Tim Keller - The Theology of the Cross and Walking with a Limp

Summary

In this discourse, the speaker explores the theology of work through the lens of four theological streams: Evangelical, Mainline Christian, Reformed Christian, and Lutheran. The Lutheran perspective, emphasized by Martin Luther's 'Theology of the Cross,' suggests that God reveals Himself through suffering and the cross, challenging conventional notions of power and wisdom. The speaker illustrates how this perspective can transform our understanding of work, suggesting that all work, regardless of one's faith, is divine when done well. The narrative of Jacob's struggle with God in Genesis 32 is used to highlight the transformative power of wrestling with challenges and the pursuit of divine blessing, advocating for a 'theology of the cross' that embraces struggle and imperfection as pathways to growth and true fulfillment.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker discusses the 'theology of the cross' and its application to work, emphasizing the importance of integrating faith with one's professional life.
• 🔑 The script identifies four theological streams that influence perspectives on faith and work: Evangelical, Mainline Christian, Reformed Christian, and Lutheran.
• 💡 The Evangelical stream focuses on the heart and the role of Jesus in providing emotional and spiritual support in the workplace.
• 🌟 The Mainline Christian stream emphasizes justice, critiques of capitalism, and the pursuit of the common good through work.
• 🌈 The Reformed Christian stream highlights the importance of a Christian worldview in shaping one's work and understanding of human nature and ethics.
• ⚔️ The Lutheran stream, influenced by Martin Luther, views the cross as a revelation of God's nature and a model for understanding power, wisdom, and success through suffering.
• 🤔 The speaker challenges the idea that only Christians or those with a specific worldview can do good work, suggesting that everyone's work is part of God's work.
• 💪 The concept of wrestling with God, as illustrated by Jacob's story in Genesis 32, is presented as a metaphor for personal struggle, growth, and the pursuit of God's blessing.
• 🙏 The script suggests that suffering and wrestling are not just part of the Christian faith but are also pathways to understanding God's will and receiving divine blessings.
• 🔦 The speaker encourages embracing a 'theology of the cross' in work, which involves recognizing the value in weakness, suffering, and the transformative power of God's grace in everyday life.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'Every Good Endeavor' by Timothy Keller?

The main theme of 'Every Good Endeavor' is the integration of faith with work, exploring how one's work can be connected to God's work.

How many theological streams are identified by Timothy Keller in relation to faith and work?

Timothy Keller identifies four theological streams in relation to faith and work: Evangelical, Mainline Christian, Reformed Christian, and Lutheran.

What is the focus of the Evangelical stream in the context of faith and work?

The Evangelical stream focuses on the heart, emphasizing the role of Jesus in providing comfort, strength, and guidance in dealing with the challenges of work.

How does the Mainline Christian stream view work in relation to faith?

The Mainline Christian stream emphasizes justice and critiques of capitalism, advocating for a holistic approach to work and a focus on the common good.

What is the core belief of the Reformed Christian stream as described by Keller?

The Reformed Christian stream, rooted in Calvinism, asserts that there is no neutrality in work and that every action is influenced by a certain set of beliefs, emphasizing the transformation of work through a Christian worldview.

What does the Lutheran stream, as mentioned by Keller, contribute to the understanding of faith and work?

The Lutheran stream, influenced by Martin Luther, contributes the concept of the 'theology of the cross,' which suggests that God reveals Himself through suffering and the cross, and that this perspective should inform our understanding of work.

What does Luther mean when he says a theologian of the cross 'calls the thing what it actually is'?

Luther implies that a theologian of the cross recognizes and names things as they truly are, not as they appear or as one might wish them to be, especially in the context of suffering and the cross.

How does Timothy Keller interpret the concept of power in the context of the cross?

Keller interprets power in the context of the cross as the ability to achieve God's purposes, often through weakness and suffering, rather than through worldly definitions of strength and success.

What is the significance of Jacob's wrestling match in the Genesis narrative as it relates to the theology of work?

Jacob's wrestling match symbolizes the struggle with God and the recognition of divine blessing, suggesting that true strength and purpose in work come from wrestling with and ultimately receiving God's blessing, even through struggle and weakness.

How does the concept of 'limping' relate to the theology of the cross in the context of work?

The concept of 'limping' represents the recognition of one's limitations and the need for divine grace in work. It suggests that acknowledging and embracing our weaknesses can lead to a deeper reliance on God and a more authentic integration of faith into our work.

What is the implication of the statement 'a theologian of glory calls evil good and good evil'?

This statement implies that a theologian of glory misinterprets the nature of things, failing to see the true moral and spiritual dimensions as revealed through the cross. It cautions against a distorted view that might prioritize worldly success over divine truth.

Outlines

00:00

🔍 Exploring Theology of Work

The speaker introduces the concept of integrating faith with work, highlighting the existence of four theological streams: Evangelical, Mainline Christian, Reformed Christian, and Lutheran. Each stream offers a unique perspective on faith and work. The Evangelical stream focuses on the heart and the role of Jesus in providing comfort and guidance. The Mainline Christian stream emphasizes justice and critiques of capitalism. The Reformed Christian stream centers on worldview and the transformation of work through Christian beliefs. Lastly, the Lutheran stream, inspired by Martin Luther, views the cross as a revelation of God's true nature and a means to understand the true meaning of power and wisdom in the context of work.

05:01

🛐 The Cross as God's Power and Wisdom

The speaker delves into the Lutheran perspective, using the cross as a symbol of God's power and wisdom. The cross represents God's triumph over sin and death through weakness and suffering, challenging conventional worldly wisdom. The speaker contrasts the biblical view of wisdom and power with worldly definitions, emphasizing that true wisdom is seen in selfless love and sacrifice, as demonstrated by Jesus on the cross. The speaker also discusses the potential pitfalls of a 'theologian of glory' mindset, which assumes that only Christians with a Christian worldview can do good work, versus the Lutheran view that all people, regardless of their faith, can do God's work through their daily tasks.

10:02

🤼‍♂️ Wrestling with God: The Biblical Perspective on Suffering

The speaker explores the idea that the cross is not only a symbol of atonement but also a revelation of how God deals with those He loves. It suggests that suffering and wrestling with God are part of the divine plan to shape and bless individuals. The speaker uses the example of Jacob's struggle, highlighting how God uses challenges to bring people closer to Him and to reveal His blessings. The narrative of Jacob's life, from his struggles with family to his wrestling match with an unnamed man (interpreted as God), illustrates the transformative power of wrestling with God and the recognition of God's presence in one's life.

15:03

🌅 The Dawning of Divine Blessing

This paragraph continues the story of Jacob's wrestling match, emphasizing the moment when Jacob realizes his opponent is God. Despite the pain and the dawn's approach, which traditionally signals the presence of God to be fatal to humans, Jacob clings to God, seeking a blessing. The speaker reflects on the significance of this encounter, suggesting that true self-awareness and character development come through struggle and suffering. The blessing Jacob receives is not described, leaving room for interpretation, but it marks a profound transformation in Jacob's life, symbolizing the transition from seeking worldly validation to seeking divine blessing.

20:04

🙏 The Necessity of Wrestling with God

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of wrestling with God through prayer and life's challenges as a means to grow in character and wisdom. The speaker suggests that true joy and fulfillment come from recognizing and embracing one's weaknesses and imperfections. The narrative of Jacob's life serves as a metaphor for the Christian journey, where wrestling with God leads to a deeper understanding of oneself and a more profound connection with the divine. The speaker encourages embracing the 'limp' as a sign of growth and a reminder of God's transformative work in the lives of believers.

Keywords

💡Theology of the Cross

The 'Theology of the Cross' refers to a perspective in Christian thought that emphasizes the centrality of the cross of Christ as revealing God's true nature and power. In the video, this concept is used to challenge the common understanding of power and wisdom, suggesting that God's power is seen in weakness and suffering, as exemplified by the crucifixion. It's a theme that runs through the discussion of how Christians should view their work and their struggles, as a reflection of Christ's sacrifice and a means of God's grace.

💡Faith and Work

The term 'Faith and Work' encapsulates the idea of integrating one's religious beliefs with their professional life. The video discusses the different theological streams that approach this integration, suggesting that faith should not be separated from one's work. It is used to explore how one's job can be a form of worship and service to God, aligning with the speaker's belief that all work has divine significance.

💡Evangelical Stream

The 'Evangelical Stream' is one of the four theological streams identified in the video that influences the integration of faith and work. It focuses on the personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the role of faith in providing emotional and spiritual support in the workplace. The video suggests that this stream emphasizes the heart and the importance of Jesus in strengthening individuals to deal with work-related challenges.

💡Mainline Christian Stream

The 'Mainline Christian Stream' is characterized by its focus on social justice and the critique of capitalism. It is mentioned in the video as an approach that encourages a holistic view of work and emphasizes the common good. This stream is concerned with ensuring that work practices are just and contribute positively to society.

💡Reformed Christian Stream

The 'Reformed Christian Stream' is rooted in Calvinism and is mentioned in the video as emphasizing the importance of a Christian worldview in all aspects of life, including work. It suggests that every action is taken from a certain viewpoint, and thus, work should be transformed by working out of a Christian perspective, reflecting a belief in the non-neutrality of human actions.

💡Lutheran Stream

The 'Lutheran Stream' is associated with Martin Luther and is highlighted in the video for its focus on the theology of the cross. It suggests that a true understanding of God comes through the lens of suffering and the cross, which is seen as a revelation of how God works. This stream is used to argue that all work, regardless of the worker's religious beliefs, can be God's work.

💡Theologian of the Cross

A 'Theologian of the Cross' is someone who, according to Martin Luther as cited in the video, correctly interprets the nature of God and the world through the lens of the cross. This perspective recognizes that God's power and wisdom are revealed in suffering and weakness, contrary to the 'Theologian of Glory' who may misinterpret these attributes. The video uses this term to encourage viewers to see the divine in the mundane and the suffering.

💡Wrestling with God

The concept of 'Wrestling with God' is drawn from the biblical story of Jacob's struggle (Genesis 32) and is used in the video to symbolize the human experience of grappling with divine will, especially in times of suffering and uncertainty. It illustrates the process of coming to terms with God's plan, often through periods of intense struggle and personal growth.

💡Struggling and Wrestling

The video discusses 'Struggling and Wrestling' as a metaphor for the challenges and difficulties one faces in life, including in one's work. It suggests that these struggles are not to be avoided but embraced as opportunities for growth and transformation, aligning with the theme that suffering can lead to a deeper understanding of God's will.

💡Walking with a Limp

In the video, 'Walking with a Limp' is a metaphor for living with the consequences of one's struggles and the imperfections that come with them. It is used to convey the idea that Christians should embrace their vulnerabilities and weaknesses as evidence of their reliance on God, rather than striving for an unattainable perfection.

Highlights

The speaker introduces the concept of 'theology of the cross' and its significance in understanding work through a theological lens.

Four theological streams are identified in the discourse on faith and work: Evangelical, Mainline Christian, Reformed Christian, and Lutheran.

The Evangelical stream focuses on the heart and the role of Jesus in providing comfort and strength in work-related challenges.

Mainline Christian stream emphasizes justice, critiques of capitalism, and the common good in the context of work.

Reformed Christian stream underscores the importance of a Christian worldview in transforming work and recognizing the non-neutrality of all actions.

Lutheran stream, as introduced by Martin Luther, views the cross as the ultimate revelation of God's nature and work, especially through suffering.

Luther's Heidelberg disputation is discussed, highlighting the distinction between a theologian of glory and a theologian of the cross.

The speaker argues that God's power and wisdom are supremely seen in the cross, challenging common worldly interpretations.

A call to view work through the lens of the cross, recognizing that all work, regardless of one's faith, can be God's work.

The importance of understanding that God uses suffering for good, as evidenced in Romans 8:28, is emphasized.

The narrative of Jacob's wrestling match with God in Genesis 32 is used to illustrate the concept of wrestling with God for blessings.

Jacob's life-long struggle for blessings and his realization of God's presence in his struggles are discussed.

The idea that true transformation and growth come through wrestling with difficulties and not avoiding them is presented.

The speaker concludes by encouraging a 'theology of the cross' approach to work, which includes embracing struggles and weaknesses.

The concept of 'limping' as a symbol of growth through struggle is introduced, suggesting that all Christians who have true joy also have their struggles.

Transcripts

my talk is on I'm going to call it the

theology of the cross and walking with a

limp when a Catherine I have worked on

this book that's coming out this month

every good endeavor connecting your work

to God's work and it was for me in

particular it was a great deep dive into

the theology of work and what this meant

to me was I came to realize that that

though there's a great deal of interest

in this in the subject of integrating

faith with work there are at least four

different theological streams and almost

all movements or organizations or

agencies or events that have to do with

faith and work tend to reside in just

one of the four the four streams are

these that I can identify one I'll call

the evangelical stream which is it tends

to have more to do with the heart and

the idea is that when it comes to faith

and work we really need is Jesus in our

hearts and comfort us to strengthen us

to help us deal with our problems to

deal with with to hold us down from

getting too big ahead in success to lift

us up from being too deflated by failure

it has much more to do with the

emotional the psychological the

spiritual and Jesus helped to deal with

all the troubles and trials of being in

work the second stream would be I call

the mainline Christian stream and there

the emphasis is on justice and on how to

make sure your work deals with justice

and very often in that stream there's

good critiques of capitalism for example

and an effort to to think more

holistically about how work is done and

a lot of emphasis on the common good a

third stream is what I'll call the

reformed Christian stream which with all

the emphasis on worldview this comes out

of Calvinism and John Calvin actually

the idea that there is no neutrality

everything is done from a point

view every there is no view from nowhere

everything that we do has to represent a

certain set of beliefs about things

about human nature about God right and

wrong and so forth and what's important

is that we transform our work by working

out of a Christian worldview the forth

stream is the stream that you might call

the Lutheran Stream Martin Luther and I

want to talk to you about that right now

I actually believe that all the streams

have great have biblical roots and

warrant and I would certainly hope that

the center faith the work continues to

be what it is and that is not

necessarily completely abiding in any

one of those streams would be more fully

biblical than that but I think sometimes

the Lutheran understanding of things

isn't often seen and that's actually the

theme of this of this conference because

of the idea of struggling and wrestling

here's what Luther said in his

Heidelberg disputation in the very

beginning of his career as a Protestant

when the the the church authorities were

asking what are you really teaching and

he created what was called the

Heidelberg disputation and in those days

what that meant was a series of theses

and theses 19 20 and 21 I'm going to

read you listen careful that person does

not deserve to be called a theologian

who looks upon the invisible things of

God as though they were clearly

perceptible in those things which have

actually happened number that's 1920 he

deserves to be called a theologian

however who comprehends the visible and

manifest things of God seen through

suffering and the cross number 21 a

theologian of glory calls evil good and

good evil a theologian of the Cross

calls the thing what it actually is

now here's what he's saying and I'm

going to try to apply it a little bit

and then go to a famous biblical text on

wrestling with God in Genesis 32 the

first

while Luther is saying is we must not

make got Christ over it God over in our

own image we must listen to him when he

tells us who he really is and he

essentially supremely reveals himself to

be himself through the cross it's

through suffering and through the cross

so for example when you hear the word

power what do you think that means

right away power means getting things

done and Luther says if you take the

normal human understanding of power and

when you hear the word power of God you

just go with that you will sort of

remake God into your own image but if

you want to understand what God's power

looks like look at the cross you know

sin and death have one God created a

world that was perfect he created a

world in which there was no sin and

there was no death and there was no

decays perfect but sin and death have

one how is God going to defeat that and

he did defeat that and it were he's in

the process of the the triumph is not

complete yet but he has to where did he

defeat it where was the power of God

strong enough you might say to defeat

sin and death the cross weakness

suffering or when you hear the word

wisdom what do you think right away what

most people mean by wisdom by the way is

knowing how to get things done how do

you really have it results you're wise

you know how to get things done you know

how to figure it out you know wisdom

where does the Bible say God's wisdom is

supremely seen on the cross on the cross

now wait a minute though you see what

you see Jesus doing on the cross is

loving the unlovely dying for people who

are

not lovely yet or not worthy of it who

don't merit it and then substituting

himself for them going to people who are

unlovely but don't deserve to be loved

in any way and then putting himself

where they should be according to the

wisdom of the world that's nuts you go

with the mover so you move with the

movers you go for the people who can

open doors for you you don't go to the

unlovely you don't go to the weak and

then you climb up you don't climb down

that's not how you're successful you

don't hang out with the weak in the

marginal and you don't climb down and

that's what Jesus did and yet by the way

if you're too busy climbing up the

ladder to ever spend time getting down

the floor and playing with your kids

thirty years from now you're going to

wish you had done that thirty-one years

from now you're going to wish you would

climb down and spend time with the week

instead of spending all those times in

the boardroom because your life will be

empty if you don't have your family

anymore oh well maybe the logic of the

cross isn't so stupid no you know see

the way that's the reason why what you

know Paul says he says to the Greeks you

know the cross is foolish and to the

Jews the cross is weak but those are

being saved both Greek and Jew the cross

is the true wisdom of God and the true

power of God let me go a little step

further let's think of work for a minute

if you don't take this Lutheran which is

really a biblical perspective that you

have to look at things through the cross

and through suffering in the cross and

weakness of the cross this is the this

is the way God reveals himself if you

don't do that then you go into the world

of work and there's a great danger you

can become a theologian of glory and a

theologian of glory tends to say well

only we Christians who understand the

Bible and understand Christian worldview

we're the only ones that can do good

work we're the only ones that can do

work the way it ought to be

but say Luther says wait a minute God

says he feeds every living thing he

makes us he creates as and he feeds and

believethey how does he feed every

living thing he says he says why the

simplest farm girl who's milking cows

out there and who then sells it to the

the you know the rough truck driver who

takes it to the dairy and who takes it

to God is actually feeding you and

giving you things to eat and drink

through them and therefore just by doing

their job they are the masks of God they

are the hands and fingers of God just to

do your work whether you're Christian or

not just to do your work well you're

doing God's work the idea that only US

ministers were preaching the gospel are

only as Christians who are applying in a

worldview that's a theologian

the theology that cross says that

everyone's doing God's work even the

simplest even the humblest even the

ditch digger he's doing God's work I

don't need a worldview God is using them

to to to meet our needs but lastly and

this is lastly on this part this first

part it's a nice long introduction and

we'll get to the text how do you think

about suffering and wrestling and

failure in general some years ago well

what is more than once I've tried to

explain to people that the cross is not

just the way God atone for your sin put

it this way the cross is not just an

atonement but a revelation of how God

deals with the people he loves what if

the cross wasn't just a way that through

Jesus Christ God saved you but what if

the cross and there's plenty of biblical

evidence for this is the way that God

works through everybody he loves not

just Jesus this gets a lot of people

upset because a lot of people say wait a

minute I don't mind Jesus suffering to

save me but now hey you know if God

loves me and I'm his child and he's my

father he needs to take care of me can't

let bad things happen to me and this is

what

it can when bad things do happen you say

wait a minute women I thought that God

loved me I shouldn't be wrestling I

shouldn't be struggling I shouldn't feel

weak what Luther would say and I think

this is again it's the this is a

biblical right thing to say what Luther

would say is don't you see that the

ultimate triumph of good over evil is

that now when evil happens God uses it

for good not that it's gone you see the

ultimate triumph is that evil can only

in the end Romans 8:28 God's working all

things out what Romans 8:28 all things

work together not all things are good

but all things work together for good to

those who love God that's what the cross

was a horrible thing suffering for Jesus

bad things happen and yet God worked

through it for something incredibly good

now there's many crosses everywhere and

everything that happens in your life if

you give it to God if you look to God if

you rest and trust in God even the

wrestling's even the struggling is our

way in which God is changing you growing

you blessing you you know

remember Harold Kushner wrote when bad

things happen to good people and he

basically say why does God let bad

things happen to good people and

Luthor's say God lets bad things happen

to good people because he's trying to

bless them now let's put us all together

let me read you a text and just briefly

show you its meaning and apply it to

rest you know faith and work this is

from Genesis 32 Jacob was left alone and

a man wrestled with him till dawn and

when the man saw that he could not

overpower Jacob he touched the socket of

Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched

as he wrestled with the man then the man

said let me go for it is daybreak but

Jacob replied I will not let you go

unless you bless me the man asked him

what is your name Jacob he answered then

the man said your name will no longer be

Jacob but Israel because you have

struggled with God and with humans

have overcome Jacob said please tell me

your name

but he replied why do you ask my name

then he blessed him there so Jacob

called the place Peniel and said it is

because I saw God face to face and yet

my life was spared the Sun rose above

him as he passed by Nile and he was

limping because of his hip therefore to

this day the Israelites do not eat the

tendon attached to the socket of a hip

because the socket of Jacob's hip was

touched near the tendon 0.1 what Jacob

had been doing all of his life was

wrestling with people here's the

background to this thing this is the

climax of Jacob's life basically and the

background is this Jacob was a twin he

was the younger he came out second even

though he's a twenty came out second so

the older one was Esau and those days

the older kid got everything

primogeniture and yet a prophecy had

been given to Isaac that God was going

to use Jacob to bring about the blessing

that Jacob should actually leave the

family Isaac just ignored it and he

loved he saw and he doted on Esau any

favorite Esau and you know how damaging

that can be to the kid is not favored

Jacob and he grew up needy

you know troubled damaged and at a

certain point if you know the story

Isaac decided to give Esau officially

the head of the family estate which

meant the blessing of the firstborn and

it was a kind of ceremony in which Esau

was going to make Isaac some food then

Isaac was going to eat it and he was

going to bless him O Lord I mean oh son

you know O Lord bless my son and let him

be prosperous and so on it's a formality

because the idea of legally mean Isaac

was going to give Esau the legal

headship of the family but the blessing

ceremony was a fun was a formality

Jacob dressed up as Esau because Isaac

was essentially blind and came in and

fixed him some food and got Isaac to

pronounce the blessing on Jacob

but of course Esau found out about it

and Isaac found out about it and Esau

was ready to kill Jacob so he had to

leave home and everybody sits around

saying what is what's going on there why

did Jacob knowing that basically he

couldn't get away with it knowing that

Isaac would find out that this was

actually Jacob and if Isaac wanted to

give me the legal headship of the family

to Esau he would so why did Jacob do

that and here's the answer the only good

answer I know Jacob must have been so

Jacob was willing to do anything so even

under false pretenses he wanted to hear

his father say I love you you mean more

to me than everything he wanted a

blessing we all would need that we all

need someone from outside to come and

say you're great you're wonderful you're

terrific we desperately need that it's

not enough for us to tell ourselves were

great nobody else thinks we are doesn't

work we need people from outside we need

some outside to come and bless us and

all of his life and I don't have the

time to go to the rest of it basically

Jacob was wrestling with Esau Jake was

wrestling with Isaac then later on he

goes running off to his uncle Laban to

save himself from being killed by Esau

and he works for Laban and he tries to

get Levens blessing and Laban keeps

tricking him he says I'll work for you

and I want to I want to marry Rachel

your daughter Rachel and Laban says sure

and then gives him Leah instead and then

he has to work for Rachel and some of

you know how that story is and finally

he leaves

Laban he runs away from Laban and he's

on his way back and he hears that Esau

is coming out with 400 men to meet him

and he's scared to death he feels like

Tamar is that is the my problem I'm

going to die and so he sends his his he

sends the rest of his family on ahead

and he spends some time alone and

suddenly some mysterious person jumps on

him and starts wrestling with him who is

this person here's what we know

even though he's wrestling with this man

all night it says when daybreak was

about to come the man saw he could not

overpower men he touched the socket of

Jacob's hip so his hip was wrenched and

the word touch simply means

he lightly touched Jacobs hip and

immediately it was destroyed shattered

never never walked right again who is a

person who is this person that is so

powerful you see he's been wrestling

with Jacob kind of like holding Jacob

it's almost like they're even but

suddenly as daybreak comes he shows that

he's been holding it back and he just

reached out and touches and shatters his

leg and then the second thing we were

told is he says I got a leave Jacob

because it's almost daybreak nobody can

see my face and when Jacob says what is

your name he says you don't need to know

my name who is this it's God and see all

and as soon here's the crazy thing as

soon as Jacob realizes it's God and

realizes the Sun is coming up what

should he have done if he was rational

at least from what we could sell he

should be running away he says couple

the sun's coming up seeing God you die

when you see God coming up no instead he

holds on to him and he says I will not

let you go to light till you bless me

which is an amazing statement here's

what he was saying when he did that

basically was saying this what an idiot

I've been here is what I've been looking

for all my life here's the approval I

was looking for in my father's face here

is the beauty I was looking for in

Rachel's face all my life when I was

dealing and dealing and wrestling with

other people I realized I didn't realize

that this is what I needed I need you to

bless me here it's my blessing here is

what I've been looking for all my life I

will not let you go to you bless me and

you are a permanent presence in my life

nothing else matters I don't care about

the pain I don't care that you just

ruined my leg I don't care that the Sun

comes up I would rather die than lose

your blessing you see with having he

suddenly realized in his work he'd been

wrestling for blessing in his sexual

life he was wrestling for blessing and

his family life was wrestling for

blessing and the reason why he's always

been needy and always been a mess is

because I real

God's blessing this is the one that I

need to bless me and guess what we're

told and I always get shivers when I see

it the text says Jacob said please tell

me your name but he replied why do you

ask my name and then he blessed him

there the text does not tell us what he

said and blessings were always verbal

God must have said something to Jacob

must have said something to Jacob I

don't know what it was but here's the

point Jacob would never ever have

realized what his problems are unless

he'd been spending all this time

wrestling what if God had showed up 10

years before and said you know Jacob

you're trying to get your approval out

of your family it wouldn't have worked

what if he'd shown up with Joseph if you

know the story of Joseph who was sold

into slavery and went into prison and

Joseph was an absolutely stuck-up kid

absolutely spoiled ruined you know proud

evil cynical what if God had just showed

up and said you know you're a spoiled

brat and would Joseph have said Oh help

me know spoiled brats don't do that

nobody ever learns who they are by being

told they have to be shown

nobody's ever learned who you really are

you never learn who you are just by

being told you have to be shown you have

to wrestle you have to experience

weakness and then finally you see where

the blessing really should be coming

from that's what happened here's my

points and you will never come to see

who you are

you'll never get any real knowledge

you'll never get any real strength you

never really got any character any

humility any self perspective any wisdom

any depth unless you you've got trouble

unless you suffer unless you wrestle

unless you experience weakness

see God deals with he doesn't just atone

for us our sins with the cross

it's the way he helps us number two one

of our main problems is we fight God and

then even after we realize we've been

fighting God like Jacob we still have to

wrestle with God in prayer we still have

to get him into the center of our lives

that takes wrestling that takes prayer

very often you feel like your hearts

dead but that does

I'm going to go back I'm going to read

the Bible going to pray I'm going to

repent I'm going to rejoice I'm going to

do it until I start to sense God's

presence in my life I will not let you

go till you bless me so prayer is a form

of wrestling and life is a form of

wrestling and you'll have a limp and

you'll rejoice David Martyn lloyd-jones

is a wonderful he was a doctor who

became a pastor and a preacher and

Martyn lloyd-jones has a wonderful talk

on this in which he says all Christians

who have true joy also limp you dance

but you limp you're broken before you

can be made whole and honestly unless

you go through this you will be

theologians of glory when it comes to

your work you'll be trying to get your

blessing through your work bad you'll be

actually afraid of moving toward

difficulties in work you'll avoid them

you'll avoid weak people you won't you

won't care about the simple person

you'll hang out with the you know the

powerful you'll be remade in the image

of the world don't do that a theology of

the cross and walking with a limp