Sermon topic: Crossing the Jabbock River
Dr Tan Lai Yong
Wesley Wesley Methodist Church
Saturday 28 June 2014
Text: Genesis 32
Crossing the Nijiang River is scary, terrifying.
Jacob was crossing the Jabbok
He was scared
He named the place "Mahanaim" which means Two Camps but there was only one camp!
There was a binary theme in his life.
2 daughters of Laban became his wives
2 flocks
2 groups coming to meet him
2 brothers
2 wrestling matches
2 times angels
He always sought to devide and conquer.
Chinese writing
Knife on heart: ren, endurance
Self on heart: ji: jealousy
reason on heart: En: grace
Double amputee
Came to ask for two artificial legs so that when he walked into a brothel he would not be rejected.
He was looking for love but on the wrong way
(he was given the artificial legs)
Jabbock
Alone
Calculating
Battling
Opponents
An angel came to wrestle
Through wrestling with God (Prayer) God changes us.
Through wrestling Jacob was changed from Possessions to Stewardship.
Question to ask
Where is your heart?
Psalm 51:10
New International Version (NIV)
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
We need to confront and deal with the many lies around us
Eg "the PSLE is the most important examination in your life.
"If you don't do well, you're never going to make it."
Be an Israel
Be a God-Wrestler.
Handicapped girl on a picnic
Feeling downcast
We are like the grass on the picnic site
Every one step on us
On the brighter side; if there is no grass there would just be mud.
Take home message as seen by su min
From
problem
Fear
Possessiveness
We can find release
Transformation
Change
Through struggle, wrestling, prayer.
To achieve obedience , stewardship.
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