Our greatest victories He touched the Hollow of his Thigh. Genesis 32:25 Our greatest victories are wrought out through pain, and purchased at the cost of the humbling of the flesh. Jacob learned that the secret of prevailing with God and man was not in the strength, but in the weakness and suffering of the flesh. It must ever be so. The victor Lamb bears still the scars of Calvary, and appears as one who had been slain. Had Laban met Jacob that morning, he would have pointed to that limp as an indication of Gods wrath and displeasure; but if he had looked into his face, he would have seen all its hardness and cunning gone, and would have been arrested by the unwonted tenderness in his voice. The shrunken sinew counteracts pride. - So high a spiritual achievement as to prevail with God might have tempted Jacob to arrogance and self-esteem. But God anticipated the possible temptation by this physical infirmity, which was constantly present to Jacobs consciousness. The shrunken sinew was the secret of victory. - Had it not been shrivelled by the angels touch, Jacob would have continued to resist in the pride of his strength, and would never have clung convulsively to the angel, crying, I will not let thee go. It was only in that act that he became Israel, the Prince. The shrunken sinew makes us think little of this world and much of the next. - From this moment Jacob takes up more of the pilgrim attitude. He finds that for him, at least, the pace will have to be slower; but it is well, for he relaxes his hold on the seen to entwine more tenaciously about the unseen. The days of the years of my pilgrimage - such is his epitome of his life Change Your Name REVELATION 2:17 NIV 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 also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. Jesus changed Simons name to Peter, which means a rock. God changed Abrams name to Abraham, which means father of a multitude. Jacobs name was changed to Israel. Gods messenger called Gideon a mighty man of valor when he saw himself as a fearful loser. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 NIV 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! As a Christian believer, you are a new creation in Christ, and you are no longer a loser. So quit calling yourself a loser -- or any negative name. Now that you are in Christ, those negative names do not fit. Accept the new name God gave you: Winner. (This is what overcomer means!) 1 JOHN 5:4 NIV 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Is it that easy? It involves more than just calling yourself a new name, but if you fail to change the way you talk about yourself, and the way you think about yourself, you will continue in the same old patterns of defeat. You must begin to see yourself as God sees you, to see yourself as you can become. Consider calling yourself some of the following names which reflect what the New Testament reveals about your new identity in Christ. Forgiven Forgiver Child Of God Bold Confident Patient Kind Strong Righteous Rich Healthy Blessed Joyful SAY THIS: I am a new person in Christ, and God has given me some new names.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 15:17:17 +0000
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