Archive for August, 2003

Joseph: The Dreamer

Sunday, August 31st, 2003
This entry is part 13 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

INTRODUCTION

Recap previous messages in series? “Last week we looked at Jacob, the man who had his name changed from a name that meant “deciever” (an accurate description of his character) to Israel which means “God prevails”. Jacob is proof that God can change the most corrupt heart!

Today we?re going to look at a man who spent a lot of times in the “ditches” of life. The man I?m going to talk about today probably was the first who exclaimed, “If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I in the pits?” Yet if there ever was a guy who knew how to take lemons and make lemonade, it was this man?

Hebrews 11:22 (NIV)

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.

The write of Hebrews lists Joseph as a hero of faith. Why? What is it about this man that makes him worthy of making the list?
Not only did he make the list, but Genesis devotes more than 8 full chapters to the life of the servant of God named Joseph. If Joseph burst through our doors this morning, strode to this pulpit, and began to preach, what would he say to you? What nuggets of wisdom would he share with you? What things would Joseph maybe have done differently?

From some observations I?ve discovered about Joseph?s life, I believe that there are 3 things Joseph would say to us if he were here this morning.

PRAY

Before I get into the statements that I believe Joseph would speak, there are I few things I?d like to establish first.

Joseph was a favored son?

One of the first things we are told about Joseph when we are introduced to him in Genesis 37 is that he was a favored son among many brothers.

Genesis 37:3 (NIV)

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.

Joseph?s dad, Jacob, loved him so much that he made for him a special robe for him. Joseph was loved so much by Jacob because he was the first of two sons born to him by Rachel ? the love of Jacob?s life [elaborate]?

What is significant here is that because Joseph was favored he had a rather easy beginning to his life! Life was pretty rosy for him for the first seventeen years! However?

Joseph was a hated brother?

Genesis 37:4 (NIV)

4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Joseph was a dreamer?

In his young age Joseph was given a pair of dreams by God that prophesied about his future. A future that, for Joseph at least, was a very interesting and blessed one.

Genesis 37:5-11 (NIV)

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Needless to say, when Joseph?s family heard his dream they weren?t exactly enthused! Joseph wasn?t the only one in the Bible who received a God-given dream?

Moses & Israelites ? freedom from slavery and then promised land

Joshua ? victory over inhabitants of promised land/a nation serving God

David ? a kingdom united under God, a temple for God

Nehemiah ? the kingdom and temple restored/rebuilt.

Jesus ? the reconciliation between God and man. This is God?s dream!

2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Then there are dreams that God has given great men down through history ? men like?

Abraham Lincoln ? the America would be a land of freedom

Martin Luther King Jr. ? his famous “I have a dream” speech

Or more modern day “dreamers” like Dr. Dobson ? Focus on the Family.

Then there are dreams that God bestows on everyday people like you and me. Dreams for your family, dreams for your future, dreams for your church. One of the dreams he has given many people here for HPC ? myself included ? is that our church would have an incredible impact on our community and that we will see our sanctuary full of new believers in Jesus Christ. I have a dream to be in a new church building in five years. I have a dream to see our community in the midst of a revival. What is your dream? What dreams has God given you for your life, your family, your home, your church? Do you have a dream? What are the “palaces” that God has placed in your mind? What kind of mountaintops are capturing your heart? What are the blessings that you yearn for?

So Joseph was a dreamer ? now, what would the dreamer say to us today if he were here?

THERE ARE SOME PIT-STOPS ON THE WAY TO THE PALACE?

The journey to your God-given dream?s destination will mean walking through some valleys?

Look what happened to Joseph?

His own brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:12-28)

He became the slave of an Egyptian official (Genesis 39:1)

He was falsely accused of sexual molestation (Genesis 39:11-18)

He was thrown into prison (Genesis 39:19-20)

His hope to get out of prison was dashed when a man he helped forgot about him and he spent another two years in the dungeon. (Genesis 39:20-23)

There were definitely some pit-stops or valleys on Joseph?s journey to his dreams? destination! We too will face some pit-stops on the road to our palaces! The path to the fulfillment of a dream is always filled with valleys?

Some valleys may be of your own making?

Sometimes we will walk right into the valleys that God would rather we didn?t ? but he has given us free-will and will not interfere. Folks sometimes we just do plain stupid things when we take things into our own hands! Look at Joseph?

IF you were the runt of the litter?

If you were a Daddy?s boy who got special treatment?

If your brothers already hated you and scorned you?

Would you go and share the dream Joseph had been given with your brothers?

God never told Joseph to share those dreams.

God never instructed him to tell his brothers that he would rule over them.

If that wasn?t enough, He decided to tell the whole family about another dream that he?d had that indicated they all would bow down to him.

Or what about when Joseph was accused of molesting his master?s wife. Notice what Genesis 39:11-12 says? (expand)

Genesis 39:11-12 (NIV)

11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.

Some valleys may be of God?s choosing?

Sometimes God allows certain things to happen in our lives so he can make the preparations in your life and in the lives of others for the fulfillment of the dream He?s given you.

Sometimes we go through valleys that just defy explanation and we simply have to trust that God is doing a work in our lives through those valleys (this will be important to remember when we come to the second point).

For instance, the question that sometimes comes to my mind when I read the story of Joseph is why did God wait two full years to pass before giving Pharaoh his dream that would lead to the release of Joseph from prison (see Genesis 41:1-14)?

Some valleys may be caused by Satan?

John 10:10 (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)

8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

More often these valleys are simply a combination of all three?

The thing we need to remember about our Lord is that He is all-knowing and all-powerful. Don?t think for a moment that He doesn?t already know about some of the dumb decisions, or choices you will make when He gives you a dream. Yet, He still does. Don?t think for a moment that God isn?t aware of the enemy?s plans and schemes to derail you of the track to God?s dream for your life. I believe that sometimes the valleys we go through are a combination of our choosing and His allowing so that we will not only learn a lesson but also so that He will be glorified.

Maybe Joseph made his own valley by spilling the beans on his God-given dream to the wrong people. But God used that opportunity to get Him on the road to Egypt.

Maybe Joseph shouldn?t have placed himself in a dangerous position with Potiphar?s wife. Or maybe Satan was doing his best to get Joseph to sin. But God transformed the valley into an opportunity to meet the king of Egypt.

One of my most favorite verses in the Bible is found in Romans 8:28;

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Certainly this was the case with Joseph.

Friend?s I believe Joseph would tell us that the journey to your God-given dream?s destination will mean walking through some valleys?.BUT when you persevere you WILL get there!!!

Moses & Israelites ? freedom from slavery and then promised land

Joshua ? victory over inhabitants of promised land/a nation serving God

David ? a kingdom united under God, a temple for God

Nehemiah ? the kingdom and temple restored/rebuilt.

Jesus ? the reconciliation between God and man. This is God?s dream!

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This is where faith comes in ? having faith that the valley will eventually start sloping upwards!! Which brings me to the next statement I believe Joseph would make if He were here this morning?

WHAT YOU DO IN THE PITS INFLUENCES HOW LONG YOU?LL STAY THERE!

While it is true that there are some pit-stops on the way to the palace ? it is equally true that the length of time you spend in those valley?s depend on what you do! You see you have two choices when you come to the valley?s of life ? you can grow or you can choke! You can give up or you can give more!! The dream God has given you will either live or die in the pit-stops you face in your journey.

The hallmark of integrity is what a person does when they are in the low points of life. A person of integrity will not see defeat as an excuse for depravity but instead will see defeat as a challenge to diligence and perseverance. This was the case with Joseph?

when he became a slave of Potiphar he could have griped, he could have groaned, he could have complained, and certainly he could have been a miserable person or at least tried to run away ? after all, he wasn?t supposed to be there right? Joseph was a favored son of a prominent leader in the land of Canaan. He was where he didn?t deserve to be! Yet listen to what the Bible says about what Joseph did in Potiphar?s household.


Genesis 39:2-6 (NIV)2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,

Joseph chose integrity over giving up and giving in when he was at the house of Potiphar. Notice that because of his choice he ended up becoming the most important person in Potiphar?s household next to Potiphar himself! He was rising out of the pit in which he found himself because his attitude and actions reflected his integrity.

Then there came a further test of Joseph?s integrity when Potiphar?s wife threw herself at him and tried to seduce him. Certainly this young man would have been tempted to give in to the bosses wife but listen to his response to her advances?


Genesis 39:8-10 (NIV)8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.

Certainly you would think that now Joseph would be rewarded somehow for his character and strength in resisting this woman?s advances and remaining a man of integrity ? but what happened? He got tossed into the pit again! And isn?t that how life is? It seems that no matter what good you do ? you just end up in the pits again!! Joseph could have thrown in the towel this time and said, “That?s it! I?m done with this nice guy bit” But he didn?t ? why? Because integrity wasn?t just a trial thing for Joseph ? it was his life because of his relationship and love for God. Even though he was in the valley again ? Joseph persevered. And once again he rose out of the pit?


Genesis 39:20-23 (NIV)20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Expand the same point with the cupbearer and the baker? (Genesis 40)


Genesis 40:23 (NIV)23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

What you do in the pit influences how long you stay there? and let me add something to that ? even the deepest valleys can turn into the highest mountains when you make the right choices?

When you?

choose to grow rather than gripe.

Choose to give more rather than give up

Choose to last rather than list.

Choose to depend on God rather than divorce yourself from him

Choose to rejoice rather than wail

The sad thing is, there are so many people who don?t get out of the valleys of life because they?ve lost sight of the mountain. Joseph never forgot his dream ? and he never forgot his God. Because he continued to act like a mountain dweller even when he was in the valley?s ? because he continued to behave like an inhabitant of the palace even when he was in the pits ? those valleys turned into mountains in Joseph?s life.

Now this brings me to the next point?

WHEN YOU REACH THE PALACE ? DON?T FORGET WHO PUT YOU THERE!!

I was struck with what Joseph said as the dreams of his youth were realized when his family had to come to him as the most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh in order to get food because of the famine (expand on story]. Joseph very easily could have destroyed his brothers for what they had done to him. He could have very well exacted a fitting revenge for their betrayal of family ties. While Joseph did test them he never took revenge and when he revealed who he was to his brothers ? in face of their fear ? Joseph said these words?


Genesis 45:4-9 (NIV)4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.

Joseph made it clear his understanding that he was only in the palace because of what God had done. When your God-given dreams get realized don?t ever forget who gave you them in the first place! Isn?t it funny that when we find ourselves in the valleys of life it?s so easy to blame God, yet when we bask in the sun of the mountaintop we forget Him! Remember to glorify God for the fulfillment of His dream for your life ? the dream he has given you?

CONCLUSION

Folks, I?d like to repeat some of the questions I asked at the beginning of this message?

What is your dream? What dreams has God given you for your life, your family, your home, your church? Do you have a dream? What are the “palaces” that God has placed in your mind? What kind of mountaintops are capturing your heart? What are the blessings that you yearn for?

On the first Day of Pentecost after Jesus? Resurrection ? the day that Christ established his church in the power of the Holy Spirit ? the apostle Peter addressed a crowd of people in Jerusalem who had just witnessed the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ. In the midst of his message Peter quotes from the prophet Joel and says,

Acts 2:17 (NIV)

17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Folks, I believe with all my heart that God has a dream He wants to give you (if He hasn?t already done so). If you have that dream already then I want you to believe in it and pray for it and have faith that the dream will become a reality in the power of God. Remember that there will be some pit-stops on the way to the palace of your dream (maybe you are in one of those pits right now!!), and decide now what you are going to do about it! Don?t let the valley become the grave of your dream instead let it be a step to its fulfillment! If you are in that valley right now then I want to pray with you that you will have the integrity of Joseph and make the right choices.

If you are a Christian here today and don?t have a dream then I want to pray with you and for you today that the Holy Spirit will birth the dream He has for you, in you today!

If you are not a Christian then I want to share with you the dream God has for you right now [share the gospel message] Will you fulfill God?s dream for your life right now? Will you receive Christ? Will you receive the dreams he wants to give you as your own – dreams that are possible as God works in and through your life?

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Jacob: When God Prevails

Sunday, August 24th, 2003
This entry is part 12 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

Read at beginning of service:

Genesis 32:22-32 (NIV)

22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

INTRODUCTION

For a number of weeks now I?ve been preaching a series entitled, “When the Heroes of Faith Speak”(?recap messages)

Today, into the sanctuary comes a man who should be an example to us all.

A man who is living proof of the power of God to change us from what we are, into the potential for what we can be in Christ.

Up to the pulpit strides a man who is living proof of the reality of Phillipians 1:6,


Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

He is a work in progress, and man who knows sadness and success, heartache and happiness, haughtiness and humbleness, imperfection and integrity.

He is so much like us that it?s frightening.

To look into his face is to look into the mirror.

Now it?s been said that you can?t teach an old dog new tricks.

However, an “old dog” named Jacob would disagree with you.

The name of this man means “deceitful” and as we?ll discover he certainly lived up to this name. However, God taught him some new tricks, and he was so radically changed that God also changed his name to Israel, which means “God Prevails”. Certainly God prevailed in this man?s life and I believe that Jacob would speak to us with a wisdom that comes from experiencing the grace and goodness of God in spite of his shortcomings.

What does God have to do to change a heart so completely?

What will God have to do in our lives to change our hearts from the men/women we ARE to the men/women He WANTS us to be?

Friends, I submit to you this morning that a leopard can change its spots into stripes with when God wills it.

I submit to you that a “Jacob” can become an “Israel” with God?s help.

I submit to you that you can change your heart/habits and become everything good that Christ wants for you, with his work in and through you!

Let?s look at 4 pieces of advice that Jacob would give to us this morning.

1. Don?t Play Favorites with Your Children.

Genesis 27 and 28 tell us the story of Jacob (the deceiver) stealing his brother?s birthright.

The birthright was very important in that day and time.

It functioned as:

A will for material possessions.

A declaration of family leadership.

A blessing from almighty God.

Isaac?s senses were going?He could no longer hear/see very well.

Genesis 25:27-28 tells us that each parent had a favored child.


Genesis 25:27-28 (NIV)

27 The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. 28 Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

It was time for Isaac to pass the birthright to his favored son Esau.

But Rebekah wanted Jacob to have all those things, and convinced Jacob to fool his father.

Jacob cooked a stew of wild meat, dressed in Esau?s clothes, draped a skin over his arm like his hairy brother, and took the food into his father.

Genesis 27:19 tells us that Jacob blatantly lied to his father.


Genesis 27:19 (NIV)

19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing.”

Isaac ate, and then gave his blessing to Jacob instead of Esau.

And the family was nearly destroyed because of parents playing favorites.

The succeeding chapters of Genesis tell us that Esau threatened to kill his brother Jacob.

Jacob ran for his life to his uncle Laban?s house.

Genesis 28:1-2 tells us that, as Jacob got ready to leave, Isaac told him,


Genesis 28:1-2 (NIV)

1 So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. 2 Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother.

And, as a result of parents playing favorites with their children, Esau became a rebellious son.

Over 20 years after Jacob left home, he returned to face Esau.

Genesis 32 tells us how Jacob divided his family/flocks/servants into 2 groups, so that if Esau slaughtered the first group, the 2nd might have a chance to run.

Here?s a picture of the well where Jacob and Esau met again after 20 years.

After 20 years, Esau chose to accept rather than destroy Jacob.

But look at the cost of parents playing favorites in the family!

? A wife working to deceive her husband.

? A son lying to his father.

? Another son who rebelled.

? A son separated 20 years from his family.

Friends, the cost of playing favorites with your children is always too high to pay!

If Jacob were here this morning, he?d plead with you to never, ever play favorites with your children.

(if time relate story of Joseph [Jacob?s son] Genesis 37)

Genesis 37:3-4 (NIV)

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Also, Jacob would encourage you.

He?d tell you that?

2. The Really Important Things in Life are Worth Struggling For.

Genesis 29 tells us that Jacob went to His uncle Laban?s country.
He did the first thing many young men do when they get out on their own.

He fell totally in love with the first girl that he saw.

Down the path comes Laban?s daughter Rachel, and Jacob is totally tongue-tied!

Genesis 29:11 tells us that within a few minutes of meeting this gal, he?s already smooching on her and crying because he loves her so much!

Genesis 29:11 (NIV)

11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.

The rest of chapter 29 tells us how Jacob agreed to work as Laban?s servant for 7 years just for the right to marry his true love Rachel!

Listen to these ? oh so romantic words?

Genesis 29:20 (NIV)

20 So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Awwww?

The marriage day finally arrives, the vows are spoken, and Jacob goes into the tent to consummate the wedding vows.

But, the deceiver was deceived!

Laban slipped Rachel?s older sister Leah into the dark tent, and Jacob consummated the marriage with Leah, not Rachel!

Laban offered to let Jacob marry Rachel too, if he would agree to serve him 7 more years!

Jacob had to serve Laban for 14 years in order to marry his first love, Rachel.

There?s a really important principle here, friends.

The really important things in our lives are worth struggling for.

Nothing worthwhile ever comes quickly.

It usually takes our blood, sweat, prayers, and tears to see out dreams realized.

Just ask some of our saints who have been married for a while?A good marriage takes a lot of struggling!

I?ve never met a honest couple who failed to admit to me that they?ve struggled in their marriage.

Even Ruth and Billy Graham went through hard times.

Ruth Graham was asked one time if she ever considered divorcing Billy.

“Divorce, no never! But murder, murder I?ve considered any times!”

Our families will never be what we want them to be unless we?re willing to struggle for them.

Raising our children is never easy.

They don?t raise themselves.

It takes effort to discipline our kids.

When you ground your kids, you get grounded right beside them.

In most cases, by the teen years, it?s pretty easy to tell which parents have struggled for their families.

We have a Biblical, Godly responsibility to struggle as hard as we have to in order to lead our children toward God.

Our church will never be what God wants it to be unless we?re willing to struggle for it.

Too many church members would rather run away from sin than confront it.

Too many church members would rather talk about the church rather than struggle to make her what God wants her to be.

Too many pastors would rather pack up and leave when trouble comes along than struggle to provide Godly leadership to the Body of Christ.

(Talk about my call to Hanover)

Let me saw this for the record?and when I say it?

Some of you may want to rejoice,

Some of you may want to repent,

Some of you may want to resign.

God called me to this church.

He called me to provide Godly leadership to this church.

He called me to preach God?s Word faithfully in this church,

He called me to love the hard to love as much as the easy to love.

And unless/until he “uncalls” me, you all better get used to seeing my face up here each Sunday morning.

God has called me to lead this congregation during an amazing time when He is doing great things.

And friends, God?s work here in this church is really important, and it?s worth struggling for!

Unless God leads me elsewhere, you can expect to see me here for a long time.

Jacob would tell you that the really important things are worth struggling for!

Jacob would tell you:

Don?t Play Favorites with Your Children

The Really Important Things in Life are Worth Struggling For.

And 3rd, he?d remind you that:

3. What Goes Around Comes Around ? “Be careful what you sow”

Jacob, the deceiver, cheated his brother out of the most important thing in his life, Isaac?s blessing.

Laban turned around and cheated Jacob out of the most important thing in his life, Rachel.

Friends, there?s a valuable spiritual principle here.

It?s a principle that God has laid into the very foundation of creation ? you reap what you sow!


Galatians 6:7 (NIV)

7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

Now, before I go on?Let me make a very important statement here.

God is one who isn?t mocked.

God is the one who deals out the consequences for our sins.


Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

If you don?t hear anything else I say here this morning, please hear this.

God doesn?t need your help in making sure what goes around comes around.

He?s perfectly capable of taking care of whoever needs to be taken care of without our intervention.

And He will make it happen.

Some folks will account for their behavior here?the natural consequence of their actions.

Some folks will account for their sins in front of our Almighty God on the day of Judgment

2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

The deeds of the unrepentant heart will be laid out bare at the judgment seat and it will show that what goes around comes around!

God has made sure that whatever goes around comes around. It is the eternal balance.

? Gossips will be gossiped about?He who talks to you today will talk about you tomorrow.

? Liars will be lied to.

? Cheaters will be cheated.

? Stealers will be stolen from.

? The mean spirited will be treated meanly.

Jacob, the deceiver, was deceived!

Whatever goes around comes around.

God will take care of it, and He doesn?t need your help to do it.

Also, Jacob would plead with you to:

4. Do Whatever it Takes to Hang on to God

In Genesis 32, we see a man in turmoil.

Jacob is coming home.

Jacob hasn?t seen Esau in 20 years.

He has no idea whether he?ll be received or rejected

He sent his family across the river and camped by himself.

God appeared to Jacob that night.

Jacob must have quickly realized that he was dealing with a Heavenly force, because he demanded that the Lord would bless him.

They wrestled for hours, and Jacob?s hip was torn out of it?s socket in the struggle.

Still, Jacob demanded the Heavenly blessing.

Finally, in Genesis 32:26 “And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”


Genesis 32:26 (NIV)

26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Do you see what?s happening here folks?

Jacob is in a crisis.

The deceiver is about to face the one whom he has deceived.

The cheater wonders whether he?ll live to see the sun set.

He?s alone/afraid.

And in that hour of crisis, God appears to him.

At that moment, Jacob makes a decision.

He?s tired of being a deceiver.

He?s tired of living from lie to lie.

He?s tired of trying to survive by his own wits and strength.

All his cunning has gotten him is a brother that swore to kill him and 20 years as a servant in his father in law?s house.

In the dark of that night, alone, Jacob looked inside himself at who he really was.

And Jacob wasn?t very happy about what he saw.

Friends, God always comes to us in our time of need, or hour of crisis.

And He?s a gentleman?He?ll never force himself upon you.

He stood before Jacob, and I believe that the physical struggle with God was symbolic of the internal struggle in Jacob?s heart.

Finally, Jacob decided that it was time to let go of the past.

It was time to put his sins behind him and reach out to almighty God.

So he called upon God for His blessing.

Look at God?s answer.


Genesis 32:27-28 (NIV)

27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

God gave him a new heart, and a new name.

Friends, Jacob would have been a man in his 40?s when he laid down the title of “Deceiver” and took up the God given title of “Overcomer”.

If you don?t hear anything else here this morning, please hear me now?.It?s not Too Late for you to Change!

God is in the business of redemption.

God is in the business of change.

God wants more than salvation for you.

God wants to give you a new name.

“But preacher, I like my name!”

Well, God will someday change your name just like he changed Jacob?s


Revelation 2:17 (NIV)

17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

God wants to change your heart today.

CONCLUSION

Jacob would challenge you this morning.

He?s say?

? Don?t Play Favorites with Your Children.

? The Really Important Things in Life are Worth Struggling For.

? What Goes Around Comes Around

? Do Whatever it Takes to Hang on to God

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Isaac: A Life of Hard Knocks

Sunday, August 17th, 2003
This entry is part 11 of 15 in the series When the Heroes of Faith speak...

Read at beginning of service:

Psalm 25:1-10 (NIV)

1 To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse. 4 Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. 6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

INTRODUCTION

Before my holidays I began a series entitled “When the Heroes of Faith Speak”. This series, based on chapter 11 of Hebrews is a look into the lives of people listed in God?s hall of faith and the biblical answers tot he question, “What words of wisdom/advice would these individuals speak to us today if the veil of heaven were parted?”

So far we?ve looked at the lives of Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham. This morning, for just a few minutes, we?re going to look at Abraham?s son Isaac, and see what hard won spiritual advice Isaac would give us if he stood in this pulpit today.

If there was ever a child who had a life of hard knocks, it was Isaac!

Isaac was a poster child for dysfunctional families.

His parents were over 100 when he was born?talk about a generation gap!

As a teenager, his father tried to kill him?and said that God told him to do it!

His half brother Ishmael hated him from the moment he was born.

His father picked his wife, and he was bound to marry her without even seeing her.

He was almost killed by King Abimelech when he repeated a stunt his Dad had formerly pulled and pass his wife off as his sister.

His son Esau married 2 Hittite women?some of the most hated people of his day.

His other son Jacob lied and tricked his own father in order to steal his brother?s birthright!

Isaac?s life was shall we say interesting?

Yet, in spite of all these things, there are some very poignant lessons we can learn from the man called Isaac.

There are dozens of important lessons that we could learn from the life of Isaac, but if he stood before us today, I believe that he?d feel it important to share these 3 truths with us.

1. Trust God with Your Life.

Genesis 22 tells us the horrible story of a man asked to sacrifice his own son to God.

We are told in verse 2 that God called out to Abraham and said,

Genesis 22:2 (NIV)

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”

ASIDE ? Notice that the mountain God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son on was Mount Moriah?The significance of this is that it is on this mountain that the sight of the future temple would be found?

Abraham arose the next morning, saddled his donkey, took Isaac and 2 other men with him, and headed toward Mt. Moriah.

After traveling for 3 days, Abraham told the other 2 men to stay behind, and went on up the Mountain with Isaac.

Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice up the mountain.

Up to this point, he had no clue that he was to be the offering.

Genesis 22:7 (NIV)

7 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

Abraham?s reply to Isaac was that God would provide the sacrifice.

Now, here?s the amazing part?

Look with me at Verse 9


Genesis 22:9 (NIV)

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

Now, for the first time, Isaac knows the he is to be the offering.

I believe it is important that you understand something here?

Issac probably wasn?t a toddler, or a grade school child.

In Verse 12, the angel refers to Isaac as a “Lad”(KJV) which comes from the Hebrew word na?ar (nah?-ar ) This word can mean any age from infancy to adolescence, but most often is used to refer to an older child, maybe even a teenager.

“?Generally na’ar denotes a “young man” who is of marriageable age but is still a bachelor? ” (Vines)

Isaac was more than likely an older child because of the way he questioned his father about the sacrifice in verse 7.

Here?s my point?.It took just as much trust in God for Isaac to allow himself to be tied and placed upon an altar as it took for Abraham to lay him there.

All of his life, I?m sure that Isaac had been told that he was the fulfillment of God?s promise.

Since he was a toddler, Isaac had been told that a great nation would spring forth through him.

He knew that God had promised to do great things through him.

He knew that God had promised to use him to make a great nation.

Yet he quietly allowed his father to bind him and lay him upon a sacrificial altar.

Friends, the ultimate proof of our faith in God comes when we allow Him to take control of our future.

The ultimate test of how much we believe in God comes when we trust Him to bind us and lay us upon His altar, trusting in Him to use us however He sees fit.

I believe that Isaac would challenge you?plead with you, to trust God with your life.

Every breath you draw comes from God?s grace.

Every heartbeat pulses because God has allowed it.

If you belong to Jesus, God owns you lock, stock and barrel.


1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

We need to come to a place where we can trust God with our lives.

I don?t know what diseases may rack my body?but God does, and He?s in control.

I don?t know what emotional heartache may come my way?but God does, and He?s in control.

I don?t know what trials/difficulties I?ll face?but God does, and He?s in control.

If you?re here this morning, and you think that “God is your co-pilot”, you need to trust God with your life and make Him the pilot!

I?m not the pilot of my life?.I?m not even the copilot!

I?m sitting back in coach and God?s flying the plane!

If I try to fight him for control of the steering wheel, I?ll just crash the plane.

If Isaac were here this morning, I believe that he?d tell you to trust your future, your finances, your health, your happiness and your holiness to God?.

He knows what He?s doing

2nd, I believe that Isaac would beg you to:

2. Give Your blessings to Your children

Some of us are very familiar with the story in Genesis 27 telling about Isaac?s son Jacob stealing Esau?s blessing.

Isaac was old, and his senses were pretty far gone!

I bet Isaac was at the point where when he reached down to tie his shoes, he tried to think of what others things he could go ahead and take care of while he was down there!

Jacob slipped into his room, pretended to be Esau, made Isaac some soup, and stole the blessing that was to be given to his eldest son, Esau.

The blessing was a big thing in Isaac?s time.

The blessing was a will, a wish, and a prayer for God?s best all rolled into one. The blessing usually went to the eldest of the family.

Later, when Esau found out what had happened, he cried, “Bless me?me also, O my father!”

and “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me?me also, O my father!”

The custom of the time forbade Isaac from changing the “inheritance/will” portion of his blessing.

Once that was done, it could not be altered.

But in Genesis 27:39-40, Isaac prays a prayer of blessing upon his oldest son Esau.

If Isaac were here today, he?d beg you to give your blessings to your children.

Parents, you wanted your parent?s blessing upon your life.

Some of you worked yourself to death trying to gain your mother or father?s approval.

You spent long hours doing everything from practicing the piano to playing sports in order to hear words of blessing from you mom or dad.

Some of your parent?s went to their graves without ever saying those words you so desperately needed to hear.

Some of you hurt deep inside, even now, and you remember the missing blessing from those you sought to please.

Some of you can relate with Esau as he cried “”Bless me?me also, O my father!” and “Have you only one blessing, my father? Bless me?me also, O my father!”

Parents/grandparents?you can?t change that now.

You can?t bring back your mother/father and make them give you the words of blessing you long to hear.

But you can make sure another generation doesn?t miss the words of blessing we all so desperately need to hear.

Parents/grandparents?give words of blessing to your children.

Say these words to them:

I love you.

I?m proud of you.

I like the person you?ve become.

I?m proud to be your dad. I?m proud to be your mom. I?m glad you are my child?

Isaac would beg you to bless you children.

OK, If Isaac were here, I believe that he?d challenge us to Trust God with our lives.

I believe that he?d beg us to Give Our Blessings to our children.

And lastly?Isaac would warn us. He?d say?

3. Don?t Repeat the Sins of the Past

Why is it that we find ourselves too often repeating our parent?s stupidity?

In Genesis 26, we find Isaac making the same mistake that his father Abraham had made.

Isaac took Rebekah, a beautiful woman, to Gerar, a Philistine city.

He was afraid that King Abimelech would kill him and take his wife.

So, he did exactly what his father did with Sarah two other times as recorded in the Bible.

He convinced her to pretend that she was his sister.

He had repeated the sins of his father.

Dr. Kenneth Ridings tells about how his wife used to cook a ham.

For years, she?d cut 2 inches off the ham on either end before putting it in the roasting pan.

When he asked her about it, she just told him that that?s how her mother always did it.

20 years later, over Christmas dinner, Kenneth asked his mother in law about the strange custom of cutting 2 inches off either side of the ham.

“Oh, she replied, “I always did that because my roasting pan was too small to fit a whole ham in it.”

Parents, we need to remember that our children are watching every move we make.

If we want honest children, we need to be honest parents.

If we want children with good morals, we need to be moral parents.

If we want Godly children, we need to be Godly parents.

I?m reminded of the anti drug commercial I saw several years ago.

A father finds a box of marijuana in his son?s room.

Standing over the boy, the father screams, “Who taught you to do this?who?”

“You”, the boy screams back, “I learned it from watching you!”

Isaac would warn us to not repeat the sins of the past.

We need to also make sure that our children don?t repeat our sins.

If you don?t want drug addicts for children, don? use drugs.

If you don?t want alcoholics for children, don?t drink alcohol.

If you don?t want abusive children, don?t be an abusive parent.

We mimic what we saw in our parents?

They mimic what they see in us.

The Bible tells us that “The sins of the fathers are visited to the children unto the fourth generation.”

It?s time we broke the chain!

Isaac would warn us?He?d say Don?t repeat the sins of the past.

If Isaac were here, he?d give us at least 3 good pieces of advice:

He?d challenge us to Trust God with our lives.

He?d beg us to Give Our Blessings to our children.

He?d say?Don?t Repeat the Sins of the Past

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