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Show ISAAC, JACOB, AND JOSEPH PASSING FAITH ON Hebrews 11: 20-22 When one reads in The Bible about the fathers of the faithful the Old patriarchs one starts with AbfeJ, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. Then one finds the records of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as they continue the process of not just holding on but passing on the t:s:: faith to generations yet to come. It is t!-v W aM- Jr'VIr.. because of them and the lineage that Testament . f) y/f<.. leads to Jesus that you and I have the opportunity to experience the power of faith in our give you an opportunity commit yourself to walk in grace by sermon, to lives. At the end of this we will faith. Notice the three verses 1 of this text I AAJ/ <1- remind us passed on that Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph their faith by blessing those who would follow in their footsteps. emphasize two or three things that will help us to be part of the Permit me to hall of the faithful. The first of the three to pass on his faith is Isaac. "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau come."(20) concerning things to Unlike Moses when he died dim, Isaac in his old age "his eyes are dim, so that he could not see." (Genesis 27: 1) His own at 120 his eyes were not wife and his own son connived and schemed to trick him and he did not coming. Isaac was so see it spiritually blind, like many of us, that he could not see that his chief spiritual foes were living in his own house. Isaac mistakenly blessed his 2 · younger son Jacob when he should have blessed the elder Esau. When he came to opened his eyes, instead of being angry, "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. "(Hebrews 11: 20) To Jacob, Isaac said, "God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth; and plenty of com and wine." (Genesis 27: 28) To Esau, Isaac said, "Behold thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, his and senses and of the dew of heaven from above: and by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother." (Genesis 27: 3940) Regardless of our physical condition, we must never forsake our spiritual opportunity. Isaac prophetically spoke of the future posterity resting on what he had heard from God. This text reminds 3 spite of our infirmities, the providential hand of God will fulfill the His blessings. The second person who passed on his faith is Jacob. "By faith Jacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph."(21) While Ephraim and Manasseh were born to a foreign wife in a strange land, they were adopted and incorporated into the family of God. This blessing was a way of trying to draw them away from Egypt and annex them us that in to the children of Israel. That is your mission and mine, to draw the children of foreign gods away from their idols and adopt them into the church of the Living God. With Manasseh the elder right his on his Ephraim the younger on left, Jacob reached out his right hand side and 4 and laid it hand on on Ephraim's head and his left the head of Mannasseh. While Joseph was disturbed and tried to change did, Jacob knew what he was doing. (Genesis 48) He might have been physically blind but he could see spiritually. God was honored by this dying witness acknowledging that all blessings come from God. The Bible's what his father pictures him staff and worshiping final word about Jacob leaning upon his God. The third person who passed on his faith in this text is Joseph. "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones." (22) This was not just some superstitious request but Joseph wanted 5 the people of God to consecrate a memorial to God and to make him an example of faithfulness. He wanted everybody to know that God was the head of his life. Joseph has come to the close of his days and has not forgotten where his help comes from. He has not allowed the honored position of governor or the riches of possession to take control of him. He is still guided by faith. He remembers the promise of God and his mind is on higher things. You ought to keep the fire burning, stir up the gift that is in you, keep you mind on spiritual things, look beyond the hills and mountains of trouble, walk in the light, stay tuned to the Holy Spirit, never let your heart settle on worldly things, be 6 God, and bless His name. "It only takes a spark to get a fire going, thankful to And in its soon all those around glowing; can warm up that's how it is with God's love; Once you've experienced it you spread His love to everyone; You want to pass it on. spring when all the trees are budding, The birds begin to sing, the flowers start their blooming; "What a wondrous time is that's how it is with God's love; Once you've experienced it you want to sing, it's fresh like spring; You want to pass it on. "I wish for you, my friend; this happiness that I've found, You can depend on Him, you're bound; I'll mountaintop, 1 want my It matters not where shout it from the 7 world to come know; the Lord of love has to me, I want to pass it "I'll shout it from the on. mountaintop, I want my world to know: The Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on." by Kurt Kaiser in The New National Baptist Hymnal) (Hymn 417 "Pass It On" 8 |
