Wrestle for your Breakthrough

WRESTLE FOR YOUR BREAKTHROUGH

Pastor Mark Couch

"Then he said, "Let me go, for the day has broken." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." - Genesis 32:26

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed a breakthrough more than anything else? It may have been a problem with finances, a health issue, or a difficult relationship. You know the situation needs to improve, and you are ready to do whatever is necessary to bring about those changes.

Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, had been dealing with something similar to this in the book of Genesis. He had been on the run from his brother Esau for many years, and now they were ready to come face-to-face once more. Jacob was well aware that Esau harbored resentment for him and that this hatred posed a significant threat to his safety. In his despair, battled with God and said, "I will not let you go until you bless me." (Genesis 32:26) and God heard him.

Jacob's encounter with God during this time is a compelling illustration of what it means to fight for your breakthrough. He was aware of the fact that he required the assistance of God, and he was ready to do whatever it took to obtain it. Even when it appeared that he would never get God's blessing, he pursued it with the same determination as before. The events that occurred in Jacob's life can teach us some valuable lessons.

UNDERSTANDING THE THIRD HEAVEN

Jacob wrestled with God because he understood he was in a spiritual war.

Between the third heaven and the first heaven where we are, known as the celestial heaven, there are forces that abide there, and the purpose of those forces is to try to block your prayers from getting to God and to stop your blessings from getting back down to the earth.

Jacob understood that there was a God who sat high and looks low, and there was warfare going on. He knew that he had to pray in this situation to ensure he got the breakthrough amid his most dire moments. We must do the same today.

Our weapons in our warfare are not carnal but spiritual and mighty in pulling down strongholds. When you pray, you must understand that you're not just praying down here on the earth. Your prayers are rising to that second heaven, where spiritual warfare is taking place. And God is releasing angels to fight on your behalf so that your breakthrough can pass the second heaven and now down to the earth, where your answer is being made manifest.

WRESTLING WITH GOD

Has God ever told you that it's going to be all right? Have you ever heard Him say that? Has He ever sent somebody to tell you that things will get better? That things are going to be great? You're going to succeed and that you're going to overcome? 

In Jacob’s story, the Bible lets us know that a man comes his way, and when the man comes Jacob's way, he starts to hold on and wrestle with the man. He refused to let the man go. The Bible says that they wrestled all night long. For three to four hours, they wrestled to the point where the man said, "Let me go because the day is breaking," and Jacob said, "Nah, man. I'm not going to let you go until you bless me."

It was as if Jacob were saying, "I know who you are. You're the one I met a few weeks ago in Genesis 28. I know that you have all the power inside of you. I know you can do exceedingly and abundantly more than I could ever ask or imagine. You can change my situation. I know you can turn this around and place my feet on solid ground. I know you can take what the devil meant for evil and make it work out for my good. I ain't going to let you go. I refuse to let you go until you bless me. Whatever it takes. I'm going to hold on to you. Whatever it takes. I refuse to let go. Whatever I've got to do not to let you walk out of my life."

Today, refuse to let go. Just like Jacob, refuse to let go of God and your breakthrough. Say it. "No, no God, this in this season, whatever it takes. I've been sick long enough. I've been broke long enough. I've been down long enough. I've been out long enough. I've been doing the same thing and getting the same results for long enough. Whatever it is. Whatever it takes. I'm tired of doing the same thing. Whatever it takes to be the best version of myself. Whatever it takes for me to get back on top. Whatever it takes to decide to succeed. I'm ready now. I refuse. I refuse to let You go.” 

PERSISTENCE IS KEY.

Just like Jacob, we need to be willing to face our problems head-on. Jacob had the opportunity to avoid Esau's pursuit by fleeing, but he decided to confront Esau instead. Sometimes, to triumph over our apprehensions, we must face the things we are most afraid of head-on.

We need to be persistent in our pursuit of the blessings that God has for us. After a few minutes of grappling, Jacob did not give up on the match. He didn't stop fighting until God gave him the blessing; He even allowed himself to be exposed. He didn't hide anything from God, and God respected that. He was forthright about his anxieties as well as his limitations. When we are open and honest with God, we make ourselves available to receive His love and grace.

Even if it seems like our prayers aren't being answered right away, we should never stop talking to God and seeking His direction.

We must be willing to let go of our own goals and desires so that we may surrender to the will of God. Jacob had plans for his life, but he was willing to let them go and believe in God's plan for him instead. When we give up control of our plans and hand them over to God, we put ourselves in a position to receive more gifts than we could have ever dreamed possible.

Jacob wrestled for his breakthrough, and he got it. In our endeavor to receive God's blessings, don’t give up, be courageous, and take risks. Keep wrestling for your breakthrough. Engage in spiritual warfare and intercession. Have faith in God's plan for each of our lives, knowing that He has a purpose and a plan for each of us individually.

I pray that God will bless you and show you the way as you travel the path of faith. Amen.