Sunday Sermon: Winning Before Going To War, May 24, 2020

When your back is against the wall, it can feel like there’s no way out. But God will find a way! There is a win before the war. If you should plan to fight the war, plan to win. A true fellow, a wise man will win the war before he gets there. When he arrives, he will gather his blessings of victory.

Gen 32:24-28

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.

Context:

1. Like in Abraham's case, God would not allow Jacob to obtain the promises of God to Abraham by tricks, cleverness, or manipulation. The promise is by faith and not by might. God rejected the notion that he will attain such promise through cheating

2. Before entering the promised land, God dislocated his hip joints, the strength of Jacobs cooked up schemes, humbling him to rely on God alone to deliver him from Esau anger

3. Jacob wept and prayed fervently when his plans were ruined

   1. By crippling Jacob, he was at a disadvantage to ESAU, his schemes were worthless, thus, would not let the angel leave him helpless

   2. He wept and prayed fervently to prevail against discouragement, looking to God for salvation from Esau

   3. Jacob would not let the angel go because he could not prevail as a crippled man

Rom 8:26 … The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us ... to help our weakness or discouragement …

1. His strength was weakened and made strong in God at the same moment and place

   1. 2 Corint 12:10 - Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, … we are weak in ourselves, but strong in Christ Jesus at the same time

   2. Our faith looks up to God for strength when our backs are against the wall

Themes of the text:

Be fervent in prayer: We win in prayers first, and go to war to gather the spoils

Gen 33:4 - And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

1. Not a single flock of Jacob’s lamb was killed, prayer was a shield that covered his family and possession

2. Jacob prevailed faith against his discouragement to fight. His faith was not shaken, nor his prayers silenced, thus, God honored his courage, faith, and fervent prayers

Fight the good fight of faith - (Paul) and not fail in it - (Jesus). Faith is a show of strength in crisis. The fight of Faith in Jacob prayer life was the Courage to fight discouragement, and in:

1. Abraham as persuasion against his struggles to believe God

2. The widow of Lk 18 as persistency against the culture of corruptions

3. 3-Hebrew children / Elijah as boldness against ungodly policies of govt

4. Joseph with Portifa’s wife as convictions against infidelity

Do not be clever with God, our cleverness is a fitty rag

The gates of hell shall not prevail against fervent prayer life

1. Jacob was governed by evil manipulation against Esau, Isaac, Laban, but failed against God.

2. Like Bartimaeus the beggar, the prodigal son, and Joshua the high priest, God humble Jacob and changed his fitty rags for righteous garments

Rejoice in your struggle, we are blessed where He tried us

1. We are wounded and healed at the same place – we are not only smitten, or torn, but also healed at the same time Hosea 6:2-3

2. God blesses us where we toiled all night Eg: Peter /disciples, Job later end and Jehoshaphat – valley of Beracah

3. We are blessed in the place of our weakness, of dislocated hip bone

True valor is to be fervent, persuaded, persistent, bold, and courageous in our prayer life. Like Jehoshaphat, Gideon, and Joshua, we are to win in prayer and gather the spoils on the battlefield. If we faint in crisis then our strength is weak.