Princes in the Land

We will be in a familiar passage of scripture today, friends, but we will be focusing on just one verse from it. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis in chapter 32. We will read verses 24 through 28.

This striking passage of scripture deals with Jacob wrestling with the angel of God. Jacob was beside himself and at the end of his rope, for he received the terrifying news that his brother Esau was coming to meet him riding with 400 men. Well, that's a pretty imposing army.

Jacob knows deep down in his heart he's been running a long time. He cannot go any longer living as the conniver that he was. It was said of Jacob that he was so crooked he could hide behind a corkscrew.

Well, let's read the text. Here now is the word of God and may the spirit of the Lord attend the reading of his holy word. And Jacob was left alone and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. And he said, let me go for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel. For as a prince hast thou power with God and with men and hast prevailed.

I will stop there, friends. Well, there are three aspects to being a prince. Number one, royal recognition.

Because of the title, wherever he goes, he is recognized as a prince. Number two, royal resources. He has all the resources of the king's empire behind him.

So there's not only royal recognition for a prince and royal resources, there is also royal authority for a prince has the power of the crown behind him. Now, let me apply these three principles from our passage today, friends, to men I've known who have had a close walk with God. In particular, Adrian Rogers and Stephen Olford.

I knew both of these men intimately, knew what it was like to pray with them and serve with them. Adrian Rogers was my pastor for 20 years. Stephen Olford was my homiletical mentor who taught me how to preach.

I was in the first graduating class of his school for preachers. When it came time for me to preach publicly before Stephen Olford, I was so nervous I found him in the hallway and asked him to lay his hands on me and pray for me, which he did. I was so accustomed to have him praying for me.

When I visited Dr. Olford in the hospital, as he lay in his hospital bed, he said, let us have a word of prayer. Well, I grabbed his frail hand and closed my eyes, waiting for him to pray. But I soon realized he was waiting for me to pray, to pray for him.

He was the one who needed prayer. Well, how do you pray for a prince like that? Somehow, I managed to stumble through a prayer for him. But both these men were godly examples to me.

You don't get many of them in a lifetime, friend, and we often take for granted God's special gifts to us at the time. But there are several princely aspects of these men of God I want to share with you today, friends. And by doing so, it is my prayer that you'll be better prepared should God place in your path a prince to impact eternity for him.

Both Adrian Rogers and Stephen Olford were both men who were princes in God's kingdom. They each had a princely ministry that stood out among men. When Adrian Rogers entered a room, his presence was immediately felt.

Dr. Rogers had served three terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, and there wasn't a Baptist pastor in America who didn't know the face and name of Adrian Rogers. God had given him prominence among men. That goes with this aspect of a prince having royal recognition.

I'll never forget the story of the pastor in Dallas, Texas, who invited Stephen Olford to preach at his church. The seminary intern, who was to go pick up Dr. Olford at the airport, asked to see a photo of Stephen Olford so he would recognize him. No need for that, said the pastor.

Just go to the airport terminal, and as the passengers deep plane, look for a man who has God all over him. Well, the young intern did as he was told, and when he saw Stephen Olford emerge in the crowd, he knew it was him, for he was a man who had God all over him. He stood out as a prince in the crowd.

So not only is there royal recognition, there's the aspect of royal resources. A prince to a king has all the resources of the empire behind him. Let me put this in spiritual terms.

Both of these men were princes in that they both had a global reach and ministry. They were both known all over the world. God allowed them both to have radio ministries that were far-reaching and impacting.

God allowed each of them to author many Christian books in the spread of the gospel and training of others in the kingdom. I had a pastor friend who was an African, and he came to Memphis one day to ask me to take him over to Loveworth Fund and Ministries, which was Adrian Rogers' media ministry. This African wanted to show the people there his worn-out Adrian Rogers Bible that was so worn out from use it was almost in tatters.

Well, when they saw that, they gave him a new one for free. When they saw what a far-reach Dr. Rogers' ministry had in Africa, what I'm trying to say, friends, is a prince with God will have a royal seal of approval upon his ministry. He'll be far-reaching and life-changing to those who come in contact with it.

And lastly, there is the aspect of royal authority. Every prince has royal authority. Notice in our text from Genesis 28 that states, And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel.

For as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Both Dr. Rogers and Dr. Overt had power with God and power with men, because of their intimate walk with the Lord Jesus. They were both surrendered men who pursued lives of holiness.

They were both surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ, and holiness was important to both of these men. Stephen Overt had a little plaque on his desk which read, Lord, make me as holy as a saved sinner can be, which is a quote from Robert Murray I don't know many pastors today that pursue holiness like that. A pastor today who preaches holy living is about as rare as Bigfoot.

Unfortunately, there aren't many princes in the land today. God has called up some leaders without replacing them, and that disturbs me. It disturbs me because it may mean God is clearing the land for a judgment.

It also bothers me because we need some princes to lead us today into the heat of the battle. It's getting pretty hot out there. I'll never forget what Adrian Rogers said to me on the day of Stephen Overt's funeral, which he conducted.

We were standing in the hallway of Bellevue Baptist Church, and Dr. Rogers was facing me with his arms folded across his chest, and he looked like a big Indian chief standing there. He gave me a concerned look and said, Do you know what concerns me? I said, No, Dr. Rogers, what concerns you? He said, What concerns me is I see God calling up men like Sidlow Baxter and Stephen Overt, and I look around, and I don't see any comeuppers. His words still haunt me.

There are less princes in the land today at a time when we need them the most. Let us pray.