Shenandoah Baptist Church

INTRODUCTION:
1. Remember your salvation
experience
- when you met God
- when you were saved
2. Jacob's experience at Bethel
3. Beth-el, House of God - where
God lives

I. EVERYONE MEETS GOD
A. Some Responded Negatively
1. They aren't interested.
2. They are antagonistic.
3. They are apathetic.

I. EVERYONE MEETS GOD
B. Some Respond Positively
1. They receive Christ and
serve faithfully.
2. They receive Christ but
do very little for Him.

II. JACOB MET GOD FOR THE
FIRST TIME
A. He Had a Spiritual Heritage
1. He was the son of Abraham
and Isaac.
2. He had heard of what God
had done.
3. People today come from a
Christian home, go to Church
etc. but still don't know Jesus
personally.

II. JACOB MET GOD FOR THE
FIRST TIME
B. He Met God Face to Face
1. It was like our coming to
Christ in faith.
2. He made a decision to
follow Him.

III. JACOB DRIFTED FROM GOD
FOR 20 YEARS
A, He worked hard for a family - 14 years

III. JACOB DRIFTED FROM GOD
FOR 20 YEARS
A, He worked hard for a family
- 14 years
B. He worked hard to provide
for his family.

III. JACOB DRIFTED FROM GOD
FOR 20 YEARS
A, He worked hard for a family
- 14 years
B. He worked hard to provide
for his family.
C. He got away from God
1. He was a long way from
Bethel where He met God.
2. He was a long way from
Isaac where he learned
of God.
3. He was in an environment
where God was not worshiped.

IV. GOD REACHED OUT TO HIM
A. God Told Him to Go Back Home

IV. GOD REACHED OUT TO HIM
A. God Told Him to Go Back Home
1. Go back to your family
- surroundings
2. I will be with you
3. Two major problems arose
when he was going back
1. Laban went after him
2. Esau came to meet him.
- No major danger came when he was
leaving home.

IV. GOD REACHED OUT TO HIM
B. God Told Him to Go Back to Bethel

IV. GOD REACHED OUT TO HIM
B. God Told Him to Go Back to Bethel
1. They got rid of all idols
- foreign gods

IV. GOD REACHED OUT TO HIM
B. God Told Him to Go Back to Bethel
1. They got rid of all idols
- foreign gods
2. They were washed, cleaned up

IV. GOD REACHED OUT TO HIM
B. God Told Him to Go Back to Bethel
1. They got rid of all idols
- foreign gods
2. They were washed, cleaned up
3. We must be washed cleaned up,
by the blood of the lamb, if we
would go into God's presence.

V. HE AGREED TO GO HOME
A, This was God's House - Beth-el
1. He would live there, not just visit
2. We must live in the center of
God's will

V. HE AGREED TO GO HOME
B. He Would Worship There
1. He needed to be there in
order to worship
2. Today we must be near to
God to worship Him

CONCLUSION:
1. Jacob followed through on
on his commitment.
2. He followed God's
instructions.
3. Will you come to Christ
- for the first time?
4. Will you come back to Him
- if you are not in the
center of His will?