2. BY FAITH JACOB

3. Today we study the example of Jacob, who teaches us that sometimes the victory of faith also has to come by the way of struggle.

4. “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” Hebrews 11:21

5. Jacob was a wheeler dealer birthright blessing

6. Genesis 28:15 tells us that God promised to be with him always.

7. In Genesis 28:21 Jacob states “God shall be my God.”

8. But it wasn’t until Genesis 32 that as a child of God he gave the Lord control of his life.

9. Events leading to Genesis 32

10. In Genesis 32 we have the first event.

11. Genesis 32:24-29- “So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was

12. wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is daybreak.’ But Jacob replied, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ The man asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Jacob,’ he

13. answered. Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.’ Jacob said,

14. ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ Then he blessed him."

15. Many times God brings about transformations in the lives of people during a time of brokenness.

16. “I won’t do anything until you bless me.”

17. He went from the GRABBER to “A Prince with God.”

18. The Bible states that his name was changed “because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”

19. Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will

20. also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.”

21. a new name along with a new destiny

22. There is a very private and personal place of intimacy with him that brings hope and freedom and joy and a destiny on earth that no one can steal away.

23. Praise God for His patience with His children!

24. Sometimes we wrestle with God over problems we don’t understand.

25. Sometimes we wrestle with God over His will for our lives.

26. Sometimes we wrestle with God because of questions that haunt us.

27. Sometimes we wrestle with God because of a deep desire for blessing.

28. Praise God for His patience with His children!

29. “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven” for us” 1 Peter 1:4