"Wrestling with God"

This Sunday, Simon Lace brings us the talk in the latest of our EBC Online services. Once you have watched the video, we encourage you to reflect on the bible text and join us in the prayer that follows below.

To listen to the talk click here.
 
Readings:

Genesis chapter 32 verses 22 - 31 (New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised)

Jacob Wrestles at Peniel
22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ 27 So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ 28 Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ 29 Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Peniel, limping because of his hip.



 

Prayer & Reflection

Father thank you for our time together today. I ask for your blessing on this church. Would you bless this church O God. Lord we say thank you for the mighty works you have done and still do through the people of this church. We ask for more Lord. As we wrestle with all of the different things that you already know are in our hearts and minds, O God, help us not to rely on our own strength, but to rely on you. Help us to trust in you and in your surpassing love for us. O heavenly Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to believe and not only to believe but to desire to do your will and actually do your will O God. We ask all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen.




Questions to Consider

1. What are you wrestling with at the moment? What are the issues on your mind that are causing you anxiety?
2. Are you really acknowledging these things or shoving them to the back of your mind? Might you be able to try to wrestle with God about them?
3. When do pray – really?
4. When could you pray? How could you move towards God and “get to grips” with Him over these issues?
5. Are you relying on your own strength, or asking God to help you?
6. If you are prepared to ask God to help you, are you also prepared to submit to Him if He will help you?
7. In your prayers about the issues that trouble you, are you determined to have your own way – is it “my way or the wrong way”, or are you prepared to submit to God and do things His way?