WRESTLING WITH GOD: HOW TO CLING TO HIM?
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Wrestling with God
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;”
a) There are times in life when we are faced with situations that seem dark; Situations that cause us to question our faith in the promises that we have received from God’s Word. Sometimes we struggle with circumstances in the world that cause us to be distracted away from God as we try to battle and win by our own efforts. Even struggles with our own flesh can become a battle that causes us to focus more on our internal war than on God. But our struggle should not be with these things for the battle is the Lord’s. Our struggle should be focused on holding on to God and His Word no matter how dark, and no matter how hopeless, the situation seems. Clinging to God with all perseverance is a part of loving Him.
2. How to Cling to Him?
a) You cling to God or let go of God deep in your thoughts and imaginations. Your thoughts and imaginations determine the course of your heart and behavior.
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)
b) When you are a believer in Christ your mind receives influence from the Holy Spirit of God. But you can also still receive negative influences from evil spirits and from your own lust that can tempt you to think about things that cause you to let go of God and turn away from Him.
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. (Matthew 15:19)
c) God has given us His power and authority to fight and win over negative thoughts that would cause us to loosen our grip on God.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV)
d) In the times when we are facing problems, temptations, and sufferings we need to hold on to God all the more as those things are trying to pull us away from Him. Fortunately as we cling to God we can call upon Him to supply some of His strength to us. But the key is to not let go until you receive the blessing. He will not allow us to endure more than we can stand. Stay at the throne of grace until you find mercy and grace for your need. When you are in God’s presence He will speak to you. As you focus on God and not your problem He will give you wisdom about your problem also.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:12-16 NIV)
e) Only God can keep us from falling away from Him. We cannot solve our problems, temptations, and sufferings by our own efforts. In fact our own efforts cause us to turn away from God and try to fight the battle on our own, leading to failure.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24-25 NIV) Even Jesus taught us to focus on God and pray to God to keep us from temptations. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13)
f) God promises to give us His peace if we keep our minds focused on Him.
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
g) The word stayed means to take hold of, lean upon, and rest in.
The End ...
1. Wrestling with God Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;”
a) There are times in life when we are faced with situations that seem dark; Situations that cause us to question our faith in the promises that we have received from God’s Word. Sometimes we struggle with circumstances in the world that cause us to be distracted away from God as we try to battle and win by our own efforts. Even struggles with our own flesh can become a battle that causes us to focus more on our internal war than on God. But our struggle should not be with these things for the battle is the Lord’s. Our struggle should be focused on holding on to God and His Word no matter how dark, and no matter how hopeless, the situation seems. Clinging to God with all perseverance is a part of loving Him.
2. How to Cling to Him?
a) You cling to God or let go of God deep in your thoughts and imaginations. Your thoughts and imaginations determine the course of your heart and behavior.
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)
b) When you are a believer in Christ your mind receives influence from the Holy Spirit of God. But you can also still receive negative influences from evil spirits and from your own lust that can tempt you to think about things that cause you to let go of God and turn away from Him.
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. (Matthew 15:19)
c) God has given us His power and authority to fight and win over negative thoughts that would cause us to loosen our grip on God.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV)
d) In the times when we are facing problems, temptations, and sufferings we need to hold on to God all the more as those things are trying to pull us away from Him. Fortunately as we cling to God we can call upon Him to supply some of His strength to us. But the key is to not let go until you receive the blessing. He will not allow us to endure more than we can stand. Stay at the throne of grace until you find mercy and grace for your need. When you are in God’s presence He will speak to you. As you focus on God and not your problem He will give you wisdom about your problem also.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:12-16 NIV)
e) Only God can keep us from falling away from Him. We cannot solve our problems, temptations, and sufferings by our own efforts. In fact our own efforts cause us to turn away from God and try to fight the battle on our own, leading to failure.
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 1:24-25 NIV) Even Jesus taught us to focus on God and pray to God to keep us from temptations. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13)
f) God promises to give us His peace if we keep our minds focused on Him.
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
g) The word stayed means to take hold of, lean upon, and rest in.
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have
set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose
life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the
LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to
Him, for He is your life and the length of your days;… “(Deuteronomy
30:19-20)
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