Mercy In The Mess

06 Sep Mercy In The Mess

Posted at 22:58h in English Service by

Pastor Vincent - 3 October 2013

The Way Of Evangelism: Christ Convictions

All English Service

Conviction means a believing heart, and it's the prayer of a convicted remnant that mobilizes angels to work. Convictions come from deep prayers as you confirm the truth and inscribe it unto your heart, so that it can be the strength in your heart and give you the ability to do the good in you. Convictions come from the the many unresolving problems in your life that drives you to have the continual need to turn to God and be comforted by His truth, again and again. Conviction comes when you train yourself to live before God, not man. And very importantly, conviction certainly comes through brethren living. After crossing the Jordan river, God made Joshua circumcised the people before the enemy, in a state which the Israelites were so vulnerable and could be easily attacked by the enemy. What does it tell us? Be afraid of not your enemy (problems); rather, be really afraid when your heart is stolen by the enemy. Even before the storm, before the big and challenging problems, God was more concerned with His people's circumcision than fighting the war. God has every ability to fight and win the war and give His people the promised land, but the reason why He wanted them circumcised is to set them apart and put His covenant in their hearts first - their identity, their purpose of living, and that they must not forget the works of the Lord in their lives. Live as one circumcised, be convicted by the truths.

Related Topics: Evangelism & Missions, Prayer | More Messages from Pastor Vincent

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1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

2 Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”

7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.

14 During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

15 But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?”

“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”

16 So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.

22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”

 

Messy families abound in a sinful world.

1) A trend observed in the Bible.

  • Polygamy
  • Sibling rivalry
  • Deception
  • Murder
  • Adultery
  • God blessed His people not because they were perfect, but because He loved them.

 

2) Brokenness persists today.

 

3) Sinful humans cannot be completely harmonious and loving.

 

Thankfully, God is at work in this mess.

  • To draw us to His gospel.
  • Mess >>> Mercy
  • Pain >>> Praise
  • Those whom God blesses and uses are not those who are perfect, but those who need Christ.

 

Not perfect but redeemable.

* How to be healed from a messy family?

  • Christ heals brokenness.
  • If already know it is fragile, take extra care to cling to God.
  • Repent of sins that contribute to the mess.
  • Be healed by God’s love and live out His word.
  • Persevere!

 

Lessons from Jacob’s messy family.

1) The marriage pleasing to God is that between one man and one woman.

 

2) Jealousy is destructive.

  • Only desire what others have but not appreciate what we have.
  • Can lead to more serious sins and extend beyond generations.
  • Hidden >>> dangerous
  • Tend to spoil relationships closer to us.
  • Makes us more bitter.
  • Solutions:
    • Find back our worth in God.
    • Learn to give thanks.
    • Love others sincerely.

 

3) Insistence on one’s desire(s) can be detrimental.

  • Jacob’s problem: Only loved Rachel, but did not confirm how valuable Leah was too.
  • We tend to love the obvious good, but do not see value in the lowly, despised, foolish, and the weak who are chosen by God <1 Co 1:27-28>.
  • Learn to appreciate blessings hidden in the “Leahs” of our lives.
  • Submit to God’s plan even if it is not of our choice.
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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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