Okay maybe I can't call myself a Protestant when I don't belong to the Protestant church.
Hi, in the struggles of life we find out what we really have placed our faith in, There we not only learn about ourselves its in those times the Lord reveals Himself to us in ways that are simply amazing. A quick, hoping short story that might help. Jacob means Schemer so when you met him you knew there could be problems ahead. Jacob schemed and stole the blessing from Esau that God had already promised to Jacob. But between God's promise and its fulfillment, as Tom Petty said can be "The Hardest Part." that is where Satan attacks are faith like crazy. So Jacob sole what was already his and his brother was going to kill him. Jacob in his spiritual darkness, represented by night, flees in utter terror. That night Jacob came to the end of his own strength and found a place to lay down. Jacob rested that night in his spiritual darkness on a rock, picturing for us the Rock who is Christ. Jacob's situation didn't change instead heaven opened and he saw a ladder connecting heaven and earth and on that ladder ministering angels descended and ascended. Of course the ladder was Christ who connected heaven and earth through His work here and His angels still come to His people to minister to us. But this was not going to be th last time Jacob was going to need this to take place teaching us no matter what God is with us. Jacob sees two camps of angels when the Lord lifts the curtain between the seen and unseen all of this revealed to him as he is headed to met Esau and his sure death,
Jacob with all this assurance from the Lord that he is not alone he rests right on those promises oh wait that must be someone else's story. No after all the Lord showed him Jacob the Schemer, well, he schemes what a surprise. Comes up with a great plan he thinks. Jacob seeking to deceive his brother again divides all his belongings ahead that Esau might feel sorry and let him live. Jacob makes camp that night at the River Jabbok a play on Jacob's name. In the darkness something strange happen Jacob joins in a wrestling match. Again darkness symbolizes our own spiritual darkness were we are tired, confused, scared, wavering in our faith and so on. Jacob wrestles trying to win but his opponent doesn't seem to be trying to win. The wrestling match continues all night and Jacob ask the wrestler his name but is told it is not time to reveal His name, that comes in the N. T.. Then the Being touches Jacob's hip causing a degree of that alters his walk. Jacob the schemer now can only cling to his opponent and beg His blessing. When I am weak He is strong. As the light begins to show we see Jacob's eyes see a little differently now he knows God was in that place. Jacob who is still a Schemer now becomes Israel "A Prince with God." You are at the river Jabbok wrestling in the darkness of whatever it is that being wrestled with as you seek His wisdom and direction. Our Jabbok wrestling times come in many forms but by the end of the night more light now shines and we have become weak that He may become strong on our behalf. Then comes the mistake we so often make. Remember all the stuff Jacob used to Scheme with sent ahead that were hindrances to his walk with the Lord? Like Jacob we go right out and pick it back up carrying it once again through the wilderness of sin.
You can obtain a communion kit on your own maybe you and some of your neighbors are being led to form a home church. the only baptism you need is the baptism you have already have, no not the kiddie one, it took place the minute you believed and the one thing you need or all this God stuff is not believed because to the man without the Holy Spirit the things of God are foolishness to the natural man. . The fact that the things you profess are proof that you have His Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Guarantee He has given to each of us that we might know we are His.
When the Jewish people would go up to the temple many interesting things would transpire but my two favorites were the steps leading up to enter before God and the other was the exit having been in His presence. As you began your ascent into the Presence of God the steps were set up in such a way you had short steps and wide steps that were meant to consider every step you took to God. We are all called to examine ourselves and to get rid of all that is not for His glory and so forth. But now you have been before God did you then leave in the same way you came? No the Jewish people exited out a dirrent was because every encounter whether in our spiritual darkness wrestling. Whether it it in His Holy Presence our walk is to be changed by that encounter.
You are at the River Jabbok in your present darkness and the Wrestler awaits you and His loving mercy
will dislocate your hip as He did Jacob's forever altering your walk and with each wrestling the darkness is being broken up more and more by the coming Light of the World. Try and avoid picking up any of the unneeded stuff. Praying for you. Enjoying the struggle and hope you will as well. Hebews 11 known as the great faith chapter but 11 cannot be unlinked with chapter 12 follows and not just because its the next number. There is a tremendous teaching for the Lord's people. Hebrews 12 is the great trials chapters where we are told we are trained by God Himself to run the race. Trained by a Trainer who knows just what is rright to win the race because He not only ran it to save us He knows has marked out the course for us and runs that same race with each of His people. It is a course designed by Him especially for us and run that race and He will use it to bring forth a harvest of righteousness for us, strengthen our hands, works, legs, our walk and to smooth the way for those coming after us as those who ran it before us made it easier to run and win the race as we are now helping those coming behind us. Don't know if any of this may help I pray He will use it for you or anyone needing to hear it. I try hard not to make it long without much success. You are in my prayers and in His hands and He works all things for good for His people. Praise His name.
how is that possible when its just bread and wine?
