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Why Start In Genesis? · Bible Tract Echoes Podcast

• 0:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: Hey friend, welcome back to Bible Track Decos.
• 0:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm Mike and McCurray, you're host.
• 0:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: Thank you so much for listening in today.
• 0:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: We began a study in the book of Genesis and yesterday on the program.
• 0:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: You're listening in just a moment to a message.
• 0:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: I preached to my home church and sometimes the way I said it while I was preaching.
• 0:19
  [SPEAKER_01]: I don't know that I could say it better here on the radio and so every once in a while I'll use one of these messages and I'd like you to listen in because Genesis lays a foundation.
• 0:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's where we're going to be.
• 0:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: Genesis 1 verse 1, the Bible says this, in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
• 0:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
• 0:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: And verse three says, in God said, let there be light in there was light.
• 0:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: Genesis lays a foundation for all that is to come, not just in the Bible though it does that, but for all that was to come and is to come down through history.
• 1:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: So listen now as I preach a message on the beginning
• 1:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: all these, so why Genesis?
• 1:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, the Bible, it would feel sorely incomplete and perhaps honestly incomprehensible without the book of Genesis.
• 1:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: It sets the stage with the entire, if you will, drama of redemption and almost all of the important doctrines and teachings of the Bible have their foundation in this book.
• 1:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: And I will say this, it's largely because we have a ban in,
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: the beliefs that can only come out of Genesis 1 through 11 that are societies in such a disarray.
• 1:47
  [SPEAKER_01]: If we as a people, and I'm not just talking about the church or part of what we as Americans, we as denizens, as citizens of the world believed what Genesis 1 through 11 had to say, it would radically change what we do or don't do.
• 2:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm not trying to wow you with all of these different references, but my point is twofold one.
• 2:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: I believe a study through this book will help lay a foundation upon which every one of God's people can confidently and boldly stand.
• 2:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: I've already said in some of your school, but I believe wholeheartedly that this book can solve every human problem.
• 2:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: And if that's true, we've got to know what it says.
• 2:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: And you can't just take someone's word for it, just because someone has a polished presentation that they give you in 45 seconds on an Instagram reel or a TikTok, doesn't mean they're speaking the truth.
• 2:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: And it could be that as I mentioned this morning, they sucker you in with that first one because everything they said was right down a line with what your pastor says.
• 2:49
  [SPEAKER_01]: And then you get to the seventh reel.
• 2:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: Or you look back, you see the one that made them famous, and you click on that pinned one, and they took a very controversial stand that has nothing to do with Bible, and that's what shocked them to popularity and got them all their followers.
• 3:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: Because they want to tell you that, oh, a loving God wouldn't send people to hell.
• 3:11
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's not what the Bible says.
• 3:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: And you have to judge it all by the book.
• 3:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: and understanding this beginning of the book helps.
• 3:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: It would be like jumping into your favorite novel and skipping it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
• 3:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: Skipping the first chapter, you're constantly trying to play ketchup.
• 3:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: Don't do that with God's book.
• 3:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: So we must go to it.
• 3:35
  [SPEAKER_01]: We can't cherry-pick-convenient stories or doctrines.
• 3:37
  [SPEAKER_01]: We must allow God to speak.
• 3:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: Turn it if you went to the book of Acts for just a moment.
• 3:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: but the book of Acts, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and then the book of Acts.
• 3:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: And we're actually going to be in the book of Acts this evening, but we're going to start in Acts chapter number 20, if you would tonight.
• 4:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sorry, this morning, Acts chapter number 20, and the second half of the chapter, Acts chapter number 20.
• 4:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: We'll be in Acts 1 this evening, but in Acts, you get to watch the early church, despite growing pains and difficulties and things, you get to watch the early church come alive and we get to grow our confidence in the gospel itself and remind it, be reminded that revival is not just a theory to be talked about, it's possible, all of that in book of Acts, but look at verse number 17, Acts chapter 20,
• 4:31
  [SPEAKER_01]: and verse number 17, the Bible says this, and from my latest, he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church.
• 4:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: And pause there for just a moment, who we're speaking about.
• 4:41
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, this is Paul, the Apostle.
• 4:44
  [SPEAKER_01]: This is the very tail end of Paul's last missionary journey.
• 4:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: Paul's on his way to Jerusalem.
• 4:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: He knows that the Spirit has warned him that bonds and afflictions are coming his way.
• 4:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: He doesn't have time to visit all of Asia Minor.
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: That was his stopping grounds.
• 5:04
  [SPEAKER_01]: But he doesn't want to leave for potential imprisonment and death without speaking to that Ephesian church.
• 5:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: So he calls the leaders from Ephesus.
• 5:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: They travel about 30 miles to my leaders.
• 5:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: And that's where we find ourselves here in verse number 17.
• 5:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: For lack of a better word, this is Paul's farewell sermon to the people that he invested in.
• 5:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Look at verse number 18 of Acts 20.
• 5:29
  [SPEAKER_01]: And when they were come to him, he said unto them, you know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying and weight of the Jews.
• 5:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: What he's doing here is he's reviewing his ministry, his humility, the tears, the trials, he's not telling them,
• 5:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: man, I'm just so humble.
• 5:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, no, they watch him live this.
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: They saw this.
• 6:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: So him talking about this is not him putting himself on a pedestal, even if Paul, who we believe may have been shorter than the average bear for even for Jew there, even on a pedestal, he would have only been normal height, okay?
• 6:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: But I understand this.
• 6:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: Paul's not being pompous about this.
• 6:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's not being grandiose.
• 6:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's not trying to puff himself up.
• 6:20
  [SPEAKER_01]: He's just telling them in this final address, gentlemen, we know each other.
• 6:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Look at verse number 21, verse 20, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you.
• 6:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: But have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house, so publicly and privately,
• 6:36
  [SPEAKER_01]: His message, verse 21, testifying both the Jews and also to the Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 6:48
  [SPEAKER_01]: And then he explains, verse 22, 2324, why He is leaving.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: Look at 22, and now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem.
• 6:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Not knowing the things that shall befall me there, save that the Holy Ghost who witnessed it in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me, meaning I'm going towards a bad time, but I know I have to go, verse number 24.
• 7:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: But none of these things move me.
• 7:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: neither count on my life, dear unto myself.
• 7:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: So that I might finish my course with Troy and the ministry which I receive the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
• 7:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: But then, so he tells him all this and I don't know if it was a rousing statement there or if it was quiet and subdued and their tears being shed as they hear what they've already believed to be true that Paul is leaving them, they will never see him again, but he doesn't just leave them with a, hey, it's been great guys, look at verse 25, he warns them, verse 25.
• 7:51
  [SPEAKER_01]: And now behold, I know that ye all.
• 7:54
  [SPEAKER_01]: Among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more, wherefore, I take you to record this day.
• 8:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: I mean, pay attention here.
• 8:02
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm gonna tell you something that's gonna be pertinent that I am pure from the blood of all men for I am not shunned to declare unto you.
• 8:08
  [SPEAKER_01]: All the counsel of God take heed there for unto yourselves.
• 8:14
  [SPEAKER_01]: and to all the flock over the witch, the holy ghost, have made you overseers to feed the church of God which he had purchased with his own blood.
• 8:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: For I know this, first 29, that after my departed shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock.
• 8:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: And you've heard it said, when the cats away, the mice come out to play,
• 8:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: That's not what Paul was saying.
• 8:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: He was saying when I, the one who's kind of been an undershepard, the one who's been strong enough to withstand someone to their face and say, that's not right, even a fellow apostle, even a fellow disciple, you are wrong, which he did to Peter.
• 8:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: to the face.
• 8:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: He didn't send him a text and tell him harsh things.
• 9:00
  [SPEAKER_01]: He didn't post a narcissistic and passive aggressive post on Facebook saying, now if some people would be a little bit more biblical and that's not what he did.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_01]: He would stood him to the face.
• 9:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: They know this.
• 9:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: This humble, diminutive little guy would stood him to the face.
• 9:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: He said, there's not nice that's going to come in and creep in on the words.
• 9:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's going to be wolves.
• 9:23
  [SPEAKER_01]: You get a pay attention.
• 9:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: Look alive, look at verse number 30.
• 9:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Also of your own selves shall memorize.
• 9:30
  [SPEAKER_01]: He tells them, from you, he's talking to a group of men and he says, among you, there's going to be some that say speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
• 9:45
  [SPEAKER_01]: Ego and pride, only by setting a sentence, only by pride, come with contention.
• 9:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: that it's easy sometimes to say, well, I am a Paul.
• 9:57
  [SPEAKER_01]: I am of a Paulus.
• 9:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: You should follow me because of my pedigree.
• 10:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: No, no, we before God have no pedigree.
• 10:03
  [SPEAKER_01]: You know what a pedigree is?
• 10:05
  [SPEAKER_01]: Center saved by grace.
• 10:07
  [SPEAKER_01]: But he's warning them, they're going to be some, they're going to say, but look at my ordination certificate, Paul laid hands on me.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: And understand that I speak, I speak better than that guy does, or I'm more, no, no, no.
• 10:18
  [SPEAKER_01]: He says, from among you, he's warning them.
• 10:21
  [SPEAKER_01]: Speaking of verse things to draw away the disciples after the verse 31, therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years, I cease not to warn everyone night and day with tears.
• 10:34
  [SPEAKER_01]: But notice, verse number 27, we kind of skipped over it.
• 10:39
  [SPEAKER_01]: For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
• 10:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: Why are we in Genesis 1?
• 10:50
  [SPEAKER_01]: because if you are going to be held accountable to it, you've got to know what it says.
• 10:56
  [SPEAKER_01]: And so what I'd ask of you is this, even this morning, I'd ask of you to understand that we've got to go back to the basics, preach one of us.
• 11:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: It's when you forget, brother Todd, the guys who do the best in sports, the guys that just do the fundamentals.
• 11:12
  [SPEAKER_01]: Think about a John Wooden old basketball coach, UCLA.
• 11:17
  [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe I mentioned this previously, but you know how he started the first basketball practice of the season with his guys, 10 national championships.
• 11:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: And UCLA at the time, back in that day, they were playing in a dingy, dimly lit gym.
• 11:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: They did not have big bucks to spend on anything, including paying players, which I don't know if they did back then, and I'm sure John wouldn't do not.
• 11:40
  [SPEAKER_01]: But you know how they started the very first practice?
• 11:42
  [SPEAKER_01]: The very first practice of the very first day.
• 11:46
  [SPEAKER_01]: They sat on the bench, and he sat in front of them, and showed them how to put their shoes and socks on.
• 11:53
  [SPEAKER_01]: You say, what?
• 11:55
  [SPEAKER_01]: These are 18, 19, 22 year old men.
• 11:58
  [SPEAKER_01]: He said, you know why?
• 11:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: Because if you don't put the sock on and smooth out any bumps, you know what the bump is?
• 12:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: The little fold in the sock, that's where you're going to blister.
• 12:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: And you might be what now known as cream I've dualed your bar.
• 12:13
  [SPEAKER_01]: He played for Old John Wooden.
• 12:16
  [SPEAKER_01]: He could be, he might have been a phenomenal, but it's hard to play when you're constantly going, ow, ow, ow, because you got a blister.
• 12:22
  [SPEAKER_01]: And he showed him how to tie their shoes properly.
• 12:25
  [SPEAKER_01]: You say that's silly.
• 12:27
  [SPEAKER_01]: Well, he won ten national championships.
• 12:28
  [SPEAKER_01]: So before you call him silly, understand that he did, he went back to basics.
• 12:32
  [SPEAKER_01]: Sometimes I've found that me just need to go back to the basics.
• 12:38
  [SPEAKER_01]: We need to strip away all that over complicated things and just get down to the nitty-gritty weather rubber meets the road and to do that we need to go back to the beginning where it all started and that's what we're doing in this series.
• 12:52
  [SPEAKER_01]: I had to challenge a tune in tomorrow as we continue this thought from the book of Genesis.
• 12:59
  [SPEAKER_01]: We're talking about in the beginning.
• 13:01
  [SPEAKER_01]: I'm so glad that God laid a foundation for us in His book.
• 13:06
  [SPEAKER_01]: Have great it for His glory.
• 13:09
  [SPEAKER_01]: God bless.
• 13:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for tuning in to Bible Tract Echoes, the radio ministry of Bible Tracts Incorporated.
• 13:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Want to see our gospel tracks and other resources?
• 13:26
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• 13:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks again for listening.
• 13:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: May the Lord richly bless you as you live for Him.