THE STRUGGLE BEHIND EVERY DREAM: Trusting God to Open Doors – Part 3

January 17, 2021

THE STRUGGLE BEHIND EVERY DREAM

Time to Dream: Trusting God to Open Doors – Part 3

 

THE DREAM

 

“When Jacob reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. He found a smooth stone for a pillow and laid down to sleep. Then God gave him a dream in which he saw a stairway going from earth to heaven, and angels of God were going up and down the stairs! At the top of the stairway was God who said, ‘I am the same Lord of Abraham your grandfather and Isaac your father, and I am going to give you and your descendants all the land on which you’re sleeping… and your descendants will spread all around the world, and all the peoples on earth are going to be blessed by your future generations… I’m going to be with you, and I’m going to watch over you wherever you go. But one day I will bring your people back to this land… When Jacob woke up he thought ‘Surely, the Lord is in this place and I was not even aware of it!’ Then he was afraid and said ‘This place is awesome! It’s the house of God – the gateway to heaven!’ So early the next morning, Jacob got up and took the stone he’d used for a pillow and stood it upright as a memorial marker. Then he anointed the stone with oil and named the place Beth-el, which means House of God… Then Jacob made this vow to God, ‘If you’ll be with me, I will honor you with my life and I will give back to you a tenth of all that you give to me.”’ – Genesis 28:11-22  

 

THE STRUGGLE: 5 PHASES GOD TAKES US THROUGH TO REALIZE HIS DREAM!

Genesis 25-32

  1. THE CONCEPTION PHASE:

21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:21-23, ESV)

 

  1. THE CRISIS PHASE:

“That night Jacob sent his family across the Jabbok river. Then Jacob was left all alone in the camp, and a Man came and wrestled with Jacob all night.”  Genesis 32:22-25 (NLT)

 

“Before Jacob was born, he struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God.”  Hosea 12:3 (NLT)

  1. THE COMMITMENT PHASE:

“Jacob wrestled with this Man until dawn. When the man saw that he couldn’t win the match, he struck Jacob’s hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, for it is dawn!’ But Jacob panted, ‘I won’t let you go unless you bless me!”’ 

Genesis 32:24b-26

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

  1. THE CONFESSION PHASE:

“The man asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is JACOB,’ he answered.”’  Genesis 32:27 (NIV)

Jacob = original: “deceiver/manipulator”

 

  1. THE CONVERSION PHASE:

“Then the Man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob. Instead you will be called ISRAEL… Then God blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘It is because I saw God face to face…”’

Genesis 32:28-30 (NIV)

Israel = “Prince with God”

“The sun rose as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.”  Genesis 32:31 (NLT)

 

“If anyone belongs to Christ, they are a new creation. The old things have gone; everything is made new!”  2 Corinthians 5:17 (NCV)

 

HOMEWORK FOR THIS WEEK : TIME TO DREAM

  1. In your Life Group watch & discuss video lesson 3 –The 3rd Open Door: The Door To Greatness
  1. Commit to praying and fasting with us for the remaining two weeks. Call in daily for corporate prayer at 9pm. Don’t leave your dreams to chance.
  2. Memorize 2 Corinthians 5:17“If anyone belongs to Christ, they are a new creation!”

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