October 21, 2010 The First Family 4

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while there were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters (yes, morning, but I am writing the evening before). It is Thursday and and a beautiful day here at the Southern Location of the North Pole... Oh my, how in the world am I going to tell if tomorrow is going to be beautiful? Easy, God makes all the days and that makes them all beautiful. It is Thursday and the day we pray for our schools and our families. Also please pray for Carry The Light Ministries and the families we serve. Pray also for our annual food drive. We are now collecting food and there will be a list of locations where you can drop food at the end of the message.

The First Family 4: Genesis 4:8 - Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground." (NIV)

THE FIRST MURDER!! Brothers and sisters before I start reviewing the scripture I just want to bring out this point. This was the very first murder ever, a sin of course. I would love to know how many murders there have been since then and I could not begin to tell you, nor is it all that important. What is important is that we do all we can do to STOP THEM! I do know this, yesterday there were over 3,500 murders in families just here in the United States of America, it is called Abortion. Also this past weekend in a town near ours a dad shot his son to death. It is hard for me to believe that anyone can murder anyone, let alone a family member. Ok, back to the scripture of today.

What jumps out at you? To me it looks like that Abel more than likely was thinking how nice of my older brother to want to be with me. Maybe Abel was thinking Cain wanted to show him how the crops were doing. As you recall Cain worked the fields and Abel worked the flocks. So when they get to the field, Cain murders his brother. Could this have been because God showed favor on Abel for his offering of the fat portions from some of his first born flock, and looked down on what Cain had offered? You remember the Bible told us that Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Was the murder a result of one brother being jealous of the other? While the Bible does not say it in words, it sure looks like it could be. Anyway, what else jumps out at me?

Let's look together at verse 9. Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Ok, again we see the Lord here on earth and talking to Cain. Then God asks Cain where is your brother, and Cain lied. Wow, Cain lied right to God's face. I don't know, Cain told God. This of course is another sin and I ask you, have you ever lied to God? Careful now with that answer as I might need to tell you, like my late mamma, would tell me... Are you lying son? No mamma, I never lie! That is the biggest one you ever told! she would tell me. Brothers and sisters, each time we ask God to forgive us of our sins and we promise not to sin again and we sin again we are lying to God! Oh yes, I am an out and out liar as over the years I have made God promises that I fell short of keeping. And the biggest liar of all? No it is not one of you, it is Satan of course! Do the very best you can all the time, do not lie, for if you lie it will take another to cover that one and it grows and grows.

"Am I my brother's keeper?" Cain asked God. Folks, we are our brother's keeper, we really are. We are to help the poor, we are to help the needy, we are to love our neighbors, we are to teach them the Good News of our Lord Jesus, and without giving you a lot of scriptures here, I am telling you, we are indeed our brother's (and sister's) keepers. This does not mean we need to mind all their business and follow them around, no, we are not that kind of keeper, but we are to look after them, and if we see one doing wrong we are to tell them. Maybe I need to write on those scriptures, I will need to ask God about that. Now for a quick look at verse 10.

10 The Lord said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Again we see the Lord speaking to Cain, and again I say to you, if you do not hear the Lord speaking to you, you are not listening. What have you done? How often have we heard someone ask us that question? What have you done? I have heard that a few times in my life, and I am sure at some time or another you have heard that also. But have you heard God say it to you? Now I can't say I heard that from God in those words, but I have heard Him say as I struggle to get a job done and have not asked Him to help me up front. Then when I am in trouble on the job I stop and pray I have heard Him speak to my heart say... "So now you call on me!" Folks, we need to talk to God and we need to listen to God. Tomorrow we will talk about the last part of the verse about the blood in the ground and look at how Cain gets punished! Oh yes, God punished Cain.

Dear Father in Heaven... Forgive us for those lies and forgive us when the lies are directed at You. I pray today for families, all the families on this line and all the families in our flock at the Bridges, and all the families that we will have contact with in the coming weeks at Allenberry. I pray for the family of God, Your family, dear Lord, I pray for my dear friend Spike and his family, and for the Ritchey family, Lord. I pray for the families that are receiving food from our food pantry and the families that are supporting the pantry. I pray for our schools and all that enter the doors of them. Lord, I pray that You will someday soon be invited in by the government, but until then, know that there are a lot of us that want you in our schools and ask that You go in daily and protect our children and all that work for the schools. Lord, know that You are welcome in our home and Lord, Lord, bless those families that have members with cancer and other problems. Bless Vicki and her family. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Now go forth and share those blessings... below find the locations of some of our drop off points. More to follow... Love ya, Pastor Dan.

We have food carts at the Glenvale Church of God, off route 850, Marysville Pa. Tree of Life Church, Carlisle Pa. Lighthouse Baptist Church N. 48th and Broadway Streets Lawnton area of Harrisburg Pa. Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, 161 Museum Drive Hershey Pa.. Please go to www.aacamuseum.org/events and read about this one, they are filling a truck!, there is one thing on that website, it says we did 50 families last year. I forgot to up date them, as we did over 100 families last year. .. There is also a cart for food at The Bridges of Bent Creek, 2100 Bent Creek Blvd. Mechanicsburg. Pa. And of course you can drop things at our home.... at
16 Dewalt Drive Mechanicsburg Pa 17050 however please call first to be sure we are home
717 691 8200 or my cell 717 991 0754