GETTING BACK YOUR FIGHT - God wants to raise up a people who are greedy for His blessings so they can in turn bless the world. As we settle things with the Lord, making our lives right before him, everything else falls into line. It won’t matter what other battles you face in life. Deeply tested saints are leaders in God’s last-day army. The more intense the trial, the greater the work he has planned for them to do. Bethel, where Jacob wrestled with the Lord, is a symbol of our prayer life, the place we go to meet God. Bethel is our secret closet of prayer, the place we go in our time of distress. Once you’re shut in with him, blocking out all other voices and noise, you’ll hear his voice. He wants you to claim and obtain all his blessings. So, rise up in faith and lay hold of his promise. You have been given his strength - now use it - you will see his kingdom come on earth - The apostle Paul exhorts us, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” Paul lived the kind of fight he describes. Near the end of his ministry, he could boast, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Paul was filled with fight to his dying day. What kind of fighting faith have you been putting up? Have you lost it? Have you been so overwhelmed you’ve grown discouraged, wounded, perplexed, a passive soldier of the cross?

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Getting Back Your Fight

Bethel is a symbol of our prayer life, the place we go to meet God - our secret closet of prayer, the place we go in our time of distress 

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God wants to raise up a people who are greedy for His blessings so they can in turn bless the world. As we settle things with the Lord, making our lives right before him, everything else falls into line. It won’t matter what other battles you face in life. Deeply tested saints are leaders in God’s last-day army. The more intense the trial, the greater the work he has planned for them to do. 

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Bethel is our secret closet of prayer, the place we go in our time of distress. Once you’re shut in with him, blocking out all other voices and noise, you’ll hear his voice. He wants you to claim and obtain all his blessings. So, rise up in faith and lay hold of his promise. You have been given his strength - now use it - you will see his kingdom come on earth

David Wilkerson

Using the Strength that God’s Spirit Has Given You

The apostle Paul exhorts us, “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12, NKJV).

Paul lived the kind of fight he describes.

Near the end of his ministry, he could boast, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Paul was filled with fight to his dying day. So were centuries of our spiritual ancestors who died with their fight intact.

The writer of Hebrews said of them, “who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:33-34).

What kind of fighting faith have you been putting up? Have you lost it?

Have you been so overwhelmed you’ve grown discouraged, wounded, perplexed, a passive soldier of the cross?

If so, it’s time to get back up and fight the good fight.

Jacob is a good example of how to get back our fight.

When the prophet Hosea wanted to challenge Israel for their cowardly spiritual condition, he reminded them of Jacob. “He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him” (Hosea 12:3-4).

In this brief passage, Hosea sums up the secret to getting back our fight and prevailing with God to overcome every battle in life.

Jacob’s very birth revealed he was a fighter, eager to overcome and obtain God’s blessings.

Jacob’s twin brother, Esau, was first to emerge from his mother’s womb.

As he came forth, however, a tiny hand gripped Esau’s heel. It was the hand of his twin brother, Jacob.

A godly instinct was in the child, as if he were saying, “Brother, get out of my way! If you don’t want the birthright of this family and the fullness of God’s blessings, I do.”

The family birthright that Jacob sought represents all the blessings that we have in Christ Jesus.

I believe Jacob wasn’t just after the double portion of his father’s wealth. He desired something more.

He wanted the blessing of God so he could be in the lineage of the Messiah and have the priestly blessing to bless others.

This kind of godly desire is required of believers in these last days.

God wants to raise up a people who aren’t solely concerned with making their own living, owning a nice house or driving a nice car.

He seeks those who are greedy for God’s blessings so they can in turn bless the world.

Jacob’s brother Esau was the opposite of this. His life represented everything that God hates.

Esau lived only for his own appetites, pleasures and self-satisfaction. He never considered God’s eternal purposes.

“‘Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?’ says the Lord. ‘Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness’” - (Malachi 1:2-3).

By contrast, Jacob lived for God’s purposes, and his hand on his fleshly brother’s heel made a powerful statement.

He was saying, “I will lay hold of all that hinders me from God, resisting, fighting and being victorious. I was born to be a channel of God’s blessing.”

Jacob spent years fighting to get and keep the blessings of God.

This same desire ought to put fight into all of God’s people.

If you don’t hunger for Jesus — if you only want to make it to heaven and not be bothered to help meet the needs of others — then you have nothing to fight for.

You have made yourself an easy mark for the devil who knows you won’t resist his onslaughts.

We’re told that, despite his own sinful flesh, “by his strength (Jacob) had power with God” (Hosea 12:3, KJV).

Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, into giving the family birthright to him instead of to Esau.

Years later, he thought he would pay for his deceitful act when he learned his estranged brother was racing toward him with 400 rough riders, appearing set for revenge.

“Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed” - (Genesis 32:7, NKJV).

In that lonely hour, Jacob must have cried, “Oh, Lord, I’m about to lose everything. My very life is on the line!”

Just when Jacob sought a comforting word from God, the Lord came to wrestle with him, as if he were an enemy.

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day” - (Genesis 32:24).

The “man” mentioned in this verse is thought by theologians to have been the Lord himself, wrestling with Jacob.

This passage contains one of the greatest lessons a Christian will ever learn.

Our battle is never with people — not our coworkers, not our neighbor, not our unsaved loved ones — but with God himself.

You see, as we settle things with the Lord, making our lives right before him, everything else falls into line.

It won’t matter what other battles you face in life.

All the demons in hell can’t make a dent in what God wants to do through the fight he puts in you.

Jacob’s biggest fight wasn’t with Esau. It was with the Lord, and God had something specific in mind to accomplish through this wrestling match.

You see, Jacob was never in danger from Esau — we discover this later in the story — but instead was endangered by his own weaknesses.

God knew that Jacob’s character wasn’t adequate to face the things that would come later in his life.

That’s one reason why God came to wrestle with him.

The Lord was serving as Jacob’s trainer, a sparring partner to shape him into a strong warrior who could prevail over any enemy.

How many Christians have never been tested or trained through trials?

We hear so much talk about prayer warriors, but sadly many of them have never been in true battle.

Indeed, when hard times come, many Christians quit the battle.

Deeply tested saints, however, are leaders in God’s last-day army.

He causes them to wrestle mightily with him, and through the work of his Spirit they emerge as warriors tried and tested.

The more intense the trial, the greater the work he has planned for them to do.

Using the Strength that God’s Spirit Has Given You

Jacob threw his whole body into the battle with the angel, using all his human ability.

A fighting spirit had risen up in him, and “by his strength he had power with God” (Hosea 12:3, KJV).

This verse has great meaning for all who want to prevail in prayer.

Jacob prevailed “by his strength,” and so must you and I.

That strength comes from the Holy Spirit.

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy” - (Colossians 1:11, NKJV).

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” - (Ephesians 3:16).

The question that Hosea posed to God’s people was, “Are you using the strength you’ve been given?”

Hosea said, “The Lord also brings a charge against Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his deeds He will recompense him” (Hosea 12:2).

What was this controversy God had with his people?

It is the same controversy he has with his people in this generation.

In short, it is spiritual laziness. We want miracles, blessings and deliverances but at no cost, with no effort.

Who among God’s people wrestles with him to see his kingdom come on earth?

Who prays all night, fighting with their own self-seeking soul, weeping and crying out to the Lord?

Who disciplines their flesh to seek him, bringing their body under subjection to spend hours in fasting?

Who is so consumed with pleasing God that they’re desperate to be delivered from all habits and lusts, wrestling until he breaks all chains?

Bethel, where Jacob wrestled with the Lord, is a symbol of our prayer life, the place we go to meet God.

At Bethel, Jacob declared, “‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it’” (Genesis 28:16). 

Bethel means “house of God,” signifying a place to meet the Lord.

“He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us” (Hosea 12:4).

What did God speak to us at Bethel?

His words to Jacob there apply to every generation: “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go” (Genesis 28:15).

In other words, “I am with you from this day on, wherever you go.”

If that kind of promise doesn’t give a servant of God a fighting spirit, what will?

Bethel is our secret closet of prayer, the place we go in our time of distress.

The Lord is saying to us today, “Every time you’re in trouble or distress, run to the altar. Call out to me, and I’ll meet you there.”

Once you’re shut in with him, blocking out all other voices and noise, you’ll hear his voice.

It happens when you’re on your face before him, wrestling and crying out, “Lord, I won’t let go until I hear your voice say you’re with me.”

Do you wonder why God is urging you, “Come on, fight”?

It is simply because he loves you. He wants you to claim and obtain all his blessings.

So, rise up in faith and lay hold of his promise.

You have been given his strength. Now use it.

You will see his kingdom come on earth.

Amen.

David Wilkerson was called to New York City in 1958 to minister to gang members and drug addicts, as told in the best-selling book The Cross and the Switchblade. He went on to create Teen Challenge and World Challenge, Inc. to minister to people’s spiritual and physical needs.

In 1987, he established Times Square Church. As its founding pastor, he faithfully led this congregation, delivering powerful biblical messages that encourage righteous living and complete reliance on God.

David Wilkerson also had a strong burden to encourage his fellow pastors. He founded the Summit International School of Ministry; and from 1999 to 2008, he held international conferences to strengthen church leaders.

His passion to support believers, build up leaders and care for the poor is still at the heart of World Challenge’s ministries to this day.

https://worldchallenge.org/newsletter/2020/getting-back-your-fight

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WRESTLING WITH GOD - Until Jacob had a divine wrestling match with God - until he had a very personal struggle with God - his faith was not cemented. It was not his own. I have been through a divine wrestling match with God, and He touched me - just as he touched Jacob’s hip. I am not the same person that I once was. I can tell the change in myself as I talk about God today.

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Wrestling With God

How Wrestling With God Will Change You Forever

Dena Johnson 

Do you remember the story of Jacob and Esau?

If you do, you will remember that Esau was favored by his dad and Jacob was favored by his mother.

When their father Isaac was on his death bed, he asked Esau to kill some wild game for him with the promise that he would then bless his oldest son.

While Esau was out hunting, Isaac’s wife Rebekah helped their younger son Jacob come up with a scheme to trick Isaac into blessing him instead.

When Esau returned, Jacob had already received the blessing - which guaranteed him a double portion of inheritance.

Esau was furious and vowed to kill him, so Jacob fled.

After years of living apart, Jacob decided to return to his home and hoped to make peace with his brother.

One night on the journey, he sent everyone ahead of him while he stayed behind.

“Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. 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.’

‘What is your name?’ the man asked.

‘Jacob,’ he replied.

‘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.’

Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’

But he answered, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ And he blessed him there” (Genesis 32:24-29).

I’ve always been curious about this passage, about how Jacob—now known as Israel—wrestled with God. I simply couldn’t understand what it meant.

For the last two years, I have been wrestling with God.

I have wrestled night and day, asking for a fresh vision of who he is and what He wants for my life.

I have had a particular situation that has caused me to lose many nights of sleep - nights spent wrestling with God in prayer.

I have begged God to give me clarity because I know that God is the author of peace and not confusion.

I have spent countless hours crying, seeking God’s face.

And I have finally reached a place of blessing - a place of peace where I know God has revealed Himself to me, a place where I can walk forward in confidence knowing that He is in control.

As I began reading through my Bible this year, I came across this little verse tucked away right after Jacob’s wrestling match:

“And he set up an altar there and called it ‘God, the God of Israel’” (Genesis 33:20).

Do you see it? Right after Jacob - now known as Israel -wrestles with God, he built an altar and called it the “God of Israel.”

Still missing my point? Let me take you back to a few passages before the divine wrestling match.

“Yahweh was standing there beside him, saying, ‘I am Yahweh, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac …’” (Genesis 28:13).

Notice anything? Let’s try another one:

“Then Jacob prayed, ‘O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac - O Lord, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly'” (Genesis 32:9).

How about now?

Here’s yet another one:

“If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, certainly now you would have sent me off empty-handed …” (Genesis 31:42).

There is a common thread throughout these passages: God is the God of Abraham. God is the God of Isaac.

But, it does not say that God is the God of Israel until after he wrestled with God. 

You see, until Jacob had a divine wrestling match with God - until he had a very personal struggle with God - his faith was not cemented. It was not his own.

Yes, he knew of his father’s faith. He had most definitely heard the stories of his grandfather’s faith.

But, he was only living his faith vicariously through their faith; it had not been solidified in his life.

We find a similar sentiment in the book of Job. After literally losing everything - his kids, his wealth, his health - and spending untold hours arguing with God and his friends, Job finally sees things from God’s perspective.

He says this: “I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5).

I have been a Christian my entire life. I gave my heart to Christ at the age of six and never looked back.

I have spent my entire adult life teaching scripture, encouraging others to hold on to God as they walk through the fire.

However, I had never truly been through the fire myself. As I have found myself walking through a season of trials - a season of losing my ministry, my finances, my marriage -my faith has become my own.

It has been a long, painful process, but I completely understand Job’s sentiment.

As I look at my relationship with Christ today in comparison to what it used to be, it is as if I had only heard about him before.

Today, I have tasted and I know that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)!

Right now, I find myself in a new season of testing.

As I enter the fire this time, I have an overwhelming sense of peace.

I know that God - my God - has seen me through before and He will see me through again.

I have been through a divine wrestling match with God, and He touched me - just as he touched Jacob’s hip. I am not the same person that I once was.

I can tell the change in myself as I talk about God today.

I find myself so frequently referring to Him with terms of endearment—something that never would have happened before my divine wrestling match.

Thoughts of my Savior spontaneously cause a smile to sweep across my face. I find such joy in sharing how God has seen me through trials - and in reminding others of how He longs to redeem their situations.

There is simply a sweetness to my relationship with Christ that never existed before I wrestled with God.

As we move to the end of Israel’s life, there are a few hints that he experienced a similar change in his relationship with God.

“We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me wherever I have gone” (Genesis 35:3).

You see the personal relationship, the recognition that God was with him throughout his life. It is that sense of closeness to the One who has walked with him faithfully.

Again, as Israel is dying and blessing his grandchildren, we see a tender moment as he reflects on his relationship with God:

“Then he blessed Joseph and said, ‘May the God before whom my grandfather Abraham and my father, Isaac, walked—the God who has been my shepherd all my life, to this very day, The Angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys …’” (Genesis 48:15).

I can see the smile creep across his face as he remembers all the years with his Savior, his Yahweh.

I can hear him telling his children and grandchildren gathered around him about the night his life changed, the night he wrestled with God and took His faith as his own.

I can sense the peace in the room as he prepares to breathe his last breath, to forever enter the presence of his Savior.

Are you struggling with your faith today?

Do you find yourself in a divine wrestling match with God? I know the battle is raging.

I know the pain and the fear. I know the frustration as you try to come to peace with God’s plan for your life.

I understand the fear of letting go of every burden and turning them over to God.

I also know the change that takes place in your heart when you have taken the time to engage God, to get to know His heart.

I know how He touches you and changes you and blesses you when you seek Him with every ounce of your being.

I know the joy of a relationship that is fully yours, that is truly personal.

Are you in a wrestling match today?

Hang in there. He will change you forever.

God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.

Say the following prayer:

“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from You.

I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to You.

Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.

I believe that Your Son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.

I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank You that according to Your Word, I am now born again.

Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. I promise to study Your Word – the Bible.

Use me for Your glory.

In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.”

Dena Johnson is a busy single mom of three kids who loves God passionately. She delights in taking the everyday events of life, finding God in them, and impressing them on her children as they sit at home or walk along the way (Deuteronomy 6:7). Her greatest desire is to be a channel of God’s comfort and encouragement. You can read more of Dena’s experiences with her Great I AM on her blog Dena's Devos.

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