Wrestling With God in Travail

LaVere reported on the increase of born again believers and churches around the world, especially in China. The vision for the end-time harvest has already started. In Matthew 21:28‘s parable of the two sons, one said he would not go, but he went, and the other one said he would go, but he did not. Which one are you? God wants to do in America what He is doing elsewhere. Mission work may look different. We must be awake in this harvest. Where is your focus, your drive? The widow in 1 Kings 17:9-16 was under the command of God to take care of the prophet, Elijah. He told her to take what looked like her last meal and to provide for him first. Her obedience and yielding to God’s command and will brought supernatural provision for her and her son for a long time. Do you know that you are under the command of God? He has a plan for your life. We are under God’s command. Satan tries to keep us from seeking God and to get us into fear. In Genesis 32:1, 2 An angel told Jacob what to do. He was under a command of God. When he heard that his avenging brother was coming toward him, he was afraid. Jacob wrestled with a man, who was God. God touched the socket of Jacob’s hip, and Jacob told God, “I will not let You go unless You bless me.” God told him that his name was to be Israel instead of Jacob. Jacob prevailed, which means overwhelmed, such as when David cut off Goliath’s head. He said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”  How can man prevail over God and win? How can a man talk to God that way? Romans 15:4 says that the Scriptures were written for our learning, that through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope. The Word is our example, so we can understand our purposes (1 Corinthians 10:6). GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH ONE OF US (Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 2:8-10; Psalm 139:16). We have to find His plan for us and for the end-time harvest. If you are saved, you are called according to His purpose and grace (2 Timothy 1:9). If you are not called, you are not saved. There is a balance between God and man. Isaiah 45:9-12 says “Woe to him who strives with his Maker!” Does that statement conflict with what Jacob did with God? Jacob was striving, but in Isaiah 45:11 the Bible says, “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.” One striving, as in verse 9, is against God and His will for your life; the other is striving with God to be able to fulfill His word to and will for you. We can strive with Him for the things He has already commanded us. God had made a covenant with Jacob where he had the vision (Genesis 32:1, 2). He won what God had already spoken. The Word is even above the name of Jesus. In John 1:1 all of God was involved in creation. The God of creation became man. Jesus was the Master of creation. He incarnated Himself in the Word. The Word is living. Jesus is the Word. You have a personal covenant with God. There is a difference between the promises and the covenants of God. God cannot prevail against the Word He has spoken. God has made a covenant with you. Find out God’s plan for your life. Meet and fellowship with Him in order to hear His voice. What He says will work. Do what the Father says and does. There is a corporate plan for the body of Christ. Ask, “What is God’s plan for the church and this community? What is God saying for us to do?” Seek God corporately. God will speak. Individuals, seek God with all your hearts, and find out what the covenant is. Nothing can stop God’s will when we line up with Him. You are not free to do what you want to do. You are not your own. You were bought by Jesus’ blood (1 Corinthians 6:19, 20; 1 Peter 1:18, 19). You will limp after God’s test for you to fulfill God’s plan. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE. DO NOT MISS GOD!