Participants: John Lomacang (Host), Pr. Cory Jackson
Series Code: FDOF
Program Code: FDOF000019A
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00:19 Hello, friends.
00:21 Welcome to the 3ABN Worship Center 00:23 where the Lord has been working through His man 00:26 servant Pastor Cory Jackson in such a wonderful way 00:29 that we invite you to stay tuned 00:31 as the Lord continues connecting Earth to Heaven. 00:35 This Foundation of Our Faith is brought to you by 00:37 Dare to Dream and also by 3ABN 00:39 and we know that whenever we open our hearts 00:42 God has a tremendous blessing in store for us. 00:45 We heard a couple of messages already rags to riches 00:48 which was surely one that brought us into the reality 00:52 that God sees us where we are 00:54 and doesn't leave us the way He finds us. 00:57 He finds us in our brokenness 00:59 and turns us from rags to riches. 01:01 Then last night we discovered so wonderfully 01:04 the woman that God in touch with Jesus 01:06 with a plea give it just one more shot. 01:09 The Lord not only answered her prayer 01:11 but made her a woman of restoration 01:14 to the glory of the Lord. 01:16 And today Pastor Cory Jackson 01:18 is gonna be bringing a message entitled 01:20 The Breaking Before the Blessing. 01:23 The Breaking Before the Blessing. 01:26 Pastor Cory Jackson is a native of Chicago, Illinois 01:29 but he is presently the pastor of the Burns 01:32 Seventh-day Adventist Church in Detroit, Michigan. 01:35 He has been pastoring now for 14 years. 01:37 It may not seem like a long time 01:39 but as I listen to this young man he has seasoned. 01:42 He is not just a preacher but he is one called of God. 01:45 Can we say amen to that? Amen. 01:47 There is a difference between preaching and being called 01:49 and he definitely is called. 01:51 His life was one of choices. 01:53 In the city in which he was raised 01:55 he was once a probation officer 01:58 and the Lord called him at a pivotal time in his life 02:01 from the work of the world 02:03 to the work of God's eternal kingdom. 02:05 What I like so much is a text 02:07 that is very much a part of his call. 02:09 He says, the Lord says to him, 02:11 you have not chosen Me but I have chosen you. 02:15 The Lord truly did choose Pastor Cory Jackson. 02:19 And as-- and this is the part 02:21 that makes me smile each time I say it. 02:23 But when he was beginning to study to be a Black Muslim 02:26 and a Black Panther 02:28 the Lord turned him into a black pastor instead. 02:31 He says, don't forget to say that, 02:33 he had a road of choice but God broke that journey 02:37 and brought him into a relationship with the Lord 02:40 and you will be amazed today as God ignites this pulpit 02:43 one more time through Pastor Cory Jackson. 02:47 Another young man that's a part of this ministry 02:49 is a young man by the name of Louis Cleare. 02:52 He lives in the Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas. 02:55 Only 22 years old but when you hear him sing 02:57 you will know that God is working in 02:58 and through him and on him. 03:00 He is gonna bless us with a song 03:01 "He Hideth My Soul." 03:04 And after Brother Louis Cleare 03:06 the next voice that you will hear 03:07 will be that of Pastor Cory Jackson. 03:45 A wonderful Savior 03:49 is Jesus my Lord 03:54 A wonderful Savior to me 04:02 He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock 04:10 Where rivers of pleasure I see 04:18 He hideth my soul 04:23 In the cleft of the rock 04:28 That shadows a dry, thirsty land 04:36 He hideth my life 04:40 In the depths of His love 04:44 And covers me there with His hand 04:52 And covers me there with His hand 05:05 A wonderful Savior 05:09 Is Jesus my Lord 05:13 He taketh my burden away 05:21 He holdeth me up 05:25 And I shall not be moved 05:30 He giveth me strength as my day 05:38 He hideth my soul 05:44 In the cleft of the rock 05:48 That shadows a dry thirsty land 05:56 He hideth my life 06:00 In the depths of His love 06:04 And covers me there with His hand 06:12 And covers me there with His hand 06:37 When clothed with His brightness 06:42 Transported I rise 06:46 To meet Him in clouds of the sky 06:59 His perfect salvation 07:03 His wonderful love 07:07 I'll shout 07:09 with the millions on high 07:16 He hideth my soul 07:21 In the cleft of the rock 07:24 That shadows a dry 07:28 Thirsty land 07:33 He hideth my life 07:37 In the depths of His love 07:42 And covers me there with His hand 07:50 And covers me there 08:00 He covers me there 08:10 With His hand 08:31 With His hand 08:48 Happy Sabbath, everyone. 08:49 Happy Sabbath. Happy Sabbath. 08:50 Oh, you can do better than that. 08:52 Happy Sabbath, everyone. Happy Sabbath. 08:54 It's good to see you all today 08:56 and I know that you were 08:57 thoroughly amazed by the Louis singing. 09:01 I know you're trying to figure out 09:02 how does a 22-year-old sound like that. 09:06 Well, all I can tell you just thank the Lord 09:08 and his good daddy and his good momma. 09:10 Amen. Amen. 09:11 Do me a favor if you don't mind. 09:13 Just look at your neighbor for a moment 09:15 and just smile at him. 09:17 Doesn't matter if you get 32, 16, 8 09:21 or just one big old tooth, just smile at him. 09:24 Then once you finish smiling 09:25 just take that smile and just smile at me. 09:29 I'm gonna need your smile the whole time. 09:31 I'm not home in Detroit and my folk are missing me 09:34 and so I told them I had to come down here 09:37 and spend time with my cousins. 09:38 Amen. Amen. 09:40 And so you are my cousins today. 09:41 And so you can talk to me too. 09:44 My church loves to talk to me. 09:46 Encourages the preacher. 09:48 And so I'm glad to be here with you all 09:51 with this third part of our series of Foundations of Faith 09:55 and it has been truly a blessing. 09:58 And so as we get ready to get started, 10:02 would you pray with me please? 10:03 Father in heaven, 10:06 we thank You once again for Your blessings upon us. 10:10 We thank You for loving us 10:12 the way You do in spite of our sins. 10:15 As we've come to this holy Sabbath day, 10:18 Lord, we pray for Your blessings. 10:21 Holy ghost, we ask that you continue to do 10:23 your appointed word by working 10:25 on the hearts of men 10:26 and speaking through this preacher, 10:27 Lord, that although they see my face 10:31 they may hear Your voice. 10:32 And as the appeal is made, Lord, 10:35 whether in this place or around the world 10:38 we pray that someone will give their heart to You. 10:42 This is our prayer today in Jesus' name, amen. 10:45 Amen. 10:46 We've been spending the last couple of days 10:49 talking about character building 10:52 and our need to build our characters. 10:56 And the type of preacher that I am 10:59 or speaker I like to call myself is I like to build 11:02 and get to a conclusion towards the end. 11:06 So each step is one step towards the end 11:08 so today would be a cliffhanger to later on. 11:14 But character building is important 11:16 as we have to all decide to make a change. 11:19 And the first day we talked about calling out to Jesus 11:23 and we used an example of blind Bartimaeus 11:26 and how his call brought his restoration. 11:29 And but for some of us the call may not be enough 11:32 and yesterday we talked about 11:34 you have to reach like the woman 11:37 with the issue of blood is not enough to call sometimes. 11:41 It's not enough to reach. 11:44 And for some of us, listen to me closely 11:47 call and reaching won't do, 11:48 you just got to get into a all wing fight with God. 11:53 And so there are two scriptures that we have honed in on, 11:58 Ezekiel 36:26 simply says that, 12:02 "A new heart and a new spirit will I give you." 12:05 God promises to give us a new heart and a new spirit. 12:10 A new way of thinking and brand new attitude. 12:13 And Romans 12:2 says, 12:16 "Be not conformed to this world, 12:18 and but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" 12:21 and that is key that our mind need to be renewed 12:25 because as we've talked about 12:27 volume 5 page 310 said it this way, 12:30 "If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings are wrong, 12:33 thoughts and feelings combined make up more character." 12:37 So in other words if I have bad thoughts 12:40 it's undoubtedly I'm gonna have bad feelings. 12:44 And if I have bad thoughts and bad feelings, 12:46 then its sub sequential that I'm gonna have 12:49 a bad character. 12:50 And many times the reason people act the way they do is 12:53 because their thoughts are messed up, 12:55 their thoughts as we would call are jacked up 12:58 and they need help. 12:59 Second volume of Mind, Character, Personality 13:02 simply says, page 670 says, 13:03 "Transformation begins with our thoughts" 13:08 that's where it starts. 13:10 And even though we spend a lot of time talking about 13:12 end time events, I have no problem with that. 13:15 I love preaching Three Angels' Message, 13:17 but listen, it doesn't make sense to preach 13:19 on a Three Angels' Message if your character is messed up. 13:24 And why am I saying that? 13:26 Because of a book called 13:27 Christ's Object Lessons, Page 69 says 13:30 "When the character of Christ 13:32 has been perfectly reproduced in His people, 13:35 then He shall come to reclaim them as His own." 13:39 Yes, God is concerned that Bible studies go out 13:41 but He is also concerned 13:43 that His folk will look like Him. 13:45 His folk will act like Him. 13:46 His folk would forgive like Him. 13:48 His folk would love like Him. 13:50 His folk would be merciful like Him. 13:51 He is looking for His folk to love their enemies 13:54 just like He did. 13:55 So He is looking for His folk to look like Him. 13:58 And she says that when it's perfectly, not almost, 14:01 not three quarters, not halfway, listen to me, 14:04 when it's perfectly reproduced 14:06 He says He is gonna come and get us. 14:08 He says, and she continues on and say 14:09 we should hastily help Him out. 14:14 And sometimes we take that to think 14:15 we got to do more Bible studies 14:17 and we got to tell more people about God. 14:18 No, you need to shut up sometimes 14:20 and get yourself together. 14:21 Amen. 14:24 Because some of us are some of the meanest people, 14:29 some of the most unforgiving, 14:32 some of the most gossipy people 14:34 I found sometimes in the church. 14:38 And so God is trying to get His folk together before He comes. 14:42 Are you with me so far? If so, say amen. 14:45 Amen. 14:46 And so we want to look at a couple of scriptures 14:48 before we get into the-- 14:51 our message today James Chapter 1. 14:53 For those who are with us for the first time 14:55 whether in the Worship Center 14:57 or around the world, we do three things. 15:02 I believe in what the Bible says in Matthew 4:35, 15:06 that Jesus went to all the synagogues 15:08 and in Galilee He went teaching, 15:11 and preaching and healing. 15:13 And so whenever I get up and speak 15:15 I want to make sure 15:16 that I'm teaching first with instructions. 15:20 Preaching comes with encouragement 15:22 and the healing be may hold towards the end. 15:26 And so we will go through those 15:27 three different categories today. 15:30 James 1:2, James 1:2. 15:36 When I read the Bible at times 15:37 I sometimes think that the Bible is just being funny. 15:42 You understand what I mean by that, 15:43 sometimes there are some things that are just 15:45 to me seemly as an oxymoron. 15:48 But because God knows what He is doing 15:50 I just have to roll with it. 15:52 James 1:2 says, "My brethren, count it all joy 15:57 when you fall into various trials." 15:59 Now that's what I mean right there. 16:01 I don't know anybody who gets excited. 16:04 Matter of fact it's joyful 16:06 when they are going through some mess. 16:08 I haven't heard anybody call me and say, 16:10 Pastor, guess what? 16:12 I'm excited today. Why are you excited? 16:14 I'm getting put out of my house. 16:16 I don't hear anybody tell me how excited they are 16:18 when they are going through a trial of some situation. 16:20 So sometimes I'm wondering, Lord, 16:22 how is something like this I'm supposed to be joyful 16:25 on a various trial. 16:28 Verse 3 says, "Knowing this, 16:30 that the trying of your faith produces patience. 16:35 But let patience have her perfect work, 16:38 that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." 16:44 So trials has its place. 16:47 It builds the character. 16:49 It helps the faith to be strong. 16:53 Trials that come, trials that go, 16:57 many come because we haven't overcame the one 17:00 that we are going through so God allows another one 17:03 to come in to build us up the same way 17:06 in which a man or a woman exercises. 17:10 Romans Chapter 5, Romans the 5th chapter. 17:15 Romans the 5th chapter. 17:19 Romans 5:3-5. 17:25 Romans 5:3 says, "And not only so, 17:30 but we glory in tribulations also." 17:34 There is that thing again. 17:36 We glory in tribulations. 17:40 Have mercy. 17:42 If we get to point where we can celebrate our tribulation, 17:48 well, we are one step closer to the kingdom 17:51 because it's hard to celebrate a tribulation. 17:55 But God expects us to get there 17:57 "Knowing that tribulation worketh patience, 18:01 and patience, experience, and experience, hope, 18:07 and hope maketh not ashamed, 18:09 because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts 18:12 by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." 18:14 So these things tend to occur to help shape us. 18:19 To help build us. 18:21 To form us. 18:22 To help develop our faith in Christ even more. Why? 18:26 Because Revelation 13 continues to inflate 18:29 and God needs some folk that's going to be faithful 18:32 when it gets rough out here, when it gets hard out here. 18:36 See, life is good right now for the majority of us 18:39 but when Revelation 13 is completely activated 18:43 and you can't buy or sell anymore, 18:46 and what's gonna happen then 18:48 when your faith is not as strong as it should be? 18:51 So God is just simply pumping us up to that timeframe. 18:55 So in order to get there 2 Corinthians 12, 19:08 2 Corinthians 12:7 and the Bible says, 19:15 "And lest I should be exalted above measure 19:18 through the abundance of the revelations, 19:20 there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, 19:23 the messenger of Satan to buffet or beat me, 19:26 lest I should be exalted above measure. 19:29 For this thing I besought the Lord three times, 19:32 that it might depart from me. 19:34 And he said unto me, 19:36 My grace is sufficient for thee." 19:40 So as you are going through the trial, 19:42 as you are going through the tribulation 19:44 just understand that God's grace 19:46 is sufficient for thee at that moment. 19:49 He says, "For my strength 19:51 is made perfect in my weakness." 19:54 God says that while you are weak I'm strong. 19:57 In other words He said, I got you, boy, I got you. 20:00 I'm gonna take you through 20:01 but you have to understand that it's His grace not mine. 20:06 Paul then says, "Most gladly therefore 20:08 will I glorify in my infirmities, 20:11 that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 20:13 So God gives us sufficient grace to get us through. 20:19 But in the process He is also trying to develop us. 20:23 So there are five things I want to give you today, 20:25 five things. 20:27 Go to Genesis 32. 20:28 Still teaching Genesis 32, Genesis 32 first book. 20:34 Genesis 32, 20:39 simply looking at 24-30 20:43 we will comeback to it. 20:45 Genesis 32:24, the Bible says this way 20:51 "And Jacob was left alone, 20:54 and there wrestled a man 20:56 with him until the breaking of the day. 20:58 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, 21:02 he touched the hollow of his thigh, 21:06 and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, 21:08 as he wrestled with him. 21:11 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. 21:14 And he said, I will not let thee go, 21:17 except thou bless me. 21:19 And he said unto him, What is thy name? 21:20 And he said, Jacob." Verse 28 says, 21:23 "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, 21:26 but Israel for as a prince hast thou power 21:28 with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 21:32 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. 21:36 And he said, Wherefore is it that thou 21:39 dost ask after my name? 21:42 And he blessed him there." 21:43 So let's understand something, a few things here. 21:47 Jacob is on his way back home. 21:51 He has been gone now for 20 years. 21:55 And in going home he decides in verse 4 through 6 21:59 that he is going to offer something to his brother Esau. 22:04 Verse 4 of 32 says, "And he commanded them, saying, 22:07 Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau, 22:10 Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, 22:14 and stayed there until now 22:16 and I have oxen, and asses, and flocks, 22:19 and menservants, and womenservants, 22:21 I have sent to tell my Lord, 22:23 that I may find grace in thy sight. 22:25 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, 22:28 We came to thy brother Esau, 22:30 and also he cometh to meet thee, 22:32 and four hundred men with him. 22:35 Then Jacob the Bible says 22:37 was greatly afraid and distressed." 22:40 Here's what you got to understand, 22:42 Jacob now is petrified. Why is Jacob petrified? 22:46 Well, let's go back a little bit to the beginning 22:49 in Genesis 25 that leads us up to this point. 22:52 If I may divulge for a second, 22:56 Esau is a father's met boy. 22:59 He is a hunter. 23:00 Esau like being outside. 23:03 Jacob is a momma's boy, 23:06 he likes being only inside cooking 23:09 and doing all the nice stuff that momma boys do. 23:11 Now understand men who are momma's boy. 23:14 I'm not saying that there is anything wrong 23:16 with you being a momma's boy, 23:17 I'm just simply identifying a fact. 23:20 And if your momma is sitting next to you right now 23:22 she will greatly agree with me that you are momma's boy 23:26 by the mere fact that I'm talking about you in that way. 23:30 But Esau is a hunter, he like being outside. 23:35 And so one of Jacob's first acts of deception, 23:39 he bribed his brother and says, man. 23:43 Esau came in and he was hungry. 23:47 Jacob said, listen I will take care of you 23:50 if you just give me your birthright. 23:52 Just hand that thing over I got a nice potted soup here, 23:56 it tastes good. 23:57 Just hand it over. 23:59 Now sometimes I think that Jacob was born in the hood 24:02 because Jacob is truly a hustler. 24:04 He knows how to get what he wants. 24:06 He is a conman, he has it all 24:09 and it seems like Jacob is one of the guys 24:11 I grew up with in a city of Chicago 24:13 that no matter what he always has some type of hustle 24:16 that's going on and taking place. 24:19 And so Esau in his famish decides 24:21 he is going to give up his birthright just to eat. 24:25 The second stage that he confronted Jacob 24:28 besides with his mother whose name 24:29 by the way means a planter or deceiver. 24:32 Jacob decides he and his mother, 24:33 momma's boy is gonna create this great plan 24:35 because Isaac is dying. 24:38 He tells his son, hey, go out 24:40 and get me the best venison you can get 24:42 and I'm going to bless you. 24:45 Momma overhears it and says, 24:47 You are not going to do that to my boy. 24:49 I know the prophecy of what was told 24:52 so I'm going to help God out in this prophecy. 24:54 Jacob, come here, boy, hurry up and come here. 24:58 I need you to take the place of your brother. 25:01 Well, momma, I don't look numb like Esau. 25:03 I'm not as hairy as him. 25:06 Trust me, I got you. 25:09 Jacob deceives his father. 25:13 Esau finds out about it and momma says, 25:16 boy, you better get out of here 25:18 that your brother is gonna kill you. 25:22 And trust me if he had a big brother like I did 25:26 he know what that means, here's what that means. 25:28 My big brother is five years older than me 25:30 and my mother doesn't notice, she know it now. 25:32 She will find out. 25:34 Whenever we would get in trouble 25:36 and my brother was the one who led the trouble 25:38 he would punch me in such a way to get my loyalty. 25:43 So he would hit me boom in the arm 25:46 and that pain would just last 25:48 so that when momma asks me what happened? 25:50 Nothing, momma. 25:52 Now if you had a big brother like that who can punch, 25:56 you know, and my big brother can fight, you hear me. 25:59 I tell a church member, he is not in a church 26:00 I'm praying that he gets in a church. 26:02 I tell church members, listen, don't mess with me 26:03 I got a big brother who is not in the church, 26:05 who is very protective. 26:06 I don't want to call him on anybody, amen. 26:09 So make sure you treat me right, 26:12 so I don't have to make a phone call. 26:15 But because Esau is older 26:17 and Jacob knew that his brother 26:19 would perhaps kill him, he leaves. 26:24 Never again to see his mother, never again to see his father, 26:27 and then we get to now. 26:31 He is on his way 26:32 and the brother is definitely afraid. 26:36 The brother has 20 years of anger. 26:39 You ever met somebody been angry that long? 26:42 Lord, have mercy that's a long time 26:44 to be angry with somebody. 26:46 And not only that, 26:47 Esau is brining 400 soldiers to fight Jacob. 26:51 Have mercy, all Jacob got his wives, some kids, 26:54 some servants and some animals. 26:56 He is not prepared for war at all. 27:01 Now the Bible did say in verse 1 of 32 that 27:04 there are two angels accompanying him. 27:06 Patriarchs and Prophets makes it clear 27:08 but Jacob is still afraid. 27:10 Are you with me so far? 27:13 So we got to understand 27:14 that this battle is about to pursue 27:17 and Jacob goes into this crisis management mode 27:20 where he is running, hiding and about to fight. 27:25 So let's look at this for a moment. 27:26 Five things I want to give you, 27:28 five things I want to give you. 27:30 Now understand as Jacob is going back, 27:32 he is not converted yet 27:33 even though he has had an experience with God 27:35 in Genesis 28. 27:36 He is not converted but God wants him to be yet. 27:39 He is no where near what God would have him. 27:42 And so he says, it's time to return home. 27:44 It's time to go back to basics. 27:46 It's time for you to leave Laban. 27:48 You've done some trickery over, 27:50 especially if you read Genesis 29 and 30 27:53 at the baby making chapter. 27:54 I like to call it the baby momma drama chapter. 27:58 Because everybody was having babies 28:00 and Jacob was just a woolly participant. 28:02 A mess, another story, 28:03 I can't talk about that right now. 28:05 I got to keep just rated PG, amen. 28:08 But boy, Jacob had some babies and didn't mind saying, yes. 28:13 He says, you got to get up out of there. 28:14 You've deceived Laban, Laban deceived you, 28:16 you married the wrong woman. 28:18 So whole lot of mess, 28:20 just whole lot of mess going on. 28:21 So God says, look, it's time for you to go home. 28:23 I need to clean you up. 28:26 But in going home you got to face some things 28:28 that perhaps you haven't face yet. 28:32 So our first point, 28:34 Genesis 24, Genesis 32 excuse me, verse 24. 28:39 Now imagine, let me humanize this with you. 28:42 Imagine you go to make peace with your enemy 28:46 and as you're going to make peace with your enemy 28:48 you already know the prophecy, 28:49 you already know that 28:51 the angels already told your mother that 28:53 the old is going to serve the younger 28:55 but Jacob decides he is going to try to bribe 28:58 Esau once again by simply telling him, 29:01 my Lord, here's what I got for you. 29:02 In other words, I'm your servant knowing good and well 29:05 that that's not how Jacob was playing this thing off. 29:08 And so he tried to bribe him 29:09 and no longer can he bribe his way out of the scene. 29:12 It comes a point in time 29:13 that the things that we used to do 29:15 God says it's not going to work anymore 29:17 because I got something in store for you 29:19 and you messed this thing up long enough. 29:21 So it's time for Me to get this thing in order with you. 29:26 And so in verse 24 the Bible says 29:29 "And Jacob was left alone, 29:31 and there wrestled a man with him 29:32 until the breaking of the day." 29:34 Point number one, listen to me now. 29:37 God shows up at midnight ready to fight. 29:41 Listen, God shows up at the darkest time 29:44 ready to fight. 29:46 Now Jacob had scattered his families strategically. 29:48 He put some in this wing, some over there. 29:50 He sent some over there 29:52 but God shows up ready to fight. 29:53 Now I'm very creative so don't take this disrespectfully. 29:56 I can only imagine Christ showing up a ninja suit 30:02 jumping down on Jacob like, 30:05 and when you are not prepared to fight 30:07 that thing catches you off guard. 30:09 All you can do, if you're from where I'm from 30:10 is just grab somebody 30:12 because you know you about to get 30:13 the worst beat down of your life. 30:15 So God shows up, listen to me now, 30:17 at midnight at a time that Jacob is not expecting 30:21 he is ready to fight. 30:22 When does God ever show up ready to fight? 30:25 He showed up ready to fight this brother today. 30:27 It's a fight about to go, 30:29 they are about to go toe to toe 30:32 and Jacob is not ready. 30:33 He is already scared of Esau 30:35 and now this other shows up at midnight. 30:41 Point number one, 30:43 God shows up at our darkest time 30:45 when we least expect it. 30:48 Understanding this sometimes we have to wrestle with God 30:51 and sometimes that thing may take all night long. 30:56 If you never wrestle with God 30:58 you don't understand what I'm saying 30:59 but it comes a point in everybody's experience. 31:01 I believe before we get to the kingdom 31:03 that you're gonna have to wrestle with God 31:05 and that thing is gonna last all night long. 31:07 You may have to wrestle with God about your children. 31:10 You have to wrestle with God about your spouse. 31:12 You may have to wrestle with God about your church. 31:14 You may have to wrestle with God about your job 31:15 and you will find that, shoot, 31:17 but you may have to wrestle with God about you, 31:18 and sometimes that thing takes all night long. 31:21 There are times I have wrestled with God, 31:23 beat my couch, 31:24 wishing I can swing on Him and hit Him if I could 31:26 because we've had to wrestle. 31:29 And understand that nobody can wrestle with. 31:31 It's not like WWE where you can tag thing somebody 31:34 and they can jump off the rope and dive on them. 31:35 It ain't like that here. 31:38 It's just you and God. 31:39 You can tag all day long but your partner like, 31:41 I'm not messing with Him. He got ninja suit on. 31:47 But many times, brothers and sisters, 31:48 we don't like wrestling 31:51 because wrestling exposes who we are 31:54 and it also exposes our weaknesses. 31:58 Point number one, 32:00 sometimes it takes wrestle with God. 32:03 Verse 25, listen how I read it. 32:06 "And when" big "he saw that" 32:11 big "he prevailed not against"little "him," 32:15 big "he touched the hollow of his thigh, 32:19 and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, 32:22 as" little "he wrestled with him." 32:25 Point number two, 32:29 God is losing the battle. 32:32 When did you ever see God losing a battle? 32:37 God is losing the battle against Jacob right now. 32:41 He is not winning. 32:43 How do I know? 32:44 Because He went to some tactical that 32:46 He didn't go to before when He touched him, 32:48 I'll come there in a moment. But He is losing the battle. 32:51 Listen to me, y'all, God will lose the battle, 32:54 the only way He can lose the battle 32:56 if you and I don't surrender fully to Christ. 33:00 God is not looking for a partial surrender. 33:02 He is not looking for three quarters of a surrender, 33:05 He is looking for all surrender and all of nothing. 33:08 James 4:7 says, "Submit to God and resist the devil 33:11 and he will flee from you." 33:13 He is not looking for, 33:15 Lord, I'm gonna surrender just a little bit. 33:16 He needs all of you and not some of you 33:18 and the only way God can lose 33:20 if we don't give all the way in. 33:24 That's the only way He can lose 33:26 and He will lose us to the enemy. 33:28 He will lose us to death. 33:29 He will lose us to the world 33:31 if we don't give all of our self to God. 33:39 But because God is a soul loser 33:45 He doesn't like to lose. 33:49 He knows exactly how to begin to win. 33:53 Point number three, 33:58 God has to get ready to break you 34:01 before He blesses you. 34:03 Now listen to me, now it may seem dirty in verse 25 34:07 how God is seemly losing and the Bible says that 34:11 He just took his joints out of place. 34:14 You know, it seems like a fight is unfair 34:17 when you got something on your opponent 34:19 where in this case God is trying to save a life 34:23 not lose a life. 34:24 And so He will do any means necessary 34:26 to make sure that He is winning that life. 34:28 Are you with me so far? 34:29 And so as He is battling him He sees that He is losing 34:32 and as He is losing He says, 34:34 okay, I'm going to employ some tactics that 34:36 no man can do because I'm trying to save this man 34:39 and not lose this man. 34:41 Pastor Lomacang, come on now for me. 34:42 Now I need you to show you this illustration if I may. 34:45 I need to show you how this looks. 34:47 Now I'm going to be Jacob 34:49 and we are going to let Pastor Lomacang be Jesus. 34:52 Amen. 34:56 Jesus has a nice hair do. Amen. 35:00 So you are going to be Jesus and I'm Jacob 35:02 and let's pretend like we are now battling. 35:05 All right. All right. 35:09 He is kind of aggressive. 35:10 He has not lost his street savvy. 35:13 So-- now are we dancing? 35:16 Okay, all right. All right. 35:17 So we in a battle and then all of a sudden 35:21 he hits me in the joints. 35:25 So as he hits me in the joint, 35:26 guess what happens? 35:27 I have to what? Hold on. 35:29 Listen to me now, I got to what? Hold on. 35:31 Who am I holding on to? Jesus. 35:34 So as Jesus is moving I'm holding down to Him. 35:36 As He moving and as He's going. 35:39 Oh, you haven't got it again. 35:40 Listen to me now, why didn't he hit me in arm? 35:42 Because then I got another arm. 35:43 Why didn't he hit him in the leg? 35:45 Because I got another leg. 35:46 But when he hit me in the hip I got to hold on to him. 35:48 And as I'm hold on to him 35:50 I'm going to limp 35:51 and he's got me as we are moving. 35:52 Why? Because he is my security. 35:55 He is my blanket. 35:56 He has me but if I, 35:58 if I just have the other arm I'm still fighting. 36:00 Why, because it comes a time 36:02 that you and I have to completely surrender. 36:04 Stay here, you will have to completely 36:06 surrender to God. 36:07 We cannot get-- we cannot not give in. 36:11 So listen to me, 36:12 when you get hit in your hip, oh, you got to hold on. 36:14 And as Jesus moving, go as he moves 36:16 I move along with. 36:18 I maybe limping but I'm moving 36:19 and I'm holding and I'm not letting Him go. 36:21 Why? Because He is my security and He is blanket. 36:26 Are you with me so far? 36:28 So it makes sense when he hit him in the hip. 36:30 Why hit him on the head? It's not going do none. 36:32 Why hit him in the arm? It's not going to do anything. 36:34 Why hit him in the leg? 36:35 He can just do this and keep on fighting. 36:37 When you hit him in the hip, now you got to hold on. 36:44 You got to hold Him now and not let Him go. 36:47 Why? 36:49 Because He is trying to bless you. 36:51 But in order to bless you He got to break you first. 36:53 And because we don't like getting broken 36:55 we want to be blessed without the brokenness 36:57 and it's not gonna happen. 36:59 God got to break us somehow. Why? 37:01 Because then that's gonna make us 37:02 hold on to Him little tighter 37:03 so that as I'm limping I'm still holding. 37:06 Why? Because it gives me security. 37:08 It gives me faith. It gives me hope. 37:11 It gives me power 37:12 because I'm still holding on to the Savior, y'all. 37:16 Amen. That's what I'm hold on to. 37:17 So even though I'm hip out of socket 37:19 I got someone holding on to. 37:21 It's not like He hit me and then stepped back 37:23 and fell and then He start stomping me. 37:25 He didn't do that. 37:27 As He broke me He says now grab me. 37:29 Now hold Me. 37:31 I've been trying to do this for a long time. 37:33 I've been trying to do this for while in your life 37:35 but you weren't listening. 37:36 You couldn't hear Me then so I got to break you. 37:41 Are you with me so far? Amen. 37:43 God don't mind playing as we would call dirty 37:46 if He needs to save you. 37:49 Are you with me so far? Amen. 37:50 So God has to break us before He blesses us 37:54 and if you look at the next part of it, 37:57 in the next verse and He says, 37:59 "Let me go, for the day breaketh." 38:02 And He says, I will not let you go, until you what? 38:04 Blesses me. 38:05 Jacob understood now 38:07 that God had to break Him in order to what? 38:09 Bless him. 38:11 See, listen to me, y'all, 38:12 I have been through a trial in my life 38:13 where God had to break me before He blessed me. 38:16 See I love blessings. I hate breakings. 38:18 But He says, Cory, understand this. 38:20 In order for me to bless you like I need to 38:22 I got to break you down. 38:24 Why? Because you can't handle the blessing the way you are. 38:27 I got to make sure you can handle my blessing 38:29 so I got to break you. 38:30 So I can make-- you can make sure 38:32 that you hold on to Me and not yourself. 38:35 Amen. Are you with me so far? 38:38 See there are blessings that we just can't handle 38:40 because we are not spiritually ready 38:42 until God breaks us and then you can handle it. 38:44 Are you with me so far? 38:45 It's at that point that God can now trust you 38:48 to take what's needed. 38:50 If He would have took Jacob the way he was, 38:52 Jacob was still deceiving. Jacob was still a hustler. 38:55 He was still a liar. 38:56 He was sleeping with all the women 38:57 and but now he is broken now. 39:00 And all he got is a Savior to hold on to. 39:03 Are you with me so far? Amen. 39:05 All he got is a Savior to hold on to. 39:07 Listen to me, I can understand. 39:09 Listen I've been in thing since '97. 39:12 I started in ministry in 2001, 39:15 2002 fulltime with Michigan Conference 39:17 and the Lord started taking me places 39:21 that I couldn't even speak or spell. 39:25 Didn't understand it and as a young man, 39:28 Ellen White says that most dangerous thing 39:30 for a young preacher is flattery and success. 39:35 And, folk, enjoy my story of become a black pastor 39:41 from a Black Muslim and a Black Panther. 39:43 They love that so I'm speaking at camp meetings, 39:45 I'm speaking in the kingdom of Tonga. 39:47 I 'm speaking in South America. 39:48 I'm speaking everywhere not-- I don't know nobody. 39:51 Didn't go to our schools, didn't go-- 39:53 I just went to a little school called 39:55 the Mission College of Evangelism in Black Hills. 39:58 Got ordained and I'm just moving. 40:02 2011, God gives me a church 40:08 called Burns Avenue, 40:11 one of the largest churches in Lake Region Conference. 40:14 I'm sitting on cloud nine. 40:17 Five months into it God broke me. 40:22 My wife decided that time, this relationship is over. 40:28 No more church life, no more first lady, it's over. 40:34 I'm leaving you, I'm done with life. 40:38 I'm like, Lord, is this is a bad dream? 40:42 I couldn't understand it. 40:45 Handed me a note on September 18th, 2011, 40:52 one year almost the day of our anniversary 40:55 later that I'm going. 41:00 My kids like, dad, what's really going on. 41:03 I'm like, I really don't know. 41:06 Say I can't do this no more. 41:08 You're not here. 41:10 You're going and preaching everywhere, 41:11 you are doing this, I just can't do it. 41:16 I was broken. 41:18 Listen to me now, broken, two years I'm mad at Jesus, 41:23 mad at the world, mad at everybody. 41:26 My family, mad at everybody. 41:28 Fighting God on my couch, trying to get out of ministry. 41:31 Why should I do this right now, Lord? 41:33 This doesn't mean anything to me. 41:35 He broke me 41:38 but I had to start grabbing Him. 41:42 He trying to show me, boy, I'm just trying to bless you. 41:46 And even though this brokenness is more than you can take. 41:50 I got you, 41:52 and once I realized from rereading that story, 41:56 once I realized that I have been 41:59 trying to get all blessings and not be broken. 42:02 He said, I got to break you. 42:04 Hardest thing in the world 42:05 is stand up before crowds of people. 42:08 And when they introduce you, they introduce your three kids 42:09 and the first question they ask is, 42:11 so you are not married? 42:13 Part of me want to say, 42:14 didn't you hear the introduction? 42:16 Did you hear wife in the picture? 42:18 But in my humility I said no, 42:21 I went through a tragedy, because indeed it was. 42:24 But He had to break me off 42:26 and the breaking, listen to me it hurts. 42:31 It hurts. 42:32 Because you good folk don't ever think 42:35 preachers go through divorces, but guess what? 42:38 We do, and I'm part of the divorce club now, right. 42:43 Because we are human just like the next person. 42:49 So He had to break me. 42:51 So listen to me now, listen to me now. 42:55 Jacob says, point number four, 42:57 God instructs Jacob to let him go before daybreak 43:00 because no man can see Me and live. 43:02 And so Jacob says, Jacob says, listen to me now. 43:05 He says, listen, I need you to bless me now. 43:07 Now listen to me, 43:08 in the midst of his disobedience, 43:10 listen to me closely. 43:11 Listen, this is good part I like. 43:12 In the midst of Jacob's disobedience... 43:14 God blessed him. How do I know? 43:15 Because God said, "Let me go." 43:17 Is that a command, yes or no? Yes. 43:18 If my momma tells me let her go I better let her go. 43:21 Last time I told for, my momma is this tall, 43:23 her fist is this long, this wide, 43:25 because when she hit me before she packs a powerful punch 43:28 that Mike Tyson couldn't take. 43:31 But if my little bitty 5 foot 3 momma says, 43:35 Cory, let me go 43:36 and I got her, listen, I better let her go. 43:38 I don't care if I'm 44 now, I'll let her go. 43:40 Jacob is told by Christ Himself, 43:42 let Me go and Jacob disobeyed and says look, 43:46 I'm not gonna let You go unless you bless me. 43:48 That is disobedience but in the midst of that 43:50 God still blessed him, 43:52 so you good folk stop saying that 43:53 God don't bless mess, 43:55 if he didn't, you wouldn't be here today. 43:59 We all got messed up lives that He continues to bless. 44:02 And we say God don't bless mess. Why is that? 44:03 We've been messing since Adam messed up. 44:10 Point number five, listen to me, 44:13 that at the end of this all God will change your name. 44:19 You're no longer after the breaking, 44:21 you're no longer Jacob to deceive here. 44:24 You are now Israel the victor. 44:27 So I like to say amen right now. Amen. 44:28 See God has to break us to bless us. 44:32 And in order to break you, 44:33 you got to be willing to be broken. 44:35 And so God got to get you in a spot 44:36 that only you and Him can battle in 44:39 and He is gonna, He is gonna break you. 44:41 Now I can't say what your breaking is 44:43 but I know what my breaking has been. 44:45 And listen, God has revived me in such a way. 44:48 He has done more for me in this last two years 44:51 than He has done in all the ministry. 44:52 Why? Because my mind is different now. 44:54 My heart is different now. 44:56 My spirit is different now. 44:57 Everything about me is different now. Why? 44:59 Because when He broke me down to the very last compound 45:03 I could, only thing I can do is just reach up 45:05 and hold Him and say, Lord, thank You, Jesus. 45:08 Now I count it all joy when I go through the mess. 45:10 Why? Because I've been broken. 45:12 And He says, it is better to be broken 45:14 than allow the rock to fall on you. 45:16 The problem is many of us don't want to be broken. 45:18 See if you are a knuckle head like me, 45:20 you need to be broken. 45:25 I'd rather limp into the kingdom 45:27 with a messed up here than walk into hell like this. 45:32 Jacob is limping 45:34 but the Bible says that when Christ comes 45:37 this mortality will fall to immortality 45:40 and this old body I got, this round figure right here 45:42 will not be the same again. 45:45 But He has to break us, y'all, before He bless us. 45:50 And some of us just don't want to be broken. 45:54 And so now Jacob is ready. 45:57 Now Jacob is ready to live the life of Israel 46:02 and not of Jacob. 46:04 His past is now behind him. 46:07 His future is coming. His present is bright. 46:12 And as young Louis comes and sings the song 46:14 before we conclude 46:16 you and I need to look at ourselves right now 46:19 and ask the question, have I been broken yet? 46:25 Yes, you may have some blessings 46:29 but is it the s blessings that God really wants you to have? 46:33 Is it all that He would have of you 46:37 or is it just sprinkled blessings? 46:39 He wants to give all of His blessing. 46:43 In order to give all of His blessings 46:46 He has to break us. 47:12 Friend, are you weary and troubled? 47:20 No light in the darkness you see? 47:27 There's light for a look at the Savior 47:35 And life more abundant and free! 47:46 Turn your eyes upon Jesus 47:54 Look full in His wonderful face 48:04 And the things of earth 48:08 Will grow strangely dim 48:13 In the light of His glory and grace 48:33 His Word shall not fail you 48:37 He promised 48:41 Believe Him and all will be well 48:49 Then go to a world that is dying 48:57 His perfect salvation to tell! 49:09 Turn your eyes upon Jesus 49:17 Look full in His wonderful face 49:28 And the things of this world 49:32 Will grow strangely dim 49:37 In the light of His glory 49:42 In the light of His glory 49:48 Turn your eyes upon Jesus 49:57 Look full in His wonderful face 50:07 And the things of earth 50:11 Will grow strangely dim 50:16 In the light of His glory and grace 50:27 And the things of earth 50:31 Will grow strangely dim 50:39 In the light of His glory 50:49 And grace 51:10 I'm gonna ask you to do something that 51:15 may be quite challenging. 51:19 Because many times when appeals are made 51:24 we think it's for someone else. 51:29 And as young Louis just sung 51:32 we need to turn our eyes upon Jesus. 51:39 So often we look at others 51:43 and how they need to turn their eyes upon Jesus. 51:49 Some of us like Jacob 51:51 are still dealing with issues of 20 years ago. 51:56 If God was to place your thoughts 51:59 upon the screen today what would it read? 52:03 Pure thoughts, unholy thoughts, mean thoughts, 52:08 unforgiving thoughts, unmerciful thoughts. 52:11 What would it read today? 52:15 God wanted Jacob to come back home 52:17 almost symbolic of us getting ready to go home soon 52:22 and in between home and leaving this Earth 52:26 there is a wrestle that need to take place. 52:29 And so there are people watching all across the world, 52:33 they need to see that this place, this Worship Center 52:37 can also turn their eyes upon Jesus. 52:40 So as your eyes are closed this moment 52:43 at home and in this Worship Center, 52:45 is there somebody here right now 52:49 that will stand up and come down to the front 52:52 and say, I need to turn my eyes on Jesus. 52:58 I need to be broken, to be blessed. 53:02 I'm in need of that breaking. 53:06 And if that's you, why don't you come down right now 53:09 and say, Lord, I need to be broken. 53:13 I'm being, God bless you my, sister, 53:15 I'm being blessed 53:18 but there are some things in my life 53:21 that I need to get together. 53:24 Won't you come down? 53:25 Don't sit pious today, let the folk around the world 53:28 see that there is a Jesus in this place 53:32 that can bring folk to a blessing 53:35 but a breaking first. 53:37 Come on down. 53:38 I don't care how long you've been in the church. 53:40 Listen, she says, that names 53:42 on the church rolls mean nothing, 53:44 especially if they are not registered in the kingdom. 53:47 Sometimes we can be some of the most 53:49 meanest and impatient folk there is. 53:52 You need to come down today and say, Lord, I need you. 53:56 Lord, I can't go without you. 53:59 Lord, help me through the situation. 54:01 I need to be broken, Lord. 54:03 Because if you are not broken He can't bless you. 54:06 If He can't bless you He can't take you. 54:08 If He can't take you then the enemy got you. 54:10 So it is better to be broken. 54:14 Yes, the breaking hurts. 54:16 Yes, it doesn't feel good. 54:18 Yes, it's painful. 54:20 Sometimes it may last longer than you want 54:22 but listen to me now, it's wroth it. 54:26 It's worth it. 54:27 It's worth every piece of it and understand this, 54:30 when God breaks you He breaks in the right place. 54:34 He puts-- He breaks you in the right place 54:36 so that He can bring you back. 54:39 It's okay to be broken. 54:41 It's okay to be broken. 54:44 All He is trying to do is bless you. 54:47 All He is trying to do is save you. 54:49 All He is trying to do is make you victorious. 54:54 But He can't do it if you don't fully surrender 54:59 and God doesn't like to lose. 55:02 He didn't die on the cross to lose. 55:05 He didn't go through the scourge to lose. 55:08 He didn't go through humiliation to lose. 55:11 He went through all of that so that 55:12 when He rose again He would see you and me. 55:17 At this trump of the sound 55:19 when He break through the clouds 55:21 the Bible says that 55:22 the "Dead in Christ shall rise first, 55:26 and then we who are alive and remain 55:28 shall be called up in the air to meet Him 55:30 to ever be with the Lord." 55:31 In order for that to happen it take broken people. 55:36 He's gonna bless us. 55:38 Anybody else? 55:40 Anybody else to say, Lord, I need to be broken. 55:45 Eyes are closed here upfront. 55:47 Eyes are closed. Eyes are closed. 55:49 Eyes are closed, I don't know about you 55:51 but I want to reach my hand to heaven. 55:53 I want to reach my hand to heaven. 55:54 I want to reach my hand to heaven 55:56 and if you are comfortable doing that 55:57 just reach our hands up 55:58 so heaven can reach down and touch us. 56:01 Lord, Father, in the name of Jesus 56:04 we are praying right now, 56:06 praying, Lord, asking that our lives 56:10 that are so disastrous at times and so up and down. 56:14 You can bless it, Lord, 56:15 but we understand that before the blessing, 56:18 Lord, there is a breaking 56:19 and that many of us have ran from this breaking in. 56:21 Many of us have avoided the breaking but, Lord, 56:24 we know now that we need to be broken 56:26 in order to be blessed, Lord. 56:29 We can't go without it, Lord. 56:31 Save these characters in the way that You need 56:33 and some of us just has to be broken. 56:36 And, Lord, we know that is going to hurt, 56:38 we know it's gonna be painful but, 56:40 as long as we're holding on to King Jesus 56:43 You help us do it all. 56:45 And so, Lord, I'm praying for everybody 56:47 who is standing before me 56:48 and those who are viewing, Lord, 56:50 who are standing, Lord, kneeling and begging 56:53 and pleading, Lord, to be blessed, Lord. 56:55 Yes, we want the blessing 56:57 but, Lord, help us in the breaking 57:00 and heal us according, Lord, 57:02 so that when You shall come in those clouds 57:06 we shall be ready to meet our Savior. 57:09 Isaiah 25:9 says, "Lo, this is our Savior, 57:12 we have waited for Him, He has come to take us." 57:15 Lord, this is our martyrdom today, 57:18 this is our prayer, Lord. 57:19 Get us there, Lord, by any means necessary. 57:22 Some of us, Lord, are broken for our kids 57:25 and broken for our spouses and broken for our loved ones. 57:28 Lord, we are praying right now for healing. 57:31 We are praying right now, Lord, for a blessing. 57:34 We are praying right now, holding on to Your promises, 57:36 heavenly Father. 57:37 Don't forsake us, Lord. 57:39 You promised to care of us and so, Lord, 57:41 we relinquish our rights and give them all to You today 57:44 and to heal us. 57:47 On this glorious Sabbath day we pray 57:50 in no other name unto Heaven that can save men. 57:53 In Jesus name, amen, amen and amen. 57:58 God bless you, God keep you. |
Revised 2015-12-03