Won't let Go

I have noticed that even though things seem to be getting better, there is still some lingering trougble, some lingering pain.

The government now tells us that we have turned the corner on the pandemic, and while it is not over, the end is in sight. That if we can just continue to vaccinate things will be return to normal. I do not know about you but i do not expect anything to return to normal , in fact i do not know what is normal. I must admit that Corona virus adjusted my mindset, and things will never go back as they were in relations oto some things. And while i might take off my mask ( i am not going to throw it away), and I might get closer than six feet, but I will not closer with everybody. And where once I did not get vaccinated, it seems i find myself getting vaccinated with everything, Corona Flu, pneumonia, getting ready to get shingles, and probably whatever is next. one thing that has remained constant is my faith that God was going to work this thing out. If anything my faith has gotten stronger, and I find myself ready to face whatever may come.

However , not everyone has come through this pandemic with that faith, in fact not everyone has come through.

There are people who are suffering.

A was talking to man just the other day who was going through and he told me he felt as if he was living the Job story.

For he had lost a son, had financial difficulties and now his wife was leaving him, He had not seen it coming, and he was low, and wanted to know why him. Was it something he had done, for he thought he was living as best as he could.

And so in his time of trial, I prayed for him and told hin to hold on, for if he was living the job story, then we would pray that he ending was like the ending that job experienced.

I say all of that to bring us to the scripture that was read in your hearing.

Genesis 32:24–26 NLT

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Father God i come humbled but thankful. i come seeking you presence and your power!

Asking you to bless me with preaching power, so that i can speak your words with boldness and convictions. All honor and praise to you are worthy of all honor and praise.

Won’t let go till you bless me!

Alone

Many times ,in the bible we read someone referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Well this story is about that Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, Abraham who is called the father of our faith. We her all the times of the twelve tribes of Israel, well the twelve tribes of Israel, are named after Jacob. For after his encounter in this story, his named is changed from Jacob, to Israel. And whereas his named Jacob, meant schemer or trickster, Israel means strives or contends with God. The twelve tribes of Israel are named for his sons, and his grandsons. And while Jacob/Israel will grow to be a patriarch, we find him in this scripture , having not yet made it.

He is no different than many of us. You know he has seen the relationship that his grandfather and father have with God. In fact he himself has experience the presence of God. Yet he has not fully committed to God. He still had some things to do,.

You know how we do ! got some things i need to take care of first., Got some places to go and some people to see.

We know God is real, he is just not real enough. But Jacob was like some many of us , had a little grace and mercy that allowed him time to grow into the person he would become. But the question you must ask is whether you will have that same grace and mercy, will you have the time to get your act together. For we know, that no one knows the hour or day that you will face your maker. For tomorrow is not promised, and death comes for the old and young, the sick and healthy and the saved and the unsaved. Do you feel me?

So, Jacob, finds himself in a little trouble, he has left his uncle Laban, and going to face his brother Esau, who he has tricked and deceived. he finds himself alone at night.

Isn’t that how it happens . we are going through we find ourselves by ourselves. For when you go through, can’t nobody understand your problem, Oh yeah, they can tell you they understand,

but nobody knows your story but you.

Nobody knows you heartache but you,

nobody knows your worry but you,

nobody knows your pain but you!

So , Jacob is alone in the dark by himself.

Trouble

And out of nowhere somebody grabs him. he does not know whether it is Laban, or Esau, the only things he knows that he is wrestling with somebody and it is on. For that when the fight started. Jacob had been fighting and struggling all of his life, It says he was born grabbing on to his brother’s heel. For jacob it had always been a struggle.

Trouble is like that!.

Trouble does not send you an invitation, trouble does not ease into your life , boom troubler is right there.

One minute you are fine, and then the letter comes

one minute you are fine and then the headache starts

one minute you are fine and then the argument starts

one minute you are fine and then the are at your door

one minute is all it takes for you to go from being on the top of the world to the bottom of the dung pile.

smelling a rose to stinking like three day old fish

one minute! one minute is all it takes

But Jacob didn’t give in to this man, whoever he was , Jacob wrestle and fought with everything he had.

What i am here to tell you is that you can’t give up!

What i am here to tell you that you got to fight back!

I don’t care how desperate the time fight back

I don’t care don’t how dark it looks don’t give up.

We know how dark it can get, especially here in the country, at night on a clouds blocking the stars , so dark you can hardly see your hand in front of your face. it gets dark sometimes. I know, it gets dark sometimes. It gets so dark you don’t know how you are going to see your way out, but to quote the B verse psalm 30:5 weeping may endure for a night ,but Joy comes in the morning!

Somebody here knows about the morning!

Somebody here here knows how a new day brought new mercies

Somebody here today knows about a reprieve!

Somebody here today knows about a do-over.

Somebody here today knows it ain’t over ,till God says it over.

Am i right! can i get an Amen!

Give me just a few more minutes i am almost through.

Jacob was just like some of us he was fighting for all he was worth. and just when it looked like the dawn was breaking.

Just when it looked like he was going to make it through. It got worse. You know how it goes you think that you have turned the corner. Finally get that bill caught up and then another unexpected emergency comes up. Get over one sickness, and get diagnosed with something else. For if it ain’t one thing it’s another. For Just as dawn is getting ready to break, scripture says the man touches his hip, and wrenches it out of the socket. And you would expect that new pain to cause Jacob to quit, that new heartache make Jacob give up

that new trouble make Jacob surrender .

For many times we a broken to fixed, weakened to be strengthened, cast into darkness so that w can finally see the light

but if you take nothing else from my sermon today , if there is anything i want you to hear it is found it verse 26. I won’t let go until you bless me.

What Jacob didn’t know at first was that stranger was of God!

Jacob as able to see the only way to make it was to hold on.

For a new day was coming. weeping was going to stop and joy was coming.

The man, probably could have bested Jacob at anytime.

Just like he pulled his hip out of socket he could have done so much worse. And he said it is almost morning let me go!

Hold on

But JACOB SAID I WILL NOT LET GO UNTIL YOU BLESS ME!

Have faith children!

Have faith saints!

Hold on to God’s unchanging hands!

I know it is rough

I know it is tough

It’s dark right now

You can’t see your way through

It is trying right now ,

but don’t let go!

Wait on the Lord!

For your faith can usher in your deliverance

holding on through adversity can lead you to peace

Jesus , I don’t know how but I won’t let go to you say so

Jesus I am in so much pain but i won’t let go till you heal me

Jesus i don’t know where to turn. but I won’t let go till you direct me.

Jesus it is dark right now

but I know you are a bright and morning star

and you will turn my midnight into day

Jesus , i am lost right now, but i won’t stop praying!

Jesus I am down right now but i won’t stop believing

Jesus I am lonely right now, but i won’t stop holing on

Jesus , I am hurting right now, but I won’t stop trying

I won’t let go to you bless me!

Can’t let go to you bless me

Right now Jesus!

Do i have anybody who can hold on just a little while longer!

Do i have anybody who knows that he able and he will!

Anybody here who wants that blessing!

Say i won’t let go!

i won’t let go!