all

c)                 Jacob never failed to express his love for Rachel

C.                 The Lord Saw Leah

1.                 Leah had a secret pain

a)                She couldn’t find comfort with her husband

b)                She couldn’t find comfort with her sister

(1)             She really didn’t have anyone that she could talk to about it

2.                 But God saw her pain

a)                God saw the secret hurt in her heart

b)                When no one else knows, God knows

II.                 Leah’s Sons

A.                Biblical names

1.                 Biblical names mean something

2.                 People were named for the circumstances that surrounded their birth.

3.                 Leah named the children, Jacob

B.                 Reuben

1.                 Reuben means – seeing or sight

a)                This is on two levels

(1)             First God has seen me and blessed me

(2)             Second, now my husband will see me and love me

b)                But nothing changed

C.                 Simeon

1.                 Simeon means hearing or heard

a)                Again this is on two levels

(1)             First God has heard me and blessed me

(2)             Second, now my husband will listen to me and acknowledge me

b)                But again nothing changed

D.                Levi

1.                 Levi means to be joined or together

a)                This is only on one level

(1)             Unlike the other two, God is not even mentioned at the birth of Levi.

(2)             I want to be joined to my husband

(3)             I want us to be a family

b)                But nothing changed

E.                 Judah

1.                 Judah means praise

a)                After trying to get Jacob’s attention for all these years

b)                Leah made a decision that this next boy isn’t going to be about Jacob at all.

c)                 I’m going to name him Judah, and I’m going to praise the Lord

III.              The Lineage of Praise

A.                The Tribe of Judah

1.                 Judah’s descendents became a great tribe in the nation of Israel

a)                Over 1 million people by the time of the Exodus from Egypt

2.                 Praise makes the church grow.

a)                When you start praising God, it just has a tendency to grow and become bigger

b)                Because as you lift up Jesus, he draws all men unto him

B.                 Judah at the Door

1.                 After the Exodus and during the time of wandering in the desert

2.                 Israel created the Tabernacle in the Wilderness

3.                 Every time that they stopped to make camp, the first thing that went up was the Tabernacle.

4.                 The tribe that set up their tents right at the door of the Tabernacle was always Judah

a)                You couldn’t get to the door without going by praise

b)                All the other tribes were looking at the walls, but Judah was looking at the door.

5.                 You can’t find your way out of your situation?

a)                It’s time to praise the Lord

b)                Your praise might show someone else the door to the presence of God

C.                 David

1.                 Was the greatest earthly king that Israel ever had.

2.                 He was anointed and chosen by God to be the king of Israel

3.                 David was a descendent from the Tribe of Judah

a)                After countless defeats – Israel’s greatest victories came under the rule of David

b)                You can’t get the victory over your enemy?

c)                 It’s time to praise the Lord

d)                Your praise can bring you the victory

(1)             Walls of Jericho came down

(2)             Sis. O’Donell

(3)             Paul & Silas released from Prison

(4)             From Jerry Jones, death-row inmate – baptized and the chains fell off

(5)             Both guards got baptized as well

D.                Jesus Christ

1.                 Jesus was born to Joseph and Mary

a)                Joseph was the descendant of David – he was from the Tribe of Judah

b)                Jesus was born in Bethlehem – which is called the city of David

c)                 Your praise can bring you salvation

(1)             You receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit when you start praising God

IV.              Let’s praise the Lord

A.                Those who can praise God

Psalm 115:17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

1.                 The only ones that cannot praise the Lord are those that are dead.

a)                If you’ve got life you can praise the Lord

B.                 From the Heart

1.                 I praise God in my heart, God knows that I praise Him from within

Matthew 12:34 …for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

a)                Praise in your heart comes out of your mouth

b)                Praise in your heart comes out in your hands

c)                 Praise in your heart comes out in your feet

d)                Praise in your heart comes out in your life

C.                 How can we praise the Lord?

Psalm 150:1-6
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

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WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

Who is Jesus Christ? Knowing somebody is to know: His/her Name, his/her Parents, his/her personality, where he/she lives... The Bible is to teach us who is Jesus Christ John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. Matthew 3:16-17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, look, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Revelation1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. 1Timothy 6:15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 16:14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. John 1:1 Creator 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 1: And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: This Jesus that we are talking about he is All in All

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The CHOICE

The choice that we asked to make is between two things Good and evil Deuteronomy 30:15

See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

Once we choose evil Proverbs 10:16/11:18-19/15:6

The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

Romans 6:23 For

the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOD CHOSE US starting by Abraham 1Peter 2:9/Genesis 13:8-9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

CONFUSION IN CHOICE 1Kings 18:21/2Kings17:41/Ezra 4:2/Matth 6:24

Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

THE ONE WHO MADE A GOOD CHOICE Ruth1:16/Luke 10:42

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Prev Book

WHAT WE GAIN IF WE CHOSE Gods WILL John 7:17/Psalms25:14/ Prov 3:32/ Genesis 17:2

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

GOD HAS REDUCED THE DAYS FOR HIS CHOSEN FAVOUR Mark 13:20

And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Now my fellow christians, friends and relatives if you have not yet made a choice, do it today. By Patron S. L.

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