There will come in each of our lives heartbreaking & troublesome situations & conditions which are totally out of our human control. The devil likes to tell us that the longer they continue the more hopeless they become. However, in this series of messages we will be reminded that with GOD there is no such thing as a HOPELESS SITUATION or PERSON or CONDITION.
Sermon July 19, 2009
Sermon Series: It’s Not Too Late:
Sermon #1: Jacob the Deceiver:
Scripture Ref: Genesis 32: 24-30
‘& Jacob was left alone, & there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. & when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; & the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. & he said; Let me go, for the day breaks. & he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. & he said unto him, What is thy name? & he said, Jacob. & he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with GOD & with men, & has prevailed. & Jacob asked him, & said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. & he said, Wherefore is it that thou does ask after my name? & he blessed him there. & Jacob called the name of the place PENIEL: for I have seen GOD face to face, & my life is preserved.’
Introduction:
What you & I are WITNESSING TODAY is NOT a LOST GENERATION. What we are WITNESSING TODAY is the PRODUCT of a LOST GENERATION. What we are WITNESSING is the TRANSFERANCE of a CURSE rather than the TRANSFERANCE of a BLESSING. & we OFTEN FIND in the BIBLE where BOTH CURSING & BLESSING can be TRANSFERRED from ONE GENERATION to ANOTHER GENERATION until finally someone BREAKS the TRANSFERANCE.
This morning I want us to look at one such man who WANTED to TURN a CURSE into a BLESSING. In the Old TESTAMENT it speaks of “PASSING ON A BLESSING.” That BLESSING involved the NAMING & the DETERMINING of the FUTURE. It spoke of GOD’S COVENANT with HIS PEOPLE.
This morning we want to look at JACOB:
The name JACOB means DECIEVER – TRICKSTER – He was a SHIEKSTER – He was a DOOPER. He would MANIPULATE THINGS & PEOPLE so that it would WORK OUT like he wanted them to. The ONLY PERSON JACOB CARED ANYTHING ABOUT was JACOB. He knew how to WORK on the WEAKNESS of OTHERS to SERVE his own ends.
But there was ONE THING JACOB WANTED MORE than ANYTHING ELSE & that was THE BLESSING.
Because JACOB KNEW WHAT the BLESSING was.
But there was a PROBLEM. According to JEWISH TRADITION it was the OLDEST SON who got the BIGGEST PART of the BLESSING. The BIBLE says the OLDEST SON received a DOUBLE PORTION.
But JACOB WANTED the BLESSING. So as was his CUSTOM he CONIEVED & SCHEMED to TRICK & DECEIVE his FATHER, ISAAC, in to BLESSING HIM while THINKING he was BLESSING his oldest son, ESAU.
That is found in Genesis 27:
To SUMMARIZE it, here’s what happened:
• When ISAAC was old & couldn’t see, JACOB dressed up like ESAU. He put on ESAU’S clothes, talked like ESAU, looked like ESAU & he acted like ESAU. He walked in & said to ISAAC, -- ‘FATHER it is time to BLESS ME.’
• ISAAC asked, ‘Which of my sons are you?’ & he answered, ‘I am ESAU your oldest son.’ So ISAAC BLESSED JACOB but thought he was BLESSING ESAU.
Now before this in Genesis 25 ESAU SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT, --- BLESSING, --- to JACOB for a BOWL of POTTAGE. ESAU had come in from the FIELD & was HUNGRY & JACOB just happened to have the FOOD prepared. & when ESAU asked for some FOOD then JACOB bargained with him. A BOWL of SOUP for your BIRTHRIGHT, DEAL or NO DEAL? & ESAU said, What good is the BLESSING if I am DEAD from HUNGER.
Here is the DIFFERNENCE between the TWO TWINS.
ESAU was THINKING ONLY about the PRESENT.
JACOB was THINKING about the FUTURE. That’s WHY the BLESSING meant so much to him.
So considering the BLESSING was already his JACOB went in & got the BLESSING.
In Genesis 27:
The BLESSING said that as the DEW falls down from HEAVEN so shall the GOODNESS of GOD fall on you. & GOD said ‘I will BLESS YOU so that OTHERS will come UNDER your AUTHORITY & you shall LEAD them. & those who BLESS YOU ---- I WILL BLESS & those who CURSE YOU I WILL CURSE, --- for I will be YOUR GOD.’
In other words GOD was saying, ‘I am going to TAKE CARE of your FUTURE.’
You know WHAT the BLESSING is --- It is when GOD goes AHEAD of you to take CARE of the STUFF so that when we ARRIVE GOD is there already.
That is the BLESSING --- when GOD goes in FRONT of us, in SPITE of WHAT we have to go through & GOD takes CARE of every OBSTACLE & SNARE --- whatever there is to HURT us or to WORK AGAINST us.
But there was a PROBLEM:
JACOB has a BLESSING that his CHARACTER is NOT READY FOR.
& GOD won’t SHARE HIS BLESSING UNTIL OUR CHARACTER is READY to RECEIVE it.
Now if you read from the 1st PART of Genesis 32: JACOB is RUNNING for his LIFE from his brother, ESAU, who he STOLE the BLESSING from. For in ANGER ESAU SWORE, “I’ll KILL him. I’ll HUNT HIM DOWN like a DOG & I’ll KILL him.’
& while RUNNING for his LIFE this STRANGER --- a MAN --- shows up & GRABS JACOB & WRESTLES with him & will NOT let him go.
Let me EXPLAIN something:
When GOD is TRYING to ADDRESS our CHARACTER – HE will often PLACE US in certain SITUATIONS, CIRUCUMSTANCES & PREDICAMENTS that will BRING FEAR, FRUSTRATIONS, DEFEAT, & LONLINESS. The SCRIPTURE says ‘when JACOB was alone.’
But wait a minute Brother Caruthers, you said JACOB was BLESSED.
Well, that is what Genesis 27 says & that is what Genesis 28 says. But he was a BLESSED MAN on the RUN for he was a MESSED UP man.
BEFORE GOD can UNLEASH the BLESSING HE must 1st REVERSE the CURSE.
GOD has to DEAL with this MAN & with his CHARACTER.
JACOB thinks that to be a SUCCESS one has to FOOL PEOPLE, & to GET ONE OVER on PEOPLE, & to CONEIVE PEOPLE, & to DECEIVE PEOPLE in order to have CERTAIN THINGS.
So GOD puts JACOB into a SITUATION he CANNOT FIX. His BROTHER, ESAU, has got a whole ARMY of men & there are coming after him to KILL him.
While BY HIMSELF ----- A STRANGER shows up & GRABS HIM & begins to WRESTLE with him. JACOB is already SCARED & now he is FIGHTING & he is FIGHTING at NIGHT in the DARKNESS until DAYBREAK.
But the MAN saw that JACOB wasn’t going to GIVE UP.
JACOB wasn’t going to QUIT. JACOB wasn’t going to THROW in the TOWEL.
The MAN TOUCHED JACOB’S HIP & the BIBLE says, {watch this}
The HIP got DISLOCATED, it was DISCONNECTED --- it was OUT of JOINT.
That was a PAINFUL SITUATION.
What was this all about?
It’s about the THING that ALL OF US have to GO THROUGH who REALLY WANTS a BLESSING, & that is BROKENESS.
& what is BROKENESS?
BROKENESS is where GOD STRIPS US of our SELF SUFFIENCY.
BROKENESS is when we CANNOT MAKE IT HAPPEN ON OUR OWN.
BROKENESS is when ALL WE HAVE is NOT ENOUGH.
BROKENESS is when GOD SHOWS UP & HE SHOWS US OUR SIN & OUR CHARACTER & OUR FAILURE & HE SHOWS US that WE are NOT ENOUGH for us.
BROKENESS is that STATE of REALLY KNOWING that we NEED GOD MORE than ANYTHING or ANYONE.
THANK GOD for TIMES & SEASONS of BROKENESS! Amen?
The GREATEST PERSONAL REVIVAL comes from BROKENESS:
So many people don’t really see that THEY NEED GOD.
JACOB is WRESTLING is a DESPERATE SITUATION. He is in PAIN. He is in ANQUISH. Because the LORD has PLACED HIM in a PREDICAMENT.
Sometimes GOD has to DISLOCATE SOME THINGS.
At times GOD has to CREATE PAIN to REDUCE US in ORDER to BLESS US!
The MAN who WRESTLES with him says in Genesis 32: 26 ‘Let me go for the dawn is breaking.’
But JACOB says, ‘I won’t let you go.’
Genesis 32:27 The MAN says to JACOB ‘What is your name?’
Remember now that in the BIBLE often times there is a CONNECTION between one’s NAME & one’s CHARACTER.
JACOB says: “I’m NOT going to let you GO unless you BLESS ME.’
So the MAN says, ‘O K, what is YOUR NAME?’
That’s a WEIRD CONVERASTION to be having in a FIGHT.
But again, NAMES have a lot to do with YOUR IDENITY, & YOUR CHARACTER.
That is WHY WHEN GOD WANTED to do SOMETHING DIFFERENT with a PERSON; HE CHANGED their NAME.
HE wanted them to HAVE a NAME that WOULD FIT their NEW CHARACTER or their CHARACTER to FIT their NEW NAME.
‘What’s YOUR NAME’
In other words, ‘JACOB WHO are YOU?’
‘I’m JACOB. I’m, a TRICKSTER, a DECEIVER, a DOOPER. That is WHO I AM.
Watch this now:
You want a BLESSING -- you have to CHANGE YOUR NAME.
It says in Genesis 32:28 ‘Your NAME shall NO LONGER be JACOB trickster, deceiver or a dooper.’
You won’t OPERATE that way ANYMORE. That is NOT WHO YOU ARE..
I am going to CHANGE YOUR NAME. Your NAME shall be ISRAEL.
ISRAEL, meaning “The ONE who STRUGGLED with GOD.’
NO LONGER will you be KNOWN by your OWN WAY of OPERATING.
You’re NOT going to TREAT PEOPLE THAT WAY ANYMORE.
Because that is NOT WHO YOU ARE ANYMORE.
You are for now on going to be IDENTIFIED by YOUR STRUGGLE with ME.
You shall be ISRAEL for you STRUGGLED with GOD & with MAN & have PREVAILED.
So what does OUR NAME mean this morning?
Does our NAME REFLECT the FACT that we too have WRESTLED with GOD & GOD has CHANGED our OLD WAY of OPERATING?
Watch this:
GOD did NOT DWELL on WHAT JACOB WAS
GOD DWELT on JACOB’S FUTURE – on WHAT HE WOULD BE
Until he WRESTLED with GOD he could NOT RECEIVE the BLESSING he has been PROMISED.
GOD has given us the AUTHORITY to DETERMINE HOW THINGS CAN WORK OUT.
JACOB saw GOD that day. It is a WONDERFUL DAY when we DISCOVER that the ONE we THOUGHT was WORKING AGAINST US ---- was really FOR US.
The CIRUMSTANCES, the SITUATIONS, the PREDICAMENTS that we THOUGHT was trying to PIN US to the MAT, & that we THOUGHT were AGAINST US.
Was ACTUALLY GOD ------ TRYING to WORK for us. WONDERFUL DAY WHEN WE SEE THAT!
& in GETTING RID of that PROBLEM we GET RID of WHAT was DELAYING the BLESSING on OUR LIFE.
Because GOD was TRYING to USE THAT to BLESS us.
In Genesis 32:29 it says:
‘Then JACOB asked him & said, please tell me your name? & he asked, Why are you asking me my name & he blessed him there.’
In other words, you OUGHT to KNOW WHO I AM.
I just told you your NAME is ISRAEL.
WHAT did I tell you when I told you your NAME.
Your NAME is ISRAEL. ISRAEL – ONE who has STRUGGLED with GOD.
{Watch this now}
‘To KNOW MY NAME all you have to do is to say YOUR NAME.’
BECAUSE YOUR NAME means – THE ONE WHO STROVE WITH GOD.
So just KEEP TELLING YOURSELF – WHO YOU ARE & you’ll KNOW WHO I AM.
& HE BLESSED HIM THERE.
If we WANT GOD to BLESS US
Then we CANNOT KEEP that OLD CARNAL NATURE & CHARACTER & have the NAME of GOD.
We CANNOT KEEP our OLD WAYS of OPERATING, OLD WAYS of DOING THINGS.
We CANNOT KEEP our OLD NAME & CHARACTER & then
GET ON OUR KNEES & ASK for GOD’S BLESSINGS.
HIS BLESSING comes with a NEW NAME & a NEW WAY of LIVING!
So JACOB named the place PENIEL – for he said, ‘I have seen GOD face to face, yet my life has been preserved.’
This is POWERFUL:
‘I just SAW GOD, thinking I was LOOKING at a MAN.’
We were told that he was WRESTLING with a MAN.
But actually he was looking at GOD.
GOD was working through a VISIBLE MANIFESTATION of a MAN to actually put HIMSELF on DISPLAY.
Since GOD is INVISIBLE HE WORKS through TANGABLE THINGS in order to DISPLAY the INVISIBLE GOD in a VISIBLE WAY.
JACOB said, “I have just seen GOD & I am STILL ALIVE.” “I’m STILL HERE!”
But JACOB would NEVER be the same again.
JACOB’S HIP was DISLOCATED in the WRESTLING with GOD so it is PAINFUL for him to WALK. He WALKS with a PAINFUL LIMP.
Do we really want a PERSONAL ENCOUNTER with GOD?
JACOB walks with a PAINFUL LIMP:
GOD is going to PUT SOMETHING in our LIVES to REMIND us ----We CANNOT MAKE IT WITHOUT HIM.
JACOB could tell you ‘I have been BLESSED by GOD.
I’m LIMPING & my HIP still HURTS at times but I have been BLESSED by GOD & it was WORTH IT!
Every time I TAKE A STEP I am REMINDED of my STRUGGLE with GOD & the LIFE CHANGING BLESSING I RECEIVED.
I am only LIMPING BECAUSE I – RAN INTO GOD & GOD RAN INTO ME.
But the LIMP is there for ANOTHER REASON.
The LIMP was there to REMIND JACOB – He had better not TRY to DO THINGS on his OWN again
WHY? Because he has ANOTHER HIP:
GOD wanted JACOB to REMEMBER his BLESSING.
It is a SERIOUS THING to fall into the hands of the LIVING GOD.
So here’s the CHOICE JACOB:
Do you want to be BLESSED & LIMP or
Or to be CURSED & keep WALKING normal?
We can keep on DOING THINGS OUR WAY & HAVE NO LIMP or
We can LIMP & BE BLESSED.
If we will HANG IN THERE with GOD
So that HE can ADDRESS OUR CHARACTER & ITS WEAKNESSES
Sometimes we will DISCOVER that the THINGS we are WRESTLING WITH is GOD trying to get our ATTENTION.
It’s NOT TOO LATE:
JACOB started out as a DECEIVER & a TRICKSTER & a MANIPULATER but he ENDS UP in the FAMOUS HALL of FAITH in Hebrews 11:21
Hebrews 11:21 ‘ By faith, JACOB, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of JOSEPH, & worshipped, leaning on his staff.’
JACOB -- ISRAEL before his death was able to pass the blessing unto his own family.
It’s not too late for you.
It’s not too late for people so close & dear to our hearts.
Just one divine encounter with GOD can totally change one’s life.
Our nation is in such a dire need of such an encounter with GOD.
NOTE:
This series of messages is taken from parts of a series by the same title preached by Dr. Tony Evans
