I Know I'm Close!!!!!

I know I’m close…

Celebrated gospel singer Marvin Sapp wrote a song titled, “Close”

Pay attention to these lyrics:

Almost There by Elena Nosyreva

I must be close to my destiny
Extremely close to my victory 'cause here comes
Trials and troubles, jealousy and envy
I must be close to what You have for me, I must be close
To my overflow
Extremely close to my miracle
'Cause here comes
Confusion, problems and enemies
I just believe
That I must be close to what You have for me

Do you know what it is like to be close? I affirm that when we are close to what we have prayed, cried, and sought after that experiences will drive distance between Jesus and us.

Today let’s shorten that distance. You are close to what you need – let’s get closer to Christ

The temptation to quit or slow down is greatest right before we reach our goals!

For marathon runners, it’s called bonking or hitting the wall. It is the part where both your mind and your body have lost the ability to make another step.

Competitive runners say that the best advice to beat the wall is to

1.     speed up

2.     psych yourself out – talk yourself into power

If you will walk with me, you will see that the wall is bigger than a marathon runner in a competition. It is a metaphor for the place in our marriage, our dreams, our college/university degree plans, or our hopes for pregnancy where the attacks of doubt, disappointment, and detours are about to derail us.

I believe that in that sullen place it is not time to fall out but to follow through with every effort you have to complete your goal.

Let’s look at the story of Jacob.

Genesis 32:22-32 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jacob Wrestles with God

²² During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. ²³ After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.

²⁴ This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. ²⁵ When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

²⁷ “What is your name?” the man asked.

He replied, “Jacob.”

²⁸ “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel,^[a] because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

²⁹ “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.

“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.

³⁰ Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” ³¹ The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel,^[b] and he was limping because of the injury to his hip. ³² (Even today the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon of Jacob’s hip.)

Consider these Three points:

1.  Evening denotes an ending but also sets up for a new beginning!      

a.   You can have everything and still feel like something is missing (v22)

b.  Even when you think you are alone you really aren’t (v24)

2.  Endurance is built not given!

a.   The battles you experienced to this point have prepared you to stand this war. Do you remember the story of Jacob and his pursuit of Rachel.

3.  Know your name! – (v27)

a.   Know who you are and not just what you are called

–      Stop allowing unqualified people to label you what you have not been called or named!

b.  Outlook determines outcome; to end with joy, begin with joy!

c.   Jesus tempted in the wilderness (matthew 4) and Jesus tempted in the garden (Luke 22)

Storms aren’t always sent to take you out – some are sent to clear your path…