I Would Not Be Denied
I Would Not Be Denied!
Text: Genesis 32:24-32 (KJV)
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.
31. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
I. Jacob Would Not be Denied, What About You? Genesis 32:24
A. The man who wrestled with Jacob was probably the “angel of the Lord” Jacob was desperate, tired, and scared. Are you? He was worried that his brother would soon kill him. He was ready to do anything that he must to get his blessing.
B. To “wrestle with the Lord” is to be in constant prayer, not to fight against God, but to fight for the thing which we are in need of.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) 17. Pray without ceasing. Even when it hurts! 1Thessalonians 5:16 (NLT)
16. Always be joyful. 17.Keep on praying. 18. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20. Do not scoff at prophecies,
C. V. 26 tells us that Jacob said that he would not let him go unless he blessed him. This tells me that men ought always to pray and not let anything stop them. Even comfort.
Luke 18:1-8 (KJV)
1. And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2. Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5. Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
II. His name was now Israel. He that “struggles with God”
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Luke 18:2 (KJV)
2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:3 (KJV)
3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke 18:4 (KJV)
4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke 18:5 (KJV)
5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luke 18:6 (KJV)
6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
Luke 18:7 (KJV)
7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 (KJV)
8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
A. Jacob’s entire life showed that he was a crafty deceiver, but now he was called Israel which meant “one who struggles with God” We are now the new “Israel of God”
Galatians 6:16 (ASV)
16And as many as shall walk by this rule, peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
B. God disabled Jacobs hip socket v. 25 so that he could no longer walk in his own strength but must rely on the strength of God. From then on he new his life was depending not on his own devices but on Gods help. Later God reminded His people of that truth. We must live always by that very truth.
Zechariah 4:6 (KJV)
6. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
C. This is the way that we can see the work of God in our lives, as well as the miracles of the Lord, by being God strugglers not passive, but earnestly seek Him for His blessing and grace, then never let go of Him.
Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV)
7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
III. Miracles really do exist!
A Readers Digest recently said on the cover “Do miracles exist?” while this may or may not be a good book to read there are far too many people out there today looking for miracles in the wrong places, seeking answers in the wrong books, asking help from the wrong people.
It would be much easier to preach that the miracles such as healing, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, and the work of the Spirit in our lives is something of the past. For fear that it just may not happen. Yet this is real and all these bountiful gifts are for us just believe when you pray and see what happens!
A. Miracles happen when we ask with faith believing in the power of the almighty God
Matthew 21:22 (ASV)
22. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
B. Answers come when we seek God and read His word. Not a Tarot card reader.
Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)
7. “Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened.
8. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
C. Help in any way that we need it comes only from the Lord.
In James 4:2 (KJV) It says:
“yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Whatever the help, or the blessing, or the healing that you may need ask the Lord with faith believing and you shall receive!