Not letting go

We have all wanted something, I mean I want a new truck, the 4x4 is gone in mine, the engine light is on, just last week the cables in the power window motor gave out, the breaks are soft, and the cost of repair is surpassing the value of the truck.

I can reason it all I want, but reality is, it’s a want, and we all have them, and a want is not necessarily a need. But with Gm offering 0%over 72months.... I digress

We all have wants, but have you ever been desperate for something, it’s a whole other level of want, especially when it brings in the element of need.

However in our first world culture, desperation for what we need doesn’t come often, I mean why be desperate when you can just go into debt to get what you want now.

However when thats not an option, and the want is for what is truly needed and the desperation rises, either a give up and die mentality, or a determination to survive mentality kicks in.

Today I want to remind ourselves of our desperate situation, so that we can be filled with determination that leads us to transformation.

See when the illusion of self-sufficiency is removed, and the reality of the fact that I can never measure up or earn enough, to deserve on my own merit eternity with God in heaven, then and only then do I realize my desperate need for His Glory.

See my desire for an encounter with His Glory is more than a want for a moments experience, but a need for a lifetimes transformation.

See church, Im a desperate man, Im desperate for an encounter with the Glory of God. In fact my desperation has taken me through a number of phases, from want, to want real bad, to frustration…

Oh I just got back form deer hunting with a couple men last week, I was reminded how you can read a lot from a mans gate, from his stride.

Hunting morning #1: we all want to see a deer, but really a big buck. we hunt, we see nothing, we walk back with a little bounce in our step, and our back straight, and when you see each other walking in, you have to wait and ask if they saw anything to truly know, because their gate, their stride back was confident.

Now fast forward, morning, evening 2 hunts, morning evening 4 hunts, morning morning evening 6 hunts, morning evening 8 hunts, morning.... walk back slouched over, kicking the snow under your feet, hands hanging to the side with no swing, looking at the dirt.....

That stride, that gate, you don’t even ask if they saw anything, you just know. the want, the desperation the defeat is causing for some the determination to deflate.

you can tell a lot by the way in which a man walks.

Back to my phases of desperation, the frustration can either make or break you, I choose to allow it to make me more determined than ever.

Call it what you want, determination, stubbornness, foolishness, naiveness. I don’t care, I’m not giving up. Why, because I’ve seen how much I need Him, Ive seen how much He can offer, and I absolutely need to be in His Glory, because in His Glory, in His presence are blessings, life, strength, gifts. power, access to the Kingdom.

I don’t just want, I need to encounter His Glory.

But be ready if you are about to embark with me in this pursite of encounters with His Glory, it will change you, it will change your outlook, and it will change your stride.

When you encounter His Glory:

you no longer walk with pride but humility

you no longer walk with greed but generosity

you no longer walk with self-reliance but a heart of worship

Encountering His Glory changes your stride

And that is exactly what happened to Jacob after wrestling all night with God.

A couple weeks ago we looked at , and a sermon entitled "Let's Climb". The main aspect was to increase the honest desire and follow through in our congregation, of pursuing the glory of God. In spite of God's righteous supremacy and our fallen humanity the love of God is displayed through the Cross Christ granting us access to His manifest presence, His Glory.

In the passage at hand we find Jacob having an unexpected encounter with God that changed everything, especially his outlook on things.

In the passage at hand Genesis 32 we find Jacob having an unexpected encounter with God that changed everything, especially his outlook on things.

Today we will look at Jacob and his pursuit of the Glory of God, in his unexpected encounter.

Turn with me to starting to read at verse 22

Now as you turn there, a quick reminder of what has just taken place just before where we pick up in 32:22.

Jacob is experiencing a great increase in his flocks, and an in-law dispute takes place leaving Jacob with a need to go towards his brothers land. Esau, the brother that Jacob had taken the first born blessing of the father from. Jacob is in destress and filled with anxiety about the family reunion, and as we begin we will see how he sends everyone off to have some alone time. Presumably time to reflect, gather his thoughts and time to seek God, however the encounter was more than he had imagined, so much that it would end in transformation and blessings, but at a cost, his stride.

Genesis 32:22–32 NIV84

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maidservants 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 men 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. Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob’s hip was touched near the tendon.

Not Letting Go

Although it was an unexpected encounter, Jacob seems to be preparing for something, as he sends his family and possessions ahead of him and is left alone.

Also interesting is that Jacob has never lost sight of the power and importance of blessings. Remember it was Jacobs taking of Easu's blessing that caused the strained relationship first place . After wrestling all night, receiving an injury that would change his stride forever, in spite of the risk, Jacob held on for the blessing.

Never loose sight of the power of blessing. Especially the blessing of God, seek it, ask for it, and don’t give up until you possess it.

You know fighting is not always bad. take it from a former martial artist, fighting can be fun and can be good. depending on how you fight, and what you are fighting for.

Some things are worth fighting for.

Some things worth fighting for are

your marriage

your family

your faith

your church

your God given dreams

your life goals

Some things are worth fighting for

See Jacob is fighting, he is wrestling for, holding on for the blessings and encounter with God.

Two aspects of this message:

The Pursuit of Blessings and Encounters

The Result of Blessings and Encounters

1.The Pursuit of Blessings and Encounters

1. The Pursuit of Blessings and Encounters

No one wants to pursue something that they don’t understand, or have little concept of the purpose.

Hunting this last week, 2 other hunters, 1 just there to check it out, to see if this is something worth getting into.

Now with the 4 of us there were 4 differing levels of pursuit.

having gotten a deer just the week prior, and have seen many deer this year already

having seen and gotten deer in the past

been a long long time since getting the only deer ever

seeing deer while driving to the camp

4 - as soon as tiredness, coldness, or the slightest urge to go to the bathroom his, he’s gone

3 - after a couple cold quiet sits, the sits become shorter and shorter

2 - slugging it out until near the end when the cold set in, and the tiredness

1 - foolish enough to stay out no matter what and for as long as possible, even after forgetting to put on gloves

Why? knowing the purpose, the thrill, the adrenaline rush as the goal comes within reach.

When you understand the power of blessing and encounters with God’s Glory, I mean the fullness of the power of blessing the impact of the Glory of God, pursuing it becomes life’s direction.

Look at the blessings he has received so far, his wives, children, his animals, his health. Jacob was a blessed man. When his father spoke blessings, pronounced God’s divine favour over his life, things happened.

Some times we forget, or neglect to attribute God with the glory due him for the blessings we have received in life. Count your blessings, name them one by one, count them, and think yourself, this is just the beginning.

If you are still here, the blessings you have received so far have been from intervention or encounters with God and His Glory in the past, yet you are still here… We are told about being transformed from Glory to Glory with ever increasing measure

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 NIV84

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 NIV84

But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 corinthians 3:

“turns to the Lord” Pursuing Him, Pursuing His Glory, Pursuing an encounter with Him that we might reflect Him.

The blessings increase

Salvation

See

Empowerment of the Holy Spirit

deliverance

Power to overcome

helaings

provision

joy

oh the list goes on and on, the power of Blessings and encounters with the Glory of God are worth pursuing so much more, than anything else.

but its up to you, try for the everything else if you want,

I’ll hold onto Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 NIV84

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Whats the all these things? The things mentioned in the verses prior, the things the pagans run after and worry about: cloths, food, houses.... hummm pick-up trucks.... Im not chasing that, Im chasing Him, the things will come in the form of blessings not worries, and if they don’t than I don’t need them, But I do need Him, His Glory and His blessings, and for that Im not letting go.

we go from

Understanding the power of blessings and encounters with God’s Glory

Setting ourselves up for blessings and encounters with God’s Glory

Jacob is in destress and filled with anxiety about the family reunion, and at the beginning of our passage we saw how he sends everyone off in order to have some alone time. Presumably time to reflect, gather his thoughts but mroe likely and more importantly time to seek God.

He needed an encounter with God however the encounter was more than he had imagined, so much that it would end in transformation and blessings, but at a cost, his stride.

What are you doing to set yourself up for blessings and encounters with God’s Glory?

Hows your prayer life?

Hows your devotional life?

Hows your church life?

Hows your altar time?

Hows your worship life?

Now quite often its an excuse of time, but its not about time, its about an understanding of importance, more so its an understanding of need, desperation and inability to truly be self-reliant, but absolutely desperately in need Him.

What are you doing to set yourself up for blessings and encounters? Whatever the cost, its worth it.

we go from

Understanding the power of blessings and encounters with God’s Glory

Setting ourselves up for blessings and encounters with God’s Glory

Persisting towards blessings and encounters with God’s Glory

Persisting… determination that says I WILL NOT LET YOU GO

This passage is where we get the concept the understanding of wrestling in prayer. Some people struggle with the idea of wrestling in prayer for a few differing reasons:

to keep asking is a lack of faith in the first prayer

to keep asking is annoying

to keep asking is to twist God’s arm

to keep asking …

but if we can learn something here from this record found in , its that

Wrestling in prayer is not begging, annoying, or manipulating God into giving you what you want, but demonstrating to Him your passion and earnest desire for what He has promised.

What you need to remember, and continually remind yourself of, is that:

The blessings of God have been promised, access to them have been paid for, it’s up to us to position, pursue and possess the blessings that will forever change our stride.

I WILL NOT LET YOU GO UNLESS YOU BLESS ME

Was it that Jacob was too strong to overpower, no, but his determination, desire, desperation and sheer audacity wouldn’t let him give up. He didn’t win the match, but he didn’t loose.

I love watching Jamieson in Judo, but one of the things I’m trying to get him to realize is that when he is on his back, and his opponent is bigger than him, if he can just wrap his legs around the leg of his opponent, then it wont count as a pin.

See as long as you don’t let go, don’t give up, hold on in prayer. pursue, be relentless in your pursuit of His glory, even if it lasts through the night. It’s worth it.

Two aspects to this message:

The Pursuit of Blessings and Encounters

The Result of Blessings and Encounters

Transformation, for Jacob it included a name change, your identity changes when you encounter the Glory of God.

Jacob (ja’-cub) = He will supplant; he that supplants; he that follows after; a heeler; one who trips up; takes hold by the land; supplanter; a detainer.

Israel (iz’-ra-el) = He will be a prince with God; prince with God; contender of God; he strives with God; soldier of God; God will rule; God ruled man; ruling with God; one that prevails with God

Jacob is changed from; more than a replacement, more than second, but now one that prevails with God.

You cant walk into His presence, experience His blessings and walk away remaining the same.

Personal experience of God’s blessing and encounters changes everything

Experience of God’s blessing

Psalm 34:8 NIV84

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Encountering Gods Glory brings blessings and refuge

1 Peter 2:1–3 NIV84

1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Encountering Gods Glory brings lifestyle transformation

1 Peter 2:3–4 NIV84

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—

hebrews

When you encounter Him, your lifestyle changes. And it changes out of desire not obligation. Desire to be holy as He is holy.

Hebrews 6:4–6 NIV84

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, 6 if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Hebrews 6:4–5 NIV84

When you experience the Blessings of God, you are changed, some fall away, but when all goes quiet in those quiet moments, you know, you cant deny to yourself in the quiet moments, what you have experienced in the past.

Throughout the Bible we have

Biblical examples of personal encounter with God

(NIV84) — 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

--- Jacob was transformed

(NIV84) — 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

--- Moses was transformed

(NIV84) — 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

--- Isaiah was transformed

(NIV84) — 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

--- Paul was transformed

(NIV84) — 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

--- John was transformed

The Result of Blessings and Encounters

* change the future

Speaking to future generations

The blessing that Jacob was seeking was not for the immediate but for the future. He was sending his family ahead that they might not pay for his past failures.

We need to see our faith beyond the moment and seek the Blessings of God for the future, for the next, and then make way for the next.

18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Oh the results of Blessings and Encounters with God,

* change our outlook

* change our stride

They change us, our outlook changes, our stride changes we no longer walk with pride, greed and self-reliance, but with humility, generosity and a heart of worship.

They change the future

And they strengthen our faith. And I don’t know about you, but I need my faith strengthened.

* change our faith level

Confidence based on past experience

The disciples’ experience of Jesus Christ’s provision should have taught them not to worry about food;

— 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered?

— 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

When you have experienced His blessings in the past you have a greater faith in the future. But in order to experience His blessings in the present, so that when the present is the past you have faith for the future, you have to be ready to wrestle through the night.

And it’s an on going pursuit for more.

Even with all of the livestock and growth of his herd, Jacob still seeks an encounter, and blessings from God.

So there we have it

The Pursuit of Blessings and Encounters

The Result of Blessings and Encounters

So whats missing? The ask...

Even with all of the livestock and growth of his herd, Jacob still seeks an encounter, and blessings from God.

The touch on the hip a forever reminder, that the blessings are not from his doing, but God's giving. He asked for the blessing, why don’t we ask?

Luke 11:9–10 NIV84

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

God desires to reveal His glory to us, Light in the darkness, revealed in our hearts, as we contemplate the face of Christ. not necessarily what He looks like but who He is, Grace and love.

2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV84

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

When we truly behold the love of God, our outlook on things changes, perspective comes into play in how we respond and react to the ups and downs the uncertainties in life.

Jacob has gone from the frying pan to the fire, he is about to walk into what could very well be a horrible situation, yet after his transformational encounter with the blessings and presence and glory of God, he looks at things a little differently.

When at times in life we seem to between the frying pan and the fire, its prime time to be seeking an encounter with the Glory of God.

But I ask you again, are you ready to wrestle through the night without letting discouragement in the delay to cause you to give up before the blessing.

Keeping the hope alive that the blessing you have been waiting for might just be around the next corner, might be in waiting to be ushered in through the next worship song.

he bowed 7 times, eastern culture this represents complete submission. humility was in his approach

Genesis 33:3 NIV84

3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

he bowed 7 times, eastern culture this represents complete submission. humility was in his approach

he viewed the sight of his brother as a true blessing from God

Genesis 33:10 NIV84

10 “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

he viewed the sight of his brother as a true blessing from God

Encountering His Glory changes our view and our stride

It’s time we seek a fresh encounter, fresh blessings.

It’s time we ask for a fresh Encounter with His Glory and fresh Blessings from His Spirit

Now this morning I have been talking about blessings and encounters, but the absolute greatest blessing and most powerful encounter with God you will experience here on earth is when you encounter Him as savour, and receive His blessing of forgiveness, redemption, freedom, and relationship.

Thats Right God loves you, He created you and loves you, He desires to forgive you, and free you from waht seems like chains that hold you down and stuck to sin, and whats more is He desires to do that, just to have relationship with you.

If you haven’t made Him Lord, If you haven’t accepted His forgiveness, If you haven’t given your life to the one that created it, can I invite you now into relationship with Him. call it what you want, salvation, becoming a Christian, converting, its about being born again, the old way is done, and a new life in God begins. That pounding thought right now is your spirit awakening to His knocking, would you let Him in, raise your hand and we can pray together and invite Him in to change everything.

Would you ask Him right now? God would you bless us this morning with an encounter with your Glory?

Wrestling in prayer is not begging, annoying, or manipulating God into giving you what you want, but demonstrating to Him your passion and earnest desire for what He has promised, and what He has promised, has been paid for, lets wrestle, lets not let go, lets seek an encounter with Him this morning that will change everything.