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Christian Network

 
"A Meeting That Matters"
"Making It Count"
Genesis 28:10–19
An Outline
 
 
I am not one to attend a meeting just for the meetings sake.  In fact I abhor 
meetings.  Associational meetings, budget meetings, Deacon’s meetings, most any 
kind of meeting (except of course for the ever popular eating meeting).  If a 
meeting has a purpose, then let’s start it, cover the business and go home.  In 
other words, we must make it count.  This includes our worship meetings as well.
A man and his ten-year-old son went to church for the first time in ages. The 
man gave the boy a dime to put in the offering plate later in the service.
After the service, as they walked back to their car, the father complained,"The 
service was too long … the sermon was boring … the singing was off-key… "
His son cut him off: "Well, dad, what did you expect for ten cents??"
 
 

Genesis 28:10 through Genesis 28:19 (KJV)
10And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11And he lighted 
upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and 
he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down 
in that place to sleep. 12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the 
earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God 
ascending and descending on it. 13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and 
said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land 
whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14And thy seed 
shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and 
to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed 
shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15And, behold, I am with thee, 
and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again 
into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have 
spoken to thee of.
16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this 
place; and I knew it not. 17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this 
place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 
18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for 
his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 
19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was 
called Luz at the first. 
 
Is that the first reaction of people when they leave our church?  Do they stand 
on the steps and scream to the world that “Surely the Lord is in this place?”  
What happens when we “take a meeting” with God?
 
What God Does When We Meet
 

Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the 
midst of them.
 
When we are gathered together in God’s name, He is there.  He can and does act 
at such times.
 
1.      God Reveals Himself. (v. 12-13)
 
12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it 
reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 
13And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham 
thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I 
give it, and to thy seed 
 
a.     We see how God works through His words.
b.     It doesn’t necessarily have to be about miracles and signs and wonders.
c.      God sometimes works quietly.
d.     We can see God through others.
 
2.      God Makes Promises About The Future. ( verse 14)
 
14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad 
to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee 
and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 
 
a.     God has made hefty promises to us, too Jeremiah 29:11
God promises us a future with hope.
God promises to plan for our welfare.
1.      During worship we see where God is taking us.
 
 
 
3.         God Gives Power (verse 15)
 
15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou 
goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, 
until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
 
Henry Blackaby wrote, "With God working through me, I can do anything God can 
do" [Experiencing God workbook, p. 19]!   Now, this particular statement is a 
bit over-reaching, but certainly it is true that through God all things are 
possible.
 
What We (Should) Do When We Meet
verses 16–19:
 
16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this 
place; and I knew it not. 17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this 
place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 
18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for 
his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 
19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was 
called Luz at the first.
 
1.      We should Praise God.  
a.     Jacob said, surely the Lord is in this place.
b.     Should be less emphasis on self, and more emphasis on God.
c.      Worship should be centered around God.
d.     We should lift up words, thoughts, and songs to God alone in our worship.
 
 
 
2.      We Should Confess our Sin
a.     Jacob was afraid.  
b.     He knew he was not worthy to be in the presence of God.
c.      Isaiah recognized the same thing (Is 6:5)
d.     David realized his own spirit was not right (Ps 51:10)
 
 
3.      After confessing we should start fresh.
a.     Too often we start over, but pick up the same baggage where we left it.
b.     We should move toward the point God wants us.
c.      We must ensure that it is GOD’S will we are following, and not our own.
 
When we gather together to worship, it must be done with purpose.  We must make 
it a meeting that counts.  Anything less is wasting our time!
 
 
Pastor’s Note:  This outline was borrowed from Pastor Zeke Moore at 
http://www.christianteacher.com  It was adapted to fit the needs of our 
particular congregation, and the movement of God within our congregation.
 
 

Rev. Charles Mims    
Copyright ©2000 by Claim The Victory Ministries
South Peninsula Baptist Church
Daytona Beach, FL