Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- In the final sermon [on this series] to tie everything together
- A title for God - The God of Jacob
- Not the God of 'others' but the God of Jacob
- Why?
- Jacob was a cheat and a deceiver
- What does the title mean?
- To consider the God of Jacob - 'then and now'
- In a time of turbulence we have safety and refuge in God
The God of election
- God chose Jacob
- Paul speaks about election using Jacob as the prime example (Romans)
- One twin was chosen
- God had told Rebekah the older would serve the younger
- This was unheard of in the culture of the time
- Reading Romans 9:11-13
- How do you understand these things?
- Do you see this as God being unfair or not giving people a choice?
- Do you accept this?
- Who are we to question the living God?
- We are all born sinners
- None of us merit the favour of God
- None of us deserve to be loved by God
- We all break God's commands
- We are all responsible for our sin
- Justice must be served
- But if God says that I will acquit some - is this not a mercy or a grace?
- Do we really have free will?
- If we have a bias in our heart to sin
- What if God has not chosen me?
- God has promised that all who call on His name will be saved
The God of all grace
- If there was ever an example of dishonesty, lying and deception - it is Jacob
- Deceiver was his name
- Deception was his nature
- Example
- It was only in middle age that he overcame, when God changed his name to Israel
- Do you feel that you are like Jacob?
- There is grace if you come confessing your sin
- Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
- 1 Cor 1:26-29
- God chooses weak and foolish sinners
- He lavishes grace upon them
The God of all sovereignty
- Ps 46 - when there is trouble all around, we can trust in God
- v1-2: The God of Jacob is our refuge
- Was Jacob's life not turbulent?
- He might have wondered where God was
- Yet God showed He was in control of all things
- Despite the various problems and family situations - examples
- God is working out His purposes in the midst of this turbulence and calamity
- God showed His sovereignty at every point - examples
The God who is with us (who was with Jacob)
- God appeared to Jacob when he fled from Esau
- God was with Jacob wherever he went
- God exceedingly prospered Jacob
- God showed him a wife (Rachel)
- God sends two companies of angels when he is due to meet Esau
- God appeared in a dream and a vision
Closing Remarks
- God is with us - as He was with Jacob at every point
- He will never leave or forsake us
- We are a temple of the Holy Spirit
- The God of Jacob is our refuge
- Recap of earlier points
- The God of Election
- The God of all grace
- The God of all sovereignty
- The God who is with us
The God who transforms lives
- God transformed Jacob
- He matured in his later years
- He became a man of integrity
- He became obedient
- Jacob blesses Pharaoh and the sons of Joseph
- He lived by faith
- God transforms His people
- He is the potter and we are the clay
- We should be conformed to Jesus Christ