SF794 - WINNING THE WAR WITHIN (Genesis 25 19-24)
Genesis 25:19-24
Introduction
Three foes
The world = the external foe
The flesh = the internal foe
The devil = the infernal foe
Victory over the Flesh
Jacob and Esau - first mention of twins in the Bible
Ø Nothing identical about them, one was ruled by heavenly things and one by worldly things.
In Jacob and Esau we see the struggle between our sin nature and the Spirit…
1A. The Source of Our Struggle (25:19-26)
1B. The sterile wife (25:19-21)
Rebekah's pedigree (25:19-20)
Ø She was born of a pagan tribe.
Ø Her pedigree tells us that we cannot expect much from our natural birth.
Rebekah’s promise (25:20a)
Ø Pictures the wedding of Christ and the church!
Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Ø Every time the gospel is preached Christ is proposing to you.
Rebekah's problem (25:21)
Ø Rebekah was barren.
Ø The Lord answered Isaac
We are to be fruitful for the Lord Jesus
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
Ø It is one thing to have faith in Christ it is another thing to have fruit through Christ.
Ø God wants you to be fruitful.
Ø We should be broken over our barrenness.
2B. The secret war (25:22-26)
The war experienced (25:22)
Ø The war began when she became fruitful.
The war explained (25:23-24)
Ø Two nations.
Israelites
Edomites
Ø Two natures (25:24)
Galatians 5:16-23
The two natures exposed (25:25-26)
Ø Esau represents the sin nature
He was the elder (25:25) The flesh comes before the spirit
He was a born loser (25:23) He was destined to fail
He opposed the things of God (25:22) Tried to kill Jacob in the womb.
Ø Jacob represents the Spirit
Jacob holding to the heal of Esau points to Calvary.
Our victory over the flesh comes from Calvary.
Romans 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
2A. The Seriousness of Our Struggle (25:27-34)
1B. The growing conflict (25:27-28)
How the boys developed (25:27)
Ø Esau chose the way of Cain (hunter)
Ø Jacob chose the way of Abel (shepherd)
The things we cultivate in our lives are the things that ultimately control us.
How the boys differed (25:28)
Ø Esau was loved for what he did.
Ø Jacob was loved for who he was.
God loved Jacob for what He knew He could make out of him.
2B. The great confrontation (25:29-34)
Esau focused on earthly things (25:29-34)
He wanted everything now.
Ø What Esau saw (25:29)
Ø What Esau said (25:30-32)
He was a materialist. He was more interested in physical things than spiritual things.
Ø What Esau sold
He was willing to sacrifice the permanent upon the altar of the immediate.
Matthew 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Jacob focused on eternal things (25:31-34)
He knew the value of the birthright
Ø It gave the right to the family property
Ø It gave the right of family priesthood
Ø It gave the right of family headship
Application
Are you more like Esau or Jacob?
Do you desire the things of God or the things of this world?
Are you bearing fruit for God?
Are you broken hearted over your fruitlessness?
WINNING THE WAR WITHIN
Sunday, October 25, 1998 - Genesis 25:19-24
1A. The ________________ of Our Struggle (19-26)
1B. The Sterile Wife (19-21)
Rebekah's pedigree (19-20)
Rebekah’s _______________ (20b)
Galatians 3:29 NIV 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Rebekah's _______________ (21)
Ø Rebekah was barren.
We are to be ________________ for the Lord Jesus
John 15:4 NIV 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
2 Peter 1:8 NKJV 8For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:4 NKJV 4Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.
B. The ____________ War (22-26)
The war _________________ (22)
The war ________________ (23-24)
Ø Two nations.
Ø Two ________
Galatians 6:16-21
The two ___________________ exposed (25-26)
Ø Esau represents the __________ nature
Ø Jacob represents the ___________
Romans 6:6 NKJV 6knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
2A. The Seriousness of Our Struggle (27-34)
1B. The _________________ Conflict (27-28)
How the boys _____________ (27)
How the boys _____________ (28)
2B. The Great Confrontation (29-34)
Esau minded ____________ things (29-34)
Ø What Esau ____________ (29)
Ø What Esau said (30-32)
Hebrews 12:16 NIV 16See that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.
Ø What Esau _______________
Matthew 16:25 NKJV 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Jacob minded _______________ things (31-34)
Ø It gave the right to the family _____________
Ø It gave the right of family priesthood
Ø It gave the right of family progenitorship
Are you broken hearted over your fruitlessness?