Voicing Heaven in Earth's Language

Luke 2:52 "And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." How is this possible? Jesus is God in flesh! He's perfect! What we see here is the most beautiful mystery encapsulated. He gave up all rights to divine prerogative, even divine perfection! Check this out-"And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.'" Luke 18:19 Jesus came to show us how to be perfect as humans because He was perfect as a human by the power of the Holy Spirit. Just because He was growing in wisdom and stature before God does not mean He wasn't holy or perfect. He grew in God perfectly. He lived before God perfectly as a man, unhindered by sin and grew unhindered by sin. Jesus Christ is still growing in wisdom and stature before God through His body, the church. Why? John 14:12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will

Jacob and Contending Prayer *Genesis 32:24-32 a. Significance of new name, "Israel", meaning "God strives" or "he who strives with God." 1) Theological implications: Jacob had striven with God and men and prevailed a) I don't believe that Jacob strove against God, but rather WITH God. b) In the name is a picture of prayer which the NT will make clearer. c) Jacob was striving along along with God for what God was "striving" for. d) Why does God have to strive? -picture of God's desired cooperative relationship with man -God desired to give Jacob blessing or else wouldn't have -God doesn't force anything upon man-man must choose to receive all that God offers -God striving against Jacob's sinful nature so that He could give blessing -Jacob striving with God against himself-his own fears and