Jacob – A Life of Redemption

God doesn’t want to just  the fight – He wants to change your .

GENESIS 32:22-31 NIV

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome. (Gen. 32:28 NIV)

WRESTLING WITH GOD…

1 – WHO WE REALLY ARE

Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. (1 Peter 1:7, CEV)

2 –  OUR IDENTITY

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here. (2 Cor. 5:17, NIV)

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6, NIV)

3 – LEAVES US

The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. (Genesis 32:31, NIV)

Sometimes an encounter with God can when it our identity/reality.

Every encounter with God should the way we walk. 

But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33, NIV)

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you?