Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

When my father died in April of this year, we were a bit taken by surprise.

He had not really been in declining health nor had been sick.

He simply sat down on the screened in porch at my sister’s house where he lived, and seemingly went to sleep.

His death certificate showed he died of a heart attack.

Even though he was 78 years old, he did not have a will or directives about his burial.

My Brother and sisters and I came together to have to make some decisions that were not ready to make.

My dad lived on the Outer Banks the last 7 years of his life but that was not his home.

We knew that we would want him to be buried in Iredell County, the place of his birth.

So we made arrangements to bring him back across the state to bury him alongside his father and mother.

In today’s message, we are looking at quite the opposite.

We are looking at a man named Joseph who as he was dying, gave directives about his burial and that he was to be buried in a place that was not yet his home but a place that he knew that his children’s children and their generations to come would call home.

Our text is from .

This one verse in this great chapter in Hebrews which we have called the Hall of Faith is the summary of what is recorded in .

Genesis

How could Joseph be so confident in his faith to make such statements?

What can you and I learn from his faith that we can apply to our lives in the 21st century, thousands of years later?

A closer look at Joseph’s faith gives us an outline to a stronger more enduring faith.

First look at Joseph’s Fixed Faith.

Fixed Faith

Joseph had many reasons to quit in his faith.

He had a sorry, no good family.

He was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and removed from his family’s land, forced to settle in a land that was not home.

Joseph was tempted to gain power and prestige by turning his back on his God.

He was falsely accused and persecuted for retaining his integrity.

In spite of doing all that was right, Joseph could have just given up and given in to the pressures of his life.

Sounds familiar doesn’t it?

If we are honest, there are times we are asked to do things that are not of God.

We are tempted to gain power and prestige by doing things not of God but of this world.

We perhaps have been falsely accused and think that we can no longer stand up against those accusations.

We start believing those lies and think was are not worthy of the redemption of God.

Truth of the matter is that we are not worthy.

Yet because of God’s redeeming Grace, we can establish a faith that is fixed and secure.

When I ride my bike, I have to set short term goals so I can get a long term result.

I have to start out and picturing a place in my mind that I can strive to get to in a certain amount of time before I can get a drink of water.

I have noticed that if I keep looking ahead and not behind or gazing on my circumstances, I can achieve my bike riding goals.

Where my eyes are fixed mentally and physically, my body will follow.

The same thing is true in my spiritual life.

Proverbs

gets a bit more specific.

Hebrews

We will look at that verse in more detail in a few weeks, but it is relevant to our thoughts just now.

If you and I have a faith that is fixed, one that is firmly in position, determined, established and set, we will not be easily moved by the winds of change this world blows out us.

Joseph had a fixed faith so that when it was tested, he could realize that God’s word could be trusted.

Aren’t you glad that God’s word is trustworthy?

Joseph knew that his fixed faith when tested, he could rejoice in the power of God!

Do you serve a powerful God?

Psalm 14

{sa

Joseph’s faith was not only fixed, but it was a faith that was fervent.

Fervent Faith

Joseph had a faith that was more that just a faith of month!

Joseph had a faith that was full of zeal and emotion.

Is it okay to get zealous with your faith?

We should be a people that are full of fervor!

Romans

What drives you to do what you do?

When you are driven and motivated by the right reasons, you will have a fervent faith like Joseph.

Joseph was taught at a very young age about the faithfulness of his God.

He knew that God was with him and kept him alive through being sold into slavery and then becoming a ruler in a foreign land.

Joseph watched how his faithful God reconciled his family and then how God blessed him and his sons with his father Jacob’s blessing.

Joseph knew of the promises of God and how God was going to move His people from a land of exile into a land of promise.

Joseph was driven and motivated by this and his faith became a fervent faith.

You and I can also understand that God is faithful and just and we can be assured that He is still the same God that saw Joseph through and He will see us through as well!

We can glorify His Name and we can be fervent in our faith because indeed Great is His Faithfulness.

That great hymn is based on

Lamentations 3:

Joseph had a fervent faith that indeed knew God’s faithfulness was and continues to be great!

Is your faith a fervent faith?

Are you seeking the Lord?

Psalm 36:5-7

Are you finding refuge in the shadow of His wings?

Psalm 102:

Because our God sits enthroned forever, we can know that He is faithful and our faith can be fervent!

This gives us a FOREVER FAITH!

Forever Faith

Joseph teaches a lesson by giving instructions about His bones.

You see, sometimes we have to show hope and faith so others can see it!

Joseph challenged challenged the thought of his people settling in a place where they had there needs met.

Joseph wanted his people to understand that God had called them to reach more.

God doesn’t want us to accept where we are.

He wants us to accept where He wants us to be!

Joseph challenged that the people would not give up under the pressures they faced and give into the weight of their world.

Joseph could not see the promised fulfilled but he sure could die in the faith of it!

His instructions were “preserve my bones unburied in Egypt until God delivered the people, then bury them in the promised land.”

Joseph lived and died in Egypt but he died an Israelite instead of an Egyptian.

Joseph could have had a magnificent burial in Egypt but because of his forever faith, he chose a significant burial in Canaan.

Joseph would go as far as he could with his people, but he could not go as far as he would.

Joseph’s forever faith made it clear to the people that God would deliver them and be with them just as He promised.

God gives His people living comforts in dying moments!

And in doing so, the saints can communicate to others for the glory of God!

This is why God says in Psalm 116:15

Psalm 11

Joseph expressed confidence that God would deliver the Israelites from Egypt.

One generation after another dies in the certainty that God’s promise does not fail!

Scripture tells us that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph all died.

We as a future generation can attest that God is still faithful.

He can be depended upon, and He can be trusted!