13/1/18 – Genesis 27, Genesis 28:1-22 Matthew 10:32-42, Matthew 11:1-15 Psalm 9:1-6

Gen 27:20 – But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success

Oooh! Jacob! Using the name of God in a lie for your own selfish means… that’s not good! this is something we must always be very careful not to do – yet I’ve seen it time and again. We cannot said “God has told me” or “God has said” when He has not done so, but we just want to get our own way and this is an argument stopper.

If God has said – then we must be bold. But He will never say anything that goes against His word – so you cannot use this to justify anything that says something other than the bible. And to use His name for your own agenda… that must be a no go.

Gen 28:15-16 – Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” 

This must have been the lowest point in Jacob’s life. Forced to flee his father’s how in fear of his life, knowing that it was all his own fault (although his mother player her part) and reduced to sleeping in the open air with a stone for a pillow – which must have been so uncomfortable, it’s a wonder he managed to sleep.

Jacob did not deserve reassurance. He did not deserve reprieve. But God came to him anyway, in his lowest moment to reassure Jacob. When Jacob thought all was lost, God promises He will not leave Him.

You are never alone. Even in the worst moments of your life, God is there. He wants to bless you and turn the situation around. It would be year until Jacob saw this fulfilled – there was still quite a road ahead of him – but in God’s timing it did happen.

Matt 10:34-39 – “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Peace on earth. Goodwill to all mankind. That’s what most people think Jesus is all about. Shame it’s not scriptural.

Goodwill to all mankind – that’s a Christmas Carol. The angels actually said goodwill on whom His favour rests.

Peace on earth? Jesus said don’t think I came to bring peace on earth. He’s not come to bring peace but division. He’s come to draw a dividing line through humanity.

This is why the church cannot put peace ahead of truth. We cannot compromise our faith just to keep other people or other faiths happy. If we do that we are not worthy of Him.

Even families will turn on each other because of Him. If we love our family more than Him, we are not worthy of Him.

It’s hard stuff. But it’s a truth we’ve seen play out throughout history.

When you make Jesus Lord of your life, it upsets people. It upsets relationships. But we must stand firm despite that. We are not the aggressors, but aggression will come at us because of our decision to follow Jesus. It’s no bed of roses. But we must love Him more than even our own lives. And strangely enough – that’s the path to finding real life.