My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Genesis 32:26, “The Angel of God said, Let Me go for the day breaks. But Jacob said, I will not let you go, unless You bless me.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above passage we learn that the Angel of God by an admirable condescension speaks to Jacob, “ Let Me go for the day breaks.” But Jacob was reluctant, to leave the Angel of God. He resolves he will have a blessing even though all his bones are put out of joint, than allow the Angel to leave him without a blessing. Having been left alone he spread his fears before God in Prayer, for prayer is indeed wrestling with God. Nothing requires more vigour and unceasing exertion than wrestling because it is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. Jacob kept his ground, though the struggle continued long. This did not shake his faith or silence his prayer. So he prevailed and was blessed. Jacob relied on God for his sustenance.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Jacob went to his uncle’s place with empty hand and a staff. The only blessing he had while he went to his uncle’s place was the blessing of His parents. But now God had blessed him with many children, servants, cattle, and much wealth. So he decided to leave his uncle and return back to Canaan his Father’s place. He wanted to go back and settle there with his wives and children. The Bible says, He returned with two companies. God had blessed him abundantly. But he feared to enter into His Fathers place, because he feared his elder brother Esau, who had earlier planned to kill Jacob for grabbing all the Blessing’s from his father Isaac. There was a family enmity that continued for over a period of time. Being very tired all the servants and his wives and children were fast asleep. But Jacob could not sleep. He was filled with fear, while returning home to see his Father. He was gripped with fear. He was afraid of facing the consequences awaiting him in his homeland. He was alone by the river side of Jabbok. And he cried out to God in deep distress that God should help him, from the hands of his elder brother. For he was afraid that he and his entire family, his wife and children, his servants would be destroyed.
During this critical time God came to meet him as the Angel of God. And Jacob struggled with him and prevailed. God blessed Jacob as He had promised him, while he was on his way to his uncle’s place. The very same night God changed the heart of his brother Esau, and he came to meet Jacob on his way to Canaan. Esau embraced Jacob and kissed him and a peace treaty was made between the brothers after many long years. Thus God changed the situation in favour of Jacob his beloved. Though the night was agonious, God granted him a peaceful morning.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, today as you are reading this message with much grief and sorrow, God Himself comes down to join with you in your problems. Share your difficulties with God. Often you share your sorrows with others who cannot help you in any way. But you never understand that there is a God beside you who can help you from all your troubles. You don’t realize to seek God at times of trouble. Learn to share your problems with God, He will solve all your problems in an amicable manner and set you free. May be you youngsters, cannot share your problems with your own parents but when you share with God however big your problem might seem to be God will counsel and solve all your problems. Start sharing with God. Make Him the Lord and Master of your life. He will bless you as He blessed Jacob, and change the worst situation in favour of you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You for teaching us the importance of Prayer. May we look up to God when we are in trouble? Teach us not to share our problems with others who cannot help us. Make us to understand that we need to put our confidence in God rather than man.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book Hosea 12:4 “Yes He struggled with the Angel, and prevailed. He wept and sought favour from Him. He found Him in Bethel. And there He spoke to us.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, we learn that Jacob wrestled with the Angel of God until the breaking of the day. God said to him, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and men and prevailed.”Thus Jacob found God at Bethel. He was Jehovah the same, that was and is and is to come. It was a revelation of God Himself, to His chosen, one Jacob. And since he wept in prayer to God, he not only obtained the blessing of God, but also deliverance from his brother Esau, as well as others respecting him and his posterity.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Bible says, God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan Aram, and blessed him. And there Jacob not only found God, but also spoke with Him. Jesus wants to speak with you through this message. Are you willing to submit yourself to Him, and then you too will receive the blessings from God as Jacob received. God not only met Jacob but also watched over his doings. God looked over his actions. Today God is watching your actions carefully. Not only watches over you but also understands you and knows the need of your life.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Jacob was a dweller of tents. He was his mother’s favourite. While Esau his eldest brother was his father, (Isaac’s) favourite son. For he hunted in the forest and cooked delicious dishes for his father. Jacob was a humble man. At the appointed time his parents decided to send him away, to his uncle’s place to make his living. He was old enough to leave his parents and so he had to stand on his own feet and not depend on his parents any further. Moreover he had taken away all the blessings from his father Isaac and not one was left over for Esau. So his brother took revenge on him and decided to kill Jacob. Fearing his brother he left his father’s place.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Jacob’s parents wanted him to make his livelihood, at his uncle’s place. So they called him and blessed him. For they did not give him money or wealth or property to start his living. Usually their occupation was sheep rearing. Jacob was content with the blessing of his parents. He realised his responsibility as a young man and left to his uncle Laban’s house. He was left all alone to meet his future so he totally depended on God Yahweh. On his way he found God at Bethel, and wrestled with Him, and prevailed. Therefore God blessed him. He went with the blessings of his parents to his uncle’s house and God showed favour to him in all that he did and he prospered.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, there are many youngsters reading this message today. You desire to do well in life. You want to start a business of your own. It is a good venture, but have you received the blessings of your parents? Are they happy about you, starting a business. ? Are you torturing them for investment? Are you claiming their jewels and property in order to start your business. Depend on the Lord Jesus Christ. Make Him your Business partner. Receive the blessings of your parents then God will bless you and your business. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for this blessed day. Thank you for teaching us through this incident that it is important to receive the blessing of our parents. Help us to honour our parents and not despise them for any reason. Make us to have faith in God that He will bless us if we honour our parents. Teach us not to depend on our own strength but on God and His power.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Psalms 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the Presence Of my enemies.”
My Dear Brothers and Sister, from the above passage we come to understand that God is always, ready to prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. Every good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had no enemies at all. Yet we see the quietude of the godly man even in the sight of his enemies, and how refreshing is his calm bravery. And David was one such person. When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, nothing seems to disturb him, there is no confusion, the enemy is at the door yet God prepares a table and makes you sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. Oh the peace which Jehovah gives to His people even in the midst of the most trying circumstances is inexpressible.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, David experienced the fear of death. He was confronted by his enemies. King Saul was possessed by evil spirit. So David the son of Jessie was called to play music in his harp. And when David played his harp, he would be relieved of the evil spirit or the evil spirit would subside. Since, King Saul knew that David was anointed as the next king of Israel; he was jealous of him and wanted to kill him. So he threw his spear at him with the desire to kill him. But God saved him from the hands of King Saul several times. Not once, but he made many attempts to kill him. But the Lord was with David and therefore saved him from the hands of King Saul.
My Dear brothers and Sisters, similarly David and his body guard Abishai, for fear of Saul, went up the hill of Hakilah and hid themselves which faces Jeshimon, Knowing this, Saul with three thousand warriors , surrounded the hill in which David was hiding. So David could not come out of his hideout. He feared that he would be trapped by his enemies, So he cried out to the Living God. He lifted up his voice to God in prayer, asking God to save him from his enemies. The Lord heard his prayer and put king Saul and his three thousand men into deep sleep. Such that they never even noticed David take away the spear, and the jar of water, from Saul’s head. And they escaped from the cruel hands of their enemies. Thus God prepared a table before him in the sight of his enemies. This royal context explains the presence of David’s enemies, as observers at the feast, they almost mocked at him. But David trusted in God and God delivered him from the hands of his enemies at all times. And this victory was the feast David enjoyed before his enemies.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Lord will prepare a table even before you in the presence of your enemies. God will exalt your name in front of those who put you to shame. God will lift your name. He will increase you on every side and comfort you. People might have told that you would never arise from your fallen state. But God says, “Your enemies, will fall down but you will stand erect, and firm.” Hallelujah. ”God will suppress your enemies that rise up against you. Those who afflict you shall never rise up against you. You will search for them but you will never find them. This is the Lord’s doing and it will be marvellous to your eyes.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for this blessed day. Thank you for protecting us and preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Lord You hear us when we cry unto you. Grant unto us the grace to walk in the fear of God. Help us to be careful with our enemies. Never allow us to suffer in their hands. May we be victorious before them all the days of our life.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Job 30:26, “Yet when I hoped for good, evil came. When I looked for light then darkness came.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above passage we do understand that Job being an upright man and was blameless, one who feared God and shunned evil. Such a man who was righteous before God expected good things to happen in his life. He knew that God is good and does well especially to His children. God has laid up goodness for them that fear Him. He believed that God has promised good things unto them both temporal and spiritual for godliness and godly men during this life and that which is to come. But Job was disappointed in his expectation for he says, “I hoped for good, but evil came. When I looked for light then darkness came.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, As we all know that evil came upon Job one after another. Even when in the height of his prosperity and because of repeated evil new afflictions came upon him by the order and direction of God. The Light of outward prosperity, such as he had earlier enjoyed had dwindled off. He had almost sought after and longed for the Light to continue in his life. He waited as any good men would want to be. Since Light is sown for them in the purposes and decrees of God. And hence one should wait for the springing of it up as the husbandman would wait for the springing up of the corn sown in the earth, and seeing that to the upright there arises light in the darkness. And though God hides His face from them, for a moment, he will have mercy on them and therefore should wait his time to be gracious to them. But Job waited for long time to no purpose.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, but the darkness of adversity, still thicker and darker and with no appearance of spiritual light and favour fell upon Job, that he could not discover the love of God to him. Job though disappointed still continued to exercise his complete faith upon God. Such that he never, ever sinned or charged God with wrong. The Bible says, in all this Job did not sin with his lips. His friends criticised him, even his wife rebuked him but he never faltered. He said, “Though He slay me yet, will I trust Him.” As a result God exalted him. The Lord restored Job’s losses, as he prayed for his friends and the Lord blessed the later days of Job more than his beginning. Job lived 140 years and saw his children and grand children for four generation. This is how God blesses those who put their trust in God.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, how about you ? Have you fixed your eyes upon God or is your faith on earthly people. The Bible says, It is better to trust in the Lord, Than to put confidence in man. On whom have you put your trust?
If you endure tribulation and count it all joy, when you fall into various trials then God will turn your curse into a blessing as God blessed Job. For God raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes. With the princes of His people. Similarly the Lord will lift you up and when you commit your ways to the Lord and Trust also in Him He shall bring it to pass. Put your trust in Jesus. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for this blessed day. Lord teach us to have adamant faith in God as Job did. May we apply his good nature in our life. Help us to bear our trials and afflictions with utmost patience. Thank you Lord for setting up Job as an example of endurance and longsuffering for us to follow in our life. Bless us Lord, as you blessed Job.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Psalms 17:8,9 , “Keep me as the apple of Your eye, Hide Me under the Shadow of Your Wings.”From the wicked who oppress, from the deadly enemies who surround me.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we understand that David being compassed with enemies prays to God the Father, in this Psalm, to keep him in safety. David cried out to God, asking God to preserve him, guard him, and defend him, as one who would protect that which is most precious and valuable to him. He says, “Lord keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings.” This is in comparison to birds, or fowls, that protect their young ones by gathering them, under their wings. It is probable that the Psalmist had this passage in his mind, where it says, “’He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of his eye, as an eagle, stirreth up her nest, flutters over her young , spreads, abroad her wings, So the Lord led him in the wilderness.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, In the Life of David, there was a huge time of oppression. Even though he was anointed to be the king of Israel, by Prophet
Solomon, yet he could not enjoy the kingship that was granted to him. He was rather chased by his own uncle king Saul, who wandered everywhere to kill David. He was jealous of him because he was victorious over Goliath the Philistine giant who came against the Israelites. Saul was all the time planning as to how he might kill him. On the other hand, his own son, Absalom was awaiting opportunities to kill his father David, in order to usurp the throne after the death of his father. His wife Michal, listening to her father, King Saul, despised David and went to live with another man named Palti. Thus his entire family was against him. And now, David was in great distress. He was over whelmed with sorrow.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, David did not have any security for his life. He was afraid that his son Absalom would kill him any time. So in order to save his life he hid himself in the foothills, and caves. There are numerous Psalms written by him about his lamenting over his fear of death and his sorrowful state of life. And Psalm seventeen is one among them, focusing from the beginning till the end, about the sorrow over his death, and his family problems. He cries out in this Psalm to the Lord, as a prayer, asking God to help him overcome this fear of death and asks God to protect him. Once, when he fled from King Saul, to the caves, he cried out to the Lord in fear, saying, “Lord be merciful to me, for my soul trusts, in You, And in the shadow of your wings, I will make my refuge. Until these calamities, have passed by.” Later he says, “’Lord I will abide in Your Tabernacle, forever. I will trust in the Shelter of your wings. Lord because You have been my help, therefore I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.”
David was surrounded with foes from all corners. There were many wicked and cruel men who oppressed him. And he was surrounded with several enemies who were so bitter to him in spite of his goodness. So he says, “’Lord protect me and keep me as the apple of Your eye. Hide me under the shadow
of Your wings.” He sought for God’s hand of protection. He knew well that he could rely upon the eternal God for his refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will thrust out all his enemies, from before him, and he shall dwell in safety. And one day all his enemies will submit to him and he shall tread down their high places.
Are you afraid of your enemies? Is someone chasing you for no reason? Have you been surrounded by unwanted and wicked foes? It may be your own relatives, creditors, one of your own siblings who is troubling you, your own nephew, or niece? Don’t be afraid, of the trouble, from the wicked when it comes. Whoever it may be, put your trust in Jesus, He will cause your enemies to surrender at your feet. Like David, Remain under the shadow of His Mighty wings. He will protect you and keep you secure. No one can pluck you out from His Hands. He will keep you as the apple of His eye. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for this blessed day. Thank You for reminding us about the miserable life of David, through this passage. And because He trusted in God he was safe. Help us to put our confidence in God and not on worldly things. Make us to understand that even though we are surrounded by our enemies. Teach us to believe that God will protect us. And He will be a very present help.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
