Willow Ridge Sermons

Sunday, October 20th • Beau Bradberry

"God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. And God said to him, 'Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.' So he called his name Israel." — Genesis 35:9-10

–
Podcast: https://pod.link/willowridgechurch
Website: https://willowridgechurch.org
Instagram: https://instagram.com/willowridgechurch
Facebook: https://facebook.com/willowridgechurch
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@willowridgechurch

Creators and Guests

Host

Beau Bradberry

Senior Pastor

What is Willow Ridge Sermons?

Sermon audio from Sunday services at Willow Ridge Church.

Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons Podcast.

This is where you can find audio from Sunday morning messages and more.

Make sure you're subscribed so that you don't miss future episodes.

And thanks for listening.

Good morning.

If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do,

I want to invite you to join us in Genesis chapter 35.

As you turn there, if you're a first-time guest,

we're so grateful and honored and blessed that you are here with us today.

After the service is over, back here to my left, my wife and I will be back there.

We'd love for you to stop by on your way out the door.

We'd like to thank you for being here.

Face-to-face, maybe learn your name and introduce ourselves to you

and give you an opportunity, if you may have questions about who we are as a church,

to get those questions answered for you.

And we're so blessed to have you here with us.

We will have our Harvest Hangout here coming up very quickly.

It feels like it was summer and then fall's been really nice over the last several weeks.

I know it's warming up a little bit, but we hope July's not about to kick in.

But we will have our Harvest Hangout.

We're inviting our community.

We're inviting you.

We're inviting your friends.

We'd love for you to be here and be a part of that.

You can come and attend if you would like to volunteer.

I know we still need some candy.

We need more trunks.

We need all sorts of things.

And so just let us know.

We'd love to connect you in areas that you could serve in our Harvest Hangout.

As we have been doing since Hurricane Helene hit, we've been sending out crews.

At first, it was every day for a week.

And then now we've been sending out crews on Thursday.

For this coming Thursday, we're going to pause on our Thursday work that we've been doing.

And I want to explain what we will be doing instead.

Joel Van Ham is kind of a liaison for us as a church between Willow Ridge Church and Black Mountain Children's Home.

And Joel received a phone call from Rodney.

Many of you have had the opportunity to meet Rodney.

Rodney works up there at the children's home.

He's been here with us and worshiped with us.

And Rodney said, listen, man, we were in a meeting this week with the president, the board, and it was a tough meeting.

And I don't know what all these people in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee are going through.

But I know it's tough.

I know it's hard.

And Rodney, if you know Rodney, and I know a lot of our youth do,

he is like the most laid-back, positive individual to be around.

And Joel was talking to me and just was like he could hear the hurt and the desperation in his voice.

And he said, we were talking in the meeting, volunteers are slowing down,

which is what we thought would happen.

And they're working hard.

And I guess it's like, in my mind, what they're having to do literally and figuratively

is move a mountain one shovel at a time.

And you spend all day and you feel like you haven't gotten anywhere.

And I do not say this boasting about our church, but I do say this praising God.

God says, let your light shine so that others will see and give glory to God in heaven.

And he said, in our board meeting with our president,

they said, we need Willow Ridge to come and to help.

And so we said, okay.

So what we're going to do is after the Harvest Hangout on October 27th,

we're going to take a group of men from our church to go up to Black Mountain Children's Home

to work from that Monday to that Thursday.

Now, I know a lot of you ladies would like to go.

Here's the reason why we're doing what we're doing in the order that we're doing it.

They've told us that they can get us one cabin that we can stay in.

And since we can only have one cabin, and many of you who've been there,

you know these cabins, this isn't a whole lot of privacy in these cabins.

We got one cabin that we can use.

And so because of that, we're just going to be taking men.

But we are looking at opportunities where we can take more than that up there.

And we look forward to that opportunity to be able to do.

We're going to leave that Sunday after the Harvest Hangout.

We're going to go up there, work that we know that needs to be done.

And we're going to find out some of our details a little bit more this week as they evaluate.

Is we need plumbing work to be done.

We need electrical work to be done.

And so if you have those skills and those capabilities,

and you have the time, and you would like to come and be a part of this,

please come see me after the service, and we'll have a conversation.

But also, beyond that, we need people that can dig dirt out, dig mud out,

that can run chainsaws, that can move heavy things,

and that can go and serve in this opportunity.

So we count it a little bit as a blessing and an honor and an act of trust as we step out,

not knowing.

I was talking to a group of people in the lobby this morning,

and I said, what's been remarkable in my,

it has taught me how small my perspective is.

I'll see a picture and think that I grasp the devastation that's there,

and I don't until I see it.

And so I've seen the pictures, just like many of you have,

of what this part of our country looks like.

And my mind says that I know, but I don't.

So we're going to go, and as best as they can,

they're going to communicate what we need to bring and what we need to do,

and we're going to, as much as we can do in a week,

we're going to prepare and plan in that capacity,

but we're just going to go, and we're going to serve, and we're going to love.

And I'll be honest with you,

Joel and I were talking about this on the phone this week.

Here's what it felt like.

They need a friend that can encourage.

And so we're just going to go and be a friend and encourage and lift heavy things.

And in the coolest moment in my life this past week,

and I hope to be able to do this again up there,

maybe I'll get to run again a 36-inch chainsaw.

Because that was a whole lot of fun, right?

So if you're interested in going, men, please let me know.

Ladies, we're going to be working on some other opportunities of what's there

and why we are there, praying through what is Willow Ridge,

continued partnership with them as they walk through

and as they face these difficult days, weeks, months,

and potentially even years ahead.

I apologize, I was a little tardy, and I don't have this verse on the screen.

So just listen to it this morning.

And out of Genesis 35, verse 10.

So he called his name Israel.

Would you pray with me?

God, I thank you for the opportunity that we have to open up your word.

God, I pray as we gather in here today

that what we do will not be done so that we can just obtain more knowledge,

but God, so that our hearts will be changed,

so that our lives will be changed,

so that the world will be impacted by the gospel.

God, remove any part of this that is me,

and may it all be you.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

Well, if you were here last week,

it was a little heavy passage.

Warren Wearsby, who's one of the pastors and authors

that I read most weeks,

said this.

He said,

moving from Genesis 34 to Genesis 35

is like going from a desert to a garden

or from moving from an emergency room

to a wedding reception.

Genesis 35 definitely has some things

for us to work through,

but there's this heaviness

that what we're moving from

as we come out of Genesis 34.

But here's the deal.

You and I,

we've all had

a Genesis 34 moment

or multiple Genesis 34 moments

in our life.

Like, I hope we get that.

I hope we get that.

That oftentimes,

that the very specific

chaos and dysfunction

that we find in the Bible

might not be the exact chaos

and dysfunction

that you and I experience

on a day-to-day capacity

in our lives,

but yet we can look at

and we can see points and times

where we fall short,

points and times

where we choose lesser,

points and times

where we choose rebellion

in our life,

that we see these things

and these aspects of there,

that we go through

these very critical,

chaotic moments

in our life.

And oftentimes,

as we walk through

these devastating moments

moments of sin

that have filled

our life,

our response

can be this,

how can I get

out of this?

Like middle school Bo

with a report card

waiting for his mom

and dad to get home.

how do I get

out of this?

But the question

that we need to answer

in these moments

is this,

what can I get

out of this?

Not how can I get

out of this,

but what can I get

out of this?

You see,

God is so big,

God is so powerful,

God is so strong

that what God does

is God doesn't waste

an opportunity

in our life

to grow us.

God uses every moment

in our lives,

the good,

the bad,

the pretty,

the ugly,

and everywhere

in between

to work and move

in the hearts

of those

who follow him

and love him

even in the midst

of our rebellion

to grow us

in the moment

for the next season

so that we don't

see a Genesis 34

so that we learn

that we grow,

we learn how to seek

and honor

and glorify him

with all that we are

in our life.

God's not wasting it

because God's working

in it

and God's working

in it

and God's working

in it

and that's what I love

about what we see here

beginning in Genesis

chapter 35

so let's read,

starting off,

let's read the first

four verses.

God said to Jacob

Arise,

go up to Bethel

and dwell there.

Make an altar there

to the God

who appeared to you

when you fled

from your brother Esau.

So Jacob said

to his household

and to all

who were with him

put away

the foreign gods

that are among you

and purify yourselves

and change your garments.

Let us arise

and go up to Bethel

so that I may make there

an altar

to the God

who answers me

in the day

of my distress

and has been with me

wherever I have gone.

So they gave to Jacob

all the foreign gods

they had

and the rings

that were in their ears

and Jacob hid them

under the tree

that was near Shechem.

So here's what we begin

to see

and understand

in this process

of what is happening

in the life

of Jacob.

That Jacob

is understanding

is coming to grasp

it's this moment

not with a guy

who doesn't know

the Lord

but a guy

who knows the Lord

who has chosen

to not follow God

and God's saying

well I'm not done

with you

I'm not wasting this

I'm going to work

and I'm going to move

so God says

to Jacob

Jacob hears

and then we'll see

these responses

in Jacob's life

of what Jacob does

coming out

of a Genesis 34

moment

out of a Genesis 34

season

out of this point

in time

of weakness

and rebellion.

I think it's very interesting

and one of the things

that he does

is I'll label it

changing course

of what it means

to come out

of these moments

and these seasons

is it's changing course.

You know it's not

it's not always about

getting it right.

You see you and I

because you know you

and I know me

and I know you

and you know me

we don't always

get it right.

we're not always

obedient.

Do we want

to be obedient?

Do we desire

to be obedient?

Do we have the

expectation of obedience?

Absolutely.

Like the call

on our lives

is holiness.

I don't want

to belittle that.

We're not minimizing

sin.

But the reality is

it's not about

always getting it right

because we're not

going to get it right

so we've got to deal

with the reality

that we're going to have

Genesis 34 moments.

We're going to have

them tomorrow.

We're going to have

them today.

And you know

you had them

yesterday.

That even in our

obedience what we're

going to find are

these patterns of

rebellion that sneak

into our life

and in that

the goodness of God

and how God works

in his grace

and his kindness

and his mercy

and his love for us

and what God's doing

in the work of the

Holy Spirit

in the lives

of those who

were saved

by his grace

is he's recognizing

that and the

question becomes

well then what are

you doing when

you get it wrong?

what are we doing

when we miss

the mark?

What are we doing

when it's right

it's obedience

it's righteousness

it's godliness

it's holiness

and then that moment

happens and it's

depravity.

it's about

recognizing

it's about

changing course

it's about

understanding

the holiness

of God

and the

offense of our

sin

it's about

repentance

and that's

what we

see here

in Jacob

it's the lesson

of Abraham

in Genesis 13

it's the lesson

of Isaac

in Genesis 26

and now it's

the lesson

for Jacob

as well

and the thing

with repentance

you see repentance

is about more

than feeling

sorry

or saying

I'm sorry

those things

are important

it's what God's

called us to

we're to confess

we're to repent

we're to say

the things

that we've done

God gives us

the Holy Spirit

who convicts us

and we experience

a feeling

of remorse

as we

as we experience

these moments

of depravity

in our life

from a Holy God

who loves us

enough

not to be

numb by our

sin

but to be

remorseful

for it

but the thing

about repentance

is there's

action

there's action

the remarkable

thing about

this whole

deal

with Jacob

we know

that God

had called

him to Bethel

and we talked

about this

last week

where he hadn't

sought through

the obedience

and there had

been this

partial obedience

there had been

this break

in his obedience

to God

and for years

for years

he'd been 30

miles away

from where God

had called him

and that's why

I love that

in the midst

of all of this

because I don't

know about you

but I feel like

that can be the

pattern for Bo

Bradbury

30 miles away

a one day

journey

of where

do you need

to be

of what

do you need

to do

of just

missing

what God

has

but I love

this

verse

verse 1

God said

God didn't

say go

away

God didn't

say get

out of my

presence

God said

and Jacob

responded

Jacob

changed course

but specifically

what did he

you see

they had been

living amongst

pagan people

and we had

seen

where one of his

wives had already

brought with them

a pagan idol

and we could

only begin

to think

that as they

had lived

for years

amongst pagan

people

that we're

seeing pagan

practices

being brought

and so

Jacob's like

listen this is

what we need

to do

this is what

we need

to be

so here's

what you

gotta do

you gotta

put away

your idols

you gotta

put away

your idols

and so

they brought

their idols

to him

when we

hit these

moments

when we're

changing course

from the path

of sin

and destruction

that we've

chosen

and we

point our

eyes

we center

our compass

we aim

who we are

toward the

God

who's called

and the

God

that

loves us

what we

have to do

in our

lives

is put

away

the idols

as well

we gotta

put away

the things

that we've

trusted

we gotta

put away

the things

that we

desire

we gotta

put away

the things

that we

want

and long

for more

than anything

else

I don't know

if you're

aware of this

or not

but we live

in a pagan

culture

and you

and I

in our

ignorance

if you want

to be nice

but in our

rebellion

which is

accurate

I've said

yeah let me

take some

of these

into

and we

tried to

partner

God

with our

pagan

idols

that we

bring

into the

moment

and when

we change

course

we gotta

look at

and we gotta

identify

and we gotta

get rid

you see

put away

was not

pack them

carefully

in your

bag

because we

gotta go

it's not

we gotta

trash

this

Jacob says

put away

your idols

the next

thing he

says

purify

yourself

purify

yourself

this was

common

practice

purify

yourself

wash

yourself

he says

change

your

garments

change

your

garments

you see

it wasn't

just that

hey

we're

physically

some

dirty

people

we're

gonna go

into a

new

place

and so

let's

look like

we're

ready to

go for

what

God

has

for us

this

isn't

put on

your

Sunday

best

type

speech

that

they're

giving

here

it's

recognized

that

this is

what

we've

done

this

what

we've

taken

gotta

get

rid

this

the

Bible

doesn't

fully

explain

commentaries

kind of

argue

a little

bit

back

and

forth

they

turned

their

idols

but

they

also

took

off

their

earrings

and

this

not

appeal

for

earrings

for

anyone

but

what

think

happening

here

as they

purified

themselves

and washed

themselves

they

begin

understand

that

there

were

things

about

them

that

they

brought

that

marked

them

and

that

had

marked

them

not

God's

people

but

people

of the

pagan

world

and

wash

yourself

you know

part of

repentance

we've been

made

clean

by the

blood

the

lamb

but

sometimes

we pick

the

slop

and

put

and

come

God

understanding

that

our

eternal

state

we've

been

made

clean

but

this

moment

Lord

cleanse

wash

make

new

and

then

I love

this

very

simply

maybe

the

story

that

heard

about

his

grandfather

when

God

called

him

sacrifice

his

son

and

chose

not

delay

but

James

says

let's

today

obey

today

obey

you

see

it's

not

about

living

the

reality

what

God

has

saved

from

it's

about

living

the

reality

what

God

has

saved

for

don't

look

back

and

hold

and

think

that

can't

because

sin

but

look

forward

and

think

that

can

because

who

Savior

it's

about

going

maybe

you're

here

today

and

you're

thinking

about

your

too

late

start

again

God

hasn't

given

you

and

God

won't

and

God

won't

and

maybe

you're

hey

listen

Genesis

man

that's

not

day

that's

not

moment

man

that's

life

there's

a Savior

who's

bigger

there's

a Savior

who's

powerful

there's

a Savior

who's

loving

than

your

sin

offensive

verse

five

through

eight

they

and

they

journeyed

terror

from

God

fell

upon

the

cities

that

were

around

them

that

they

did

not

pursue

the

sons

Jacob

and

Jacob

came

Luz

that

Bethel

which

the

land

Canaan

and

all

the

people

who

were

with

him

and

there

they

built

author

the

place

Bethel

because

there

God

had

revealed

himself

him

when

fled

from

his

brother

and

Deborah

Rebecca's

nurse

died

and

she

was

buried

under

oak

below

Bethel

called

its

name

Elan

Bakuf

number

two

when

we're

coming

out

these

seasons

here's

the

challenge

walk

and

worship

walk

worship

what

Jacob

had

was

walk

the

path

God

walk

the

path

that

God

had

for

him

now

you

remember

back

Genesis

and

you

remember

the

assault

that

took

place

Jacob's

daughter

and

you

remember

his

unwillingness

to act

to move

to lead

and

when

his

sons

come

back

specifically

Simeon

and

Levi

they

went

and they

concocted

a plan

and

the

plan

that

was

their

heart

was

the

revenge

men

and

they

murdered

and

Jacob's

fear

that

moment

was

what

are

they

going

think

and

what

are

they

going

eye

for

eye

are

they

going

come

kill

are

they

going

come

take

revenge

what

are

they

going

but

what

have

remember

that

God

sets

the

path

and

the

journey

the

path

God

keeps

his

promises

Genesis

chapter

verse

passage

that

studied

months

ago

Jacob

had a

dream

and

God

spoke

him

this

what

said

your

offspring

shall

the

dust

the

earth

and

you

shall

spread

abroad

the

west

and

the

east

and

the

north

and

the

south

and

you

and

your

offspring

shall

all

the

families

the

earth

blessed

behold

with

you

and

will

keep

you

wherever

you

and

will

bring

you

back

this

land

for

will

not

leave

you

until

have

done

what

have

promised

you

from

this

day

Genesis

this

dream

this

moment

Genesis

years

have

gone

this

has

not

been

brief

period

time

Jacob

has

gone

through

the

highs

and

the

lows

and

walking

the

path

that

God

has

had

for

him

and

God

his

goodness

and

God

his

kindness

when

Jacob

breaks

off

the

path

God

allows

him

choose

what

chooses

God

works

and

moves

the

midst

that

draws

him

back

the

loving

God

who

created

him

who

called

him

who

chose

him

and

who

will

fulfill

everything

that

God

has

for

him

but

the

path

will

not

easy

but

God

will

always

faithful

now

the

path

will

challenge

logic

absolutely

but

the

choice

is to

trust

God

will

the

path

faced

with

difficulties

absolutely

but

the

choice

trust

God

will

the

path

have

uncertainties

absolutely

but

the

choice

trust

God

brothers

and

sisters

not

know

for

every

single

one

you

the

difficulties

the

uncertainties

and the

moments

that you

were

having

the

path

that

you

were

but

here's

what

know

because

who

know

that

you

can

trust

the

God

who

has

you

the

path

you

can

trust

the

God

who

has

gone

ahead

you

can

trust

the

God

who

will

come

after

you

can

trust

the

God

who

walks

with

you

and

you

can

trust

the

God

who

carries

you

right

now

the

midst

all

those

because

our

God

has

done

all

that

he's

he is

the

friend

who

ever

with

you

and

the

warrior

who

carries

you

that

the

God

that

trust

and

walk

the

path

what

see

but

also

worship

also

worship

this

why

worship

because

faithful

because

faithful

Jacob

worshipped

I think

this is

important

Jacob

worshipped

why did

you

come

here

today

why

did

you

stand

and

sing

all

the

things

that

you

could

while

worship

you

see

there

don't

want

not

look

coming

and

worshiping

and

praising

God

with

a hope

and

expectation

even

what

God

going

because

can't

wait

tomorrow

can't

wait

see

what

God

going

this

afternoon

can't

wait

see

how

God's

going

work

and

move

in my

life

and

use

for

things

that

not

capable

but

can't

wait

see

how

God's

going

work

and

use

and

refine

and

make

him

can't

wait

see

all

these

things

what

God

going

but

think

sometimes

what we

miss

worship

why

come

worship

and

it's

been

driving

reminder

what

see

that

come

here

what

see

over

and

over

and

time

and

time

again

what

God

has

done

that

remember

that

cling

that

hold

and

this

what

see

look

verse

nine

God

appeared

Jacob

again

and

when

came

from

Padme

and

blessed

him

and

God

said

your

name

Jacob

longer

your

name

Jacob

longer

shall

your

name

called

Jacob

but

Israel

shall

your

name

called

his

name

Israel

and

God

said

him

God

almighty

fruitful

and

multiply

nation

and

company

nations

shall

come

from

you

and

kings

shall

come

from

your

own

body

the

land

that

gave

Abraham

and

Isaac

give

you

and

will

give

the

land

your

offspring

after

you

then

God

went

from

him

the

place

where

had

spoken

with

him

and

Jacob

set

pillar

the

place

where

had

spoken

with

him

pillar

stone

poured

out

drink

offering

and

poured

oil

Jacob

called

the

name

the

place

where

God

had

spoken

with

him

Bethel

and

see

this

what

God

says

here's

what

I'm

going

but

always

remember

this

who

remember

don't

panic

remember

don't

let

anxiety

take

over

remember

this

who

but

with

this

who

you

are

this

who

you

are

and

this

what

find

God

found

identity

love to

see

and we

talked

about

this

God

changing

names

God

changing

the

names

the

men

and

women

who

him

and

while

might

not

have

changed

your

name

might

not

have

changed

name

when

are

found

Christ

what

have

him

new

identity

and

Paul

writes

Corinthians

and

says

therefore

anyone

found

Christ

new

creation

the

old

has

passed

away

and

behold

the

new

life

has

come

the

language

that

Paul

uses

here

the

language

life

and

death

Paul

says

look

Christ

here's

what's

happened

the

old

you

it's

not

just

gone

it's

dead

that

the

power

and

the

work

Christ

that

identify

his

crucifixion

that

was

nailed

the

cross

was

the

oldness

you

was

nailed

there

and

that

old

you

has

gone

that

old

you

has

passed

away

that

old

you

has

died

and

behold

what's

come

from

that

not

just

new

it's

new

life

it's

new

person

it's

rebirth

it's

being

born

again

that

this

who

you

are

him

and

God

does

remarkable

thing

what

God

going

with

Jacob

names

him

Israel

but

the

midst

all

this

what

see

what

God

capable

and

what

God

going

Jacob

because

who

God

and

what

God

creating

him

God

says

God

almighty

I'm

creating

people

I'm

giving

them

land

I've

started

this

will

finish

this

and

I'm

not

doing

this

because

who

you

are

but

I'm

going to

this

through

you

because

this

who

I've

called

you

and

when

you

were

born

again

Christ

God

gave

your

life

purpose

and

hope

and

mission

for

the

work

and

the

goodness

God

and

this

what

he's

called

you

how

does

Jacob

respond

that

meet

with

group

guys

Wednesday

mornings

now

were

meeting

Thursday

days

we're

meeting

Wednesday

now

and

were

talking

about

this

were

talking

about

the

marketplace

and

it was

a really

cool

conversation

because

I've

got

think

six

men

were

there

that

day

I'm

the

only

pastor

I'm

the

only

one

that

works

church

the

rest

them

have

the

regular

jobs

right

jobs

that

y'all

get

that

don't

get

right

we got

bankers

we've

got

engineers

we've

got

people

that

work

in the

medical

system

we've

got

these

guys

and

one of

the

interesting

things

that

one of

our

guys

said

and I

love

the

rawness

and the

honesty

of it

and he

said

sometimes

man

it's

forget

sin

that

what

gain

and

what

take

and

what

fills

Sunday

the

call

to be

missionary

Monday

it's

not

just

the

call

that

now

feel

better

about

myself

it's

the

call

that

I'm

something

with

this

there's

something

that

happens

here

Genesis

that

what

just

read

Jacob

offers

drink

offering

it's

the

first

time

that

we're

going

see

drink

offering

scripture

when

you

look

Timothy

where

Paul

talks

about

his

life

being

poured

out

offering

his

last

days

the

same

verbiage

that

Paul

giving

and

this

example

what

Jacob

doing

makes

this

altar

provides

burnt

offering

that

takes

drink

and

empties

onto

the

altar

and

symbolizes

emptying

himself

symbolizes

that

God

all

that

yours

and

hit

Grayson

you

can

help

buddy

I'm

guy

that

likes

tell

stories

not

necessarily

use

illustrations

this

but

I'm

going

give

try

and

bear

with

I'm

also

going

write

things

that

maybe

you're

sitting

that

you

can

see

I'm

probably

going

dispel

some

them

okay

let's

just

give

grace

take

our

life

and

don't

know

about

you

but

sometimes

feel

stretched

little

thin

sometimes

feel

there's

not

enough

around

feel

overburdened

and

pause

and

evaluate

these

cups

represent

your

life

and

represent

life

these

cups

represent

the

different

areas

our

life

that

give

ourselves

were

ask

you

what

are

the

areas

your

life

that

you

should

give

yourself

hopefully

number

one

on the

list

God

take

the

God

portion

what

decided

this

our

life

and

our

life

represents

the

drink

the

water

right

God

you're

priority

didn't

put

anything

else

down

first

but

let

see

how

far

this

goes

because

I've

only

got

much

margin

God

there

you

the

area

our

life

and

I'm

going to

use

these

life

you're

single

then

this

might

not

yours

but

this

mine

and

maybe

some

you

here

it's

spouse

right

and

love

her

and

she

kind

and

gracious

and

some

days

she

doesn't

see

much

she

would

and

definitely

don't

get

see

her

much

she

would

because

I'm

busy

and

don't

mean

disrespectful

sometimes

well

can

manage

got

kids

take

kids

man

love

conversations

with

them

love

that

they

get

sense

humor

God

gave

them

the

gift

sarcasm

and

now

know

what

would

have

been

were

girl

because

have

Emma

but

I'll

honest

with

they're

busy

they

got

they're

taking

classes

that

couldn't

pass

now

couldn't

pass

them

then

either

can't

give

them

much

right

give

them

that

sorry

Aaron

they

got

here

than

you

did

let

can't

have

than

your

mama

there

you

got

job

love

job

love

working

here

this

the

best

job

the

world

you

guys

are

fantastic

work

with

our

staff

wonderful

ministry

that you

allow

but

you

got

a job

too

right

you

got

responsibilities

let's

honest

right

that's

what

feels

almost

full

God's

here

job's

here

man

that's

what

requires

quiet

time

in the

morning

takes

ten

minutes

but

job

especially

in this

economy

and

it's

hard

find

and

what

you

got

we're

church

after

job

comes

church

good

priorities

right

church

important

man

there's

less

time

there's

less

than

it's

good

enough

now

I know

that's

and

I'm

not

making

fun

this

all

with

what

I'm

about

say

but

this

something

that's

really

come

a lot

recently

self

care

need

list

because

I'm

not

caring

for

I'm

not

doing

the

things

that

I'm

supposed

for

I'm

not

exercising

I'm

not

going

doctor's

appointments

then

what's

going

happen

man

that's

getting

low

still

got

one

two

three

four

five

empty

cups

don't

know

about

you

but

the

number

one

thing

that

married

couples

argue

about

and

fight

about

don't

even

write

a word

I'm

going

write

the

symbol

money

that's

a lot

still

rings

true

still

spend

than

make

tell me

when

thank

you

right

$400,000

you can

have

300

square

foot

home

right

money

now

got

friends

got

friends

some

of us

got

friends

than

others

some

of us

are

extroverts

some

of us

are

introverts

don't

understand

each

other

just

misspelled

friends

Chris

don't

laugh

at me

that

man

that's

not

a lot

we'll

give him

a little

bit

we'll

hang out

in the

cul-de-sac

ain't

that

right

Chad

lives

across

the

street

from

talk

the

cul-de-sac

just

friends

we got

rest

said

self

care

but

self

care

doesn't

include

naps

and

sleep

which

most

of us

don't

get

enough

two

you

got a

hobby

you may

think you

don't

have

hobby

but

you

have

hobby

you

got

something

that

you

choose

you're

empty

and

I'm

empty

and

best

can

we've

spread

ourselves

thin

we've

spread

ourselves

thin

you see

this

represented

you and

but

represented

you and

by our

time

our

talents

our

personalities

our

abilities

our

finances

and

maybe

we don't

want to

admit

this

but

there's

another

area

of our

life

that

empty

ourselves

for

sin

take

some

that

take

some

that

take

some

spouse

man we

neglect

them

sometimes

right

kids

and we

neglect

church

maybe not

the hobby

but

maybe the

godly

portion

of our

hobby

you know

God gave

you hobbies

to use

for his

name

and his

glory

take

our

rest

in our

sin

it's

hard to

sleep

night

our

friendships

our

finances

and it

takes

all of

and that

friends

Genesis

so let's

start

over

what

does

Jacob

Genesis

what

does

that

mountain

what

does

that

altar

takes

every

part

him

takes

all

the

good

all

the

bad

all

the

victory

all

the

defeat

everything

that is

his

list

and

doesn't

know

about

the

man

that

the

promise

about

but

has

faith

the

God

who

knows

who

it's

about

and

takes

everything

the

list

and

sets

down

but

still

has

himself

takes

altar

that

would

have

burnt

offering

and

offers

new

sacrifice

the

one

that

Paul

says

the

end

his

life

challenges

Timothy

live

boldly

for

the

gospel

says

have

been

and

I'm

being

poured

out

and

Jacob

that

sacrifice

starts

pouring

and

doesn't

pour

some

doesn't

pour

most

but

pours

all

and

says

this

what

for

you

use

how

you

think

you

can

use

and

how

you

will

use

what

you

call

who

you've

called

God

and

empty

myself

for

you

that

God

you

it's

not

about

figuring

out

the

parts

the

portions

that

give

spouse

kids

job

church

family

friends

hobbies

it's

not

about

delegating

it's

not

about

spreadsheet

it's

not

about

flow

chart

it's

God

it's

all

yours

with

you

please

can

tell

you

I'm

better

than

wife

when

I'm

100%

gods

I'm

better

than

kids

when

I'm

100%

gods

I'm

better

with

finances

when

I'm

100%

gods

I'm

better

with

job

when

I'm

100%

gods

I'm

better

with

church

when

I'm

100%

god

I'm

better

against

sin

when

life

daily

begins

by saying

God

yours

use me

would

you

today

make

the

choice

that

today

you

commit

empty

yourself

every

part

you

for

him

and

trust

him

use

you

how

sees

fit

and

that

may

mean

that

you

gotta

put

away

some

idols

may

mean

that

you

have

wash

yourself

and

change

your

garments

take

off

your

earrings

and

may

mean

that

you

have

will

you

pray

with

God

want

know

want

plan

want

flow

chart

want

agenda

want

part

tell

what's

and

lay

that

out

simply

for

but

God

prayer

for

myself

prayer

for

prayer

for

church

for

family

for

friends

prayer

that

today

before

try to

figure

out

what

begins

with

emptying

ourself

taking

all

that

are

pouring

out

Lord

that

would

literally

waste

ourselves

you

God

thank you

that you

take

Genesis

moments

Genesis

days

Genesis

seasons

and God

you

use

what

ugly

in a

beautiful

way

bring

you

God

don't

just

give

you

today

good

don't

just

give

you

Sunday

when

there's

nothing

else

the

calendar

don't

just

give

you

quiet

time

don't

just

give

you

mission

trip

don't

just

give

you

convenience

give

you

all

take

and

use

for

your

name

and

for

your

glory

take

and

use

that

men

and

women

and

children

will

introduced

Jesus

Christ

take

that

your

name

would

made

known

those

who

don't

know

you

take

and

use

you

see

fit

God

pray

that

would

people

who

see

the

opportunity

that

have

gather

filled

that

can

pour

ourselves

out

it's

Jesus

name

pray

amen

thanks

again

for

listening

and

sure

check

back

week

for

another

episode

the

meantime

you

can

visit

willowridgechurch.org

or by

searching

for

willowridgechurch

Facebook

Instagram

and

Twitter

More episodes

Chapters

Creators and Guests

What is Willow Ridge Sermons?