Wrestling With God III

October 18th, 2026
by Mike Stewart, Pastor

Preached October 18, 2026 - Afternoon Sermon (Audio Only)
Text: Genesis 32:9-32
Heritage Baptist Church

Listen below or at SermonAudio.

Sermon Description

The angel touched Jacob at the place of his greatest natural strength so that weakness would become the very means of clinging to Christ. In that night the heel-grabber learned to take hold of the bruised heel of the One who would crush the serpent's head and put away sin forever. The permanent limp was given so that Jacob-and we-would point others to the Man whose power shines through ordinary jars of clay. True contentment is not the possession of enough of this world but the possession of the One who is everything. >When God sends the thorn or the dislocated hip, He is not against us; He is drawing us to rest in the sufficiency of His grace.

Scripture

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 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. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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.
Genesis 32:24-28

Reflection Questions - Pending

Adapted from the sermon preached October 18, 2026 by Pastor Mike Stewart.

For further reading: Genesis 32:9-32; Hosea 12:3-4; 2 Corinthians 4:7-12; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Genesis 3:15; James 1:2-4

Mike Stewart, Pastor | Heritage Baptist Church

Mike was born and raised in central Mississippi. After graduating from Mississippi State in 1986, God changed his course of direction with a deep conviction of sin and desire to follow Christ. He then met his wife, Peggy, while attending church in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1998, he was ordained to the ministry in Bel Air, Maryland, and ultimately moved to Huntsville, Alabama, to begin his first pastorate. In 2005, Heritage was formed and called him to be her founding pastor.