HOLD ON TO THE BIRTHRIGHT

Genesis 25:24-33 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, [there were] twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 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. And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob [was] a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of [his] venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he [was] faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red [pottage]; for I [am] faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I [am] at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

1Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

• Both lost birthright through eating
• Jesus is called the firstborn, whereas Adam was actually the firstborn, because Adam forfeited his birthright. Jesus, like Jacob, took it.
• Esau was RED like Adam... "Adam" means "red earth."

• Flesh eats
• Eating food rather than keeping birthright is like allowing flesh to have its way and putting fleshly things before spiritual things.

Birthright is a promise.

• The birthright gave a double portion of land to the son compared to the other sons' inheritance.
• Points towards the Future
• Feed the flesh and lose the Promise.
• Yes, flesh will enjoy the pleasure, but I know the devil is only using the pleasure to take my eyes off the spiritual treasure, and make me lose my birthright.
• Fight the flesh by FAITH and lay hold on eternal life.
• Fight flesh and gain promises.
• Adam had eternal life to lay hold of, and we only get it if we fight the fight of faith and resist the temptation.

Gene 25:27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob [was] a plain man, dwelling in tents.

• We should have know the outcome by reading verse 27.
• Remind you of Abraham... tent dweller.
• Plain man.
• Esau a man of the field
• Fleshliness
• "of" the field
• Serpent was the most subtle beast "of the field" (Gen 3:1).
• His comfort region.
• Jacob was in tents, and Esau of the field.
• Abraham and Isaac dwelt in tents because nothing in this world was their inheritance.

TENT DWELLERS

Hebr 11:9-10 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.

• Living in Tents symbolizes that this world is not our home.
• Abraham, with Isaac and Jacob, lived in tents.
• We have no permanent dwelling here.
• We expect to leave here and ASCEND into glory.
• Dust returns to dust. Backward trek.
• Adam meant to ascend not be buried.
• Birthright would cause him to ascend, if he held onto it.
• But lost the birthright.
• Adam went back to where he came from.
• Like Abraham going out and returning to Ur and to idolatry after God called him out.

LOSING BIRTHRIGHT AND BACKLSIDING

2Pet 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

MEANING OF BAPTISM

• Baptism is a burying of all that is Adam.
• I bury all that is of Adam.
• It is no good.
• Useless to God.
• Put away flesh prioritizing.
• Baptism is Dedication to not neglecting spiritual things for fleshly.

Hose 12:3-5 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.

Gene 32:28 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.

• Not flesh victory.
• FAITH overcomes!!
• When stand against devil knowing God's word is true, you are fighting the fight of faith.

• Jacob fought two battles
• Refused to accept the normal and excelled to the spiritual birthright (grabbed brother by the heel - later in life when he took the birthright)
• Fought with the angel for his blessing due to his birthright.

• Joshua fought two battles
• Refused to doubt with the other ten doubters was they spied out Canaan.
• Entered by Jericho and seen a man and ready to fight, even though the man's sword pointed as Joshua, for he knew God would fight for him. (FIGHT OF FAITH).
• This man was an angel from God come to fight his battles!
• Fight of faith!

Josh 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, [Art] thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but [as] captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy. And Joshua did so.

• Joshua entered the holiest like his predecessor, Moses, after BOTH spent a 40 years term of preparation for the spiritual battle.
• Moses, after 40 years when he was deflated after slaying an Egyptian, saw the burning bush and was told to take off his shoes.
• Joshua spent forty years after refusing to doubt, when he was told to take off his shoes.

2Tim 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

• Some People are like Esau.
• Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
• Such lose their birthrights.

Amalekites (thorn in Israel's side) came from Esau.

• FIGHT!! Jacob fought with the angel.
• Jacob veritably said, "I may not be perfect, but I have a desire fro the things of God, and I have a birthright, so give me my inheritance!"
• Israel fought to get Canaan
• Go get your inheritance.
• Fight the good fight of faith.

MEN WHO FOUGHT IN THE SPIRIT

Roma 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in [your] prayers to God for me;

Ephe 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Colo 4:12 Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

• Strive to enter the strait gate.
• Fight the flesh, and be not as Esau who gave into the flesh.
• Fight like Jacob.
• Not many strive against flesh., against the tide and against the flow
• HOLD THE PROMISE.

Hebr 6:6 (6:5 it is impossioble..) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.

Hebr 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• A veil of flesh divides the spiritually hungry from the flesh-pleasers.
• Flesh pleasers will into break through the flesh.
• Strive through the wilderness to get fruits of Canaan.
• Forget garlics and onions of Egypt, go for the grapes of eshcol and the milk and honey of Canaan!

Sinner, will you stay in the world and not strive but faith?
Hope is fuel for striving.

MODERN DAY ESAU'S WHO DO NOT FIGHT FOR THEIR BIRTHRIGHTS

Hebr 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

• If we fight by faith, devils are rendered powerless, for faith prevails with God, Himself!

• ADAM LOST BIRTHRIGHT AND DID NOT LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE.
• He should have fought the fight of faith.
• Faith comes from the word.
• God SAID you shall die if you eat wrong fruit.
• Adam lost the birthright.
• When saints act ungodly, fight the fight of faith and let not go of the birthright.
• It may not be pottage you are tempted with, but temptation will come to make you let go of your birthright.
• Fight it!

1Pet 5:8-10 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you].

• Press through the veil of flesh and watch it rip.
• Jesus made it in there.
• Follow Him, not the first Adam.
• Go over Jordan.
• Fearful and unbelieving will not step in there.
• Jacob passed the veil.
• Went to where the tree of life was, spiritually speaking.
• 12 tribes came from him.
• In Revelation the tree of life had 12 manner of fruit.
• #12 - Means divine government -- God in control
• Fruit of the SPIRIT came forth.
• Twelve tribes represent fruit of the Spirit.
• Flesh doubts and wrestles.
• Fight it.
• HOPE IS FUEL FOR STRIVING.
• KEPT JACOB FIGHTING.
• NOT LET GO TIL GET BIRTHRIGHT.