Jesus our Bethel

Here is the sermon from last Sunday (3rd Jan 2010). My first sermon of the year and our first meeting in St John's, Cwmcarn. Have a blessed 2010!!

Jesus our Bethel

Reading - Gen 28:10-22

Jacob - born about 4000 years ago.

1. Jacob's dream

Dream of a ladder - angels ascending & descending to & from Heaven.

Called the place Bethel - House of God!

One of the hallmarks of the O.T - people encountering God at places - Bethel, Peniel, the Tabernacle, the Temple.

Even before God called Israel the nation out of Egypt to be His people we see here God's eternal intent - to live on earth with man!

2. Jesus & Nathanael

Jesus is speaking to a man called Nathanael Son of Talmai (Bartholomew). He has just met Jesus for the first time and confesses Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel. Jn 1:51 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” ^ESV

Jesus is saying that He is Bethel! He is Jacob's ladder!

Jesus is the fulfilment of all the feasts, symbols and ceremonies of the O.T.

Jesus is saying here that whereas Jacob had a dream of the angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder to heaven, Jesus himself is that ladder, Jesus Himself is the house of God.

2.1 Go to Jesus!

The first big point is that if we want to encounter God, if we want to know a real, personal encounter with God - where do we go? We go to Jesus!

Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ^ESV

Because of Jesus we have an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear! You can approach God with confidence! Why? Because of Jesus!

What happened when Jesus died on the cross? The curtain of the temple was torn in two! God broke out! Since that time, God never has, nor never will, dwell in a man-made temple again!

Having an encounter with God isn't about places - that is old covenant way of thinking. You can meet with God wherever you are! This takes relationship with God away from holy places and in fact turns each place into a holy place!

2.2 Resources

What did Jacob see on the ladder? Angels ascending & descending - angels going up and down.

Heb 1:14 tells us that God has sent angels to serve us!

I do believe angels are watching over us - but I want to go a bit deeper than that - the whole point of Hebrews is that Jesus is greater than Angels, Moses, High Priests etc. The point of this is that in Jesus we have all the resources of Heaven at our disposal to do the will of God on the earth!

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ^ESV

God's will for you this year is that because you are living in and with Jesus, our Bethel & our access to Heaven, we know a flow of all the resources we need in our daily lives.

2.3 Open Heaven

What was at the top of Jacob's ladder? God! There was an open heaven between Jacob & God!

Is 64:1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence…. ^ESV

- An O.T prayer that we have to look at in the light of the N.T.

God has come down! That is the wonder of the Christmas story! God came down to earth! We serve a down-to earth-God!

See also Act 2:1-4 ¹When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ²And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The actual phrase Jesus used means, you will see Heaven standing open…. Heaven is open! Just imagine this year how it would be if Heaven was open to you!

F Prayers going up to God

F Windows of Heaven opened over you and blessing poured out

F Access to God 24/7

It is true! Jesus says to each one of us today, Jn 1:51 “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven standing open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Further reading:

Visit Lex Loizides' Blog - http://lexloiz.wordpress.com/

Revival information - http://www.revival-library.org/