Welcome to the Willow Ridge Sermons podcast.
We're so glad you chose to listen today.
This week's message explores Jacob's final words to his sons in Genesis 49,
revealing powerful lessons on faith, leadership, and God's promises.
Each blessing reflects a deeper truth about character, obedience, and living a life that honors God.
Through themes of sacrifice, faith in action, and finishing the race well,
we see how God calls his people to live differently and trust in his greater plan.
Join us as we uncover the wisdom of Jacob's blessings
and what it means to leave a lasting spiritual legacy.
Thanks for listening.
Well, good morning.
If you have your Bible, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join us in Genesis chapter 49.
That's where we'll be this morning.
If you're a first-time guest, I want to again welcome you.
Thank you so much for being here.
At the end of the service, my wife Erin and I will be back here in the back,
and we would love to meet you.
We'd love to greet you.
We'd love to learn your name, and thank you for being here to worship with us personally.
If you have any questions about our church, it's a wonderful place to get those questions answered.
And so please make it a point to stop by.
We would love to have you with us.
Well, this week and next week, we'll wrap up our study in Genesis.
It's been a wonderful, exciting study for me.
I hope it's been for you as well.
God's really stretched me a lot as a preacher and as a teacher,
but also as a pastor, as a husband, as a friend, as a follower of Jesus.
And so it's been wonderful.
And then, so in two weeks, we'll move into our next book study.
We're going to go through Titus in six weeks, right?
Much shorter book, much shorter time that we'll do.
And then even though it feels like Easter, right now it's not quite Easter.
And then actually we'll move into our Easter series.
And so which kind of hit me this morning that it feels like it was just Christmas,
and now we're moving there.
But we're excited to see all that God's doing.
There's a lot of work being done here.
We'd love for you to be a part of that with us.
I want to read to you this passage of Scripture as, you know, going through what we've kind
of committed ourselves to do as we've worked through Genesis is work through, literally read,
read every word, every verse.
A couple weeks ago, for time's sake, we cut out kind of a little bit of a genealogy that
was there toward the end of a passage, but referred back to it.
But for the most part, other than that one time, we read every word, every verse, and
preached through that.
And it's been a wonderful joy.
And for me, as I was praying through our message this week, it was the reminder in this long
journey that we've been, what Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2, 16 and 17, that all Scripture,
every single bit of it, all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Amen.
And God's word is so, so good.
Would you go with me to the Lord in prayer?
God, I thank you for your word.
God, I know that I neglect it from time to time.
Lord, I don't treasure it as I should.
But God, I thank you that your grace is given to me and to all of us who find ourselves in
that position.
But I thank you that every time when we open your word, God, there's power in your word.
There's freshness in your word.
And so, God, today, as we look at Genesis 49, God, I pray that you would speak to us.
God, I pray that through the power of your Spirit, or that you would change us.
And God, and as only as you can, Lord, in the hearts and lives of those who do not know
you, or if there's anyone here who does not know Christ, God, I pray that today would be
the day of their salvation.
And it's in Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So, we're winding down the book of Genesis, but we're also winding down this story that
we've been journeying with this family.
Right?
This family that's with Abraham and going all the way through.
And so, I decided as this week, and you'll see this, there's a lot of, like, many lessons
that we're going to learn in Genesis 49 as we look at this family.
And so, I entitled this week's message, Family Lessons.
Because there's only certain lessons that you can learn because you're a part of, or you're
aware of, or you've heard of the journey that a family has gone through.
So, for example, in my family growing up, there was a truth that was proclaimed, which
was actually a joke directed toward me.
And the joke was, the comment was, the truth was, never trust a grab bag from a flea market.
Now, I love flea markets.
I was raised going to flea markets all the time.
I found out when I married a girl from the upstate, in the upstate of South Carolina.
It's crazy.
They call them jockey lots, right?
They don't know that they're incorrect, and they're called flea markets, right?
That's what they're called.
But we oftentimes would go to these flea markets.
My granddad was an antique dealer, and so he would set up shop and sometimes sell at flea
markets.
But we would also just go to flea markets because we wanted to look, and we wanted to shop, and
we wanted to buy things.
And I remember one Thursday, I was headed there with my aunt Sharon and my cousin Ashley.
And so we piled up in her 1984 T-top Monte Carlo, and we headed down the highway to South
Augusta to go to the South Augusta flea market.
And sometimes, and you guys know this, and I get this now as I look back at my aunt, like
she had things that she wanted to do, things that she wanted to look for, and she wanted
to keep us entertained while we were doing that.
And since she couldn't hand us a cell phone or an iPad or a video game, she gave us a dollar.
She gave us a dollar.
And she said, you can buy anything in the flea market that you want, but you only got a dollar,
so make it count.
So we walk into the flea market, and I see, stacked up on this table, big, large, piggly,
wiggly grocery bags that are folded over, stapled closed, and on the front, there's a big sign
that says, grab bags, only a dollar.
I said, I'd like to spend my dollar right now.
Yes, please.
And she said to me, I don't think you want to. So we moved through the rest of the flea market in
about every five minutes. She's my aunt Sharon. I called her, I called her Sherny. So Sherny,
I want to spend my dollar. I want to get a grab bag, but we're going to go about that way. And I
don't know if you picked up this on my personality, but, but maybe still today and definitely as a
kid, like I could pester until I got what I wanted. So every five minutes, I want a grab bag.
I want a grab bag. I want a grab bag. I want a grab bag. Well, my cousin Ashley found a,
a wonderful gadget. She found this, this wallet that you could open it up and you could put your
money on one side, but on the other side was a electric piano keyboard. Probably not as nice as
this one, but you know, for 1985 for a dollar. So she bought that and we're walking around.
She said, Bo, don't you want to, don't you want a keyboard wallet? I don't think so. That's
foolish. I want a grab bag. So we go, we get a grab bag and pay my dollar and the lady gives me a grab
bag. And now I understand what is inside here is my treasure. That's, it's not my aunt Sharon's
treasure. She tried to talk me out of the grab bag. It's not my cousin Ashley's treasure. She wanted a
wallet keyboard, but what is in here is mine. So we get in the car, get in the back seat of that 84 T-top
Monte Carlo. And I sit down and I open up my grab bag to see what treasure awaited me. There's three
items in there. Three items were a broken vase, a broken bottle and a double A battery that did not
work. Never trust a grab bag at a flea market, right? That was the lesson of the day. But if you
weren't there, if you weren't a part of my family, I just came out and said that. You're like, well,
what is the nonsense of that? Well, I think as we're looking through and as we're diving in,
we're seeing this family, there's beautiful truths that God is teaching us about this family that are
way more valuable than don't trust a grab bag at a flea market. Of God and his faithfulness of his
word. Of God, as we're continuing to see what I love so much about what we're seeing of Genesis,
is that while it's a section of God's word, it's a book of God's word, where we're seeing the telling
of the story of the faithfulness of God, of what God's doing, the sinful people rebel from God and
God in his loving and his kindness chooses for himself, creates for himself, calls for himself a
people. And then even in their rebellion, God continues to pursue and continues to pursue and
continues to pursue. And we see the beautiful plan and the working of God that's there.
And the cool part, the refreshing part, the hopeful part for you and for me is this family that we see
isn't perfect. They've got some issues. They've got some dysfunction. They've got some failures.
They've got some success. They've got some points that are getting it. And I think that as I read
through this, what I find in God's word is that there's so much that I can relate to. I wasn't there
for the, for the lesson to happen, but I can learn. And in doing that, God can work and move in me
and I can grow closer to him and more obedient to him. So this morning, we're going to grab a handful
of little, little mini, many lessons, but that are powerful for your life and mine as we, as we look at
this family. So let's read the first two verses and explain a little bit what's going on.
It says, chapter 49, starting in verse one,
when Jacob called his sons,
then Jacob called his sons, I'm sorry, and said, gather yourselves together that I may tell you what
shall happen to you in the days to come.
Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father. So remember, if this is your
first time with us, Jacob and Israel, same person, right? Jacob, the name given by his fathers, Israel,
the name given to him by God. And what he's doing, he's dying. We're going to end with him dying
at the end of 49. And his last request is, is to gather his, his sons and speak the truth of God
to them. Now, if your Bible's like, like mine, there's some titles sometimes at the chapters and
this, this chapter says that the blessings, but, but really what we're going to get, what these are
going to serve more as, as prophecies, as, as these are going to be the tribes of Israel and, and, and what
God will do in the future with these tribes. And some of them exciting as they would hear them.
Maybe some of them were confusing as they would hear them. Maybe some of these were kind of depressing
as they would hear them, but all truth of God's word and, and God's scripture would fulfill every
single one of these. So, so firstly at verse three through four, he begins with Reuben and he says,
Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the first fruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and
preeminent in power, unstable as water. You shall not have preeminence because you went up to your
father's bed, then you defiled it. You went up to my couch. So the lesson that I want us to draw from
this as we, as we look at Reuben and we understand this, I want us to understand the, the leadership of
godly character, the leadership of godly character. You see, Reuben was the, was the oldest and tradition
and, and culture would, would dictate that Reuben would then, would have claim to all the rights of
the firstborn son, but these he forfeited. And in his forfeiture of, of these rights came as a result of,
of pride and immorality. And in Genesis 35, he sleeps. This is, this is what Jacob was talking about.
He sleeps with one of his dad's concubines. And so we see as a result of this fall of, of character,
as you see, as a result of this fall of, of leadership, that he would then be removed.
And the right of the blessing of leadership over the brothers, instead of being centralized with him
and in him, is going to be divided up amongst the brothers, not just with Reuben. Two takeaways that I think
we can draw from this of the leadership of godly character, when we see this. Number one,
when it comes to leadership, look to character over abilities.
When it comes to leadership, look, look to character over abilities.
And, and, and I don't want to make, make sure that we're establishing the truth of which we
have set this on. And so let me apologize for the inadequacy of my notes of what I just took.
When it comes to leadership, look for godly character over earthly abilities.
He says, man, like, Reuben,
strong.
Reuben's powerful.
Reuben's leader.
But while abilities matter, character continues.
Character continues.
Remember, this,
this, this is a man
who is coming to the end
of his life.
Old age.
Is fully set in.
Cannot get out of his bed.
Has to summon
to other people so that they can come
to him
the might
of the strength
of who he was
once before
and his abilities
have waned
just as they will for you
and they will for me.
But the truth of our character
of who we are in Christ
will continue on.
I've been
more and more
every single morning,
every single week,
every single month,
every single year,
you feel a little bit more ache,
you feel a little bit more pain,
you feel a little bit more struggle
in the day as you get older
and older and older.
One day,
the ability to speak,
one day,
the ability to move as much
will be taken away
and will be lessened.
But for me,
the godly character
and who I am with Christ
will continue
of who I am in him
regardless of the abilities
that I have.
So often,
when we look at leadership,
we look at the fancy things
that we can touch.
How appealing are they
with their word?
How appealing are they
with their strength?
How appealing are they
with X, Y, Z
of what the world
has determined for us
is what a leader is
or what a leader isn't?
But I would argue
as men and women of God
that what we need to look at,
what we need to focus on
when we look to leadership
is godly character.
So for you,
my desire for every single one of you
is that not just that
you will be a leader
where God has placed you,
but that you'll be a godly leader.
There may be those
who can teach better.
There may be those
who can do better sales.
There may be those
who can build better.
There may be those
who have a greater capacity
for knowledge
and processing things.
But as men and women of God,
there's what marks us
in our leadership
is the character of God.
The second takeaway from this
is in spite of Reuben's failure,
God's plan's working.
Reuben's lack of character
did not and cannot
halt the plans
and the purpose of God.
And what we see
is God continuing
and God continuing
and God continuing.
And so in those moments
when we're looking at those
to be our leaders,
this is very important
as someone who says this to you,
understanding the privilege
and the honor that it is
to be the senior pastor
and leader of this church
is that when we look to leaders,
make sure that we keep
our eyes on God.
That our eyes cannot fall on man.
That our eyes cannot fall
on the brokenness
of who we are.
But we look and we hope
and we trust to the one
who is perfect,
whose plan is perfect,
and whose way is perfect.
Look at me,
verse five.
I have two brothers here.
Simeon and Levi are brothers.
Weapons of violence
are their swords.
Let my soul come not
into their counsel.
O my glory,
be not joined to their company.
For in their anger
they killed men.
And in their willfulness
they hamstrung oxen.
Curse be their anger.
For it is fierce.
And their wrath
for it is cruel.
I will devolve them
in Jacob
and scatter them
in Israel.
I imagine that got heavy
for a moment.
Simeon and Levi,
and these are the words
they hear.
The lesson,
the family lesson,
it's a caution.
It's a caution
of the pursuit of self.
See,
Simeon and Levi
get grouped together here
because if you remember
back in Genesis 34,
this is where they kind of
come into the story
of the narrative.
They had killed
all the men
of Shechem
in retaliation
for the rape
and the assault
of their sister.
And here's what's important
about this.
If you hear that,
you're like,
well, man,
that feels kind of noble.
Two men.
I'm like,
you've done this
to my sister
and this is what
we're going to do.
And I don't want
to back away
from the fact
that in the Old Testament,
right,
especially in the Old Testament,
it's a very bloody book.
It's very difficult things
of God calling
His people
into battle.
And so,
like,
what I want us to see
and what I find
in this prophetic word
about who they are
is not necessarily
what they did,
but why they did it.
But why they did it.
And I think
it's the reminder
for you and I
in the question
of why are you doing
what you're doing?
Why am I doing
what I am doing?
You see,
their desire
in this moment
was not acting
on the desires
of God,
but on acting
on the desires
of their flesh.
Their pursuit
of self.
So be careful.
Be careful.
You know what,
but I'm good.
I'm good.
Like,
I'm not going to go
and, like,
wipe out a whole group
of people.
Well,
praise the Lord.
But be careful
with this.
Be careful
that your noble acts
reflect the heart
of God
and not the selfishness
of your heart.
Here's a question.
Why
do you do
the right thing?
Why do you do
that which
is noble?
It's an important
question
to ask yourself
because there's
one of two answers
for us.
There's the answer
of the flesh
of the self
and then there's
an answer of God.
Do you do
the right things?
Do you do
the noble thing,
the noble act,
the noble mission
so that people
will look at you
and give you glory
or
do you
do it out
of the posture
and the nature
that Jesus
talks to us
about
in the Sermon
on the Mount?
He says,
like,
be the salt
of the earth.
Be the light.
And he gives
the reason
for why we do
these things.
Why we do
the noble thing,
why we do
the right thing,
why we do
the kind thing,
why we do
the loving thing.
And what's
powerful about this
is it reveals
the nature
of my heart
and your heart
and the motivation
of why we're doing
it.
Is it the pursuit
of self
or the pursuit
of God?
Because he says
there's a goal.
And Jesus says
the goal is this,
so that others
will see your good work
and give glory
to God who's in heaven.
Man.
But I wouldn't
do what they did.
Oh, I know.
I know.
I wouldn't either, man.
But why do we
do what we do?
Why do we?
And if it's for me,
then Lord,
let me come before you
in my selfishness
and the desire
that I have
for other people
to give me glory.
But God,
may I live my life
in such a way
that reflects
your goodness
and your kindness
and your mercy
and who you are.
And God,
when they see me
and when I do
what honors you
and what is good
and what is right,
God, may you get
all the glory for it.
It's the posturing
of the heart
of who we are
in Christ.
Next,
verse 8 through 12.
Judah,
your brothers
shall praise you.
Your hand
shall be on the neck
of your enemies.
Your father's sons
shall bow down
before you.
Judah is a lion's
club.
Cub,
from the prey,
my son,
you have gone up.
He stooped down.
He crouched
as a lion
and as a lioness.
Who dares
arouse him?
The scepter
shall not depart
from Judah
nor the ruler's staff
from between his feet
until the tribute
comes to him.
And to him
shall be
the obedience
of the peoples.
Binding his foal
to the vine
and his donkey's
colt
to the choice vine.
He has washed
his garments
in wine
and his vesture
in the blood
of grapes.
His eyes
are darker
than wine
and his teeth
whiter than milk.
You see,
the model
of sacrifice.
Model of sacrifice.
So you've been
about Judah.
Judah wasn't perfect.
Jesus wasn't perfect,
but he grew.
But he grew.
While in
the selling
of Joseph
and the decision
that the brothers
were battling for it,
it was Judah
who said,
we can sell him
and make a profit.
And so while
in Genesis 37
he wouldn't stop
his brother
from being sold,
but in Genesis 44
when Benjamin
is held back,
it's Judah
who steps up
and is willing
to offer
to sacrifice himself
to put himself
in place.
It's the model
of sacrifice
of what we see.
Here is what I love
about the point
of Judah
when I see this.
You see,
it's not,
Judah's story
is not a
Genesis 37 story.
It's a
Genesis 44 story.
You see,
it took some time
to get him there.
I don't know
what all happened
in his life.
I don't know
what he wrestled
with with the Lord
through those times
and through those days.
The Bible doesn't
give us all that
information,
but we see the difference.
We see a changed man
from Genesis 37
to Genesis 44.
And I think
here's the point.
Praise God
in his grace.
It's not about
where you are
right now,
but it's about
what God wants
to do in your heart
right now.
Like some of us,
man,
we walked in here
and man,
our hearts are evil
and wicked
and sin
is consuming us,
is consuming us.
And we think,
man,
I'm hearing about
this holy God.
Man,
I could never
come to him
because look at
how dirty
that I am.
And the truth
of the gospel
is like stop
listening to Satan
in that right now.
And the truth
of the gospel
is you can come
to God right now
because it's not
about who you are
right now,
but it's about
what God wants
to do
and that begins
with salvation
in Christ
and Christ alone.
Here's what we see
in Judah.
We see a heart change.
We see a heart change
from sell him
to take me.
To take me.
Now interesting,
Jesus
will be a descendant
of Judah.
And what Jesus wants
is your heart.
Judah
was willing
to sacrifice
himself
for Benjamin
but he didn't
have to.
Jesus
did sacrifice
himself
for you
and for me
and for our sake.
He had to.
The beautiful picture
of the lion.
The beautiful picture
who becomes
the sacrificial lamb
so that in him
we can find life
and hope.
Verse 13 through 15.
Zebulun shall dwell
at the shore
of the sea.
He shall become
a haven
for ships
and his border
shall be set on.
Issachar
is a strong donkey
crouching between
the sheepfolds.
He saw
a resting place
was good
and that the land
was pleasant.
So he bowed
his shoulder
to bear
and became
a servant
at forced labor.
two actions
from two brothers
and we'll see
faith in action
or maybe even
faith in a lack
of action.
Zebulun,
his tribe
would become
the largest
in King
David's army.
At one point
the Bible
tells us
that there would be
50,000
from his tribe
who went
into battle
ready to fight
ready to obey
ready to do
what they were
told to do.
Ready to be obedient.
But then there's
this cursed tribe.
They would be
the third
largest
and this
description
of them
paints a picture
of great
strength
great potential
but filled
with laziness.
in the comparison
of these
two tribes
who on the
outside
appear
to look
similar
who on the
outside
appear
ready for
the fight
but one
actually goes
in and one
takes a nap.
You see
when we
look at this
and we
talk about
faith in
action
what I
believe
is there
are a lot
of us
who look
ready for
the fight
but when
the battle
line is
drawn
when the
opportunity
to go
forward
is
is your
faith
an active
faith
is your
faith
the one
ready to
take up
the sword
is your
faith
the one
to get
in the
fight
for
Jesus
or is your
faith ready
to go
it's about
time for
a nap
what does
your faith
actually look
like
is it a
knowledge
is it a
belief
is it a
system
of
agreeances
in your
mind
or in all
of those
things
is God
working and
moving
so that he
can mobilize
you to get
in the fight
for the
kingdom
in our
prayer and
hope
every single
week
for here
is that
we gather
together
to worship
him
to hear
from his
word
so that we
can mobilize
into the
war zones
and the
battlefields
where God
has placed
you
active
faith
not quiet
faith
not passive
faith
not that's
someone else's
but active
for the
glory of
God
to live
for his
name
next verse
16
through 18
Dan
shall
judge
his people
as one
of the
tribes
of Israel
Dan
shall be
a serpent
in the
way
a viper
by the
path
that bites
the horse's
heels
so that
his rider
falls
backwards
I'll wait
for your
salvation
oh Lord
here's a lesson
from Dan
kill the
idols
kill the
idols
kill the
idols
idolatry
for us
is
sneaky
idolatry
for us
is a
little bit
difficult
in the
times that
God has
allowed me
to travel
to the
eastern
part of
our
world
and to
go to
places
where there's
temples
of idolatry
that still
exist today
where millions
upon millions
of people
go in
to bow
down
before a
hand
crafted
statue
that
represents
something
that they
long for
and they
desire
and we
bring
or they
bring
their
sacrifices
in their
lives
and literally
lay them
down
before these
idols
we can
think
that's
idolatry
that's
idolatry
but for
us
it's more
either
difficult
to
describe
or we're
just more
unwilling
to do
it
you see
Dan's
tribe
will
supply
one of
the most
important
judges
in
Samson
but
we'll
introduce
idolatry
to Israel
in
Judges
18
golden
calf
was set
up in
Dan
in
1 Kings
12
and in
Amos
8
we find
that
Dan
will
become
the
center
of
idol
worship
the
downfall
and
the
destruction
idols
are
spiritual
cancers
that
multiply
and
destroy
but they
can be
killed
they
can be
killed
you see
I think
one of the
most
one of the
biggest lies
that I think
that I've
bought into
in my
life
is this
the
lie
that
idols
don't
really
possess
power
but here's
the truth
they do
possess
power
the power
that you
give them
the power
as you
surrender
your life
to them
the right
as you
surrender
your life
to the
pursuit
of anyone
or anything
that you
elevate higher
than Jesus
you see
we could
create a list
that would
fill the walls
of this
room
of idols
that we
bow down
to every
single day
sexuality
political
pursuit
athletics
education
finances
others
image
ourselves
and it's
time
we don't
fall into
the pattern
of the
tribe of
Dan
but that
we kill
the idol
I think
I've shared
this story
before but
I want to
share it
again because
it's so
important as
we understand
the killing
of an
idol in
your life
and in
mine
I want
to use
an
illustration
that I
shared
with our
study
a couple
weeks ago
on one
of my
trips
to Taiwan
I was
talking
with the
missionary
there
and we
were
talking
about
baptism
and what
they do
to teach
people who
have become
Christians
what baptism
is and then
the process
that they bring
them through
in order to
be baptized
and so they
talked about
the conversations
and the things
that they have
and they said
but on the
day before
so they have
Sunday worship
just like we
do in the
morning time
usually
he said
so the
evening
before
we go
to their
house
and there's
one thing
that they
must do
after they've
gone through
the class
in order to be
baptized
the next
morning
and so we
show up
with a
hammer
and we
say
get all
your
idols
out
all
the
little
statues
and they
put them
out on
the table
and they
say
these
represent
your
gods
this is
who you've
worshipped
this is
who you've
surrendered
to
but here's
what
devotion
to Jesus
requires
not putting
them in a
shoebox
and filing
them away
but to
take the
hammer
and literally
crush
every
single
one
of them
here's what
it means
when they
swing that
hammer
here's what
it means
what it means
is mom and
dad may never
speak to me
again
here's what
it means
I may be
ostracized
from everyone
in my
community
here's what
it means
I may
lose
my job
here's what
it means
my husband
or wife
may leave
me
here's what
it means
my kids
may never
speak to
me again
but I
choose
Jesus
I choose
Jesus
you see
we
want to
control
idols
but the
bible says
we gotta
cut the
head off
cut the
head off
verse 19
three brothers
that will
group together
raiders
shall raid
gad
but he
shall raid
at their
heels
asher's
food
shall be
rich
and he
shall
yield
royal
delicacies
naphtali
is a
doe
let
loose
that
bears
beautiful
fawns
and here's
live
abundantly
live
abundantly
Jesus
tells us
that he
he came
not to
just give
us life
but to
give us
abundant
life
abundant
life
live
abundantly
these
these three
brothers
very
very short
verses
prophecies
are made
and here's
what it
will look
like
gad
will supply
troops
for king
david
and first
chronicles
and while
they'll lose
many battles
they'll win
the final
victory
asher's
tribe
would inherit
valuable
land
and what
will come
from this
land
are both
necessities
and luxuries
naphtali's
land
will be on
a portion
of the sea
of galilee
ocean
front
property
and in
this
section
of land
is where
Jesus will
do his
teachings
you're like
Bo
I'm
confused
you said
kill
idols
but then
you just
promised a
whole lot
of things
that sound
like they
could be
idols
we win
luxuries
ocean
front
property
here's what
we'll see
here's what
it means
to live
abundantly
here's what
it means
to live
abundantly
in Christ
I don't know
about you
but there was
a couple of
days this week
that were tough
that were hard
that were
difficult
I felt
the arrows
and the
attacks
and I
began to
buy into
the lie
that I
was defeated
but to
live abundantly
is to
know
that while
those on
this earth
may want
to defeat
me
and while
things in
this earth
may knock
me down
the truth
of eternity
of the gospel
of Jesus
Christ
is this
is that
I've won
and that
Satan
is defeated
and that
the truth
of what
we see
in the
return
of Christ
is not
a hopeful
it may
happen
but it
is a
hopeful
it will
happen
so we
live in
victory
in abundant
life
what it
means to
live an
abundant
life is
that while
you and
I
gathered
in here
may live
at different
levels
of earthly
prosperity
and we're
not going to
kid ourselves
there's
people in
here with
with different
backgrounds
with
with different
tax brackets
with different
types of
cars
with different
types of
success
that would
define the
luxuries of
their life
as different
but that
regardless of
who you are
or where you
come from
or where you
find yourself
from here
to the ends
of the earth
that in
Christ
the Bible
tells us
that you
and I
are fully
and completely
blessed
this is who
we are
in him
and we
have something
greater
than oceanfront
property
we have
something more
valuable
than what can
be built
on the
sand
that you
and I
have the
solid
foundational
teaching
of God's
word
praise God
the most
beautiful thing
that happened
on the sea
of Galilee
is not a
house that
was built
or a view
that was
captured
it was the
teaching of
the gospel
of Jesus
that the most
beautiful thing
of what you
and I
of what we
can hold
on to
is that
we're
blessed
in
is in
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ
that this
is who
he is
and this
is what
he's taught
and this
is what
we know
and that
we can
build
our lives
on his
truth
and then
Jacob gets
to
he gets
to Joseph
he gets
to Joseph
he says
Joseph
is a fruitful
bow
a fruitful
bow
by spring
his branches
run over
the wall
the archers
bitterly
attacked him
and shot
at him
and harassed
him
severely
yet his
bow
remained
unmoved
his arms
were made
agile
by the hands
of the mighty
one of
Jacob
from there
is the
shepherd
the stone
of Israel
by the
God of
your father
who will
help you
by the
almighty
who will
bless you
with the
blessings of
heaven above
blessings of
the deep
that crouches
beneath
blessings of
the breasts
and of the
womb
the blessings
of your
father
are mighty
beyond
the blessings
of my
parents
look up to
the bounties
of everlasting
hills
may they
be on
the head
of
Joseph
and on
the brow
of him
who was
set apart
from his
brothers
you see
it's a
looking
forward
by looking
back
live
differently
live
differently
like
it's not
just
that
Joseph
lived
differently
from his
brothers
it's
that
Joseph
lived
differently
in spite
of the
circumstances
that he
faced
rich
powerful
beautiful
woman
wanted him
and pursued
him
he lived
differently
he was
lied to
and forgotten
about
and left
to rot
unfairly
he lived
differently
he was
released
to rule
and reign
and could
have done
so
with
aggression
but he
lived
differently
and it's
not about
the works
of who
he is
but in
every
single
one of
those
instances
it was
about
the
God
that he
trusted
in his
belief
in his
trust
in his
plan
and in
his
purpose
and folks
that's how
I think
we live
differently
your situation
and mine
may be
different
but we
live
differently
when we
trust
in all
things
the mountaintop
the valley
the plain
the good
the bad
the in
between
the without
the with
when we
live
in faith
and trust
in the
plan
and the
purpose
of God
Joseph didn't
get it all
right
you see
times where
pride kind of
begin to creep
in
but he
trusted
and God
worked
and in
all
things
and in
all
things
what
others
intended
for evil
Joseph
knew that
God was
used for
good
live
differently
lastly
there's
Benjamin
is a
ravenous
wolf
in the
morning
devouring
the prey
and that
evening
dividing
the
spoil
kind of
a
ferociousness
an
attacker
seem
weird
hang
with me
die
well
die
well
this
has
been
fun
this
week
two
key
people
in the
Bible
that I
want us
to talk
about
both
known
for their
harshness
both
known
for their
evil
both
known
for their
willingness
to kill
both
named
Saul
both
came
from the
tribe
of
Benjamin
king
but
allowed
sin
to rule
and reign
in his
life
paranoia
creeping in
constantly
over and
over again
giving
himself
over
to his
sin
and the
hardness
of his
heart
king
Saul
from the
tribe of
Benjamin
over and
over again
and his
death
matched his
life
I want to
read and I
just want you to
listen to the
words in
first
Samuel 31
verse 1
through 4
now the
Philistines
were fighting
against
Israel
and the
men of
Israel
fled before
the
Philistines
and fell
slain
on Mount
Geboa
and the
Philistines
overtook
Saul
and his
sons
and the
Philistines
struck down
Jonathan
and Abednadab
and Malachua
the sons
of Saul
and the
battle
pressed hard
against
Saul
and the
archers
found him
and he
was badly
wounded by
the archers
then Saul
said to
his armor
bearer
this is a
man
who's
lost
hope
this is a
man who
as death
appears
closer and
closer to
him
death
seems like
the best
option
he has
he says
draw your
sword
and thrust
me through
with it
lest these
uncircumcised
come
and thrust
me through
and mistreat
me
but his
armor
bearer
would not
for he
feared
greatly
therefore
Saul
took his
own
sword
and fell
upon
it
his hope
was his own
death and
destruction
there's another
Saul
there's new
testament
Saul
and new
testament
Saul
as he's
new
testament
Saul
isn't a
whole lot
better than
old testament
Saul
and he
lived
for death
and
destruction
as well
you see
there's this
group of
that he'd
heard about
that were
the followers
of Jesus
and they
had broken
away
and they
were spreading
in his
mind
lies
and so
he took
it upon
himself
to have
them
eliminated
arrested
or executed
he has
papers to
do it
the bible
tells us
that one
of the
first
deacons
that was
chosen
was a
man
named
Stephen
was faithful
and Stephen
was upright
and there's
charges that
come against
Stephen
because he's
proclaiming
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ
and it
said
that men
and women
began to
pick up
stones
and cast
them
at Stephen
and they
stoned him
to death
let me kind of
explain to you
what stone
to death
looks like
stone to
death
is the
repeated
beating
of someone
with rocks
to the point
to where
they fall
down
and then
become
unconscious
and when
they fall
down
and become
unconscious
they begin
to continue
to beat
more and
more rocks
on them
so that
they're
buried
alive
and the
Bible
tells us
that while
this
happened
to Stephen
that there
was a man
named Saul
of Tarshish
who stood
holding the
cloaks
of those
who were
executing
Stephen
here's why
he was
holding the
cloaks
because he
was the
leader
and the
orchestrator
of the
death
of a
godly
man
evil
and wicked
but praise
God
but praise
God
that while
traveling
on the
road
Christ
appeared
to him
and saved
him
and when
he saved
him
he transformed
him
because that's
what God
does
God
doesn't
save
you
and leave
you
alone
God
saves
you
and he
indwells
you
and he
works
in you
and Saul
would become
Paul
the greatest
church
planner that
the world
has ever
known
the writer
of most
of the
New Testament
and so
a man
whose life
was filled
with death
and destruction
but died
well
because his
hope
was not
found
in the
death
but his
hope
was found
in the
Savior
Old Testament
Saul
says
ram your
sword
through me
New Testament
Saul
who
becomes
the
apostle
Paul
right
sister
his son
in the
faith
Timothy
in
2
Timothy
4
for I'm
already
being
poured
out
as a
drink
offering
and the
time
of my
departure
has
come
I have
fought
the good
fight
I have
finished
the race
I have
kept
the faith
hence
forth
there is
laid up
for me
the crown
of
righteousness
which the
Lord
the righteous
judge
will award
to me
on that
day
and not
only to
me
but also
to all
who have
loved
his
appearing
one death
marked by
the gospel
of Christ
one death
marked by
sin
what
what does
it mean
to die
well
what does
it mean
to die
well
that my
faith
and hope
and trust
is in
Jesus
let's finish
verse 28
through
33
all
these
are the
twelve
tribes
of
Israel
this
is
what
their
father
said
to
them
as
he
blessed
them
blessing
each
with
the
blessing
suitable
to
him
then
he
commanded
them
and said
to
them
I
am
begathered
to my
people
bury
me
with
my
fathers
in
the
cave
that
is
in
the
field
of
Ephraim
the
Hittite
in
the
cave
that
is
in
the
field
of
Machpelah
to
the
east
of
Mamre
in
the
land
of
Canaan
which
Abraham
bought
with
the
field
from
Ephraim
the
Hittite
to
possess
as
a
burying
place
there
they
buried
Abraham
and
Sarah
his
wife
there
they
buried
Isaac
and
Rebekah
his
wife
and
there
I
buried
Leah
the
field
and
the
cave
that
is
in
it
were
bought
from
the
Hittites
when
Jacob
finished
commanding
his
sons
he
drew
up
his
feet
into
the
bed
and
breathed
his
last
and
was
gathered
to
his
people
unless
Jesus
comes
back
here's
the
truth
a
verse
that
will
ring
true
from
Jacob's
life
and
yours
and
mine
is
verse
33
one
day
he
drew
up
his
feet
into
his
bed
and
he
breathed
his
last
and
was
gathered
all
of
his
people
one
day
you
and I
will
die
one
day
there
will
be
people
that
fill
a
room
to
remember
you
one
day
they'll
gather
around
they'll
tell
stories
they'll
tell
stories
that if
you
were
there
with
them
I'm
just
going
to
tell
you
I've
been
a
part
of
a
lot
of
these
that
will
embarrass
you
but
now
they've
got
the
freedom
to
because
you
can't
fuss
at
them
they're
going
to
get
up
and
they're
going
to
talk
about
the
good
times
they're
going
to
talk
about
the
hard
times
they're
going
to
gather
around
tables
with
food
there's
going
to
be
laughter
there's
going
to
be
tears
and
then
a
pastor
is
going
to
come
up
and
he's
going
to
open
God's
word
and
he's
going
to
share
words
that
will
hopefully
comfort
those
as
everyone
there
mourns
the
loss
of
you
as
a
guy
who's
done
way
more
of
those
than
I
would
like
to
think
from
as
young
as
five
and
to
as
old
as
95
there's
a
beautiful
transition
that
happens
some
of
the
time
some
of
the
time
and
here's
that
beautiful
transition
when
I was
a
pastor
you
move
from
talking
about
the
truth
of
God's
word
to
the
truth
of
that
person's
eternity
that
what
we're
here
for
today
is
that
as
they
passed
from
this
life
to
eternity
what
they
received
was
their
welcome
home
welcome
home
to the
home
prepared
for them
by
Christ
for
eternity
and
hope
with
him
what
would
that
day
be
like
for
you
what
would
that
message
look
like
in
your
life
would
the
hope
of
Jesus
be
proclaimed
in
the
confidence
of
your
faith
in
him
or
just
maybe
in
a
hope
that
you
did
it
and
we
just
don't
know
about
it
today
here's
what
you
don't
know
you
don't
know
if
you'll
live
the
long
ripe
old
life
like
Jacob
or
if
right
now
that
this
day
will
be
your
last
die
well
live
in
faith
put
your
hope
in
Jesus
give
him
all
of
your
worship
so
that
on
that
day
you
will
hear
the
same
thing
that
the
apostle
Paul
laid
up
for
me
the
crown
of
righteousness
which
the
Lord
the
righteous
judge
will
award
to
me
on
that
day
would
you
pray
with
me
God
I
thank you
for the
truth
of
your
word
God
I
thank you
for the
hope
of
the
gospel
God
my
prayer
is
for
every
single
one
of
us
Lord
as
we
saw
these
little
powerful
lessons
as
the
prophetic
word
of
blessing
is
spoken
over
each
of
the
sons
of
Jacob
truths
of
what
it
looks
like
to
walk
in
relationship
with
you
and
God
that
relationship
is
made
possible
not
because
we've
been
obedient
to
the
rules
but
because
Christ
made
a
way
he
made
a
way
for
us
through
his
work
on
the
cross
he
made
a
way
for
us
as
he
died
for
our
sins
he
made
a
way
for
us
as
he
paid
the
penalty
that
we
deserve
and
he
made
a
way
as
he
rose
again
God
I pray
that
today
that
everyone
in
here
could
claim
the
truth
of
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
but
he
is
their
Lord
and
Savior
God
if
there's
anyone
here
who's
not
may
today
be
the
day
of
faith
may
today
be
the
day
of
salvation
for
them
God
for
us
who
are
followers
of
Jesus
may
today
as
we
look
at
these
truths
from
your
word
be
an
encouragement
to
live
in
the
boldness
of
the
faith
that
we
profess
through
the
power
of
the
spirit
who
lives
in
us
and
to
deliver
the
message
of
the
hope
of
the
gospel
Jesus
we
love
you
we
praise
you
in
your
name
we
pray
amen
that's
it
for
this
week's
message
be
sure
to
check
back
next
week
for
another
episode
in
the
meantime
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can
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up
to
date
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Willow
Ridge
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thanks again for listening