OUR RIGHTS (GEN. 25)

1) There is a document called the Bill of rights.

2) This document says that American citizens are guaranteed certain rights.

3) According to the BOR, our government is forbidden to violate these rights.

4) If we were to study the rights that those in this room possess,

5) We would find that we have been given:

A) The right of free speech;

B) The right to choose what if any religion we want to believe in & practice;

C) There is freedom of the press;

D) All under the Bill of Rights have the right to assemble.

E) All also have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

6) WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TWO MEN NAMED JACOB AND ESAU WE FIND A STORY ABOUT RIGHTS.

7) Esau had certain rights because he was the firstborn son.

8) Several special privileges belonged to him.

9) Though Esau had some very special rights he didn’t care about them.

10) Gen. 25:34 says that he despised his birthright.

11) On the other hand there was Jacob.

12) Jacob didn’t have certain rights because he was the second born son.

13) He could wish and crave for the rights that his brother had.

14) He could regret that he was born second. However, he couldn’t change the birthright.

15) Certain rights belonged only to Esau. One day this changed.

16) Esau said that he was willing to sell his rights.

17) Jacob understood the value of his brother’s rights and he bought them.

18) As we look at Jacob and Esau we may draw some parallels to our society.

A) There are people in this country who are like Esau.

B) They have American citizenship.

C) Because of this citizenship certain rights are guaranteed.

D) There is freedom of religion.

a) No one from the government is going to burst into this assembly and bother us.

b) No one is going to be arrested for coming to services.

c) We are not forced to attend a religious group sanctioned by our government.

d) We are not told by authorities to learn or teach any particular religion.

e) We are here because of our choosing.

f) Our car can be parked in the parking lot in full view of the world.

g) There is no concern that our license plate is being copied down & sent off the govmt.

h) As we raise our children we have the freedom to teach them about God & religion.

i) We can share our faith with others without punishment.

19) If we are an American we also have freedom of speech.

A) I have the right to stand in a public place and preach.

B) The government says that you have this same right.

C) In many places we can openly read the word of God and we can talk about it.

D) We are, generally speaking, allowed to openly discuss moral issues.

E) In a national newspaper last Friday a full page appeared.

F) Two presidential candidates were listed.

G) The positions of these men regarding moral issues was made known.

H) This was allowed because of our rights.

I) We have the right to say to others in this country, We believe in God.

J) We are a Christian. Would you like to become one?

K) Last week in a neighboring city Christians knocked on doors.

L) In public Christians spoke of Christ, the gospel, and salvation.

M) In public, religious conversations with complete strangers was tolerated.

N) Because we live in this country we have freedom of the press.

O) Listen to Amendment 1 of the United States Bill of Rights:

a) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting

b) The free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right

c) Of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of

d) Grievances.

20) These are some of the rights possessed by those in this room.

21) Though these rights are possessed, some follow the path taken by Esau.

22) They don’t care about their rights. Their life is pretty good. No one bothers them.

23) What’s the big deal about a piece of paper with 10 statements on it?

24) This is the attitude of Esau.

25) While some are like Esau there are those in the world who are like Jacob.

A) Jacob looked at the rights possessed by Esau and he wanted them.

B) There are people in the world that dream of being an American citizen.

C) Some long for the chance to publicly & openly worship as the Bible describes.

D) Some want the chance to worship without being threatened by the government.

E) Others want the chance to speak about Christ without the threat of prison or death.

F) Still others want to be free from some type of national church sanctioned by the govmt.

G) Many desire the right of free speech.

H) In 1991 I went to Russia for the first time.

I) I was amazed when someone said, “There are few copy machines in this country.”

J) Why would a well established country not have copy machines in every place?

K) Copy machines can be used to publish material.

L) Published material can be used to oppose a government.

M) Since Russia did not want its citizens at that time to have free speech,

N) Copy machines were nearly impossible to find.

26) AS OUR NATION PREPARES FOR ANOTHER ELECTION, AND AS WE COME TO A TIME OF YEAR WHEN MANY CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO REMEMBER THAT ESAU IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS SOME RIGHTS.

27) We have rights that millions of people outside the United States crave.

28) Since we are not like Jacob (we want the rights that someone else has),

29) And we know that disregarding our rights like Esau did is wrong,

30) What should we do?

31) What should be our attitude and response towards the rights we enjoy?

32) The Bible gives us some answers.

A) One of the passages that helps us is Lk. 12:48.

B) Quote.

C) The principle given by Jesus may be applied in several ways.

D) One of the ways to apply it is found in our Bill of Rights.

E) As American citizens have we been given much or little?

F) Are we like Jacob before he had the birthright (we have no rights),

G) Or are we in the position Esau was in before he sold his birthright (we have multiple r)?

H) We know the answer.

I) Because we have many rights we must say that much has been given to us.

J) Because we have a lot, how much will God require of us? Much.

K) Jesus further stressed His point by saying that God will, ask the more of us.

a) Our government may say, “Here are your rights; do what you want with them.”

b) God says, “With your rights comes responsibility.”

c) Think of those from America who stand before God on the day of judgment.

d) If the Lord were to say, “You had the right of free speech”;

e) Why didn’t you speak about me?

f) This would be a fair question.

g) That’s a question I don’t want to have put to me.

h) Having the right of free speech and not using it is making a choice like Esau made.

i) We demonstrate a lack of respect and responsibility for what we have been given.

j) If God does not ask about or right of free speech He could say,

k) “You had the freedom to assemble”; why did you stay home when Christians met?”

l) When attendance is discussed by preachers Heb. 10:25 is often used.

m) Lk. 12:48 and our Bill of Rights puts a different light on attendance.

n) We were given the freedom to assemble.

o) If we fail to use this freedom we must answer for that.

p) Not only can we peaceably assemble we may bring people with us.

q) What if God asks on the day of Judgment,

r) “You never asked anyone to come with you to worship. Why?”

s) Why did you waste and squander this right?

t) God could ask about our rights in the area of religious freedom.

u) A fair question from Him would be,

v) “You had freedom of religion; why did you choose the wrong one?”

w) “Why did you choose a religious body that was not established by my Son?”

x) For those who did choose the right group the question might take this form:

y) “You had the right to sent grievances to the government;

z) “You had the right to object to practices which violate the word of God.”

aa) “Why didn’t you say to those in office abortion is wrong?”

bb) “Why didn’t you speak out against the sin of homosexuality?”

cc) “Why were you quiet when gambling was discussed in your state?”

dd) “Why were you silent about marriage and the home?”

33) We can look at what Esau did with his birthright and rightfully condemn him.

34) Scripture certainly does denounce Esau and what he did.

35) However, isn’t it possible to follow in this man’s steps?

A) We have been given about as much as anyone has ever had.

B) We have in this country money, rights, and freedoms.

C) The prevailing view seems to be that we should use these for our own pleasure.

D) Our freedoms are to help us have better and more enjoyable lives.

E) That may be the average view for those outside this building and outside of Christ.

F) For those who are Christians this attitude cannot be the one we adopt.

G) James wrote to some people who wanted things.

H) What was desired was apparently not sinful (wrong).

I) Instead of asking for the wrong things these people asked for the wrong reasons.

J) Jas. 4:3.

K) If a man wants more money for mission work there is no sin in asking for that.

L) If a man asks God for a lot of money so he can buy a new boat, house, and a 4^th car,

M) That’s selfishness.

N) Jas. 4:3 gives us another principle that relates to rights.

O) If what we want or what we have is used for a selfish purpose, we anger God.

a) Using our rights for selfish reasons is the wrong choice.

b) Surely we have not forgotten 1 Cor. 4:2 – quote.

P) It is fair to say that we have received a stewardship that includes several rights.

a) One day we will account for how we have used our rights.

b) In anticipating of this day God has left us with a stern warning.

c) He said that if we have received much, much will be required of us.

d) He has warned us that we need to be faithful with what we have.

e) With all of our rights we are like the 10 talent man.

f) We have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to assemble,

g) And freedom to contact our government concerning grievances (includes moralility).

36) There is no excuse for an American citizen to not be a Christian.

37) There is no excuse for anyone living in this country to be unfaithful to God.

38) We cannot justify an apathetic and inactive faith.

39) We can only say that we have been given much and we will be a good steward.

40) Are we using our rights for God’s glory and the advancement of God’s kingdom?

41) Have we acted on our religious freedom by becoming a Christian?

42) If not, we have at least one more opportunity and that opportunity is now.