ON THE AMERICAN CHURCHON THE AMERICAN CHURCH& THE NATION OF ISRAEL& THE NATION OF ISRAELThe American Church remembersThe American Church remembersits purpose, but has forgotten we areits purpose, but has forgotten we arecalled to live as a family;called to live as a family;The Nation of Israel rememberedThe Nation of Israel rememberedthey were a family, but forgotthey were a family, but forgottheir purpose (to be a lighttheir purpose (to be a lightto the nations…)to the nations…)

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GODGOD

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GODGOD

EACH OTHEREACH OTHER

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GODGOD

EACH OTHEREACH OTHERTHE WORLDTHE WORLD

GENESIS 12:2-3GENESIS 12:2-3I will make you into a great nation, I will make you into a great nation, & I will bless you; & I will bless you; I will make your name great, I will make your name great, & you will be a blessing. & you will be a blessing.I will bless those who bless you, I will bless those who bless you, & whoever curses you I will curse; & whoever curses you I will curse; & all peoples on earth & all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. will be blessed through you.

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GENESIS 15:1GENESIS 15:1…The word of the Lord came to Abram…The word of the Lord came to Abramin a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”your shield, your very great reward.”

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GENESIS 15:5GENESIS 15:5He took him outside & said, He took him outside & said, “Look up at the sky & count the stars—“Look up at the sky & count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” “So shall your offspring be.”

GENESIS 17:4-7;15-16GENESIS 17:4-7;15-16As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram; will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, & kings will come from you. I nations of you, & kings will come from you. I will establish My will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me & you…covenant between Me & you…

GENESIS 17:4-7;15-16GENESIS 17:4-7;15-16…And your descendants after you,…And your descendants after you,for generations to come, to be your Godfor generations to come, to be your God& the God of your descendants& the God of your descendantsafter you…As for Sarai, your wife,after you…As for Sarai, your wife,you are no longer to call her Sarai;you are no longer to call her Sarai;her name will be Sarah. I will bless herher name will be Sarah. I will bless her& surely give you a son by her.& surely give you a son by her.I will bless her so that sheI will bless her so that shewill be the mothers ofwill be the mothers ofnations…nations…

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?!WHAT’S IN A NAME?!Yahweh = God’s covenant nameYahweh = God’s covenant name(Y(YHHWWHH))

WHAT’S IN A NAME?!WHAT’S IN A NAME?!Yahweh = God’s covenant nameYahweh = God’s covenant name(Y(YHHWWHH))

ABRAM (“exalted father”) toABRAM (“exalted father”) toABRAABRAHHAM (“father of many nations”)AM (“father of many nations”)

SARAI (“princess”) toSARAI (“princess”) toSARASARAHH (“princess” whose (“princess” whoseoffspring would bare the offspring would bare the mark of Heaven’s King)mark of Heaven’s King)

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CORPORATE IDENTITY > INDIVIDUALCORPORATE IDENTITY > INDIVIDUALGod’s promise to Abraham was…about God’s promise to Abraham was…about establishing an ongoing community (through establishing an ongoing community (through his descendants) that would heal the wound his descendants) that would heal the wound of the world by of the world by birthing the Messiah…birthing the Messiah…

CORPORATE IDENTITY > INDIVIDUALCORPORATE IDENTITY > INDIVIDUALThe question of the individual “going to The question of the individual “going to heaven” wasn’t the burning issue. heaven” wasn’t the burning issue. The issue was one’s commitment The issue was one’s commitment to the covenant people of God to the covenant people of God while one was alive…while one was alive…

SIGNS of THE FAMILYSIGNS of THE FAMILY

SIGNS of THE FAMILYSIGNS of THE FAMILY- - CIRCUMCISION CIRCUMCISION Not a public sign, but a personal Not a public sign, but a personal reminder that their old lives were gone reminder that their old lives were gone (literally “rolled away”) (literally “rolled away”)

SIGNS of THE FAMILYSIGNS of THE FAMILY- - CIRCUMCISION CIRCUMCISION Not a public sign, but a personal Not a public sign, but a personal reminder that their old lives were gone reminder that their old lives were gone (literally “rolled away”) (literally “rolled away”)

- - THE LAWTHE LAW A way of publically identifying A way of publically identifying themselves as God’s themselves as God’s unique, chosen people unique, chosen people

SIGNS of THE FAMILYSIGNS of THE FAMILY- - THE TABERNACLETHE TABERNACLE A public, A public, portableportable expression of expression of God’s presence with His people God’s presence with His people & the epicenter of their & the epicenter of their corporate worship of Him corporate worship of Him

SIGNS of THE FAMILYSIGNS of THE FAMILY- - THE TABERNACLETHE TABERNACLE A public, A public, portable portable expression ofexpression of God’s presence with His people God’s presence with His people & the epicenter of their & the epicenter of their corporate worship of Him corporate worship of Him

- - THE TEMPLETHE TEMPLE A public, A public, permanentpermanent……

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GENESIS 22:17-18GENESIS 22:17-18I will surely bless you & make your I will surely bless you & make your descendants as numerous as the stars descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky & as the sand on the seashore. in the sky & as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, & through your of the cities of their enemies, & through your offspring all nations on earth will offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you be blessed, because you have obeyed Me.have obeyed Me.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?!WHAT’S IN A NAME?!Joseph = Zephenath-paneahJoseph = Zephenath-paneah(“God lives, He speaks”)(“God lives, He speaks”)

WHAT’S IN A NAME?!WHAT’S IN A NAME?!Joseph = Zephenath-paneahJoseph = Zephenath-paneah(“God lives, He speaks”)(“God lives, He speaks”)

WHAT WAS JOSEPH’S IMPACT?WHAT WAS JOSEPH’S IMPACT?Pharoah AkhenatenPharoah Akhenaten(crusaded against Egyptian idolatry,(crusaded against Egyptian idolatry, trying to eliminate 1,400 false gods trying to eliminate 1,400 false gods & replace with the One God & replace with the One God - “ - “no other except Himno other except Him.”).”)

ISAIAH 19:20ffISAIAH 19:20ff…When (Egypt) cries to the Lord …When (Egypt) cries to the Lord because of oppressors, He will send because of oppressors, He will send them a savior & defender, & deliver them. them a savior & defender, & deliver them. And the Lord will make Himself known to the And the Lord will make Himself known to the Egyptians, & the Egyptians will know the Lord Egyptians, & the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day & in that day & worship with sacrifice & offering worship with sacrifice & offering & they will make vows to & they will make vows to the Lord & perform them…the Lord & perform them…

ISAIAH 19:20ffISAIAH 19:20ffAnd the Lord will strike Egypt, striking And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking & healing, & they will return to the Lord, & & healing, & they will return to the Lord, & He will listen to their pleas for mercy He will listen to their pleas for mercy & heal them…In that day Israel will be the & heal them…In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt & Assyria, a blessing in the third with Egypt & Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My has blessed, saying, “Blessed be Egypt My people…& Israelpeople…& Israelmy inheritance.”my inheritance.”

SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!

SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!- - A NEW COVENANT IS AVAILABLEA NEW COVENANT IS AVAILABLE The Mark of Identity Is Our FaithThe Mark of Identity Is Our Faith & Our Changed Lives & Our Changed Lives

SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!- - A NEW COVENANT IS AVAILABLEA NEW COVENANT IS AVAILABLE The Mark of Identity Is Our FaithThe Mark of Identity Is Our Faith & Our Changed Lives & Our Changed Lives

- - YOU CAN BE PART OF THE FAMILYYOU CAN BE PART OF THE FAMILY Jew & Gentile, Male & Female,Jew & Gentile, Male & Female, Old & Young…Any & All Who Old & Young…Any & All Who Choose To Follow Jesus Choose To Follow Jesus

SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!SO WHAT’S THE GOOD NEWS?!- - YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO IT ALONEYOU DON’T HAVE TO GO IT ALONE “ “Solitary saints are as unbiblical Solitary saints are as unbiblical as Holy adulterers…” as Holy adulterers…” (Charles Wesley) (Charles Wesley)

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