The One in the Manger Gives Peace
Why The Manger? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
Division is natural. Unity is the Exception!
Division is natural. Unity is the Exception!
It hard when we get together. Uh Yeah, that's life. It is because sin still has a foothold.
From their conception Esau and Jacob warred.
They physically fought within Rebecca to the point where, she was concerned something was wrong so she went to God, and prayed “Why is this happening to me?” God responded by saying
And the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”
So from their earliest days these sons of Isaac were divided.
This is how it is amongst us at times. We can become so naturally divided. how could we ever come together?
Well Esau was born first with Jacob grabbing his heal trying to pull him back. Imagine this rivalry being so deep that even at their birth Jacobs instinct is to overcome his brother.
So these brothers are born.
Esau, favored by his father Isaac, is a strong man, a hunter, a mans man, valiant and brave.
Jacob, favored by Rebecca, is a quiet man, he is a homebody, an introvert. He loathed his brother.
Side note. If you want to destroy family relationships, have a favorite child. It will divide your children. In a heartbeat.
Jacob, a grown man has come into his name, a swindler, deceiver, liar. Not exactly the man of the hour. He is the younger brother living in the shadow of the mighty Esau.
Jacob is insecure, all he knows is that God said said, he would rule over Esau, so he will do whatever it takes to rule!
My friends, relationships are destroyed when we try and impose our will, our desires on others. It is not for you and I to impose anything. It is our sacred honor to walk in the will of the almighty God.
David, was anointed to be king, and had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he understood that it is Gods job to bring about His plan.
You don’t understand pastor. God promised this would happen.
Then rest! Hope in the God who made the Promise!
But we see here that Jacob does not rest in God, but instead, he corners Esau into giving up his birthright.
One day Esau returns from a long hunting journey, for whatever reason he was starving and nealy dead. He comes by Jacobs tent and asks him, “may I have some stew so I don’t die?”
Jacob using the situation to his advantage, says, “give me your birthright!”
Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?”
Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.
Jacob here, would rather see Esau die then him walk in his birthright.
Some brother!
Later on Jacob will lie and deceive Isaac, his father, to obtain the blessing of God. Jacob was blessed over Esau. He pretended to be Esau, and Isaac blessed him. Sealing the promise God made that the Older would serve the younger.
Well Esau, swore to kill Jacob, because now Jacob had stolen everything from him.
Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”
But this what happens when you and I live in a selfishly. This is the ethos of our current world. “I’m here to get mine!” I will do whatever it takes to be happy!”
These natural motivations are what destroy relationships. As long as we are in it for me. division will be the product.
After Division, comes the wilderness.
After Division, comes the wilderness.
Divisions erupted, and to save his newly blessed life, Rebecca sends Jacob to her brother, Laban, who swindled him. By marrying his first daughter, Leah, to Jacob when he wanted to marry Rachel. So 14 years later, Jacob has Leah and Rachel as Wives and a bunch of kids.
God blessed Jacob in every way imaginable. Gods hand was on His life and family.
Then one day God speaks to Jacob:
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
Wait! Esau lives there. I can’t return home. I will be killed.
I cannot go back. I deceived, I lied, I stole, I broke my family. I will be killed.
But you see church, God had been working all these years in Jacob. Humbling him through Leah and Laban. the Holy Spirit was working in this man.
Jacob Deceived hiss Father in-law upon leaving, but God spoke to Laban and said:Do him no harm”
So even while Jacob was still deceiving God was shielding him from judgement.
Perhaps you have been used to bring division in the past. Let the Holy Spirit renew your heart and teach you and I humility that we might be used of God to bring reconciliation.
The 20 years Jacob was in the house of Laban, where building years for the Holy Spirit in Jacobs life.
Jacob had everything. He was home, exceedingly wealthy, he lots of kids, and Gods hand on his life.
But my friends you can have it all right, but if there is division in your life, there will not be peace.
So Jacob begins his journey home. But He is Terrified of meeting Esau! Esau's last words haunt Jacob. “I’m going to kill him!”
God sends angels to help Jacob continue home. Jacob sends messengers ahead to test the waters with Esau.
The Return saying, Esau is coming with 400 men.
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps,
Fear, anxiety, horror. Jacobs sins have come to haunt him. He has wronged him and Esau's wrath would not only fall on Jacob but on Leah, on Rachel, and their entire family.
So Jacob prays
And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children.
God, I am unworthy of your love. you have blessed me so much. your faithfulness overwhelms me. Your goodness is unending.
But I’m so scared God! I’m so scared to confront my past. I am Jacob, the deceiver, Jacob the liar, Jacob the thief. Help me!
Jacob the next day sends Esau a gift of animals. Goats, ewes, camels cows calves, bulls.
Trying to earn favor with Esau.
One thing we often try and do as humans, if we wrong someone, we buy them gifts.
Gifts don’t heal broken hearts. You see there is no amount of animals that Jacob could give that could undo the Sin that he had done.
But Jacob in a last ditch effort to save his family and his life. sends these gifts.
That night Jacob meets God! He and his family cross the river, and Jacob is left alone and God comes and physically wrestles with him. Jacob was so determined to receive a blessing from God he would not let go.
When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
So God broke Jacobs hip.
Then God said:
Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
God says:
And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
My name, is Jacob, Deceiver, Suplanter, Liar, thief.
“NO!”
Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
No Longer will you be Jacob, You are Israel, My chosen one!
In one moment with God Jacob is transformed from Liar into Patriarch. From Fear into Faith. From Swindler to Saint.
Now I’m not saying he was perfect by any means, but was in this moment with God that he is made new into
Immediately following this meeting with God Jacob sees Esau.
And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Jacob sees Esau coming and so he protects his wives and children, but what he sees blows his mind.
As Esau gets closer, he gets off his camel or horse, and he begins to run. Faster and faster, grabbing Jacob by the neck, hugging him, crying.
Esau even asks Jacob, “why are you sending all of these gifts?
Reconciliation is for Everyone.
Reconciliation is for Everyone.
Esua tells Jacob, I don’t need these gifts. God has blessed me too!
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. Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
Jacob essentially is saying I am so overjoyed to be reconciled with you that I have to give this. please take it.
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
Through the Cross you and I are reconciled to the Father through Christ.
You and I are called to the “ministry of reconciliation.”
Do you help bring people together? Or are you used to divide?
This Christmas Bring peace wherever you go!
How do you do it?
Well if you have lived very long long at all you have divisions in your life. Coworkers, family, friends. Divisions arise as we see in in the life Jacob and Esau out of selfish ambition, or careless handling of Gods blessings. Divisions will arise. things will be said.
After Divisions have comes there is often silence and awkwardness between the affected parties. Notice though. Just because Jacob was away from Esau physically that separation did not grant him peace spiritually.
Only a moment with God could ready Jacobs heart to meet Esau again.
Often people will try and mend fences in their own wisdom or in their own strength. you cannot undo the past. But In Christ All things are made new.
For 20 years Jacob tried to move beyond Esau, but if he was truly going to walk with God he had to confront His past divisions. He had to confront His past Sins.
God had been working in Jacob, but He had also been working in Esau, preparing Esau for this moment as well.
You see, when we learn to abide in the will and presence of God, He will use us to bring reconciliation. W can trust Him that He has taken care of the other people.
We often will say, what about the other person, well you need to trust God to take care of them.
Gary leads Worship