Hosea 12:3
The sermon explores Jacob's struggle with God, emphasizing the importance of submission and the transformative power of divine intervention in confronting one's past.
Chuck Smith explores the theme of prevailing with God through the story of Jacob, who confronts his past and wrestles with God. Jacob's journey illustrates the struggle between self-reliance and surrendering to God's will, as he seeks solace and blessing after years of turmoil. The sermon emphasizes that true power comes from submission to God, as Jacob learns to let go of his past and trust in God's grace. Ultimately, Smith encourages listeners to allow God to intervene in their lives, providing healing and reconciliation with their past.
Text
"PREVAILING WITH GOD"
Intro: Story of interest: basic things of soul . . . a man wanting to get
alone with God & God accommodating Him by becoming a man in order
to meet him on his level. Theophanies
I. THE SENSE OF HIS NEED.
A. He was coming face to face with his past.
1. Past is not always behind us.
2. He is returning home after 20 years, but why did he
leave home?
3. Hours that we all face when we must come face to face
with past.
4. He was a shrewd, astute, bargain driving man.
a. "With my staff I crossed over this Jordan..."
b. Still he was troubled & disturbed.
5. A man seeking vest for his soul.
a. Experiences with Laban unsatisfactory.
b. Wealth did not bring him comfort.
c. "I have seen God face to face & my life was
preserved."
II. THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAME TO HIM.
A. This had been quite a day for him.
1. Laban had left that morning.
a. pile of stones Mizpah
2. Jacob then saw a host of angels.
"This is God's host" Mahanaim (place of 2 hosts).
3. He arranged the presents for Esau.
4. Now he seeks solitude with God.
5. "And Jacob was left alone, & there wrestled with him a
man until the breaking of the day."
6. Against this strange encounter Jacob exerted all his
strength through the night.
a. The tremendous resisting power of Jacob.
b. God was trying to break this man's will.
c. But Jacob resisted.
7. As long as he was a whole man God could not conquer
him.
a. The central area of his life was wrong.
1. He had faith in God all right.
2. Great confidence in self, he was always
trying to help God accomplish His will.
8. Today maybe you also are striving against God as did
Jacob.
9. God now uses another tactic toward morning, He cripples
Jacob.
a. This does not always conquer a man but it gives
him a new opportunity.
b. The crippling perhaps caused Jacob to realize
this was not a man but God. That which he
desired happened.
c. Many a man desiring to meet God has come to
grips with Him without realizing.
10. Now as the day began to break the wrestler said, "Let
me go for the day breaketh." "I will not let thee go
except thou bless me. Not the demand of a victor."
Hosea - "with strong crying & tears."
He wrestled God to a draw.
then when crippled in his weakness.
he cried unto God & prevailed.
"What is thy name?
In submission to God he found the place of power.
God puts Himself between a man & his past . . . in the morning when he met
Esau no present necessary. Esau meets him in love & tenderness. Are your
past sins haunting you? Let God put Himself between you and your past.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - '{''A'': [''Coming face to face with his past.'', ''Returning home after 20 years.'', ''Hours of confronting the past.'', ''Troubled despite being shrewd and successful.'', ''Seeking rest for his soul.'']}' - THE SENSE OF HIS NEED
- II points: - '{''A'': [''A significant day with Laban leaving.'', ''Encounter with a host of angels.'', ''Preparation for meeting Esau.'', ''Seeking solitude with God.'', ''Wrestling with God through the night.'']}' - THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAME TO HIM
- III points: - '{''A'': [''Jacob''s resistance against God.'', ''God''s attempt to break Jacob''s will.'', ''Realization of God''s presence.'', ''Crippling as a new opportunity for Jacob.'', ''Submission leading to power.'']}' - THE STRUGGLE WITH GOD
- IV points: - '{''A'': [''Jacob''s name change signifies a new identity.'', ''Meeting Esau without fear.'', ''God''s grace in dealing with past sins.'']}' - THE TRANSFORMATION
Key Quotes
“I will not let thee go except thou bless me.” — Chuck Smith
“God puts Himself between a man & his past.” — Chuck Smith
“With strong crying & tears, he wrestled God to a draw.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Embrace your struggles as opportunities for growth and deeper faith.
- Allow God to intervene in your life to help you confront and overcome your past.
- Seek solitude with God to find clarity and strength in your challenges.