Faith Full Till The End

Introduction - Open you Bibles please this morning to Hebrews chapter 11. This morning, I would like for us to consider another individual who is numbered among those whom God says lived a faith full life in Hebrews chapter 11.

As you turn there, I want you to always remember, that what truly matters is what God thinks concerning your life.

I believe I said this on Wednesday night, that our testimony to others is important, but can I say the Lord Jesus Christ must have the preeminence in your life.

He is the preeminent One.

Colossians 1:18 tells us, “18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Now opposed to that is the struggle that we face to place ourselves as the preeminent one. John the apostle wrote in 3 John 9 “9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.”

When we allow Christ to have His rightful place in our lives—as the preeminent One, we will not be so concerned for what every one thinks, but rather be concerned with what the Lord thinks.

In this series entitled ‘Faith Full Christianity’ we come now to the tenth message on the subject. In this year we have been challenged from the Word of God to increase in our faith.

And along with that increase in faith, I pray it is as that we would also be “adding to our faith.” This is subject we have been dealing with on Wednesday nights.

I would encourage you to consider being here on Wednesday nights if you are able. And if you cannot be here, you can either (1) download our church app or (2) go to our website and listen to that Wednesday night series.

On our website, you will see that I have attached the notes for you to use along with the Bible instruction.

We want you to be able to grow in your walk with the Lord as far as you would like to go and so— we believe it is important to make these things available to you.

Here, in Hebrews 11, we have a catalogue from the Lord of particular examples of faith. And each of these records have been specifically chosen by the Holy Spirit to give us a well rounded view of the faith full Christian life.

These records span the entire Old Testament and bring us right into the New Testament pointing us to Jesus Christ- and then beyond. (Hebrews 11:40)

The record I would like to see this morning is found in verse 21.

Let’s read verse 21 of Hebrews chapter 11 and then we will pray.

Hebrews 11:21 “21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”

Let’s Pray

I am just curious, how many would say this morning, that you can identify with the Old Testament patriarch Jacob?

I believe Jacob is easy for us to identify with, because Jacob is a man who struggled in his life to move from being a carnal man— to a spiritual man.

Jacob had a rough start. He came into this world, fighting and deceiving to try to obtain.

We read in the 25th chapter of Genesis of the struggle just in Jacob’s birth.

The Bible says in verse 21.

Genesis 25:21–26 “21 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; And the one people shall be stronger than the other people; And the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.”

Struggling from the very beginning — we see this in life of Jacob.

But— did you know this— that God takes this man- and works in His life in such a way, that He is called Israel- a prince with God?

And this is God’s design for you as well this morning. My Savior, is an expert in taking a broken life and making a new life that brings glory and honor to Him.

Let’s read our verse again so we can see what the Holy Spirit highlights in this man’s life.

Again the Word of God says in Hebrews 11:21 “21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”

We begin first with this simple truth that Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph.

But before we look at this first point, I want you to understand— that the Holy Spirit is careful to tell us that Jacob is at the end of his journey.

Do you notice it there at the very beginning — verse 21 states, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying…”

This reminds of us of three very important truths.

A. A End To His Time On This Earth

B. A Entrance Into Eternity

C. A Evaluation Is Given Of The Live He Lived

The Bible tells us of how quickly this time passes in James 4:14 we read, “…For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

You see, this life, this journey does not go on forever, there is an end to these things. The Lord Jesus Christ spake the same way concerning His earthly life. Now we know He is the Eternal One, we know He is the God-man— in His deity He has no beginning nor end — He always is, always was, and always will be.

But in speaking to the disciples He tells them of His mission — to die on the cross, be buried and three days later rise from the grave, He states in Luke 22:37 “…for the things concerning me have an end.”

And the truth for you and I today is the same, there is and will be an end to this time.

And immediately following this, there will be an entrance into eternity. Paul expressed what perhaps we have thought many times in our own lives in 2 Corinthians 5:8 “8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

Friend, aren’t you glad this morning that if you are child of God you can be confident of this very fact, that when you are absent from this body, you will be present with the Lord?

I would say to you— if you are today and do not have that confidence— you can by trusting in Christ as your Savior. Just like Paul, you too can say I am confident, that when I am absent from this body— I will be present with the Lord.

But then—- as we see here and really demonstrated in this entire chapter… there will be an evaluation of the life that you have lived.

And listen, that evaluation will be made by those still present in this world, and certainly by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Later on we may look at this matter in the very next verse that tells us of a faith full legacy.

Every one of us— if we live long enough and the Lord does not return will come to the end of our time here on earth— the question is will we be faith full till the very end.

Can I encourage you though, that you can be full of faith unto the very end. This is what this record of Jacob tells us—- it begins by saying, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying…” or you might say unto the very end—

Now there are three areas that we see highlighted here in the life of Jacob to let us know what a faith full Christian looks like all the way to the very end.

How many would say this— Pastor, I just don’t want to start well— but I want to finish well?

Well that is me too— I don’t want to live my life serving the Lord and then be castaway at the very end. I want to finish victorious for His glory and honor. And I pray you do too—- so let’s look at this first item underscore by the Holy Spirit.

Notice with me first of all:

I. Jacob’s Blessing

Now here is the characteristic of an child of God who continues to walk with the Lord even to the very and end— and that is that Jacob was still be a blessing to those around Him.

Jacob here in our text, blessed His children and His grandchildren.

He pointed Joseph’s two boys to what mattered the most, and that is Almighty God.

Look with me for just a moment in Genesis 48.

Genesis 48:1–5 “1 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. 5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.”

Listen— here is how you can be blessing to the very end:

Continue To Testify Of God

Continue To Teach God’s Ways

In verses 4 and 5, and really through the rest of the chapter, Jacob declared, to Joseph, to Manasseh and to Ephraim—- here is what got me through. Here is how I was sustained. Here is why we have been so blessed as a family..

He says, you need to know it was not me— it was God.

Friends, if you want to be a blessing to others, all the way till the end, then continue to testify of the Lord!

But then, we see also that Jacob continued to teach God’s Ways.

As this chapter unfolds, Jacob blesses Joseph and then has the privilege of blessing his grandchildren.

And can I ask the question of you friend, are you a blessing to your family?

Are you a blessing to your children and your grandchildren?

Are you a blessing to the family of God.

But look at something peculiar that takes place in verses 17-20.

Genesis 48:17–20 “17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.”

It is so interesting today— that the younger ones coming up in the Lord would look to those who have some age both physically and spiritually and say— well that is not the way we do it now.

You know what Jacob was doing— He was telling Joseph— Joseph you already know this— in fact you are the younger who was blessed by God as well— listen— yield to God and His ways.

And it is interesting though I do not want to make too much of this— that in placing His hands in that way— Jacob literally made a cross with his arms.

You see the point is this, that God’s way is the only way to travel in this life. You know what we all need today— is to be reminded that we must walk according to His ways.

You know what the elder Christians need to tell the younger Christians— all the way to the end, walk according to the ways of the Lord.

And can I say, you can be a blessing all the way to the end by (1) Continuing to testify of the Lord and (2) Continuing to teach God’s ways.

Look again with me back in our text verse, not only was Jacob a blessing to those around Him, but we see in our text Jacob’s Bowing.

Hebrews 11:21 “21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”

II. Jacob’s Bowing

Jacob worshipped God.

The Psalmist declares in Psalm 84:4 “4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: They will be still praising thee. Selah.”

Now the psalmist was speaking of coming to the Temple… He was speaking of the meeting place of God.

I am so thankful that the Lord has given us a church house to gather in, but the idea in this verse is worshipping the Lord.

Can I tell you, that if you stop worshipping the Lord— you will not be praising Him still—- rather you will draw up like a you have eaten a handful of persimmons!

Now, I can tell you from experience, my wife and I tried one— one time just to see what it was like… and the experience was not good.

How many go into the grocery store and look around at some of the exotic fruit that is there and think— I wonder what that tastes like?

A few times recently I had mentioned to my wife about dragon fruit. And I thought seeing its picture — I wonder what that tastes like. I was told by someone that the texture on the inside is not good and the taste is not that great either. Now praise the Lord I didn;’t have to experience that myself, I am just going to take the persons word that told me that.

And listen, you do not have to experience a life out of fellowship with the Lord to experience how sour it is either.

You can as child of God— right up to the very end be bowing down in worship of the Lord.

The Psalmist says— listen if you spend time in His presence—- if you dwell where God is— then—you will be still praising the Lord. — and then He says— Selah— which means— think — consider what I am telling you.

Here in our text, the Bible tells us that one of hallmarks of being faith full to the end is when the Christian continues to worship the Lord.

The Psalmist rightly declared this in Psalm 95:6-7“6 O come, let us worship and bow down: Let us kneel before the Lord our maker. 7 For he is our God; And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. …..”

Not only do we see Jacob’s Blessing, Jacob’s Bowing, but there is one more truth we must see in this text concerning a Christian who is faith full to the end.

Hebrews 11:21 “21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”

III. Jacob’s Belief

Know this, church family— nothing is real until it is personal.

Jacob leaned upon his staff all the way till the very end of life.

It was the staff that reminded Him of who He was.

It was a signal moment in the life of Jacob that changed Him forever.

That moment is found in the 32nd chapter of Genesis.

The Bible tells us of this event in his life beginning in 22nd verse.

Genesis 32:22–31 “22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone;”

Can I just stop right there and say this— that every one of us, must come to God ourselves?

There was a point in Jacobs life when He understood that it was Him and the Lord alone.

“…and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”

Now we understand that this man was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ prior to His incarnation.

25 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.”

Can I say further that there is battle going on inside each of us? For the Christian is the battle between the flesh and the Spirit.

For the lost, it is for the souls of man.

And here Jacob is—- the trickster— the supplanter—- the one who deceived others— finally coming to the end of Himself.

And when God disables Him— Jacob clings to the Lord.

Notice in, “26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 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.”

Jacob, because of His encounter with the Lord is no longer a deceiver— but now is prince that Has power with God.

“…30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.”

Forever after this Jacob— would lean upon this staff.

In verse 10 of this same chapter— in His prayer— He said for with my staff I have passed over this Jordan and am now I am become two bands.

Jacob in a sense is saying in His prayer to the Lord, I came here in my own strength and i have made a mess of life!

But now— He does pass over in His strength— but He continues on in the strength of the Lord.

This was Jacob’s belief!

Jacob learned that the only way to live in this life was to rely upon the Lord.

Paul the apostle learned the same valuable lesson when He stated in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness….”

In Ephesians 6, we are told “…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Jacob’s staff was a reminder His entire life, of the day that God touched Him.

You see Jacob was full of faith all the way to the end, because of His belief.

The day He met the Lord, changed Him forever.

And the only way that you and I will be full of faith till the very end, is that we would lean the power of God.

Maybe you are here this morning and there has never been a singular moment when you have met the Lord Jesus Christ?

Can I tell you that you too can enter into a vital relationship with God today?

He can touch your life too. And I promise you this, when the Lord touches your life— you will be forever changed as well.

I have another question for us as we close as well—

Are you — in your life still being a blessing to others?

Our lives as a child of God— ought to be a blessing to all those around us.

We ought to be influencing people for Jesus Christ.

We ought to be proclaiming the goodness of the Lord in our lives.

We ought to be teaching others the gospel message and that the only way to live is in the power of Christ.

And I ask again—- is your life a blessing to others?

And then lastly, could I ask this, Friends are you worshipping the Lord—do you live your life consciously in the presence of God?

The truth is, we all want to be full of faith unto the very end.

We see an example here in the life of Jacob—-

Jacob all the way to end:

Blessing others— by His walk with the Lord.

Bowing in worship before the Lord.

He lived a life of belief in the Lord.

Let’s Pray