WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:01.040 Well, good morning. 00:00:01.199 --> 00:00:04.160 I hope you had a good Sunday last week. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:08.560 A snowy, icy, rainy, cold Sunday. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:14.960 We slept in, my point of view, uh amazing, amazing Sunday. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:17.679 We slept in, we cooked a big breakfast. 00:00:17.839 --> 00:00:26.079 My children pretended like there was snow everywhere, and they played outside and went sledding on a snowy, grassy, muddy hill. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:27.920 Um, came back very muddy. 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:29.440 Um that's what we did. 00:00:29.519 --> 00:00:30.239 And it was amazing. 00:00:30.320 --> 00:00:30.640 It was great. 00:00:30.719 --> 00:00:35.359 So hopefully you had a just a lazy, relaxing, warm Sunday. 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:36.399 And we are back. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:39.679 If you remember, two weeks ago, we started in the Jacob and Esau story. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:42.960 We spent two more weeks in this Jacob and Esau story. 00:00:43.119 --> 00:00:52.640 If you remember last week, Esau was hurting, he was hungry, he comes in from the fields, Jacob, his brother, just manipulates him out of his birthright. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:55.200 Uh, real tricky guy, this Jacob. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:57.840 Esau afterward, of course, is furious. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:00:59.439 So furious, right? 00:00:59.600 --> 00:01:01.600 Of what he just got swindled out of. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:02.880 And he's threatened. 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:05.120 He tells, he said he's gonna kill Jacob. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:06.640 He's gonna kill his brother. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:08.480 So Jacob takes off. 00:01:08.719 --> 00:01:14.640 Jacob is on the run, and he heads to his uncle's place, uncle Laban, in another land. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:16.799 So he's probably feeling alone. 00:01:16.959 --> 00:01:19.680 Jacob at this point, he's on the run, he's feeling alone. 00:01:19.760 --> 00:01:23.200 He's left his home, his family, probably afraid. 00:01:23.359 --> 00:01:26.319 And he comes to what the scripture says, just an ordinary place. 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:27.920 Just an ordinary place. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:31.599 Nothing special, just an ordinary place, and he falls asleep. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:35.120 And here's what we read in Genesis 28, 10 through 13. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:43.519 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran, and he came to a certain place, and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. 00:01:43.760 --> 00:01:49.680 Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 00:01:49.840 --> 00:01:51.040 And he dreamed. 00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:56.959 And behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:02.000 And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:07.519 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, I am the Lord, the God of Abraham, your father, and the God of Isaac. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:11.680 The land on which you lie, I will give to you and to your offspring. 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:15.680 Now here's what's interesting once I kind of dug into this a little bit. 00:02:16.080 --> 00:02:24.560 Richard Bacham, in a book called Who is God, he says about this passage, says this ladder is probably more of a staircase. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.840 So these are these mountains built back in this time. 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:28.719 Here's a picture of one. 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:30.319 They're called ziggurats. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:34.879 This is one today in modern day Iraq. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:41.280 So these people in Mesotamia, they built these mountains and these staircases to the top of the mountain. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.439 So the people believed that the gods lived at the top. 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:55.360 So you had to build the mountain, you had to build the staircase, you had to climb your way to the top to get yourself to God. 00:02:55.439 --> 00:03:01.199 Because the gods dwelled up there, and you had to climb the stairs to find God. 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:03.759 But Jacob falls asleep. 00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:07.360 And isn't it interesting how quickly we could just read right over it? 00:03:07.919 --> 00:03:10.800 That the angels are descending toward him. 00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:13.680 Here's point number one. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:20.159 Exhausting your heart climbing stairways to God is a waste of your life. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.840 That's an exhausting type of faith, spirituality. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:26.800 It's not gospel, it's not Christian faith. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:32.000 Yet, how many times have you felt like you have to climb a mountain to get to God? 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:33.280 Right? 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:36.240 Get your act together, climb the stairwell. 00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:40.319 Then you're loved when you get up there somewhere near God. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:42.159 You ascend yourself, right? 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:44.240 Or you become more passionate. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:47.599 You just need to be more passionate, whatever that means, or however you're going to measure that. 00:03:47.680 --> 00:03:48.639 I don't know. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:54.800 But you've got to climb that staircase to get to the top, to the whatever level of passion that means for faith. 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:56.479 And then you'll be accepted by God. 00:03:56.639 --> 00:04:02.159 But the gospel, from Genesis to Revelation, the gospel story, the good news is God to us. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:05.360 This image that Jacob has in this dream. 00:04:06.319 --> 00:04:07.840 That God is there. 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:11.599 And these angels are ascending and descending. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:21.279 That God is initiating toward him just this ordinary place, in his condition of being alone, afraid, just swindled at his brother. 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:24.160 And yet God is so active in his life. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:32.720 Point number two is this God speaks to us in our places of ordinary quiet and pain. 00:04:33.600 --> 00:04:34.800 I mean, think about the story. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:36.879 Isaac's been disappointed. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:40.160 Esau is furious. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:42.160 Jacob's afraid on the run. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:45.199 I mean, these people's lives, his family's been destroyed. 00:04:45.920 --> 00:04:46.240 Right? 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:47.920 I mean, some of you know this feeling. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:49.040 Your family was destroyed. 00:04:49.120 --> 00:04:50.480 Or your life was destroyed, right? 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:54.560 It's the feeling of that floor just giving out from underneath you. 00:04:54.639 --> 00:04:56.879 And all of a sudden you have nothing to stand on. 00:04:57.279 --> 00:04:58.959 Your heart was broken. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:00.879 Or it will be broken. 00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:13.439 Or it's just the feeling, for me, so often, just in like an ordinary week, of just like life is not adding up to what I thought it would be, or the expectations I'm projecting onto. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:19.600 A few weeks ago I had one of those just really ordinary, discontent Tuesdays, right? 00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:22.079 Like you have, I have, we all have them. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:23.680 He's like, what is this world? 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:24.720 What is my life? 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:26.800 It's not adding up to what I thought it would be. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:33.360 Just kind of feeling discontent, daydreaming about being a you know a bone fishing guide in the Bahamas, just all playing all that out. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:34.000 How could that happen? 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:35.120 Pretty sure I can make that happen. 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:37.199 You know, you're just all this, you know, insane stuff. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:46.079 And I call my mentor who's 71, and he laughs at me, which is always reassuring, you know, when your mentor laughs at you when you tell them how you're feeling. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:47.759 But it's like an encouraging laugh. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:54.800 Like, oh, oh, silly child, you know, oh, you're oh silly 42-year-old. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:56.480 Calm down, calm down. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:59.839 And he says, Raz, I'm 71. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:04.079 Every day I do exactly what I want. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.600 And I had one of those days last week. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:11.120 Wouldn't that just not? 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:13.839 I mean, that in of itself was so nice for me to hear, right? 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:28.720 Like the person that you go, like, well, if I shaped my life after that, if I had that life, you know, that would solve this problem I'm having, but then for that person to say, hey, like I do what I want to do, I just do whatever I want to do. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.920 And still, I had one of those days last week. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:36.800 And his point was, hey, remember, this is not your final home. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:53.519 See, what I'm learning is part of the discontentment we feel, and this sort of like ordinary, quiet, but a little painful in this world, part of it is when we feel that discontent, we're just longing for our final home. 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:54.079 Right? 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:56.000 It's not that we have to rearrange our whole lives. 00:06:56.240 --> 00:06:57.839 Definitely don't blow up your life. 00:06:58.079 --> 00:07:01.120 Part of it is just remember we weren't made for this world. 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:05.680 We're always going to have a level of discontentment in this world because we weren't made for this world. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.800 Our hearts are longing for our final home. 00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.120 Our hearts are longing for heaven. 00:07:11.360 --> 00:07:30.399 For so much of my life, the heaven-hell construct was just means by which to make sure I was behaving as a Christian, and I missed out on the fact so much of what it means for me today that the discontentment I feel, some of that is just that my heart actually longs for this place I get to live in one day. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:40.639 And so, of course, in this ordinary and quiet and in this pain, much like Jacob, we want to hear from God. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:41.439 Right? 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.680 We want comfort from him in this. 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:48.000 So here's a few thoughts, a few thoughts of what it means to hear from God. 00:07:48.160 --> 00:07:48.720 What does that mean? 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:49.680 Heard from God. 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:50.319 What does that mean? 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:52.399 What does that mean when we say that? 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:57.279 Well, number one, God has already spoken to us in Jesus. 00:07:57.519 --> 00:07:59.360 Colossians 1, 15 through 29. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.800 And so I'm not going to read all these verses. 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:03.759 You can write them down or you can go back and look them up. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:05.759 God has already spoken to us in Jesus. 00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:12.160 So we know about God and we experience God through the life and the person of Jesus. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:22.079 If we want to hear from God, a great first step is just learn more about the heart of Christ, and you will be hearing from God. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:26.800 Number two, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts. 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:28.560 We're not going to rule that out. 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:30.959 We're not going to say, oh, that was just Bible people. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:32.720 No, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts today. 00:08:32.879 --> 00:08:35.200 John 14, 26, Acts 13. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:37.279 God has not quit speaking. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.919 The Holy Spirit still speaks to us as believers. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:48.879 The Holy Spirit convicts and comforts as to remind us what is true from God and about God and true about us. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:55.200 And so what that means is the Holy Spirit won't lead you to leave your faithful spouse. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:57.200 Holy Spirit won't do that. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:00.399 That's not in line with God's heart and God's word. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:04.159 So the Holy Spirit will always be in line with God's heart and God's word. 00:09:04.559 --> 00:09:08.720 The Holy Spirit won't lead you to be judgmental and self-righteous. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:10.240 Holy Spirit's not doing that. 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:13.360 Holy Spirit won't lead you to be manipulative. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:17.039 Holy Spirit won't lead you to trash your friend or to hold a grudge. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:18.720 Not gonna happen. 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:21.360 Holy Spirit won't condemn you. 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:23.919 Holy Spirit won't belittle you. 00:09:24.639 --> 00:09:30.480 Now there might be lots of voices in me and in you for all that. 00:09:31.039 --> 00:09:32.799 Just ain't the Holy Spirit. 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:33.759 Okay? 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:38.960 The voice of the Spirit is in line with God's word and God's heart. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:45.519 Number three, pain and quiet are profound places to hear from God. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:49.519 I mean, we can think about Jacob and this story right here. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:55.519 Out in the middle of nowhere, traveling, some land, some family hadn't even heard of. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:57.120 Think about what he just did. 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:58.399 He just swindled his brother. 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:00.559 He's probably feeling some shame out of that. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:02.480 He used from God. 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:04.879 Pain and quiet are profound places to hear from God. 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:09.840 Psalm 34, 18, Job 36, 15, or just the whole story of Job. 00:10:09.919 --> 00:10:10.799 Just write down Job. 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:12.480 2 Corinthians 1, 4. 00:10:12.639 --> 00:10:17.679 Oswald Chambers says that suffering burns up a lot of shallowness in a person. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.000 I know we don't like that. 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:24.639 But it's true. 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:35.759 Like usually when you meet an incredibly compassionate, wise person whose priorities and values feel so solid, you start talking to them and you realize, oh, they've been through a little bit. 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:37.200 They've been through some. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:42.399 In pain, we finally come to the end of all of our great ideas. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:46.000 You know all your great ideas, how you're gonna solve a problem and get through something. 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:48.799 All those great ideas, these great solutions. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:51.039 And like most of the time, they don't really work. 00:10:51.120 --> 00:10:53.600 They just kind of kick the ball down the field a little bit further. 00:10:54.159 --> 00:10:55.519 But we have all these great solutions. 00:10:55.600 --> 00:10:59.519 What pain does is pain just finally stops all that. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:01.840 It just stops all that. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.399 To what actually matters in life. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:13.519 And oftentimes, like that, in the pain and in the quiet, we hear something. 00:11:14.399 --> 00:11:16.240 But we need point number four. 00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:21.440 Even God's silence is God speaking. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:27.279 Psalm 27, 14, Psalm 62, 5, and 6. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:34.480 Sometimes we're seeking a word, we're seeking a leading, just something, something God, right? 00:11:34.559 --> 00:11:40.720 Like the floor fell out, the heart is broken, you need some leading, you're in anguish. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:42.080 Something. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:51.360 Come on, you're journaling, you can't journal anymore, you're praying, you're talking to other people, you're going for long walks, you're weeping, nothing. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:52.799 Right? 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:53.600 Nothing. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:55.519 You're like, come on, come on, come on. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.639 I remember back when you spoke to me a whole lot, and I'm getting nothing. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:00.799 Dark night of the soul stuff. 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:08.559 And for me, what I'm learning, taking a very long time to learn, because I'd like to resist this, is nothing is not nothing. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:11.120 Not with God, nothing is not nothing. 00:12:11.360 --> 00:12:13.919 The silence is not empty. 00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:24.159 And can I accept, can I accept that even in the lack of leading, that I'm okay? 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:36.639 Can you accept even the lack of a fresh word, a fresh emotional feeling of comfort that we want, and I want for you. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:40.720 But even in the silence, can you accept that you're okay? 00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:47.039 That you're already, point number one, Christ's spoken word for you. 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:52.799 That you're already forever been spoken over in Christ as always loved and always cared for. 00:12:52.960 --> 00:13:00.080 See, this is what moves us from needing the next religious experience constantly, constantly, constantly. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.320 That's like climbing a mountain up a staircase. 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:18.240 To faith, mature faith that can weather storms, go through seasons, that gives us hope and confidence that Christ is enough for us, even in circumstances that we don't want. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:20.480 And they'll pass. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:21.840 They will pass. 00:13:22.480 --> 00:13:23.919 The story moves on. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:26.080 Genesis 29. 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:28.639 Jacob's almost to Laban's house. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.480 He gets out there. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:33.919 He's not married, but he's seeing these daughters. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.679 Yes, they're his cousins. 00:13:35.759 --> 00:13:36.879 It's ancient culture. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:37.360 It's weird. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:38.480 It's weird. 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:45.120 He works seven years to marry Rachel, who's the younger daughter. 00:13:45.919 --> 00:13:47.519 Laban tricks him. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:51.519 He ends up marrying Leah, the older sister. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:54.879 Laban says, Oh, yeah, no, you marry the older first. 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:55.679 That's the way it works. 00:13:55.759 --> 00:13:58.879 Sorry, buddy, you gotta work another seven years for Rachel. 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.440 And so then he just doubles down. 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.639 He works another seven years. 00:14:02.879 --> 00:14:10.960 Guys, I know you like spent two weeks leaving cute little notes on your, you know, your sweetheart's car around campus, and like, you know, you dropped off a little flower somewhere. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.879 You did it for two weeks, two weeks. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:14.720 Fourteen years. 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:16.320 Fourteen years. 00:14:16.480 --> 00:14:17.679 Just back your life up. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:19.759 14 years ago, where you were at. 00:14:19.919 --> 00:14:22.480 That's what Jacob did to marry this Rachel. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:25.759 And of course it's a mess. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:28.399 Because polygamy's a mess. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.879 And he married sisters. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:37.679 And Laban betrayed him for the whole thing to get set up. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:43.039 And Laban really kind of manipulated his daughters in all this. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:45.279 So it's all gross, it's messed up. 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.960 And then eventually Jacob and Laban, they go sideways, they get in a fight. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:15:09.600 Jacob leaves with his people and his animals, all the wealth he had accumulated, which means finally, finally, after maybe around 20 years, he is headed home, which means he is headed back toward Esau, which means he's headed back toward the guy who said, I'm gonna kill you. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:13.279 So he's afraid. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:19.120 On the journey back, here's this wrestling match with a man. 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.159 We think it's God. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:21.600 It's a strange story. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:24.639 Some people think it's literal, some people think it's figurative. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:26.960 Here's what I think it means. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:29.840 Jacob's been wrestling his whole life. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:38.080 He's been wrestling to be somebody, to have a blessing that he didn't deserve. 00:15:38.399 --> 00:15:42.080 He's always fighting and struggling with other people to be someone, to have something. 00:15:42.320 --> 00:15:46.159 Then we get this story, Genesis 32, 24 and 25. 00:15:47.200 --> 00:15:53.679 And Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:59.759 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket. 00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:04.240 And Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with it. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:06.799 That's weird. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:08.960 It's one of those weird Bible stories. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:12.080 I'll read it to my kids and I don't want to explain it, right? 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:24.399 So God allowed Jacob to win, but he touches the hip to say, who's really in power here? 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:29.120 So much of our life is kind of like that, isn't it? 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.879 And something comes over Jacob in this moment. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:37.440 It's like he finally realizes he's really in power or something. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:38.960 He won't let go of the man. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:42.559 He says, I will not let go of you unless you bless me. 00:16:43.440 --> 00:16:50.720 So now all of a sudden, only this blessing matters from this man, who we think is God. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.360 And Jacob's just left begging. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.879 He has no other way to get it. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:56.159 He can't manipulate it out of the guy. 00:16:56.240 --> 00:16:57.360 He just has to beg. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:16:58.720 He's needy. 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:01.360 And then the man blesses him. 00:17:02.799 --> 00:17:04.480 Now comes Esau. 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:06.480 Seth read the passage. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:11.519 Esau's coming toward Jacob with 400 men. 00:17:13.039 --> 00:17:15.599 Jacob sends out some messengers to scout out. 00:17:15.680 --> 00:17:16.319 What's the story? 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:16.960 How many? 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:18.240 What's going on? 00:17:18.640 --> 00:17:22.400 He also wants Esau to know, like, hey, brother, I got a lot of money. 00:17:22.559 --> 00:17:23.440 I got a lot of wealth. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.519 I can, you know, I can help you out here. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:28.480 You know, it's kind of like wink, wink, bribe, bribe, don't, don't kill me. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:29.279 Don't kill me. 00:17:29.359 --> 00:17:30.799 I got some livestock for you. 00:17:30.880 --> 00:17:31.920 Don't kill me. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:36.480 One last-stitch effort to hold off Esau. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.839 Jacob sends out just lavish gifts of livestock. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:41.440 Just complete bribery. 00:17:41.519 --> 00:17:42.480 There's no apology. 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:43.759 We don't see an apology. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.720 It's just bribery from Jacob. 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:53.920 And so, in a way, Jacob is incredibly wealthy, but he's incredibly poor. 00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:04.319 He has no idea the currency of grace or forgiveness or the humility to apologize for something he did 20 years ago. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:10.880 And we also just learned something new about Esau, because we haven't seen Esau for a little bit in the story. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:13.119 Esau just pops back up. 00:18:13.920 --> 00:18:18.480 And we leave Esau, we're like the guy just got swindled out of his birthright, we're not questioned. 00:18:18.640 --> 00:18:22.640 But Esau's been living in his homeland, and apparently Esau's become quite a wealthy guy himself. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.640 But he just has 400 men. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.880 So Esau's doing alright. 00:18:29.359 --> 00:18:30.880 But we can't forget. 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:33.759 Esau said he was going to kill Jacob. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:45.759 And their dad said, the dad said, Esau, you will break free from Jacob's yoke over you by the sword. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:48.559 So what will happen? 00:18:48.880 --> 00:18:49.839 Point number three. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:54.079 With God, turnarounds in life and heart are possible. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:57.680 With God, turnarounds and heart are possible. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.400 We love a God, we love a good turnaround, don't we? 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.599 Here's my favorite turnaround. 00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:02.960 See what's my favorite turnaround? 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:06.880 This is my favorite turnaround, is this image right here. 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:13.200 I watched Karate Kid 150 times. 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:21.680 I mean, what skinny kid in the 1980s didn't watch karate kid this way because you thought, maybe, maybe this could be me. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:27.440 Maybe I could have this sort of turnaround as a severely skinny kid in the 80s. 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:31.359 And if you remember the story, that dirty cobra Kai, right? 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:37.119 Daniel's running through their guys, gets to the finals, and they sweep the leg. 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:37.599 Remember? 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:38.720 Sweep the leg? 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.759 Take him out. 00:19:39.839 --> 00:19:40.799 Take that knee out. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:42.319 And he's back in the locker room. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:43.680 He's like, I can't go anymore. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:44.000 Mr. 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:44.799 Miyagi's there. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:45.519 And you remember Mr. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.079 Miyagi? 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.240 He does the karate magic. 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:49.359 Remember that? 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.960 You need to re-watch it, guys. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:51.759 Come on. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:53.599 Back in the locker room. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:54.559 He does. 00:19:54.799 --> 00:20:00.799 Daniel's like, hey, can you do the can you do that um thing where you, you know, you where you and he's like, okay, I will. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:04.720 You know, the music builds, and he does like this, and he does his hands real fast. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.680 Apparently that's part of it. 00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:11.119 Gets it real fast and gets him real warm, I guess, and he heals, gets the knee, heals the knee up. 00:20:11.200 --> 00:20:11.519 Just like that. 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:13.039 Karate magic. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:15.279 Turn around. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:17.039 Turn around. 00:20:17.359 --> 00:20:19.599 Daniel goes out there, does the crane. 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.799 It's awesome. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:22.079 Turn around. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:22.880 Right? 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:26.400 Daniel is headed one way, just like that, turns around. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.039 We love it. 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:28.640 That's why we love it. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:34.160 We were, my family was at the Marietta High School basketball game Friday night. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:36.400 They're whooping North Paulding. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.759 Marietta's got a team. 00:20:37.839 --> 00:20:38.400 There's some players. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:41.359 They're whooping North Paulding, making them look bad. 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:42.480 Just, ugh. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:49.599 And then like five minutes ago, North Paulding makes a little run, takes it from 20 points down to five points. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:50.880 Now I'm Marietta. 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:52.000 I'm rooting Marietta. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:53.200 My kids go to Marietta. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:56.240 I find myself rooting for North Paulding. 00:20:56.640 --> 00:20:58.319 Maybe this could happen. 00:20:58.559 --> 00:21:00.160 Like, and I'm like, no, no, no, no. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.599 You're supposed to root for Marietta. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:04.000 I'm like, yeah, inside, inside, this is going on. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.279 I'm like, you're supposed to root for Marietta. 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:07.039 But I'm like, yeah, but they they were 20 points down. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.839 What five minutes ago? 00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:08.960 This like they could do this. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:09.759 They could turn this. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:11.039 Like, no, don't let him, you know. 00:21:11.119 --> 00:21:13.519 It's like, yeah, because we love a good turnaround, don't we? 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:14.319 We love it. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:17.039 Some of you are waiting for Britney Spears to have a new album. 00:21:17.119 --> 00:21:18.240 You'll be like, she did it. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:20.799 She really, she really did it. 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:24.079 You know, if it happened, you'd be just like, everybody talked about it. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:26.400 We'd love a turn, we love a turnaround. 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:27.599 Love it. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:31.279 And maybe you've had a turnaround, like a personal turnaround. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:36.640 Tragedy happened, trauma happened, mistakes happened, shame, guilt. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.000 And there was a turnaround. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:42.880 God's activity in your life, grace toward you. 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:45.279 And you can look back. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:47.200 You can look back on that. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.559 And you can be so grateful, can't you? 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.000 Just so grateful. 00:21:55.680 --> 00:21:56.720 We just can't forget. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.839 As a church, we can't forget that this kind of turnaround. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:00.480 Happen. 00:22:00.720 --> 00:22:02.400 Deliverance happens. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:08.000 People are addicted, and then something happens. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.319 And I'm open to that. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:24.400 Like I'm open to if this is a process of counseling the Holy Spirit uses, I'm open to something happens in the middle of worship, the Holy Spirit breaks a bondage, or they're walking forward toward communion, and something happens that never happened before. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:25.359 It can be any of that. 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:30.160 We don't have to box it into just like a religious experience in one moment, or it's only counseling. 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:40.000 It can be all of this, but we have to be open as a church that this type of turnaround in a person's heart and life for ourselves, our friend or family member, that this happened. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.359 This can happen. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:48.720 So when we left Esau, Genesis 27, this guy's hurting and he's angry. 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:50.880 He's going to kill his brother. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:58.720 And then when we pick up in Genesis 32, he shows back up and we learn this guy's had quite a turnaround. 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:05.359 Not only is he wealthy, but his heart and his character have changed. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:08.000 But Jacob doesn't know that yet. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:11.759 So Jacob divides his camp, right? 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:20.720 So he figures if I divide my people and my wealth and my livestock, these 400 men of Esau's, if they come and wipe out half of it, at least I still have half. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:27.599 Genesis 33, verse 4. 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:39.359 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 00:23:41.920 --> 00:23:47.119 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, Who are these with you? 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:50.799 Jacob said, The children whom God has graciously given your servant. 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:55.200 Then the servant drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 00:23:55.519 --> 00:24:01.680 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down, and last Joseph and Rachel drew near, they bowed down. 00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:05.359 Esau said, What do you mean by all this company that I met? 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:08.880 Jacob answered to find favor in the sight of my Lord. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:11.440 But Esau said, I have enough, my brother. 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:13.680 Keep what you have for yourself. 00:24:13.920 --> 00:24:27.200 Jacob said, No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand, for I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:36.000 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. 00:24:36.319 --> 00:24:38.319 Thus he urged him and he took it. 00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:45.119 Point number four slavery is broken by love, not the sword. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:48.559 Remember the father's statement? 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:52.480 The dad was wrong. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:57.440 He said, You're gonna break the yoke with the sword. 00:24:58.480 --> 00:25:02.640 But Esau falls on his brother's neck. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:05.200 He said he was gonna kill him. 00:25:05.839 --> 00:25:11.039 He falls on his brother's neck and embraces him, kisses him, they weep. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:17.440 Love, not violence, love, not revenge, love not resentment, love not bitterness. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:22.400 Love breaks the slavery in us and in relationships. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:26.960 See, forgiveness is the secret power of the world. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:29.119 We just forget. 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:36.400 And Esau just pours out the grace of unconditional acceptance, which creates restoration. 00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:41.599 And in response, Jacob is overwhelmed with gratitude. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:46.960 Some of you are working through difficult relationships. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:48.319 Or you will. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:52.240 I don't know the details. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:58.799 Some of you will always have to have boundaries in these relationships. 00:25:59.039 --> 00:26:04.240 There are people in my life and in our lives we will always have boundaries with. 00:26:04.400 --> 00:26:05.839 That will never change. 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:16.160 But I know this unconditional acceptance of the other will be the only way toward freedom and healing for everybody involved. 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:26.319 You can't be free, and the relationship can't be restored if you believe they still owe you. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:30.480 What a beautiful picture Esau gives us. 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:34.079 This brother that swindled him out of it. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:37.359 I mean, think how he could have 20 years of resentment built up. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:40.000 But something's changed in Esau. 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:50.799 And when Jacob comes home, Esau runs to him and embraces him and kisses him and falls on him and weeps over him. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:27:07.039 And church, we're like Jacob in this story, showing up undeserving to God, often trying to buy him off, usually without a contrite heart, sometimes with a contrite heart. 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:12.079 And God, like Esau, and like the prodigal story God. 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:20.400 Remember, prodigal son returns, God comes off the porch, runs toward him, embraces him. 00:27:20.799 --> 00:27:21.920 Same imagery. 00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:24.799 It's gospel imagery, is what it is. 00:27:25.599 --> 00:27:32.000 That we are wrapped up before we get a way to earn our way in, before we begin to try to climb another staircase. 00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:33.359 See, God came toward us. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:34.559 That's what the gospel is. 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:36.880 God coming toward us while we're still sinners. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.920 Christ died for us. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:41.440 All of our sin is put upon him on the cross and his righteousness given to us. 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.440 He came down the staircase to us. 00:27:43.599 --> 00:27:46.960 We do not have to continue to climb the staircase to him. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.200 Love, not the sword. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:53.519 Love, not violence, love, not bitterness or revenge. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:27:57.519 Love, not merit, is the way restoration occurs. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.799 And that is the gospel. 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.319 Let's pray together. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:17.200 Thank you, God, for this good news that relieves us, rescues us, and even calls us, creates in us humility and gratitude. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:29.200 May our hearts be overwhelmed with the way that you love and you welcome us and accept us and that Christ is enough for us. 00:28:29.599 --> 00:28:47.200 So many of us in this room this morning have been trying to climb staircases to get to you with just the good news of the gospel of unconditional acceptance, full welcome, full acceptance, be true, where they know it in Christ. 00:28:47.440 --> 00:28:49.920 So many of us are waiting on a word from you. 00:28:50.559 --> 00:28:52.799 And I pray that people would hear it. 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:57.440 Many of us have a difficult relationship. 00:28:58.000 --> 00:28:59.759 Would you give us wisdom for boundaries? 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:13.039 And would you give us a heart so secure in you that we can let go of the sword and we can live in love toward others? 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.799 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:15.599 Amen.