General Articles

The Entire Story of the Bible is About Jesus, Part 6 :: By Sean Gooding

Published on: by RR10

Genesis 32: 22-27

22 “That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’”

One might think that only Abraham saw Jesus as we have journeyed through the OLD Testament and encounters with Jesus. But a new generation of God’s people has arisen now. We are going to take a look at Jacob.

Abraham is dead, Sarah is dead, Isaac married Rebekah, and they had twin boys, Esau and Jacob. Jacob grew up and tricked his brother out of his birthright and then had to run away. He was known as a trickster, and for 20 years or so, he lived with his father-in-law, Laban. Soon, Laban and Jacob’s households were too big to exist in the same location, and Laban tricks Jacob. (Genesis 31:41, “Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times”). Or at least he tries to, but God blesses Jacob, and when the tensions got to be too much, he heads home.

Isaac, we will learn, is still alive. We see that in Genesis 35:27-29. “Jacob came home to his father, Isaac, in Mamre, near Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had stayed. Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years. Then he breathed his last and died and was gathered to his people, old and full of years. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.”

Back to the story at hand. Jacob (now in his late 60s or early 70s), his wives and concubines begin the journey back home, and along the way, Jacob encounters a man. He separates himself from his family. They head across the river Jabbok, and that very night, Jacob wrestles with the man. Later, we find out that he knows it was God, and he names the place Peniel, meaning, “So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.’”

We know from our previous lessons that any time one sees God ‘face to face’ in the Old Testament, it is Jesus. Jacob sees Jesus and wrestles with Him. This encounter changes a few things about Jacob, and he is never the same again.

God, Jesus, physically changes Jacob in that He dislocates a joint in his hip, and Jacob walks with a staff after that. We do not know if he ever recovers from that. Then, Jesus changes his name from Jacob, meaning ‘a trickster’ to Israel, and we see that in verse 28. “And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.’”

All of us need to have our own struggle with God to have God make changes in us. Jacob was never the same again; his life would take some hard turns fraught with hurt and pain. His own children would trick him and hurt him, but he would remain faithful to God. You see, Jacob could not serve God in Abraham’s encounters; he needed his own. Your children cannot serve God through your encounters and your experiences; they need to see God, wrestle with God, and have God change them.

The change was marked by changed names as well; this seemed to be a common thing for God to do, even in the New Testament era. Abram became Abraham, Sara became Sarah, Jacob became Israel, later Saul becomes Paul, Simon becomes Peter, and we too are promised a new name one day given to us by God (see Revelation 2:17, 3:12).

Now, Jesus could have defeated Jacob at any time during the night that they wrestled, and I find it amazing that Jacob did not give up. He wanted to be blessed by God, and he held on with all his might. We see verse 26: “Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’” Jacob wanted God to bless him, and he refused to let go. He refused to give in and give up.

How do you and I respond when we are tested by God? Jacob refused to give up, and he was blessed. And even though his life got very hard, he lived in that blessing, and it empowered him to push through all the pain. Do we give up too soon when seeking a blessing from the Lord? Do we ‘tap out,’ as they say, and shortchange ourselves? Jacob was not a perfect man; in fact, he was very far from that. He had failed God times after time, yet God blessed him.

We see also that when we struggle, when we go through the tough fights with God, it is not to break us, and it is not for God to destroy and beat us, but to challenge us to hold on with all we have. God wants men and women who thirst after Him, who need Him and His blessings and live for Him. Men and women who refuse to let go in spite of their sinfulness and shortcoming, they understand that God, Jesus, is all they have, and their only hope.

I pray that you have had, and or that you are looking for your encounter with the Lord. Your night of wrestling, so to speak; a night that will change your forever and empower you to endure that tough time that may be ahead.

Often, we think that being blessed by God means more money, power, prestige or the like, but more often than not, it is Jesus equipping us to endure what is coming our way. When we see Jesus and experience His hand in our lives, it secures us to move forward come what may. It helps us to hold on and trust that He has the way planned, nothing surprises Him, and we can trust Him that He has it all worked out.

We who have children that we are teaching in the way of the Lord should begin to pray that they have their own experiences with the Lord, their own wrestling with the Lord, and their own blessings from the Lord to empower them to endure the dark times that are ahead. Long after we are gone, it is these encounters that will sustain them and endear them to Jesus. He will be their hope and salvation, like He is ours, like He was Jacob’s, like He was Abraham’s and Sarah’s, and all who serve Him.

Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
70 Victoria Street, Elora, Ontario

 

 

Apostasy in the Church: The Death Rattle :: By Jim Fletcher

Published on: by RR10

(Help me keep the momentum going with my two new titles, The God That Answers by Fire and Zechariah 2. They really are great Christmas gifts as you line up Bible studies for the New Year. Many thanks!)

Literally from the beginning, the enemy of our souls has used subtle lies to deceive mankind. Even humans would generally recognize huge lies and at least take some measure of pushback. We all know that first encounter in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent asked Eve, “Did God say?” He was introducing doubt to her mind, and the logical destination from that is rebellion—rejecting God’s Word.

As we all try to keep our balance against the flood of bizarre happenings in our world, it can feel overwhelming. I would suggest that the devil is doing something new in our generation. He is throwing everything at us, along with several kitchen sinks, in order to keep people disoriented. I think he’s succeeding.

(I once visited the Grand Canyon. As we explored at river-level one day, our guide pointed to the large grooves that empty at the river. They were dry, but he said that flash floods appear out of nowhere in the desert, and if you find yourself in one, you’re in trouble. He gave his account of once hiking through these areas when all of a sudden, a torrent of water swallowed him and he was sent hurtling underwater, striking his head and other body parts on the canyon walls. Obviously, a dangerous situation. Well, I think that’s a good analogy for what we’re going through now.)

Remember, Jesus heavily emphasized watching out for deception in the last days. Deception is not a frontal assault. The devil often imparts some bits of truth in a stew of lies. He draws people in, then it’s too late.

All this to set up what I hope becomes clear to you, as I unpack a devilish assault on biblical truth.

I recently became aware of a song, “Rattle,” produced by Elevation Worship and apparently Bethel Music. As soon as I played the official video, I saw that it’s really a Steven Furtick Production.

Furtick, the founder and pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, is now 45. A marketing major in college, Furtick is what I’d describe as a clever communicator. Notice I didn’t say good. Elevation launched in 2006. Furtick’s Southern Baptist background served him well in terms of networking, but he then pivoted and began hosting and slavishly lauding older ministry leaders. These included T.D. Jakes and Matt Chandler. His network also included Bill Hybels, Brian Houston and James McDonald—all now disgraced and fallen from ministry.

Furtick, though, built a powerful ministry, which includes Elevation Worship, a lucrative music outlet. Furtick is loved by many, but some others realize he is less than a solid Bible teacher. Furtick appears to be interested most in promoting Steven Furtick. He is vicious in responses to critics. When he built a $1.7 million mansion in Charlotte a few years ago, I could not (still can’t) understand why his congregants, many who no doubt can barely pay their bills, support him financially. Furtick also wears very expensive designer clothes and mega-expensive watches and other jewelry. In short, he is a Word-Faith guru, sort of a 21st-century Oral Roberts.

He is known for his extensive use of “eisegesis.” Here is an AI(!) explanation of eisegesis:

“Eisegesis is the interpretation of a text by reading one’s own ideas, biases, and assumptions into it, rather than drawing the meaning out from the text itself. This is in contrast to exegesis, which involves a careful, objective analysis of the text’s historical, cultural, and literary context to understand its original meaning. Eisegesis can lead to misinterpretation because it prioritizes the reader’s point over the author’s intended message.”

Furtick’s book, Sun Stand Still, was not a teaching book about the amazing experiences of Joshua, son of Nun. No, it was all about getting stuff from God. Several years ago, he traveled to Israel, where he was photographed dressed up like Elijah. Again, Steven Furtick sees the Bible through the lens of personal gain. He loves to talk about himself, or just loves the sound of his own voice. One of the short videos on his website was a film of Furtick preparing to leave his office and go to the pulpit. Lots of dramatic shots of him praying, adjusting his clothes, etc. Can you imagine Spurgeon (or any other Gospel preacher) doing that?

Check out this great research resource, from the late, great Ken Silva. There, you’ll find much background on Mr. Furtick.

Now, to my point. A recent music video release from Furtick’s (I mean Elevation’s) money-making venture titled “Rattle” jumped out at me immediately. I should tell you that many, many people love Furtick’s stuff and groove to his music. You can watch Rattle here if you can make it through the self-lovefest.

Now, what Furtick and his team of musicians do is conflate several biblical accounts: the Resurrection, Ezekiel 37, and Elijah. Furtick wrote the song with Brandon Lake and Chris Brown. The title “Rattle” calls to mind bones coming together.

Note some of the lyrics:

Saturday was silent
Surely it was through
But since when has impossible
Ever stopped You?
Friday’s disappointment
Is Sunday’s empty tomb
Since when has impossible
Ever stopped You?

This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise, make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling, yeah

And here we get to the Charismania stuff:

Pentecostal fire stirring something new
You’re not gonna run out of miracles anytime soon
Yeah, resurrection power runs in my veins too and
I believe there’s another miracle here in this room

This is the sound of dry bones rattling
This is the praise, make a dead man walk again
Open the grave, I’m coming out
I’m gonna live, gonna live again
This is the sound of dry bones rattling

This is no longer about actual Scripture. It’s about 20th-century snake-oil salesmanship. In these last lines, Furtick & Co. sing of themselves coming out of the tomb. Not Christ. Then they throw in Ezekiel 37 to their stew of Gospels accounts in the New Testament.

This is junk. It not only doesn’t feed his flock, it leads them away from actual teaching about what the Bible is.

“It would seem to me that after 3,000 years, the time has arrived to accept Israel’s nationhood as a fact, for here is the only State in the international community which has the same territory, speaks the same language, and upholds the same faith as it did 3,000 years ago.” (Abba Eban)

There is more teaching in that quote from Israel’s most famous diplomat than there is in a year of Elevation worship/church.

After “Rattle” was issued in 2020, this note appeared on the Elevation site:

“There’s no other song like it on the project. musically speaking. It was written during quarantine, over voice memos that were shared back and forth, and Zoom calls, that are so difficult to actually write because of the delay. There just quickly got to be an energy around this song, like, this is supposed to make you feel something, feel alive, feel this sense of hope.

From our standpoint, what our faith just grounds us in is if Jesus was in the grave for just a temporary moment and he got up out of that grave, then why are we staying locked inside this dark place? When the song came about, it felt like ‘Let’s give people something’—first of all, write it authentically to what we’re experiencing personally, but then give our church something to shout about, like this isn’t the end, I will get to go and see life again and experience life again, and let’s believe it.”

What?

You see, it’s all about experience and feeling. This is the hallmark of this kind of church. And don’t forget that Furtick is teaching his people that they are somehow participating in the Resurrection morning. We “participate” insofar as we are told in Romans 10, if we accept that God sent Jesus in the flesh, and raised Him from the dead, we are saved. We are not “emerging” from the tomb with Jesus to soak up applause.

There is much more that is problematic with Steven Furtick and Elevation. But this tale of “Rattle” really annoys me. It is yet another example of pastors and churches inserting themselves into Ezekiel 37, the famous “Dry Bones” prophecy, meant for…the Jews.

“Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts” (Ezekiel 37:11).

Some would say I am nitpicking. Fine. All this will shake out in the end. I said what I said.

Ezekiel 37 is not about Steven Furtick. Or the Church. It is once and for all about the Jewish people and their destiny.

I personally believe that the vast majority of professing Christians in America today are largely ignorant of biblical truth. It’s much about mediocre leadership.

We are in the endgame.

Most people are not ready.

Jimfletcher761@gmail.com

www.patreon.com/TheGodThatAnswers

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(Help me keep the momentum going with my two new titles, The God That Answers by Fire and Zechariah 2. They really are great Christmas gifts as you line up Bible studies for the New Year. Many thanks!)