The Grace Deception: When is a Lie Not a Lie?

Lev 16:2, 8

Gen27:6=17-25-30

Isaac nearing the end of life & losing his sight:

Called Esau, his oldest son, to prepare to bless him

The blessing was an event, given based on position

 Esau was first in position

The Mother, Rebekah overheard Isaac's plan to bless Esau, so she went to the younger son, Jacob

Devised a plan to get Isaac to bless Jacob instead of Esau

She told Jacob to get 2 goats 

          Goats are a sacrifice & a substitute – Lev 16

Jacob said, “We are opposite”

My father won’t be fooled because of Esau’s hairiness

Rebekah, dressed Jacob in Esau’s choice clothes – favorite suit

         Made hairy skin from the goat

                 Made food

Jacob went into the presence of his father dressed like Esau vs 15

Isaac was suspicious when he heard Jacob’s voice

"How did you get it so quickly?"

1. So he called Jacob closer to touch him

          He touched him – the voice of Jacob, but the skin of Esau

 2. Then he asked him directly

  Jacob lied and said he was Esau

 3.  After Isaac ate the food, he told Jacob to come close and kiss him

  Then he smelled him

                    His clothes smelled like Esau

The father gave Jacob the blessing

Esau came back at the same time Jacob was leaving

Isaac was shocked when the real Esau came in

Your brother carried away your blessing

I blessed him, and he shall be blessed 

I have guaranteed him success 

The blessing is irrevocable

The story of Jacob is our story 

1. We are opposite of Jesus (like Jacob was opposite of Esau)
2. We are “tricksters” with no right to the blessing

Only Jesus, the firstborn, can go in to access the blessing 

Rebekah, the mother, is the representation of the Church 

Gal 4:26.  The Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.

The Church helps me put on Jesus

• Rom 13:14.  "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ."

The 2 goats are a preview of the Atonement – Lev 16

The only way to enter the presence of the Father was with blood 

1. One goat was for blood
2. The other goat was for substitution

Must be dressed in Jesus’ favorite clothes – His righteousness 

Isa 61:10a

For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

We go into the presence of the Father dressed like Jesus

And smelling like Jesus

We have been baptized into Jesus Christ, and put on Christ  - Gal 3:27 

So, when the Father ask, "Are you my Son?"

We can answer, "Yes"

The Father sees me as Jesus

The Father blesses me as if I am His firstborn, Jesus

We get the blessing of the first-born  

When God the Father blesses you, “you are blessed”

He can’t take it back

Salvation is not about how good you are

Your goodness cannot put you into Jesus’ position

Nor can it bring you into the Father’s presence

Salvation is about the great exchange

2 Cor 5:21.  [Jesus] who knew no sin [became] sin for us,

So that we might we who were not righteous, would become the righteousness of God in Christ. 

"That Your Faith Fail Not"

What is faith?

• ·       Faith is not some button we push because we want something from God

• ·       Faith is not about chasing after things or chasing after blessings
  • It is about chasing after God 
  • It changes my pursuit from material things to Kingdom things

• ·       Faith does not stop believing God based on circumstances
  • It’s walking with Him regardless of the circumstances

Walk of Faith is about uncertain movement 

          Don’t always know where He will lead you

• ·       Valley – “God of Valley” – know about me
• ·       Wilderness – know about yourself
• ·       Sea – “not overflow you” – know control over circumstances
• ·       Midst of the Enemy – “Prepare a table – know about enemy

                              We can’t let our Faith fail

What happens when Faith meets failure? 

Luke 22:31-32

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you,

that he may sift you as wheat. 

32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;

and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

“Exaiteo”  Demanded the Test   (ex.  Job)

          Wants to prove you’ll fail and that you’re a failure

Sift like wheat – Shake you till you come apart

          Constant shaking – until you’re shaken into pieces & quit

Job 16:7a, 12

Now He has worn me out;

12 I was at ease, but He has shattered me;

He also has taken me by my neck, and shaken me to pieces;

He has set me up for His target,

Satan wants to see you & your faith completely destroyed

Jesus said, I have prayed for you! – Interceded

Heb 7:25.  He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God

through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

• ·       He died ‘once for all’ but He is still in the process of saving us

In this shaking process, there will be loss & even failure

          But I will not let your faith fail

If the enemy can get your faith to fail, it totally shakes up the relationship with God – Without faith it’s impossible to please Him

He takes what Satan uses to destroy you – Sifting

Turns the evil to good

Constant shaking in sifters until tares (weeds) appear on top,

soil falls below, and wheat on bottom

This sifting creates another issue

At first sight, all you see is the dirt at the bottom, and the weeds on top

“Accuser of the Brothers”

Points to the weeds & the dirt – what’s easy to see

Says that’s all there is to you

Satan tries to condemn you before God

        Wants you to condemn yourself

Jesus is still interceding !!!!

Rom 8:34.  Who is he who condemns?  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God,

Who also makes intercession for us

God allows the process – to separate the stuff out of your life

There’s substance in there

Satan had plans to take you out…

God’s won’t let anything happen to you, unless

• ·      It makes you better
• ·      And it gives Him glory

Jesus says, I already have plans for your recovery

“When you are converted – have returned”

You are not disqualified because of your failure

        You become responsible

• ·      Strengthen your Brother
• ·      Feed my sheep – John 21:15

New Creature, New Abilities

Elevate my Living by Elevating my Thinking

Rom 12:2.  Be renewed in my mind

Not just changing what I think about myself

Changing what I know about myself

New Creature – 2 Cor 5:17

You are not of the world, because I chose you out of the world – John 15:19

Walking in Newness of life – Rom 6:4

Child of the 8^th day (Circumcision)

I am a partaker of the divine nature of God – 2 Peter 1:4

• ·       He is Spirit, I am Spirit
• ·       He is Holy and He calls me to be Holy
• ·       He is light; I am light
• ·       I drink from God and become a river
• ·       I have the mind of Christ.

Col 3:2.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

If I can get my thinking right, then I can get my speaking right

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” – Matt 12:34

I must learn to speak from The Heavenly Realm

Let the weak say “I’m strong.” – Joel 3:10

What does earth say about you? 

What does heaven say about you?

I’m not good enough

I am a masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works – Eph 2:10

I can’t do it

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me – Phil 4:13

I can’t do what other people do

Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world – 1 John 4:4

I’m limited – in education, vocabulary, knowledge, etc

I have the mind of Christ. I have an unction from the Holy Spirit.  I can know all things!

I’m afraid to try

The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid – Heb 13:6

People will laugh at me

If God is for me, who can be against me? – Rom 8:31

I’ll fail

God always leads me in triumph in Christ – 2 Cor 2:14

It probably won’t work

It’s going to work together for my good, because I love God and am called according to His purpose – Rom 8:28

I’m sick

By His stripes, I am healed – Is 53:5

I’m fat – I’m skinny – I’m ugly – I have this physical issue

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know I’m marvelous, Darling! – Ps 139:14

What I think about myself comes out of what I know about myself

I must elevate what I think about myself

          My living will be limited & my abilities will be limited

I have New Abilities

John 14:12.  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do.”

Eph 3:20.  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

The Key is having Holy Spirit

          Once I become Spirit, there are things that I have access to

John 14:26.  The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

Holy Spirit is a Teacher

1 John 2:20.  You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

James 1:5.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Prov 4:7.  Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.

And in all your getting, get understanding.

Dan 9:22.  He informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.

Eph 1:16-21

Pray for wisdom and revelation and understanding, and increase in knowledge

Pray that I’ll know the Spirit that’s in me & the power that’s available to me

Pray that I’ll know what how valuable I am to Him – I am His rich inheritance

Eph 3:8-9

We have a grace to explore the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to understand the mysteries which have been kept hidden from the beginning of the ages.

2 Chron 1:7-12

Because you asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honor.

It’s not just something you have – it must be applied

I Am An Extraordinary Person

I am Smart

Nothing is beyond my understanding

I am Creative

I Excel

I Solve Problems

I Perform at a Higher Level

I am full of Ideas

My Memory is Sharp

I have the Spirit of God and the mind of Christ

Therefore I am smart and increasing in knowledge

I have access to Divine wisdom and unlimited creative power

Making available to me unsearchable riches

I have an unction from the Holy Spirit

Therefore I can know all things

I can understand all things

I can remember all things

And I don’t have to worry about anything.

Speaking From the Heavenly Realm

Matt 6:9-10

In this manner, therefore, pray:  Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.  (Your name is clean, pure, sanctified & holy)

¹⁰ Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

We must open our mind to what it really means to be “Saved”

          It’s not laboring to ‘stay’ saved

It’s not working, trying to get to heaven

It’s working to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth

1 John 3:2.  Beloved, now we are the sons of God

John 8:35.  A servant does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever

The struggle isn’t about my salvation – which happens in an instant

          It’s about the renewal of my mind – which is the process

How do we renew our mind?  Input new information

Why is that so difficult?  Because we don’t want to read or study 

We want to be entertained and made to feel good

This keeps a ceiling on our thinking

If our thinking is limited, our living is limited

As he thinks in his heart, so is he.  (Prov 23:7)

In order to Elevate your Living, you must Elevate your Thinking

What do I mean by “Elevate Your Thinking?”

          In the natural – learning for a promotion, etc.

          In the Spiritual – understanding who you are in Christ Jesus

I am a New Creature – 2 Cor 5:17

"You are not of the world, because I chose you out of the world" – John 15:19

I walk in Newness of life – Rom 6:4

I'm a child of the 8^th day - New Beginnings (Circumcision)

We share the divine nature of God – 2 Peter 1:4

•        He is Spirit, we are Spirit
•        He is Holy and He calls us to be Holy
•        He is light; we are light
•        We drink from God and become a river
•        I have the mind of Christ       

Col 3:2.  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

I’m seated with Him in the heavenly realm – Eph 2:6

I must learn to think from this realm

I must learn to speak from the Heavenly Realm

Let the weak say “I’m strong.”

          Fact ~vs~ Truth

Gideon – “Mighty Man of Valor… go in this strength of yours”

          Weakest clan; least of those

John 16:13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth (reality), has come, He will guide you into all truth (reality);

Function from the Reality of heaven

What does earth say about you? 

What does heaven say about you?

I’m not good enough

I am a masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works – Eph 2:10

I can’t do it

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me – Phil 4:13

I can’t do what other people do

Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world – 1 John 4:4

I’m limited – in education, vocabulary, knowledge, etc

I have the mind of Christ. I have an unction from the Holy Spirit.  I can know all things!

I’m afraid to try

The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid – Heb 13:6

People will laugh at me

If God is for me, who can be against me? – Rom 8:31

I’ll fail

God always leads me in triumph in Christ – 2 Cor 2:14

It probably won’t work

It’s going to work together for my good, because I love God and am called according to His purpose – Rom 8:28

I’m sick

By His stripes, I am healed – Is 53:5

I’m fat – I’m skinny – I’m ugly – I have this physical issue

I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I know I’m marvelous, Darling! – Ps 139:14

Remember, it’s not just quoting scripture.  It’s thinking from the heavenly realm

Mark 11:23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says

God is who He says He is, and will do what He said He would do

Therefore, I am who God said I am and can do what God said I can do

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