1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:07,680 Well, hey everybody, I'm will I have the privilege on of being 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:13,400 on the preaching team. We're in Week 2 of Advent and 3 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:15,960 you're going to hear me quote quote a lot because I like kind 4 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:17,920 of how you tease some of this stuff up. 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:21,640 You have this like eloquent soliloquy. 6 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,160 See big words because I know that's what he likes. 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,520 You know, before before starting. 8 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:31,840 So what he said was every year we gather together to wait. 9 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,520 The word Advent is from a Latin word. 10 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:38,520 And that Latin word literally means coming. 11 00:00:38,880 --> 00:00:41,440 And it refers to the fact that God's people in the Old 12 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:47,480 Testament had to practice in a posture of waiting for the first 13 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:53,400 coming of Jesus. And we need as a people who know 14 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:58,120 about the first coming of Jesus also need help waiting for the 15 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:01,000 second coming or second advent of Jesus. 16 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:06,040 So over the next few weeks we will be exploring the Advent 17 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:11,640 series sermon series. So last week Cole talked about 18 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:17,760 hope and this week I'll be speaking on Peace Man. 19 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,120 So now we got that, you know, kind of got everything teed up. 20 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,360 Thanks, Cole. I appreciate that we got a lot 21 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,680 to go over. Y'all know I like to talk a 22 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:31,360 little long so I was highly encouraged to keep it in 25 23 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:32,640 minutes. So I need to say we're going to 24 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,880 dive right into it. So stand if you're able, for the 25 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:47,350 reading of God's Word. All right, we are in Genesis 32 26 00:01:47,870 --> 00:01:52,910 verse 6 and the messengers returned to Jacob saying we came 27 00:01:52,910 --> 00:01:56,630 to your brother Esau and he is coming to meet you. 28 00:01:57,190 --> 00:02:01,880 There are 400 men with him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid 29 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:06,320 and distressed one more time. Then Jacob was greatly afraid 30 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,520 and distressed. He divided the people who were 31 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:15,200 with him and the flocks and the herds and camels into two camps. 32 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:20,320 Thinking if Esau comes to the to 1 camp and attacks it, then the 33 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:25,960 camp that is left will escape. Already planning for worst case 34 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,800 scenario. And Jacob said, Oh God of my 35 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,080 father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, oh Lord, who has 36 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:37,240 said to me, return to your country and to your kindred, 37 00:02:37,720 --> 00:02:41,920 that I may do good. I'm not worthy of the least of 38 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:45,080 all the deeds and steadfast love and all the faithfulness that 39 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:48,920 you have shown to your servant. For with only my staff I cross 40 00:02:48,920 --> 00:02:51,040 to Jordan, and now I have two camps. 41 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,800 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of 42 00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:58,880 Esau, for I fear that he may come attack me, the mothers of 43 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,600 my children. But you said God, you said 44 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:06,160 Father, you said, I will surely do good and make your offspring 45 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,040 as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for 46 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:15,080 multitude. So we stayed there at night and 47 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:18,720 from what he had with him, he took a present for his brother 48 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:24,560 Esaw. 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 Rams, 30 49 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:29,120 milking camels, their calves, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female 50 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,600 donkeys, 10 male donkeys. These he handed over to his 51 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:35,600 servants. Every drove by itself and said 52 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,200 to his servants, Pass on ahead of me, put a space between, 53 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:42,560 drove and drove. He instructed the first, When 54 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,600 you see Esau, my brother, he meets you. 55 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:46,400 He asked, To whom do these belong? 56 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:49,720 Where are you going? Who are these ahead of you? 57 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,280 Then you shall say they belong to your servant Jacob. 58 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:59,240 They are present sent to my Lord Esau and made over, and moreover 59 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:03,600 he is behind us. He likewise, he likewise 60 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,200 instructed the 2nd and the 3rd and all the followed droves. 61 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,320 You shall say the same thing that you saw when you find them, 62 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,480 and you shall say, moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us. 63 00:04:14,640 --> 00:04:20,200 For he thought if, if, if I can just appease him, send them, 64 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,360 send them with presents that goes ahead of me afterward, I 65 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,840 shall see him in the face and perhaps he'll accept me. 66 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,240 So the present pass on ahead of him. 67 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,160 And he himself stayed that night in camp. 68 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,920 The same night he rose and took two wives, two female servants, 69 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,240 his children, and across the Ford of Jabaka. 70 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:47,880 He took them and sent them across the stream and everything 71 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:50,240 else that he had. And Jacob was there by himself, 72 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:53,360 some random dude to him. That man, just a random man in 73 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:57,800 the middle of the night, came to Jacob and he wrestled him until 74 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,200 Daybreak. When the man saw that he did not 75 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:04,320 prevail, Jacob, he touched his hip socket, his hip was put out 76 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:09,600 of place, hip joint was put out of place, and as he wrestled 77 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:15,240 with Jacob took that out. Then he said, let me go, for the 78 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:17,760 day has broken. And Jacob said, I will not let 79 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:20,400 you go unless you bless me. He said to him, what is your 80 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:21,480 name? He said Jacob. 81 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,800 He then said, Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for 82 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,280 you have striven or you have wrestled with God and with man, 83 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:31,480 and you have prevailed. Then Jacob asked him, please 84 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:35,760 tell me your name. But he said, Why is it that you 85 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,760 asked my name? And there he blessed them? 86 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:43,640 So Jacob called the name of that place Pineo, saying, For I have 87 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:46,880 seen God face to face, and yet I've been delivered. 88 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:48,920 One translation says I have been spared. 89 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:53,720 The sun rose upon him as he passes Pineo limping because of 90 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,880 because of his hip. Therefore, to this day, the 91 00:05:56,880 --> 00:06:00,440 people of Israel do not eat the sewing of the thigh that is on 92 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,800 the socket because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the 93 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:10,240 sewing line of his thigh. Dear Heavenly Father God, that 94 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,200 was a lot of reading in front of a lot of people right there. 95 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,200 Hey, thank you. Thank you for your grace and 96 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:20,240 your mercy through it. Father, we ask that you in the 97 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:22,760 midst of this, convict those who need to be convicted, encourage 98 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:25,040 those who need to be encouraged, and draw near those who've drawn 99 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,680 far from you. Father of Light, in this Advent 100 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:31,200 season we confess that we know the darkness too well, The 101 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:34,320 anxiety that tightens our chest, depression that clouds our joy, 102 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,360 the shame that whisper old lies, the hopelessness that makes the 103 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,200 future feel thin. Like Elijah under the broom 104 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:45,960 tree, meet us in our exhaustion. Like Jacob trembling on the road 105 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,280 to meet Esau, speak peace to our anxious hearts. 106 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:53,720 And like Job, who cursed the day of his birth, Let your joy rise 107 00:06:53,720 --> 00:06:57,160 stronger than our despair. Like Adam and Eve hiding in 108 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,680 their shame clothes, clothe us with your steadfast love. 109 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,720 Father, Son, Holy Spirit, you alone are the light in this 110 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:10,800 present darkness. Hope where we feel deserted, 111 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:19,920 peace where we feel undone, joy where we feel broken. 112 00:07:21,920 --> 00:07:28,520 And love where we feel unworthy. Make us a people stubborn of 113 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:33,400 stubborn gladness. Not by ignoring our wounds, but 114 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:38,040 by encountering you in them. The light that refuses 115 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,600 annihilation. Amen. 116 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:46,080 You may be seated. I told you all we had a lot. 117 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,440 Look, are you 6 minutes? Are we got to get going? 118 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:53,720 No. All right. 119 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:57,360 So sum this up to get this going. 120 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:02,360 Jacob is on his way home after being gone for 20 years, 20 121 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:05,720 years. He sent his messages to fill out 122 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,520 his brother Esau. He sent them animals, sent them 123 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:10,720 servants, sent them the whole shebang. 124 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:15,880 Like man, maybe if I do this right I can I can get favor from 125 00:08:15,880 --> 00:08:19,880 my brother. You see in verse 6 through 8, we 126 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,120 see that his messengers return to him and we tell them and tell 127 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,560 them that hey, your brother Esau is on his way to meet you again 128 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,920 after this 20 years, this 20 year hiatus that you bounced. 129 00:08:33,159 --> 00:08:34,640 And he also has 400 men with them. 130 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:43,159 Jacob is immediately shook. Shooketh in the biblical way, 131 00:08:43,159 --> 00:08:47,400 you might say. Now he immediately goes into 132 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:50,360 panic mode. He divides his camp into two 133 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:57,240 with the mindset, well, if Esau snaps, if Esau just attacks, at 134 00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,320 least at least the back half can get away. 135 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,360 Now some of you might not be familiar with the relationship 136 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:09,680 between Jacob and Esau and you might be a little confused as 137 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:13,920 like why the heck is Jacob immediately jumping to 138 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:19,840 catastrophe and conclusions about his brother and why is he? 139 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:21,440 Why is he even freaking out like this? 140 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,720 And why would Esau want to do all that in the 1st place? 141 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:29,880 Well, Jacob and Esau are not only brothers, but they're 142 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:35,040 actually in fact twins. Twins with a very complicated 143 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,960 history to say the least. They've been going back and 144 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,320 forth literally since they were in the womb. 145 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:45,400 It was so bad that their mom, it's like something is going on, 146 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:48,760 something is wrong. I feel these two babies 147 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:51,560 wrestling in here and it is not cute. 148 00:09:53,560 --> 00:10:00,800 So also to continue to set the stage when it comes to Jacob, he 149 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:06,520 is also known as the certified scammer in the Bible. 150 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:13,720 He is a deceiver, He's a hustler, and he's the person 151 00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:15,320 that's going to find his way to get his. 152 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:22,240 And Esau has been his perfect dupe throughout this process. 153 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:29,280 So the first way you can see this is in Genesis 25, verses 29 154 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:33,440 through 34. Initially, Jacob is cooking 155 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,800 Stew. Esau just came from the field. 156 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,240 After grinding and working really hard, he is freaking 157 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:43,320 exhausted. Esau sees Jacob and he says, 158 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,920 hey, let me or let me get a let me get a bowl of that Stew. 159 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:48,120 Let me get let me get some of that. 160 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:54,680 I'm I'm on my deathbed. I am a white Jacob again, the 161 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:58,880 the hustler. The scheme was like, well, you 162 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:05,520 are the first born. So how about this sell me your 163 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:10,640 birthright and I'll give you this Stew. 164 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:14,400 He saw was like well I'm I'm about to die what the heck can I 165 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,360 use the birthright for if I'm about to die from starvation? 166 00:11:19,720 --> 00:11:23,720 And Jacob was like no swear to me now I will give you this if 167 00:11:23,720 --> 00:11:27,200 you give me your birthright. So he sold his birthright to to 168 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,480 Jacob. Jacob then gives him bread and 169 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:33,680 some Stew. He ate, drank rolls and went on 170 00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:38,000 his way. Thus he saw then despise his 171 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:42,800 birthright then so initially with that again, knowing his 172 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:44,920 brother was exhausted, hustled his brother out of his 173 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:50,560 birthright. Genesis 2728, verses 28 through 174 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:52,800 29. Jacob then tricked his father 175 00:11:52,920 --> 00:12:01,160 into giving him Esau's blessing. There you you see that his 176 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,120 father says, hey, may I Oh yeah, appreciate it. 177 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:06,400 I ain't trying to catch on fire. I appreciate that. 178 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:07,920 That's love right there. Unless it's a sermon 179 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:08,760 illustration. No. 180 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:10,040 Yeah. Not over here. 181 00:12:10,040 --> 00:12:11,080 I bet not. Catch on fire. 182 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,640 I know I'm just. But May God give you the dew of 183 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,720 the heaven, all the fatness of the earth, Plenty of grain, 184 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,440 plenty wealth. And people serve you. 185 00:12:20,440 --> 00:12:24,520 Nations bow down before you. Be Lord of your brothers. 186 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,960 And may your mother's sons bow down to you. 187 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:30,720 Cursed by everyone who curses you and blesses everyone who 188 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:37,840 blesses you. Took Esau's blessing then 189 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:47,000 Genesis 2736 and 41 we learn how Esau felt about all this he 190 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:51,720 felt. So how can I say this to his 191 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,680 kids in here? How'd you say angry? 192 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,920 You know, I can say piss tivity he was he was mad. 193 00:13:00,200 --> 00:13:05,360 He was highly mad, so mad, so vengeful, literally out of his 194 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:12,240 words. In 36 he says he, Jacob has 195 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:17,120 cheated me now two times. He is taking away my blessing 196 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,200 and now you father don't even have any no blessing or anything 197 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:29,280 to give me. Then in 41 he says the days of 198 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,120 mourning my father are approaching because their dad 199 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:37,480 just died. Isaac is gone, but once I'm done 200 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:45,600 mourning my father, once this is over with, I will kill my 201 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:54,920 brother Jacob. So Fast forward, Jacob finds out 202 00:13:54,920 --> 00:13:58,000 about that and that's why he's been gone for 20 years. 203 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:01,120 That's why he took a 20 year sabbatical. 204 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:05,720 So now we're fast. We're we're in the time now 205 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:09,080 Jacob's messengers come back informing him that his brother 206 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:19,240 is approaching with 400 men. Now I can only imagine that at 207 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:21,720 that time his measures come back and be like, hey, your brother 208 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,720 is coming and quickly approaching you with 400 men. 209 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:34,240 I can just, if I was in Jacob's situation, if I can, if I could 210 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:38,120 just put myself there knowing that my brother, who I cheated, 211 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:43,320 who despised me, the last words, the last time I heard him utter 212 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:46,360 my name was a mention of him killing me. 213 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:54,040 I just know at that moment, all of his past transgressions 214 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,400 against his brother started flooding in his mind. 215 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:03,880 The stealing of the blessing, the conning of his birthright, 216 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:10,920 probably every sibling squabble they ever had, every angry 217 00:15:11,160 --> 00:15:17,680 argument, every fight. He was absolutely struck with 218 00:15:17,680 --> 00:15:22,320 anxiety at that moment, a fear of panic, of what's to come. 219 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:27,920 Verse 7 even emphasize this saying that Jacob was greatly 220 00:15:28,080 --> 00:15:34,240 afraid and distressed at the idea of his brother come to see 221 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:42,440 him with 400 people men. Then we see in, in verse 9 to 222 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:49,560 12, after his initial panic, Jacob prays and actually his, 223 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:54,120 his, his prayer and that being his response is, is actually 224 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:57,440 pretty, pretty vulnerable and actually even pretty noble at 225 00:15:57,440 --> 00:15:59,720 that time. I'm freaking out, I'm panicking 226 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:01,720 and the only person I can go to right now is God. 227 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,200 And he prayed about it. And in essence, he's, he's 228 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,240 saying, father, I'm, I'm doing what you asked me to do. 229 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,960 I'm going back to this land that I'm already terrified to go back 230 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,600 to. And I know I'm not worthy of all 231 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:20,200 the love, the faithfulness, the blessings and the favor you have 232 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,880 given me. I left 20 years ago with just a 233 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:29,080 staff and and now I have two camps yet I feel my brother's 234 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:35,840 fee seeking vengeance due to my past deeds and and would take 235 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:41,160 away all the blessings my family that you're giving me. 236 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:48,720 Yep. God, you promise if I come here 237 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:53,040 that you would do otherwise. Amen. 238 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,520 And he leaves it at that. In this prayer, in this moment, 239 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:08,040 the real root of his anxiety of of why he's panicking is 240 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:10,880 revealed. I know that it's it. 241 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,480 It seems that it could be that. Well, yeah. 242 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:17,359 He talks about his brother taking the blessings and the 243 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:20,920 gifts and the favor that God bestowed upon him. 244 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:30,600 But but that's not really it the the real source of his anxiety, 245 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:40,120 the real crux of it all is the feeling of unworthiness. 246 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,480 See his brother Esau coming to kill him and taking everything 247 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:47,640 away. It's just a it's just a symptom 248 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,600 of the root because if he was worthy, if he felt he was worthy 249 00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:55,640 and that God was was truly here to bless him. 250 00:17:57,240 --> 00:18:00,080 I assure you the life he's already lived, he would have No 251 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:04,640 Fear of man. And we'll we'll see that even 252 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:11,480 later, later as we read. But anyway, the anxiety, the 253 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:16,600 sources, unworthiness. He grew into two camps. 254 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,960 He was blessed with wealth, sons, everything he could 255 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,520 possibly have wanted and asked for. 256 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,920 But he's unworthy because he feels he's unworthy because 257 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:35,720 these blessings were stolen. He deceived his father, wronged 258 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:41,800 his brother and and one can only assume was he at the as he's 259 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:45,560 praying this and as he's feeling this unworthiness and he's 260 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:50,120 thinking of his past transgressions is where these 261 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:54,000 blessings that that I stole finally going to be restored to 262 00:18:54,000 --> 00:19:00,080 who they really belong to? Am I going to lose it all And 263 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:07,360 then you you even hear the tone of now I deserve to lose it all. 264 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:13,440 A commentary says in verse 10. The spiritual transformation has 265 00:19:13,440 --> 00:19:21,720 taken place in Jacob. He submits to Esau and and 266 00:19:21,720 --> 00:19:26,440 acknowledges his wrongdoings and then he recognizes his 267 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:32,680 unworthiness before God. Jacob riddled with anxiety, 268 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,880 riddled with anxiety. Now, there are different ways 269 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:45,640 people react to anxiety. There's a the fight or someone 270 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:50,440 tries to fix it. There's a, a flight or there's a 271 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,760 a freeze. These are these are kind of 272 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:56,520 your, these are your, your main, your your typical 3 of 273 00:19:56,640 --> 00:19:58,120 reactions. There are definitely some 274 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:01,480 nuances in between those, but these are the main ones that 275 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:04,440 we're going to focus on today. So when it comes to fights or 276 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,640 you're, you're fixing. A fighter or a fixer in the mix 277 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,600 of anxiety obsesses on trying to do everything in their power to 278 00:20:11,600 --> 00:20:17,960 control every detail, action, reaction, etcetera to prevent or 279 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:25,280 to ensure an outcome. A flight or FLIR tries to avoid 280 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:28,240 the situation altogether by any means necessary. 281 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,360 They sweep it under the rug or throw it into the pocket 282 00:20:31,360 --> 00:20:34,640 dimension as if it doesn't exist anymore. 283 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:40,280 Then you have some freezers. This is when you're so 284 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:45,360 overwhelmed that you do nothing. You're paralyzed with fear and 285 00:20:45,360 --> 00:20:54,560 you just mentally spiral. I can honestly say I've I've 286 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:59,080 done all three. I have tried to fix and control 287 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:06,240 every detail as if I was God and I failed miserably and then 288 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,320 lashed out at others who didn't do and submit to what I thought 289 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:12,000 was the right way of doing things. 290 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:17,600 I've tried to avoid situations and cast them away and just for 291 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:21,560 them to come back in my face and explode into an even bigger and 292 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,240 greater issue. And I've been so overwhelmed 293 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:31,160 that I could do nothing but sit, think and spiral into despair. 294 00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:37,000 But God Amen. But God Amen. 295 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:41,160 That was a call back. Some people remember that. 296 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:51,720 So let's see actually what Jacob does verse 13 to 21, as you see 297 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:55,880 the as you see here and as he's planning, hey, I'm going to 298 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:59,440 give, he saw all these gifts. I'm going to send all this stuff 299 00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,360 here so I can, I can appease him. 300 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:03,600 I can lighten the lighten the load. 301 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,360 And this way I can get the outcome I desire. 302 00:22:06,360 --> 00:22:12,480 It appears that Jacob is a fighter or a fixer again, he's 303 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:16,280 if I sent, he saw the best of the best, all these presents by 304 00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:22,280 droves again, this will soften them up, soften them up just 305 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,920 enough. Well, maybe my family and I will 306 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:36,520 be safe. Verse 22 and 23 that night after 307 00:22:36,520 --> 00:22:43,880 he sent off his gifts and his servants, he then sends off his 308 00:22:43,880 --> 00:22:50,640 family and now he's alone. And this is when something crazy 309 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:55,960 happens in verse 24 through 29. This is when the the famous 310 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:02,680 wrestling match happens. Now before we really dive into 311 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:07,600 this, I am not a wrestling coach or a wrestler like a like our 312 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:11,680 boy Cole. So the the nuances in the in the 313 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,000 passion around the around the physical aspects of wrestling. 314 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:18,600 If y'all was expecting and ready mentally for education around 315 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,360 there, you Google by yourself after a service. 316 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:27,360 OK, but anyway, in the middle of the night, while he was by 317 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:33,600 himself initially a random man start to wrestle with Jacob 318 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:41,800 until the sun came up until the sun came up. 319 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:49,520 But Jacob in this situation you got to know that he he knew 320 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,600 something was off 1. Jacob is known for being a very 321 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,360 strong man and in some of his past he has some incredible 322 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,880 feats of moving boulders that took multiple men to do so. 323 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,840 The fact that one a man is is wrestling with him and lasting 324 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,840 this long till the sun comes up is already like a a red flag to 325 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:07,840 him. But then what? 326 00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:12,040 What definitely sets it up as a as a something crazier. 327 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:18,440 The man just touches his hip and dislocates it. 328 00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:24,520 At that moment, at that very second, Jacob knew he was 329 00:24:24,520 --> 00:24:30,120 wrestling the divine being. This is no mere mortal Jacob at 330 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:34,120 his wit's end. Now has his strength gone that 331 00:24:34,120 --> 00:24:37,680 he that he relied on. He knows that his brother is is 332 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,720 approaching only now, in a couple hours, because it's 333 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:43,480 daytime now. He's about to lose everything. 334 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:47,720 He's about to lose everything he already has, has planned it, 335 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,120 already has seen it already, has spiralled about it, already, has 336 00:24:51,120 --> 00:24:53,520 tried to mitigate it, but knows that it's over. 337 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,320 Now he's exhausted now he's hurt. 338 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,680 He doesn't even have the physical strength to fight back 339 00:24:58,680 --> 00:25:02,720 anymore. But he knows if I hold on to 340 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:15,520 this man, if I hold on tight, I'm going to get a blessing, and 341 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:17,560 this blessing is going to be my blessing. 342 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:25,920 The man then reveals that he is God. 343 00:25:29,360 --> 00:25:34,560 Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel. 344 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:41,240 For you have wrestled with God and with the man and have 345 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:53,400 prevailed. And there he blesses Jacob and 346 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:59,200 wrestling with God. He think about this, he hasn't 347 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,800 been back home for 20 years with the fear of his brother killing 348 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:08,600 him, but he was obedient and went in the midst of this, when 349 00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:12,920 he sees that his brother is coming with 400 people, 400 men, 350 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:23,200 he prays, God, I am freaking out and I don't see a path out of 351 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:30,000 this. I don't see any good coming of 352 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:33,120 this. But you said you got me. 353 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:42,200 And even then, he still, as we do, tries to rely on his own 354 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,360 strength and, and mitigate his own situation. 355 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:51,600 And throughout his whole his life and in those 20 years of 356 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:57,440 being gone, he he dealt with many of men trying to scheme it 357 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:05,800 out with him as well. But in this moment, God blesses 358 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:09,880 him. And this isn't a continuation of 359 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,760 a blessing from which he stole from his brother. 360 00:27:13,480 --> 00:27:17,720 And this wasn't by feet of his own strength, because with that 361 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:23,360 touch of the hip, his strength was gone, not by anything he 362 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:29,320 did. A contrary says that though 363 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:32,320 Jacob is apparently a man of considerable strength, the Angel 364 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,760 of the Lord accommodates his strength to Jacob. 365 00:27:35,160 --> 00:27:40,920 God dislocates Jacob's hip. The wrestlers pivot of strength. 366 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:48,720 Having previously depended upon his wits, his strength, Jacob's 367 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:53,760 natural powers are now crippled. All this future steps will 368 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:57,640 remind him of his dependence upon divine grace. 369 00:28:00,120 --> 00:28:02,920 So now he has a future reminder. But I'm here to tell you that 370 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:07,160 even in the past he depended when he thought he was depending 371 00:28:07,160 --> 00:28:09,520 on his wits, when he thought he was depending on his strength, 372 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:13,760 it was still God's grace and his promises and his sovereignty 373 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:18,320 that he was still elevated and blessed and chosen. 374 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:26,920 Despite his schemes and treachery, Tamaki says Jacob 375 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:30,880 kept fighting and scheming for a blessing and inheritance that 376 00:28:30,880 --> 00:28:36,040 God had already promised him while he was in the womb. 377 00:28:37,960 --> 00:28:43,960 He then references the statement made by God in Genesis 2523 that 378 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:49,480 while in the room, God knew that his nation would come from 379 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:52,720 Jacob, that Esau, the older brother, would bow to the 380 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:56,680 younger brother. He knew every event in his life 381 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:01,400 how it would turn out. God knew who his wife was meant 382 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:05,720 to be. Leah and as Leah endured, 383 00:29:05,800 --> 00:29:11,840 endured Jacob's discontentment, he still blessed her and gave 384 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:14,640 her sons. And when she stopped hoping to 385 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:18,880 gain her husband's love and stop focusing on her husband, but 386 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:23,600 focus on God and gratitude towards him, he gave her Judah. 387 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:29,200 And from the tribe of Judah comes the reason we have Advent 388 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:30,720 Jesus. Amen. 389 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:36,080 Amen. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. 390 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:42,320 Isaiah prophecies about him in verse Chapter 9, verse 6. 391 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,320 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. 392 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:50,280 The government shall be upon his shoulders, His name shall be 393 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,160 called. Wonderful, wonderful counselor, 394 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:58,880 mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 395 00:30:00,200 --> 00:30:03,480 This is the reason for Advent. Amen. 396 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:06,960 All right, we're on the Tom Crunch. 397 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:08,760 Look, I'm look, I'm already dwindling. 398 00:30:09,520 --> 00:30:14,440 So let me get back to Jacob and and how and how he got his peace 399 00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:19,720 in this ancient situation. So in verse 30 through 32, he 400 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:25,520 sees and he says and seeing God face to face, even with all his 401 00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:29,520 past transgressions, his deceit, his manipulation, his scheming, 402 00:30:29,720 --> 00:30:33,920 he is not only spared by God but is giving a blessing from God. 403 00:30:34,080 --> 00:30:38,480 A commentary says that Jacob's preservation during his face to 404 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:42,680 face meeting with the Almighty God anticipates his preservation 405 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:47,720 or his salvation during his imminent encounter with his 406 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:51,240 brother Esau, who is a mere human being. 407 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:56,120 He is finally at peace. He is resting in God's promises. 408 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:59,880 He has peace because he knows that God is with him and keeps 409 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:02,480 his word. God gives Jacob peace in the 410 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:06,280 midst of his anxiety. He has striving with God or 411 00:31:06,280 --> 00:31:10,920 wrestle with God and wrestled with man and he has prevailed. 412 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:16,720 How does this apply to frontier when anxiety hits US? 413 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:22,640 First, I want to say that Cole, like Cole, I am an advocate for 414 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:26,600 therapy and again I feel like he articulated this very well last 415 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:30,000 week as well when he said what therapy does really well is that 416 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,400 it helpful. It is helpful when it gives 417 00:31:32,400 --> 00:31:35,800 language and otherwise sub articulate emotion experiences. 418 00:31:36,720 --> 00:31:38,840 Given language and naming things. 419 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:43,760 It is helpful and it has limitations giving language and 420 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:46,600 naming help. Giving language and naming 421 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:48,920 things help but does not solve it. 422 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:52,040 At the root you are a spiritual being designed to be in 423 00:31:52,040 --> 00:31:55,480 communion with God. All of our problems are not at 424 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:59,560 the root of psychology problems. There are proximity problems. 425 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:04,400 You are a person who needs to be in the place in the presence of 426 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:05,840 God. That was fire bro. 427 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:07,160 So I had to reset it one more time. 428 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,880 All right. So Jacob was restless and 429 00:32:10,880 --> 00:32:14,520 anxious and a mess until he was in the presence of God and 430 00:32:14,520 --> 00:32:18,560 reminded of his promises and grace and is constantly not 431 00:32:18,560 --> 00:32:21,800 reminded because of his hip, thus giving him peace. 432 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:27,040 God gave you, gave us frontier. Jesus gave us the gospel. 433 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:33,400 So if we are fighter or fixers, when anxiety hit, or even if we 434 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,520 are flight, go to flight mode, or even if we freeze and we 435 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:40,440 spiral, we are called to pray and remember the gospel. 436 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:45,040 Remember Jesus, pray and rest in God's promises. 437 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:49,440 This brings us to our big idea and it can be summed up as such. 438 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:52,680 Through prayer, repeating the gospel, and remembering God's 439 00:32:52,680 --> 00:32:58,400 promises, you will find peace in any situation. 440 00:32:59,240 --> 00:33:01,960 Through prayer, repeating the gospel, remembering God's 441 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:08,000 promises, you will find peace. Some of the promises in in 442 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:13,040 Joshua 1/5 he says no man shall be able to stand before you all 443 00:33:13,040 --> 00:33:16,840 the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, I will 444 00:33:16,840 --> 00:33:20,120 be with you. I will never leave or forsake 445 00:33:20,120 --> 00:33:24,800 you. In Isaiah 4110 he tells us, fear 446 00:33:24,800 --> 00:33:33,040 not, He is with us when we pray, when we pray, not if, when we 447 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,920 pray because Jesus had. Because of Jesus we have a 448 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:42,000 direct connection to the Father, direct connection to the throne. 449 00:33:42,800 --> 00:33:50,000 When you pray, remind yourself of the gospel and of God's 450 00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:53,560 promises and you will be at peace. 451 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:57,480 Paul tells us in Philippians 4627. 452 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,440 Do not be anxious about everything, but in everything. 453 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:03,040 Be in prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving. 454 00:34:03,560 --> 00:34:09,199 Let your request to be made known to God and that the peace 455 00:34:09,199 --> 00:34:13,440 of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your 456 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:15,760 heart, your mind in Christ Jesus. 457 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:20,320 This peace isn't just a snap of the finger where all your 458 00:34:20,320 --> 00:34:22,480 problems go away and he's a genie. 459 00:34:24,800 --> 00:34:26,679 Can it be? Does it happen? 460 00:34:27,159 --> 00:34:30,199 It can, but that doesn't mean that it will. 461 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:34,080 Jacob, even after receiving peace, being that peace be 462 00:34:34,080 --> 00:34:38,360 reminded of God's grace through his hip, still had to meet his 463 00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:41,120 brother, still had to face this issue. 464 00:34:42,719 --> 00:34:47,080 It is a peace in the midst of a storm, a peace that surpasses 465 00:34:47,080 --> 00:34:50,920 understand, all understanding because the world is going nuts 466 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:55,080 around you, but yet you are standing firm in that peace. 467 00:34:56,239 --> 00:34:58,680 Some storms are so crazy. You have to remind yourself of 468 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:02,560 the gospel and his promises and pray moment by moment, minute by 469 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:07,320 minute. It's not always actually rarely 470 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:10,960 ever just a one time thing. That's something you have to do 471 00:35:11,320 --> 00:35:17,680 and you're good. Lastly, got these applications 472 00:35:17,680 --> 00:35:19,600 for you guys and then I'm I'm out of your hair. 473 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:24,920 You know me, don't you? Yeah. 474 00:35:25,120 --> 00:35:26,280 Shocker. It is. 475 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:29,880 Read your Bible is the first one every time, man. 476 00:35:29,880 --> 00:35:32,600 I, I we got to hit this. It is. 477 00:35:32,720 --> 00:35:37,240 It is literally breathed words by God. 478 00:35:37,680 --> 00:35:41,880 Read your Bible. You can't remind yourself of 479 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:44,800 God's promises if you don't know them. 480 00:35:48,800 --> 00:35:49,920 I got you. I got you. 481 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:55,040 Read your Bible. You can't remind yourself of 482 00:35:55,040 --> 00:35:58,360 God's promises if you don't know them. 483 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:04,160 Pray. Talk to Him constantly. 484 00:36:05,760 --> 00:36:12,000 This will make it easier to rest and talk with Him in a storm. 485 00:36:13,840 --> 00:36:19,320 Lastly, when you go through a storm, remember to pray. 486 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:24,680 Repeat the gospel and remember God's promises. 487 00:36:25,480 --> 00:36:29,280 Also talk to a pastor. Talk to ACG leader. 488 00:36:30,440 --> 00:36:33,640 We have deacons here. You can talk to elders. 489 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:39,080 There's a tons of people in Frontier that would love to pray 490 00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:42,000 and walk through whatever storm you're going through with you. 491 00:36:43,960 --> 00:36:48,280 And to those here that that may not be believers or not sure 492 00:36:48,280 --> 00:36:54,480 where you're at, don't even know what the gospel is, there are 493 00:36:54,480 --> 00:36:58,800 people here that would love to pray with you. 494 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:06,960 Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for 495 00:37:06,960 --> 00:37:10,160 your son. Thank you for the peace in the 496 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:13,720 midst of storms. Thank you for a peace that 497 00:37:13,720 --> 00:37:17,920 surpasses all understanding, Father. 498 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:27,680 We live in a broken, Dark World, and when we let Your light show 499 00:37:27,720 --> 00:37:31,320 shine through US, people will be confused. 500 00:37:32,040 --> 00:37:35,480 Sometimes we'll even be confused in the midst of it, but we ask 501 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:36,920 that you hold our hands through it. 502 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:40,480 Some people here in the sound of my voice, Father, are going 503 00:37:40,480 --> 00:37:44,560 through some crazy storms right now and need you more than ever. 504 00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:50,280 Please hold their hands, hold them tight and love them Jesus 505 00:37:50,280 --> 00:37:51,280 every pray. Hey, ma'am.