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Youth Worship 20th November 2021 : “Began to Prosper”

Text: Genesis 26:6-14
20 November 2021

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 20 November 2021

Scripture Text: Genesis 26:6-14

Message: “Began to Prosper”

INTRODUCTION

1. A study of “Prosperity”

2. Common understanding

a) Inherited wealth
i) Abraham’s wealth
“Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold” Genesis 13:2
ii) Isaac’s inheritance
“And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac” Genesis 25:5
b) Famine in the land
i) Abimelech
“Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines” Genesis 26:1
ii) Gerar
“So Isaac dwelt in Gerar” Genesis 26:6

AN OLD PROBLEM

1. A question raised

“The men of the place asked about his wife” Genesis 26:7a

2. The answer given

a) Deception
“She is my sister” Genesis 26:7b
b) Fear
“For he was afraid to say, ‘She is my wife’” Genesis 26:7c
c) Negative thought
“Because he thought, ‘lest the men of the place kill me
for Rebekah, because she is beautiful to behold’” Genesis 26:7d

ABIMELECH’S INTERVIEW WITH ISAAC

1. Isaac had dwelt in Gerar “for a long time” Genesis 26:8a

2. Abimelech observed Isaac
“Showing endearment to Rebekah his wife” Genesis 26:8b

3. Summoning Isaac

a) Observation aired
“Quite obviously she is your wife” Genesis 26:9a
b) Query
“So how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Genesis 26:9b
c) Isaac’s excuse
“Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’” Genesis 26:9c
d) Reprimand of Isaac
i) “What is this you have done to us?” Genesis 26:10a
ii) “One of the people might soon have lain
with your wife, and you would have
brought guilt on us” Genesis 26:10b

4. Abimelech’s command to his people

a) “He who touches this man or his wife
shall surely be put to death” Genesis 26:11
b) Abimelech showed he was “more righteous”
than Isaac

ISAAC’S SOJOURN IN GERAR

1. Sowing

“Isaac sowed in that land” Genesis 26:12a

2. Reaping

“And reaped in the same year
a hundredfold” Genesis 26:12b

3. Reason

“And the LORD blessed him” Genesis 26:12c

AN ANALYSIS OF ISAAC’S SUCCESS

1. After his rebuke from Abimelech

a) God cannot bless a deceitful person
b) A new start

2. God began to bless

a) Sowing
b) Reaping
c) Increase

BEGINNING OF PROSPERITY

1. A description of his growing wealth

a) “The man began to prosper” Genesis 26:13a
b) “And continued prospering” Genesis 26:13b
c) “Until he became very prosperous” Genesis 26:13c

2. A second description of Isaac’s wealth

a) “He had possessions of flocks” Genesis 26:14a
b) “And possessions of herds” Genesis 26:14b
c) “And a great number of servants” Genesis 26:14c
d) “So the Philistines envied him Genesis 26:14d

THE SECRET OF ISAAC’S WEALTH

2 Then the Lord appeared to him and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”

Genesis 26:2-5

1. The Promise of the Lord

2. The Power of God

3. Fulfilment of His word of promise

CONCLUSION

1. To recognize:

a) Our sinful tendencies
b) Our fears

2. To rebuke:

a) Our hearts
b) Our sinful ways

3. To return:

a) To God
b) To obey