Jacob the Deceiver
Sermon Notes
You don't have to be PERFECT to be used for God's purpose.
[Genesis 25:22-26] But the two children struggled with each other in her womb. So she went to ask the LORD about it. "Why is this happening to me?" she asked. [23] And the LORD told her, "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son." [24] And when the time came to give birth, Rebekah discovered that she did indeed have twins! [25] The first one was very red at birth and covered with thick hair like a fur coat. So they named him Esau. [26] Then the other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau's heel. So they named him Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.
Our instincts are ME-first not GOD-first.
[Matthew 19:30 NIV] But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Putting yourself FIRST never brings true GREATNESS.
[Luke 9:25 NIV] What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?
Who you are is more IMPORTANT than what you HAVE.
[Genesis 27:19-27] Jacob replied, "It's Esau, your firstborn son. I've done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing." [20] Isaac asked, "How did you find it so quickly, my son?" "The LORD your God put it in my path!" Jacob replied.
You may be able to fool PEOPLE but you can't fool GOD.
[Genesis 32:24-30 NIV] 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 humans 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."
Hold onto God even when you're HURTING.