LAAMP M

C.O.P.S.
The Conversion Of Popular Saints
Busted then Adjusted
 (Jacob-Israel)

Like many of the “popular saints” of the bible, our faith may have faltered at times but thank God Jesus prayed that it would not fail. Jesus’ prayer included the knowledge of our conversion; which is the process of our adapting to a new or different use of our life for His purpose, and without conversion, our lives would be continually adapting to a life of false purposes.  The life of Jacob illustrates perfectly how our lives can be transformed through the busting and adjusting process of conversion.


Conversion-to adapt to a new or different use or purpose; Greek –strengthened from the base—Matthew 18:3 “And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them. 3. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted (strengthened from the base) and become as little children,(infant, half-grown, in need of care, dependent)ye shall not enter in to the kingdom of heaven.”
Popular-readily understandable, widely liked
Busted-to have one’s misbehavior exposed, to be caught or found out as guilty of a particular crime
Adjusted- to bring into correct relationship, to settle (a claim or debt)



  1. JACOB IS BUSTED—How is he busted—by his behavior, crimes, & his name
a.     Grasps Esau’s heel at birth
                                                              i.      Genesis 25:24—26 “And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.  And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.  And after that came his brother  out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob:
                                                             ii.      Given a Character Name- obvious or noticeable mark(something to remember an individual by) –thief, fornicator, murderer, adulterer, liar, gossiper, mean, hateful
1.      Name means-heel catcher; he grasps the heel (deceiver)
a.       Heel-a track, foot step
2.      Supplanter
a.       To take the place of by underhanded means or by force
b.     Deceived Esau for his birthright
                                                               i.    Genesis 25:29-34 “And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage, for I am faint; therefore was his name called Edom.  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me: And Jacob aid, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.”
                                                            ii.      Jacob saw and new that the birthright (inheritance and rights as the firstborn which included a double portion of the family inheritance along with the honor of one day becoming the family’s leader.) would be of great value after Isaac’s death. Therefore, he took advantage of Esau’s weakness of living for the moment. 
                  c.   Deceived Esau for his blessing
             Genesis 27:35-36  “And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken   
              away thy blessing.  And he (Esau) said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? For he 
              hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and behold,
              now he hath taken away my blessing.  And he said, hath thou not reserved a
               blessing for me.
                                                               i.      Jacob ultimately betrayed his brother and deceived his father (with his mother’s guidance) by pretending to be Esau in order to receive the firstborn’s blessing(divine favor or heavenly reward) of the father before death.
                                                             ii.      Esau was furious with Jacob and vowed to kill him, leaving Jacob no alternative but to leave home in order to save his life.

  1. JACOB IS ADJUSTED
    1. Genesis 29:12-15 “And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  And, behold the Lord stood above it and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;  And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.  And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land ; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.”
    2. God confirmed to Jacob his blessing
      1.  God’s covenant promise to Abraham and Isaac was offered to Jacob as well through a dream.
    3. God awakened in Jacob a personal knowledge of himself
                                                               i.      When Jacob woke from his dream, he said surely the Lord is in his place and I did not know it
                                                             ii.      Through his seed all the families of the earth will be blessed
                                                            iii.      God promised to protect Jacob, and not leave him until He had done all that He had spoken to him
    1. Jacob’s heart / mind was being changed ---wanted to leave but waited for God’s permission
                                                               i.      Jacob was manipulated by Laban—he worked seven years for Rachel only to be given Leah, he agreed to work seven more years, only to have Rachel given to him only seven days after he made the agreement to work seven additional years.
                                                             ii.      Previously Jacob deceived to fulfill his desire by underhanded means. But he remembered the consequence and waited on God
                                                            iii.      Jacob wanted to go home and but Laban begged him to stay. He stayed for the wages of dark colored, or speckled and spotted sheep.  Laban removed all the sheep of this sort.
                                                           iv.      Jacob honored each agreement even though he was wronged

  1. JACOB IS CONVERTED
    1. God gave Jacob permission to return home
    2. Jacob prayed for God’s blessing.
    3. He realized that it was God and only God that could bless him
    4. Jacob realized his dependence on God and how God continued to bless him
    5. His relationship with God became essential to his life
    6. Jacob wrestled all night just to be blessed by God
    7. Jacob’s name was changed to Israel—“He struggles with God”
    8. Israel-he will rule as God
    9. Strength or mighty man 
    10. Genesis 32:28- “And he said Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed.