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Finding Life: Real Life

Finding Life: Real Life. Wrestling. 1 wres•tle ˈre- səl , ˈ ra - vb 1 :  to contend by grappling with and striving to trip or throw an opponent down or off balance 2 :  to combat an opposing tendency or force 〈 wrestling with his conscience〉

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Finding Life: Real Life

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  1. Finding Life: Real Life

  2. Wrestling 1wres•tle\ˈre-səl, ˈra-\ vb 1: to contend by grappling with and striving to trip or throw an opponent down or off balance 2: to combat an opposing tendency or force 〈wrestling with his conscience〉 3: to engage in deep thought, consideration, or debate 24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. - Genesis 32:24

  3. Wrestling With God 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” - Genesis 32:25-27 • Jacob, the trickster, held his own in a man-to-man fight • Jacob, the deceiver, had used wily ways all his life to gain the advantage. • Jacob, the deceitful fighter, would fight no more. • Jacob held on for God’s blessing & became someone else – Israel (God fights).

  4. The Wrestling Doesn’t End Easily • Interestingly, Jacob’s habits didn’t change over night! Even with God’s new blessing, Jacob still looked for a way to solve the puzzle of meeting his brother, Esau, as he returned to the land of their father Isaac. • Letting go, and letting God have control of one’s life is never easy. When meeting Esau, Jacob always refers to himself as Esau’s servant, but Esau called Jacob, brother. (Gen.33:9) • As a child of God, God may remind you, you are His!! “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.” - Genesis 35:10 • Let’s be honest – “Do we really want God in control?”

  5. Mental Assent or Practice? Life – real life – is about changing from the carnal, worldly, unregenerate sinner into the purified, regenerate child of God. • Jesus states, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” – Matthew 10:39 • Remember: Letting go, and letting God have control of one’s life is never easy. 34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword.35 ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ * Micah 7:6.

  6. Mental Assent or Practice? Doing right all the time isn’t easy. It’s IMPOSSIBLE… Without the Holy Spirit!! • Christ and Christianity cause division because the devil and the world hate God’s plan of redemption, regeneration and reconciliation. • Remember: 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. - 2 Corinthians 5:19-21

  7. Show Mercy The enemy, the devil, hates this and can have none of it! 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s (world’s, devil’s) purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. – John 10:9-10 The legalists can have none of it, either! “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” - Matthew 9:13 7 But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ 8 For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” -Matthew 12:7-8

  8. Our God is a Jealous God 37 “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. - Matthew 10:37-39 Who among us doesn’t fight tooth and nail for ourselves. It is very hard to submit, even to Jesus. 40 “Anyone who receives you receives me, and anyone who receives me receives the Father who sent me.” – Matthew 10:40

  9. Give It All to the Lord “Your name is Jacob, but you will not be called Jacob any longer. From now on your name will be Israel.” So God renamed him Israel.” - Genesis 35:10 Israel means ‘God fights.’ • If we will allow God to lead the way and will allow God to fight for us, we will truly be able to be the ambassadors He has called us to be; bringing the ‘Good News’ of reconciliation, restoration and regeneration wherever we go!

  10. BENEDICTION Now may the God of peace–who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood–may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. –Hebrews 13:20-21

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