A New Day, A New Identity, A New Walk (Part 2)

In the midst of wrestling with God, when asked what his name was Jacob had to admit that he was Jacob.  He was a deceiver, a swindler, a schemer.  (Genesis 32:22-32)

Being a deceiver, a swindler, a schemer, was a family trait.  Jacob's mother, Rebekah, helped him deceive his father to receive the blessing. (Genesis 27:5-17)  After that Jacob went to live with his uncle Laban, who deceived him by giving him Leah when he had served for seven years for Rachel. (Genesis 29:20-27)  Then Laban schemed over and over changing Jacob's wages time and again. (Genesis 31:4-7)  As Jacob was heading back to his homeland with his family and goods, his wife Rachel, Laban's daughter, deceived her father concerning the idols she had stolen. (Genesis 31:30-35)

We see that this was a family trait and it needed to go.  We may say "this is just the way I am" or "that is just the way my family is."  But if it is a character trait that is not honoring to God it must go. 

By asking Jacob to admit who had been, I believe God was putting His finger on that thing in his life at that time so it could be dealt with.  In the wrestling encounter, I believe God wanted to get at that core issue in the life and family line of Jacob.  That day when Jacob confessed who he had been God gave him a new name, a new identity.  Jacob was now Israel, which God had always intended him to be.  It probably took a little while to not think or act in the same way he always had.  Sometimes it takes a little bit to walk into the fullness of our new identity. 

A New Day, A New Identity, A New Walk

Sometimes we hit a critical juncture in our journey with God.  It may require a face to face encounter with God in a wrestling match like Jacob had. (Genesis 32:22-32)

Jacob found himself in a difficult place, poised between his disgruntled father-in-law and his brother who had wanted to kill him.  He sent forth all he owned and all he held dear. He was left alone with God in the dark of the night. It was in that difficult place alone with God that Jacob found himself in a wrestling match with God.  Functioning as he always had was not going to work in this situation.  Jacob had to prevail with God.

There are times when we must wrestle with God in the darkness of the night until the light of the new day comes forth.  Even when the light of the new day begins to dawn, we can't let go until we receive the blessing we so desperately need. We may be done wrestling and we may have little or no strength left, but we can't let go.

It is possible that his nature as Jacob (deceiver, supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler) felt like a strength to him all those years.  It had gotten him a lot of things he wanted.  Even his "success" in being Jacob was a weakness and not the strength it may have felt like.  Jacob had to acknowledge who he was when he was asked, "What is your name?"  He had to acknowledge that he had indeed been a deceiver, supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler. That confession was necessary in order to receive his new name.  He now had a new identity as Israel, a prince with God or one who has power with God or one who prevails with God. In God's book Jacob was always meant to be Israel.  

To be given a new name/identity/nature and be changed in the encounter, we must first realize who we have been. We must confess it before God and let Him change us into who we really are.  We can be changed when we recognize and confess who we really have been.  God touches that place in us that we have relied on as a strength.  Then He can be our strength. 

Jacob walked away with a limp because of his hip being put out of joint. We also leave the wrestling match with what had been the strongest part put out of joint.  We walk away with a limp that requires a new dependence on the Lord, a dependence upon His strength and not our own.  We never walk the same again.

The scripture says that God "blessed him there."  Not sure if the blessing was the new identity,  the limp of a new dependence on God, or something else.  But Jacob did come away from that encounter into a new day, with a new identity, and a new walk.

Even In Famine (part 2)

During a time of famine, Isaac was instructed by God not to go to Egypt, as his father had. But Isaac was to  go to the land that God would show him.  In the midst of that instruction God also restated His covenant that had been established with Abraham.  That covenant was established not only with Abraham but with his seed, which included Isaac.  Isaac obeyed God's instructions and stayed in the land.   In a time of famine, when little could be harvested, Isaac planted seed which God blessed and it brought forth one hundred fold.  God's blessing was upon Isaac because of covenant and obedience, even in a time of famine.  

Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.

Isaiah 65:13-14 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.

Praying for Those in Authority

I would like to follow up on yesterdays post.....

I do believe in civil disobedience, i.e. not obeying government leaders that are in opposition to the Word of God.  But that does not negate our responsiblity to pray for that leadership.  We still need to obey the Word of God to pray for those in authority.

1 Timothy 2:1-2  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all men;  For kings, and [for] all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

When the leadership is evil that is all the more reason to pray more diligently for those leaders. It is even a reason to bless them. 

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you

Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

In the USA at this time the government seems to becoming more and more opposed to Christianity.  Being a Christian is becoming more and more politically incorrect.  As Christians I believe we need to be even more diligent than ever in praying for our leaders and for our nation.  I also believe it is a time to be making a determination in our hearts that we are going to stand for the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what the cost. 

I believe we are headed into  a time in this country when we as Christians are going to have to make some tough choices and we are going to have to band together like never before.  The body of Christ is going to have to truly become the body of Christ.  Not only do we need to pray for those in authority, but we need to pray for one another, that we may boldly stand for Truth.

Blessing In The Book of Revelation

When I say the Book of Revelation, as in the last book of the Bible, what do you think of?

Probably you think of end times, scary stuff, too difficult to understand.....These are all things I have heard from people. I used to think that same way too, but I do not any more. As I have read it over and over I have found it easier and easier to read and have found there is depth to the book, much to learn and rejoice about.

Because of the things I mentioned above many people avoid reading the book of Revelation. If you are among those people you are missing out on a blessing. It is the one book of the Bible that specifically says there is a blessing for reading and heeding what is written in it.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Often people call it the book of revelations. It is not a book of many revelations. It is one revelation. It is the Revelation (singular) of the Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

The entire book is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Too often we think of this book as the revelation of lucifer/satan and the antichrist. It is really the revelation of Jesus and His victory over the forces of darkness. Check it out if you don't believe me. Check it out even if you do believe me. You will be blessed.

One more thing.....revelation is translated from the Greek word "apoákalupsis" which means disclosure, unveiling. It comes from a word that means to take the cover off. So Revelation is the unveiling, the disclosure of, taking the cover off Jesus Christ.

I am sure we have all heard the word apocalypse used when referring to disasters or terrible events of the end times. I find that very unfortunate in light of the meaning of the root Greek word. I tend to think that it is part of the plan of the enemy of our souls, to try to distort what the book of Revelation is really about. By so doing he is robbing many of the blessings found in this book that are important for these days in which we live.

So I would like to challenge you to not miss out on any more blessings. Please make a point of reading Revelation. I would like to further challenge you to read it through at least once a month (or listen to it).