The Sun Rose Above Him

Genesis 32:31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[a] and he was limping because of his hip.

A great turnover in the life of Jacob. Jacob was a man who struggled with man, and wrestled with God ( Remember, he did not struggle with God)

Today, we may have many of us who are Jacob's , and some who are still trying to become a Jacob.

Is being Jacob a blessing?

How can we be blessed?

A) IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR JACOB TO BE IN GODS SIGHT TO BE BLESSED.

What did Jacob do to be in God's sight? He built Pillars (Altars) wherever he went and witnessed God.

1. He made peace with God.

Looking back from Genesis 31, almost 20 years before, he made peace with God.

In a dream , he saw the angels of God ascending and descending from heaven. And above it he saw the Lord standing

Genesis 28:12-15

12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

13 There above it[c] stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. [HE ESTABLISHED HIS NAME]

I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.

14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.[d]

15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go [HIS BLESSINGS FOLLOWED] , and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Early in the morning, he built an Altar ( a pillar) there . He called it Bethel ( House of the Lord)

For Jacob, an altar was a symbol of consecration.

I cannot teach anyone to build an altar. But when you make your personal covenant with God, you build an altar - You consecrate yourself -

You would say “Lord, everything is Yours. From now on everything is for You.”

Testimony - Early stages of ministry - HELP PEOPLE TO BE A CHRISTIAN - DID IT WORK? NO. MANY LEFT THE CHURCH, BECAUSE THEY DON’T LIKE TO BE TAUGHT.

BUILDING AN ALTAR IS A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. No one can teach you to build an altar.

But someone can help you to see God in your life. I started doing it in my own ministry. Many started seeing God in their lives. We saw more testimonies for Christ.

BUILDING AN ALTAR INVOLVES TWO THINGS

JACOB STRUGGLED WITH MEN - But he had peace with men. Jacob made peace with Laban (His father in law)..

But before that, the bible says, he made peace with God. (Chapter 28)

Now Jacob makes peace with Laban . He builds an altar ( a pillar and a heap) this time.

An Alter is a Witness. Building an altar is to stand as a witness to God.

An altar is a symbol of peace. It’s a covenant with God.

Because Jacob built an altar with God, angels surrounded him wherever he went.

20 years back he saw angels in a dream. Now again, the angels met him (V32:1)

B) IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR JACOB TO MEET GOD AND WRESTLE WITH GOD TO BE BLESSED

To meet with God, Jacob was alone. Corporate worship is good. But that’s not where we can build an altar. God expects us to worship alone, worship in loneliness, Worship always.

Jacob struggles with men - He struggles with Esau, He struggles with Laban.

Jacob struggles with God. He wrestled with God.

C) IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR JACOB TO BE PERSISTANT TO BE BLESSED

V32:26 "

Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

D) IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR JACOB TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BLESSING CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD.

Witness of Joanne I met at the hospital - Word from God, that her eyesight will be preserved until her last breath.

1. Meeting God can change our life.

2. Meeting God can change our circumstances

3. Meeting God can meet our needs

How do we meet God today?

Look at what the bible says in Matt 9

Matt 9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.

Jesus was busy - People around him were equally busy

But the intention of this woman was only one thing - To meet God