Preached by Jay Shelbrack, 6/1/2008

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Oumar Ndjembi (left) gets Baptized

Wresting with God – Outline

When the people have God’s vision for world evangelism, the church grows.

However people still have struggles: fears, marriage problems, financial problems, death, health or other issues. How can you inspire others when life is a struggle? We all want a break. But the struggle is meant to be, as we can see from the following biblical example.

Genesis 32:22-32 Jacob wrestles with God.
- Jacob means deceiver. Then God gives him different name: Israel – Struggles with God.
- Jacob overcame his character flaws and became a man who was changed by God.
- One of our purposes is to struggle with God so we can change. “Why is this happening to me?” Don’t get angry with God. The problem is with us and not God. God is perfect. Example: Marriage shows you how selfish you are.

- Stress comes into our life. We must trust God throughout these troubles. When you have sin in your life, will it go away? No. You can’t walk with Jesus and continue to stay the way you are. You must repent. Jacob knew he needed to cling to God.

- When people realize that Jesus must be their Lord and they do it, they get joy because they cling to God and not to the world. The more we overcome, the more joyful we become. The more you stand for Jesus, the more violent it becomes… They killed Jesus.

- The challenge is to cling on… Don’t give up. Hang onto Jesus and enjoy the ride. If you are clinging to Jesus then you have access to God’s power.

- The man wrenched Jacob’s hip while wrestling. Life creates scars. Life is a battle and you will have scars. But God can heal you. This wasn’t just a dream for Jacob. He walked away limping.

- People going through battles in life can get wounded. The final stage of life is the wise seer state… Learn from your experiences and change.

Matthew 26:36-46 Jesus prays in the Garden

- The spirit is willing but the body is week. May your will be done. That is surrender. I cannot beat God. Must make Jesus your Lord. Following Jesus is a lifestyle of surrender. You receive the benefits of God. When we surrender, God will work through us. The greater the struggle the greater the growth when you change. Radical changes require God. All the great people in the Bible wrestled with God.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Either this is true or not. Must trust God that his yoke is easy. What are you not willing to give up for God? God had to break the Israelite nation, and God can do it to you so that you will seek and surrender to God.

We are all in a struggle.

Challenge: Talk to the person that will inspire you to change and have them help you through your struggle.

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