Sermon Notes...Penitentiary Philosophy

Scriptural Text...Genesis 25:27-34 (New Living Translation) As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. ²⁸ Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob. ²⁹ One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. ³⁰ Esau said to Jacob, “I’m starved! Give me some of that red stew!” (This is how Esau got his other name, Edom, which means “red.”) ³¹ “All right,” Jacob replied, “but trade me your rights as the firstborn son.” ³² “Look, I’m dying of starvation!” said Esau. “What good is my birthright to me now?” ³³ But Jacob said, “First you must swear that your birthright is mine.” So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn.

Introduction: Prison is less of a place, and more of a mentality, a philosophy, a way of life. It has it's own language (void of help and hope) and it's own look (slave to struggling).

Transition: Esau and Jacob are twin brothers, who both in their own way possess a penitentiary philosophy. Esau works hard and doesn't pay attention to details. Jacob is a strategic thinker, who is always looking for an easy come-up.

Exposition: Let's pick your brain, and see if we can liberate your thinking...

1) You have a penitentiary philosophy when you're moment minded
-Age doesn't guarantee that you'll think critically.
-Esau wants to fill a legitimate void, but refuses to wait for a quality solution and makes a debilitating decision.

2) You're dealing with someone who has a penitentiary philosophy when they manipulate moments
-Jacob's character is trickery, but you wouldn't think of him conning his own brother. That was a dysfunctional decision.
-Immaturity will cause you to trample over people, to get what you want at their expense.

Conclusion: How do you get free from the penitentiary? Forgive!!! In Genesis 33, Esau and Jacob meet. Both were doing well apart from each other, but Jacob was blessed while burdened with guilt. Once forgiveness flowed, Jacob was free to build (verses 17/house and 20/altar).

*** Song credit to Erykah Badu: Listen to Erykah Badu sing Penitentiary Philosophy here ***