The Christian's Journey #9

Introduction: When you first met God at salvation, did your life begin to change? What kind of changes first came about? Some changes were probably very easy to accept because of the presence of the Holy Spirit within you. Other changes were probably very difficult to make because you simply were not ready to make them. The amazing thing is the grace that God gives to each one of us in our life and the patience He has a He waits for us to grow in grace.

Peniel (aka Penuel)

Text: "For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3

1. The Account:
• Genesis 32:24-32
2. The Details:
• Peniel means face or vision of God, that sees God.
• Located east of the river Jordan.
• North of the river Jabbok.
• Peniel lay on the army route between Canaan and the East.
• In later years, Jeroboam made Peniel a frontier fortress (1 Kings 12:25).
3. The Application
• When Jacob saw God face to face, he was changed in every way for the rest of his life.
• body-he halted when he walked (Genesis 32:31-32)
• soul-he was submissive to his brother Esau (Gen 33:3-11)
• spirit-he rid his house of all strange gods (Gen 35:1-4)
4. The Recommendations:

Knowing about the Lord is a good thing. Knowing the Lord is best because once you come face to face with the Lord, you will be forever changed. But the Lord changes us little by little, giving us the grace to grow in faith in all three areas of our person.

• body-present a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1); abstain (1 Thess 5:22, 1Pet 2:11); glorify God (1 Cor 6:20); cleanse (2 Cor 7:1)
• soul-renewed (Eph 4:23); be transformed (Rom 12:2); rejoice (Ps 13:5); strengthen (Ps 27:14); love the Lord (Mt 22:37, Mk 12:30); magnify the Lord (Lk 1:46); be subject (Rom 13:1); have earnest of Spirit (2 Cor 1:22); cleanse (2 Cor 7:1); spirit of power, love, & sound mind (2 Tim 1:7)
• spirit-preserved (Job 10:12); glorify God (1 Cor 6:20); bear witness (Rom 8:16); purified (1 Pet 1:22)

The changes God makes in our lives is not for us to be like other Christians (2 Cor 10:12b), but rather to be like Him (2 Cor 3:18). He creates a clean heart and renews a right spirit within us (Ps 51:10). And we must remember that He doesn't just want to change one part of us (body, soul, or spirit) but every part "wholly. . . that our whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess 5:23)

Conclusion: After studying these places Jacob went and the changes he made after meeting the Lord, I think that perhaps Jacob is no longer my least favored hero of the Bible. Jacob met the Lord face to face and changes were made in each and every area of his life. The Lord truly made a difference in his life! Our first encounter with the Lord was at salvation when He changed our soul. When we meet with God each morning, changes are sure to come. Follow the Lord's leading and direction, let Him make the changes He can, and you make the changes He asks you to make. Step forward in faith and grow in grace. You will see a difference!

GB Essie