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Esau Sells His Birthright
Genesis 25:29-34 ESV
Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Spiritual Exhaustion
• Esau’s physical exhaustion led him to choose to give up his birthright (Gen 25:29-34). • The danger of spiritual exhaustion is that it can eventually lead to the abandonment of a Christian’s participation in the New Covenant (Hebrews 6:4-12).
Abandoning Salvation
Hebrews 6:4-12 ESV
For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
What Spiritual Exhaustion Looks Like
• Hopelessness • Inner chaos • Despair • Doubt
Contributors to Spiritual Exhaustion
• Flesh (Matthew 26:41) • Satan
The Flesh is Weak
Matthew 26:41 ESV
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
About Satan
• Tempter (Matthew 4:1-11) • Sower of destruction (Matthew 13:24-30) • Thief (Luke 8:12) • Disabler/Oppressor (Luke 13:10-17; Acts 10:38) • Accuser (Luke 22:31) • Murderer and liar (John 8:44) • Schemer (Eph 6:11) • Deceiver (2 Cor 11:14; Rev 12:9)
The Good News!
• We can identify the workings of the devil! (1 Peter 5:8) • The Devil flees when we resist him by submitting to God! (James 4:7) • God can use Satan’s designs for good! (2 Corinthians 12:7)
Be Watchful
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Resist the Devil
James 4:7 ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
God Can Use Satan’s Designs
2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
Avoiding Spiritual Exhaustion
• Abraham abided in God’s covenant through faith exhibited in obedience (Gen 26:1-5; James 2:18-24). • We abide in Jesus’ love (the new covenant) by faith exhibited through obedience (John 15:9-10).
God Establishes Covenant with Isaac
Genesis 26:1-5 ESV
Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
Abiding in Jesus’ Love
John 15:9-10 ESV
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
What Can We Learn?
• Once again, it is essential we know the promises of God. • Believe in these promises and live according to such belief. • Because faith translates into action. • Avoid spiritual exhaustion through faith, devotion and obedience.