PREVAILING PRAYER

Text: Genesis 32:24-29

D. L. Moody is credited with the following quote:

“The Apostle James tells us that the prophet Elijah was a man “subject to like passions as we are.” I am thankful that those men and women who were so mighty in prayer were just like ourselves. We are apt to think that those prophets and mighty men and women of old time were different from what we are. To be sure they lived in a much darker age, but they were of like passions with ourselves.”

Elijah prayed and God sent fire from heaven

Elisha prayed and a widows child was raised from the dead

Wicked King Manasseh prayed and went from prison to a throne

Samson prayed and God restored a backsliders strength

Job prayed and his prosperity was restored

Hannah prayed and God opened her womb giving birth to Samuel

Daniel prayed and was delivered from the lions den

Three Hebrew children prayed and were delivered from a furnace

In an upper room the disciples prayed and 3000 souls were saved

Cornelius prayed and his entire household were saved

Paul and Silas prayed the prison was shaken and the jailer converted

Stephen prayed and saw the heavens opened as he saw Jesus

Scripture records believing prayers went up and answers came down. Thank God for the prayers of saints and sinners “subject to like passions as we are” that received their petitions from God with PREVAILING PRAYERS.

I. PREVAILING PRAYER will REQUIRE TIME

Genesis 32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day The usual length of labor for a first-time mother is about 13 to 14 hours.

Jacob chose this time to be alone to pray

Concerned with his brothers reception he sought favor with God

Frequency and inconvenience in prayer prepare us for mercy

Jesus prayed all night before the Sermon on the Mount

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain

to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. (Luke 6:12)

He said, “that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” (Luke 18:1)

We must be in prayer with our message like the widow he spoke of

And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying,

Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her

continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (Luke 18:3-7)

If you are to prevail in prayer you must labor like the widow

II. PREVAILING PRAYER is RELENTLESS LABOR

Genesis 32:25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

As labor progresses, the contractions increase in frequency and severity

The man appears to prevent him from entering his rest

Strong believers should expect strong resistance

Believers are made strong in weakness

You may need personal injury to draw closer to God

Shepherds would break the leg of a lamb that wandered

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

A woman in labor experiences heavy labor before giving birth

If you want to bear spiritual children you must endure similar hardship

Genesis 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

“Every thing is beautiful in its season; even the business of religion, and the comforts of communion with God, must sometimes give way to the necessary affairs of this life:” (Matthew Henry)

Jacob wept and made supplication as he wrestled

Although not mentioned here Hosea records this encounter also

Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: (Hosea 12:4)

Fasting, prayer and weeping are prayer warriors weapons

Our weeping and struggle may continue all night

At daybreak, like Jacob, we will obtain our blessing from GOD!

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalms 126:5,6)

Jacob preferred to continue, although injured, to obtain a blessing

God understands we must be about our business

He will not put on us more than we can bear

Nevertheless, we cannot prevail with God without his help

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26)

Jacob refused to let go until he was blessed

“Those that would have the blessing of Christ must be in good earnest, and be importunate for it, as those that resolve to have no denial. It is the fervent prayer that is the effectual prayer.” (Matthew Henry)

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

If you want to see relationships mended you must admit your faults Seek God and be determined to hold out until the end

III. PREVAILING PRAYER will RELEASE BURDENS

Genesis 32:27And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

The burden of pregnancy ceases upon the delivery of a child.

Jacob means supplanter (craft and artful management)

He had a history of craftiness with Esau and his father-in-law

Deception caused division with Esau to begin with

Through craftiness he obtained wealth from Laban

You must also confront your issues before making a change

Genesis 32:28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Israel means God prevails (true valour)

A prince indeed who is a prince with God

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

his meeting with his brother will go well

Whatever enemies we have, if we can but make God our friend, we are well off; those that by faith have power on earth as they have occasion for. (Matthew Henry)

Jacob had vanquished his foe and obtained peace

We become conquerors when we prevail in prayer

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35)

As birth brings new life and joy so does prevailing prayer

Genesis 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Jacob received his blessing

His life was changed forever

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

(Ephesians 1:3-6)

His complete blessing still awaits in these last days

Although it may be a “cup of trembling now, Jerusalem will prevail

Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the

earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at

once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. (Isaiah 66:8)

IN CONCLUSION:

Although centuries have passed since this prophecy was given we have seen the promises of God fulfilled in the re-birth of a nation. The nation of Israel. If God is faithful to the people who failed Him then, since he never changes HE will do the same for you.

Prevailing, or effectual prayer, is that prayer which attains the blessing that it seeks. It is that prayer which effectually moves God. The very idea of effectual prayer is that it effects its object. Charles G. Finney