The World Changer Who Wrestled with God - I

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God. If you would like to know how you can become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org that's harvest.org coming up today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie points out how the Lord is extraordinary things, ordinary people, we hear the phrase, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob understand it, it's another way of saying God.

Ordinary people live. I believe what Jacob big time is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is God of second chances and it was to think the Bible only follows the life those with pedigree. If we look closely to God can use anyone even work through a Harley Tax Commissioner and a talking donkey today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg Laurie continues his series called world change. Examining the lives of people whom God used in agriculture just me wanting you shoot you for the assignment. You heard the story about the Oxford English dictionary came about sex in a book called the professor and the mad that's being made into a film by the way. Well, the Oxford English dictionary came about because in 1879 Dr. James Murray was commissioned to write it and it was they contain every single word in the English language quite a daunting task.

Good music so Murray invited scholars of literary people from around the world to participate and they were to read books from every era of the English language make lists of the words. Write a sentence definition and then a quotation from the earliest source so many people offer their services, including a man known as Dr. William Miner. He was well qualified. So Dr. Murray brought them into the program in before he knew it. Dr. Miner had submitted 12,000 separate pieces of paper with definitions in every submission submitted by Dr. Miner was used the back more than any other person so upon completion. Dr. Murray wanted to meet Dr. Miner so he wrote a letter to like to meet you and and Dr. Mina Roback while I'm unable to come and see you but you're welcome to visit me anytime.

So finally Dr. Murray decided to go visit Dr. Miner, is a story is told. He trudged up along the road lined with beautiful poplar trees and arrived at a very large house entering through two large green doors.

He was uttered by a servant up a marble staircase to a huge room of the second floor fire glowed in the fireplace and there was a huge desk in the middle of the room amount of obvious importance was sitting behind the desk and the doctor said hello I'm Dr. James Murray, editor of the Oxford English dictionary, and Dr. Miner is a great pleasure to meet you and then there was an awkward silence in the memo line. The destined up and said sorry to disappoint you but I am not Dr. William miner. Rather, I am the superintendent of the Broadmoor criminal lunatic asylum in which you are now standing, and the doctor you are asking for is been our longest residence. He is an American. He is also a murderer, and he's hopelessly insane. So go figure.

On that in this crazy insane man made a significant contribution to the Oxford English dictionary, the most amazing accomplishments can come from the least likely people. So here we are in Hebrews 11 with an amazing collection of characters. What I call the hero's hall of faith or world changers, and here's what I find fascinating. You will not find a single mention of any of their sins. In this chapter, and trust me, they said Abraham as we already discovered, likewise, about his wife Sarah saying she was his sister Isaac did the same thing Sarah laughed at the promises of God in the list goes on. So these winners didn't always collect metals. Sometimes they collected scars but not one word of their failure is mentioned wife because they were forgiven and God gives second chances. They were looked out for what they became not what they were in God doesn't just see you for what you are in the moment he sees you for what you can become. He saw the potential in the life of each of these world changers and he certainly sought in Jacob, so when we hear that phrase, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob understand it, it's another way of saying the God of ordinary people, Abraham flawed. I definitely flawed. Jacob big time flawed but he's the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He's the God of second chances.

Here's what we learned about Jacob and the hero's hall of faith will get Hebrews 11 verse 21 by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worship, leaning on the top of his staff know this particular event happened toward the end of Jacob's life will revisit it in a moment, let's go back to the very beginning of Jacob's life. Let's think of him now is as a baby in the womb of his mother Rebecca. He was there with his brother, Esau, Jacob and Esau were twins. You might say they were roommates busy and so the circumstances of their birth are quite interesting because Esau was born first and how to even get the name he saw the name Esau means Harry, not as an H a RR Y but as an H a IR wife because well he was hearing. He was a hairy kid who is a good beam to give to a child that you draw attention to the fact that they're covered in hair.

You know you're living in a time warp parent seem to be going out of their way to give really unusual names to their children. I read the other day that that here's some of the names that have been given. I'm not making any of these up one couple named their child freak good name. Forgive music the little boy freak can come stay overnight at your house. I don't want to freak in my house. Let me borrow to come on.

Another kid was named due to do not seriously. Another was named cougar that's going to be trouble for her when she gets older.

I'm just telling you hi my name is cougar okay by I was. These were made up another couple named their child. Hitler. Hitler seriously another name their child Senate lease another name their kid hurricane another couple named their jobs.

Superman really getting the job. Superman.

Here's the thing.

Studies have been done and there found that when you deem a child. A strange name it can actually have an effect on their behavior later in life. Well, I would've this had the effect on Esau.

He he was really something else right on the heels literally of Esau's birth comes Jacob and his they can be translated in multiple ways.

One is healed catcher because everything in on to his brothers heel. It also means the planter or to trip up or over throw and you know what that's exactly who Jacob became. He was the guy who was always crabbing trying to get more.

Jacob always wanted the advantage you know people like take.

I know a person like this and thinking of right now that that he came unto this guy can work a deal like no one I've ever met. If I want to buy anything.

I asked him to negotiated for me and sometimes I have to walk away.

I'm just embarrassed by what he's saying but every time he know he gets a better deal is incredible to me and up and I don't want to see you this is Steve Wilburn but I digress. When he share the gospel in closing that deal. That's awesome, but if you're the person selling something to him. That's not awesome for you but that was Jacob. Jacob was a negotiator. Jacob was a man that didn't just wait for something to happen. He'd go and make it happen if he needed to. In a moment, will she Jacob was not only a negotiator but obviously a pretty good cook and between the two talents he ended up being handed the birthright to belong to his older brother. More on that in a moment. Pastor Greg we have something exciting. We just tallied up the numbers in this year just since January, we've now seen 100,000 professions of faith through harvest ministers, which is absolutely yes, David is incredible and the way it came about is even more incredible because of the beginning of 2020 we went before everybody in our church in our ministry and said we have a goal this year and some of you may remember this. I've seen 100,000 people make a profession of faith. I'll be honest with you I had some doubts like I we can really get this number but I thought why not shoot for will see what the Lord does well covered 19 so we went exclusively online with our weekend program that we call harvest. Basically a church service that you want in your home, but each week I've been inviting people to come to Christ and on one particular Sunday we had 7000 people make a profession of faith.

So now as we telling the members. We've reached the hundred thousand mark we reach in an unexpected way.

So what that says to me is what we have the right idea, but the Lord had a different way of bringing it about. So we do saying to God be the glory. Let's just keep going because were passing that number now listen to this.

The Bible says there is joy in heaven over one sinner that comes to repentance and we have seen 100,000 people in just months. This profession of faith to follow Christ. So we join the Angels and rejoicing over beginning a study of the life of Jacob today on a new beginning. Pastor Greg is presenting his message. The world changer who wrestled with God is an interesting thing under normal circumstances, the firstborn in the family, the firstborn male receive the inheritance receive the birthright. What was the birthright. It was a special privilege bestowed on the firstborn method number one, you would get a double portion of the inheritance number two, you would become the spiritual leader of the family at third and lastly, you would be in the messianic line so under normal circumstances, Esau, i.e. Gary should have gotten the birthright. But God in this particular situation reversed the order that I want to give it to healed catcher. I want Jacob to receive the birthright. But Isaac, who clearly favored Esau wasn't gone for that and so a conflict developed among the voice from the very beginning because Isaac, the father favored Esau, Rebecca, the mother favored Jacob and so this is never a good thing. When this happens in a family.

When a parent favors one job over another.

In these two boys could not have been more different.

Esau was was a man of action. Amanda would go out in the field guy who would hunt prey in the skin. The animals and and prepare the meat back at a credible recipe is that love probably some kind of barbecue thing in the and devil love to eat the food that Esau brought in from the field. In contrast, Jacob is more like a homebody you know you like to hang around the tent with mom help in the kitchen of a mama's boy if you will.

So Esau was a man's man you would if you were around today he would've shot at the Bass Pro shop know?

And I his favorite shows would've been duck dynasty or adventure bow hunter you know you want to know what to give Esau for his birthday give him a hunting knife for sure. Some like that.

Now Jacob was different. Like I said, he helped around the tent more.

He would like to shop in Bed Bath & Beyond baby either has a worsening crystal really like all the things I don't care about this Bed Bath & Beyond below.

That's a great place to take a nap.

By the way I'm talking to the men for a moment. Or he might instruct the Williams-Sonoma AU what would you buy Jacob for his birthday. All ghetto cooking utensils, a mixer, maybe his favorite show would've been iron Chef or chopped or cake wars so Esau like to hunt and kill and scan this food and prepare it, and Jacob, he'd just like to bake muffins pretty much so so one day brother Esau comes in from the field is famished. He has been able to kill anything that day.

Memo Jacobs cooking of this amazing stew so I ease that comes up is a broken out some of that still tickets as you can about this. Do you want if you give me your birthright right now and I Esau says birthright smirks right till this bullet was do not, you will find that literally in the Bible. I'm paraphrasing all right. He didn't care about the birthright he cared about temporal gratification.

He didn't care about the spiritual, he cared only about the physical. So he ate up his stew and treated his word right, providing commentary Hebrews 1218 says make sure that not one of you was a moral are goggles like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal. But here's the ridiculous thing God made a promise to Jacob that he would give to him the birthright. All Jacob had to do was wait for the promise to be fulfilled, but instead he takes matters into his own hands and starts to manipulate as he did here with his brother.

Have you ever done that. I never got tired of waiting for something that happened. So you thought I was going to go make it happen on my own. You know sometimes were asking God for what he has already given us. You know you say Lord I need more love having a hard time in the marriage here, not feeling the love for the wife, like I used to not feeling the love for the husband, Lord, give me more love. You don't need to pray for more love, because the Bible tells you that the love of God is been shed abroad report out in your heart to the Holy Spirit. Romans 55.

You don't need to pray for more love. You need to just do more loving things stop waiting for the emotion they just do a loving thing. You know when you read first Corinthians 13, which is often cited as the definitive chapter in love. You will note that it does not tell you would love is. It tells you what love does love is patient, love is kind love is long-suffering love doesn't remember the faults of others.

It's what love does so, just to loving thing sometimes or pray for more power and strength but yet were told in Philippians 413 we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us in second Peter 13 says God's divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness. So the believers need is not necessarily to receive something more. But to do something more with what he already has. Let me repeat that the believers need is not to receive something more. It is to do something more with what you already have it be like saying I'm broke. When you are $500,000 in the bank payment wanted to go make a withdrawal you know you the money is there a member years ago we were in New York with the a group of people, one of the girls it was with us and hundred dollar bill and so will we would catch a cab would all contribute to it. So I only have $100 bill and then we go eat and she go. I only have $100 bill and this one about four or five times I said let me see that hundred dollar bill and I walk across the street. The hot dog vendor as it can you change it and he said yes I can, because it here's a hot dog and here's your change. You know, I think I was just her way of not participating any of God. It uses its economy to promise to Jacob. All he had to do was wait. But we grow impatient with the Lord, you know, there are times are like always ate when Lord when this is coming up afraid and pray you pray for that unsafe husband or wife.

One of the get to come to faith. Lord you prayed for the prodigal child how long Lord is to be so they come back to you are your prayed for that healing time and it seems like you receive it, then there's a setback, then you're better then you're worse what's going on God for your prayed for God to reveal his will to you. You want to know what you are to do. It's unclear where you're singling your frame for that man or that woman that God has you where are they Lord I'm getting old. I like 16. Come on, and you should pray about those things. By the way, because the Bible says in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God in Scripture reminds as you have not because you ask not. Jesus told us in the sermon on the Mount ask and it shall be given, seek and you will find knock and the door will be open or in the Greek it's keep asking, keep seeking, keep talking so just pray about it. But understand, along with God's will. He has his tiny waits on the timing of the Lord, don't rush things. The Bible says he makes everything beautiful in this time. So now we see Jacob is manipulated the situation and he's conned his brother and he stolen the birthright.

But it even gets worse. Fast forward now and Isaac, the father is getting older and he knows he's going to die soon so he decides to give his blessing to a sizes son going out in the field and it will kill something and cook it up. Use a barbecue in all much I love and come to me and I'll eat the meal give you the blessing off Esau ago is excited to get the blessing well mom is listening, using Rebecca was eavesdropping. It's really easy to eavesdrop when you live in a tent and so she so this is not going to happen on my watch as she calls in Jacob, she says all right on the make up a little recipe just like your dad likes to kill a couple of goats and I want you to cover yourself in animal skins and pretend to be your brother and take it to your dad and he'll give you the blessing. Thinking your Esau Jenkins like I don't know who's gonna work out it'll work.

Trust me.

So she makes up the resume bring it to dad and and so of course Jacob does the father reason this is great, but is this really you, you don't sound like you thought of God. Dad it's me David. Now, your voice sounds different. Isaac says come closer so I can put my hand on you any puts his hand on animal skin. It's a job, it feels like Esau, which shows you think I was hearing and Harry was tearing for sure and Isaac pulls him a little closer. Let me smell you yeah your Yuri's offers or get out of here and receive the blessing enough Jacob goes, we will Esau shows that data, mom, here's your fresh meat leaving your home.

I just ate the presently that was a me and then Isaac realizes he's been Condoleezza's son.

I cannot give you the blessing your brother is taken and Esau was so angry he said, show him and so now Jacob heads for the hills. As you can tell there's more to come.

Study called the world changer who wrestled with God Pastor Greg Laurie is following the drama of Jacob and Esau as a part of a series world changers and he has another, to share with us before this addition of a new beginning. Concludes to hear today's message again just go online to harvest.org and look for the world changer who wrestled with God will also find it on a harvest mobile app or for CD copy.

Call 1-800-821-3300. You can reach us anytime 24 seven at 1-800-821-3300 and then were so happy to have special guests, Jeff and Chante felt on today there joining pastor Greg and his wife Kathy here in the studio and we are making available their new book called thriving in love and money to thank you for investing in this outreach and investment. The changes lives each and every day pastor Greg Hayes. Speaking of investing in ministry. Let's talk a little bit about giving to the Lord why is that important to invest in the kingdom of God and by that I mean investing in the ministry like ours or others or your local church. Well, it really goes back to that where your treasure is, there your heart will be right in his Jesus.

Now this, that what you do with your money. It reveals the heart right like if she denies he was a pastor. I'm sure you said many times that if you're choosing to time of your choosing to invest in the king down it reveals where your heart as see how this to see you choosing to eat you choosing to trust. However, one of the other things we may not realize about what Jesus said there is what you do with your money. It's not just reveals the heart. It also steers the heart and you do not see you step out in faith and say no. I want to hold onto Olivet that God says to give this back to him. It forces me to say this is a choice of trust may not be feeling right now. Well wish it would be but it's going to be a choice steers my heart in that direction when I take a deep breath and choose to gather your listening this Chante Jeff Phil Hahn. They written a book called thriving in love and money and this is our special resorts this month that we want to put in your hands what you know that when we offer these resources, it's because we want to help you. We want to encourage you. We want to strengthen you and this is one of the most important that we've ever offered, and I would remind you that I'm offering this to you for your gift of any size whatever you send large or small, will get your copy.

But let me encourage you to invest in our ministry because this is a ministry that obviously teaches the word of God.

But it's also a ministry that calls people to Christ and every year we see literally thousands of people make a commitment to follow Jesus Christ as will invite them to do so at the end of our program. So if you believe that people need to come to Jesus if you believe people need to hear the word of God, then we would appreciate your investment in our ministry and will get you your copy of this book by Jeff and Chante felt Hahn thriving in love and money and we hope you contact us today so we can get this help on his way to you. Your investment right now is so pivotal as we reach even further in impacting our culture with the truth of God's word so you can send your donation today to a new beginning. Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call us anytime 24 hours a day at 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org.

The full title is thriving and love and money subtitled five-game changing insights about your relationships, your money and yourself next time will continue to follow Jacob's life and see how one night he ended up wrestling with some kind of heavenly being very interesting turn of events will discuss it more tomorrow, but going back to the drama we've been discussing today between Jacob and Esau pastor Greg closes now with some final comments in all. Proverbs 18, 19, says a brother offended is harder to win than the strong city that doesn't mean we shouldn't try the promise a lot of people don't know how to apologize. They offer apologies that sound something like this. I'm sorry if what I said offended you, Kate. That's not an apology would apologies know you did it. What you should say is I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry for hurting you. Forgive me. That's an apology and it's an amazing thing when someone is hurt you know say that just like well while okay and not everyone forgets what many do in the Bible says as much as it's possible live in peace with all men. Maybe you're at a point in life we look back and you think their people I've hurt people. I've offended people that I've wrong but you know will cry over spilt milk.

You can do the other is you can go apology and possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God sign up for pastor grades free daily email devotions and harvest.org