More Videos: http://c316.tv
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Calvary316
Twitter: https://twitter.com/calvary316
This Video: http://www.c316.tv/sermons/239
Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/zach-adams/id331453358
Audio Download: http://zachadams.org/genesisofgrace/genesis33_1-34_2.mp3
Pastor Zach Adams: http://zachadams.org
Outlaw Radio: http://www.c316.tv/outlaw_radio
Our Website: http://calvary316.tv

Outline:

Let’s begin this morning by establishing a bit of context… Jacob’s life is in absolute turmoil. As he returns to the Promised Land his pressing concern is the potential volatility over his coming show down with his twin brother Esau. Note: Last they’d seen each other Esau was determined to kill Jacob because he’d swindled his birthright from their father Isaac.



The night before this unavoidable encounter there is no doubt Jacob was afraid. In spite of his best laid plans there’s no question his future is uncertain. Jacob finds himself all alone. He’s at the point of emptiness. Jacob is out of options… Out of schemes… Out of plans.



Jacob has pushed all his chips into the pot and called. His cards are on the table, the percentages stacked against him. He’s at the mercy of the flop. Jacob is at the end of himself; and yet, that just so happened to be exactly where the Lord wanted him!



Chapter 32 closes with a true fist-a-cuffs. Jesus comes out of nowhere and wrestles with Jacob. He goes on the attack. Jesus is the aggressor. God picks a fight with Jacob.



And while Jacob would initially fight back it would seem, when he came to understand who this “Man” really was, something changed within his heart. There was a moment that evening when Jacob goes from wrestling to clinging… From fighting off to grabbing hold.



When Jesus commands Jacob to “let go” he replies with tears, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” Jacob had finally reached the moment when he recognized he was nothing apart from the Grace of God. He grabbed hold of Jesus and wouldn’t let go!



Jacob finally reach the point where he was willing to admitted who he was (insufficient). He willingly surrendered himself to the influence of divine grace (“unless You bless me” I’m nothing) only for God to then transform him by imparting a new identity. Though in his flesh he’d been known as Jacob, from that day forward in God’s eyes he’d be known as Israel!



It’s interesting, but Jacob refused to let go of Jesus until he receiving a blessing. Jacob wanted, desired, needed God’s blessing more than anything else. So what blessing did God give him? The blessing God gave him was a new name, a new identity, a new nature.



Understand… The greatest blessing you can ever receive from God is the fundamental regeneration of you. It’s what you need more than anything. By God’s grace demonstrated through Jesus’s work on the cross you can be given a fresh start with a new heart.



I don’t want to go off on a tangent, but you need to know your fundamental problem is you! It isn’t your wife. Your problem isn’t your kids or that annoying boss. It’s not your job, society, lack of education, or Trump. Your problem isn’t your upbringing or dysfunctional home life. Your problem isn’t your parents or the fact you weren’t loved or appreciated enough as a kid.



And since this is the case, changing anything of these things never really addresses the problem. Please understand, your core problem boil down to one simple fact… You are broken - born into sin. Your problem is that you’re really good at doing the wrong thing and struggle mightily when it comes to doing the right. And until you can admit you’re your greatest problem you’ll never be open to the solution - God changing you!

Read The Rest At: http://www.c316.tv/sermons/239