John Dekker's Day

4:37PM - How to connect with God

I preached at Scots' this morning on the story of Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22), where he sees a ladder with angels ascending and descending. My sermon title was "How to connect with God" and we looked at:
1. Who connects with God. Rashi argues that since Jacob is a holy man, he is always surrounded by angels, and their movement in Jacob's dream represents something like a 'changing of the guard'. Nothing could be further from the truth –Jacob is a deceiver.
2. How he connects with God. In John 1:51, Jesus says that he is the ladder – if we are to connect with God it must be through him.
3. Where he connects with God. It wasn't anywhere in particular, but it became "Bethel", the house of God. God isn't tied to specific places – he can meet with people anywhere.
4. What happened when he connected with God. The God of Abraham and Isaac now becomes the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jacob went from merely knowing about God to actually knowing God. And in reponse to meeting God he vowed a vow to tithe a tithe.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone.
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

– William Johnson Fox, 1841.