Battling For Your Birthright

Introduction

Good morning. If you will, open your Bibles with me to Genesis chapter 25. Genesis chapter 25. And as you’re turning there, I have breaking news for you. There is a new Star Wars movie coming out in two weeks. I’m excited. Who has their tickets? Not ashamed. Now, the real winner is who has two sets of tickets to see it the second time. If you think about things we get excited about, like Star Wars and what’s not to be excited about people holding lightsabers and clashing them and fighting them, and this is the best lightsaber impression I think I can do. It’s exciting, and we like to involve friends, and we go see the movie with friends and family and we talk about it and we enjoy it and we get excited.

And if you don’t think there’s excitement and buildup for Star Wars, you haven’t watched TV or been on the internet in about 10 years. Because if you think about the Star Wars phenomenon and other types of movies and TV shows, they get our excitement up. They get us talking to each other. In fact, the hallmark of a good TV show nowadays is that if it has so many what? Tweets, right? Or retweets, exactly how that works. It’s not exactly my area of expertise. But as you think about the social media age we’re in, we love talking about things. We love talking about our life, those things which matter to us. The question I want us to consider this morning as we study an example of Genesis chapter 25 is what is my passion for?

Where is my zeal? How much do I value what God has done for me? If I just came up here and asked who loves God, who’s committed to doing what God has said, everyone’s hand would likely go up. But the truth is what we say and how we live aren’t always revealing the same answer. In Genesis chapter 25, you see the example of someone who devalued something of great worth. And Genesis 25, begin with me in verse 19. Genesis chapter 25 and verse 19. These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son. Abraham fathered Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel, the Armenian of Ped and Aram, the sister of Laban the Armenian, to be his wife. And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren.

And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. The children struggled together within her. And she said, If it is thus, why is this happening to me? So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her, Two nations are in your womb. And two peoples from within you shall be divided, though one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger. When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand, holding Esau’s heel, so his name was Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man dwelling in tents. Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game. But Rebecca loved Jacob. Of course, what’s interesting is you see the continual bloodline of Abraham, through whom we know we’re eventually going to have Jesus, through whom all families of the earth shall be blessed. But before you get there, Abraham had to have Isaac, and you have this interesting idea presented here that not only does Isaac have a son, he has two. And what’s interesting is what’s said in verse 23 from the Lord, two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided. That’s worrisome enough. But the last part is what’s interesting, and this will be the focus of our study this morning.

1. Esau Despised His Birthright

The one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger. What’s interesting about that, if you’ve read through the Old Testament scriptures before, or you know how the lineage of Christ goes, it’s Abraham, and then Isaac, and it’s not Esau, the oldest. It’s Jacob who had the twelve sons, who we consider the twelve tribes in many cases. This morning, as we discussed the battle for our birthright, note what Esau had, what was rightfully his. Who generally would serve whom? The older or the younger. Normally the younger would serve the older. And yet what God tells Rebekah is that your older will serve the younger son. Let’s see how that came to be. In verse 29 of Genesis chapter 25. Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted.

And Esau said to Jacob, Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted. Therefore his name was called Edom. Jacob said, Sell me your birthright now. 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. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. This is a little bit of an interesting passage the way we read it, of course, in this day and age, when we see that here’s Esau who’s having this birthright, and apparently he’s going to sell it to Jacob. But suffice to say, this birthright was very important and certainly very valuable.

And it, yes, it moves in God’s providential direction with how this story goes. But you have to think about a few of the situations just in verses 29 through 34. Esau made a big mistake, and how did it begin? Because Esau was very weak. How was he weak? Look back at verse 29. You see the situation. We have to give him his proper credit here. When Jacob was cooking stew, we’re going to talk about Jacob in a moment in his cooking stew at this moment in time. Esau came in from where? From the field, and he was exhausted. Verse 30 says, and Esau said to Jacob, let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted. This was a man who was very tired.

Apparently he was incredibly hungry. And of course, there was good brother Jacob with what? A nice bowl of stew. But we need to keep in mind as we discussed the story this morning, Esau was very weak. The text says he was exhausted, and obviously, from how Jacob tempted him to sell his birthright, he was very hungry as well. And this is what we want to focus on as well. Let’s look at Jacob’s role in this. Not only was he cooking the stew, but if you see the rest of the text there, Jacob shrewdly steps in in verse 31 and says, okay, well, why don’t you sell me your birthright? If you’re hungry, sell me your birthright. Now, let’s talk for just a moment. I’m not a master wheeler and dealer.

But here’s a birthright, an alt attendant blessings, and here’s a bowl of stew. Maybe if it was ice cream or steak or something good, maybe we’d be a little bit closer. That was funny, even if you didn’t laugh. But here we have what we know is obvious. Everyone who’s reading the story knows what just happened. Jacob is absolutely taking advantage of Esau. Esau is making an incredibly foolish decision to sell his birthright for food. For food and water. For food, water, and rest. You name it, there’s almost nothing Jacob could have packaged him that made this a good deal, and yet Esau did it anyway, and Jacob was there knowing he was weak, knowing there would be a moment at which apparently Esau would despise his birthright in such a way to get rid of it.

And as verse 33 says, Jacob told him, Swear to me now, and Esau swore to him. And so he had his birthright, and then he sold it for that stew. The text says in verse 34 that Esau despised his birthright. I think that’s obvious to understand the interpretation in verse 34. Did Esau consider his birthright something wonderful, of great value, of great importance? Obviously not. Because even though he was incredibly weak, even though he was incredibly exhausted, he sold it for some stew. Esau did not value this in any way that many would value it. He didn’t place much value on it at all. In Hebrews chapter 12, you see a reference to this. Turn with me there to Hebrews chapter 12, and you’ll see some New Testament guidance on how to understand this episode.

In Hebrews chapter 12, of course, as you think about the Hebrew writers writing primarily to Christians with a Jewish background, warning them diligently, do not go back. Don’t turn your back on Jesus. Don’t go back to the old law. And Hebrews chapter 12, notice with me in verse 12. Therefore, lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. That no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

Look at verse 17 carefully. For you know that afterward, when he was desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. The truth is what we know when we read it, what we know when we hear the story, is that Esau made a big mistake, and what the Hebrew writer tells us is Esau knew he had made a big mistake. You see in verse 17, what was his reaction when he realized there was no way to undo this wrong when it was done, even though he sought it with tears, there was no way of getting it back. I think it’s a sad story, and frankly, it’s a very easy story for us to gang up on Esau and say, you know what?

2. We Can Be Like Esau

Esau is a fool. He acted like a fool, and he had what was coming for him. And yes, Jacob did wrong, and Jacob needs the answer for that to God, but Esau should have known better. And by and large, that’s true. But what’s unfortunate is I think if we really study this passage carefully, we’re going to see some parallels, and it’s not just about other people who we think are foolish. I think if I’m honest, I make the same trade or worse than Esau does. And it has to do with where my zeal for God is or is lacking. It has to do with whether or not I actually care about what God did for me. We serve a great God. Amen. If we believe that, if we trust truly in the Lord, truly in Jesus the Christ, who is sacrificed for our sins, that is life-changing.

We won’t despise what God has offered, and if we are Christians, what we have accepted. I think you see some of these parallels right here. We can be like Esau. In fact, how do I know that we today can be like Esau? Because people in the Old Testament already were like Esau generations later. Look with me in Exodus chapter 16. Note if you see a parallel here. In Exodus chapter 16. Of course, Esau was before there was the people of Israel, because Jacob, his brother, who tricked him, who deceived him, who shrewdly took his birthright from him, is Jacob’s surnamed Israel, through whom this great family of Abraham would come. But in Exodus chapter 16, you have this promised physical lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Israel, the Jews, the Hebrews, the Israelites.

And they’ve been out of the land of Egypt. And note what they do in Exodus chapter 16 and verse 1. They’ve had this great victory. They’ve left their bondage. They’ve left their captivity. Exodus 16 and verse 1. Then they set out from Elam, and all the congregation of the people of Israel came to the wilderness of sin, which is between Elam and Sinai on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had departed from the land of Egypt. And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. And the people of Israel said to them, Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meatpots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Then the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I’m about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. And he gives some stipulations to explain how this process would go. Now, of course, we have to understand that God saw a need here because what did God do? When the people grumbled, he didn’t just strike them down, he provided. But that’s what the Israelites should have known from the forefront, isn’t it? Instead of in verse 2 and 3 grumbling against Moses and Aaron, and more specifically in verse 3 saying, Oh, that we were back in Egypt where we were slaves. There we had great food when we were in bondage and being oppressed.

That would be so much better than this. But the truth is, I think a lot of us know somebody who can get kind of grouchy when they’re hungry. Do you know anybody like that? In our country, we don’t understand what it means to really go without food. We certainly don’t understand what it means to go without water in Exodus chapter 17. You see a similar example around the idea of water or not having any water that’s not bitter. And of course, God again provides for the people who are found grumbling and complaining against him. But when you consider this people, what was their problem with the grumbling and complaining? Yes, the New Testament speaks about not grumbling or disputing, not being complaining. But do we trust God to provide?

Wasn’t this part of Esau’s problem? Esau was so focused on his weakness that he was willing to trade the future and all of its attendant blessings that he had coming to him for this one moment of satisfaction. If you go back to Genesis chapter 25. What was the reaction of Esau when he made the trade? Was he just like, oh, what have I done? No. The text reveals what he’d do. He ate, he drank, and he arose and went on his way. And Jacob now had the birthright or the right to the birthright. As you think about this text, that we can be like Esau. We can also be like the Israelites who get so caught up with what’s right in front of our face, what we don’t have, what we want, what we’re experiencing, what other people treat us like, that we forget what it means to live for God.

3. The Devil Often Acts Like Jacob

We forget that, yes, while this moment may be tough and there may be temptations and trials, we’re not living for now. We’re not living to have a great reputation among all, in that everyone likes us and loves us and has no disagreements with us whatsoever. We’re living so that people may see God. Why do we shine our lights in Matthew chapter 5? So that others may see God and glorify our Father in heaven. That’s the focus of Christian living. If we have a passion for God, we’re going to see past the physical trials, even as tough and rigorous as they may be. Consider with me secondly. The devil often is roaming around, acting like Jacob. There’s Jacob in verse 29, just cooking stew, apparently, while Esau’s out in the field and about to return.

Jacob sure seemed to have his brother’s number all across this entire episode. And I think the devil’s like that as well. In 1 Peter chapter 5, turn with me there. In 1 Peter chapter 5, see if there’s someone out for us like that. 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 6. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. Be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him. Firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And look at verse 10. This is the point of the lesson this morning.

1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 10. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Do you see what that Bible text promises in verse 8? Not only that the devil is our adversary seeking to devour us. I think much has been said about that over the years in any Bible study. And we need to be aware the devil’s out there looking for us, waiting to get us in a moment of weakness like Esau was in, whether it’s physical or spiritual or emotional. But you see what he says in verse 9 and 10? We have to resist him firm in our faith, knowing what?

Suffering is being experienced by the brotherhood. We need to know suffering’s going to happen. Moments of weakness will be here. As is often said, you’re either coming out of a great struggle or valley in life, or you’re about to be in one. We have to be ready. And we have to know what verse 10 says. We’re going to suffer a little while, but what is there waiting for us? We have to have the vision that Esau did not have. We have to trust in God for the long game. And verse 10, after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ. That’s what’s waiting for us. How are we going to make it through these struggles?

Why does the Hebrew writer say to strengthen your weak knees, to not allow the root of bitterness to defile you from within? Because we’re trying to please God. We’re trying to make it to be with him forever, not to conquer this life. We need to put away sin. We need to put on a body, an armor of righteousness. But the victory is God’s. And that will only come through true trust and submission to his will. And note what God will do for us after we have struggled, after we make it through our weakness and our suffering. Do you see it at the end of verse 10? He’ll himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. What does God want us to know about our struggles and our moments of weakness?

4. An Inheritance Kept in Heaven for You

What does God want from me? He wants me to know he’s there. And that if I trust in him, we will prevail because our God gives victory. Our God will not be defeated. That’s something that should get us excited, rather than something that would make us be willing to sell our inheritance. Look with me in 1 Peter chapter 1. In 1 Peter chapter 1, certainly Galatians 3.29 applies here. The idea that if we are Christ and we’re Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise, that great promise that God made to Abraham so many centuries ago. But in 1 Peter chapter 1, note what is there for the Christian. Know what is there for us to truly believe in, to trust in, and to get us through our struggles and our weakness in 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to his great mercy. He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, that is undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you. How are we going to make it through? When life’s hard, when I don’t understand what’s going on, when I don’t see why I have to go through so many hardships, so many struggles, why my decisions, which have been mostly good and towards God’s end, have left me so complicated and confused and beaten down. How am I going to make it through? Why would God let this happen to me? We need to know that there’s something there for us in verse 4.

Christians, those who believe in, accept in, and trust in Jesus Christ and Him alone as our Lord and Savior in verse 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, that’s undefiled, that will not fade away. That is what in verse 4? Kept in heaven for you. We have to keep eternity in mind. Was this not exactly Esau’s problem with the birthright? It was something that he wasn’t benefiting from at the moment. And what he needed at the moment, what he thought he needed, what he was preoccupied with, what was all over his mind and all over his heart and guided his actions was what? I am hungry and I’m exhausted. I’ll trade anything for it. Truth is, when we’re mad, when we’re heartbroken, when we’re frustrated and bitter, we trade what God has offered us for a moment of what we might feel satisfactory revenge, outbursts of wrath and anger, slander and gossip.

5. Am I Like Esau? What Is My Speech About?

That’s not what 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 3 and 4 is about. 1 Peter chapter 1 is about the wonderful inheritance that God is leaving there. God is powering to be there for all those who seek him, who trust him, and submit to him. That should be something that’s exciting to us, that we have that inheritance there from God. And so when I ask the question, Am I like Esau? The first question is, how would I know that? And the easiest way to know how I’m like that is, what is my speech about? Is my speech full of the thanksgiving for what God has done? Full of the wonderful story of Jesus? Or am I that person who always complains about something? Everyone knows that person who complains, that person who worries.

And yet in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 25, what does Jesus say? Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life. Do not worry. It has to be one of the most disobeyed Bible commands that Jesus Himself ever makes. It’s even in the words in red. Matthew chapter 6 and verse 25, Jesus works through systematically not only why we should not worry because we need to trust in God, but the fact that worrying does no good. Why would someone worry? According to Jesus in Matthew 6, verses 25 through 33, it’s because they don’t trust in God. Look at verse 33. What is the solution to the cares of this life? What is the solution to me being overburdened and not feeling like anybody cares for me?

Verse 33, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and what? All these things shall be added to you. And verse 34, some great wisdom. Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. When I think about my speech, when I talk with others, am I someone who constantly worries? Or am I someone who violates Philippians chapter 2 when I’m somebody who complains? Who gossips? Who slanders? Is it always somebody else’s fault? Is it always somebody else’s problem? Is it somebody else always keeping me from what I deserve or what I want? Esau was blinded by physical circumstances. And if we examine what we are saying, we’ll find out whether or not we’re like him, or we’re more like the Christ, who when he was accused, as prophesied in Isaiah 53, did not refute the testimony.

6. What If Everyone Had My Level of Zeal?

He opened not his mouth. Jesus was innocent, he was blameless, and yet he took the punishment for all of us who were guilty, who were concerned with this life, rather than the life that Jesus gave his own for us to be concerned with. Secondly, I have to ask the question what if everyone had my level of zeal? And Genesis chapter 39, turn there with me quickly. In Genesis chapter 39, when you see the son of Jacob, Joseph, the nephew of Esau, in Genesis chapter 39, you see that Joseph did something that shows us his heart was in a different place than Esau’s. This is where our heart needs to be. In a moment of temptation, in a moment of trial, if we understand what God has done for us, what Jesus’ death means for our life, then we’ll be like Joseph in Genesis 39.

And Genesis chapter 39, if you look with me beginning in verse 7, as Joseph has been left into a pit, sold into slavery, and now he finds himself in Potiphar’s house, in verse 7, and after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, Lie with me. But he refused and said to his master’s wife, Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house. And he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her to lie beside her or to be with her.

But one day when he went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me. Note the last part of verse 12. But he left his garment in their hand and fled and got out of the house. You know how you make that type of decision to flee the minute someone grabs your cloak, your garment? It’s predetermined. It’s whether or not you value God. When you see Joseph’s first reaction in verse 9 and 10, what was his response at the end of verse 9? Not only I don’t want to sin against my master who’s kept nothing back from me, but in verse 9, how then can I commit this great wickedness and sin against God?

Where was Joseph’s priority? Pleasing God. Where was his trust in God? And so when physical temptation surrounded him and cloaked him, and he felt no way out, what was Joseph able to do? He ran. That has to be predetermined. I have to ask the question about not only am I like Esau and being distracted by the physical and trading that for the spiritual? But what if everybody had my level of zeal and commitment to God? Because if everyone was like Joseph, we would have a pretty powerful, albeit downtrodden in this life, group of people. Because if you think of Joseph’s life, it was pretty tough. We remember him being second in all of Egypt, but for a long time we forget he was in prison, he was in a pit, he wanted to be killed by his brothers, all those little negative things that we kind of pushed to the side.

A congregation of a bunch of Josephs. Do you think that we’d have a struggle reaching the lost in this community? Do you think there’d be anyone that we could learn from? That we could point to that we could pattern ourselves after? Someone who’s committed themselves to God? If everyone had my level of zeal, how many people would hear the gospel? How many people, if they had my level of zeal, would sell what God has waiting for us? The inheritance spoken of in 1 Peter chapter 1. For some fleeting passion, fleeting feeling of sin. If everyone had my level of zeal, would we be more like Esau? Or would we be more like Joseph? It’s an important question because the truth is when we think about God and what He’s done for us, the answer is He’s done everything.

If we’re truly thankful, we would live our life to please Him, to glorify Him, to honor Him. Frank Sinatra sang a song called My Way. The lyrics are like as follows. And now the end is near, and so I’ll face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear, I’ll state my case of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that’s full, I’ve traveled each and every highway, but much more, more than this, I did it my way. Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do, and it’s all through without exemption. I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway, and much more, much more than this, I did it my way. Yes, there were times I’m sure you knew when I bit off more than I could chew, but through it all when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out.

I faced it all, and I stood tall and did it my way. I’ve loved. I’ve laughed and cried. I’ve had my fill, my share of losing, and now as tears subside, I find it all so amusing. To think I did all that, and may I say, not in a shy way, oh no, oh no, not me. I did it my way. For what is a man? What is he got? If not himself, then he has not. To say the things he truly feels, and not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows and did it my way. Yes, I did it my way. There’s some good messages, perhaps, in that song. And you can also see why that would be a problem when it comes to patterning our life after God rather than what we feel like or what feels good to us in the moment.

But I want us to consider for a moment, when we answer to God, when we face him on the day of judgment, will we look to God and say, I did it your way? Will God be able to see in us a conviction, a love of his, passion, thankfulness for what he did. Or will we have to stand and state our case before God and say, I did it my way. Truth is, if we’re thankful for what God offers us, our life will be changed. And Romans chapter 1, the beginning of the great downfall of the Gentiles that Paul chronicles in that chapter begins with them failing to thank God and honor him as the God that he is, that they were without excuse for knowing.

Conclusion

When you go back to 1 Peter chapter 1 as we move towards concluding this morning, you see in 1 Peter chapter 1, there’s more to it than this just wonderful inheritance sitting there. It goes even deeper, it goes even stronger. What God has done is even greater in verse 5, continuing talking about that inheritance that is not fading away that is imperishable. Verse 5 Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. And this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, that perishes though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Did you see it in verse 8? This is what we need to do. Esau was blinded by the here and now. We have to do what verse 8 says. Read again, though you do not now see him, what do we do? We believe in him. We rejoice with joy that is inexpressible, filled with glory. Do we feel that joy? Do we feel that love for what God has done for us? Because what God has done is amazing. He took us when we were sinners and offered Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

We have been separated from God by our choice, by our way, and God says, I can forgive you. We choose to reject God at every turn, and we say, No, I don’t want your way, I want my way. And when we read his will, God says, Please heed my son. God is there for us. He wants us. But if we had that passion, if we had that joy, it wouldn’t just be something we take advantage of and think about on Sunday morning. It would be a joy that changes our life and pours out of us with every fiber of our being. Do I have that joy? I can ask some easy questions. Is my speech full of concern, worry, and complaints? Or is it of thankfulness, love, and praise for my God?

If everyone had my level of zeal, would we be downtrodden, maybe not even coming to worship? Would we not even focus on loving others or loving the world? Or would we caught up with the passion of serving God, recognizing if God can forgive me, the worst of sinners, he can forgive others too. And if I’m thankful for what God offers me, then I will be filled with that joy that’s inexpressible. It won’t be the answer to a church question, it won’t be an answer to a Bible class question, it won’t be something that I think is true. It’ll be something that I know my God is there for me. Will you accept that challenge this morning? The idea that if we truly love God, or if we’re truly thankful for what he’s done, we’ll recognize that his way is the only way.

If we trust in him, we can have every powerful good blessing that he has ever wanted for us to have. We simply have to trust him. Our God is waiting. Our God is great. Choose to follow Him today. If you’re here this morning and you’ve never become a Christian, recognize that that inheritance is not there for you. But if we accept God’s promise through faith, if we believe in him, if we repent of our wrongdoing, choose to take God’s path, we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. And we are baptized. We can have our sins forgiven, take advantage of the salvation that God offers us and have that joy which is inexpressible. If we can help you in any way, be right with God.

Don’t wait another moment. If we can help you, come now as we stand and sing the invitation song.