Call Him Benjamin, Not Ben-Oni! Be Like Jabez!

Trevor S Ferguson

August 11, 2014

Genesis 35:16-18 (KJV)
¹⁶And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. ¹⁷And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.¹⁸And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

1^st Chronicles 4:9-10 (KJV)
⁹And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. ¹⁰And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

INTRODUCTION

Today I will use the two stories from the text above to illustrate how we can influence a child’s destiny by what we call him or her and also, importantly, that even if you have been named incorrectly or had a negative label placed upon you, you can rise above your circumstances, break the cycle of negativity and through God, create a new destiny for your life.

EXPOSITION

Let us look firstly on the story of Benjamin’s birth in Genesis 35. Benjamin had the misfortune of losing his mother at the time of his birth and almost had to live with a name that would suggest to him daily that he was cause of his mother’s death. The scripture says in the process of childbirth, Rachel had ‘hard labour’. We are not sure what the exact nature of the difficulty was, but it soon became clear to both Rachel and the midwife who attended to her that she may not survive. The midwife tried to comfort her by letting her know that she had delivered a son. Moments before her death, Rachel named her son, calling him Ben-Oni.

The name Ben-Oni means ‘son of my sorrow’, thus reflecting the difficulty she had in giving birth, rather than the joy of a new life. Rachel probably never experienced the joy of holding the baby in her arms, and thus the pain of her labour was never erased. This name would have perpetuated her state of distress and would have negatively affected her son’s view of himself and life in general.

By the time Jacob was called in, Rachel probably had already died. He was thus presented with a dead wife and a newborn son. Jacob would therefore have been presented with this newborn son and told had had been named Ben-Oni. When Jacob heard this he immediately gave orders for his named to be changed. Don’t call him Ben-Oni. Call him Benjamin.

The name Benjamin means ‘son of my right hand’ or alternatively ‘son or of my wealth or good fortune’. Jacob chose not to dwell on the sorrow that surrounded his birth but on the joy of this new life. Benjamin was his twelfth son, and thus would represent a great blessing for Jacob. For him this was truly a blessing. It was evidence that God was still with him and would fulfill the promises he had made to him. There is no doubt that Jacob loved Rachel. We recall that he worked a total of 14 years in order to have her as his wife. We also recall that despite the fact that Leah had borne Jacob many sons she still felt neglected because Jacob always showed more love for Rachel. Despite his grief however Jacob could not allow this cycle of sorrow to be passed unto his son. Losing his beloved wife was bad; affixing a negatively label to his son would mean effectively losing his son as well. He could not call him Ben-Oni. He called him Benjamin.   

My word to parents today: Do not call your children by names that reflect your pain or sorrow. Do not characterize them negatively by the circumstances of their birth or upbringing. Do not affix labels that will scar their minds. Instead use the power of your mouth to speak positively and prophetically into their lives. Call them blessed, call them great, call them joy, call them gladness, call them the apple of your eye! Call them son of God or daughter of God, call them prophet, call them evangelist, call them pastor, call them preacher, call them bishop. Call them doctor, call them lawyer, call them teacher, call them leader, call them manager, call them president, call them prime minister! Prophesy over the life of your children. Call the Benjamin, call the blessed!

It is noteworthy that Jacob himself had suffered the consequences of an ill-conceived name, given to him at birth. In Genesis 25 we are told that at the time of his birth, Jacob came out holding on to the heel of his twin brother Esau. He was therefore given the name Jacob, which means heel snatcher, supplanter or trickster. Jacob ended up living out this character as suggested by his name for a large segment of his life. It was not until after his encounter with God at Peniel that his name was changed from Jacob to Israel. With the name change there came a change of character and a change in his relationship with God and a change in his fortunes. Jacob could not allow his son relive his own experiences. He could not call him Ben-Oni. He called him Benjamin!

Let us call our children by names that will propel them into greatness.

We turn now to the story of Jabez. The story of Jabez is given in a very brief record, almost hidden in the midst of genealogies – the section of the bible about who begat who, the part of the bible that most of us skip while reading. Jumping out of the genealogies is this little story: “Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.”

Jabez also got a ‘bad name’. His name meant pain – because his mother bore him in sorrow. Like his name, Jabez’s life appeared to be headed down a road of pain and sorrow. Somehow, however, Jabez heard that the God of Israel was in the business of answering prayer and saw a way out of his distress. He figured that his life did not have to end up the way people expected it to end up and therefore he prayed to the God of Israel. Jabez’s prayer was simple but it was a powerful prayer. He made four simple request: (1) bless me, (2) enlarge my territory, (3) keep your hand upon me, (4) keep me from evil. God granted Jabez’s request!

My charge to the children (and adults) today: Be like Jabez! You might not have been born the best circumstances, your mother or father may be poor, you might have been given a name that does not inspire greatness, you might have been called negative names all your life. You might have been told you were ugly, dunce, worthless or a host of other terrible names; but right now none of that matter. Like Jabez you can call upon God and he will bless you immensely. With God’s help and diligent work you can be anything that God’s wants you to be. God can change your life and make it beautiful and wonderful. Note that this may not happen overnight. But God will slowly change your life so that it becomes more and more beautiful and you can be happy.

What were the things that made Jabez great? (1) Jabez did not allow the circumstances of his birth, or the name he was given to stop him from getting something good out of life. (2) Jabez was bold and asked God for what he needed. (3) Jabez was aware of his weaknesses and asked God to help him overcome them. Today you too can be like Jabez.  You must recognize the difficulties that you face whether at home or school. Boldly ask God to for help and to bless you. Also ask God to help you in your areas of weakness so that you do not fall prey to sin and believe that God will grant you your request

APPLICATION/CONCLUSION

It is time to break the cycle – cycle of poverty, negativity, backslidings and sinfulness

I challenge you today to call on the God of Israel just as Jabez did. Whatever your need, whatever your circumstances – ask God to bless you, enlarge your territory, keep his hand on you, keep you from evil. He will bless you. He will bless you indeed!

Jesus is Coming Back for You

Trevor Ferguson

August 8, 2014

John 14:1-3
¹Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. ²In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Acts 1:9-11
⁹And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹¹Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

INTRODUCTION

Many Christians today are experiencing hard times. The world we live today is blatantly unfriendly to the Christian. Many of us are faced with economic difficulties and struggle to make ends meet, because our daily expenses are often more than our financial resources. In addition to these economic difficulties, we are constantly pressured to lay aside our Christian values and conform to the standards of a corrupt world system, which places great value of material things, riches and pleasure. The net effect of these pressures is that many of us as Christians are uncomfortable in this world system. This sometimes leads persons into a state of bewilderment and despondency. Some people are so down and out, that they can hardly make it from one day to the next.

The good news, however, is that this is not a permanent state for us.

Firstly, God is able to give us joy and peace in this present world. Despite the pressures and the confusion around us, if we put our trust completely in God He will work things out for us. He will provide for us financially and he will give us joy and peace – in this present world! We note the words of Jesus in John 16:33 - “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” We will face troubles in this world, but with Christ in the vessel we can smile at the storm! We have an assurance that God will provide for us. Philippians 4:19 tells us that God will supply all our need according to His riches in glory. Matthew 6:30 also reminds us that if God takes care of the grass in the field He will also take care of us. We don’t have to worry God will take care of His people.

Secondly, we are assured by the word of God that this world is not our final home. Earth for us is a temporary residence. One of these days we will live with Jesus in a great mansion in the skies.

EXPOSITION

A look at the passage in John 14:1-3 will give us a better picture of what Jesus is preparing for us. Here Jesus is speaking to his disciples and says to them: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” We note that this part of the final discourse between Jesus on and his disciples on the night of his betrayal. The setting is such that the disciples were worried and bewildered. Jesus had just declared that one of them would betray him and that Peter, arguably the strongest of his disciples, would deny him. Jesus however challenges his disciples – Do not let your hearts be troubled. Despite the grimness of this situation, the disciples could still have hope.

What was the basis on which the disciples could have this confidence – They had confidence in God – they knew Him as the Creator and Father; Jesus now challenges them - Believer also in me! – i.e. the revelation of God in the flesh, the son of God, the Redeemer. You have trusted God to this point – Don’t stop trusting Him now! Jesus goes on to remind them that God has adequate provision for His people – In my Father’s house there are many mansions (rooms). He has enough space for you! Jesus again challenges them again to trust Him – “If it were not so, I would have told you!” Jesus was in effect saying to them - I am not here to tell you fables, I am not here to mix up your minds. All that I have promised I am able to deliver. You can trust me – I am God!

The promise given in this passage is clear. Jesus says I go to prepare a place for you! If I go, I will come again. We know that he went, and we are equally sure that he will come again. The angels in Acts 1:11 also echoed this promise: “… Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” The same Jesus who went up into heaven is coming back for His people. We don’t know the day nor the hour but we have a firm assurance that He is coming back. Paul reminds us of this in 1^st Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” The Thessalonians were worried about the fate of those who had died before the Lord’s return. Paul however reminds them that those of us who are alive at Christ’s return shall not prevent them that are asleep from participating in the rapture. When Christ utters his shout, every saint in Christ from every age will hear and answer the call.

I say then to us today that not even death can rob us of the hope that we have in Christ Jesus, for the dead in Christ shall rise first. It does not matter how bad the situation gets. If we remain true to Jesus, nothing will stop us from inheriting the mansions that Jesus is gone to prepare for us.

Look at how Paul puts it in Romans 8:35-39:

 

³⁵Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. ³⁷Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. ³⁸For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Trouble is no match for the power of God; Death is no match for the power of God; the grave is no match for the power of God. The word of God again says it best in 1^st Corinthians 15:51-55 

⁵¹Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. ⁵⁵O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Jesus is coming back for you and nothing can stop Him.

CONCLUSION

The word today is a reminder that Jesus is coming back for His people. Despite the rough, tough and difficult times that we face today, we can be assured that things will not continue like this forever. Jesus is coming back for us.

Let me warn however that this hope is only for those who are saved. If you have not yet accepted salvation, when Jesus comes back, you can only look forward to eternal damnation. But this does not have to be your fate.  The door of salvation is open to you right now. If you accept him, you too can look forward to his return.

I challenge you to repent of your sins, accept water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and you too will be able to anticipate, with joy, the coming of our Saviour.

God bless you today! IN JESUS NAME!

It Is Finished – The Redemption Story

Trevor S Ferguson

August 6, 2014

John 19:30 (KJV): When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

INTRODUCTION                                      

The gospels record seven sayings of Christ from the cross. These words were spoken despite great suffering and highlight the selflessness of Christ as He wrought salvation for humanity. The seven sayings are:

(1) Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34)

(2) Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)

(3) Woman, behold thy son: behold thy mother (John 19:26-27)

(4) My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me, (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34)

(5) I thirst (John 19:28)

(6) It is finished (John 19:30)

(7) Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit (Luke 23:46)

The seven sayings have been variously designated as: (1) The word of forgiveness; (2) The word of salvation; (3) The word of love; (4) The word of spiritual suffering; (5) The word of physical suffering; (6) The word of triumph and (7) The word of committal. Regardless as to how one classifies these sayings, they show that Jesus in his humanity endured great suffering in securing salvation for mankind. They also show that even in the midst of his suffering Jesus was willing to step into His Divinity as He ministered to the repentant thief on the cross, and that in all this Jesus was cognizant of his earthly mission which was to secure salvation for man by paying the price for man’s redemption.

The sixth word from the cross – “It is finished” – signifies the accomplishment of this divine purpose. Jesus had successfully completed His divinely appointed task and had now paved the way for man to be reconciled to God. Today I want us to reflect the meaning of what Jesus had accomplished, as we look at the story of man’s redemption. How did we get to that point? What exactly did Jesus accomplish? What does all of that mean for us today?

EXPOSITION

Anyone who has been to Sunday school knows the story of Adam and Eve, how they sinned after being deceived by the devil and how sin has been passed on to the entire human race. What is less known, however, is that even while God was meting out punishment for Adam and Eve, and for the serpent, He interspersed in it a promise of redemption for mankind.

The promise of redemption is given in Genesis 3:15, which says: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This pointed to the future when the seed of the woman, now revealed to be Jesus Christ, would crush the head of the serpent, while the serpent would bruise His heel. Victory for the woman’s seed was guaranteed, but it would come at a price. He must be ‘bruised’. He would have to suffer physical pain and distress but in doing this He would achieve victory.

We recall also that the sin of Adam and Eve brought with it the death penalty – both physical death and spiritual death. Physical death in that all human beings will die, unless they are alive and translated at the time of Christ return and spiritual death in that we are separated from fellowship with God unless we receive salvation and thereby forgiveness of sins. But, in order to receive forgiveness of sins, blood had to be shed, as illustrated in God’s slaying of an animal to atone for Adam’s sin and the statement in Hebrews 9:22 which tells us that without the shedding of blood there is no remission (of sins). 

In the Old Testament, the Jewish people conducted an elaborate system of sacrifices and offerings in order to obtain forgiveness of sins, but these sacrifices offered only atonement or covering for sin and had to be repeated on at least a yearly basis. These animal sacrifices were only a temporary covering for sin. The animals were merely a substitute, because the death penalty was really on mankind. We were sentenced to die! In order for this death penalty to be removed, there needed to be another sacrifice - one that could pay the price for the sins of all humanity once and for all. No human being could fit this bill. If any of us were to be put to death then it would be just payment for our own sins. In order to have a true substitutionary death there needed to be one that had no sin. In that there was no man that was sinless, God decided that He would have to pay the price on our behalf, but in order to do this God had to become a man.

Enter Jesus Christ!

Galatians 4: 4-5 relates the situation quite well – “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law …” Jesus came to redeem mankind! He came to pay the price for our sins; He came to give us the hope of salvation; He came to give us access to God. But in order for this to be accomplished Jesus had to endure the cross. Isaiah caught the vision and recorded it in Isaiah 53: 2-5:

“For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

The good news is that Jesus’ death on the cross was the sacrifice that once and for all paid the full price for man’s salvation and opened up the way for man to have full fellowship with God. Jesus’ words in John 19:30 is testament to that accomplishment. The statement translated as “It is finished” in English comes from a single Greek word ‘TETELASTAI’   which means “it is accomplished,” “it is fulfilled,” or “it is paid in full.” According to the Bible Knowledge Commentary ancient receipts for taxes have been recovered with the word tetelestai written across them, meaning “paid in full.”  This word on Jesus’ lips was therefore very significant. When He said, “It is finished”, He meant His redemptive work was completed. He had been made sin for humanity and had suffered the penalty of God’s justice which sin deserved. Jesus’ death was therefore the final and ultimate sacrifice for sin. With His death, the complex Old Testament sacrificial system ended because Jesus took all sin upon himself. We can now freely approach God because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross. Those who believe in Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection can have a hope of life eternal and will escape the death penalty that comes from sin. Let us never forget however that the price paid for our redemption, involved agony, pain and death. With Jesus having paid such a great price, it is only appropriate that we accept the gift He offers to us and trust him for salvation.

CONCLUSION

I will close with two passages from the book of Hebrews which will serve both as a warning and an instruction.

Hebrews 2:1-3 “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; …”

Hebrews 10:19-23 “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

Jesus has paid a great price for our salvation. He has finished His work. The rest is up to us.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus as Lord, today is the best day to do so. Why don’t you put your trust in him? Repent of your sins; ask for water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ; God will fill you with the Holy Ghost and you will be on your way to heaven!