Canaan Fellowship

Dan Horst - Communion (Genesis 48:15-16)

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Dr. Bill Teubl – Casting Off [Satanic] Trouble (1 Samuel 14:1-15)

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Bruce Hempel – Healing through Trials (Mark 4:33-41; 5:1-6:1)

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Dan Horst – Communion (Genesis 48:15-16)

In Genesis God chose Jacob. When we think of someone who was chosen by God, Jacob is not the kind of man that we would consider—-he was a swindler. At the end of his life, Jacob confesses that the Lord was his God, but also that He was his redeemer. I am like Jacob, a swindler and cheat. If we chose we could not repay even only our own debts. As we take the bread we acknowledge that Christ’s body was broken to pay for our sins: all of our sins.

We must come to the realization at some point in time during our life that Christ is the redeemer of our souls. Communion is one way in which we acknowledge His work on the cross and the redemption of our sin. In the Old Testament and on into the New Testament we find that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Jesus has done this on our behalf. We remember this as we take the cup.

Dr. Bill Teubl – Casting Off [Satanic] Trouble (1 Samuel 14:1-15)

We are not to submit ourselves to the yoke of slavery. There are times when we need to rise up and throw off the trouble that the devil might give to us.

1 Samuel 14:2 – Many other men had been with Saul, but when they saw the Philistines, many of his men fled, leaving him with only 600.

Saul is encamped with the people of Israel, and they are waiting to make war with the Philistines. There are times in our Christian walk when we need to wait, and times when we need to act. But when it is clear that we need to act, to be passive is wrong. When the children of Israel were at the Red Sea, the Lord told them to go. Deborah is another example of someone rising up (and the tribes who marched with her). One of the times that we should consider rising up, is when we are under oppression. What happens when those who are leading are unwilling to act? He raises up a Jonathan,who was a type of Christ in this passage.

Jonathan has the inspiration to go up. We, as Christians, must be in tune with the inspirations of Christ. Jonathan, however, does not go up by himself, but takes someone with him. Christ looks for partnership, not because He cannot accomplish the tasks by himself, but because we have been given the ministry of reconciliation. In this case, if the armor bearer had disagreed, the story would have been different.

How do we know the heart of God? With whom does the Lord share His secrets? The scripture tells us that the Lord shares His secrets with those who fear Him.

1 Samuel 14:6 – There is a conviction that we must come to. God can save by few. The power that the Philistines have over the Israelites is a demonic power, given them because the Israelites have disobeyed. When you begin to understand that there is some oppression, then God will have to guide you. In the end, Jonathan and his armor bearer climb up and “they [the Philistines] fell before Jonathan.” This is analogous to the time when Jesus speaks to the mob that comes to arrest him, saying “I am.” As God’s people, we must be willing to stand against evil.

Demons are terrified of Jesus Christ. He has already paid the price to free anyone of demonic oppression. We must get our spiritual Jonathan and manifest the presence of Jesus Christ. When you pray in the Spirit, things will lighten up. Where there is heaviness, ask the Lord, “do you want be to take up this battle?” God doesn’t want us to be passive.

Bruce Hempel – Healing through Trials (Mark 4:33-41; 5:1-6:1)

Many churches and marriages fail due to the lack of hope and love. If we love one another, we will go through the trials together, despite our differences, and grow stronger.

Jesus rebukes the storm and then reprimands the disciples for their lack of faith. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Trials will come and go throughout your life. The best way to have God hear you is to read the word and pray.

Jesus was led by the spirit. When it led him across the lake, he met the man with a demon. That man was more precious to the Lord than 2000 pigs—much more. God wants to change the way we live, so that we can understand what is truly valuable. God wants us to worry about the souls.