Month 5:16, Week 3:1 (Rishon/Pesach), Year 5935:130 AM
Gregorian Calendar: Monday 15 August 2011
An Experience with Angels
Learning to Struggle and Overcome
"And [Jacob] arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, 'Let Me go, for the day breaks.' But he said, 'I will not let You go unless You bless me!' So He said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' And He said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with Elohim (God) and with men, and have prevailed'" (Gen.32:22-29, NKJV).
I am assuming that you, the listener or reader, like me, are one of those people who doesn't like to do anything by halves. I hope that you are one of those people who, once he or she has a goal, keeps focussed until that goal has been attained because someone who leaves mid-game is never going to achieve anything.
I am not saying that this isn't very difficult at times nor that we don't get distracted and get sidetracked, but that happens to all of us too. In some ways it is better to have a wrong goal, be focussed and discover that it is unattainable (either because it isn't real - like becoming President of the Galactic Federation) or because it was never Yahweh's will (like becoming Miss America) than it is to always quit mid-way. The quitters never get anywhere whereas the go-getters either get what they set out to acquire (because it was in Yahweh's will) or change direction mid-way and, and though bruised and bleeding, do end up doing what Yahweh wants them to do as well as receiving healing for their blunders. The quitters may never get so much as a bruise but neither do they achieve anything either. Life deals out bruises and wounds, more so if you are stubborn and rebellious, but even if you seek to what is right. Reconciling yourself to the risks and hurts involved in mortality is part of becoming spiritually mature.
If we are truly searching for Yahweh and don't quit, no matter what issues we may have, He will bring us home - always. It may be a painful journey but the end is assured. But to achieve that noble goal, and the goal we all deep down in our heart-of-hearts want, Yahweh must first bring us to the end of ourselves, meaning, to the point where we stop trying to achieve that goal in our own strength, our own will, and with our own resources. Yahweh empowers the accomplishment of the Grand Design in each of our lives but He cannot do that so long as we cling onto a single vestige of self-will. That battle to overcome self is what turned Jacob into Israel and it is the same battle that turns a believer into an authentic, focussed, surrendered, disciplined, loyal, animated, fulfilled and loving Israelite. Israelites aren't born - they are made, and we have to choose to let Yahweh do that making Himself.
I want you to note that Jacob's struggle took place at night. Indeed, the malak (angel) was most anxious not to remain longer than day-break. The reason for this is that all struggles of the soul take place in the dark, when we cannot see recognisable markers but have to fully rely on emunah (faith). That is one of the reasons it was essential for us to be born into this world and not remain in heaven because there is no darkness in heaven and therefore no opportunity to grow and mature in emunah (faith). Life may be tough but there is light and darkness. The darkness, though frightening and often painful, has a constructive purpose - it is for us to use - not run away from - so that we can "struggle with Elohim (God) and with men, and ... prevail..".
Overcoming the darkness by our emunah (faith) in Yah'shua (Jesus) is what prepares us to live in the light of spiritual adulthood and to qualify both for the heavenly rewards that await us in the next life and for the rewards of spiritual strength in this one.
The Angels Appear to Me
I will share an experience that I had today which I hope will encourage those of you who feel that you have come to the end and have no strength left anymore. I felt totally exhausted - so exhausted, in fact, that I was nauseous and had no energy left in my at all. I began to lose hope and was resigned to whatever I would meet. As I lay in my bed feeling that there was no more chayim (life) left in me, something happened that has not happened since I lived in Oxford and was then also feeling desperate. I was suddenly aware that I was surrounded by men! There were maybe 6 or 7 of them, all were dressed alike (in Oxford they had been men, women and children), all had dark blonde hair which was cut about half way over their necks, and there was an expression of great soberness on their faces. They were silently praying over me, and as they did, I experienced my energy and my hope returning to me. After they disappeared a few seconds later I was immediately aware that these were Yahweh's malakim (angels)
Today I feel stronger and my hope has returned, in spite of the trials and tribulations of life. We are never alone. It's been over 20 years since I have experienced anything like that though the first time it was people praying over me and I saw them gathered in the spirit in vision around my bed. Know that whatever trials and tribulations you are going through that you are not alone if you are trusting in Yah'shua (Jesus)! Yahweh will strengthen you so that you can become an overcomer like Jacob and receive your new name (Is.62:2; Rev.2:17; 3:12). If you are not trusting in Yahweh but going your own way, then you need to repent, unless you are determined to go all the way of the prodigal son and be left destitute.
The old ways have come to an end and the party is over. Our world is changing rapidly and there is about to be an ever sharper separation of the good from the evil. Be sure you are on the right side.
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