12/21/2015 Abraham's Gr m's Grand andso son Born a a heel - PDF document

12/21/2015 Abraham's Gr m's Grand andso son Born a a “heel “heel-gra rasper” (25: (25:26), Jaco acob liv lived ed do dow n w n to his name to his name! Genesis 27:36 & 41, NIV Esau said, “Isn't he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright [25:29-34], and now he's taken my blessing!” [27:1-35] …Esau held a grudge against Jacob… Man On T Man On The R he Run! un! Jaco acob no now w has to has to flee his flee his br brot other, w w hos hose e grudge has tur udge has turned ned into a into a per personal sonal v vendet endetta. Genesis 27:41- 43, NIV [Esau] said to himself, “The days for mourning my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob”…When Rebekah was told what her older son Esau had said, she sent for her younger son Jacob and said to him, “Your brother is planning to avenge himself by killing you…Flee at once…” 1

12/21/2015 Homeless! A meless! Alone! one! This r is rascal/fugitiv cal/fugitive mu must s sleep betw betw een a een a rock and a and a har hard place! d place! Genesis 28:11, NIV When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. While ile He W He Was Sleep s Sleepin ing… g… The L Lord r d reac ached d hed dow n t to J Jacob i ob in a an amazing d g dream—to e m—to extend s end some a me amazi azing g ng grace! Genesis 28:12-15, NIV He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac…All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you…” The God Of he God Of Abraham, m, Isaac—An Isaac—And d Jacob! acob! Jacob acob w oke up, up, real ealizing ng tha that his dream his dr eam w w as s a a spir spiritual w ake-up c -up call! ll! Genesis 28:16-17 & 20-21, NLT (see also 27:20) “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it!...What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!...If God will indeed be with me, and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father's home, then the Lord will certainly be my God…” 2

12/21/2015 Christ(mas) In rist(mas) In Genesis? Genesis? Almos most 2000 y 2000 years la late ter, Jesu sus dec decla lare red tha that HE is the ulti HE is the ultimate fulfil fulfillment of of Jaco acob's dr dream eam! John 1:51, NLT “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” God Ca Go Came me Do Dow n w n! One night One night in in Bethl Bethlehem ehem, hea , heaven opened and the en opened and the Lor Lord ar d arri rived ed on on ear earth, accom accompanied by panied by angel angels! Luke 2:10-11 & 13, NIV But the angel said to [the shepherds]…“Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord”…Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God… “God A “God And nd Sinne Sinners Reconc econcil iled ed!” !” One day at Calva One day a lvary, C Christ rist and hi and his cr s cross oss bridged t br dged the he w i w ide ga de gap bet p betw een een hea heaven and en and ear earth! th! 1 Timothy 2:5-6, NLT For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. 3

12/21/2015 One Stairw ay To God One Stairw God Jesus is the onl sus is the only y “W “Way” ay” for r any of any of us to us to get up to hea get up to heaven! en! John 14:6, NLT “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” What About Other R bout Other Relig ligion ions? All All other other reli ligions—l gions—like e the the Tow er of of Babel— bel—are re huma humanity's futil futile a atte ttempt to to reac each God by God by self self-effort. Genesis 11:4-5, NIV Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens”…But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. Christianit ianity I Is Unique! ue! Chris rist alon alone is e is the stai the stairw ay to to hea heaven, provided ided by Go God f for r everyone one in in th the w w orld. d. John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 2:2, NLT For God loved THE WORLD so much that he gave his one and only Son…For God was in Christ reconciling THE WORLD to himself…[Jesus Christ] himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only for our sins but for the sins of all THE WORLD. 4

12/21/2015 Goin Going Up? g Up? Ha Have YOU OU step epped ped onto o the stai the stairw ay to to hea heaven? Luke 2:11 & John 3:16, NIV Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born TO YOU… For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM shall not perish but have eternal life. 5