1. The History of Christianity 9am Sunday School February 14

2. Genesis 32:22-31

3. 1. Gets us alone. 2. Shows us ourselves. 3. Will speak to us through our pain.

4. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.

5. When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, by thwarted desires, a broken friendship, — when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us.

6. 1. Gets us alone. 2. Shows us ourselves.

9. Before Jacob was born, he struggled with his brother; when he became a man, he even fought with God. Yes, he wrestled with God and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him-- the LORD God Almighty, the LORD is his name! Hosea 12:3-5

10. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.

11. 24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man Jacobed with him till daybreak.

12. 25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak." But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

13. 1. Gets us alone. 2. Shows us ourselves. 3. God speaks to us through our pain.

14. The human spirit will not even begin to try to surrender self- will as long as all seems to be well with it….God always knew that my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize that fact was to knock it down… It has to be shattered time after time and God shatters it himself.

15. Could we not almost say that this shattering is one of the marks of his presence? And only pain can do it. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world. God’s megaphone is a terrible instrument, but it gives the only opportunity for us surrender our will to God and to change our lives. Pain removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of rebel soul.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain, pages 84-85

16. Israel

17. Israel- “One who has wrestled with God and perseveres” Jesus said, “Blessed are those who do not fall away on account of me!” Luke 7:23 "God will bless everyone who doesn't reject me because of what I do."

19. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire”