THE LONG WAY BACK HOME – SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

“But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me… And He blessed him there” (Gen 32:26, 29)

Lessons:

*THE PATH TO BLESSING LEADS THRU BROKENESS! Coming back home is not easy. It is not automatic. It is a slow painful process. You need to encounter and settle the mistakes of the past. Flesh dies and the spirit lives.

*TRUST GOD IN ALL CIRCUSTANCES:  Jesus may come in a strange way, as a Man who opposes your progress. The same Jesus who blessed you in the past He now comes to hinder your way trying to possess your possessions. God is not always ‘nice’. Esau is not the hindrance to Jacob to move on. The hindrance is God!!! This is called ’the strange work of God’. Even in the darkness, even when things make no sense, even in sickness and trials, continue to trust God and His Word!

*GOD ANSWERS DESPERATE PRAYERS: Many come to church but do not have an encounter with Jesus. You need to meet Jesus!

*You need to use desperate times to pray. Be alone with God! Pray until there is an answer (Jacob prayed all night)

*PRAY WITH PASSION: Jacob wept when he prayed). The path to blessings leads thru brokenness. “Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed. He wept, and sought favor from Him” (Hos 12:4)

*WHEN YOU ENCOURNTER GOD YOU START BY WRETSTING AND END UP CLINGING: Jacob is a strong man who becomes a broken man desperate for blessings. The flesh dies! The stubborn will is broken! God blesses those who He breaks! If God did not wounded Jacob, he could not have clung for his blessing! God gives favor to the humble!

*A WORSHIPPER IS BORN: “By faith Jacob… worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff” (Heb 11:21)

*GOD IS SUPREME: He kills and makes alive! Esau is not the real enemy! If God blesses you then you can fight all devils!

*A NEW IDENTITY: God changes his name from Jacob to Israel, revealing to him his true identity and destiny in Christ. The name Jacob means a supplanter, a cheat, a deceiver or a schemer. In Nigeria we call such men “419”. Israel means ‘Prince with God’ or ‘God prevails’.  After God dries the tendon of flesh, Jacob receives three blessings:

*POWER WITH GOD IN PRAYER: From now on, Jacob shall be a man of God, a man of prayer and a worshipper. Just like Moses and Elijah, he will have the power to shut the heavens and to open them.

*FAVOR WITH MEN: From now on Jacob will be the true spiritual leader of his family and others

*BLESSING FROM GOD: This level of blessings is more than financial prosperity or visible success. This is a higher level of blessings, few men have entered to. You need to be broken before you are so blessed. It is better to limp with God than to run a marathon race without Him! Selah!