Don't Lose your Fight: Fight On

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Give Honor: Pastor and sister houston (happy anniversary)

Kt

Text: Genesis 32:22-30

Genesis 32:22–30 KJV 1900

22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 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.

In December of 2018, the Boxing world was shocked as fight between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury would come to a close.

Deontay Wilder, Nick named the Bronze Bomber, was known for his vicious knockout. He was was in favor to win this fight by a long shot.

Tyson Fury, at that point was trying to make a comeback. He had gained 150 pounds, he had just over come depression. He had just overcome a drug habit. he was doing well for himself, but he was in no condition to be fighting some one like deontay wilder.

In the 12th round of this fight, Deontay Wilder swings his right hook, and seemingly knocks out Tyson Fury.

The crowd goes WILD. Fury’s eyes rolls to the back of his head. and the ref starts counting.

As the referee gets to about 8 the crowd is shocked as we saw Tyson fury Get up, shake it off, and end on top.

The fight ends in a draw, which was more so a win for fury.

As they are on the way into the second fight, Tyson fury is sure that he is going to beat deontay wilder this time.

While in an interview he is asked why is he sure he’s going to win.

Tyson Fury said something that was so profound. He says “I can conquer anything because I got up from a punch, that should have knocked me out.’’

and some of you have the same testimony even today.

That I’ve been through some rough patches in my life.

I’ve been through some messed up situations,

I’ve had some sickness

I’ve had some low moments

I’ve had some bad times,

but I can conquer anything, Because I got up from a punch that should have knocked me out.

the best way to confuse the enemy, is to get up, after he’s thrown you his best punch.

and it is my goal today to teach you,

that you winning your fight has nothing to do with the punches you throw, but you winning your fight is based on your ability to keep on fighting.

It is here in the text that Jacob is yet again having to fight.

How did he end up here?

What did he do, to get him to this place?

Jacob has always had to fight.

If you look in chapters 26 and 27 we see How Jacob earned his name.

Jacob’s name means Trickster, supplanter or heal grabber.

and it is in this place where Jacob, comes out of the womb grabbing the heal of essau.

Jacob has always been a nusiance.

Once,

While essau is out working in the field,

Jacob was cooking.

Essau was tired unto the point of death,

and instead of Jacob giving eassau, his twinn brother the food,

Jacob makes him sell his birthright for it.

This was who Jacob was.

Later on, when his father, Issac,

who’s vision is now blurred, who’s gotten old,

was sick unto death.

He asks essau to go out in the field and find him something to eat,

and it was then Issac would bless essau for feeding his father.

Jacob slides in, Fixes his dad’s food,

Dresses as essau, and tricks his dad into giving HIM God’s blessing.

and it is in this moment.

When essau finds out what Jacob has done, vows that when he sees Jacob, He’s gone kill him.

So Jacob goes on the run for his life,

Can I submit to you that the enemy here was not Issac or Essau,

But the enemy of Jacob at this point is Jacob.

Jacob got himself in that mess.

Jacob is the one who tricks Isaac.

Jacob is the one who’s ruined Jacobs life.

and sometimes your biggest Battles are not battles the enemy caused,

your biggest battles are not battles your family caused,

but your biggest battles are self inflicted battles

Sometimes your biggest enemy is you

And the only way to BEAT SELF, is to BUILD SPIRIT.

IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU WANT TO CONQUER SELF-INFLICTED FIGHTS,

YOU HAVE TO LEARN THAT YOU ARE NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO BEAT YOU BY YOUR SELF.

Romans Chapter 8 verse 6 says

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

When you build the spirit you’ll have peace,

When you build the spirit you’ll have joy,

When you build the spirit you can CONQUER YOU

Jacobs biggest enemy was himself.

Jacobs goes on the run to laban’s house.

Now Jacob has to fight for his FAMILY.

Jacob is now at is Laban’s house.

Jacob sees a beautiful girl, and Jacob realizes he would do whatever, to marry rachel.

He makes a deal with Laban, to work for him for 7 years to marry rachel. Only to end up with Leah who was Tender eyed.

Jacob is tricked, yet works antoher 7 years to work for Rachel.

After a total of 21 years, Jacob sneaks off and leaves laban’s house. Takes his family and his friends. and heads out.

Jacob realizes that essau is wantng to meet him again. and the bible says that Essau has Gathered some 400 men with him.

Jacobs sets to meet essau.

Jacob is now nervous.

He goes and crosses the Ford of Jabok. and it is here Where Jacob is about to fight for his future.

Jacob, scared to meet essau,

Sends gifts ahead to see if essau receives them.

then sends his family ahead and it is here where the setting of the text begins.

now, Jacob is left alone at the ford of Jabok.

and it is here where we see

Jacob is at Jabock. Jacob is alone. and Jacob is fighting.

Now Jabok is an interesting place.

When I looked at where Jabok was, Jabok is a place North of the dead sea. and South of the Jordan river.

Behind him is the dead sea.

Infront of him, is the Jordan river,

and he is stuck in the middle fighting Alone.

Behind him is a place where nothing happens. the water doesn’t even move.

Infront of him is where Miracles happen. and He is stuck in a place called Jabok.

THIS IS HIS DEFINING MOMENT.

IF HE TURNS AROUND HE IS HEADED TO NOTHING.

IF HE GOES FORWARD, HE IS HEADED TO A MIRACLE, BUT HE HAS TO FIGHT TO AT JABOK

THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING IS BECAUSE

THERE’S GREATNESS AHEAD. T

HERE ARE MIRACLES AHEAD.

THERE IS BREAK THROUGH AHEAD SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT JACOB IS LEFT ALONE.

JACOB FIGHTS IN ISOLATION

Jacob is left alone.

His family is not there. His servants have gone forward. and Jacob is ANLONE fighting with God.

This is the first time in a while, where we see Jacob IS ALONE.

IN THE WOMB JACOB HAD ESSAU.

AT HIS FATHERS HOUSE HE HAD REBECCA.

WHEN HE WENT ON THE RUN HE HAD LABAN TO RUN TO.

WHEN HE AND LABAN GOT INTO IT. HE HAD HIS TWO WIVES AND SOME SERVANTS TO LEAN ON.

JACOB’S LIFE CHANGING MOMENT COMES, WHEN EVERYONE LEAVES HIM.

GOD NEVER FAUGHT WITH JACOB. UNTIL JACOB IS BY HIMSELF.

and some battles you have to fight ALONE.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO THOUGH IT ALONE.

HUBBY CAN’T GO THROUGH IT WITH YOU.

FRIENDS CAN’T GO WITH YOU.

FAMILY CAN’T GO WITH YOU.

CHILDREN CAN’T GO WITH YOU

CO WORKERS, CAN’T GO WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT ALONE.

Because it is in your ISOLATION, where God will reveal some things to you about YOU.

but it’s also in your Isolation that God will reveal some things to YOU about HIM.

SOMETIMES GOD IS TRYING TO GET YOU ALONE TO SHOW YOU HOW POWERFUL HE REALLY IS.

AND GOD CAN’T SHOW YOU HIS POWER, IF EVERYONE AROUND YOU, IS TRYING TO PROTECT YOU FROM A BATTLE THAT HE PUT YOU THROUGH.

BECAUSE ITS IN YOUR ISOLATION YOU FINDS HE’S A PROVIDER

IT’S IN YOUR ISOLATION YOU FINDS HES A PROTECTOR

ITS IN YOUR ISOLATION YOU FIND HE’S A WAY MAKER

AND GOD IS TRYING TO SHOW YOU, BUT YOU GOT TO SEND SOME PEOPLE OFF.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT

JACOB TOOK HIS TWO WIVES, TWO FEMALE SERVES AND ELEVEN SONS AND SENT THEM OVER THE BROOK.

YOU ARE WAITIN ON PEOPLE TO WALK OUT OF YOUR LIFE.

BUT GOD IS WAITING ON YOU TO SEND THEM AWAY.

SEND THE FRIENDS AWAY.

SEND THE FAMILY AWAY

SEND THE CO-WORKS AWAY AND GO THROUGH IT BY YOURSELF.

Jacob is fighting in isolation.

but secondly,

JACOB FIGHTS WITH DEDICATION.

The bible says that Jacob wrestled with God until the breaking of day.

Jacob is Dedicated despite the

length of the fight.

The reason why we can’t see any change when we fight, is because we get tired too fast. We give up too easily. and we get weary too quickly.

Jacob is fighting until the breaking of day. and he did not prevail.

we have to stay in the fight. you have to stay in the race. you have to keep holding on.

because sooner or later.

jacob is dedicated

despite the length of the fight.

but jacob is dedicated dispite the

2. limp from the fight

the bible says that God touches the socket of Jacob’s hip.

i was looking at the text and I see two things about the hip.

why not the hands?

why not the eyes?

why not the mouth?

Why did God touch the socket of his hip?

with out the hip, man can not properly walk.

Jacob has been walking by the strength of himself for a long time. so God touches the socket of his hip to show him, that he’ll never be able to do it by him self again.

and some times God will touch the most important thing in your life, to get you to the point where you realize you can’t do it by yourself any longer.

So every step you take, I have to walk with you. and he walks with me. and he talks with me.

but now jacob is haveing to walk with a limp. Its a testament to what God had done.

when God touches his hip. he does less fighting and more holding.

God says let me go for the day breaks, Jacob responds I WILL NOT LET YOU GO UNTIL YOU BLESS ME.

and i know you’re tired of fighting but HOLD ON.

you’re hurting but HOLD ON

kids acting up but HOLD ON.

He fights in ISOLATION

HE FIGHTS WITH DEDICATION

but

Jacob FINISHES with Transformation

He says tell me your name.

Jacob responds my name is Jacob.

He owns up to his mess. He owns up to being a trickster.

He owns up to being a liar. He owns up to being a supplanter.

The key to Your TRANSFORMATION is your TRANSPARENCEY

GOD CAN NOT CHANGE, WHAT YOU WILL NOT OWN UP TO.

HE SAYS MY NAME IS JACOB. GOD SAY YOUR NAME SHALL NO LONGER BE JACOB BUT ISRAEL FOR YOU HAVE FAUGHT WITH GOD AND YOU HAVE PREVAILED.

HE WENT FROM

JACOB TO ISRAEL

FROM

SURPLANTER TO SURVIVOR

FROM

TRICKSTER TO TRANSFORMED.

SO WHAT NOW? WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THIS MESSAGE?

FIGHT ON

I KNOW YOU’RE TIRED

FIGHT ON

I KNOW ITS HARD

FIGHT ON

THE BIBLE SAYS HE CALLS THIS PLACE PINEL BECAUSE HE’S SEEN GOD, AND HIS LIFE IS PRESERVED.

THIS ISN’T THE FIRST TIME JACOB’S LIFE IS PRESERVED.

WHEN HIS BROTHER ESSAU WANTED TO KILL HIM, THE BIBLE SAID GOD CAME TO ESSAU AND SAID DON’T TOUCH HIM

WHEN HIS UNCLE LABAN WANTED TO KILL HIM, GOD CAME TO LABAN AND SAID DON’T TOUCH HIM.

GOD COULD HAVE KILLED HIM FOR SEEING HIM FACE TO FACE, BUT GOD DIDN’T TOUCH HIM.

SO GOD KEPT HIM AND COVERED HIM UNTIL HE CHANGED HIM.

IS THERE ANY ONE IN HERE WHO CAN TESTIFY HE KEPT ME AND COVERED ME UNTIL HE CHANGED ME.

JACOB BEGOT JUDAH, JUDAH BEGOT JESSE, JESSE BEGOT DAVID AND FROM THE LINEAGE OF DAVID CAME JESUS.

AND ON A HILL HE HAD TO FIGHT.

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