The Homecoming
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Intro
Intro
Text - Genesis 32.22-31
24 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!”
Title - The Homecoming
Background
Background
the prophet Hosea summed up Jacob’s life thus:
3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God.
4 Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us—
5 That is, the Lord God of hosts. The Lord is His memorable name.
6 So you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice, And wait on your God continually.
Jacob had been running away -
it’s been 20 years since he ran away from his brother with their father’s blessing which he took by deceipt
he went to Padan-Aram to find a wife
he has lived a life of deceipt after deceipt
Jacob is coming home -
God has called him home to fulfill his promise
2 And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”
he found no place for himself in Padan-Aram
he longed to be with his people
But first, he must face his greatest fear.
will Esau receive him in peace?
what will the family say about his past actions?
The Main Point
The Main Point
Like Jacob - we are coming home.
this is homecoming time!
because God is calling us home!
because we do not belong to this world!
Like Jacob - we are faced with uncertainties!
is this really the time?
will I make it to the rapture?
am I ready to meet the Lord?
Sermon Points
Sermon Points
Jacob’s Desperation
Jacob’s Desperation
He was afraid to face Esau.
He employed strategies
he sent a messenger to announce his coming
3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4 And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.
5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”
his message - I’m doing well, God has blessed me in Padan-Aram, I’m not going to take anything from you
he divided his camp in case battle ensued
7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.
8 And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”
9 Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.
11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.
12 For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”
he was always a tactician, a schemer, a strategist
he planned his claim to the birthright, and took advantage of a situation
he prayed a prayer of desperation!
he prepared gifts
13 So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother:
14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
15 thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.
16 Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.”
17 And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’
18 then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ”
19 So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him;
20 and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”
21 So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.
he hoped to “appease” his brother by means of gifts
appease - Heb kaphar, to make amends, to cover (sin)
he sent his family accross the river
22 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok.
23 He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had.
he used the river as a defense for his family
Jacob was facing uncertainties
he did not know how Esau will react to his homecoming
he prayed to God, but relied on his own strategies
he did not feel successful at all!
WHAT’S THE POINT?
Like Jacob - we are unsure of our homecoming
Like Jacob, we rely on our own schemes
Like Jacob, we cannot rely on material success
Jacob’s Encounter with God
Jacob’s Encounter with God
24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
out of nowhere Someone comes up to wrestle with Jacob
as the struggle dragged on he realized this Man was the angel of God
he did not let go until he was blessed!
God was orchestrating the circumstances!
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
God drove Jacob to that desperate situation
running away from Laban, his father-in-law
having to give up his hard-earned wealth (as gifts)
feeling helpless as he got ready to face his brother
God struck Jacob in the hip
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.
his leg represents his old life
he was always running around, scheming, trying to achieve success in his own way
God wanted Jacob to STAY with Him
note: God allowed Jacob to do things his own way, so that he will realize in the end that God’s way is always the best him!
WHAT’S THE POINT?
THE OLD LIFE MUST DIE! MORTIFIED!
AS LONG AS THE OLD LIFE IS ACTIVE, EVEN A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN RESORTS TO CARNAL WAYS.
AS LONG IS WE DO THINGS IN THE STRENGTH OF THE OLD LIFE, THERE IS REAL, GOD-EXALTING VICTORY!
God changed Jacob’s name
26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
27 So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.”
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
his old name represented his old life
all this time jacob has been living the carnal life
his new name represented God’s view of his new life
Israel means “prince with God”
“you have struggled with God and with men”
struggle (with God) - to exert effort against opposition
Ex - Abraham bargaining with God
Ex - Moses reasoning with God’s anger against the Israelites
Jacob claimed his blessing
prevailed - not that he was stronger than God
but God has heard and accepted his case
God has answered his prayer
WHAT’S THE POINT?
THE OVERCOMER IS NOT ONE WHO HAS MANY EARTHLY SUCCESSES
THE OVERCOMER IS ONE WHO HAS MET GOD AND STRUGGLED WITH GOD AND PREVAILED
Jacob’s Blessing
Jacob’s Blessing
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.” And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
He called the name of that place, Peniel
he never God the name of the Man/Angel ...
Peniel/Penuel - face of God
Jacob felt truly blessed -
not in the material things he has gathered all those 20 years
but in that short encounted when he met God face to face and his life was preserved
it means - HE IS HIGHLY FAVORED IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
WHAT’S THE POINT?
THE GREATEST BLESSING IS TO BE WELCOME IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Jacob returned to his camp in the morning a new man!
31 Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip.
he is Israel - “prince with God” - an OVERCOMER!
he is not running anymore!
HE IS READY TO COME HOME!
Conclusion
Conclusion
What time is it, brothers and sisters?
IT IS HOMECOMING TIME!
Israel is in her homeland
the Church is now being restored to her proper place - the Pure Word of God
God’s people are being called home!
IT IS THE BREAKING OF THE DAY! A NEW DAY IS COMING FOR GOD’S PEOPLE!
IT IS RESURRECTION TIME!
the overcomers of all ages are being summoned to appear before God in glorious bodies!
DON’T LET THE DAY PASS YOU BY!
GOD WILL NOT LET YOU TO JOIN YOUR PEOPLE - THE FAMILY OF OVERCOMERS - UNTIL YOU ALSO ARE AN OVERCOMER LIKE THEM!
Song
LORD I’M COMING HOME
I've wandered far away from God
Now I'm coming home
The paths of sin too long I've trod
Lord, I'm coming home
(chorus)
Coming home, coming home
Nevermore to roam
Open wide Thine arms of love
Lord, I'm coming home
I've wasted many precious years
Now I'm coming home
I now repent with bitter tears
Lord, I'm coming home
I'm tired of sin and straying,
Lord Now I'm coming home
I'll trust Thy love, believe Thy word
Lord, I'm coming home
My soul is sick, my heart is sore
Now I'm coming home
My strength renew, my home restore
Lord, I'm coming home
My only hope, my only plea
Now I'm coming home
That Jesus died, and died for me
Lord, I'm coming home
I need His cleansing blood
I know Now I'm coming home
Oh, wash me whiter than the snow
Lord, I'm coming home
LEAVING ON MY MIND
Verse 1
The old house I’m livin’ in, it’s needin’ repair
The windows and the shutters are lettin’ in the cold, cold air
I say to myself I’m gonna fix ‘em when I can get the time
But all I’ve been gettin’ lately is leavin’ on my mind
Chorus
Lately all I’ve got is leavin’ on my mind
Seems that’s all I’m thinkin’ ‘bout most of the time
Soon and very soon I’ll leave my troubles so far behind
Lately I’ve got leavin’, leavin’ on my mind
Verse 2
I guess I should be lookin’ for a better place to live
But I can’t seem to get excited about this world and what it can give
I couldn’t care less if I could buy it all with a solitary dime
For what good would a world do me with leavin’ on my mind
