A Bethel And Peniel Experience

Genesis 28: 11 -19 Genesis 32: 24 -30

28:11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

28:13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;—

28:14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.

28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. Jacob had a spectacular night and now arises early in the morning and builds an altar.

28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

Genesis 32: 24 -30

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25And 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.

26And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

28And 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.

29And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

30And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

Topic --(A Bethel and Peniel Experience)

My brothers and sisters

In the texts that is before us

We have 2 spiritual encounters of Jacob's life.

The 1st encounter was at a place called Bethel.

In Genesis chapter 28, Jacob met God at Bethel.

It was At Bethel,

Jacob saw a ladder.

But at Peniel he saw the Lord.

At Bethel, Jacob became a believer.

But at Peniel, Jacob was broken.

At Bethel, Jacob became a son.

But at Peniel, he became a saint.

At Bethel, Jacob died to his sins.

But at Peniel, he died to himself.

At Bethel, Jacob left with a spring in his step.

But at Peniel he left with a lasting limp.

And if the truth be told

Everyone in this church this morning/evening needs a Bethel experience.

Bethel is where Jacob saw a ladder with angels ascending, descending , bringing down messages from God and taking up messages to God.

And every believer ought to have a Bethel experience.

Bethel is where you know that you met the Lord.

Because it was at Bethel that Jacob said, surely the Lord is in this place.

You ought to know that you've met the Lord.

You ought to have a Bethel experience.

You ought to know the hour,

You ought to know the day.

You ought to know the experience when you met the living God.

You need a Bethel

Because Bethel will get you to heaven.

But likewise, every believer here needs a Peniel experience

Because Peniel will keep you spiritually fit while you`re here on earth.

We all need to go to heaven,

Thank God for heaven

But God needs to use us while we're here on earth.

And God can't use us until he breaks us.

That`s why Some folk can't shout and give God glory because they haven't been broken yet.