Help QuickNav Adv. Options
KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Prior Book Prior Section Back to Commentaries Author Bio & Contents Next Section Next Book
The Blue Letter Bible
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources

Chuck Smith :: Sermon Notes for Genesis 28:16, 17

toggle collapse
Choose a new font size and typeface
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources
"THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD"
Intro: The omni-presence of God is a part of Christian theology. Though we believe it, we so often fail to recognize it.
I. "SURELY THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE."
A. Jacob was fleeing for his life.
1. His brother threatened to kill him.
2. Jacob had disguised himself and received his brother's patriarchal blessing.
3. Running for his life he arrived tired, lonely and weary at Bethel.
B. Bethel is a rocky barren area.
1. Nothing there to suggest presence of God.
2. It is interesting how in the lonely nights in a barren time, we
so often become aware of God.
C. The consciousness came through a dream.
1. We have all the ingredients for dreaming; a guilty conscience, a hard journey, an uncomfortable bed.
2. A ladder set on the earth reaching heaven. Angels ascending and descending. The Lord stood above it and spoke to Jacob words of promise.
D. We think of God as being in heaven.
1. As Jacob laid down to sleep he could see the thousands of stars.
a. He probably was thinking somewhere up there exists a great God. If I could only somehow reach Him.
b. "God who at different times and various places spoke to our fathers."
1. God spoke through the dream of a ladder reaching to heaven.
c. When the Son of God came to give us a clear revelation, Philip heard Him.
1. He brought Nathaniel to Jesus.
2. Jesus said, "O henceforth you will see the heavens opened..." Jesus is the ladder by which men can reach God.
E. His awakening consciousness was "truly the Lord is in this place."
1. Not just in heaven, He is here.
2. We discover God in the most unlikely places.
a. Not just in the sanctuary.
b. Uncrowded freeway.
3. Not "was" in this place, but "is."
II. "I KNEW IT NOT." WHAT KEEPS US FROM THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD?
A. Busy schedules. "The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the desire of things."
1. So many have just crowded God out of their lives.
2. They have no time for God. How foolish.
a. You will have plenty of time later, but if you do not establish a relationship now, you will have no opportunity then.
B. Evil lifestyles. Romans 1.
1. "They did not want to retain God in their conscience so God gave them over to reprobate minds.
2. Some of your lifestyles are so corrupt, you do not want to think of God.
C. Spiritual apathy.
1. There is a part of you that is totally undeveloped.
a. People are so concerned for physical and emotional development.
b. Spiritually, they are worse off than the 97-pound weakling. They rank somewhere below the moron.
Sermon Notes for Genesis 28:16 ← Prior Section
Sermon Notes for Genesis 31:41 Next Section →
Sermon Notes for Revelation 1 ← Prior Book
Sermon Notes for Exodus 3:1-4 Next Book →
← Back to Chuck Smith's Bio & Resources
← Back to all Commentaries
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.