5th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 102

Bible References :

 

Prayer to start

May the words of my lips and the thought of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
AMEN

Introduction

These were the hands of Jacob –

that grasped tightly during a moment – that was his desperate – yet his most glorious

The hands that grabbed the heel of Esau – and prepared the food to barter for his birthright – the hands that fooled his father into giving him his brothers blessing

These were the hands of Jacob –

that lifted the heavy rock off the well for his beloved Rachel’s flock – that struck a deal with Laban – and toiled for him – for more than 20 years because of his love for one woman

These were the hands of Jacob –

that gave him prosperity – and pointed the way back to the land – that God had promised Him –

Now – these hands were gripped tightly – wrestling with God –

Point 1   Coming clean with God –

A wrestling match – is not the usual image – we associate with someone coming before God – to ask for help –

Jesus teaches us – to approach Him with humility –and obedience – not to pitch our wits against Him in an open arena –

Yet as unlikely as it may seem people wrestle with God every day –

it might be something we don’t understand – something He’s asked us to give up or to do – some of us struggle – with the same thing for years – or like Jacob – it might be that we want the reassurance of His blessing

Some win – some lose – those who win – come away stronger – fuller in faith – like Jacob – those who refuse God’s will – in their lives – walk away losers – empty – alone –

The reading begins with Jacob in prayer – he thinks – he’s done all he can – to put right – the wrongs he committed to Esau all those years ago –

But – In the passage we still see him hedging his bets by sending a series of staged gifts to Esau – in the hope that they might help to persuade him not to attack and kill him and his family on their return

Jacob’s prayers are a model for us to follow – fear – hope – gratitude – humility – confession – its all there – as he admits his own unworthiness – gives thanks for the blessings he’s been given – asks for deliverance – from his problem – and for God – to fulfill the promise He made to him –

Prayer is probably the most powerful resource – we have for changing our own situation – and the situation of those around us –

Its no use – being half- hearted about it – as Jesus made it very clear in His parables on prayer – we must knock – and keep on knocking – until the door is opened for us –

The next day – they crossed the river – and Jacob sent his wives and children – and his possessions – ahead of him – and waited for his answer –

That night – the mysterious stranger – came to wrestle him –

Here we are given -a picture of Jacob hanging on during a test of strength – refusing to let go – refusing to leave without a blessing –

We don’t know what Jacob was wrestling with – in the darkness – doubt? – fear? Pride? Guilt? –but we know that – it was God who came to wrestle Jacob – not the other way around –

He wasn’t about to let Jacob enter the promised land under his own terms –
God knew that – if Jacob was to succeed – he had to come clean – and let go of His past ways – the wrestling match was not only what God wanted – but what Jacob needed – to set Him free

 

Point 2        Follow His ways not ours

God came – to him in the form of a man – not for sport but – in order to teach him some important truths –

The fight that Jacob was in – was fixed – staged – Jacob would win this match – but not on his terms

Apart from God – Jacob would not fulfill his dreams –so God had to make sure he realized how helpless he was without Him –

God let Jacob struggle with Him – all night – and then in a moment –convinced him that his way wasn’t going to work – by dislocating his hip – In that instant He reminded Jacob of the real powers that were involved against him –

As Ephesians 6v12 tells us -“in the end our struggle is not against human foes – but against cosmic powers – against the authorities and potentates of this dark age – against the super human forces of evil in the heavenly realms” –

Jacob wrestled with men and won – and now he had wrestled with God – and won –

Over the years Jacob had upset many people -sometimes through no fault of his own – and when his problems became too great – one thing he had always done – was run away – until now –

From here on – we see a different Jacob – one who’s prepared to face things – head on- re-assured by the presence and power of God –

Like the prodical son in Jesus’ parable – He was ready to put His trust in His Father – who still loves him as a son – and to go forward in faith – and do as God tells him to do

 

Point 3 changed on the inside

As soon as Jacob spoke his name – and confessed his sin – God changed his name – from one that means – cheater – and trickster – to one that translates into “God strives” – His new name reflected the new state of his life –

Its easy to talk about – what needs to be done in other peoples lives – but to admit to what needs to be done to our own – requires a real change – of heart –

As Jesus reminds the Pharisees and Scribes – in our NT lesson – looking good on the outside – is one thing – being good on the inside is quite another –

having clean hands is not enough – our relationship with God needs to be clean too –

Humbled and weakened – but strong in faith – Jacob was now able to go forward into the promised land – forgiven and blessed –

When Jacob set out the next day he had a limp – but his heart was whole – when he left home all those years ago he was self-centred – now he was God centered – ready and willing to share with others –

His brother Esau met him – with 400 men – but what Jacob expected to be an upraise fist – turned out to be an outstretched hand – his wrestling match with Esau was over – the burdens he was carrying were put down – and they embraced each other and wept

We too will experience a new beginning when we confess and repent our sins – when we pursue the power of prayer – when we seek the path of righteousness – put aside our personal challenges – and make a total commitment to God –

Jacob met his brother with renewed faith and love – what he thought was going to be his darkest hour – turned out to be an opportunity of a lifetime –

Conclusions   God in us

 

Have you ever asked yourself why you are a Christian?

Is it because you think you are basically good – or that non-Christians are bad?

Or is it because God came to you – when you needed Him most – and struggled with your sinful nature and won – Is it because Jesus – came to live in your heart – and became a part of it – so that -where there was one – there is now two –

If there is something you need from God – at this point in your life – then wrestle with Him for it – strive for His blessing – and like Jacob – don’t give up until you get your answer –

There’s only one way to win the wrestling match of a lifetime – get alone with God – feel the hand of His presence – and lose – you’ll never be the same again –

Hands that heal – hands that help –
Hands that feel – our inner self
Warming – soothing –filling cleansing
Hands for caressing
Hands for praying
In God’s hands – Our Lord is saying – come and receive the peace in m

Prayer to finish

AMEN

Video of Sermon 102 on You Tube