June 17, 2012

Many of us truly love Jesus Christ, we just don’t know how to love Him with our lives. We are defeated, though we esteem victory. We are trying to accomplish something great but with the wrong tools. We are like ready seamen without a boat, eager craftsman without a hammer, or desirous archers without a bow. We mean well, but our lives don’t work. And yet, though many of us testify to such a life of impotence, there is a very real and actual solution to this frustrating inability.

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sermon notes

JACOB – THE HEEL GRABBER
One who takes hold of the heel, a layer of snares, a supplanter, a deceiver

In Rebekah’s Womb (the Heel Grabber)

And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob (one who takes hold of the heel, a supplanter, a deceiver, a layer of snares).
Genesis 25:24-26

THE BOWL OF RED STEW (THE LAYER OF SNARES)

And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint . . . And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright . . . And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he swore unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way . . .
Genesis 25:29-31, 33-34

USURPING ISAAC’S BLESSING (THE SUPPLANTER, THE DECEIVER)

And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son . . . And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob . . . And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou bid me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau . . . And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting . . . And (Esau) said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.
Genesis 27:15,17,19,21-22,30,36

He Esteemed What God Had to Give He just didn’t know how to get it

WHAT DEFINES A HEEL GRABBER?
They see the God-blessing and they desperately want the God-blessing, but they attempt to get it through the Flesh (self-effort, self-discipline, self-restraint). They are not men and women of faith, but men and women of Self-effort and Self-righteousness. They believe that something outside of Jesus saves them. They have clothed themselves in their own righteous work.

THE LEGALIST
Jacob – The Heel Grabber
One who takes hold of the heel, a layer of snares, a supplanter, a deceiver

SOME COMMON HEELS TO GRAB

1. Moral Purity (if only I can keep my mind and heart without spot and blemish, then . . . )
2. External Righteousness (if only I wear this, don’t wear that, do this, and don’t do that, then . . . )
3. Compassionate Rescue (if only I do good to the poor, adopt the orphan, and visit the widow, then . . . )
4. Dutiful Attendance (if only I stay faithful in my church commitment, then . . . )
5. Sacramental Acts (if only I get baptized in water and take Holy communion, then . . .)
6. Spiritual Disciplines (if only I get a good prayer time and a solid study time in daily, then . . . )
7. Ellerslie (if only I go to Ellerslie, hear the teaching, and linger in the atmosphere, then . . . )

Where Does Your Confidence Lie on Judgment Day?

Is your faith in what YOU DO or in what HE DID?

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8,9

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:14-16

THE GREEK LEGEND OF THE ACHILL’S HEEL

As Greek legend would have it, a little baby boy was born to the goddess, Thetis. It was foretold that this little boy, named Achilles, would die young in battle. The goddess, Thetis, refused to accept this prophecy and contrived a way to bring Achilles to the River Styx to secure the magical protections of the wicked waters upon him. Grabbing him by his heel, she dipped his entire body into the dark river thus clothing him with magical untouchability. But, as Thetis held Achilles’ by the heel, his heel was not washed over by the magical waters. And thus, Achilles was unstoppable and invulnerable in every point upon his body, but one. And thus, after surviving many great battles with incredible, unstoppable prowess, one day, a poisonous arrow lodged itself in his heel, and killed him just as had been prophesied.

THE LEGEND UNPACKED

• Your death is foretold
• And yet there is a refusal to accept this prophecy
• The heel is grabbed
• A false power is trusted
• But your end will come just as was foretold

DIPPED IN THE WRONG RIVER

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
1 Corinthians 15:22

And he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins. Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
Ezekiel 47:3-5

Israel – The God Grabber

THE CALL TO THE LAND OF PROMISE

And the LORD said unto Jacob (one who takes hold of the heel, a supplanter, a deceiver, a layer of snares), Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
Genesis 31:3

BUT WE ARE COVERED IN THE RIVER STYX

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.
Isaiah 55:7

THE MAKING OF ISRAEL

(And the Man of God said,) Let me go, for the day breaks. And (Jacob) said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Genesis 32:26-28

THE GREAT WORK OF THE CROSS

The LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Isaiah 44:23

The Redemption of the Heel Grabber
The LORD hath redeemed Jacob . . .
Isaiah 44:23

REDEMPTION
The repurchase of captured goods or prisoners; the act of procuring the deliverance of persons or things from the possession and power of captors by the payment of an equivalent.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:14

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth…
Job 19:25

THE HOPE OF GLORY

Put Off
Put On

Put off the old man . . . put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth … put off the old man with his deeds
Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:8,9

Put on the armor of light . . . put on the Lord Jesus Christ . . . put on Christ . . . put on the new man . . . put on the whole armor of God . . . put on the breastplate of righteousness . . . put on the new man . . . put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering, but above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Romans 13:12,14; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:24, 6:11,14; Colossians 3:10,12,14

GRABBING GOD INSTEAD OF THE HEEL OF SELF-EFFORT

. . . it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8,9

CLOTHED IN HIS WORK

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10

TRANSFORMED WASTE

• Recycling is processing waste into new products
• Spiritual Recycling is processing wasted lives into new people
• Recyclable Materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics.
• Spiritually Recyclable Materials include dumb moves, idiotic maneuvers, boneheaded behaviors, and otherwise self-centered, fleshly acts of ridiculousness.

GOD TRANSFORMS HEEL GRABBERS

You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Genesis 50:20

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

REMEMBER JERICHO…