When Jesus looked down from the cross, this is what He saw:

The Roman soldiers were casting lots for His clothing 
(John 19:23–24). 
The criminals on the crosses to either side of Him were 
insulting Him (Matthew 27:44).
The religious leaders were mocking Him 
(Matthew 27:41–43). 
The crowd was blaspheming Him (Matthew 27:39).

When we look at Jacob's life, we see its marked by a struggle with God, even his name marks his struggles. You and are not too far off from these kinds of struggles, we struggle with God, ours being unique in our own situation, but all of us have struggles with God.

But for Jacob, he came to a place, where he decided he would no longer struggle with God, but that he would strive with God and not against Him. God would become His God, just like He was His fathers, and His grandfathers.

Could you imagine that the collective prayers of people, when they come together can draw upon the power of God (Matthew 18:19-20) to literly set those who are in bondage, those who are captive free. Acts 12 reminds us that our prayers have power.
Imagine in your home, if you got on your knees with your family and prayed, for those who are lost, those who are ill, those who are in need that God would show himself strong on your behalves. God is looking for those who seek Him, those whose heart is devoted to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9)

• You have a need?
• You need freedom from something?
• You have a child wandering away from God?
• You know someone in danger, or trouble?

Then maybe its time to get together with some believers and ask God to move. And the "Chains" will fall free, and the captives will go free!

When I was lost someone prayed for me, and I was set free!

5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. Peter’s Miraculous Escape from Prison 6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.

Acts 12:5-7

God Is Sovereign

This morning as I read the word, God gave me this portion:

See its not the bad news that I would receive that destroys me, "its what I do with it."

It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. ~Hebrews 11:31

This week in our series Avengers - Heroes of Faith, I spoke about the Prostitute Rahab, a woman who lived in the walls of Jericho, a City destined for destruction.   You know as I think about her life, I have to think: weren't we all headed that way before Christ?  It was as a result of hearing of a God who saves, a God who reaches out to the "whosoevers" of this world that we came to the conclusion we needed saving, that we needed a relationship with God.    

Rahab had heard of the many works of God on the behalf of His people Israel, and it was based on her experience with God that she made a decision to believe in God and was saved.   You may think that you are not impacting people in your circle of life for Jesus, but rest asure you are, maybe you won't be the deciding factor, but God will use your testimony of faith to impact others.   Listen how it affected Rahab

Faith  that saves

9 “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. 10 For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea[b] when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed.[c] 11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. ~Joshua 2:9-11

Hope for our family

Because of your relationship with Jesus Christ, God promises your family:

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.~Acts 16:31 

For Rahab it was her faith that saved her family, she believed in God and the work that was at hand and because she was obedient to His leading it saved her and not only her but her whole famly:

18 When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house.  ~Joshua 2:18

 I don't know about you, but this brings hope to my heart, we see this kind of promises play out in Rahab's life and the lives of Israel durring the Passover, anyone who was in the house when the angel passed over would be saved.  God desires that your whole family be saved and for as many who believe He will do just that save them, keep the faith, keep the hope, believe that God will rescue your family.

A Future

Here is something to ponder:   Maybe you don't think your life is important, maybe you don't think that there are much plans, but it is what you don' t know that matters, Rahab did not know she would be part of the liniage of the Messiah, that she would be counted in the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.   Truth is that we cannot change our History, but we can be part of His Story, we can decide to go forward with God beleiving whatever the future He has for us is bigger that we can fathom, bigger than we can see and that because its His plan its the right one for us.

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).
Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth).
Obed was the father of Jesse. ~Matthew 1:5

Something to take away from this:

Through faith our lives are transformed, our history transforms into  His Story, our family is changed, hope is infused into our lives and we have the promise of a future.