#S089 - A Limp Is The
First Step In A Leap (Part 1)
00:00:05.37\00:00:10.84
I'd like to remain standing
as we go in our Bibles to
00:00:20.25\00:00:22.52
Genesis chapter 32,
00:00:22.55\00:00:26.25
Genesis Chapter 32.
00:00:26.29\00:00:28.76
And we're going to begin
our reading together in verse
00:00:29.92\00:00:32.13
22, Genesis, chapter 32.
00:00:32.16\00:00:37.00
And we're going to
look together at verse 22.
00:00:37.03\00:00:39.40
I just have one
question How many of us
00:00:40.24\00:00:42.50
want God to save us
by any means necessary?
00:00:42.54\00:00:46.84
I just need to know
who the word is for today.
00:00:46.88\00:00:49.08
Like, you don't
need God to do it one way
00:00:50.01\00:00:52.25
or just your way, but
you just want to be saved.
00:00:52.28\00:00:55.62
Whatever way.
00:00:55.65\00:00:56.58
God, choose Genesis 32.
00:00:56.62\00:00:59.62
In verse 22, when you get
there, you say, Pastor, there.
00:00:59.65\00:01:04.56
This is the story of Jacob.
00:01:04.59\00:01:05.93
He has been fleeing from
the face of his Uncle Laban
00:01:05.96\00:01:10.00
from Esau, and now God
has him painted in a corner.
00:01:10.03\00:01:14.04
And this is where a text
picks up, the Bible says.
00:01:15.14\00:01:18.04
And he arose that night
00:01:18.07\00:01:20.44
and took his two
wives, his two female servants
00:01:20.48\00:01:24.65
and his 11 sons, and crossed
over the forward of Joburg.
00:01:24.68\00:01:28.65
And he took them and
sent them over the brook
00:01:29.65\00:01:31.55
and sent over what he had.
00:01:32.19\00:01:34.72
Then Jacob was left what
00:01:34.76\00:01:37.43
he was left alone.
00:01:38.39\00:01:40.86
And the Bible says,
and a man wrestled with him
00:01:40.90\00:01:44.83
until the breaking of the day.
00:01:45.67\00:01:47.94
Now, when he saw that he
did not prevail against him,
00:01:49.04\00:01:52.71
he touched the
socket of his hip.
00:01:52.74\00:01:55.08
And the socket of Jacob's hip
00:01:56.08\00:01:58.48
was out of joint as
he wrestled with him
00:01:59.35\00:02:02.25
and he said, let me go
00:02:03.08\00:02:05.72
for the day breaks.
00:02:06.62\00:02:08.79
But this is what Jacob said.
00:02:08.82\00:02:10.46
It is what all of us
need to be saying today.
00:02:10.49\00:02:12.99
I will not let you go
00:02:14.10\00:02:17.07
until you bless me.
00:02:18.17\00:02:22.17
So he said to
him, What is your name?
00:02:22.20\00:02:24.94
And he said, Jacob.
00:02:25.64\00:02:28.08
And he said, Your name
shall no longer be called Jacob.
00:02:28.11\00:02:31.48
But Israel, for you
have struggled with God
00:02:31.51\00:02:35.15
and with me, and you
have prevailed today.
00:02:36.12\00:02:40.06
Saints for just a little while
00:02:40.09\00:02:41.29
I want to talk to
you under the subject.
00:02:41.32\00:02:43.43
A lamp is the
first step in a leap.
00:02:43.46\00:02:46.53
A lamp
00:02:47.76\00:02:48.86
is the first step in a
leap that is prayed together.
00:02:48.90\00:02:51.83
Father,
00:02:52.67\00:02:53.57
would you
00:02:55.00\00:02:56.84
give me strength
00:02:57.27\00:02:58.94
to preach your word?
00:02:58.97\00:03:02.41
But, Lord, more than that,
would you give the body strength
00:03:02.44\00:03:06.48
to act on and live the word?
00:03:07.35\00:03:11.49
I'm praying that faith
00:03:11.52\00:03:13.22
would be multiplied
exponentially, as we hear.
00:03:13.25\00:03:16.16
Would you please hide me in
the shadows of the cross that
00:03:17.29\00:03:20.96
Jesus alone might be seen, that
Christ alone might be heard?
00:03:21.00\00:03:25.57
And at the end of our
time together, let Jesus alone
00:03:26.70\00:03:28.90
be praised. Bless us.
00:03:28.94\00:03:30.61
To this end,
00:03:30.64\00:03:31.44
we ask in the
mighty name of Jesus,
00:03:31.47\00:03:33.27
let those who love the
Lord say together, amen.
00:03:33.31\00:03:35.84
And they may, you may be
seated in the House of the Lord
00:03:36.98\00:03:39.28
today, again, talking
to you under the subject.
00:03:39.31\00:03:42.48
A lamp is the
first step in a leap.
00:03:43.25\00:03:50.59
You know, friends,
00:03:50.63\00:03:53.63
one of the themes of a leap year
00:03:53.66\00:03:56.26
revolves around the idea
00:03:57.00\00:03:59.23
of being changed.
00:03:59.73\00:04:03.17
And it's appropriate
00:04:03.20\00:04:04.87
because the motif of the gospel
is radical transformation.
00:04:04.91\00:04:09.84
It is why Paul, in
00:04:10.88\00:04:12.18
his second epistle to
the church at Corinth, says,
00:04:12.21\00:04:15.98
If any man be in
Christ, he is a new creature.
00:04:16.02\00:04:20.52
All things have passed away.
00:04:21.19\00:04:23.49
Behold, all things
have become made new.
00:04:23.53\00:04:26.16
It is why he
admonishes the church at Rome
00:04:27.03\00:04:29.53
to be not conformed unto
the patterns of this world,
00:04:30.60\00:04:33.67
but to be transformed by
the renewing of your mind.
00:04:34.80\00:04:37.91
It is why the
apostle John says it does
00:04:38.77\00:04:41.68
not yet appear what we shall be.
00:04:41.71\00:04:44.31
But we know that
when he shall appear,
00:04:45.21\00:04:47.35
we shall be like him.
00:04:47.38\00:04:49.95
So that one of the
claims of the Gospel is that
00:04:49.98\00:04:53.32
if you are in Christ, your life
00:04:53.36\00:04:56.86
no longer looks the same.
00:04:56.89\00:04:59.03
But my contention today
00:04:59.93\00:05:02.03
is that there is too big a chasm
00:05:02.73\00:05:05.07
between the change,
the life that is promised
00:05:06.10\00:05:08.70
and the change
life we are living.
00:05:09.54\00:05:12.11
In fact, the
reason that the world does
00:05:12.14\00:05:14.68
not believe the
claims of the Gospel
00:05:14.71\00:05:17.61
is because
00:05:17.98\00:05:19.18
when they look at our lives
and they look at their lives,
00:05:19.21\00:05:23.42
they can't tell the
difference between the two.
00:05:23.45\00:05:26.35
In fact, one
Christian opponent writes this.
00:05:27.36\00:05:29.82
He says that most
Christian change is surface
00:05:30.76\00:05:33.83
so that they walk different,
00:05:34.46\00:05:36.10
they dress different
and they talk different.
00:05:37.03\00:05:40.00
But he notes that the
divorce rate in the church
00:05:41.07\00:05:43.30
is the same as it is
in the world, he says.
00:05:44.24\00:05:47.11
You pay all that money to
send your kids to church school
00:05:47.14\00:05:51.11
while your kids are in the same
00:05:51.81\00:05:53.31
jail cells as the kids
that go to public school.
00:05:53.35\00:05:56.62
And he notes that though
you have the message of health,
00:05:57.75\00:06:00.72
we have the same diabetes
and blood pressures and cancers
00:06:00.76\00:06:05.09
as those that what
not in the ways of God.
00:06:06.06\00:06:08.40
And my contention is not
that the gospel is untrue.
00:06:09.50\00:06:12.73
My belief is that we not
00:06:13.30\00:06:14.74
lay claim to the
gospel power as we should.
00:06:14.77\00:06:18.01
You see, the truth is,
most of us don't want change.
00:06:19.14\00:06:22.38
We want improvement,
00:06:22.91\00:06:24.35
we don't
00:06:25.71\00:06:26.38
want change, we want adjustment.
00:06:26.41\00:06:29.35
Some of us don't
want to be made over.
00:06:30.25\00:06:32.45
We just want modification.
00:06:32.49\00:06:34.69
The truth is, we
don't want to be like Jesus.
00:06:35.66\00:06:38.33
We just want to
be better than them.
00:06:38.36\00:06:40.53
And for many of us,
we would rather go to it
00:06:41.43\00:06:43.80
and hide it than to do
sit ups and transform it.
00:06:43.83\00:06:47.70
And the truth is,
we don't want change
00:06:48.60\00:06:51.31
in my life
because change is painful.
00:06:51.34\00:06:54.11
Change is uncomfortable,
00:06:54.84\00:06:57.25
change is inconvenient.
00:06:57.81\00:07:00.45
And some of us would
rather function broken
00:07:00.48\00:07:03.92
than to be
changed by Jesus Christ.
00:07:03.95\00:07:06.65
In fact, let me say it this way.
00:07:07.36\00:07:08.96
I remember about seven
years ago, my wife and I
00:07:08.99\00:07:12.26
bought a trampoline for
our kids in the backyard.
00:07:12.29\00:07:15.46
And I remember Christmas Day.
00:07:16.16\00:07:17.43
It was as cold as it is now,
as I went out to put it together
00:07:17.47\00:07:21.64
for our little wins.
00:07:21.67\00:07:23.00
And so I got the base
together in just the right spot.
00:07:23.04\00:07:26.64
But when it was time to
but the bouncy mat in place,
00:07:26.68\00:07:30.25
I didn't realize
that each spring has
00:07:31.11\00:07:33.31
to be matched to a
very specific home.
00:07:33.35\00:07:36.35
And because my count
was of the springs were off
00:07:37.42\00:07:40.39
the adjustment just a little.
00:07:40.42\00:07:42.46
And the funny thing is
that each hole is aligned
00:07:42.49\00:07:46.39
with the protective
mat that goes on the top.
00:07:46.43\00:07:49.50
And it's amazing that
because it was misaligned
00:07:49.53\00:07:52.93
and the foundation,
once the safety springs were
00:07:52.97\00:07:56.27
put on the top, I noticed that
my trampoline had a lean to it.
00:07:56.30\00:08:01.14
Now the crazy
thing, it was functional.
00:08:02.04\00:08:03.95
You could bounce on it,
00:08:03.98\00:08:05.45
but because it was
misaligned, it had a lean to it.
00:08:05.48\00:08:09.35
Now, I need you to be clear.
00:08:09.38\00:08:10.82
Since I've been
outside for 6 hours in the car
00:08:10.85\00:08:14.12
on the YouTube video,
it took them 5 minutes,
00:08:15.09\00:08:17.46
but it took me 6 hours.
00:08:17.49\00:08:19.46
And I need you to
know, I was tempted to let it
00:08:19.49\00:08:21.63
lean like it was because
it seemed to pose no hazard.
00:08:21.66\00:08:25.60
But my wife came
out with affirmation
00:08:26.47\00:08:28.60
and she says, I know you
worked hard to get it up,
00:08:29.64\00:08:31.94
but she says, We
can't let it function broken
00:08:32.91\00:08:35.21
because we pay too much
to get it out in here today.
00:08:36.34\00:08:39.28
And see, the problem is that
many of us would rather function
00:08:39.31\00:08:43.22
broken tend to have to
start over from the beginning.
00:08:43.25\00:08:47.19
But I've come to let
you know that Jesus paid
00:08:48.22\00:08:51.03
too much to let
you function broken.
00:08:51.06\00:08:53.76
The reason He
won't give up on you
00:08:54.50\00:08:56.60
is he's paid too
much for your redemption.
00:08:57.57\00:08:59.40
And the reason he bears long is
because you've not been bought
00:09:00.70\00:09:03.61
with silver or gold, but
with the precious blood of Jesus
00:09:04.74\00:09:08.24
and so he's
00:09:08.64\00:09:09.78
going to keep working on
you until that lead is removed
00:09:09.81\00:09:13.75
and you stand tall and Jesus
Christ, are you with me today?
00:09:14.98\00:09:16.92
Saints.
00:09:16.95\00:09:18.35
And so, friends, as we
unpack the story of Jacob,
00:09:18.39\00:09:21.59
there are some immense
principles for us to digest.
00:09:21.62\00:09:25.43
You see, the story of
Jacob is relevant on all levels,
00:09:26.59\00:09:29.93
but the first thing it
teaches us is that divine
00:09:31.00\00:09:33.80
covenants are based
upon grace and not merit.
00:09:33.84\00:09:37.97
Let me say it again
that divine covenants
00:09:38.01\00:09:40.94
are based upon
grace and not merit.
00:09:41.78\00:09:43.98
In other words, friends, when
you look at the story of Jacob,
00:09:45.21\00:09:48.68
did you notice that Jacob
has no redeeming qualities
00:09:49.75\00:09:54.22
that would qualify him to be a
better assessor of the Messiah?
00:09:55.46\00:09:58.63
In other words,
Jacob has a hustle to him.
00:09:59.59\00:10:02.10
He's got a grit.
00:10:02.53\00:10:04.20
He's got an intellect
that is as sharp as a razor.
00:10:04.23\00:10:08.10
But notice that up until
this point, Jacob has no major
00:10:08.14\00:10:12.94
spiritual moment to suggest
that this is why God chose him.
00:10:12.97\00:10:17.98
In fact, when you look
at most people in Scripture,
00:10:19.08\00:10:21.68
all folk about
Jesus have a bad moment,
00:10:22.52\00:10:24.99
but at least they
have a seminal moment
00:10:25.89\00:10:27.86
that says This is
why God chose them.
00:10:28.76\00:10:30.83
In other words,
Abraham told a bunch of lies,
00:10:31.86\00:10:34.56
but at least he
left his father's house
00:10:35.43\00:10:37.37
not knowing where
God was going to send him
00:10:38.37\00:10:40.07
that David laid
down with Bathsheba.
00:10:40.94\00:10:43.00
But at least he had the
courage to fight Goliath.
00:10:44.04\00:10:46.21
Peter denied the
Lord, but at least he left.
00:10:47.21\00:10:50.28
Oh, to follow him.
00:10:50.31\00:10:52.25
But when you look
00:10:52.28\00:10:53.52
at the story of Jacob,
there is nothing to suggest
00:10:53.55\00:10:57.42
that he is the one
that God would choose.
00:10:58.35\00:11:00.42
And friends, this
is a very dynamic idea
00:11:01.36\00:11:04.69
that sometimes God ahead of time
00:11:05.39\00:11:08.06
chooses broken
people and assigns
00:11:08.86\00:11:11.63
divine covenants to their
life and to their journey.
00:11:11.67\00:11:15.44
Isn't it amazing that God
takes a broken man like Jacob
00:11:16.57\00:11:19.94
and He sends Jesus
through His lineage,
00:11:20.84\00:11:22.91
that God reveals Jesus
00:11:23.48\00:11:25.28
through the broken
lineage of Jacob and friends?
00:11:26.35\00:11:29.05
This all of a
sudden makes sense to me.
00:11:29.08\00:11:31.45
The reason God sends
Jesus through broken people
00:11:32.52\00:11:36.19
is because Jesus is
to reach broken people.
00:11:37.16\00:11:40.13
In other
00:11:41.10\00:11:42.13
words, the reason God
sends Jesus through broken
00:11:42.16\00:11:45.77
people is that the
Gospel is for broken people.
00:11:45.80\00:11:49.60
And see, the reason
that God chooses messed up
00:11:50.64\00:11:53.04
people is to teach us that
salvation is not given by merit,
00:11:53.07\00:11:58.41
but salvation is
received by faith
00:11:59.25\00:12:01.55
through the
grace of Jesus Christ.
00:12:02.38\00:12:03.89
You see, Jacob teaches us that
we are not saved by being good.
00:12:05.12\00:12:08.89
We are not saved
by what we accomplish.
00:12:09.72\00:12:11.76
We are not saved
by being righteous.
00:12:12.63\00:12:14.30
We are saved by the
amazing grace of Jesus
00:12:15.26\00:12:17.97
and every sinner out of
out a man in this room today.
00:12:19.13\00:12:22.67
And see the
reason there are some
00:12:23.47\00:12:25.31
that get tense
when I talk like this.
00:12:26.17\00:12:27.54
Because just saying, Pastor,
00:12:28.21\00:12:29.28
we don't have to be
faithful in order to be saved.
00:12:29.31\00:12:32.55
How many of us know
00:12:33.08\00:12:34.02
that we are not saved
because we are faithful?
00:12:34.05\00:12:37.35
Our faithfulness is
00:12:37.89\00:12:38.92
the evidence that
we've been saved by Jesus.
00:12:38.95\00:12:42.06
In other words, I don't obey
00:12:42.72\00:12:45.03
in order to obey
my way to salvation.
00:12:45.89\00:12:48.23
My obedience is a
gratitude response to what Jesus
00:12:49.33\00:12:52.90
has already
accomplished on my behalf,
00:12:52.93\00:12:56.27
so that when you obey according
to the law, there is a lead.
00:12:56.30\00:13:00.84
But when you obey with
gratitude, there is no limit
00:13:01.94\00:13:04.35
to what you will
do for Jesus Christ.
00:13:05.18\00:13:06.95
And so my
obedience is not to be saved.
00:13:07.88\00:13:10.42
It's because I'm already saved
00:13:11.12\00:13:13.02
and see friends I like Jacob,
because what Jacob does for
00:13:14.69\00:13:17.79
some of us is he shows
us what your ministry is.
00:13:17.83\00:13:21.36
You see, some of
us have the Ministry
00:13:22.40\00:13:25.00
of Being praying for the Gospel
00:13:25.03\00:13:27.44
so that sometimes
when folks saw Jacob after
00:13:28.44\00:13:31.87
he was converted, they couldn't
believe that God chose him.
00:13:31.91\00:13:37.68
And when they saw
Jacob, it would give evidence
00:13:38.65\00:13:41.42
that there was room in
God's kingdom for them.
00:13:41.45\00:13:44.39
And how many of us know
that some of us have been raised
00:13:45.52\00:13:47.92
by God to be the proof
that God can save anybody?
00:13:47.96\00:13:52.66
Y'all, y'all
brand new here today?
00:13:52.69\00:13:54.63
You see how many of us
know that your testimony
00:13:54.66\00:13:58.00
can't be too clean or sterile?
00:13:58.03\00:14:00.17
Are y'all with me today?
00:14:00.20\00:14:01.17
Church If your
testimony is only that I got
00:14:01.20\00:14:04.81
18 generations in the
church and I ain't never lied
00:14:04.84\00:14:08.94
and ain't never doubted
and I ain't never curse.
00:14:09.94\00:14:12.15
And I never did a wrong thing.
00:14:12.85\00:14:14.38
First of all,
00:14:14.82\00:14:15.98
they know that you're lying
and the truth is not in you.
00:14:16.02\00:14:19.15
But the other thing is that
when your testimony is to clean,
00:14:20.36\00:14:23.26
it says that I don't qualify
00:14:23.93\00:14:25.96
in order to receive
the covenants of God.
00:14:26.83\00:14:28.83
But every now and then,
God raises somebody like you
00:14:29.96\00:14:32.97
so that when they
see where you were
00:14:33.84\00:14:35.84
and they see where you are,
00:14:36.50\00:14:38.21
they say, If God could
do it for them, guess what?
00:14:39.31\00:14:41.98
There is room for me in the
Kingdom of the Almighty God.
00:14:43.11\00:14:47.15
You are the proof
that God can change anybody
00:14:48.18\00:14:51.02
and see the thing.
00:14:52.02\00:14:52.65
I need to just pause and say
00:14:52.69\00:14:53.96
to somebody today is
I need you to know that
00:14:53.99\00:14:56.22
no matter how
spiritual you are today, you
00:14:56.26\00:14:59.26
not even a fraction of
who you go to in Jesus.
00:14:59.29\00:15:03.00
Okay.
00:15:03.57\00:15:04.43
Oh, it's going to
get good in a minute.
00:15:04.47\00:15:06.43
I need you to know that no
matter how far you've come,
00:15:06.47\00:15:09.87
you're not even close to
being who God is going make.
00:15:11.01\00:15:13.91
You see? See,
let me say this way.
00:15:13.94\00:15:16.88
I've shared it with you
before that sometimes I struggle
00:15:16.91\00:15:20.18
in the morning.
00:15:20.62\00:15:21.65
I like to cook it, but
I struggle to cook grits.
00:15:21.68\00:15:23.89
Y'all not with me today.
00:15:23.92\00:15:25.75
And I don't
struggle to make grits,
00:15:25.79\00:15:28.22
but sometimes I struggle
to make the right amount.
00:15:28.26\00:15:31.66
And the reason I
struggle with the right amount
00:15:32.73\00:15:34.46
is that
00:15:34.76\00:15:35.70
when we are a family
of five and I see one
00:15:35.73\00:15:38.57
cup in the pot, it looks like
it's not going to be enough.
00:15:38.60\00:15:42.64
So I'm always tempted to add
more than what we actually need.
00:15:43.84\00:15:47.68
But the reason I
always add it too much
00:15:48.61\00:15:50.75
is because it seems
like so little in the pot.
00:15:51.71\00:15:54.02
But I always forget
that when you add water
00:15:54.05\00:15:57.15
and you begin to stir
and you add heat, guess what?
00:15:58.29\00:16:01.76
The grits begin to multiply
and the grits begin to expand.
00:16:01.79\00:16:06.23
So how it starts in
the beginning doesn't
00:16:07.10\00:16:09.46
mirror nothing like
where it lands in the end. And
00:16:09.50\00:16:12.83
I just need to know, do I have
some Quaker great Christians
00:16:12.87\00:16:16.60
who, when you started,
you didn't look like much,
00:16:17.84\00:16:20.74
but God stirred Jim
added, The water of baptism,
00:16:21.81\00:16:25.58
supplied the heat of trial,
and now you don't look nothing
00:16:26.82\00:16:30.35
like what you've been through
00:16:30.39\00:16:33.36
or where you started
from, because the covenants
00:16:34.42\00:16:37.83
are covenants of
grace and not merit.
00:16:38.69\00:16:40.96
You are hear me today, church
00:16:41.66\00:16:43.47
The second thing, beloved, that
the story of Jacob teaches us.
00:16:44.70\00:16:46.57
Number two is that prayers can
outlive the ones who break them.
00:16:46.60\00:16:52.91
Okay.
00:16:52.94\00:16:53.94
Oh, it's going to get good.
00:16:54.94\00:16:56.34
So I need you to know that
the prayers of the righteous
00:16:56.38\00:16:59.45
can outlive the
ones who pray them.
00:17:00.32\00:17:03.39
Now, the reason this is
critical is I need somebody
00:17:04.42\00:17:07.22
to have clarity
about how your life got
00:17:07.26\00:17:10.99
so blessed.
00:17:11.03\00:17:14.03
Okay.
00:17:14.10\00:17:15.00
Do you realize, saints,
00:17:15.73\00:17:17.80
that God has
shown Jacob mega paper
00:17:17.83\00:17:22.37
throughout his
raggedy, scheming life
00:17:23.30\00:17:26.71
not because he deserved it,
but because God was honoring
00:17:27.91\00:17:32.45
a promise that he
made to his granddaddy.
00:17:32.48\00:17:35.72
Abraham
00:17:35.75\00:17:36.69
Do you realize that
when Abraham was alive
00:17:37.65\00:17:40.62
that he prayed for his
posterity and those that would
00:17:41.69\00:17:44.93
go after him?
00:17:44.96\00:17:46.29
But do you realize that
Abraham did not live long enough
00:17:46.33\00:17:50.47
to see his descendants become
as the sand of the seashore?
00:17:51.70\00:17:55.14
But even though he
prayed it before he died,
00:17:56.14\00:17:58.61
the prayer outlived the
very man that prayed for it.
00:17:59.67\00:18:03.21
Oh, Lord, have mercy.
00:18:03.78\00:18:06.72
And in other words,
his grandchildren and great
00:18:06.75\00:18:09.95
grandkids.
00:18:09.98\00:18:10.65
God bless because of a prayer.
00:18:10.69\00:18:13.82
He prayed 100
years before all of that.
00:18:13.86\00:18:16.52
And the reason I need
somebody to understand this is
00:18:18.13\00:18:21.53
I need you to realize
00:18:21.56\00:18:23.03
that you don't just
have generational cycles.
00:18:23.06\00:18:26.43
But how many of us know
that we got generational favor
00:18:27.60\00:18:30.37
from the most high God?
00:18:30.94\00:18:33.11
In other words,
don't stand here and act
00:18:33.14\00:18:35.44
like the only reason
good things happen to you
00:18:36.48\00:18:38.48
was because you worked so hard
and you prayed so diligently.
00:18:39.75\00:18:42.92
Do you realize that you
got protected from some attacks
00:18:44.12\00:18:46.86
because great
grandma prayed for you
00:18:47.72\00:18:50.66
and the prayers outlived her?
00:18:51.36\00:18:53.26
Do you realize that
the reason doors is for you
00:18:54.30\00:18:57.50
and provision was made
for you and favor came to you
00:18:58.63\00:19:02.80
was because the prayers
of the righteous outlive
00:19:03.81\00:19:07.21
the ones who prayed for it.
00:19:07.24\00:19:09.01
I just need to know.
00:19:10.28\00:19:11.48
Do I have any money to have
a prayer in mama in the house?
00:19:11.51\00:19:13.82
They had a praying
grandmamma in the house
00:19:14.72\00:19:16.62
and they prayed that
one day you would be saved.
00:19:17.69\00:19:19.69
But they didn't live
long enough to see it happen.
00:19:20.79\00:19:22.72
But you're alive in Christ now
00:19:23.43\00:19:26.23
because the prayers are live.
00:19:26.93\00:19:29.60
The ones who prayed them.
00:19:29.63\00:19:31.67
Listen, I can
tell the truth that
00:19:32.90\00:19:34.84
in a church I passed it
right before I came here,
00:19:34.87\00:19:37.17
that when I got there, there
was this wonderful old saint
00:19:38.31\00:19:40.74
that for whatever reason,
00:19:41.38\00:19:42.31
showed unusual
kindness to my wife and myself.
00:19:42.34\00:19:45.91
And it was
funny because at first
00:19:46.65\00:19:47.82
I was a little bit
suspicious because what we did
00:19:47.85\00:19:51.05
did not really merit the
type of kindness she showed.
00:19:52.12\00:19:54.19
She would be buying stuff
for the babies and baking stuff
00:19:55.36\00:19:57.83
unsolicited and dropping
off groceries at the house.
00:19:57.86\00:20:01.33
And after a while, we
kind of wanted to understand
00:20:02.36\00:20:04.67
because in my mind these sermons
are good, but they that good.
00:20:05.90\00:20:07.94
I hear what I'm saying and
it's funny because after a while
00:20:07.97\00:20:11.74
we found out that my
wife's grandfather, Mr.
00:20:11.77\00:20:15.58
Norman, who worked over in
the Accounting Office, helped
00:20:15.61\00:20:19.48
her grandchildren get through
school way back in the day.
00:20:19.51\00:20:23.62
And because Granddaddy
bless somebody, 40 years ago,
00:20:24.75\00:20:27.62
the granddaughter was
getting blessed 40 years later
00:20:28.76\00:20:31.23
and I got grafted in
00:20:31.76\00:20:32.99
through marriage
because the favor that goes to
00:20:33.03\00:20:36.97
grandma still flows
over to the grandkids.
00:20:37.93\00:20:40.94
Y'all hear me today?
00:20:41.47\00:20:41.94
I'm moving quickly today.
00:20:43.30\00:20:44.67
Go back with me in your Bible.
00:20:44.71\00:20:45.94
Verse number three. I
need you to see some stuff.
00:20:45.97\00:20:48.08
I need you to see it as
we unpack it, the Bible says.
00:20:49.14\00:20:50.98
Then Jacob sent messengers
before him to Esau, his brother,
00:20:51.01\00:20:55.78
and the land of Caesar
in the country of Edam.
00:20:56.75\00:20:58.29
And he commanded them saying,
Speak thus to my Lord Esau,
00:20:59.52\00:21:02.16
thus your servant, Jacob says,
00:21:02.86\00:21:04.46
I have dwelt in the land of
Laban and stayed here until now.
00:21:04.49\00:21:07.60
I have oxen, donkeys, flocks,
male and female servants.
00:21:08.80\00:21:12.47
And I have sent to
tell my Lord that I may find
00:21:13.47\00:21:16.44
favor in your sight.
00:21:16.47\00:21:19.57
You see, the third thing
that Jacob teaches us today
00:21:19.61\00:21:21.78
is that you can't
create your own fate.
00:21:22.64\00:21:24.61
Okay?
00:21:26.21\00:21:27.12
You realize that
this what you just saw
00:21:28.25\00:21:31.05
is Jacob's problem.
00:21:31.59\00:21:33.62
See, what becomes clear
when you read the whole thing is
00:21:34.76\00:21:37.39
that Esau cannot
be negotiated with,
00:21:37.43\00:21:40.76
that Esau cannot be bought off.
00:21:41.43\00:21:44.50
And so what he does in
frustration is he sends Esau
00:21:45.60\00:21:49.74
a bunch of gifts and
kind words, the Bible says,
00:21:50.74\00:21:54.01
to appease or pacify them.
00:21:54.64\00:21:56.85
But what God
does is He makes sure
00:21:57.68\00:21:59.71
that all of
Jacob's charm is nullified
00:22:00.68\00:22:03.39
and his charisma is not able
to give him an inch of favor.
00:22:04.62\00:22:08.72
And what he's
trying to show, Jacob,
00:22:08.76\00:22:11.33
is that you can't
create your own favor.
00:22:12.26\00:22:14.66
And don't get me
wrong, but love it.
00:22:15.80\00:22:16.97
I believe that we
should have partnership.
00:22:17.00\00:22:19.40
I believe that
00:22:19.83\00:22:20.87
we ought to be loyal and
we should be kind to others.
00:22:20.90\00:22:23.30
But how many of us know that
when your kindness has a motive,
00:22:24.51\00:22:27.44
it's not compassion.
00:22:27.98\00:22:28.94
You're just trying to
make somebody indebted.
00:22:28.98\00:22:31.21
In other words, you
just scratching their back
00:22:32.25\00:22:34.52
because you want
them to scratch yours.
00:22:34.55\00:22:36.92
You are doing something for them
00:22:37.62\00:22:38.89
because you want them
to do something for you.
00:22:38.92\00:22:41.59
In other words,
00:22:42.02\00:22:43.12
I want to encourage you
not to get indebted to somebody
00:22:43.16\00:22:45.96
by exchanging favors
and going tit for tat.
00:22:46.93\00:22:49.50
In fact, the Bible says,
Oh no man, anything except
00:22:50.60\00:22:53.70
the outstanding debt
of love for one another.
00:22:53.74\00:22:58.97
In other words,
00:22:59.01\00:23:00.04
friends of mine, when
you've been touched by God,
00:23:00.08\00:23:03.04
you ain't got to
00:23:04.05\00:23:05.15
try and pursue
Faber with no group,
00:23:05.18\00:23:08.68
no person, no clique,
00:23:09.25\00:23:11.45
no entity, no boss, no job.
00:23:12.12\00:23:14.89
You are here.
00:23:14.92\00:23:15.46
What I'm saying today
00:23:15.49\00:23:16.73
is there anybody
that still believes
00:23:16.76\00:23:18.46
that your gifts
will make room for you?
00:23:18.49\00:23:20.86
I need you to know that
you ain't got to kiss up.
00:23:21.90\00:23:23.93
You ain't got to suck up
00:23:24.50\00:23:25.90
You ain't got to
scratch Where don't wait
00:23:25.93\00:23:28.14
You ain't got to
laugh when it ain't funny
00:23:29.10\00:23:30.57
You ain't got a
dance when they're a music
00:23:31.54\00:23:33.24
If you humble
yourself before God,
00:23:34.08\00:23:36.14
He will exalt you and do season.
00:23:36.85\00:23:39.15
Y'all hear what
I'm saying today?
00:23:40.58\00:23:42.58
See, the problem
is, I don't necessarily
00:23:42.62\00:23:44.99
want to outsource
my favor to people
00:23:45.02\00:23:47.59
because when people
are the ones that help you,
00:23:48.66\00:23:50.99
then they can take
credit for your leap.
00:23:51.93\00:23:53.53
But I don't want
no boss, no friend,
00:23:54.36\00:23:57.03
no peer to be able to
say what I have done for you.
00:23:58.07\00:24:01.24
I want to be able to
say like the psalmist,
00:24:02.14\00:24:03.81
if it had not been for the Lord
00:24:04.51\00:24:07.41
who was on my side,
are y'all hear me today?
00:24:07.44\00:24:11.58
And see, the reason
I need somebody to get
00:24:12.55\00:24:13.92
this is because favor
is spirit, so not social.
00:24:13.95\00:24:17.89
In other words, me a favor.
00:24:19.65\00:24:21.46
It's not about who
you know down here.
00:24:21.49\00:24:24.09
It's about who you are
connected with up there.
00:24:25.06\00:24:27.36
And God did not allow Esau
00:24:27.96\00:24:30.20
to receive any of his gifts
because he's showing Jacob.
00:24:31.40\00:24:33.87
You can't create your own favor.
00:24:33.90\00:24:37.64
So the Bible says here
in verse seven, a moving
00:24:37.67\00:24:39.81
We're going to get
somewhere today, verse seven
00:24:40.84\00:24:42.04
When you get to them, you say,
Man, this is what the word says.
00:24:42.08\00:24:44.88
The Bible says this,
then the Bible say so.
00:24:44.91\00:24:47.28
Jacob was greatly afraid
00:24:47.32\00:24:49.38
and distress
00:24:49.42\00:24:50.39
because his gifts
ain't getting him nowhere,
00:24:50.42\00:24:52.19
and he divided the people
that were with him in the flocks
00:24:52.22\00:24:55.26
and the herds and the
camels and the two companies.
00:24:55.29\00:24:58.63
And he said, if Esau
comes the one company
00:24:59.59\00:25:01.36
and attacks it,
then the other company
00:25:02.26\00:25:03.67
which is left will escape.
00:25:03.70\00:25:05.23
Then.
00:25:05.27\00:25:06.20
Jacob So he's getting
it right, but watch it.
00:25:06.23\00:25:08.20
He says, Oh God, my father.
00:25:08.87\00:25:10.04
Abraham God of my father.
00:25:10.07\00:25:12.64
Isaac The Lord who said
to me, Return to your country
00:25:12.67\00:25:16.51
and your family and
I will dwell with you.
00:25:17.48\00:25:19.98
I am not worthy of the
least of all these mercies.
00:25:21.08\00:25:23.49
All right.
00:25:23.85\00:25:24.35
Of all of the truth,
00:25:24.39\00:25:25.15
would you have
shown your servant
00:25:25.19\00:25:26.32
for I cross over
this, Jordan, with my staff,
00:25:26.35\00:25:28.79
and now I have become
to companies deliver me.
00:25:29.76\00:25:32.76
I pray from the
hand of my brother,
00:25:32.79\00:25:35.60
from the hand of Esau,
for I fear him unless he come
00:25:36.73\00:25:39.37
and attack me and the
mother of my children.
00:25:39.40\00:25:43.00
For you, Sam, I will
surely treat you well
00:25:43.97\00:25:48.11
and make your descendants
as the sand of the sea,
00:25:49.21\00:25:51.48
which cannot be
numbered before the multitude,
00:25:52.45\00:25:55.65
for thing that Jacob
teaches, is that every
00:25:56.65\00:25:58.62
one of us has to
have a driving agent.
00:25:58.65\00:26:02.46
Now, I need somebody to get this
00:26:03.56\00:26:05.66
because Ellen White makes
clear that the strength of Esau
00:26:05.69\00:26:10.37
is God's doing.
00:26:10.80\00:26:13.64
In other words,
the presence of Esau
00:26:14.50\00:26:16.20
is actually essential
to the salvation of Jacob.
00:26:17.27\00:26:20.91
And that's why
he can't even pray
00:26:21.71\00:26:24.75
Esau away, because literally God
00:26:25.45\00:26:29.12
wants Him to feel the strength
00:26:29.15\00:26:32.25
and the nearness of Aesop.
00:26:32.89\00:26:34.79
Because what Esau does is Esau
00:26:35.49\00:26:39.39
drives him to his knees to seek
00:26:39.43\00:26:43.26
God that he would not
under any other circumstance.
00:26:43.30\00:26:48.20
It is the pressure of Esau.
00:26:48.87\00:26:50.91
It is the inevitability of Esau.
00:26:51.61\00:26:54.24
It is the imminence
of trouble that drives
00:26:55.21\00:26:58.05
Jacob into the secret
place to meet with God.
00:26:58.08\00:27:03.65
Thank you for joining
us for the Breath of Life
00:27:03.69\00:27:06.12
Television Ministries broadcast
with Pastor Debleaire Snell.
00:27:06.15\00:27:09.92
We hope and pray
00:27:10.53\00:27:11.79
that you have been blessed
by this powerful message.
00:27:11.83\00:27:15.10
Join us next week
for part two of “A Limp
00:27:16.06\00:27:19.73
Is The First Step In A
Leap” You don't want to
00:27:19.77\00:27:23.97
miss it.
00:27:24.01\00:27:25.71