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Bro. Otis Fisher
But a chapter 32 and Jacob went on his way and the angels of God met him probably in a vision. When we've become knowledgeable of a saved condition in Christ We come not so much Into his presence as we become aware of a multitude of angelic hosts that surround us here on earth in Hebrews 114 it says.
And they are they not all ministering spirits Sent forth to minister for them. Who shall be heirs of salvation? So we have their ministry even before we know we're saved too. And when Jacob saw them, he said this is God's host.
And he called the name of of that place Mahannam. Jacob sent messenger before him to he saw his brother. Unto the land of seer the country of Edom. Now what was the last words that we heard Esau say Russell.
So all of these years. That's what's been ringing in his head. I'm going to kill you. And he commanded them saying thou Thus shall you speak unto my lord Esau? Thy servant Jacob saith thus I Have sojourned with Laban stayed there until now.
And I have oxen Asses flocks men's servants women's servants. I have sent to tell my lord That I'm that I might find grace in his eyes. What is it? He's trying to do. Trying to what? That's right. The first thing Jacob wants Esau to know is that he's so rich he is not even going to man do his birthright.
That was the normal Greeting in that day. That was just a little ale a little ale not large. That's like saying sir and the messengers returned to Jacob saying we came to thy brother Esau. And also he cometh to meet thee with four hundred men.
They didn't go all the way to Esau. They talked to rise someplace and they saw him. And that he was coming with four hundred men now this just reinforces the idea That Jacob has That he's going to come to kill me.
Now you talk about being frightened. Jacob's heart hit a rock bottom. He knows that's the zero Esau Is on his way to carry out his old threat. Well guilty conscience has no need of prodding. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed and divided the people that was with him in flocks and herds.
And the camels and into two bands. And he said If Esau come to the one company and smite it then the other company which is left shall escape. Now comes the first recorded prayer in the Bible before we get to it.
How many of you used an old pump that you had to work the handle? Two or three of you the water pours out at the first stroke. Doesn't it all filled lived with a dry well. If the wells full it'll come out with a first stroke.
If it isn't full You have to prime it. You can get water, but you have to prime the pump. You're primed to pump. Greg. That's a lot like prayer. Do you see the connection. If you're used to praying it comes easy quick.
But if you have to prime it and pump and pump and pump before you get to prayer prayer is not eloquence but earnestness. Not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it. No figure of speech, but come bump compunction of the soul.
And Jacob said Oh God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac the Lord which said has done to me. Return unto thy country and to thy kindred and I will deal well with thee. I'm not worthy of the least of all of the mercies.
And of all the truth which thou has shown unto thy servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan. And now I am become two bands. Deliver me. I pray thee from the hand of my brother. From the hand of Esau for I fear him lest he will come and strike me and the mother with the children.
And thou saidest I will surely do thee good and make thy seed as the sand of the sea. Which cannot be numbered for a multitude? So he's reminding God of what he said. He's reminding God What he has. Relativity or adversity and prosperity comes to light as we walk with Jacob.
Prayer is the best resource of the heart and that no. Not merely of the lip. Is what God looks upon with favor. If you have never experienced the danger of being drowned How do you know what it feels like to not be drowned the people in paradise?
Would tell you That purgatory was an awful place. The people in hell would say that the purgatory was a beautiful place. And he lodged there that same night and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother.
I have a list 200 she goats 20 he goats 200 ewes and 20 rams 30 milk camels and their coats 40 kind and 10 bulls 20 she asses and 10 foals. And he delivered them into the hands of his servants. Every drove by themselves now.
They were divided up into sections. And said unto his servants pass over before me. And put a space betwixt drove and drove. Now so you can get the picture for sure. He has a drove going out let's say 25 She goats and a couple he goats.
And they go. Then he put a space. And then the next group went and then he put a space and the next group went and went like this through all of the uh. Until all of the that amount had been given now.
They were stretched out by a quarter of a mile at least in between thou shalt say. And he commanded the foremost saying when these saw my brother meet thee. And ask these saying whose are thou? And where they goest thou and whose are these before thee?
Thou shalt say they be thy servant jacobs. It's a present sent unto my lord. Esau. And behold also he is behind us each. Each group as they met him Would end by saying he's behind us. He's behind us. He's behind us.
And so commanded he the second and the third and all that followed the drove saying on this matter shalt thou speak unto esau When you find him. And say ye moreover behold thy servant jacob is behind us.
For he says I will appease him with the present that goeth before me. And afterward I will see his face for adventure. He will accept me. He he has nothing on his mind except being accepted by esau. It's one thing to know how to give.
But it's another thing to know how to to keep. To give to god is a fine thing but to know how to give is just as important. Let me give you an example. If I was to offer to you Sometime when you're hungry, not right now.
But verge I was to bring in A Steak and potatoes and gravy and hot rolls and top it all off with a fine dessert. That would be pretty good, wouldn't it? What if I'd present that entire thing to you? On a garbage can lid.
You said it. So it's just as important how we give as what we give. So when the president So went the president over before him and himself lodged that night in the company. And he arose up that night and took his two wives two women servants His 11 sons and passed over the fort jay book and he took them and sent them over the brook and sent over that he Had then jacob was left alone.
And there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of day. Jacob is all alone on the far side or near side of This little creek jay balk. There's two wrestling matches Physical and spiritual. The reason for this was to reduce jacob to a sense of nothingness.
The lord comes to us in the dark night of our life and stays Until the sun rises in the morning. Prayer amongst most men among most men is designed To change the person to whom we pray. But prayer to god does not change him.
Better rather it fits us to receive that for which we have prayed. Prayer is the work of god's spirit in us. Therefore It cannot be in vain. 25 and when he jesus Saw that he jesus prevailed not against him jacob he jesus Touched the hollow of his jacob's thigh.
And the hollow jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. And he jesus said Let me jesus Go for the day breaketh. And he jacob Said I jacob Will not let thee jesus go. Except thou jesus bless me.
Now i've put in Many the the two names to help you keep it straight. And he said unto him What is thy name? And he said jacob. And he said thy name shall be called no more jacob, but israel. For as a prince has that power of god and with men and has prevailed.
And jacob asked him and said tell me I pray thee thy name. And he said wherefore is it that thou doesn't ask after my name. And he blessed him there. Jacob called the name of the place panel. For I have seen god face to face.
And my life is preserved. And as he passed over panel the sun rose upon him. And he halted upon his thigh. Greg what does halted mean he limped. Therefore the children of israel eat not of the sinew which shrank Which is upon the hollow of the thigh unto this day.
Because he touched the hollow jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. It's one thing to be blessed of god, but quite another To live in the power of that blessing any questions. Yes, russell dismisses, please.