God Let Esau Be Esau
This is a powerful little clip from a sermon by Paul Washer.
Its not always easy to remember in the middle of loss or continuous physical pain that these things we endure are not only helping to mold us into the man or woman of God, which is our eternal destiny if we be in Christ, but that they are a testimony to God’s Name and Glory: how? by our steadfast faithfulness to Him through it all…and how the world witnesses this.
Even chastisement we receive by the hand of God is a ‘witness’ that we ARE a child of the Most High. I had not thought about that in a long time, but this clip reminded me.
How horrible to be likened to Esau, as Paul Washer points out in this clip! We see men and women today who claim Christ as Lord and Savior who appear to never be chastised or stopped from their ungodly actions, and even appear to prosper …we ask why. Perhaps its because they like Esau, are being allowed to ‘be themselves’.
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. ~ Ezekiel 36
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
..Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. ~ Hebrews 12
Boy did I need to hear this today.
As usual thanks for posting these and following the leading of the Holy Spirit PJ.
How much better is life if we just trust in him? He really does work all things for our benefit.
Thanks again!
Mrs B
I needed to hear that clip too.
When we go through a prolonged season of loss or even a lifetime of illness, we can begin to think God has forsaken us, when in truth its just the opposite: He is using those things to mold us, so we become more like Jesus. .
I had never thought of Esau’s life in the way Paul Washer spoke about it. But when listening to him it was as though a light was turned on!
It also helped me to understand a little better why God does not always step in to stop false teachers or prophets, etc…He’s just allowing them to be themselves.
To me that is frightening Mrs. B….
I would rather have the rod of God’s chastisement applied every day, then to know He has turned me over to my own ways.
Wow…I never knew that Paul had so many health problems! The thing that has saddened my heart the most is to realize that the majority of people going to church may not even be saved. I had a pastor in my home town tell me that he believed 75% of his suburban church wasn’t even saved.
Paul is a true witness in a religious church system and we all need to be praying that God raise up more voices like him.
thank You for the post
L
Paul Washer preaches the unpopular truth, but preach he must. Sadly, the masses would rather have a God who bestows only good and blessing, healing and ease, promising only favor and goodwill. He is reduced to the level of fanciful Hallmark card. They want One who never deals severely or calls His own to carry a load that would position them to need to cry out in their suffering. It is frightening to know that many have put God under obligation and call it faith. This, rather, is rather a spirit of provocation that stirs up His wrath.
Jacob met God in the middle of the night, smelled the breath of His angel in the sweat of struggle, and was wrenched in the hip for the rest of His life that he might not forget God. He was becoming intimately acquainted with the One met up with him in the dark, so much so that his name was changed to Israel.
We must ask ourselves: Can I worship God in my struggle? Do I reckon Him Supreme in my loss? Can I trust that my present trouble is what He’s divinely ordained to draw me to Himself like never before?
God forbid He ignore me like He did Esau.
I felt the love of God come through tonight while listening to this message. I too needed to hear this.
I trust He is able to do what He only knows best, to finish the work He has promised to do in that day I first believed.
Truly appreciate the Lord leading you pj to post this one.