Grace Assembly : Acts of Grace

Let us look at the life of two brothers. They were twins. They had the same father and mother, and were in the same womb at the same time. They grew up in the same environment, everything was the same, and yet they were two opposites. One, God accepted, the other, God rejected. One, God loved, the other, he hated. The word ‘hated’ here means loved less.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, ‘In what way have you loved us?’ Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” says the Lord. “Yet Jacob I have loved; But Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness.” Even though Edom has said, “We have been impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places,” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “They may build, but I will throw down; they shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, and the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever. (Malachi 1: 2 - 4 )

Esau’s nation was called Edom. The Edomites were the children of Esau, and Edom became a big embarrassment and a thorn to Israel. What was God saying? Even though Esau and Jacob were twins from the same womb, he loved one and hated the other. He prospered one, but dismantled everything the other did. Why and how did this come to be?

We find out more about Esau in Hebrews 12:16 -17: … lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The Lord says that Esau was a fornicator and a profane person. He despised his birthright. Although he received a blessing from his father, he could have received more but he was rejected. Why? Because there was no repentance in his heart and even though he sought it with tears, it was too late. In other words, Esau said, “Give me the blessings but I don’t want the responsibilities” Give me what is mine!

Likewise, there are people that come with the “name it, claim it and frame it” mentality. I just memorize a certain portion of God’s promises. I just repeat it and it’s mine. That’s witchcraft; charismatic Pentecostal witchcraft! These people don’t memorize the conditions to the promises. They don’t want the conditions, they just want the promises.

The birthright was Esau’s special right and privilege. The firstborn is the one who has the birthright, he has a cloak given to him, which means he is special among all the children. Why is he special? He is the first one that opens the matrix of the mother as he comes into the world and God says he is specially blessed and as the firstborn, he will get a double portion. What is a double portion? For instance, a man has four sons and he dies. Before his death, he divides his property into five portions. He gives two portions to the first son and one portion each to the other three. The eldest gets double. Why? Because the eldest not only gets the blessing, he also has the responsibility of being the head of the family when his father dies. He becomes the head of the tribe and he takes on the leadership, he makes the decisions, he has to organize for war, he has to do all the extra works. That is called birthright, double anointing and double favour of God.

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright as of this day.” And Esau said, “Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?” Then Jacob said, “Swear to me as of this day.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. (Gen. 25:29-34)

Notice that Jacob had the ability to cook. Many of you haven’t seen that before. There is an anointing to cook. He cooked himself into the kingdom. He cooked himself to the birthright. So, don’t despise your gifting. Jacob was very smart, he knew the value of serving and the value of the double portion. Jacob knew the value of being blessed of God. It is being blessed to be a blessing.

Esau said, “Why should I die for this birthright for it is no profit to me?” His mouth killed it. God gave his blessing but he opened his mouth and said, “I’d rather die, for what is the use of this, it’s no profit to me. I want the blessing but I’m not going to be a blessing to others.” How many of us despise the birthright? Don’t despise the cell leadership you have been given. Don’t despise the responsibility that you have, the little things that you have been entrusted with or the big things that you are doing at home, at work, at play or in the kingdom of God. Esau rejected it, therefore God rejected him. God said, “I will curse it, anything you do will be a failure because with your mouth you have said it. You despise my blessings. You despise being a blessing. Therefore, I will reject you and I will hate you.”

Now it came to pass, when Isaac was old and his eyes were so dim that he could not see, that he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” And he answered him, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Behold now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death. 3 Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. 4 And make me savoury food, such as I love, and bring it to me that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.” ( Genesis 27: 1 – 4 )

God is saying something here – when the time comes for the father to impart the patriarch blessing to his son, he asks his son to bring him something. Bring me what I like so that I can ‘eat’ and be satisfied and then I will lay my hand on you and impart to you all the blessings that God sends to Abraham. The condition is “bring me something that I like.” You must learn in this congregation the secret of ministry, the breakthrough that comes with giving. Giving moves a lot of things. Are you a Jacob or an Esau? Will God accept or reject you? Are you willing to be a blessing?

With that thought I want to ask you, are you involved in soul winning? How are you involved in our building project? Are you praying? Are you giving? Are you making a commitment? Are you making a sacrifice? Are you willing to bring to the Father that you may receive?