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The Window To The Spirit

The Window To The Spirit. Genesis 33: 5-15. Scriptural Text – Gen. 33:5-15.

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The Window To The Spirit

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  1. The Window To The Spirit Genesis 33: 5-15 The Church at Mesquite

  2. Scriptural Text – Gen. 33:5-15 • 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant." 6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. 8 Esau asked, "What do you mean by all these droves I met?" "To find favor in your eyes, my lord," he said. 9 But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." 10 "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.  The Church at Mesquite

  3. Scriptural Context • Jacob is returning to meet his brother Esau for the first time since he stole his brother’s birthright (Gen. 27) • Jacob is afraid of his brother’s retribution, so his plan is to return in complete submission (v. 3) • Esau is happy to see his brother and receives him as such, only accepting Jacob’s gifts of submission at Jacob’s insistence (v. 10-11) The Church at Mesquite

  4. The Window To The Spirit • What is a window? • Window: a transparent opening in a wall typically made of glass that can be open or shut. • Characteristics of windows: • you can look through them and see what’s on the other side • They are typically used to illuminate The Church at Mesquite

  5. Our face is our window • Jacob was able to ascertain the Spirit and intentions of his brother Esau when we met him and saw his face (v. 10) • Jacob can tell what Esau’s intentions are (and therefore what’s in his spirit), when he looks on his face after all these years. • If Esau had evil intentions, Jacob would have known by his face. The Church at Mesquite

  6. Our face is our window • Other scriptural references of people’s intentions being displayed on through their faces: • Absolom - II Samuel 14:32 • David - II Samuel 19:1-8 • King Amaziah(Judah) & King Jehoash (Israel) - II Kings 14:8 • Ezra - Ezra 9:6-7 • Job - Job 23:17 • Israel - Psalms 44:15 The Church at Mesquite

  7. Our face is our window • Everything that is in us shows up on our face • We continuously give non-verbal communicative signals through our face • Our faces will give people a sense of trust, desire and interest, or they will convey distrust, disgust and disinterest. • Facial messages will repeat, substitute, complement, accentuate or contradict whatever we say or do • Because they show what is truly inside us The Church at Mesquite

  8. Our face is our window • Our face is the key to our light • On our face we find our eyes and our mouth: • If we are unable to control what we see • (I John 2:16 ) • Or what we say • (James 3:5-10), • then our Spirits will be filled with darkness and not light (Luke 11:33-36, John 8:12) The Church at Mesquite

  9. What Do People See Through Your Window? • Think about all the people you come in contact with on a daily basis: people you will never exchange more with than a passing glance . . . • The only gospel sermon some of them will EVER see or hear is the one they see when they look through your window . . . What will they see? The Church at Mesquite

  10. The Message Seen Through Your Window • Unfriendliness – No smile; I’m not happy with my life, and I’d appreciate it if you left me alone. • Worry – My God is not as big as my problems • Mistrust – I know you mean me no good: I won’t let you take advantage of me; be wary. • Anger – You might want to keep your distance; approach at your own risk! • Pain – I don’t feel good right now and don’t want to be bothered. • Indifference – I’m busy and can’t be bothered with you. The Church at Mesquite

  11. The Message Seen Through Your Window • NONE of these things line up with the message of the Gospel! • If the true Spirit of God dwells within you, it will be CONSTANTLY shown on your face! The Church at Mesquite

  12. The Message Seen Through Your Window • If the Spirit dwells within us, then When people look through your windows, they should see its fruit: • 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. -Gal. 5:22-26 The Church at Mesquite

  13. The Window To The Spirit • If we are to be the salt and light that Jesus commands us to be (Matt. 5:13-14), there must be something in us FIRST that makes a difference in our lives. • Jacob could see the Spirit of God inside by looking at Esau’s face. If the Spirit truly lives in us, then it will always be evident to all who see us by what they see on our face. The Church at Mesquite

  14. The Window To The Spirit The Church at Mesquite

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