LATEST SERMON SERIES

The Blessings of the Father
Genesis 49:1-27
Pastor Jorge A. Salazar

We live our lives doing our best to navigate challenges, hoping that, in the end, things will turn out well. We pray for our children to grow into good and faithful people, for health as we age, and for life’s burdens to be no heavier than necessary. Yet, we cannot know for sure what the future holds. Imagine if this is the case for us who live in a very sanitized culture, with a fix salary every pay day, with places where you can buy food from all over the world, open the faucet and have running water, think about people in other places of the world, or even at other times, like Jacob and his family.

However, this morning we’ll learn that the same God that looked after Jacob and his sons, is the same God that looks after you and me, and our children!

Jacob has been around for 147 years, 17 years since he moved to Egypt and was reunited with Joseph. He knows it is his time to part and be with the Lord so he summons all his children and in chapter 49:1 he says: ““Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.  Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father.”

What we have in the following 25 verses are the blessings & consequences of the life choices of his children, but also a godly and miraculous insight into future things with great promises from God and the assurance of His Salvation. We’re not going to read the whole text this morning but I will be taking you through each section and with the Lord’s help we’ll be extracting the practical lessons for each and everyone of us.

PRAY

I don’t know how many of you have had the opportunity of being at the deathbed of a loved one. There can be a mix of emotions for many different reasons if the person is younger or older, if it’s unexpected or they’ve had a full life, there are many things that come to our minds, but most definitely the thought of losing that loved one, knowing that we won’t hear their laughter, their insight, feel their embrace… makes us sad and we feel the pain of the loss.

I always find comfort in remembering all the experiences I got to live with that person, the good and the bad, and often find myself smiling as I remember a mischief, a prank, or something funny we did together.

But there are also a wide range of emotions. We all respond differently to grief and loss. When my mother passed away my older brother shook his fist at God and cursed Him, screaming until he was out of breath. He couldn’t fathom why God had taken our mom at 47! In his poor understanding of God he reasoned that she was a good woman that didn’t hurt anybody. In his mind, it was unconceivable that a woman who went to church, who loved the Lord deeply as she did, who was a woman of prayer, who helped hundreds of people and was there always available for anyone, a woman who loved sacrificially and was loved by everyone who crossed her path… why would God kill her??!! That was his wrestling…

Of course he didn’t understand that for my mom closing the eyes on this side of eternity and opening them in the arms of our Lord was the best that could ever happened to her. He didn’t understand how much she longed to be in the presence of the Lord. He didn’t understand that her death here was a gift from God to her and the best thing that could have even happened to mom! Even if she didn’t get to meet all of our children… yet.

But when you are standing on the outside accompanying those who grieve the most, you feel awkward, you don’t know what to do, you don’t know what to say.

Has it ever crossed your mind why is it so painful and so awkward to us? We should be used to it, as we are used to children losing baby teeth, it’s normal, it’s natural… people die everyday! We’re all going to die! And yet we can not get used to it. Do you know why?

Because we were not made to die. Death is not natural. We need to understand this, death is a consequence of sin. God created us to live and live forever, but we forfeited his purpose and rebelled against our creator. That’s why it affects us so much, because we were not created to experience death. That’s why we don’t get used to it.

That’s what Paul explained in Romans 5:21 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”.

So, we know we are all going to die, we just don’t know when. And we hate thinking about it, and some of us plan for it, but most are surprised by it. But we wish we knew what’s around the corner. We wish we had some insight.

Well, Jacob gathered his children and he said: “I will tell you what shall happen to you in the days to come”.

Of course him, being a patriarch, the son of Isaac and Abraham, with whom God made an unconditional covenant, his words are prophetic in nature and a great insight for all of us.

So, the first thing I want you to notice is that God is the one in control of the future.

This is fascinating, because one thing is to know the future, to know how things are going to develop as if you were a spectator who saw the end of the reel, but a much different thing is that God has decreed in His omniscience, in His providence the things that are to happen. That is that God is in control of the future, because He Himself has decreed and designed what is to come, and yet He invites us to be part of His plan as we live our lives and make our choices.

Listen to Psalm 139:4 “Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether”

Isaiah 42:9 “Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;  before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

Isaiah 46:9b-11 “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country.  I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.”

And it’s not just the tiny little things, I mean, when you think about Jesus and all the different variables that came into play and how things happened and progressed through His ministry… do you think all that was random?

Listen to Peter speaking in Acts 2:23: “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

Now, I know some people don’t like this truth, but it should give us great rest because God in control is the only way we can rest in His promises, His faithfulness, the assurance of His love, the guarantee of our future hope, and the list goes on, and on, and on…

For this very reason Jacob can say “this is what God has in store for you”.

2.- God holds people accountable

Listen to Jacob’s words to his firstborn Reuben on Genesis 49:3-4 ““Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father’s bed; then you defiled it—he went up to my couch!”

If you remember from Genesis 35 Reuben had tried to usurp his father’s power and place by sleeping with his father’s concubine, Bilhah, and Reuben is now held accountable for what he did. He is no longer to be the leader of Israel. As a matter of fact Jacob’s prophetic words came true when Reuben’s descendants settle in Transjordan, and they soon disappeared from history; no prophet, or judge, or king, ever came from the tribe of Reuben.

I found interesting how Jacob starts speaking about the greatness of Reuben: my firstborn, my might, the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power…

I can only imagine his smiling proud face… but only for a second until the consequence of his choices was announced and Jacob even distances from him speaking of Reuben in the third person: “He went up to my couch”.

This is a strong reminder of how easy it is to deviate from the path God has traced for us. I sometimes see people with great potential, gifted men and women, boys and girls whom God has blessed in an incredible way! And then they squander those blessings and instead of choosing God’s direction and promptings they go their own way and end up with the devastating consequences of their choices.

Remember Sansom? That young men’s birth was announced by angels, it was a miraculous birth, he was filled with the spirit, he was given extraordinary strength so that he could be a judge, a deliverer in Israel. And if you read about his life, you begin seeing his choices: “I want to marry a Philistine”… no, but God has forbade that we do that… I don’t care I want to marry a philistine, I want to marry a philistine, I want to marry a philistine…

All the choices he made, such a promising young man whose life ended after the philistines gauged out his eyes, and he ended up killing himself.

Having potential, having a promising future, is not enough if we don’t surrender completely to the will of God.

Ruben wanted to take things into his hands, leadership was his birthright, he just needed to be patient. But he wasn’t and in the process, he made horrible choices.

The next two, Simeon and Levi, were also disqualified for the genocidal slaughter of the Shechemites, remember they told the whole city that if they circumcised themselves they would be allies of Israel and would trade and live in peace, and then when the whole town followed through, this two sons of Jacob came at their most vulnerable point as they were healing from the surgery and killed them all.

Well, as I said, God holds people accountable and these two also received these words from Jacob: “Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.”

As it turned out down the road of time both tribes were divided and scattered so that neither of them were given a portion of the land when they entered the promised land centuries later. The tribe of Simeon virtually disappeared after the time of the conquest of the promised land. And when the tribe of Levi was given the responsibility of the priesthood, its people were therefore disallowed from having their own territory.

Yes, it’s true that God controls the future, that God holds people accountable, but reading these kinds of stories sometimes make us reflect on the poor choices we have made ourselves in the past.

Perhaps you feel like you have failed the Lord. Maybe you already know the Lord and while knowing Jesus, while knowing the truth, you let go temptation and sin. Maybe you made choices you knew were wrong, but you dismissed the prompting of the Holy Spirit and just like Samson you were obstinate and did your sovereign will.

Maybe you hurt someone else, maybe it was something so deep that it feels like something is broken and there’s no moving forward…

I don’t know what’s your case, I don’t know if you are at the end of your rope and the future seems bleak or dark. But what I do know is that God transforms our lives and changes our future.

You see the third son of Jacob, Juda, he’s listening to his father giving away these consequences, these curses to his older brothers, and I can’t even imagine what’s going through his mind, because it was Juda the one who sold Joseph as a slave, he joined his brothers when they lied to his father dipping the robe of many colours in animal blood, he remained silent while his father mourned deeply…

But I want you to see that God transforms lives

Because God’s work in Juda’s life has made him grow in humility, character, and love. Don’t forget that it was Juda the one that offered himself as a substitute when his brother Benjamin was threatened to remain a slave in Egypt. Judah was the one who stepped up and offered himself instead.

Listen to the blessing of Jacob in verse 8:

““Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?  The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.  Binding his foal to the vine and his donkey’s colt to the choice vine, he has washed his garments in wine and his vesture in the blood of grapes. His eyes are darker than wine, and his teeth whiter than milk.”

This is not only a blessing for a transformed life, it is a blessing and a promise for the One who can transform us. The One who blesses, the One who can give us life and straighten our path.

You see, it is from the tribe of Juda that king David came and the kingly role until the Messiah would come. In the same way that Juda offered himself as a substitute for Benjamin, Jesus would come and offered himself as a substitute for you and for me, for all of those who believe that He is our only hope for Salvation, our God and our Redeemer.

I wished we had time to look into detail to all the significance of Jacob’s blessings on His children, but if you are to remember anything from this morning’s message, remember how God made His plan known and His ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

It is God who blesses abundantly, it is Christ who invites us to His Kingdom. It is Jesus the one who said: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26a)

This is the hope we have in Jesus, this is the hope we have in our future, this is the assurance we trust when we see our children struggling, when we see our marriages failing, when we see broken relationships and struggles all around…

The hope we have is that the God who controls the future has come to redeem us. Not only to wash us clean of our sins and the consequences of our choices, but to give us a new life! A blank slate! One that you can write by the power of the Holy Spirit as you live God’s version of your life now for His glory and the testimony of Jesus.

These are the blessings of your Father!

Do you want them?

Then don’t leave this place today being the same old you. That same old Jorge is supposed to be dead!

If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, the same things that have been happening will continue happening. So you have to start doing something different. Yes I know it is the work of Christ in us, but there is something that we have to do in order to mature in the new life that He has given us so that we gain God’s insight, and direction, and purpose.

A few simple things:

1.- Read your Bible. And I mean, intentionally, desiring to learn more from God, to know and understand a bit more of His mind, to be able to see His powerful hand in your life and in the world around you.

If you want to hear the Spirit speaking to you, if you want to hear God leading your steps, first you have to do what He commanded you to do. Abide in my Word. If you Abide in my Word you’ll be truly my disciples, then you will know the truth… Don’t take shortcuts because you are going to end up confused. First you know His Word, then you identify His voice. You can not do it the other way around, I don’t care how many courses and trainings for listening prayer you take. God gave us His written Word for a purpose. Amen. And His words will never fade.

2.- Live out what you learn from Scriptures. Do not be just a hearer but be a doer! Ouch pastor Jorge, the Bible is very difficult, I don’t understand anything that I read… Well, don’t worry about it, just make sure you do what you DO understand. And what you don’t understand, just ask. Do your homework, that’s why God has gifted the church with teachers and people that can explain things to you. But be intentional.

And finally, 3.- Be constantly reminded of what Christ has done for you, that your love for God be so evident that it will just come out of your pores, that people will be infected by your love and passion for our Saviour. Out love everyone, out sacrifice everyone, make the goal of your life please our God and Saviour, that when we are at your deathbed, we can all smile and say, there he goes, there she goes, to meet the Lord she loves so much!

October 6, 2024
Genesis 38:12-30
Scott Pankratz

September 29, 2024
Genesis 38:1-11
Pastor Jorge A. Salazar

The story of Juda and Tamar is a story that leaves us puzzled in many different ways; we have sex stuff going on, people being killed by God, brothers marrying the sister-in-law… and we wonder what does all this have to do with the story of Joseph?

But it is no accident that these stories are recorded in Scriptures as they teach us about God and His mercy and how in the midst of our twisted paths, He is willing to make them straight and lead us to a glorious transformation.

As we study the first verses of Genesis 38, we’ll learn that:

1.- The path away from God is easy to follow

2.- Calamity strikes when we seek independence from God

3.- Even in the midst of brokenness God is at work

September 22, 2024
Genesis 37:29-36
Pastor Jorge A. Salazar

Passivity can be one of our greatest enemies. Often, we think that by not taking action—by remaining silent or doing nothing—situations will resolve on their own. But the truth is, passivity is a silent enemy with devastating consequences.

As we explore the story of Jacob and his sons, we’ll learn the vital importance of taking responsibility for our spiritual lives. Jesus’ words remind us that He will never cast out anyone who seeks Him, making this the perfect time to deepen our walk with the Lord.

September 15, 2024
Genesis 37:5-28
Pastor Jorge A. Salazar

This weekend, my message is titled “Hostility in the Promise.” It’s not that God’s promises themselves contain hostility, but rather that, in the journey between receiving a promise and seeing its fulfillment, we often face hostility and challenges.

As we study Genesis 37:5-28, one key point to highlight is the destructive power of envy. Joseph’s brothers, driven by jealousy of his favored status and prophetic dreams, allowed their unchecked emotions to lead to betrayal and cruelty. This passage illustrates how envy, when left to fester, can corrupt relationships, cloud judgment, and result in harmful actions. However, it also hints at God’s sovereignty, as even the brothers’ sinful actions would ultimately serve a greater divine purpose in Joseph’s life and our own.

September 8, 2024
Pastor Jorge A. Salazar

All of us are sons or daughters. Some may already be parents, while others will become parents by God’s grace. But even if you never experience parenthood, you can still relate to the story of Joseph. The decisions we make within our families have a profound and lasting impact. These choices can either generate deep wounds or foster peace and fruitfulness.

As we examine Joseph’s story, we will discover how both our actions and our inaction carry great consequences, affecting not only our relationships but also our walk with God.

September 1, 2024
In this sermon titled “The Life-Transforming Impact of the Gospel,” we’ll be diving deep into Philemon 1:17-25 to explore how the Gospel changes everything.

First, we’ll see how the Gospel redirects our affections, leading us to love and value others in ways that reflect God’s heart. Next, we’ll discuss how it provides us with accountability, calling us to live in a community where we support and challenge one another in our faith. Finally, we’ll uncover how the Gospel covers us in the grace of Christ, empowering us to live transformed lives, free from guilt and shame.

Join pastor Jorge Salazar as he unpack these truths and discover how the Gospel’s impact can reshape our lives and relationships.

August 25, 2024
In this sermon we tackle a challenge many of us face: the struggle to truly forgive. Why is it that sometimes hearing “I’m sorry” just doesn’t seem enough? Hurt feelings can often lead us down a path of resentment, thoughts of revenge, or even the desire to sever relationships. But as we delve into the book of Philemon, we will uncover God’s powerful truth about forgiveness.

Together, we’ll explore how God’s way offers a path to true freedom and reconciliation, transforming our hearts and our relationships.

Join us as we seek to understand and embrace Christ’s way of forgiveness that brings healing and unity.

August 18, 2024
Today, we delve into the beautiful reality that, through Christ, we have been adopted into the family of God. No longer are we strangers or outsiders; we are now children of God, deeply connected to a new family—a family that reflects the love, faith, and truth of the Gospel. As we explore what it means to live as part of this divine family, we’ll discover how our relationships with one another serve as a living testimony to God’s transformative power.

Join us as we learn how to embrace this new identity and nurture the bonds that unite us as brothers and sisters in Christ.