Prevailing Strategies: Win First in The Spirit

Before your victory shows on the outside, you need to win first in the spirit. We prevail first with God, before we prevail with men.

This readily brings into mind the picture of Jacob, when he wanted to return to his homeland with all that God had blessed him with. But then, he remembered there was a problem. He had cheated his brother several years before, which resulted in his seeking asylum in another land. And his brother, Esau, who had become a very strong man, vowed to take revenge against him. So, Jacob had every reason to be afraid.

When Esau heard that Jacob was coming home, he got his army ready to attack Jacob. Jacob knew he was in trouble and could lose everything, including his life, if he did nothing about the situation. So, he decided to “settle” the matter with God. He knew he’d have to prevail with God first, to prevail with his brother Esau. The Bible tells us that the angel of the Lord appeared to Jacob, and Jacob wrestled with the angel all night long (Genesis 32:24).

Now, there’re so many interpretations of that account, but the most significant thing about this experience that Jacob had with the Lord is the lesson on prayer: “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” The angel said, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” But Jacob declared, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26). This was Jacob, prevailing in prayer! Hosea 12:3-5 says “He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; Even the Lord God of hosts; the Lord is his memorial.”

It was during this encounter that his name was changed to Israel, leading to a complete turnaround in his life. The angel said, “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 32:28). You see that? He prevailed with God.

Prevailing with God doesn’t mean forcing Him to do something; no. It’s winning first in the spirit! It’s when you continue in heartfelt intercession until you gain the victory in your spirit; seeing and apprehending your victory in the spirit. When you win first in the spirit, nothing in this world will be able to successfully stand against.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come (Hebrews 11:20)
Blessings are pronounced or spoken by faith; otherwise, they’ll be empty words. The words of blessings that we speak must be words of faith; faith that’s connected to God; faith that’s based on the revelation of God’s Word. That’s what will cause the words to prevail.
Likewise, Hebrews 11:21 says, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph and worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.” This is really amazing! Jacob, at this time, could hardly see; his eyes were dim, but he blessed his grandsons according to the revelation of the Spirit.

Joseph, the father of the boys, thought Jacob was making a mistake when he placed his left hand on the older son, and the right hand on the younger one, and tried to correct his father, but no; it wasn’t a mistake. Jacob was blessing the boys by faith. He was seeing into the future, and by the words of blessing, he invoked on them the respective future that God had planned. (Genesis 48:18-19) And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.” This is why if people aren’t blessed, even though God has a good plan for them, they’ll never fulfill it, because they have no one to utter the blessings into their lives. Yes, those blessings are there already in the spirit-realm, but they can only be activated by the spoken word; by the affirmation of faith.

Just as divine health, prosperity, forgiveness, justification, sanctification and righteousness aren’t promises from God for the new creation, even so is eternal life not a promise! Eternal life isn’t life in heaven or life you receive when you get to heaven; it’s in you now. Jesus would never have needed to come if all there is to eternal life is going to heaven. After all, Enoch went to heaven before Jesus came (Genesis 5:24). Also, Jesus said God isn’t the God of the dead, but of the living; He’s called the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Read Luke 20:37-38); meaning that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are alive and in heaven.
Even Elijah was carried to heaven with a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11); he didn’t need Jesus to have come first. This proves that eternal life isn’t about living endlessly in heaven. Jesus didn’t come to give us something that was already available; He was the manifestation of the life which God promised before the world began. God’s plan for man was to live like God, live in His image, live as His reflection in this world. But man lost out on God’s plan due to Adam’s transgression. However, through Christ Jesus, eternal life—the life and nature of God is now available to anyone who believes in Him.

There’s animal life, plant life, human life, and then you have the God-life, which you receive when you’re born again. That’s the life Jesus spoke about in our theme verse. It’s indestructible and untainted.
That eternal life controls everything about your life now; it vitalizes your physical body. It destroys sickness, disease, infirmity, and everything that’s not of God in your physical body.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalm 1:3).
The future belongs to those who prepare for it. There’re lots of good things that can happen to you and for you along the path of life without you preparing for them or doing anything for them to happen. However, God’s best isn’t that you wait for good things to “fall” on you. For example, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ died for the whole world. The work of salvation has been consummated; it’s been made available to everyone in the world. But sadly, there’re people who’ll still go to hell. Is it God’s fault, or was the salvation inadequate? Certainly not! It’s because they chose not to accept His salvation; it’s the choice they made that’s taking them to hell. Some others never heard of Christ’s salvation, and it’s our responsibility to tell the untold. In the same way, you’re the offspring of success; therefore, you can’t and shouldn’t be anything less. Success is your birthright. However, just because you’ve got the genes of success in you doesn’t mean you’re going to live up to your calling. You’ve got to do something about it; you must choose to win. Choose to be a success. Organize yourself for it. Plan for it and work towards it.

Success and failure are neither accidental nor mysterious. If you consistently practice the principles of success according to God’s Word, you’re guaranteed to experience good success in every area of your life. On the other hand, the one who lives without vision, purpose, and a sense of direction will fail miserably in life. It’s still early in the year, a good time to organize and strategize by the Spirit to win and be a victor on every count. Remember, it’s not enough to hope for success; you make it happen. It’s a choice that you must make.

Jacob had cheated on his brother Esau and fled to another land. Esau, who had become a very strong man, had vowed to take revenge against him. So, when Jacob wanted to return to his homeland, he knew he was in trouble and could lose everything, including his life if he did nothing about the situation. So, he decided to “settle” the matter with God. He knew he’d have to prevail with God first, to prevail with his brother. The Bible tells us that the Angel of the Lord appeared to Jacob, and he wrestled with the Angel all night long (Genesis 32:24-30). When you study this account carefully, you’ll see that Jacob wrestled and prevailed with God in prayer! As a result, his name was changed to “Israel,” leading to a complete turnaround in his life.

Hosea 12:3-4 gives even more insight to this: “…in his strength, he struggled with God. Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him….”
You see, before your victory shows on the outside, you’d need to win first in the spirit. You prevail first with God, before you prevail with men. This doesn’t mean forcing Him to do something for you; no. What it simply means is that you continue in heartfelt intercession until you see and apprehend your victory in the spirit. When you win first in the spirit, nothing in this world will be able to successfully stand against you.

–GSW–