Staying on Top When You Hit Bottom

 

 

STAYING ON TOP WHEN YOU HIT BOTTOM

 

INTRO:

 

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

 

There will be trials.  God can give us victory in the trial.

Even when things look hopeless, remember God has a plan.

 

Deu 28:13  “And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:”

 

I. SPEAK OF THE BLESSING OF GOD.

A. Blessed the sons of Joseph.

Gen 48:13  And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.

Gen 48:14  And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

Gen 48:15  And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

Gen 48:16  The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

Gen 48:17  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.

Gen 48:18  And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

Gen 48:19  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.

Gen 48:20  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.

1. A prophetic utterance.

           2.  Believed in the fulfillment. – (That God would finish the                                      

                          work even after his death.)

B. A positive confession.

Heb. 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

1.  Based upon the Word. – Rom. 10:17.

2.  Speak life – not death. – Pr. 18:21.

3. With thankfulness.

1.  For continual provisions.

    “…which fed me all my life long unto this day.” – v. 15.

2.   For redemption.

    “The angel which redeemed me from all evil…” – v. 16.

 

II. WORSHIP GOD IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.

1. Jacob worshipped even at his death.

2. In Spirit and in truth. – John 4: 23-24.

1.  Proper worship requires truth.

2.  Not this charismatic mess.

3.      God is in control.

1. Still on the throne.
2. Yield to His will.

4.      God inhabits praise.
5.      There is power in praise.

1. Jehosophat.
2. Paul and Silas.

F. Thank God for the victory.

(1Co 15:57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

III.    LEAN ON THE WORD.

“… leaning upon the top of his staff.”

1. The Bible is our rod, rule, standard of faith. – cannon.
2. God’s Word can not fail.

1. The song will not keep you in the hard place.
2. Every promise in the Book is mine.

3. Our strength will fail us.

1. The flesh is weak.
2. The carnal mind is prone to fail.

4. Our faith must be based upon the Word.

1.   Not man’s opinions.

2.   Not false doctrine.