Listen "Shut the Door! Part 1 (Jon Petts)"
Episode Synopsis
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Matthew 6:6)
Jesus shuts the door
Before walking on water, after feeding the 5000:
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. (Matthew 14:20-24)
Why was he intentionally alone?
Why didn’t he stay with the disciples?
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles. (Luke 6:12-13)
Jacob shuts the door
Genesis 27 – Esau: I will kill my brother Jacob – Jacob flees
Genesis 28 – Dream – Bethel
Genesis 29 & 30 – Laban, Leah and Rachel
Genesis 31 – Leaving Laban, heading home.
Genesis 32 – Preparing to meet Esau
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 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.
He had to face his brother. He was probably nervous. He had betrayed him and fled years earlier. They had not made things right together. However long time had passed, reconciliation was still necessary.
But first he had to meet with God. If you have fallen out with your brother or sister, God’s heart is always for reconciliation. And sometimes you have to make the first move. Go to them. But please go to God first. Ask him for his wisdom. There may be things that need to be said but God says not to say those things. His wisdom is higher than that of humans. There may be things God wants to tell you before you meet with your brother.
Jacob ‘shut the door’ by sending everyone across the river and remaining alone. He put them out of the room so to speak.
He also sent all his possessions away. He was on the move and had everything with him. Every conceivable bit of baggage was coming with him. But for this moment, he has put them all aside to be alone. Are there ways we can do the same each day?
The results were unexpected and life changing.
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.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
There are several references to the Angel of the Lord in the bible. There are differing views as to who this Angel is, partly because he seems to have particular authority. I believe the man was the Son of God, Jesus. If you prefer, he could be a powerful angel, or even God the Father in temporary human form.
Go with my view that Jacob is wrestling with none other than Jesus.
Ever been there? There now? Keep wrestling and imitate Jacob’s prayer,
(Matthew 6:6)
Jesus shuts the door
Before walking on water, after feeding the 5000:
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. (Matthew 14:20-24)
Why was he intentionally alone?
Why didn’t he stay with the disciples?
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16)
12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles. (Luke 6:12-13)
Jacob shuts the door
Genesis 27 – Esau: I will kill my brother Jacob – Jacob flees
Genesis 28 – Dream – Bethel
Genesis 29 & 30 – Laban, Leah and Rachel
Genesis 31 – Leaving Laban, heading home.
Genesis 32 – Preparing to meet Esau
22 That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 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.
He had to face his brother. He was probably nervous. He had betrayed him and fled years earlier. They had not made things right together. However long time had passed, reconciliation was still necessary.
But first he had to meet with God. If you have fallen out with your brother or sister, God’s heart is always for reconciliation. And sometimes you have to make the first move. Go to them. But please go to God first. Ask him for his wisdom. There may be things that need to be said but God says not to say those things. His wisdom is higher than that of humans. There may be things God wants to tell you before you meet with your brother.
Jacob ‘shut the door’ by sending everyone across the river and remaining alone. He put them out of the room so to speak.
He also sent all his possessions away. He was on the move and had everything with him. Every conceivable bit of baggage was coming with him. But for this moment, he has put them all aside to be alone. Are there ways we can do the same each day?
The results were unexpected and life changing.
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.”
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”
But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.
30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.
There are several references to the Angel of the Lord in the bible. There are differing views as to who this Angel is, partly because he seems to have particular authority. I believe the man was the Son of God, Jesus. If you prefer, he could be a powerful angel, or even God the Father in temporary human form.
Go with my view that Jacob is wrestling with none other than Jesus.
Ever been there? There now? Keep wrestling and imitate Jacob’s prayer,
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