And God Made Me Laugh by Pastor Jerry Eze: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Blessed Men Under Control

Genesis 21:9-13 — Sarah saw Ishmael mocking Isaac and told Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac." It grieved Abraham deeply, but God told him, "Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice."

Don't celebrate that things are working for you — celebrate that you're still submitted under God. Even Abraham, already promised that Ishmael was blessed and would become a great nation, still had to obey an instruction he didn't fully understand — because God's concern wasn't merely the blessing on Ishmael's life, but whether Abraham would remain a blessed man under control.

As Long as You Remain a Baby, the Enemy Will Mock the Promise

Ishmael only mocked Isaac while Isaac was still a child — the mockery targeted immaturity, not the promise itself. For as long as you remain a baby in an area of your life, the enemy will keep mocking the promise of God over it. The gift of Ishmael — whatever "bond" relationship you're still tolerating — is mockery: people or patterns you're connected to that exist under bondage, and who will inevitably give you nothing but ridicule in return for your patience with them.

Wherever There's an Agenda of God, Expect a Reaction From Hell

The very fact that hell reacts to your life is itself evidence that your life matters. The devil is content to let someone who poses no threat to his kingdom excel as much as they like — it's the person who understands their identity and authority in Christ that provokes real resistance. Envy isn't really about those who have it easy; it's worth being concerned about those who carry real capacity.

A Personal Story: Apologizing Without Fully Understanding Why

There was a season of carrying deep, unexplainable bitterness toward someone — the kind where simply remembering the person makes your body shake and your eyes fill with tears without being able to say exactly why. Prompted by God to go and apologize, with no clear idea of what there was even to apologize for, the visit ended awkwardly — met with, "I'm glad you've realized your mistakes," rather than reconciliation. Sometimes obedience isn't about the other person at all — it's about the alignment happening in you. Just as Abraham was told to submit to Sarah even though her judgment in bringing Hagar into the situation in the first place clearly wasn't flawless, sometimes the instruction to submit or apologize isn't a verdict on who was right — it's about what your own heart needs to release before your next season can begin.

Something That Looks Good but Isn't Right

God will bring you into a season where something looks good but isn't right, and the only word you'll hear from Him is: walk away. Philippians 2:13 — it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. If something doesn't please Him, no matter how good it looks, no matter how much your body or your account wants it, that's reason enough to leave it behind.