Becoming a Believer of Integrity and Forgiveness
The Life of Joseph # 8
September 28, 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming ----- TRUST
Trust is one of the most important ingredients in all human relationships. Write that word in at the top of your outline. SLIDE - TRUST You want people in your life that you can trust and you want to be trusted by others…. Without trust – marriages fall apart – without trust a family disintegrates – without trust a church family splits – without trust you loose friendships and without trust a business falls apart. Let me ask you – Do you trust Wall Street??? Do you trust your bank??? Do you trust the government???? Is there somebody in your family that you do not trust????? Is there someone from your past or in the present that you would not think of ever trusting again??????????
Trust can be rebuilt. If someone has lost your trust or if you have lost the trust of someone – it can be rebuilt but NOT without a lot of hard work and time and NOT without God’s supernatural intervention in the hearts of everyone involved. Turn in your bible to Genesis chapter 43. The story of Joseph gives us hope that trust can be rebuilt in a family and in relationships in spite of deep hurt – jealousy – hatred – dishonesty and deception. Some of you have experienced that in your lives. Who trusts you? Who do you need to rebuild trust with? Who has lost your trust? Please stand with me as we read verses 1 - 30. pray. ---
For Joseph to be able to trust his brothers…. he had to know two things: First – were they telling him the whole truth and secondly were they truly sorry and repentant for what they had done to God and man???? If you remember from last week --- the brothers had returned back to their homeland in Canaan with food. On the way home they had discovered that the silver they took with them to pay for the food had been put back into their sacks…… When they got home to Jacob their father--- they had to choose to tell him every thing that happened in Egypt. They told him about the powerful man in Egypt and how he asked them if they really had a younger brother and if they did not bring that brother back with them they could not buy food in the land of Egypt anymore and he kept Simeon in jail to make sure they would bring Benjamin back and when they opened their sacks and showed dad the silver sitting on top the grain….. notice in chapter 42:35 it says that they were “all frightened.” ……….Jacob had to have been devastated --- it is a wonder he did not have a heart attack. In 42:36 – Jacob says to his sons, “you have deprived me of my children” “Joseph is no more” --- “Simeon is no more and now you want to take Benjamin.”………….. Rueben tried to get his dad to agree to let him take Benjamin back to Egypt --- but he would not --- even though it had been some 15 years or more…..Jacob did not trust his oldest son and he had ever reason not to --- if you remember-----------Rueben had been sexually immoral with the mother of his step brothers…
Sexual immorality destroys trust and it takes real repentance – work – and years to restore it ---- Ruben obviously had not worked out his repentance…
Rueben went so far as to tell his dad that if he did not return with Benjamin and prove himself trustworthy by bringing Benjamin back to him…… Jacob could take the lives of his two sons. Jacob would not fall for that – no grandfather would take his grandson’s lives….. ……. Trust is difficult to rebuild. It does not come easy and when you have lost it ---- especially because of sexual immorality you cannot expect or demand to be trusted overnight by the one or family whose trust you broke. ………..
At the beginning of chapter 43 we can see that this standoff has to come to an end. The fourth oldest son Juddah comes forth to his dad and reminds dad that if they do not come with Benjamin they will not even get to speak with the Egyptian ruler and amazing Juddah makes a blunt – in your face statement to his dad. Verse 5 “If you will not send him, we will not go down”. In verse 6 … Jacob shifts it back on the boys and blames them for even telling the truth that they did have a younger brother… but Juddah reminds him ---- we simply told the truth and answered the man’s questions directly.
Juddah took charge and in the end he says in (verse 9) “you can hold me personally responsible for him, and if I do not bring him back I will bear the blame the rest of my life.” Because of the famine…..Jacob gave in ---- and sent the brothers back with Benjamin to Egypt and made certain that they packed the original money and extra gifts for the Egyptian ruler.
The brothers took Benjamin and arrived in Egypt and met Joseph… and in verse 16 when Joseph saw them he told his steward “take them to my house and kill an animal and prepare dinner – they are to eat with me at noon.” They were taken to his house and look in verse 18 “Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house and they thought it was because of the silver in their sacks the first time they came to buy food. They thought he was going to overpower them and take their donkeys.” Can you imagine how anxious these guys were????????? In verse 19, they went to the steward to tell him what had happened on their first trip down and they showed him the silver and said they had brought it back and we do not know who put the silver in our sacks.”….. Look at the response of the steward” “Its all right – do not be afraid – Your God – the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks and then he brought Simeon out to them. All 11 brothers were together.
Trust Lessons
1. When you are dishonest once --- it cannot be restored by one act of honesty. .
You may have to demonstrate again and again your honesty to rebuild trust to someone. God gave these brothers the opportunity to demonstrate their honesty. They did not know it at the time, but when Joseph had the silver put back in their sacks --- he gave them the very chance to show him that they were honest….. and they displayed the very character that Joseph was looking for.
2. Guilt always magnifies itself in anxiety. These guys were guilty. William Shakespeare wrote in King Henry the 6th ……“Suspicion always haunts the guilty mind”. If you are feeling guilty over some wrong you have done, everything that happens to you begins to play into that guilt, causing you apprehension and suspicion – you will always be thinking “they are going to find out.” Mom and dad are going to find out …..I just know she is going to find out….
True Story: A man and a woman stopped by a Kentucky Fried Chicken stand to pick up some supper. They bought two chicken dinners and took them to a picnic area. When they opened the bags there was more than chicken in the bags --- there was bundles of money. Honest guy that he was – the man drove back to the KFC and returned the money. The manager was overjoyed at the man’s honesty. He explained that he was working in the back putting all of the days proceeds in a chicken bag to take to the bank when the woman working the counter reached back to grab their order and got the wrong bag.
The manager was so impressed that he said “I am going to call the local newspaper and have them come over and get a photo of you two. People need to know there are still honest people around” Real anxiously the guy pulls the manager aside, “ No No do not do that … “I am married and the woman I am with is not my wife.”……… TRUST LESSON #3
3. Learn to start focusing on God again. God used a non believer to refocus these brothers back to Him. Look at verse 23 “Your God, the God of your father, he has given you treasure in your sacks”. This guy was not a Hebrew --- but Joseph obviously had been witnessing to him over the years and he knew about the God of the Hebrews. Guilt kept the brothers from seeing God’s grace in their lives. God ‘s unmerited favor came to them again. More grain. More money and their brother was returned to them.
Think about it:…. When you are guilty and feeling guilty you do not want to talk about spiritual issues. You do not feel like praying. You tend to ignore God –instead of coming to God – your selfishness tells you stay away – hide – keep it to yourself – let no one know what you are dealing with --- you can handle it… the devil tells you…. Guilt always blinds us to God’s grace.
Now go back to chapter 43:26 --- Joseph comes home and he sees the gifts laid out for him and the first question out of his mouth in verse 27 “how is your father you told me about?” I imagine the relief he felt when they told him he was still alive and well…. And then for the first time he sees his 20 year old baby brother Benjamin. The last time he perhaps saw him – he was a toddler….. Can you imagine how he wanted to throw his arms around him ??????? Benjamin was his only real blood brother…. but he restrained himself and said in verse 29 “God be gracious to you, my son.” Joseph’s emotions though finally overcome him and he runs out of the room to his bedroom weeping and sobbing --- he knew he could not reveal his identity but seeing his baby brother got the best of him. After awhile ---He regains control --- puts some visine in his eyes and comes back out to see his brothers.
Joseph is going to test them again…. so he sits his brothers down around the table – from the youngest to the oldest and orders that Benjamin be given 5 times as much food as the other brothers. He gives his baby brother royal treatment but he does so with a purpose….Joseph wanted to see if his brothers were still as jealous as they were when he was 17 yrs old…… We are not told what he saw and heard… but he must have been pleased. Benjamin was treated as royalty and not one time did Joseph see or hear any jealousy from the brothers. But still he was not satisfied --- he still wanted to know if he could trust them. Had they changed? Could he trust them? He could not see into their hearts so he came up with one more test…
Joseph gave the brother’s permission to go back to Canaan – so the donkeys were loaded up with as much food as they could carry and in Benjamin’s sake on his donkey – the steward put Joseph’s cup. When they were well on their way --- Joseph sent his steward after them and he accused them of taking the cup --- the brothers were in shock. All of the sacks were taken off the donkeys and opened and they found the cup in Benjamin’s sake. The brothers were so distraught that they tore their clothes. Now – Joseph had thought this out…. He told his servant to tell the brothers that the guilty one would become a slave and the rest would go free. Joseph knew that if they had not changed – Benjamin would be given to the steward and the brothers would head home to dad……. – but look at chp 44:vs13 --- “they all loaded their donkeys and went back to the city.” Joseph comes out of the house and sees his ragged brothers with their clothes torn and they come and throw themselves on the ground in front of him ----- can you imagine the joy he feels on the inside and now he has to act this play out…… Judah speaks up and steps forward and makes no excuses --- he makes no rationalizations --- he makes not attempts at a cover up. Look at verse 16 in chap 44. “What can we say?” “How can we prove our innocence?’ God has uncovered your servants guilt” ---- amazingly Joseph keeps on with this test and says – “only the man who was found with the cup will become my slave -- -they rest of you go back home.” Juddah now lets Joseph hear what they really feel about their father --- “if Benjamin does not go back home --- our father will die.” “Do not do this --- let me take his place” – Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father.” ……………..Joseph now had his final answer – when he heard Juddah’s response he knew he could trust his brothers and in chap 45 he sends out of the room all the Egyptians and reveals his true identity to his brothers and he begans to weep so loudly.
Remember this: Whatever pain you have gone through because of lost trust. Remember this lesson we are studying::: God wanted Joseph – his brothers – and his father to go through this painful healing process – it was a process that lead them to true repentance.
Painful healing processes God often chooses not to avoid in our lives because it brings us spiritual growth and restores trust.
FIVE TRUST PRINCPLES
Principle #1 Trust is a precious possession, and we must do all we can to keep it. It takes years to develop trust but it can be lost over night with one self centered action. One of the major sins that destroys trust is an act of immorality. When trust is gone – we have lost one of our major assets. Immorality destroys trust in God’s people. That is why the apostle Paul said --- “let there be no hint of immorality among you.” I am not saying that it cannot be rebuilt but never never never think that trust lost because of sexual immorality can be restored overnight and with one word of “I am sorry”…. Paul said in Acts 26 – “prove your repentance by your deeds” and we are also told to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. Fruit bearing takes time. If you have lost the trust of someone because of sexual immorality keep bearing fruit --- keep building godly deeds in your life. Trust can be rebuilt. Not all of our actions cause as serious damage as sexual immorality ---- but you can rebuild trust by being open and honest and that is #2
Principle #2 If you do something that violates someone’s trust, you should try to rebuild it with total honesty and true repentance. Trust can be rebuilt with anyone that you have lost it with but you have got to choose to be totally honest. To be totally honest means that you have to work at it. For that to happen… you have got to have a change of heart and a change of mind. It means that you go to that person and you ask them to forgive you and ask them to try and trust you again. You do not simply say I am sorry ---- because really you were only sorry you got caught or you did something to loose their trust.
Rebuilding trust means that you might have to submit to accountability with someone on a regular basis. Honesty hurts – honesty requires humility and few of us are willing to walk in humility. The apostle James wrote “confess your sins one to another so that you might be healed” ---- I confessed to God is that not enough????????
Principle #3 If you cannot rebuild trust with someone, you must not make yourself a victim but go forward in your relationship with Christ. We live in a country that has made it our right to claim that we are or were a victim when we got caught or got into trouble. You hear it all the time. It was not my fault. If only those people had not done what they did and if only they would have listened to me. You see this many times in a church family when a person’s sin hurts others and those who try to help restore things… often get accused of inappropriate involvement. Refuse to be a victim and think of your self as a victim. When you have done all you can do --- leave it in God’s hands and grow in your faith --- learn from the broken relationship--------- pursue God --- pursue being a trustworthy believer.
Principle #4 If your trust has been violated, do all you can to help the person who broke your trust rebuild trust. This is a true test of your spiritual maturity. Helping someone else who has betrayed and hurt you rebuild their trust with you…… It tells you if you have really truly forgiven someone for what they did…… I do not know how many times I have been told --- “I could never trust that person again” ---- learning to trust people again hurts. When someone has stabbed you in the back ----
it takes time to heal but let me tell you there is no joy in always being cautious and keeping your distance from people. You will only find and taste real joy in God when you learn to trust others.
Principle #5 It is wise to test a person’s trust and honesty but only do so with right motives and methods. Joseph clearly demonstrated this in his life with his brothers. When you have been hurt deeply – you cannot just jump back in with a person without seeing if they are truly repentant over loosing your trust. We saw that demonstrated in the life of Joseph. It will take time. You will have to see and test if you can trust that person again. You most likely will need someone else to help you and hold you accountable and see if you are really have godly motives and methods. The apostle Paul put it very clearly in
Galatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The bible makes it very clear that the restoration of trust most of the time takes more than one person to help restore the one who has sinned or lost the trust of that other person…… Sadly, there is not much of this going on in the church of Jesus Christ today in this country. We do not bear one another’s burdens and we do not trust each other to bear them. Paul said, carry each other’s burdens and when you do you fulfill the law of Christ. What is the Law of Christ? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and love your neighbor as yourself.” Who has lost your trust??
Whose trust have you lost???? What are you willing to do today to restore and keep trust in your relationships????
Let us Pray
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Joseph #7
Becoming a Believer of Integrity and Forgiveness
The Life of Joseph # 7
September 21, 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Forgiveness is an issue that everyone in this room has dealt with in their life and will continue to deal with. You have either sought forgiveness from someone or you have sought to give forgiveness. You forgive easily or you easily hold a grudge and become bitter. It is a struggle to forgive. Turn in your bible to Genesis chapter 42:1 -28 …… It is much easier to forgive someone who has asked you for forgiveness – but what do you do when someone has not acknowledged that they are wrong and they do not ask you to forgive them? I can think of a dozen people from my past. Nowhere in the bible are we told to forgive only if the person asks to be forgiven. Un forgiveness in a believers life robs them of joy. It robs them of peace and robs them of experiencing the abundant life. Un forgiveness leads to resentment and a root of bitterness in your life. It does not matter what the wrong was or how deep the pain that you experienced – you could have been raped, you could have had someone steal something from you, you could have had a parent leave you or beat you. You could have been molested – you could have had a spouse leave you….. I had a hair dresser once tell me that the divorce of her first husband was more painful than the death of her second husband….. Forgiveness is essential for a believer. Parents we must teach and model forgiveness for our children…….. husbands, when was the last you’re your children heard you ask for forgiveness??? Jesus Christ reflected and taught forgiveness. In Matthew 5:44, He says that His followers must love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them and when He hung on the cross He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” To the believers in the church at Ephesus Paul wrote these words – they are on the top of your outline:
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Remember that verse and address….. You battle being a forgiving person – we all do. I know I do --- just ask my Cheryl. That is why God went to the pain of commanding us to forgive in the bible. If you do not forgive you keep the past with you. You want the right to get back at the person who hurt you. You want to play God. When Peter came to Jesus in Matthew 18 and asked Him how many times one must forgive – Jesus tells him a parable about an unmerciful servant…. The servant owed the master a debt of 10 million dollars – something he could never repay and yet the master forgave his debt completely. The servant then finds someone who owes him only 100 dollars and the servant refuses to forgive his debt. Jesus says – the master found about it and turned him over to the jailer to be tortured and then Jesus closes the parable by saying “this is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” …
Many Christians are living tortured lives because they are unforgiving……..Forgiveness is a matter of joy – it is a matter of freedom, it is a matter of peace and real prosperity – it is a matter of physical and emotional health. Jesus said, I came that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly --- right now. Let me ask you. Who in your life have you not forgiven? What wrong was been done to you that still bothers you?????? Who do you need to go after to give forgiveness to even though they are the ones who should come crawling to you and begging you to forgive them??????
Forgiving someone does not mean that they should not be brought to justice for a wrong – it means that you release them - it means that you refuse to retaliate. It means that you choose to let God vindicate you….. Joseph could have been tempted to retaliate against his brothers and vindicate himself. He could have retaliated against Potiphar’s wife. He did not deserve the treatment he experienced --- I cannot imagine his pain. 13 years away from his family and most of it spent in a dungeon. But we have already seen his true character and we are going to see more of it displayed. He harbored no grudges and he allowed God to heal his heart and we are going to see this as his brothers come to Egypt for food. Stand with me as we read Genesis chapter 42: 1- 28.
The 7 years of great abundance is now over and the famine has started and hit full force. Not only did it affect Egypt but every country surrounding it including the land of Canaan. (MAP) Look at this map so that you know what we are talking about…… In (verse 2) somehow Jacob had learned, maybe through the nomadic internet that there was grain in Egypt ------ his sons were just sitting around looking at each other and he says to them “go down to Egypt and buy grain for us so that we can eat and not die.” (blank slide) ----- you know that the famine was severe since he was afraid they all would die. Note what (verse 3 – 4) says “The ten brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain but Jacob did not send Benjamin” – Jacob was afraid that harm would come to him. Jacob was most likely still hurting over the loss of his son Joseph and he had shifted his affection to Benjamin and he does not trust the ten brothers to protect him. He did not want to be left all alone without any family – especially family he loved.
The brothers go down to Egypt – which probably took a week or two of travel and they come face to face with Joseph. They had no idea their brother was governor of all of Egypt and can you imagine what Joseph felt when he saw his 10 brothers bowing before him. Look at vs 7. “As soon as Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.” ……. It had been 13 years since he last saw them --- he was just 17 years old and now he was a man of 30 – shaved and dressed as an Egyptian with the best of clothing on. The brothers dressed the same and looked the same when the last time he saw them. In their minds --- Joseph was most likely dead. Joseph is standing before them and he sees Reuben the oldest – Simeon – Levi and Judah, there was Isschar, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali, Asher and Zilpah --- but where was the youngest Benjamin?
Can you imagine what Joseph was feeling? What was he thinking and the questions. He might have wanted to reveal his identify – run up and hug his brothers but then he might not get the answers to the questions that were coming to his mind. What were their attitudes now? Were their hearts soft and tender to God? Was Jacob alive? How did they treat him? You can bet that his mind is going back to the dream when he was 17 years old ----- right in front of him the dream is being played out.
Because Joseph had grown to see God’s purpose in his life and all that happened to him – he had patience and wisdom…. Joseph had power – position and authority over his brothers at this point. He could have put them in prison so that they would have a taste of what he had to go through. He could have sent them back north to Canaan without food so they might starve to death --- they deserved it. But Joseph chose a third option – he wanted to know the truth. He knew what the dream God gave to him meant now…… and he knew God used it to preserve his family and the nation of Abraham. Was his dad alive? Where was his brother Benjamin? Did they care about anyone except themselves? Were they the same kind of guys who threw him into the pit? Had their character changed at all???
Over the years, Joseph had become wise, so he began a dialogue with his brothers – look at (vs.7) “where do you come from?” as if he did not know – they said they had come to buy food, but Joseph forces himself to yell at them “you are spies – you have come to see where our land is unprotected.” The brothers were shocked and they repeated again why they were there and Joseph asked more questions that are not recorded in chap 42 -- but we find that out in chapter 43 when the brothers speak to their father what they told him. Joseph asked them if their father was alive and if their youngest brother was alive. Joseph decides that he is going to test them and puts them in jail for three days – He tells them to take grain back to their father but one of them is to stay in jail and they are to bring the youngest brother back to him. Right in front of Joseph the guilt of these brothers comes out and Joseph gets to hear it because he knows their language. Vs. 21 --- “Surely we are being punished because of our brother and Ruben says, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy now we are giving an accounting for his blood.” …… Joseph gives them the grain and puts the silver back in their sacks and the brothers head back north and on the way north they discover the silver in the sacks and we read of their first mention of God in verse 28 “What is this that God has done to us?” ----- they blame God…… Can you imagine what these guys were thinking as they went home to dad? Will dad believe us? Are we going to have to tell him everything? Will he let us take Benjamin back to Egypt? Do you see a spiritual principle here? Look on the overhead: You ought to write down…….
Slide : The longer we live in a situation with un-confessed sin and in a state of un-repentance, the more complicated, complex and painful the results will be. --------- so let’s focus now on the issue of forgiveness. Joseph certainly reflected this in his life and character with his brothers. What is forgiveness??? I could spend 6 weeks on this.
Aphiemi = means to let go, release or remit. It often refers to debts that have been paid in full. It was the word Jesus used in the parable of the unmerciful servant. It means to release someone from the wrong or hurt that they have done to you. It means that you do not hold it against them and you do not bring it up again. Husbands and wives it means you are not historical. When someone sins against you they have a debt that is owed to you. You either take payments on their debt or you either make payments….. What I mean is you withhold forgiveness – you dwell on the wrong --- you are cold and aloof, you give up on the relationship – you gossip about them or you lash back by seeking revenge against the one who hurt you – those actions may give you pleasure for a moment but in the end they will exact a high price from you…….. Someone said, “Un - forgiveness is the poison we drink, hoping the other person will die.” Who are you holding hostage? Who has a debt to you and you are working hard to make them make payments……. and it is killing you and robbing you?????? The other word used in the New Testament when the bible was written is………
Charizomai = means to bestow favor freely or unconditionally. It communicates that forgiveness is undeserved and cannot be earned. It was the same word Paul used in Ephesians 4:32 “be kind and compassionate to one another, charizomai each other just as Jesus Christ charizomai – ed you. You cannot earn forgiveness from Jesus. You do not deserve to be forgiven. I do not deserve to be forgiven and there is no way I can earn it from God. Forgiveness is costly and you cannot pay for it or earn it --- someone else has to. When you decide to forgive someone ---- their response --- their attitude --- and their actions does nothing to earn or deserve what you give them. So ask yourself now…….. who are you expecting to earn or deserve your forgiveness???????
Forgiveness Facts – Ken Sande in the Peacemaker
* Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is an act of the will. Forgiveness involves a series of decisions, the first of which is to call on God to change your own heart. You cannot forgive someone until your own heart is changed. You have got to want to forgive someone in the same way that God has forgiven you. Jesus said, forgive them for they know not what they do” ----- what do you think he felt like when He said that???? He was in agony…… As an act of your will --- in the power of the Holy Spirit you have to choose to release someone from the bondage that you have put them in. 2nd fact
* Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgetting is a passive process in which a matter fades from memory merely with the passing of time or choosing not to be around that person who hurt you again. Forgiving is an active process: it involves a conscious choice and a deliberate course of action. When God says in Isa. 43:25 that He “remembers your sins no more” --- it does not mean that He cannot remember them it means that He promises that He will not remember them. When He forgives His children He chooses not to mention – recount or think about our sins anymore. 3rd fact
* Forgiveness is not excusing. Excusing says “that’s okay” and it says “what you did wasn’t really wrong,” or “you could not help it” Forgiveness is the opposite of excusing. The very fact that forgiveness is needed and granted indicates that what someone did was wrong and inexcusable. Forgiveness says, “We both know what you did was wrong and without excuse. But since God has forgiven me – I forgive you.
Principle #1 When someone wrongs you, you are to forgive unconditionally even though that person may not admit it was wrong or ask for forgiveness. Everyone of us have had someone wrong us and they have not come to us and asked for forgiveness. It was easy to forgive a man who wronged me when he called me and ask to speak with me but I know others who have deeply hurt me and they have not said one word to me….. Long before the famine came and Jacob sent his sons down to Egypt to get food --- Joseph had forgiven them. He did not go to bed at night having anger in his heart and his mind going over and over and over again what his brothers did to him. He did not think about how he was going to get back at them ------- you know that is true because when they showed up he did not blow up and explode. So --- who are you avoiding in your life? When you see them coming down the aisle you go the other way? Who have you told yourself that you have forgiven them but you simply are avoiding them?
Story: Preacher Bill Sanger told a true story: It was Christmas time in my home. One of my guests from church had come and saw that I was mailing a stack of Christmas cards and he was startled to see a certain name and address on one of the cards. “Surely you are not sending him a card are you?” Why not --- I asked? “Do you not remember what he did? and then he went on and on and on . At that point ---- I remembered what that man did to me and what he said to others and I resolved at that time with God’s help to forgive and forget and it was God who did it. Bill did not keep a list and neither did Joseph
Principle #2 True forgiveness does not mean that you will not continue to experience some negative emotions. Many believers get confused at this point. They forget that forgiveness is an act of the will. We can truly forgive and yet still have negative feelings toward someone who has hurt us – especially at certain moments in our life. It does not mean that you will not feel cautious around that person and have a hard time in conversation with them. The hurt caused you to loose trust in them. Here is what I would say on this principle:
The true test of our forgiveness is not if we have eliminated all negative feelings, but rather, whether or not we allow these negative feelings to keep us from doing what is right in spite of these feelings. In time --- your feelings will come into conformity with what you have already done as an act of the will.
Remember: Obedience always come first before feelings.
Principle #3 Giving forgiveness and praying and hoping for justice are not incompatible concepts. God is the one who brings a person to justice. It is not wrong to expect and pray that someone who has wronged you and broken societies rules should be brought to justice. That does not mean that you are unforgiving and have no responsibility to for give someone. When the man broke into my house --- stole my coat and then broke in again and we caught him --- I went with them to the police station but I forgave him. Joseph wanted justice in Egypt and he could make sure it would happen – he hoped his brothers hearts had changed and he would use tough love to achieve his goals AND to find out the condition of their hearts. So remember this about this principle: Loving and praying for and forgiving our enemies and at the same time hoping and praying for justice is not incompatible in God’s economy.
Principle #4 When we have been wronged by someone who has not admitted or sought forgiveness, we should have as our primary concern that persons relationship with God.
Joseph demonstrated this principle beautifully. He cared about his brothers relationship with God. He was not focused on getting back at them or making them pay. He wanted to know if they were truly sorry for their sin. He wanted to see repentance in them. The writer of Hebrews says --- It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. That applies to someone who has not confessed their sins and yet they seek forgiveness. It applies to someone who tries to destroy the work of God.
It is difficult to forgive someone who has failed to confess and repent clearly and specifically…… When you find yourself in this situation it is wise to take the time and explain to the person who wronged you and why you are having a difficult time to forgive them. This is especially true in marriages and family relationships. I would say to men: we are quick to keep the peace at any price and quick to say – I am sorry will you forgive and your wife thinks to herself – why? Are you really serious and sorry for what you did? Do you really understand how I was hurt?.......Remember: it is a person relationship with God that matters.
Story:
It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former SS man who stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men – the heaps of clothing – my sister Betsie’s pain filled face as she died. He came up to me as the church was emptying beaming and bowing – “how grateful I am for your message – fraulein – to think that you say – he has washed my sins away”…… His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people of this town about the need to forgive, kept my hand by my side…… Even as the angry – vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus --- I prayed ---forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing – not the slightest spark of warmth or love. And so I again breathed a silent prayer. Jesus I cannot forgive him – Give me your forgiveness. As I took his hand the most incredible thing happen. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him – while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. So I discovered, that it is not on our forgiveness any more than our goodness that the world’s healings hinges, but on Jesus Christ. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself………………..
Let us pray. Lord Jesus – thank you for forgiveness. The forgiveness you give is not free ---you paid for it but we cannot earn it. Help us to forgive others. Help us to forgive those who have wronged us. Help us to forgive those who have lied about us – those who have abused us – those who refuse to see any wrong and take any responsibility for the pain they have caused in our lives. Would you free the person here this morning who is bitter and resentful – they have so much un forgiveness in their heart towards someone in their past. Give them the courage and the power of the Holy Spirit to confront what they know they need to do.
The Life of Joseph # 7
September 21, 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Forgiveness is an issue that everyone in this room has dealt with in their life and will continue to deal with. You have either sought forgiveness from someone or you have sought to give forgiveness. You forgive easily or you easily hold a grudge and become bitter. It is a struggle to forgive. Turn in your bible to Genesis chapter 42:1 -28 …… It is much easier to forgive someone who has asked you for forgiveness – but what do you do when someone has not acknowledged that they are wrong and they do not ask you to forgive them? I can think of a dozen people from my past. Nowhere in the bible are we told to forgive only if the person asks to be forgiven. Un forgiveness in a believers life robs them of joy. It robs them of peace and robs them of experiencing the abundant life. Un forgiveness leads to resentment and a root of bitterness in your life. It does not matter what the wrong was or how deep the pain that you experienced – you could have been raped, you could have had someone steal something from you, you could have had a parent leave you or beat you. You could have been molested – you could have had a spouse leave you….. I had a hair dresser once tell me that the divorce of her first husband was more painful than the death of her second husband….. Forgiveness is essential for a believer. Parents we must teach and model forgiveness for our children…….. husbands, when was the last you’re your children heard you ask for forgiveness??? Jesus Christ reflected and taught forgiveness. In Matthew 5:44, He says that His followers must love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them and when He hung on the cross He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” To the believers in the church at Ephesus Paul wrote these words – they are on the top of your outline:
Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Remember that verse and address….. You battle being a forgiving person – we all do. I know I do --- just ask my Cheryl. That is why God went to the pain of commanding us to forgive in the bible. If you do not forgive you keep the past with you. You want the right to get back at the person who hurt you. You want to play God. When Peter came to Jesus in Matthew 18 and asked Him how many times one must forgive – Jesus tells him a parable about an unmerciful servant…. The servant owed the master a debt of 10 million dollars – something he could never repay and yet the master forgave his debt completely. The servant then finds someone who owes him only 100 dollars and the servant refuses to forgive his debt. Jesus says – the master found about it and turned him over to the jailer to be tortured and then Jesus closes the parable by saying “this is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” …
Many Christians are living tortured lives because they are unforgiving……..Forgiveness is a matter of joy – it is a matter of freedom, it is a matter of peace and real prosperity – it is a matter of physical and emotional health. Jesus said, I came that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly --- right now. Let me ask you. Who in your life have you not forgiven? What wrong was been done to you that still bothers you?????? Who do you need to go after to give forgiveness to even though they are the ones who should come crawling to you and begging you to forgive them??????
Forgiving someone does not mean that they should not be brought to justice for a wrong – it means that you release them - it means that you refuse to retaliate. It means that you choose to let God vindicate you….. Joseph could have been tempted to retaliate against his brothers and vindicate himself. He could have retaliated against Potiphar’s wife. He did not deserve the treatment he experienced --- I cannot imagine his pain. 13 years away from his family and most of it spent in a dungeon. But we have already seen his true character and we are going to see more of it displayed. He harbored no grudges and he allowed God to heal his heart and we are going to see this as his brothers come to Egypt for food. Stand with me as we read Genesis chapter 42: 1- 28.
The 7 years of great abundance is now over and the famine has started and hit full force. Not only did it affect Egypt but every country surrounding it including the land of Canaan. (MAP) Look at this map so that you know what we are talking about…… In (verse 2) somehow Jacob had learned, maybe through the nomadic internet that there was grain in Egypt ------ his sons were just sitting around looking at each other and he says to them “go down to Egypt and buy grain for us so that we can eat and not die.” (blank slide) ----- you know that the famine was severe since he was afraid they all would die. Note what (verse 3 – 4) says “The ten brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain but Jacob did not send Benjamin” – Jacob was afraid that harm would come to him. Jacob was most likely still hurting over the loss of his son Joseph and he had shifted his affection to Benjamin and he does not trust the ten brothers to protect him. He did not want to be left all alone without any family – especially family he loved.
The brothers go down to Egypt – which probably took a week or two of travel and they come face to face with Joseph. They had no idea their brother was governor of all of Egypt and can you imagine what Joseph felt when he saw his 10 brothers bowing before him. Look at vs 7. “As soon as Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them.” ……. It had been 13 years since he last saw them --- he was just 17 years old and now he was a man of 30 – shaved and dressed as an Egyptian with the best of clothing on. The brothers dressed the same and looked the same when the last time he saw them. In their minds --- Joseph was most likely dead. Joseph is standing before them and he sees Reuben the oldest – Simeon – Levi and Judah, there was Isschar, Zebulun, Dan and Naphtali, Asher and Zilpah --- but where was the youngest Benjamin?
Can you imagine what Joseph was feeling? What was he thinking and the questions. He might have wanted to reveal his identify – run up and hug his brothers but then he might not get the answers to the questions that were coming to his mind. What were their attitudes now? Were their hearts soft and tender to God? Was Jacob alive? How did they treat him? You can bet that his mind is going back to the dream when he was 17 years old ----- right in front of him the dream is being played out.
Because Joseph had grown to see God’s purpose in his life and all that happened to him – he had patience and wisdom…. Joseph had power – position and authority over his brothers at this point. He could have put them in prison so that they would have a taste of what he had to go through. He could have sent them back north to Canaan without food so they might starve to death --- they deserved it. But Joseph chose a third option – he wanted to know the truth. He knew what the dream God gave to him meant now…… and he knew God used it to preserve his family and the nation of Abraham. Was his dad alive? Where was his brother Benjamin? Did they care about anyone except themselves? Were they the same kind of guys who threw him into the pit? Had their character changed at all???
Over the years, Joseph had become wise, so he began a dialogue with his brothers – look at (vs.7) “where do you come from?” as if he did not know – they said they had come to buy food, but Joseph forces himself to yell at them “you are spies – you have come to see where our land is unprotected.” The brothers were shocked and they repeated again why they were there and Joseph asked more questions that are not recorded in chap 42 -- but we find that out in chapter 43 when the brothers speak to their father what they told him. Joseph asked them if their father was alive and if their youngest brother was alive. Joseph decides that he is going to test them and puts them in jail for three days – He tells them to take grain back to their father but one of them is to stay in jail and they are to bring the youngest brother back to him. Right in front of Joseph the guilt of these brothers comes out and Joseph gets to hear it because he knows their language. Vs. 21 --- “Surely we are being punished because of our brother and Ruben says, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy now we are giving an accounting for his blood.” …… Joseph gives them the grain and puts the silver back in their sacks and the brothers head back north and on the way north they discover the silver in the sacks and we read of their first mention of God in verse 28 “What is this that God has done to us?” ----- they blame God…… Can you imagine what these guys were thinking as they went home to dad? Will dad believe us? Are we going to have to tell him everything? Will he let us take Benjamin back to Egypt? Do you see a spiritual principle here? Look on the overhead: You ought to write down…….
Slide : The longer we live in a situation with un-confessed sin and in a state of un-repentance, the more complicated, complex and painful the results will be. --------- so let’s focus now on the issue of forgiveness. Joseph certainly reflected this in his life and character with his brothers. What is forgiveness??? I could spend 6 weeks on this.
Aphiemi = means to let go, release or remit. It often refers to debts that have been paid in full. It was the word Jesus used in the parable of the unmerciful servant. It means to release someone from the wrong or hurt that they have done to you. It means that you do not hold it against them and you do not bring it up again. Husbands and wives it means you are not historical. When someone sins against you they have a debt that is owed to you. You either take payments on their debt or you either make payments….. What I mean is you withhold forgiveness – you dwell on the wrong --- you are cold and aloof, you give up on the relationship – you gossip about them or you lash back by seeking revenge against the one who hurt you – those actions may give you pleasure for a moment but in the end they will exact a high price from you…….. Someone said, “Un - forgiveness is the poison we drink, hoping the other person will die.” Who are you holding hostage? Who has a debt to you and you are working hard to make them make payments……. and it is killing you and robbing you?????? The other word used in the New Testament when the bible was written is………
Charizomai = means to bestow favor freely or unconditionally. It communicates that forgiveness is undeserved and cannot be earned. It was the same word Paul used in Ephesians 4:32 “be kind and compassionate to one another, charizomai each other just as Jesus Christ charizomai – ed you. You cannot earn forgiveness from Jesus. You do not deserve to be forgiven. I do not deserve to be forgiven and there is no way I can earn it from God. Forgiveness is costly and you cannot pay for it or earn it --- someone else has to. When you decide to forgive someone ---- their response --- their attitude --- and their actions does nothing to earn or deserve what you give them. So ask yourself now…….. who are you expecting to earn or deserve your forgiveness???????
Forgiveness Facts – Ken Sande in the Peacemaker
* Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is an act of the will. Forgiveness involves a series of decisions, the first of which is to call on God to change your own heart. You cannot forgive someone until your own heart is changed. You have got to want to forgive someone in the same way that God has forgiven you. Jesus said, forgive them for they know not what they do” ----- what do you think he felt like when He said that???? He was in agony…… As an act of your will --- in the power of the Holy Spirit you have to choose to release someone from the bondage that you have put them in. 2nd fact
* Forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgetting is a passive process in which a matter fades from memory merely with the passing of time or choosing not to be around that person who hurt you again. Forgiving is an active process: it involves a conscious choice and a deliberate course of action. When God says in Isa. 43:25 that He “remembers your sins no more” --- it does not mean that He cannot remember them it means that He promises that He will not remember them. When He forgives His children He chooses not to mention – recount or think about our sins anymore. 3rd fact
* Forgiveness is not excusing. Excusing says “that’s okay” and it says “what you did wasn’t really wrong,” or “you could not help it” Forgiveness is the opposite of excusing. The very fact that forgiveness is needed and granted indicates that what someone did was wrong and inexcusable. Forgiveness says, “We both know what you did was wrong and without excuse. But since God has forgiven me – I forgive you.
Principle #1 When someone wrongs you, you are to forgive unconditionally even though that person may not admit it was wrong or ask for forgiveness. Everyone of us have had someone wrong us and they have not come to us and asked for forgiveness. It was easy to forgive a man who wronged me when he called me and ask to speak with me but I know others who have deeply hurt me and they have not said one word to me….. Long before the famine came and Jacob sent his sons down to Egypt to get food --- Joseph had forgiven them. He did not go to bed at night having anger in his heart and his mind going over and over and over again what his brothers did to him. He did not think about how he was going to get back at them ------- you know that is true because when they showed up he did not blow up and explode. So --- who are you avoiding in your life? When you see them coming down the aisle you go the other way? Who have you told yourself that you have forgiven them but you simply are avoiding them?
Story: Preacher Bill Sanger told a true story: It was Christmas time in my home. One of my guests from church had come and saw that I was mailing a stack of Christmas cards and he was startled to see a certain name and address on one of the cards. “Surely you are not sending him a card are you?” Why not --- I asked? “Do you not remember what he did? and then he went on and on and on . At that point ---- I remembered what that man did to me and what he said to others and I resolved at that time with God’s help to forgive and forget and it was God who did it. Bill did not keep a list and neither did Joseph
Principle #2 True forgiveness does not mean that you will not continue to experience some negative emotions. Many believers get confused at this point. They forget that forgiveness is an act of the will. We can truly forgive and yet still have negative feelings toward someone who has hurt us – especially at certain moments in our life. It does not mean that you will not feel cautious around that person and have a hard time in conversation with them. The hurt caused you to loose trust in them. Here is what I would say on this principle:
The true test of our forgiveness is not if we have eliminated all negative feelings, but rather, whether or not we allow these negative feelings to keep us from doing what is right in spite of these feelings. In time --- your feelings will come into conformity with what you have already done as an act of the will.
Remember: Obedience always come first before feelings.
Principle #3 Giving forgiveness and praying and hoping for justice are not incompatible concepts. God is the one who brings a person to justice. It is not wrong to expect and pray that someone who has wronged you and broken societies rules should be brought to justice. That does not mean that you are unforgiving and have no responsibility to for give someone. When the man broke into my house --- stole my coat and then broke in again and we caught him --- I went with them to the police station but I forgave him. Joseph wanted justice in Egypt and he could make sure it would happen – he hoped his brothers hearts had changed and he would use tough love to achieve his goals AND to find out the condition of their hearts. So remember this about this principle: Loving and praying for and forgiving our enemies and at the same time hoping and praying for justice is not incompatible in God’s economy.
Principle #4 When we have been wronged by someone who has not admitted or sought forgiveness, we should have as our primary concern that persons relationship with God.
Joseph demonstrated this principle beautifully. He cared about his brothers relationship with God. He was not focused on getting back at them or making them pay. He wanted to know if they were truly sorry for their sin. He wanted to see repentance in them. The writer of Hebrews says --- It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. That applies to someone who has not confessed their sins and yet they seek forgiveness. It applies to someone who tries to destroy the work of God.
It is difficult to forgive someone who has failed to confess and repent clearly and specifically…… When you find yourself in this situation it is wise to take the time and explain to the person who wronged you and why you are having a difficult time to forgive them. This is especially true in marriages and family relationships. I would say to men: we are quick to keep the peace at any price and quick to say – I am sorry will you forgive and your wife thinks to herself – why? Are you really serious and sorry for what you did? Do you really understand how I was hurt?.......Remember: it is a person relationship with God that matters.
Story:
It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former SS man who stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there – the roomful of mocking men – the heaps of clothing – my sister Betsie’s pain filled face as she died. He came up to me as the church was emptying beaming and bowing – “how grateful I am for your message – fraulein – to think that you say – he has washed my sins away”…… His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people of this town about the need to forgive, kept my hand by my side…… Even as the angry – vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus --- I prayed ---forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing – not the slightest spark of warmth or love. And so I again breathed a silent prayer. Jesus I cannot forgive him – Give me your forgiveness. As I took his hand the most incredible thing happen. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him – while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me. So I discovered, that it is not on our forgiveness any more than our goodness that the world’s healings hinges, but on Jesus Christ. When Jesus tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself………………..
Let us pray. Lord Jesus – thank you for forgiveness. The forgiveness you give is not free ---you paid for it but we cannot earn it. Help us to forgive others. Help us to forgive those who have wronged us. Help us to forgive those who have lied about us – those who have abused us – those who refuse to see any wrong and take any responsibility for the pain they have caused in our lives. Would you free the person here this morning who is bitter and resentful – they have so much un forgiveness in their heart towards someone in their past. Give them the courage and the power of the Holy Spirit to confront what they know they need to do.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Peacemaking #1
Silver Hills is joining with First Baptist Church on Mountain Street to work through the seminar Peacemaking with Ken Sande. 13 from Silver Hills showed up the first week. Ken Sande was interviewed on KNIS radio this past week by the Albert Mohler show. The first week they heard some of the following:
Conflict is part of everyone's life. You are the cause of it or you are on the recieving end of it. It does not matter if it is your family, school, work or your church, conflict can take joy from you. There are three phases of conflict:
1. Escape Responses - denial is one way to escape from conflict. You pretend that it does not exist. This response brings temporary relief and usually makes matter worse. Flight is another way to respond to conflict. You simply run away. You might leave the house, leave a friendship, quit a job or change chuches. Flight is a harmful way to deal with conflict. Suicide is also an escape response. When people lose all hope of resolving conflict, they may seek to escape the situation by taking their own life.
2. Attack Responses - these responses are used by people who are interested in winning a conflict rather than perserving a relationship. This attitude is seen in people who view conflict as a chance to assert their rights. Attack responses are generally used by people who are strong and self confident. These responses can lead a person to assault a person, bring litigation against a person and even murder someone.
3. Peacemaking Responses - the vast majority of conflicts in life for a believer should and can be resolved in the following ways:
* Overlook an offense. Overlooking an offense is a form of forgiveness and involves a deliberate decision not to talk about it, dwell on it, or let is grow into pent-up bitterness or anger.
*Reconciliation is peacemaking that may involved confession, loving correction, and forgiveness.
Ken Sande says that when a person pursues the peacemaking responses to conflict, there is a greater likelihood that he or she will eventually see reconciliation. Escape and attack responses to conflict inevitably result in kiss your relationship goodbye.
Conflict is part of everyone's life. You are the cause of it or you are on the recieving end of it. It does not matter if it is your family, school, work or your church, conflict can take joy from you. There are three phases of conflict:
1. Escape Responses - denial is one way to escape from conflict. You pretend that it does not exist. This response brings temporary relief and usually makes matter worse. Flight is another way to respond to conflict. You simply run away. You might leave the house, leave a friendship, quit a job or change chuches. Flight is a harmful way to deal with conflict. Suicide is also an escape response. When people lose all hope of resolving conflict, they may seek to escape the situation by taking their own life.
2. Attack Responses - these responses are used by people who are interested in winning a conflict rather than perserving a relationship. This attitude is seen in people who view conflict as a chance to assert their rights. Attack responses are generally used by people who are strong and self confident. These responses can lead a person to assault a person, bring litigation against a person and even murder someone.
3. Peacemaking Responses - the vast majority of conflicts in life for a believer should and can be resolved in the following ways:
* Overlook an offense. Overlooking an offense is a form of forgiveness and involves a deliberate decision not to talk about it, dwell on it, or let is grow into pent-up bitterness or anger.
*Reconciliation is peacemaking that may involved confession, loving correction, and forgiveness.
Ken Sande says that when a person pursues the peacemaking responses to conflict, there is a greater likelihood that he or she will eventually see reconciliation. Escape and attack responses to conflict inevitably result in kiss your relationship goodbye.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Joesph #6
Becoming a Believer of Integrity and Forgiveness
The Life of Joseph #6
September 14, 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Photo of my family – Thank you to the deacons for allowing us to go. Thank you for supporting Tuesday night with Pastor Thomas. We will again be with him this Tuesday and I will be there. When you think of peace what do you think of? Come on Tuesday night with us and learn about the three dimensions of what is real peace. And thank you to Phil for filling in for me and telling us your heart for the mission field.
Turn in your bible to the book of Genesis chapter 41. We are studying the life of Joseph. My daughter Mandy is on a semester study abroad program right now in South Africa and if I am correct she began to prepare for that in February. You heard from Phil last week and if I am correct – it was over two years ago that Phil and Stacie began to seriously prepare to go to the mission field. Sally was 34 years old before she got married and she said “I can look back and see all of the years of preparation that was done in my life before I got married.”…… On Tuesday – Cheryl and I rode back on an airplane from Columbus Ohio that I simply assumed had been prepared for the flight – mechanically – plenty of fuel and the pilots were sober and trained. You assume that I have prepared for this message and rightly so. You are preparing to elect a president in November – you are either preparing by asking yourself “am I going to make my choice on moral biblical grounds or am I going to simply do as I have always done… and I know that some even say they are not going to vote --- which for a real believer is rebellion and sin. Some get prepared – get registered to vote pick up a voter guide in the entryway. As a believer in Jesus Christ you can look back and see the events in your life – especially the painful ones and see how God has used them to prepare you for the future……Some of you have more painful events in your life than others. But, you are able to see how God has patiently brought you through them – how He has taught you and how He has fashioned your character…. so that He may use you to fulfill His plan and purpose for His Kingdom. The prophet Jeremiah wrote down God’s words in chapter 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” Do you want those plans for your life? Are you willing to let God lead you and prepare you for those plans?
Joseph had gone through 13 painful years of preparation. Two weeks ago we talked about waiting on God. When we wait on God – He often is preparing us. Joseph was in prison and the King had a dream and no one could tell him what it meant and the cupbearer who had forgotten about Joseph for 2 years tells the King about him – the King calls for Joseph and he tells the King what his dreams meant and Joseph takes a bold leap and suggests to the King a plan of action for the nation of Egypt. The King must have sensed a divine presence in this man and says “can we find this man, in whom is the spirit of God?”
Vs.41 says “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt”. This was not new to Joseph. Do you remember in chapter 39 – when Potiphar saw the character of Joseph – he was put in charge of his entire household – God was preparing Joseph for something in the future….. When he was thrown into jail – the warden saw his character and he put him in charge of the entire prison – God was preparing him….. God used that time in the dungeon to mold and fashion Joseph and now Pharaoh puts him in charge of the land of Egypt. Not only was he put in charge of the land of Egypt but do not miss what the King did.
First, the King gave Joseph geographical control – the whole land of Egypt was put under him. At that time – Egypt was as big as the Mesoptania empire. He gave him financial authority. Verse 42 says – the king took his signet ring and put it on his finger – this gave Joseph an unlimited budget. He could sign checks and order anything that he wanted to and he had no limit. The king trusted him. Joseph could buy anything or pay for anything to carry out the King’s business. Remember – Joseph was in charge of the finances of Potiphars household. He had been prepared by God for this task. Potiphar and the Warden had most likely told the King about him. They told the king that this man could be trusted with any amount of money. Let me ask you? Do you know anyone who would trust you with their fiancés??? Do you know anyone who is talking to others about how well you manage money? If the king were to look at your finances would he trust you with his?
Jesus said in Luke 16:10-11 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”
Not only did the King trust Joseph with the Federal Reserve Bank of Egypt but he put royal garments on Joseph – he was given social privilege and if you look at verse 43 – he was given royal privileges – he rode around in a presidential limo and when he came by people they bowed their knee before him. Egyptian people were bowing before a non Egyptian. In verse 44 it says that the King also gave him political power – “but without your word no one will lift a hand in all of Egypt” ---- That day – Joseph became one of the most esteemed – respected and powerful men in the world of his day. Do you think God was preparing Joseph in those 13 years for this day? Do you think God used the time and experience in Potiphar’s house and the time in the dungeon????? Do you think God is preparing you to be used by Him? What are you going through right now that you have no idea what is happening and what God is doing in your life and how He is going to use your trials and suffering for His glory?
Are you willing to wait until God promotes you and says that your preparation is over??????
Notice: God used a pagan king to bring about His plan. There are two more vital points that were can see this King did and they deal with Joseph’s religious position. First – the king changes Joseph’s name and calls him Zaphe nath – Pa neah – that does not mean anything to us but in that name is the word “nath” – which to all Egyptians would have meant – “the god who speaks and lives”. In his own pagan way – the king wanted the people to see that this man was no ordinary man and his god was not an ordinary god. Second – the king gave Joseph a wife and her name was Ase -nath – notice the last part of her name came from his and she was the daughter of a religious priest. God gives them two sons. It is very important to see that you do not find Joseph taking another wife --- he does not have a concubine. Joseph lived a monogamous life. He had not engaged in premarital sex and yet the bible says he was well built and a handsome hunk ---- He was an oddball among the Hebrews and especially an oddball among the Egyptians.
--- Let me ask you this question and I could go off on a side tangent on this. Is there something about the character and integrity of a man which stands or falls on a man’s sexual purity??? We all know that there is – biblically and non biblically. Republican and Democratic politicians who have fallen sexually have lost their character and integrity and pastors who fall sexually loose their character and integrity. We do not trust someone who is sexually immoral – they have no integrity, they loose all influence. You do not trust them. This is why pornography pollutes and destroys character and integrity. Let me come back to the text. How did God prepare Joseph? 3 ways
God’s Preparation of Joseph
1. Pride. There is nothing more damaging to a person than pride. God will not use His children who are full of pride. God will break them. He will discipline them – He will bring pain to them. When we are full of pride most of the time we are blind to it…… Joseph was a prime candidate for pride. He was the favorite son. He had a special place in his family from birth. His father had given him a special robe to wear. God had given him two special dreams. Not only that but the bible tells us that he was well built and a handsome young man. That fact alone could have lead him to be full of pride. It would be in any society. Looks builds up. Looks gives us confidence. We walk tall when we have no zits – our hair is sharp and our clothes stand out. Joseph would have been the star quarterback – the homecoming King and the valedictorian. He had everything going for him – but God had plans for him. God had plans to prepare him. God had plans to break him of his pride and prepare him to be used for God’s glory. Look on your outline at the scripture.
1 Peter 1: 7 “These have come (trials) so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” God will cause – He will fashion and bring about trials in your life to prepare you for use in the future. He will especially bring trials into your life to file off and remove your pride….. Joseph passed each of the tests God brought his way – he did not become bitter – he had a forgiving spirit and he maintained a servants heart……. You and I can pass the tests God brings our way just like Joseph did. God prepared Joseph by filing off his pride and #2 He prepared Joseph by teaching him
2. Perseverance When God uses His people He expects them to not give up. He expects them to be faithful. God honors faithfulness. He expects them to be a person of their word. Their yes is yes and their no is no. If you are going to be a leader in God’s economy you are going to encounter rumors, false accusations, misunderstandings and breakdowns in communications. You are going to find any and every opportunity to quit and escape. If you are going to be used by God and trusted by God you have got to learn to take the responsibility for the mistakes of others. You have to refuse to have a victim mentality. When pressure comes your way you do not give up. Joseph had all that happen to him ---- God prepared him on the camel ride to Egypt --- he prepared him in the house of Potiphar – He prepared him in the dungeon. With every difficulty he faced – Joseph grew closer to God. He learned to trust God more and more. When it came time to accept the appointment to be over all of Egypt – Joseph did not excuse himself --- he did not talk and tell the King he could not do it --- he knew the task was enormous… but through the past 13 years he had learned to persevere – he knew that God would help him fulfill the task ahead. Do you feel like giving up? Do you feel like giving up at school? Do you feel like giving up at work? Do you feel like giving up on your marriage? Do you feel like giving up in your walk with God? Don’t – you can persevere like Joseph did. If you know and love the same God he did – God will not let you down. God is using your circumstances to teach you to persevere and prepare you for the greater things in His Kingdom.
3. Performance God used every circumstance in Joseph’s life to teach him to perform. He gave him the house of Potiphar and he gave him the prison under the warden. Each time – Joseph proved himself. He was faithful – he was trustworthy – he did not complain – he did not gossip – he did not cause problems and he worked hard at the tasks that were given to him. Can you imagine the task that the King gave to him? Verse 47 it says that “he stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea” in ever city of Egypt. The amount of grain became so much that he stopped keeping records and it was beyond measure. Can you imagine the honesty and integrity that was required of him?
When the famine hit --- can you imagine the distribution job that he faced??? How was he going to be fare to all the people? If keeping integrity and honesty during the first 7 years was a challenge can you imagine the challenge during the years of famine???? All of this operation fell upon Joseph’s shoulders. When the people began to come to the king for food the bible tells us in verse 55 that he said – “go to Joseph and do what he tells you to do”. Joseph performed the same way that he did in the dungeon and he performed the same way that he did in Potiphars house. God prepared Joseph for this task and he did not let God down. God gave him the wisdom - He gave him the organizational and leadership skills. God always provides for His children for every need in every circumstance…. and in every challenge before them. God will never call you to do anything for His glory and leave you unprepared. The task God gave Joseph was tailor made for him and when he was ready God opened the door of opportunity.
So - Do you believe the tasks God has for you has been tailor made for you??? Are you willing to go through the preparation that God has laid out for you? Are you willing for Him to deal with and break down your pride? Are you willing to persevere through anything? Are you willing to be faithful and have Him examine your performance?????
Lessons from Joseph’s Life
Lesson #1 God wants to teach us lessons that will help us avoid the pitfalls of pride. Very few of us will ever be given the task that Joseph was given but all of us have a purpose and a plan that God has laid for us and we need to be prepared just like Joseph. God cannot and will not use a believer who is full of pride.
Could this be why so many men and women are powerless and having no impact for Jesus Christ in our society???? When pride is an issue in your life you are powerless for God. You will bring God no glory and you will find no joy in God and no blessing from God in your life. Like the issue of sexual purity and character I could spend hours on the sin of pride.
Proverbs 6:16 - 19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Do you see what is at the top of the list that God hates? Pride – same thing as haughty eyes. Someone who looks down on others and sees themselves as better. God hates pride and He especially hates it in the lives of His children.
Pride has destroyed the effectiveness of more believers than any other sin --- it keeps us from rising to the level of responsibility God had in mind for us. If you and I allow God to prepare us and walk us through the lessons He has for us he will prepare us and prune pride from us. AW Tozer put it this way: I put it on your outline:
“The devil, things, and people being what they are, it is necessary to use the hammer, the file and the furnace in the holy work of preparing the saint for the sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” – A.W. Tozer
Lesson #2 God wants to prepare us spiritually and emotionally to persevere as we face difficult responsibilities in our lives.
I had the opportunity to climb up old White Bird Summit on route 95. (PHOTOS) It was 7 miles to the top – cold, windy and rainy. A winding road that was still used by farm trucks but around every bend it seemed like you would never get to the top. It was really beautiful. It took perseverance. I thought of that climb As I looked back on my life – I can see what God did in and through me as a 18 year old who came to faith in Jesus. I can remember the sting of the hammer – many times. At 23 years old -- I can remember the loneliness as I went back to the cottage in the forest from where I taught day after day at the University of Swaziland and how I had to choose to be a faithful teacher for 2 years and minister to students on that campus.
I can remember being under Bob Neese who was my supervisor – I could not understand how God put him over me as my leader. I remember thinking – what in the world is God trying to teach me?? Bob left and then it was Larry. You would think after 6 years I would learn? But God was still hammering away at me. I look back and think about standing at the top of White Bird Summit and the bends in the road where I came from --- some of you are at the bottom of the summit in your life – some of you are in your teens. Are you willing to let God prepare you spiritually and emotionally? Some of you are in your 20’s – how about you? Most guys in their 20’s are doing their own thing --- letting God prepare them spiritually and emotionally is the furthest thing from their minds. You could even be in your 60’s and 70’s ---- God is still preparing you and molding you and hammering your character and taking you through whatever it takes. The apostle Peter commands the believer to grow spiritually
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. “
We are to grow because God is preparing us. It takes work to grow. It takes discipline to grow. God will take us through whatever He needs to so that He might work in us and prepare us for the work ahead of us. You are either going to walk through the future trusting God or rebelling against Him all the way. Are you willing to participate in what God is doing in your life? Are you willing to grow spiritually? It will take time – it will take discipline – God can use in the same way that He used Joseph – would you let him?
Let us pray: Heavenly Father – thank you that you prepare your children for your kingdom. You prepare your children for your plans and for your purpose to bring You glory. Thank you that you will hammer away any pride ---- thank you that you will teach us to perservere and thank you that you will give us the opportunity to perform. Lord we ask for your help. We ask that we would run the race that You have set before us. We ask that we would not drift away. Lord restore and renew the believer her this morning who is caught in depression – discouragement and despair. Break the pride of any believer in this room and humble them. Use us – like You used Joseph. In Jesus name -- amen
The Life of Joseph #6
September 14, 2008
Pastor Ben Fleming
Photo of my family – Thank you to the deacons for allowing us to go. Thank you for supporting Tuesday night with Pastor Thomas. We will again be with him this Tuesday and I will be there. When you think of peace what do you think of? Come on Tuesday night with us and learn about the three dimensions of what is real peace. And thank you to Phil for filling in for me and telling us your heart for the mission field.
Turn in your bible to the book of Genesis chapter 41. We are studying the life of Joseph. My daughter Mandy is on a semester study abroad program right now in South Africa and if I am correct she began to prepare for that in February. You heard from Phil last week and if I am correct – it was over two years ago that Phil and Stacie began to seriously prepare to go to the mission field. Sally was 34 years old before she got married and she said “I can look back and see all of the years of preparation that was done in my life before I got married.”…… On Tuesday – Cheryl and I rode back on an airplane from Columbus Ohio that I simply assumed had been prepared for the flight – mechanically – plenty of fuel and the pilots were sober and trained. You assume that I have prepared for this message and rightly so. You are preparing to elect a president in November – you are either preparing by asking yourself “am I going to make my choice on moral biblical grounds or am I going to simply do as I have always done… and I know that some even say they are not going to vote --- which for a real believer is rebellion and sin. Some get prepared – get registered to vote pick up a voter guide in the entryway. As a believer in Jesus Christ you can look back and see the events in your life – especially the painful ones and see how God has used them to prepare you for the future……Some of you have more painful events in your life than others. But, you are able to see how God has patiently brought you through them – how He has taught you and how He has fashioned your character…. so that He may use you to fulfill His plan and purpose for His Kingdom. The prophet Jeremiah wrote down God’s words in chapter 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” Do you want those plans for your life? Are you willing to let God lead you and prepare you for those plans?
Joseph had gone through 13 painful years of preparation. Two weeks ago we talked about waiting on God. When we wait on God – He often is preparing us. Joseph was in prison and the King had a dream and no one could tell him what it meant and the cupbearer who had forgotten about Joseph for 2 years tells the King about him – the King calls for Joseph and he tells the King what his dreams meant and Joseph takes a bold leap and suggests to the King a plan of action for the nation of Egypt. The King must have sensed a divine presence in this man and says “can we find this man, in whom is the spirit of God?”
Vs.41 says “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt”. This was not new to Joseph. Do you remember in chapter 39 – when Potiphar saw the character of Joseph – he was put in charge of his entire household – God was preparing Joseph for something in the future….. When he was thrown into jail – the warden saw his character and he put him in charge of the entire prison – God was preparing him….. God used that time in the dungeon to mold and fashion Joseph and now Pharaoh puts him in charge of the land of Egypt. Not only was he put in charge of the land of Egypt but do not miss what the King did.
First, the King gave Joseph geographical control – the whole land of Egypt was put under him. At that time – Egypt was as big as the Mesoptania empire. He gave him financial authority. Verse 42 says – the king took his signet ring and put it on his finger – this gave Joseph an unlimited budget. He could sign checks and order anything that he wanted to and he had no limit. The king trusted him. Joseph could buy anything or pay for anything to carry out the King’s business. Remember – Joseph was in charge of the finances of Potiphars household. He had been prepared by God for this task. Potiphar and the Warden had most likely told the King about him. They told the king that this man could be trusted with any amount of money. Let me ask you? Do you know anyone who would trust you with their fiancés??? Do you know anyone who is talking to others about how well you manage money? If the king were to look at your finances would he trust you with his?
Jesus said in Luke 16:10-11 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?”
Not only did the King trust Joseph with the Federal Reserve Bank of Egypt but he put royal garments on Joseph – he was given social privilege and if you look at verse 43 – he was given royal privileges – he rode around in a presidential limo and when he came by people they bowed their knee before him. Egyptian people were bowing before a non Egyptian. In verse 44 it says that the King also gave him political power – “but without your word no one will lift a hand in all of Egypt” ---- That day – Joseph became one of the most esteemed – respected and powerful men in the world of his day. Do you think God was preparing Joseph in those 13 years for this day? Do you think God used the time and experience in Potiphar’s house and the time in the dungeon????? Do you think God is preparing you to be used by Him? What are you going through right now that you have no idea what is happening and what God is doing in your life and how He is going to use your trials and suffering for His glory?
Are you willing to wait until God promotes you and says that your preparation is over??????
Notice: God used a pagan king to bring about His plan. There are two more vital points that were can see this King did and they deal with Joseph’s religious position. First – the king changes Joseph’s name and calls him Zaphe nath – Pa neah – that does not mean anything to us but in that name is the word “nath” – which to all Egyptians would have meant – “the god who speaks and lives”. In his own pagan way – the king wanted the people to see that this man was no ordinary man and his god was not an ordinary god. Second – the king gave Joseph a wife and her name was Ase -nath – notice the last part of her name came from his and she was the daughter of a religious priest. God gives them two sons. It is very important to see that you do not find Joseph taking another wife --- he does not have a concubine. Joseph lived a monogamous life. He had not engaged in premarital sex and yet the bible says he was well built and a handsome hunk ---- He was an oddball among the Hebrews and especially an oddball among the Egyptians.
--- Let me ask you this question and I could go off on a side tangent on this. Is there something about the character and integrity of a man which stands or falls on a man’s sexual purity??? We all know that there is – biblically and non biblically. Republican and Democratic politicians who have fallen sexually have lost their character and integrity and pastors who fall sexually loose their character and integrity. We do not trust someone who is sexually immoral – they have no integrity, they loose all influence. You do not trust them. This is why pornography pollutes and destroys character and integrity. Let me come back to the text. How did God prepare Joseph? 3 ways
God’s Preparation of Joseph
1. Pride. There is nothing more damaging to a person than pride. God will not use His children who are full of pride. God will break them. He will discipline them – He will bring pain to them. When we are full of pride most of the time we are blind to it…… Joseph was a prime candidate for pride. He was the favorite son. He had a special place in his family from birth. His father had given him a special robe to wear. God had given him two special dreams. Not only that but the bible tells us that he was well built and a handsome young man. That fact alone could have lead him to be full of pride. It would be in any society. Looks builds up. Looks gives us confidence. We walk tall when we have no zits – our hair is sharp and our clothes stand out. Joseph would have been the star quarterback – the homecoming King and the valedictorian. He had everything going for him – but God had plans for him. God had plans to prepare him. God had plans to break him of his pride and prepare him to be used for God’s glory. Look on your outline at the scripture.
1 Peter 1: 7 “These have come (trials) so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” God will cause – He will fashion and bring about trials in your life to prepare you for use in the future. He will especially bring trials into your life to file off and remove your pride….. Joseph passed each of the tests God brought his way – he did not become bitter – he had a forgiving spirit and he maintained a servants heart……. You and I can pass the tests God brings our way just like Joseph did. God prepared Joseph by filing off his pride and #2 He prepared Joseph by teaching him
2. Perseverance When God uses His people He expects them to not give up. He expects them to be faithful. God honors faithfulness. He expects them to be a person of their word. Their yes is yes and their no is no. If you are going to be a leader in God’s economy you are going to encounter rumors, false accusations, misunderstandings and breakdowns in communications. You are going to find any and every opportunity to quit and escape. If you are going to be used by God and trusted by God you have got to learn to take the responsibility for the mistakes of others. You have to refuse to have a victim mentality. When pressure comes your way you do not give up. Joseph had all that happen to him ---- God prepared him on the camel ride to Egypt --- he prepared him in the house of Potiphar – He prepared him in the dungeon. With every difficulty he faced – Joseph grew closer to God. He learned to trust God more and more. When it came time to accept the appointment to be over all of Egypt – Joseph did not excuse himself --- he did not talk and tell the King he could not do it --- he knew the task was enormous… but through the past 13 years he had learned to persevere – he knew that God would help him fulfill the task ahead. Do you feel like giving up? Do you feel like giving up at school? Do you feel like giving up at work? Do you feel like giving up on your marriage? Do you feel like giving up in your walk with God? Don’t – you can persevere like Joseph did. If you know and love the same God he did – God will not let you down. God is using your circumstances to teach you to persevere and prepare you for the greater things in His Kingdom.
3. Performance God used every circumstance in Joseph’s life to teach him to perform. He gave him the house of Potiphar and he gave him the prison under the warden. Each time – Joseph proved himself. He was faithful – he was trustworthy – he did not complain – he did not gossip – he did not cause problems and he worked hard at the tasks that were given to him. Can you imagine the task that the King gave to him? Verse 47 it says that “he stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea” in ever city of Egypt. The amount of grain became so much that he stopped keeping records and it was beyond measure. Can you imagine the honesty and integrity that was required of him?
When the famine hit --- can you imagine the distribution job that he faced??? How was he going to be fare to all the people? If keeping integrity and honesty during the first 7 years was a challenge can you imagine the challenge during the years of famine???? All of this operation fell upon Joseph’s shoulders. When the people began to come to the king for food the bible tells us in verse 55 that he said – “go to Joseph and do what he tells you to do”. Joseph performed the same way that he did in the dungeon and he performed the same way that he did in Potiphars house. God prepared Joseph for this task and he did not let God down. God gave him the wisdom - He gave him the organizational and leadership skills. God always provides for His children for every need in every circumstance…. and in every challenge before them. God will never call you to do anything for His glory and leave you unprepared. The task God gave Joseph was tailor made for him and when he was ready God opened the door of opportunity.
So - Do you believe the tasks God has for you has been tailor made for you??? Are you willing to go through the preparation that God has laid out for you? Are you willing for Him to deal with and break down your pride? Are you willing to persevere through anything? Are you willing to be faithful and have Him examine your performance?????
Lessons from Joseph’s Life
Lesson #1 God wants to teach us lessons that will help us avoid the pitfalls of pride. Very few of us will ever be given the task that Joseph was given but all of us have a purpose and a plan that God has laid for us and we need to be prepared just like Joseph. God cannot and will not use a believer who is full of pride.
Could this be why so many men and women are powerless and having no impact for Jesus Christ in our society???? When pride is an issue in your life you are powerless for God. You will bring God no glory and you will find no joy in God and no blessing from God in your life. Like the issue of sexual purity and character I could spend hours on the sin of pride.
Proverbs 6:16 - 19 “There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.” Do you see what is at the top of the list that God hates? Pride – same thing as haughty eyes. Someone who looks down on others and sees themselves as better. God hates pride and He especially hates it in the lives of His children.
Pride has destroyed the effectiveness of more believers than any other sin --- it keeps us from rising to the level of responsibility God had in mind for us. If you and I allow God to prepare us and walk us through the lessons He has for us he will prepare us and prune pride from us. AW Tozer put it this way: I put it on your outline:
“The devil, things, and people being what they are, it is necessary to use the hammer, the file and the furnace in the holy work of preparing the saint for the sainthood. It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” – A.W. Tozer
Lesson #2 God wants to prepare us spiritually and emotionally to persevere as we face difficult responsibilities in our lives.
I had the opportunity to climb up old White Bird Summit on route 95. (PHOTOS) It was 7 miles to the top – cold, windy and rainy. A winding road that was still used by farm trucks but around every bend it seemed like you would never get to the top. It was really beautiful. It took perseverance. I thought of that climb As I looked back on my life – I can see what God did in and through me as a 18 year old who came to faith in Jesus. I can remember the sting of the hammer – many times. At 23 years old -- I can remember the loneliness as I went back to the cottage in the forest from where I taught day after day at the University of Swaziland and how I had to choose to be a faithful teacher for 2 years and minister to students on that campus.
I can remember being under Bob Neese who was my supervisor – I could not understand how God put him over me as my leader. I remember thinking – what in the world is God trying to teach me?? Bob left and then it was Larry. You would think after 6 years I would learn? But God was still hammering away at me. I look back and think about standing at the top of White Bird Summit and the bends in the road where I came from --- some of you are at the bottom of the summit in your life – some of you are in your teens. Are you willing to let God prepare you spiritually and emotionally? Some of you are in your 20’s – how about you? Most guys in their 20’s are doing their own thing --- letting God prepare them spiritually and emotionally is the furthest thing from their minds. You could even be in your 60’s and 70’s ---- God is still preparing you and molding you and hammering your character and taking you through whatever it takes. The apostle Peter commands the believer to grow spiritually
2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. “
We are to grow because God is preparing us. It takes work to grow. It takes discipline to grow. God will take us through whatever He needs to so that He might work in us and prepare us for the work ahead of us. You are either going to walk through the future trusting God or rebelling against Him all the way. Are you willing to participate in what God is doing in your life? Are you willing to grow spiritually? It will take time – it will take discipline – God can use in the same way that He used Joseph – would you let him?
Let us pray: Heavenly Father – thank you that you prepare your children for your kingdom. You prepare your children for your plans and for your purpose to bring You glory. Thank you that you will hammer away any pride ---- thank you that you will teach us to perservere and thank you that you will give us the opportunity to perform. Lord we ask for your help. We ask that we would run the race that You have set before us. We ask that we would not drift away. Lord restore and renew the believer her this morning who is caught in depression – discouragement and despair. Break the pride of any believer in this room and humble them. Use us – like You used Joseph. In Jesus name -- amen
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Family
Cheryl and I had the chance to go with Ben and Becky and visit my parents Bill and Rowena Fleming in West Virginia. This was the first time that Becky had met them.It was a visit that we had planned to happen in August taking our grandson Caleb for his great grandfather to see but God had other plans.
It has been a joy in the midst of grief to see my son and daughter in law begin to heal as they grieve over the loss of their son. We all look for the opportunities that God will be giving us to minister to others who taste the same or similar sorrows.
On Tuesday September 2, Carson Tahoe Hospital called our home to ask us to take photos for a family who had a stillborn baby that night. This is a ministry that we want to begin here in Carson City. Please pray that we have the wisdom to help those who grieve.
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