Northland Church

Welcome to Northland!
Northland Church exists to glorify God as we participate in His mission of redeeming a people from all peoples by engaging neighbors and nations to be fully alive in King Jesus through the power of the Spirit.

NorthlandChurch.net

MAIN POINT:

God works with, through, and even despite His Messy People to advance His Missional Purpose.

#1: MULTIPLE MESSY FAMILY TREES BUT ONLY ONE MESSY TREE OF PROMISE

Abraham had taken another wife, whose name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah. Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac. But while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them away from his son Isaac to the land of the east. (Genesis 25:1–6)

Just because you are a part of Abraham’s family doesn’t mean you are part of God’s family.

Just because you are in proximity to the promise doesn’t mean you are part of the promise.

#2: DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY: WHEN YOU LIVE IN DYSFUNCTION YOU'LL BREED DIVISION

Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?”

So she went to inquire of the Lord. The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:21–23)

When you aren’t aligned around the Word of Promise, you are bound to be divided by your preferences.

When you aren’t aligned around the Word of Promise, you are bound to be divided by your preferences.

Which will breed... FAMILY DYSFUNCTION!

#3: SIBLING RIVALRY: LIVING OUT OF YOUR DARK SIDE CAN CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:29–34)

BIRTHRIGHT

- Customary
- Established at Birth based on Order of Birth
- Can be Transferred or Forfeited
- Double Portion of the Estate
- Family Line (Authority) (Patriarch)

Esau—Trades his future blessing for temporary food in his belly
(Gives away his future by feeding his flesh)

Jacob—Manufactures the promise by manipulating the situation
(Takes by Force rather than Receives by Faith)

#4: WEAK EYES: BLIND SPOTS LEFT UNCHECKED CAN LEAD TO A LOT OF BROKENNESS IN LIFE

When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called for Esau his older son and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” he answered.

Isaac said, “I am now an old man and don’t know the day of my death. Now then, get your equipment—your quiver and bow—and go out to the open country to hunt some wild game for me. Prepare me the kind of tasty food I like and bring it to me to eat, so that I may give you my blessing before I die.” (Genesis 27:1–4)

Isaac may have had a blind spot pattern:

- Did he and Rebekah ever talk about what God told her when she was pregnant with the boys?
- Did he notice how playing favorites was hurting their family—causing sibling rivalry?
- Did he ignore Esau’s godlessness and sexual immorality when marrying a Hittite?

Blind spots left unchecked invite some form of brokenness in life.

We all have blind spots!

The key is inviting people into our lives to help us maneuver wisely so we don’t make dumb decisions blindly.

- God will accomplish His purpose—but you are still responsible for your choices/obedience. (General)
- God can take dysfunctional families and still move them in His direction. (Family)
- Couples who don’t align around truth can eventually divide over preferences. (Marriage)
- Comparison and favoritism create rivalry ; cultivating uniqueness creates security. (Parenting)
- Insecurity breeds hostility; secure identity births charity (love). (Siblings)