Wrestling With A Breakthrough

Scripture text

Genesis 32:24–30 KJV 1900

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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 hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Introduction

Growing up I can almost remeber the excitement that would build around the Olympics.

Maybe it was because of them coming to Altanta in 96 or perhaps it was just the competitive side of me that enjoyed watching the competition of these elite athletes representing their countries on a world stage

I grew up in that pinacle in my opinion of a modern sports era

Just think for a moment, you had Michael Jordan in Basketball, Frank Thomas in Baseball, Mike Tyson in Boxing, Gretszke in Hockey all dominating in that era

But one of the oldest sports in the Olympics is wrestling

Imagine if you will for a moment the roar of the crowd as these two men would step up and begin to wrestle for the honor of their country

This primal test of strength and endurance

Grappling not just to win but conquer resistance

This sport has continued on into the modern era becoming a multi-million dollar industry

Headlined by stars such as Andre the Gian, The Junkyard Dog, million Dollar man Ted Dibiase, John Cena, The Rock, But the one man who is truly credited with taking this entertainment business to a new level was Hulk Hogan.

With a enigmatic presence a big as the industry itself he propelled it to new heights, sadly this week he passed away, but the Hulkster will forever represent the greatest era of Modern wrestling

I can remember the peak of this phenomena when pay per views were being sold by the millions Madison Square Gardens being sold out

One year for my birthday I remember telling my parents all I wanted was the Summer Bash Pay Per view event

I can remeber the excitement of watching the matches, I can remember mimicing some of the moves with my friends

And we all had our favorite wrestlers, and we always wanted the good guy to win

But every now and a agin the villain would become the victor

Because they understood that if the good guy didn’t always win it would keep you in suspense for the next match

But I didn’t realize as a young boy that those matches were already fixed

The winner had already been chosen

The match was rigged

And everything was set up to keep the audience excited so they would keep packing out arenas

And my friend I want you to know that in this wrestling match called life, if we can stay in the ring long enough, the fix is in

I want you to understand today that we are not wrestling for victory

I went through my whole life fighting for victory

And I want to tell you once again today that we are not wrestling for victory

We are wrestling from the position of Victory

We’re on the winning side

The fix is in

If God be for us, who can be against

Praise be to God who always causes us to win

Today I want to speak to you on this subject “ Wrestling With A Breakthrough”

Jacob Wrestled

The story of Jacob is a familiar one to many of us here today

I know that I have even referenced him recently

But I began to prepare for this message this week and I began to think about the man that was known as Jacob

Now I am not going to deal with the birthright really this week more with the nature of Jacob

I began to study him once again and I began to realize that from his very conception Jacob was a wrestler

Now I know today that there are some of you that are wrestling with some things this morning

As a matter of fact some of you are here today and it feels like the only thing you know is wrestle

From your very spiritual conception it feels like you have been fighting

Jacob began his wrestling career in his mothers womb

He began from the very beginning to wrestle with his destiny

He decieved his brother and had to flee and when he came to his Uncles house he found himself once again wrestling, this time for his wages

Many things had happened between the time that Jacob had wrestled in the womb with his brother Esau. Before he was born, Jacob was wrestling.

And it has come up to this point that something different was about to happen in his life—and he’s wrestling once again.

He was taking his family and all of his wealth and everything that he had gained back at his father-in-law Laban’s house, and he was about to go back to his homeland where he was raised so that he could meet with his brother Esau to reconcile,

We look at Jacob here in verse number 24, It says, “And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

Jacob was wrestling in this scenario alone—with a man.

It just says, “a man.”

Now what was going on—as you understand Jacob—he had some unfinished business with his brother Esau.

because some things had happened in Jacob’s past that Jacob realized, “I got to go back and deal with my past.”

We understand that he deceived his brother

We understand everything that took place to the point the last time he saw his brother he hated him so much that Jacob had to flee his family

And now we see him willing to go back to face his past

On the way, he was left alone.

It was then, in that place of solitude, that a man wrestled with him until daybreak.

Oh but I believe that Jacob was wrestling with more than just a man.

He was wrestling with his guilt, his fear, his shame, and ultimately—he was wrestling with God.

When God saw that Jacob would not let go, He touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh—and Jacob limped from that day forward.

God changed Jacob’s name to Israel—“he who struggles with God and prevails.”

The limp was a mark.

He could no longer run

He had to face his past and walk into his destiny depending on God.

He couldn’t run away from his past

He couldn’t run away from his mistakes

From that point on he had to deal with everything head on

He found himself in a place where the battle was head to head\

Moses

I guess what made me think of this wrestling match this way was I one time heard Bishop teach about the Egyptian Moses killed that day was himself

Moses and the Egyptian: Wrestling with Identity

The Act: Moses, raised in Pharaoh’s court yet an Israelite by birth, sees an Egyptian abusing a Hebrew and attacks him, killing him in secret (Exodus 2:11–12)  .

Spiritual Interpretation: Some preachers posit that Moses murdered the Egyptian inside himself—the lying, identity-confused part striving to live as an Egyptian. It’s his inner struggle made violent.

The Exile and Return: Moses flees into exile, wrestles with belonging and destinies. Only later does he accept his Hebrew identity fully and obey God’s calling to deliver Israel  

1. 

Hannah – Wrestling with Barrenness (1 Samuel 1)

Theme: Wrestling through prayer for a breakthrough.

The Struggle: Hannah was barren and mocked by Peninnah, her husband’s other wife. Though deeply loved by Elkanah, she felt incomplete and ashamed.

The Wrestling: In bitterness of soul, she poured out her heart before the Lord in the temple. She was so intense in her prayer that Eli thought she was drunk.

The Breakthrough: God heard her weeping, and she gave birth to Samuel—one of Israel’s greatest prophets.

Message: Your wrestling in the place of prayer can birth revival, not only in your life but for the people around you.

“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.” (1 Samuel 1:27)

1 Samuel 1:27 KJV 1900

27 For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

2. 

Job – Wrestling with Suffering (Job 1–42)

Theme: Wrestling through unexplainable trials.

The Struggle: Job lost everything—children, health, wealth—yet he didn’t curse God.

The Wrestling: Much of the book is Job arguing with his friends and crying out to God, wrestling with questions of justice, pain, and divine silence.

The Breakthrough: God finally responds, restoring Job double and revealing His majesty and Job’s humility.

Message: Wrestling does not always mean rebellion—it can be a sign of relationship. Stay in the fight until God speaks.

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15)

Job 13:15 KJV 1900

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.

3. 

The Woman with the Issue of Blood – Wrestling Through the Crowd (Mark 5:25–34)

Theme: Wrestling through weakness to reach Jesus.

The Struggle: Twelve years of constant bleeding, social isolation, and spending all her resources on failed treatments.

The Wrestling: Pushing through a crowd with faith, despite her condition.

The Breakthrough: She touches Jesus’ garment and is instantly healed.

Message: Your breakthrough is often on the other side of pressing through the resistance.

“If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.” (Mark 5:28)

Mark 5:28 KJV 1900

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

4. 

Paul – Wrestling with the Thorn

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 KJV 1900

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Theme: Wrestling with weakness and divine purpose.

The Struggle: A “thorn in the flesh,” likely physical or spiritual opposition, which Paul begged God to remove.

The Wrestling: Three times he pleaded, but the answer was no—yet with revelation: “My grace is sufficient.”

The Breakthrough: Paul learned that strength is made perfect in weakness.

Message: Sometimes breakthrough isn’t the removal of the struggle—it’s the revelation of God’s power in the middle of it.

“When I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV 1900

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

5. 

Peter – Wrestling with Failure (Luke 22:54–62 ; John 21)

Theme: Wrestling with personal failure and restoration.

The Struggle: Denied Jesus three times after promising undying loyalty.

The Wrestling: Guilt and shame made him go back to fishing.

The Breakthrough: Jesus reinstates Peter on the shore: “Feed My sheep.”

Message: God is not finished with you just because you failed. Restoration is part of the breakthrough.

“Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” (John 21:17)

John 21:17 KJV 1900

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

6. 

Jesus – Wrestling in Gethsemane (Luke 22:39–46)

Theme: Wrestling with the will of God.

The Struggle: Facing the cross, Jesus prays, “If it be possible, let this cup pass.”

The Wrestling: Sweat like drops of blood—His humanity trembled under the weight of the mission.

The Breakthrough: “Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done.”

Message: The greatest breakthroughs come when we surrender our will to the will of the Father.

“And being in agony He prayed more earnestly.” (Luke 22:44)

Modern Application

Each of these stories gives us a different lens for what it looks like to wrestle with a breakthrough:

Some wrestle with barrenness (Hannah).

Some wrestle with suffering and silence (Job).

Some wrestle through crowds and chaos (woman with the issue of blood).

Some wrestle with weakness and spiritual attacks (Paul).

Some wrestle with shame and failure (Peter).

Some wrestle with God’s will (Jesus Himself).

 Today’s Battlefields: The Modern Wrestling Match

Pressure & Setbacks: Like Jacob limping, or Israel faltering, spiritual battles today often involve hardship, wounding—but yield new posture.

Almost There—Then Delay: Many feel they nearly breakthrough—perhaps after years of obedience—but stumble, discouraged, waiting for the next push.

Invitation to Wrestle: These stories remind us: stay engaged. Don’t quit at dawn. Your blessing is found at the threshold of breakthrough.

⚔️ Final Exhortation & Prayer

Beloved, tonight the Lord invites you to your Peniel moment. You may feel crippled. You may have wrestled—and lost ground. But like Jacob, Moses, and Jesus, there is a breakthrough that aligns God’s promise with your position.

If you feel weary, wounded, or wandering—stay in the fight. The victor is already decided, the blessing certain. God says: “You won’t prevail unless you wrestle.” And if you wrestle—you will walk forever differently.

But in each case, God does not abandon the wrestler—He meets them in the fight. And just like Jacob, their names, their callings, and their futures are forever changed by the struggle.