Hollyview Church

Matthew begins his gospel account with a beautiful genealogy. The list of names we often skip over in our Bible reading, had profoundly impacted Matthew's own life in changing his perspective and offering hope! Through the hope of the Messiah Matthew presents the genealogy to offer hope of a new beginning, hope of redemption and hop of belonging!

A look back in time at the celebration of Pentecost.

A look back in time at the Reformation.

A look back in time at the Great Awakening in America.

A look back in time at the shaping of the church and how it all began!

We see in this chapter a prophetic reenactment of what Jesus will do almost 2,000 years later on that same mountain to give his life as a substitute for humanity. God tells Abraham to take his beloved son Isaac and make a 3 day journey to a specific mountain that he will show him. Along this journey, God tests Abraham in at least three ways. 1. Will he withhold the thing he loves the most or will he offer it to the Lord? 2. Will he walk by faith or by what he can see? 3. Will he listen to the voice of the Lord and see life or ignore it and bring death? Abraham passes all three tests and is blessed by the Lord!

We compare the child of promise, Isaac, to the child of slavery, Ishmael. You will only find freedom and life when you come to Jesus and drink from the well of living water. Everything else will fail to satisfy!

What you see and do in moments of decision, when the pressure comes, reveals what is at work in your heart -faith or fear? When you see wrong, you do wrong and hurt the people around you but when you see right, you do right and bless those around you. Abraham once again offers his wife to protect his life out of a heart of fear.

God's compassion extends further than we can imagine. Shortly after Abraham is renamed and all the males in his household are circumcised, three men visit Abraham from the Lord  to confirm God's covenant with him. Abraham invites them to eat under a tree with him. As they are leaving to go to Sodom Abraham has a discussion that is a theological exploration of how far does the compassion and mercy of God extend.

There is hope through the covenant that allows us to walk before the Lord and be blameless. With Abram's face on the ground, God pronounces 3 things over Abram. 1. I have given you a new name! 2. I have removed your sin and shame! 3. I have redeemed you, your past and your relationships. Circumcision then is given as the sign of the covenant that points to the place where judgement will meet forgiveness at the cross of Christ!