25th May,2022.

LOSING BIRTHRIGHT

Hebrews12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

The concept of culture of "Birthright" is not easily understood by people with western orientation because it is not in their culture. Though I have seen some cultures in Africa come close to it but there's a subtle resistance against it even up to the point of litigation because civilization is creeping in gradually. The Jewish culture is patriarchal and birthright is about inheritance. The first born male takes the larger share of his father's inheritance while the rest is shared among his siblings except the females. However, in a situation where there's no male child, the females can possess their father's property like the case of Zelophehad's daughters( Num27:1-11). Culturally, it was honourable for the first born male to inherit his father. That doesn't mean he is lazy or couldn't make something good out of life but by virtue of his position, that was his right. In fact, first born sons are prepared to inherit and sustain the family heritage. They train them to be responsible so that they can handle responsibility. Jacob knew the worth of what he wanted to collect from Esau when he asked him to sell his birthright to him(Genesis 25:29–33). The bible says: "For ye know how that afterward, when he(Esau) would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."(Heb12:17 Emphasis mine). The Jews don't joke with their "Birthright". They guard and protect it jealously. Don't forget the story of Naboth. He refused to sell the vineyard he inherited to Ahab because it was a legacy inheritance: "Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance(C) of my ancestors”(1 Kings21:2-3).

There's a deeper truth the bible is teaching us from the story of Esau and Jacob. There's more to birthright thatln meets the eye. In the opening text, Esau's action was regarded as profane and paralled with sexual immorality. So we can say that a sexually immoral person is like Esau who sold his birthright. Every illegal sexual encounter doesn't leave you the same way you were before the encounter. There's a spiritual exchange that takes place. Virtues and glories are traded for demonic invasion and destabilization of destiny. Sex outside marriage( pre marital or adultery) gives the devil a legal ground and open door to operate in peoples life without restraint. Through sex, poison can be injected into a man's body and medical science won't be able to trace the cause of health breakdown. Some guys think it is smartness having sex with several ladies. They see it as a test of their manliness. Unfortunately, they've become walking corpses because they've been emptied of virtues and glories. In the glory bank of the enemy are great glories of men and women of destinies who could have changed the course of history in their families and generation but they carelessly "donated" their future for a few minutes of pleasure. There's something great about you and in you. The quickest way the enemy steals greatness is through sexual immorality. Have you noticed that when evil people want to bring a powerful man down, sex is the tool they use often. Why? Sex drains a man faster than any other sin. I've heard people say sin is sin. That's true but one kills faster. Just as there are fast action drugs, there are fast-action sins. Sexual immorality is the chiefest.

We live in a sex crazy world. Sex is almost becoming very cheap to get. Unfortunately, even the married aren't spared from this. The temptation comes to us all almost daily and you cannot be too sure about yourself on this. That pride of "I can't fall into sexual sin" is the beginning of the fall it self. That's why we must take caution lest we become a victim. Apostle Paul advised: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,"(1Thes4:3-4). Paul was talking to believers in Thessalonica and I believe that admonition applies to us today. Each of us must learn to master our bodies so that we won't fall prey of the wave of sexual immorality in this generation. The key to overcoming any form of sexual temptation is to abide in Christ and obey Romans 12:2 injunction: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will". The devil is hunting for destinies. You may look ordinary in your own eyes but Satan knows you have a great inheritance by virtue of your union with Christ. He want to collect that inheritance from you like Jacob did to Esau. Condom may prevent infections and pregnancy but it can't prevent demons from draining you and taking valuables away from your life. Run from sexual immorality. That way, you'll save yourself and preserve your destiny.