By Pastor Dr. Shana Wise
The “losses” in our life can take pieces us our mind, body, and soul, and only God can “recover” them.
What are some personal “losses” that affect you today?
I would like to examine the story of Jacob and how he experienced a personal spiritual revival (resurrection) after many years had passed since he lost his son Joseph.
Jacobs relational losses:
· Jacob and Esau…the loss of a brother (by Jacobs doing) (Genesis 27).
· Jacob and his daughter Dinah (she was raped) (Genesis 34).
Side Note: What happened to Dinah after her rape? We do not hear anything else about her until Jacob and his family moved to Egypt and she went with them. In those days a woman like that was viewed as a “damaged good”. She couldn’t be married off, and the offense taken against her brought the spirit of shame.
· Jacob and Rachel (when she died)
· Jacob and Joseph (years went by. Jacob thought he was dead)
· Jacob and Benjamin (he had to send him to Egypt with his brothers and it grieved his heart to do it)
The character of Jacob/Israel
Jacob was a type of principality on earth.
1. Principality definition: a state ruled by a prince (Oxford language)
2. He wasn’t an angel; he was a man. His words had prophetic strong holding power in certain regions of the earth and in his generational family bloodline. When Jacob/Israel spoke words, they came to pass.
3. If we truly understood our God-given authority, we would watch our words and make them count. We as believers are also strongholds in the earthly realm, yet rarely do we exercise the gifts that God has given us to expand his Kingdom and tear down the powers of darkness.
More about Jacob’s Character
· Jacob experienced many personal heartaches, but he also caused other people to have heartaches too (Esau, Isaac, Leah, and his sons).
· As we mature in God, many times our testing (by Him), or the reaping from the seeds we sowed in the past can weigh on us physically, mentally, and emotionally.
· Jacob endured a lot of trials and many of them he internalizes all while God was changing his name from Jacob to Israel.
· When God is working on your character, patience, and faithfulness to Him, it doesn’t always feel good. James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Theme Scripture for Spiritual Revival
Genesis 45:26-27 And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still because he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
· Have you ever had your heart stand still? I have. It looks like time standing still and heaven is intersecting you personally. Have you ever heard a word from the Lord concerning you and it was too hard to believe due to your past or current events?
· That’s what happened with Jacob. Of all the losses he had experienced in life, this was the moment that He was going to receive a miracle.
Q: Are you expecting any miracles from God soon or before you die?
· As Joseph’s brothers began to talk about Joseph being alive and the words he spoke to them, that’s when Jacob believed and knew his son was not dead. Rom. 10:17, Sothen faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. I’m sure at that moment Jacob had a flashback of when Joseph told him and his family about the dream, he had in Genesis 37. He also probably remembers the coat of many colors that he had made for him-and now the true meaning of what that coat represented had manifested in Joseph’s life.
· What did it look like at that moment when Jacob’s spirit was revived? I could imagine that his whole countenance changed. He was struck with unspeakable joy. The burdens and pain that he carried for years living with the fact that Joseph was dead instantly went away. At that moment, Jacob experienced a strength exchange from heaven. He probably was leaping and dancing on the inside. He probably had a smile on his face that he never had before. I’m sure tears of joy came.
Q: What have you experienced with personal spiritual revival? Do areas of your life do you need to be revived?
· Isaiah 61:3 comes to mind when I think about a spiritual revival: To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy formourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Jacob’s response to his revival
1. Genesis 45:28 Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.” Notice when you have a spiritual revival, you speak from a different place in your soul. We see the name Israel was used when he spoke about going to see Joseph.
Q: What place in your being are you speaking from? Is it from your old name (or nature) or from the name that God has given you?
2. Jacob/Israel had to go physically reunite with his son. He wanted to see and hold him again. He wanted to receive his blessing. Spiritual revival will cause you to act. You cannot have an undeniable miracle happen in your life and you don’t move in the direction of the blessing. What miracle do you need from God today?
· Moving forward this year and beyond, I believe it is God’s intention to reveal to us the things that we thought were dead, but they are alive! Spiritual Revival requires our participation with God. Worship, prayer, faith, and word in action are necessities when walking with God. Jacob was a worshipper of God even though he had some character flaws. God humbled Jacob (Gen 32:30-32) and blessed him too. Jacob experienced heartache and pain in his life, but before he died, he received a miracle. It wasn’t just about Joseph being alive, but it was also about his family’s future being secured. Jacob experienced what restoration, reconciliation, and resurrection look like! Sounds familiar, right? What Jesus did for us was foretold through the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the rest of the bible. The story of redemption.
· What resurrection are you expecting in your life, your family, and your future generation? What healing do you need today from the past? Like Jacob, believe God at his word and the word will manifest in your life!
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About the Author
About the Author
Dr. Shana Wise is an ordained Pastor and CEO of Wise Choice Ministries (est. 2016). She is the founder of The Well Christian Women’s Network formally known as Christian Women Preachers United. Dr. Wise is the author of women’s devotionals Acts of Intercession and Chief Women Arise, The Impact of Your Election, and Basic Ministry Training Manual (all available on Amazon). She received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2019 from St. Thomas Christian University. Her passion is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip others to apply the Word to their lives, and demonstrate the Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. She is a televangelist that appears on social media outlets. Shana is married to Deacon Ron Wise and is the mother of four children.
For speaking engagements email: wisechoiceministries512@gmail.com.
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Acts of Intercession
The Impact of Your Election
Basic Ministry Training Manual
Chief Women Arise
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