WRESTLING WITH GOD
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1) Jacob wrestles with God
a) The greatest scriptural proof that God answers persistent prayer is found in Gen 32:22–30.
i) 22That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:22-30 NIV)
b) Genesis is a book of beginnings. Many spiritual truths are revealed in Genesis that are later expounded in the New Testament. The truth that God answers persistent prayer is one of them.
c) The Bible says that Jacob was left all alone and wrestled with a man until daybreak. Who did Jacob wrestle with? The Bible says that it was a man (v24) and that the man was God (v30) i.e. Jesus.
i) 24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. (Genesis 32:24 NIV)
ii) 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:30 NIV)
d) Jacob wrestled with a pre-incarnate (pre-existence) manifestation of Jesus Christ. Jesus appeared to Jacob in a human body seventeen hundred years before he was born in Bethlehem.
e) So what is the picture? The New Testament uses the word 'wrestle' to describe the action of prayer. Paul said that Epaphras was always wrestling in prayer for the saints at Colosse (Col 4:12). The Greek word used, agonizomai, means 'to wrestle' or 'to struggle'.
i) Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colossians 4:12 NIV)
f) Jacob was wrestling and struggling in prayer with Jesus all night long, and said: 'I will not let you go unless you bless me (v26b).' So Jesus, seeing his persistence, blessed him there (v29b).
i) Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26 NIV)
ii) Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. (Genesis 32:29 NIV)
g) The man said to him: 'What is your name?.' 'Jacob,' he replied. The man said: 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and have overcome (v27–28).
i) 27The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:27, 28 NIV)
h) The Hebrew word 'Israel' means 'he struggles with God', and the Hebrew word translated 'overcome' means 'to gain the victory'.
i) The spiritual truth that God answers persistent prayer is so important to us that God has named a whole nation after it—his own people. Why? To be a constant reminder to us of the importance of the truth.
j) God wants us to be like Jacob; he wants us to be like the blind men; he wants us to be like the Canaanite woman, crying out: 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'
k) If we were all Hebrew speaking Jews, every time we heard, or read, or said the word 'Israel' we would know exactly what it means and the event it refers to.
l) When you read your Bible and come to that word, substitute the phrase 'he struggles with God' until you get the message. And remember that Jacob struggled with God until he overcame and got the victory.
m) The word Israel and its derivatives (e.g. Israelite, Israelites etc) is used 2,594 times in the Bible. That's 2,594 reminders that God answers persistent prayer.
2) Epaphras wrestles in prayer for Colossians church
a) 12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. (Colossians 4:12, 13 NIV)
b) We are introduced to a man in Colossians that is frankly very obscure (not known) in the New Testament writings. In fact he is mentioned only three times. Twice in Colossians and once in Philemon. His name never enters the account of the Acts of the Apostles.
c) His character was minor league (significance)..... His role was major league. He was a man who was willing to forgo the identity factor and was willing to be lost in the task of praying for the church. He was willing to be forgotten for the cause of the Cross. Little known in the earth but well known in Heaven.
d) He spent his hours and his days prevailing in prayer. He was a comrade of Paul’s. He was an Ephesian convert but his native land was Colosse. So when the call of heightened ministry came to him, he became the pastor of the church there.
e) He was a praying pastor and because of his concern for the church at Colosse he spent much time wrestling in prayer.
3) Prayer of Jabez: What does it mean to us?
a) 9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:9, 10 NIV)
b) The Prayer of Jabez reminds us that everybody struggles with choosing to rely on himself or God. Whether we are a focused Christian or just searching to find out more about God, life is a growing process.
c) However, it is very clear in reviewing the Prayer of Jabez, as well as the rest of the Bible, that God is faithful in caring for those who seek Him. Jabez sets a great example of how God wants everyone to come to Him through constant and passionate prayer.
d) If we are looking to start a relationship with God or improve our existing relationship with Him, start with prayer. God answers prayers when we trust Him (1 Chronicles 5:18-22) Prayers to God also please Him (Proverbs 15:8). We can all learn from Jabez and faithfully pray to God always in everything that we do.
i) God answers prayers when you trust him
@1. "The tribes east of Jordan River"
18There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. 19They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. 20They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. 21The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives. 22Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh lived in their land until they were taken into exile. (1 Chronicles 5:18-22 NLT)
ii) 8The Lord detests (dislikes intensely; abominate, abhor thoroughly) the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. (Proverbs 15:8 NIV)
4) Prayer focus
a) Are we wrestling in prayer with the Lord for something urgent or dear to us?
b) Pray that we will be persistent in prayer for a good cause and see our prayer being answered.
The End ...
1) Jacob wrestles with Goda) The greatest scriptural proof that God answers persistent prayer is found in Gen 32:22–30.
i) 22That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. 25When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:22-30 NIV)
b) Genesis is a book of beginnings. Many spiritual truths are revealed in Genesis that are later expounded in the New Testament. The truth that God answers persistent prayer is one of them.
c) The Bible says that Jacob was left all alone and wrestled with a man until daybreak. Who did Jacob wrestle with? The Bible says that it was a man (v24) and that the man was God (v30) i.e. Jesus.
i) 24So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. (Genesis 32:24 NIV)
ii) 30So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:30 NIV)
d) Jacob wrestled with a pre-incarnate (pre-existence) manifestation of Jesus Christ. Jesus appeared to Jacob in a human body seventeen hundred years before he was born in Bethlehem.
e) So what is the picture? The New Testament uses the word 'wrestle' to describe the action of prayer. Paul said that Epaphras was always wrestling in prayer for the saints at Colosse (Col 4:12). The Greek word used, agonizomai, means 'to wrestle' or 'to struggle'.
i) Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. (Colossians 4:12 NIV)
f) Jacob was wrestling and struggling in prayer with Jesus all night long, and said: 'I will not let you go unless you bless me (v26b).' So Jesus, seeing his persistence, blessed him there (v29b).
i) Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:26 NIV)
ii) Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. (Genesis 32:29 NIV)
g) The man said to him: 'What is your name?.' 'Jacob,' he replied. The man said: 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and have overcome (v27–28).
i) 27The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” (Genesis 32:27, 28 NIV)
h) The Hebrew word 'Israel' means 'he struggles with God', and the Hebrew word translated 'overcome' means 'to gain the victory'.
i) The spiritual truth that God answers persistent prayer is so important to us that God has named a whole nation after it—his own people. Why? To be a constant reminder to us of the importance of the truth.
j) God wants us to be like Jacob; he wants us to be like the blind men; he wants us to be like the Canaanite woman, crying out: 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.'
k) If we were all Hebrew speaking Jews, every time we heard, or read, or said the word 'Israel' we would know exactly what it means and the event it refers to.
l) When you read your Bible and come to that word, substitute the phrase 'he struggles with God' until you get the message. And remember that Jacob struggled with God until he overcame and got the victory.
m) The word Israel and its derivatives (e.g. Israelite, Israelites etc) is used 2,594 times in the Bible. That's 2,594 reminders that God answers persistent prayer.
2) Epaphras wrestles in prayer for Colossians church
a) 12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. (Colossians 4:12, 13 NIV)
b) We are introduced to a man in Colossians that is frankly very obscure (not known) in the New Testament writings. In fact he is mentioned only three times. Twice in Colossians and once in Philemon. His name never enters the account of the Acts of the Apostles.
c) His character was minor league (significance)..... His role was major league. He was a man who was willing to forgo the identity factor and was willing to be lost in the task of praying for the church. He was willing to be forgotten for the cause of the Cross. Little known in the earth but well known in Heaven.
d) He spent his hours and his days prevailing in prayer. He was a comrade of Paul’s. He was an Ephesian convert but his native land was Colosse. So when the call of heightened ministry came to him, he became the pastor of the church there.
e) He was a praying pastor and because of his concern for the church at Colosse he spent much time wrestling in prayer.
3) Prayer of Jabez: What does it mean to us?
a) 9Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. (1 Chronicles 4:9, 10 NIV)
b) The Prayer of Jabez reminds us that everybody struggles with choosing to rely on himself or God. Whether we are a focused Christian or just searching to find out more about God, life is a growing process.
c) However, it is very clear in reviewing the Prayer of Jabez, as well as the rest of the Bible, that God is faithful in caring for those who seek Him. Jabez sets a great example of how God wants everyone to come to Him through constant and passionate prayer.
d) If we are looking to start a relationship with God or improve our existing relationship with Him, start with prayer. God answers prayers when we trust Him (1 Chronicles 5:18-22) Prayers to God also please Him (Proverbs 15:8). We can all learn from Jabez and faithfully pray to God always in everything that we do.
i) God answers prayers when you trust him
@1. "The tribes east of Jordan River"
18There were 44,760 capable warriors in the armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. They were all skilled in combat and armed with shields, swords, and bows. 19They waged war against the Hagrites, the Jeturites, the Naphishites, and the Nodabites. 20They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him. So the Hagrites and all their allies were defeated. 21The plunder taken from the Hagrites included 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and goats, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 captives. 22Many of the Hagrites were killed in the battle because God was fighting against them. The people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh lived in their land until they were taken into exile. (1 Chronicles 5:18-22 NLT)
ii) 8The Lord detests (dislikes intensely; abominate, abhor thoroughly) the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. (Proverbs 15:8 NIV)
4) Prayer focus
a) Are we wrestling in prayer with the Lord for something urgent or dear to us?
b) Pray that we will be persistent in prayer for a good cause and see our prayer being answered.
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