Monday, January 23, 2017

WRESTLING WITH GOD


Genesis 32:24-26 (NKJV) Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. 25  Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26  And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!"

I think that everyone of us has a season where we actually end up wrestling with God over the direction of our lives.

Speaking for myself, this has been on ongoing event of God bringing me into alignment with His perfect will.

To be honest, for the most part, I don’t like it.  I don’t like change and I often struggle with God to fight for control of my life and ministry.

The sad part is this, the older we get – the harder it is to change.  What do they say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”

When I was younger – it seemed a lot easier and I seemed more pliable.  Ugh!  I hate this reality about myself.

People say that they want change.  Just look on the internet and look at all the self help books that are for sale.

But the great tragedy of life is that sometimes we don’t want to change for the better.
In Genesis 32 we see the process that God uses in changing Jacob.  God is helping him become a different kind of person – a better person.

This event in Jacob’s life was a turning point in Jacob’s life and serves as an example of God can change us also.

Keep in mind that Jacob was kind of a shifty sort of fellow.  If you recall, in Genesis 27 that he tricked his father into giving him the blessing that was intended for his older brother Esau.

Did you know that Jacob’s name means cheater or scammer? He even ended up scamming his uncle Laban to gain more sheep for his own flock.

Before Jacob could move on – God needed to deal with him and bring some alignment into his life.  Thus the night of wrestling with God.

Jacob ended up wresting with God all night long – till the break of day.

It was such a transforming experience that it literally changed Jacob into the man after God’s own heart.

In this passage – there is a 4 step process of change.

   1.    The first step is CRISIS

Our text says: “Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.”

This was no ordinary man for later on we see that Jacob says, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.

Some will say that he wrestled with an angel and others will say that it was pre manifestation of Jesus himself. Either way – it was some divine being.

Jacob found himself in a real fix – he had gotten himself involved in a wrestling match with a heavenly being.  He was having a real struggle – and worst of all he came to realize that he was in a no-win situation.

Here’s a fact: God often uses a crisis to get out attention. Have you ever got yourself into a fix that you couldn’t get out of?  I know I have.

Psalm 86:7 (NKJV)  In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.

Just like a mother eagle that stirs the nest of her young to encourage them to fly – so God will at times stir your nest so you can be everything God wants you to be.

    2.    The second step is COMMITMENT

Look at what Jacob said – “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Jacob was committed – He was persistent – he stayed with the situation until he received a blessing.  

He  was in a situation that he didn’t like – it was frustrating – it was getting him down – he was tired – but he said, “I am 100 % committed to staying with the situation until God blessed me.”

    3.    The third step is CONFESSION

After Jacob tells the wrestler he was not going to let go until he received a blessing – the wrestler said to Jacob: “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”

What was the purpose of that question?  I think it was to get Jacob to acknowledge his character by stating his name – his name meant “cheater” or “schemer.”

Jacob had a long history of cheating scheming.  He had cheated his brother Esau.  He had lied to his father and deceived him.  He also deceived his uncle Laban.

So, the question was asked: “What is your name?  What are you really like?  Who are you really?”

Jacob answered, “My name is Jacob.”  By saying his name Jacob admitted, “I’m a cheater.  I’m a schemer.”  He admitted his weaknesses because he was honest.  When he identified himself as “Jacob,” he was admitting his character flaws.

This is an important process in God changing us, because we never change until we honestly face and admit our faults and sins and weaknesses and mistakes.

God will no to to work on our problem until we first admit that we’ve got a problem.  We need to say, “Lord, I’m a mess.  I’ve got a problem and I admit it.”  It’s at that point that God can go to work.

   4.    The fourth step is COOPERATION.

After Jacob confessed to God – God said: “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.”

Jacob did not argue with God about the name change.  After had a personal encounter with God he knew his life would not longer be the same.  God changed Jacob from a cheater and schemer to an 
Israel – a “Prince of God.”

God saw all of Jacob’s weaknesses and faults – but He also saw Jacob’s potential.

God always knows how to bring out the best in a person’s life.  He knows how to do it better than we do.

It’s interesting that at the end of the wrestling match that God put his hip out of place (32:24-31).  He would forever have a limp that would remind him of the night that God wrestled with Jacob.

I was thinking the other day of all the scars I have on my body – believe me, there are plenty as I was a very active kid.

But those scars remind me of the bad decisions I have made in life and that God has spared me over and over.

So, if you find yourself wrestling with God today – understand that you will not win until you surrender to Him and that He alone knows what is best for you and your life.

Moving forward – with a limp.

Monday, January 16, 2017

HOW FULL IS YOUR WELL?


Isaiah 12:3 (NKJV)  Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.

Have you ever felt anxious in your life?  Overwhelmed?  Un-peaceful?  Angry?  Depressed?  Hopeless?  I think all of us would say that at one time or another we feel this way in our lives.

As a young man – whenever I would mention to my dad that I was feeling any of those things – the first thing he would ask me is “How is your prayer life.”  He used this scripture often in his own life and in teaching others about having a well that was full.

He would go on to tell me or anyone else listening that when I pull from my well of joy to deal with my anxieties and problems – it’s all fine as long as my reservoir is full and running over.

But if I pull from my well and it is bone dry – that’s when we deal with frustration and depression and all sorts of other negative feelings.

The misnomer is this: that it is only God’s responsibility only to fill my well.  The truth is this – God is willing to fill and overflow our wells but it is up to us to be the funnel to capture all the blessings of the Lord.

This comes through prayer – much prayer.

Things can be going really well in my life but I can sometimes sense that I’m a little off in my insides.  It doesn’t mean that you or I are in deep sin or rebellion or walking away from God.

It’s just that you need to recalibrate your signal toward God.  

It’s a lot like the calibration that you would have to do on your cable dish or antenna in your home.  To be off by the smallest amount could lose your signal.

When we partook in the fast this last week I asked the Lord to recalibrate my life and help me to be totally focused on Him and His perfect will for my life.

It’s not always easy.  Our flesh strongly pulls us away from that fine tuning and insists on doing anything in its power to pull us away from that closeness and intimacy with God.

Look at this verse and it will help you to have some context of what I’m saying…

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

You see, there is much power that is available to us but we have to become the conduit for those blessing to come into our lives.

I venture to say that many people don’t have a well of joy that is full because they’ve allowed the circumstances of life to drain and have not been purposeful in refilling their well.

Yes, God wants fill us – even to overflowing but we have to be intentional – very intentional about keeping it filled.

May I encourage you today to stop and and check your joy level gauge on your life.  If you are honest – you will immediately know if you are full, half full or on empty.

God is waiting for you right now to bless and fill you with His joy and peace and especially with His presence in your life.

What are you waiting for?




Monday, January 2, 2017

WHAT DO YOU WANT IN 2017?


It’s just me and God this morning as I sit in my office.  It is very quiet with worship music in the background. I am thirsty for more of God. My soul is reaching out to Him for a fresh and new anointing from Him in this next year.  

I’ve been so blessed in so many ways – how can I count all the blessings.  He has never failed me in the past nor will He in the future.

Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.

Have you ever been thirsty – really thirsty?  Do you remember those hot days when your body was parched from not having enough water?

It’s interesting – my body tells me when I’m dehydrated and in the same way – my spirit speaks to me when I’m dry spiritually need an outpouring of God onto my life both for now and for the season to come.

I’m fascinated by the Joshua Trees in the High Desert.  From what I’ve learned – they can go for a long time without water because when the rains come – they drink in gallons upon gallons of water into their branches.

You and I must be like that.  There will be seasons of dryness and aridness where there is little or no water for your soul.  When the rains comes – we need to learn to soak them in and saturate our souls.

It is interesting: When you are thirsty for God – you will do anything.  You will travel for miles to be in a church filled with the Holy Spirit.  You will arrange your schedule so you are able to listen and to receive from the Lord.

Look at David in Psalm 27:4 – 

Psalm 27:4 (NKJV)  One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

The woman with an issue of blood (Mark 5:25-29)  was so desperate for God that pressed through all the crowd just to be able to touch the hem of His garment.  When she did – she was immediately healed.

Paul, in Philippians, was willing to do anything that he might “know” God more and to experience His presence in his life.

Philippians 3:7-11 (NKJV) 3:7 (NKJV)  But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8  Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10  that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11  if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

In Isaiah we see the results of being thirsty for God.  It tells us that water will be poured on him who is thirsty. This water is the Spirit of God on your life.  If you are thirsty for God – God will pour out His Spirit on you.  That is personal revival – the very presence of God in your life.

Isaiah 44:3 (NKJV)  For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;

When a person is thirsty – things like worship, prayer and seeking the Lord, fasting, going to church, loving the word are normal parts of your life and growth in the Lord.

One of the things I like about this verse in Isaiah is the promise not only for me but for the overflow upon my family.  Wouldn’t that be powerful for not only you to experience a personal revival but for your whole family to experience one as well?

John 7:37-39 (NKJV) 7:37 (NKJV)  On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." 39  But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The phrase “living water” is translated  from the Greek as “anazao” – meaning to come again and again.

I’m hungry for that.  I don’t want it to be forced but I want it to be natural and organic – flowing from the throne of God into my life on an ongoing basis.

One of the stories I like to hear about is the Welsh Revival of 1904 – 1905.  At that time there was a young man who had been praying for revival for 11 years.  He had a real sense that God was going to pour out a mighty spirit of revival on Wales.

He prayed, “Bend me, O Lord.”

One night his pastor allowed him to speak to anyone who wanted to stay after the service.  Only 17 stayed – mostly youth and young adults.  They all ended up at the altar crying out to God until 2 AM.

That week 60 people were saved.  Over the next 1 ½ years – revival came to Wales and over 100,000 people were saved.

Bars closed down because no one was coming to them anymore.  Arrests went down because people were living an orderly life.  In fact, the policemen now came to the meeting for traffic control. 

The meetings grew to nightly meetings of thousands.

Why?  Because one young man was hungry and thirsty for more of God.

Ask yourself today – Are you thirsty – really thirsty?  Do you want a fresh move of God on your life and in your heart.  I know I do – for myself, my family, my community and my church.

Let’s press in for “more of God” in 2017.