A Life Changing Encounter Part II

The lost person, and encounter leading to salvation, but to the Christian, a growing and conforming encounter that leads to recommitment and dedication.

let’s begin in prayer.

Father: we come to you, with humble hearts. We desire and ask once again to experience your presence this morning. Move in this place and in our hearts. Transform us, conform us, convict us, teach us, help us now, Lord. Be not far from us, but be present in this place. And as you speak to us, may we become even more committed and grow in our faith in You. Father, save the lost. Forgive me of my sins. In Jesus name, Amen.

Amen.

Introduction: Adrian Rogers, the great pastor conservative pastor, author, was a 3-term president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Rogers was a high school football star when he surrendered his life to the Lord. One night on that same football field where he’d scored his touchdowns, he found himself alone, standing and seeking God and praying, “Lord, I want You to use me.” Rogers didn't feel his prayer was fervent enough, so he humbled himself and on bended knees he prayed even more passionately, “Lord, please use me.” Still, young Adrian wanted to express his availability even more. So lying face down on the field – face to the ground – he prayed again, “Lord, I beg You. Use me.” Even that posture of earnest brokenness wasn't enough for this young man. He took his fingers, dug a hole in the dirt, put his nose in it, and prayed again, “Lord, I am as surrendered as I know how to be. Please use me!” Many years later, Dr. Rogers talked about that defining moment in his life, "On that starry summer night in the middle of that football field, I couldn't tell you much about theology of the Holy Spirit, but the power of God moved into my life in a life-changing way. I didn't speak in tongues, I didn't see beams of heavenly lights,. But I was forever changed."

A life changing encounter for Rogers. With a humble response.

In our passage, Genesis 28, we will see Jacob’s response to encountering God.

Now, let’s read about this encounter. beginning in vs. 10

English Standard Version Chapter 28

10 Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 And he came to a certain place and stayed there that night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

it’s a remarkable story.

This trickster on the run.

Jacob wasn’t seeking God. He was running our of fear.

But God shows up in a dream.

And in this dream, there’s a ladder from heaven to earth.

And this ladder is not a result of man seeking after God, pursuing God, but God seeking man.

True to the words of Paul - Romans 3:11: “no one seeks for God.”

But this gospel centered vision of angels going up and down this ladder.

These spiritual beings, messengers of God.

But this ladder does not show man climbing up, but God coming to man.

And God did come to man, Jesus came. took on flesh, came to his own ,but they knew him not.

And in this dream, God reaffirms his promise to Abraham, here with Jacob.

A promise of blessing, land, offspring.

But in a special way, God’s presence with Jacob.

And as we consider this experience with God.

Remember, it is God who gets us and moves us into a place where we can experience him.

Even through all the deception and fear, God gets Jacob to a place where Jacob doesn’t want to be.

Jaboc wants to be in Beersheba with his mom and dad. But in his sovereign plan gets Jacob here.

where God can change his life.

We need to remember. God uses the circumstances of life. Our trials and tribulations. Our sins and failures. And he uses those things for a purpose. Often when we are moved, or there are transitions in life, we forget to recognize, God is bringing us to a place, where we can experience Him, and a place where we are far better off.

but Jacob responds to encountering God in this dream.

Jacob responds to encountering God

Genesis 28:16 “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.””

Genesis 28:17 “And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.””

Here, Jacob wakes up.

And he said, surely the Lord is in this palce.

Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place I can feel His mighty power and His grace.

And he says, how awesome is this place/ This place is awesome.

And he knew and he understood, this is the gate of heaven. In his vision.

Here, Jacob is a trusting man of faith.

The promise of God came in a dream, but Jacob’s response comes when he was awake.

And we can see, Jacob trust the God in his dreams, more that his cirumstances.

He sees and hears from God, he accepts Gods word, and he responds, rightly.

And was in fear of his brother, and now, vs 17, he has a fear of God.

How does the Bible describe responding to God’s presence?

Moses, at the burning bush. God said take off your sandals for you are standing on holy ground.

In exodus 33.

English Standard Version (Chapter 33)

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21 And the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22 and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

Yet, Jacob, this special moment in his life, this time and place is where God’s divine presence leads to a transformed life.

And now, he understands and knows God like never before.

And although, he did learn God was with him, truthfully, God had always been with Jacob.

God chose him and loved him and blessed him.

And we have this ladder connecting heaven to earth.

And we have God connected to Jacob with his presence.

Notice, with me how Jacob responds.

- Responds with worship.

Genesis 28:18 “So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it.”

Genesis 28:19 “He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.”

He takes this hard pillow, this rock and makes a pillar. oil on top of it.

This was special act. This religious ceremony is an act of consecration of this place.

And often in the scriptures, pillars for religious sake is often in terms of idolatry.

When pillars and ashera poles are created, the were used to worship false gods like bale.

But here Jacob sets up a stone to honor the Lord.

And he poured oil on it, which symbolizes holiness.

You see, there was something special bout this place.

Surely the presence of the Lord is here.

And in response to an encounter with the holy, Jacob worships God.

Now, this place he calls Bethel, also called Luz. This is a special place.

Bethel meaning the house of God.

It is first mentioned in the Bible in connection with Abram, who built an altar to God there in (Genesis 12:8).

And Abraham After visiting Egypt, returned to Bethel and offered a sacrifice to God (Genesis 13:3–4).

Jacob here sets up a pillar at Bethel.

The ark of the covenant was kept at Bethel for a time, and the people often went there to seek God during times of trouble (Judges 20:18–28).

And many others times in the OT.

The House of God.

This is where he met God.

You know we call the church , the house of God.

But God is not confined by a place.

The house of God is place where we can come and where we can encounter God.

It is where we come to worship God as a congregation.

And know the Spirit resides in every believer.

But Church, is it not amazing when we can come here, and leave saying surely we’ve been in God’s presence.

Is it not amazing coming to church, and saying How awesome is our God.

That’s because, when God graces us with his presence, we are changed.

And this place called bethel is the opposite of babel.

Babel, man tries to build his way to heaven. Earn his way to heaven.

But bethel, the house of God, is the place of Jacob’s ladder, where God came to man.

- Responds with commitment.

Genesis 28:20 “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear,”

Genesis 28:21 “so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God,”

Genesis 28:22 “and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house””

Now, notice this word in vs 20, If. IF GOD BE WITH ME.

Commentators are divided about what Jacob means and is saying in this vow.

If he says If, It’s as if Jacob is bargaining with God. If God does these things, then You will be my God. That is possible, because Jacob liked to barain.

But the word could also be SINCE. SINCE GOD WILL BE WITH ME. If that’s the case, this affirmative, since, God be with me, the Lord shall be my God.

I think with either way, this is a vow of faith. God does not correct Jacob here.

Jacob simply makes a serious committment, and this is the first vow recorded in the Bible.

He comes out of this dream, makes this committment, this vow to God.

And we can say that Jacob is God’s man.

And God is Jacob’s God.

Jacob comes out changed and committed.

This encounter from God demands a response from Jacob.

Here’s the question for us?

How are you responding to God’s presence and God’s grace?

Are you responding in Awe and worship. Are you responding committed and changed.

Are you allowing God to transform us and grow us in our faith.

Beloved, God is for you, and he desires your growth and that you will thrive.

Maybe, just, this is the moment, the time, when you need to recommit yourself to the Lord.

God, you are my God, I will live for you, I will worship you. I am yours God.

I’ve not been perfect, but God use me for you glory.

Last response.

- Responds with gifts.

Genesis 28:22 = And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.””

Jacob commits to A tenth. A tithe.

Now, a tithe here is not religious offering, the command to tithe is not in effect yet,

but this is an acknowledgement and response, knowing that it all belongs to God.

HE SAYS, ALL THAT YOU GIVE ME, I WILL GIVE A TENTH.

ALL JACOB HAS IS FROM GOD, AND ALL WE HAVE IS FROM GOD.

Jacob the deceiver now belongs to the God.

Jacob the deceiver is not Jacob the giver.

Up to this point he stole and he took, but now he gives a tithe.

He has committed to God, is bound to God, and blesed by God.

Responding to God’s presence.

Respond with worship. Respond with commitment. Respond with giving.

This morning, what is that transforming moment in you life?

What is it in your life, the trial and difficult circumstance that God is using to prepare you for something greater?

If you feel alone, God is with you.

If your lost, experience God in a saving way.

If your saved, recommit yourself to the Lord.

Prayer:........Amen.

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