The Battle
I could talk to you about David and Goliath, the Battle of Jerich, or the battle of Pharaoh and the Israelites.
Jacob was left alone. Sometimes, we must get alone in prayer!
Genesis 32:24-26
24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the [a]breaking of day. 25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He [b]touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. 26 And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
Jacob wrestled until the breaking of day. Sometimes we have to fight.
The battle might be long, but we have to fight.
25 Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip, and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
He battled hard. His thigh was out of joint.
We hurt when we get on our knees. We give up.
Jacob was not willing to let go.
He was not moving until he got up with his blessing.
We can’t give up.
We have to fight.
We have to do something.
We have to show up.
Jacob fought. He didn’t give up until he was blessed.
I’m speaking of the fight.
We can’t throw in the towel just because we get hurt.
We can’t stop the fight just because we can walk away.
Satan will fight us UNTIL he walks away with our soul.
Ephesians 6:12
New King James Version
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
We try to throw in the towel when we get our feelings hurt.
We don’t get our way.
When our emotions are not “feeling it,”
The battle isn’t physical or when Satan tries to break our hearts.
The battle is for our soul!
Luke 22:31-34
New King James Version
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
The Lord spoke to Simon and said, “Satan has desired (strong word) to have you that he might sift you as wheat.
When someone desires something, they go after it full force.
Satan wants to break you. Don’t let him.
Satan has been trying to break you since you were first breathing in your mother’s womb.
Look at Adam and Eve at the beginning of the Bible.
- beginning of Mom
- beginning of a relationship
Satan has fought your relationship with God since the very beginning.
Satan has tried to kill you from the very beginning.
We cannot stop fighting at church!
The battle may take a while.
The reward is great.
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Prayers were answered here, but he had to fight.
We can’t run from the battle.
It’s not time to run from the call.
There’s no telling what God intends or what blessings He has for us; we will never know because we gave up on the battle.
We give up on the call, or we give up and don’t battle because God doesn’t do it fast enough.
Your gift will be revealed.
Keep praying in strength, get away from people, (Jacob was left alone.)
Jacob didn’t give up when he was hurt or injured.
We have to fight.
2 Timothy 4:7-8
New King James Version
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.
We have to fight a good fight.
We have to finish.
We have to keep the faith.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
I want to fight church!
Fight for my family to be saved.
I will fight till daybreak to keep their souls from hell.
When the battle is over, I want Matthew 25:21.
Matthew 25:21
New King James Version
21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Keep battling with the Lord. Time is almost up!