Change My Heart: Learning To Lose: Genesis 32:24-32

 

To turn losses into wins, I must believe that…

1. I Am Broken

Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Genesis 32:25-26 (CSB)

But if you are without discipline—which all receive—then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?10 For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:8-11 (CSB)

2. I Am Yielded

Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Genesis 32:26 (CSB)

3. I Am Changed

“What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied. 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”
Genesis 32:26-27 (CSB)

4. I Am Blessed

Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
Genesis 32:26 (CSB)

5. I Am Thankful

Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.”
Genesis 32:30 (CSB)

By faith Jacob, was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshipped leaning on the top of his staff.
Hebrews 11:21 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/change-my-heart-learning-to-lose-genesis-3224-32/

Change My Heart: True Love: Genesis 29

 

1. TRUE LOVE WOWS

Jacob resumed his journey and went to the eastern country. 2 He looked and saw a well in a field…Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she was a shepherdess. 10 As soon as Jacob saw his uncle Laban’s daughter Rachel with his sheep, he went up and rolled the stone from the opening and watered his uncle Laban’s sheep. 11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly.
Genesis 29:1-11 (CSB)

2. TRUE LOVE WORKS

So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.
Genesis 29:20 (CSB)

But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1 Timothy 5:8 (CSB)

That evening, Laban took his daughter Leah and gave her to Jacob, and he slept with her. 24 And Laban gave his slave Zilpah to his daughter Leah as her slave. 25 When morning came, there was Leah! So he said to Laban, “What have you done to me? Wasn’t it for Rachel that I worked for you? Why have you deceived me?”
Genesis 29:23-25 (CSB)

And Jacob did just that. He finished the week of celebration, and Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as his wife. 29 And Laban gave his slave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel as her slave. 30 Jacob slept with Rachel also, and indeed, he loved Rachel more than Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years.
Genesis 29:28 (CSB)

3. TRUE LOVE WAITS

So Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days
to him because of his love for her. Then Jacob said to Laban, “Since my time is complete, give me my wife, so I can sleep with her.”    
Genesis 29:20-21 (CSB)

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Galatians 6:7-8 (NIV)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/change-my-heart-true-love-genesis-29/

Change My Heart: Climbing Jacob’s Ladder: Genesis 28:10-22

 

1. GOD IS SEARCHING…I AM FOREVER RESCUED

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11 He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. 12 And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. 13 The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac.
Genesis 28:10-13 (CSB)

“Rabbi,” Nathanael replied, “You are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “Truly I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
John 1:49-51 (CSB)

2. GOD IS NEAR…I AM NEVER ALONE

Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.
Genesis 28:15 (CSB)

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.”
Genesis 28:16-17 (CSB)

Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.
Hebrews 13:5 CSB

3. GOD IS GRACIOUS…I AM ALWAYS BLESSED

The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. 14 Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Genesis 28:13-15 (CSB)

4. GOD IS HELPFUL…I AM THOROUGHLY CAPABLE

Then Jacob made a vow: “If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me.”
Genesis 28:20-22 (CSB)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/change-my-heart-climbing-jacobs-ladder-genesis-2810-22/

Change My Heart: Shortcuts: Genesis 27:19-37

 

Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
Matthew 7:13 (Mess)

Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate and drank and went on about his business, indifferent to the fact that he had given up his birthright.
Genesis 25:34 (NLT)

Overcome Shortcuts with…

1) Persevering Patience

Jacob replied to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may bless me.”20 But Isaac said to his son, “How did you ever find it so quickly, my son? ”He replied, “Because the Lord your God made it happen for me.”
Genesis 27:19-20 (CSB)

2) Total Trust

So he said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me twice now. He took my birthright, and look, now he has taken my blessing.” Then he asked, “Haven’t you saved a blessing for me?”37 But Isaac answered Esau, “Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?”
Genesis 27:36-37 (CSB)

The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”
Genesis 25:23 (NIV)

Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? He has deceived me these two times: He took my birthright, and now he’s taken my blessing!” Then he asked, “Haven’t you reserved any blessing for me?”
Genesis 27:36 (NIV)

But Isaac answered Esau, “Look, I have made him a master over you, have given him all of his relatives as his servants, and have sustained him with grain and new wine. What then can I do for you, my son?”
Genesis 27:37 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/change-my-heart-shortcuts-genesis-2719-37/