The God of Phenix City

Intro:

20 years has past since Jacob’s vow at Bethel

Seemingly has no zeal to return, as he settles in Shechem and buys land there

God has fulfilled His side of the vow to Jacob, to be with him, protect him… but Jacob still hasn’t made it back. (28)

It’s only when trials come that his heart then longs for God, may that not be for you and I!

Who only cling to God when times are low and not when times are joyful and thrilling!

Shechem, a godless people

Need to return faded

Comfortability began settling in

Surrounded by a godless household

Certainly knew that sin had creeped in

Gods people aren't to be mixed with the world

the seed of the woman was to be different than the seed of the serpent

the sons of God were to dispel the daughters of men

evil things lay in store for the joining of what God put asunder… and this story illustrates it

every man in Shechem laid dead at the proposal of mixing Israel with Canaan

and now Jacob is afraid

Genesis 34:30 “30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.””

Can Jacob and the people of God, be redeemed?

To Bethel… Genesis 31:13 “13 ‘I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to Me; now arise, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’ ””

Genesis 18:19 “19 “For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.””

Calls you to worship Him (1)

what is the cure? … separate yourself from worldliness

Cries out for reformation (2)

need for reformation, not just in the city, but in the household

Jacobs family got right with God, once Jacob HIMSELF did!… importance of our example, the importance of leaders!

the children had Gods because Rachel had gods! … kept the household idols of her father Gen 31:19.

Application:

call your family together and say, I see we are going astray, let’s pursue God together

pray together as a family… not just at meals!!! it’s not taboo!!

“change your garments” — change your character and cleanse yourself before the worship of God

Ephesians 4:22–24 “22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

is there anything in you that is ungodly

is there anything in your home that is ungodly

Wants you to remember Him (3)

a revival of old memories can be good for us… conversion, or where we strayed away but deserted it all to be in the presence of God

Genesis 28:20–22 “20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, 21 and I return to my father’s house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. 22 “This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.””

Demands you give up foreign gods (4)

Joshua 24:15 “15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””

bury your idols, purify yourself, surrender to God

Protects you from further threats (5)

It means that God, in ways that we can’t always understand, protects those who are faithful to Him

depiction of the faithful walking in the protection of God amidst a wicked/cruel world (5)

Genesis 34:30 “30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and my men being few in number, they will gather together against me and attack me and I will be destroyed, I and my household.””

a parting of the red sea for His people

could they hear the cries, see the war, smell the bloodshed?

yet they did not pursue… would be easy to pick off these sole travellers! … no wonder Esau brought 400 men

a great terror… the terror of God

in the song of Moses… Exodus 15:16 “16 “Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Until Your people pass over, O Lord, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.”

Exodus 23:27 “27 “I will send My terror ahead of you, and throw into confusion all the people among whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.”

Faith over fear… a fear that the people would kill him

Is your leader (6)

Jacob is head over his people, where he goes they follow (6)

Jesus is head over all his people, will you follow him?

You can’t claim to be part of Jacob if you don’t obey his demands and trickle behind while everyone else moves along

“well i was saved 30 years ago!” then why aren’t you with his people? and more importantly, why aren’t you with HIM!

Is faithful to His word (7)

Genesis 28:12–13 “12 He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching 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 your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants.”

Genesis 28:15 “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.””

Requires your life (8)

death shall come to all (8)

even to those we love, even to us

therefore surrender to God, lay down your life

Conclusion:

Jacob get a renewed appearance of God, confirmation of his new name, and enlarged promises!

If you have tonight, rediscovered your first love for Christ, DON’T let it fade!