Will You Sell Your Birthright?
Text: Genesis 25:24-34
INTRODUCTION
ILLUSTRATION:
TV Program - Antique Roadshow
Stand in line
Heirlooms = junk
Junk = heirlooms
TRANSITION: We have a treasure hidden in our lives that we take for granted and if we aren’t careful, we allow the enemy an inroad to rob us of the very thing God has entrusted to us. We have then UNDER-PRICED God’s precious gift to us.
I. UNDER-PRICED
Genesis 25:24-27 When her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25Now the first came forth red, all over like a hairy garment; and they named him Esau. 26And afterward his brother came forth with his hand holding on to Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob; and Isaac was sixty years old when she gave birth to them. 27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a peaceful man, living in tents.
1. When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, that is, of the open country (outside of the cultivated areas) where he loved to roam.
2. In the Hebrew, a beast of the field means a wild animal. A plant of the field means a wild plant. Thus, Esau was a wild, undisciplined man who lived a wild life seeking sport and adventure.
3. Esau was born in the family descended from Abraham. God’s promises rested on them.
4. God had told Abraham that he was going to build a nation and a people that would number as many as the stars in heaven.
5. Esau under-priced his heritage.
APPLICATION:
Today we have Christians who although born into the same family, they walk the fence and do not walk according to the way in which God would have them to walk.
They are “wild” and undisciplined.
Not walking in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Walking less than what God intended us to walk.
6. We ignore God‘s directive……
Proverbs 4:23 Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
7. And instead we allow our birthright to be under priced and sold ---torn from us.
TRANSITION: God is calling us to take an assessment today and see if we have placed too low a price on the birthright that God has provided for us as Christians. The second question God asks is this - Have you X SHORT-CHANGED your birthright?
II. SHORT-CHANGED
Genesis 25:29-31 And when Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; 30and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. 31But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.”
1. Esau came in from a day of hunting to find Jacob boiling something. Because he was famished Esau asked excitedly and repeatedly for some of “that red”.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
APPLICATION:
We short-change our birthright when we want to “sow our wild oats first”.
May not seem pertinent to where we are right now because of circumstances, situation, age, abilities.
John 10:10 The thief comes but to kill, steal and destroy….
APPLICATION:
When we become believers, we are new creatures because Jesus lives in us. Satan does not tempt us to do the wrong things; he tempts us in order to make us lose what God has put into us by regeneration (the possibility of being of value to God).
Temptation means the test by an alien power of the possessions held by a personality.
2. Jesus being tempted in the wilderness - Satan was tempting His deity, the very thing that he wanted to steal from Him.
3. He does the same thing with us as Believers today. Satan wants to steal the essence of who we are in Christ.
To bring:
Distance
Disunity
Discouragement
Destruction
TRANSITION: Esau lost his birthright because he chose the temporary over the permanent. We short-change God when we chose to fulfill our immediate needs instead of treasuring that seed that God has planted in our hearts and keeping that pure relationship towards Him. The final question God asks us is this, “Are you selling X SELLING OUT?
III. SELLING OUT
Genesis 25:32-34 And Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” 33And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
1. “He despised his birthright.” This was very serious.
Birthrights normally included:
a double portion of the inheritance
family leadership in worship and in war
But in this chosen line, the birthright in addition included the promise and blessing given to Abraham
the privilege of carrying on the line that would bring salvation-blessing to the whole world.
2. Jacob knew this and wanted the relation with God the covenant blessings promised. But Esau had no concern for God or spiritual things.
Hebrews 12:15-16 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
3. This does not mean that Esau was godless in the sense of atheistic, but simply “secular”, leaving God out of his life, his plans, his thinking.
APPLICATION:
How many times do we not allow God to grow us to our potential? You have been given a very special gift.
4. We have a PRESENT INHERTANCE:
Salvation
Relationship
Power of the Holy Spirit
We have a FUTURE INHERITANCE
An eternal home
Life
“You are a royal generation, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession”
“You are complete in Him” “He dwells within you”
TRANSITION: We are not without hope. Esau lost his birthright and in effect he lost his inheritance, however we are not without hope today for we have a Savior who has assured us of a BIRTHRIGHT and it is stamped NOT FOR SALE!
IV. NOT FOR SALE!
2 Timothy 1:14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you---guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
CONCLUSION
What Jesus did for us in his life, death & resurrection
Don’t sell your birthright
Don’t sell out on God
Keep what He has entrusted to you so that we can all run the race in order to win!
