Sermon Nuggets Mon Dec 3- Handling Disappointments.
Gen 41:1-40
We have the
privilege of doing services in the Rush City prison. We hear stories as some
men will give us their prayer requests. One of the delights is to worship
together. Not all men have had that privilege in the past.
Let me tell you the story of a
prisoner whose name is Joe. Joe was arrested and convicted of rape, which he
said he didn’t do. He lost contact with any family for many years. He had no
visitors while in prison. He had not been a church goer, and there were no
chapel service offered where he served his time. But while in his cell he
thought a lot about God. He believed God was going to do something important in
his life.
What happens to many prisoners is
that a soon as they get out, all the promises and commitments they made are
quickly forgotten, but not so with Joe. When he got out of prison he didn’t
give up his faith. He was a witness for the Lord; He got a responsible job and
made a name for himself. Perhaps you know him better known to us as Joseph son
of Jacob. It is his biography that we are studying these days.
Today I want to talk about his
prison release. Even when we face many discouragements God can use them to
bring out something good. While in prison, Joseph made the best of his
situation and earned the respect of many. People could see that he was a man of
integrity and that God blessed everything that he did.
But don’t think being in prison was
any fun, 40:23 says. The chief cup
bearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. 41:1 When two full
years had passed" This is where I dwell this morning because I want to
think about the disappointment Joseph must have experienced. For several days
after the cup bearer was returned to his job. I don’t doubt Joe is waiting to
be released based on the cupbearers testimony but nothing happens.
It’s easy to be discouraged with
nagging illness. It is normal to be discouraged when you lose your job, or
flunk a test, or get picked on in school, or go through financial loss. Life is
often filled with disappointment.
You can read through any book of
the Bible and you will find the saints dealing with disappointment,
frustration, and all kinds of hardships. And let's not forget, that our Lord
was despised and rejected of men and was mercilessly crucified. Disappointment
comes into our life.
Joseph illustrates the options in
facing such difficulties in life. That will be the subject of this week’s
devotions. What are some of your recent disappointments? How have you handled
them in this past? Where have you seen the work of God? Where has God appeared
to be silent? Be patient. God is still at work and not finished yet.
Pastor Dale
Keep the FAITH
Joseph remained in prison for two
more years before the cupbearer thought
about him. Those two years were not good times. There are many people that pray
and wait on God and he doesn’t answer them and they conclude therefore there
must not be a God, or if there is, he is not a God of love to let this happen to
me or my loved one.
One young lady talked to me. She
was so angry at God for causing her grandfather to die. He had cancer and was
in his early 80s when he passed away, but as far as she was concerned she
wasn’t going to have anything to do with God because he caused her Grandfather
to die and therefore he must not be a good and gracious God.
All people die sooner or later, but
the first recorded death in the Bible is a murder. Able was loved of the Lord
right from the beginning and his sacrifice was acceptable to God whereas Cain’s
was not. Religious hatred and jealousy was the cause behind that murder. Good
people do suffer at the hands of the ungodly. Bad things do happen to good
people. But don’t give up the faith.
In chapter 41 Pharoah told Joseph
the dream and Joseph was finally remembered by the butler so when no one else
could interpret the dream he suggested Joseph he had this amazing God given
ability. So Pharaoh has him bathed and shaved and groomed and comes before him.
Now interpreting dreams hasn’t gone
really very good for Joseph so far. The
last time he interpreted a dream the cupbearer is freed while Joseph is
forgotten. The first time he interpreted a dream for his brothers they threw
him into a cistern and left him for dead. Interesting, every time Joseph used
his God given gift he got burned. He used it anyway because he deeply trusted
his God in every situation. The world takes note when they see that kind of
trust.
Joseph had faith and still believed God walked with him step by step. So when Pharoah shared his dream and sought an interpretation, Joseph responded, "I can not do it, but God can”.
I like that response because it is so
different than I would respond. In Joseph’s shoes and knowing his success at
interpreting dreams and desiring to be free from prison I might be tempted to
say, "I can."
Joseph interpreted the dream as 7 good years
and 7 bad years. He gave all the honor and glory for what he did to God. This
is a clear and important reference point in this text. Notice Joseph’s
reference point. In verses 16, 25, 28, 32, 38 he gave the credit to God. God clearly made a difference in his life. In
slavery, prosperity, prison, the king’s palace Joseph trusted God.
Keeping the faith is keeping your
eyes focused on God and his truth regardless of the different situations in
your life, because one thing is sure, situations always change. God doesn’t.
What doesn’t make any sense right now, some day will be revealed. For Joseph he
kept the Faith. It was not prosperity that
heightens his trust in God. It is not slavery that caused him to distrust God.
In slavery Joseph came into contact with Potiphar. God used the slave to enrich
Potiphar’s life. In prison God used Joseph to meet the need of the cupbearer.
In the palace God used Joseph to meet the needs unique to a famine. What would
we do in these situations?
Galatians 6:9 "Let us not
become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we
do not give up."
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds Nov 5 Past
Gen 41:
Face the PAST
When Joseph was wronged he could
have sustained himself with thoughts of getting even. He could have rehearsed
the hurts that he received from his oppressors.
He could have imagined scenarios where he would be proved innocent to
the shame and disgrace of those who wronged him.
The Bible says, vengeance is mine
says the Lord. When we act in revenge we take God’s place and He doesn’t like
that. Romans 12:17-19 “Do not repay
anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do
not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.” If you take
matters into your hands you are doing God’s job.
So how does Joseph face his past?
If you look ahead a little in the chapter it shows that Joseph was able to put
the past behind him. Many people cannot do that. They find the healing of
emotions very difficult because they don’t want to give up old hurts and old
memories that should be forgotten or forgiven. Notice in (vs 51,52). Before the years of famine came,
two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me
forget all my trouble and all my father's household.” The second son he named
Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my
suffering.”
The scars were deep but God's
healing was deeper. It's amazing isn't it? Did Joseph literally not remember
the events anymore? Of course not! But what did happen was that God got him
past the hurt. He was no longer haunted by the betrayal, rejection and sense of
failure. These memories no longer haunted, controlled or possessed him. God had
helped him to "move on".
I suggest today that many of you
need to move on as well. The hurts have been severe and deep but God can and
will help you face the past by realizing there is nothing you can do but let
God bring healing to it and use it for His glory. Acknowledge and identify the
painful memories Commit them in prayer to the Lord. Ask Him to help you to
forget. Can you accept the fact that God
was working even in those times which placed scars upon your soul. Then throw
yourself into the present with the resolve that you are not going to dig up a
past that you have buried in the grace of God. Every time Satan brings those
memories back (and he will), remind yourself that you have been delivered, or
forgiven, or healed (depending on the memories that haunt.)
The past is one of the most
powerful tools at the disposal of the Devil. He uses it to haunt us, to
paralyze us, to make us fearful, and to rob us of His peace in the present. The
Devil can use the past to make us distant to others. He can use it to drive a
wedge into our relationships. He can use it to drive us from God.
But we must understand that the
past can hurt us only if we give it permission to hurt us. Joseph let the past
go free. He found that God helped him to forget the hurts of the past and he
began to live in the fullness and joy of the present. He moved from one who was
despised and rejected to one who was "twice blessed".
Remember the great words of the
Apostle Paul, "This one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and
straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13,14).
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 6 Present
Gen 41
Move in the PRESENT
Now Joseph he is standing the
throne room of the man most powerful in that time and region of the world. He
outlined for the king a plan to raise taxes for the next seven years, taking
20% of the land's production into royal granaries. Then in the following seven
years, the people could be sustained.
Pharaoh realized this job would
take a great administrator and someone who needed authority and resources to
carry it out. He chose Joseph to do the job. Now I don’t think Pharaoh changed
his religion, even though he did notice God was with Joseph. I believe he gave
Joseph this most important job primarily because he was a faithful hard worker
who gained a great reputation in his tasks. He was only concerned with finding
a man who could do the job which needed to be done.
Many Christians think that God is
obligated to bless or that His people are bound to patronize people simply
because they are Christians. Many Christians are not very good at what we do,
either because they are lazy, or think that God is obliged to bless them only
because they give testimony to our faith. Joseph’s testimony would have had
little impact if he had proven to be wrong or had failed miserably to
administrate the collection of grain. Let us enhance our testimony by doing
well what we do. As the writer of the proverb puts it:
Do you see a man skilled in his
work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men
(Proverbs 22:29).
Joseph did nothing different in
Pharaoh’s palace than he did in Potiphar’s penthouse or in his prison. In every
instance Joseph exercised his God-given ability to administrate. While the
features of each job may have differed, the functions were the same. Joseph, I
am certain, did well in the palace because he had done his work diligently and
faithfully wherever he had been previously.
How often we are like the
unfaithful steward who had only one talent and who hid it because he thought it
was too insignificant to bother with. How much more others had to offer, he
rationalized. But his master called him wicked and lazy (Matthew 25:26). Only
those who are faithful with present opportunities and duties have any basis for
expectation of greater responsibilities and privileges.
The biblical principle which we
must practice is rather this: “Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans
will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).
I am sure that when the king made
Joseph his Prime Minister, it wasn't all glory. There was a tremendous amount
of work, a load of responsibility that pressed hard on the shoulders of this 30
year man. But becomes a key man in the plan of God for both Egypt and for the
preservation of the Jewish people.
And yet in this position he also
serves as a witness to the one and true God. This is a great example to all of
us. In order to infiltrate our society do good work so that you have a good
word to share about your Lord.
As a Christian there may be some
cost involved. Perhaps in school you won't be the coolest kid in class. You
won't get invited to all the parties. Your teachers may admire your morality,
but more than likely they will regard your commitment to Christ as something
you need to outgrow. But there is reward you'll be noticed by others for whom
your life will make a difference to them and may lead them to faith in Christ.
At your place of employment there may be some who will scoff at your
integrity and industry, but there will be others who when life is tough for
them will seek you out and ask you what makes you tick. Let's be like Joseph. When
the opportunity came he remained faithful to his God, and faced his past and
for the present served his king faithfully in the tasks at hand. Thereby,
pointing the way to life with hope and meaning.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri Dec 7 Future
Gen 41: 28 “It
is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to
do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are
coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven
years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be
forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The
abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows
it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was
given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly
decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a
discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let
Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the
harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They
should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up
the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for
food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for
the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon
Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
Plan for the FUTURE
Pharaoh needed a man of character.
Joseph had proven himself time and time again as that man. Something needed to
be done to provide food during the famine. Most people could not be trusted.
Joseph presented a plan. It was a wise and discerning plan.
Consider verses 34-36. There was an
administrator and a double tithe during the good years. The world is looking
for men and women of character who can get things done in a wise and discerning
way. When character slips wisdom and discernment quickly disappear.
Joseph had a plan for preparing for
the coming famine. I think the plan was probably something that God revealed to
him. The wisdom of this plan is great. The government would appoint someone to
collect 20% of the year's produce. They needed someone in charge because human
nature is such that in the times of prosperity we don't save more we spend
more!
Planning ahead is moving with the
future according to the tasks at hand but leaving all the possibilities up to
God. I don’t believe it is wrong to plan for the future. We live for today,
with trust in God, but I know Christians in Russia who asked me if it was wrong
to save for the future, because aren’t we suppose to trust in God daily? If God
is making provision today it seems prudent not to squander money nor resist
giving to needs today but also put something away for tomorrow. I believe in a
savings plan. If the market crashes tomorrow and all the retirement investments
are destroyed I still have my faith in God. But based as a faithful steward I
cannot worry about that.
As a parent I make some plans to
assist with college education. As a pastor I must do some planning and
preparation for events that are happening in the future. I am planning for my
retirement and seeking to plan adjustments of living on less income. If you
don't set up a realistic budget you will not have the money to pay your bills
Some people live "by the seat
of your pants". But those who have a plan and goals with prayer and
persistence are able to achieve those goals as they follow the plan.
But far more important than the
future of our life is the future that you know will happen based on God’s word.
It appears that we are beginning a time of spiritual famine in our country. How
well have you planned for this coming time? We all know that there is coming a
day (usually sooner than we think) when we will be called to the judgment seat
of Christ. How well have you planned for that day? We know that there will be
opportunities to share our faith with others. How well have planned for that
time? We know that we will face endless temptations from Satan. Have you
prepared for his assault?
Many are unprepared for the time
when Christ comes again and it will be too late to face your eternity. Many
Christians may debate the details and the order of some of these events, but
the reality cannot be ignored. Are you ready to meet God at any moment? That is
planning for the future so you will not be left behind.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Sat Dec
8 Sovereignty
Gen 41: 37 The
plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So
Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the
spirit of God?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
“Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning
and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my
palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with
respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Rest in God's SOVEREIGNTY
Now there is something else that I
want us to think about as we face discouragements and disappointments in this
life. Rest in the fact that God is in charge and his greater plan is being
carried out even if your individual plan of personal earthly blessing is not
realized. I have remarkable
encouragement when I can look back and see how God led in various events.
Hindsight allows us to move more confidently in faith. Joseph’s elevation is not the result of one
lucky break, but rather of a chain of divinely purposed events. Had Joseph not
said “no” to Potiphar’s wife and been unjustly cast into prison with the
cupbearer, he could never have been recommended to the king. And had Joseph not
been cruelly treated by his brothers and sold into slavery, he would never have
been in Potiphar’s house. What a beautiful illustration of Romans 8:28:
Looking ahead, while there is a
sense in which Joseph was blessed because of his faithfulness, there is the
even broader perspective that Joseph’s promotion was not for his own prosperity
as much as for his brothers’ preservation. Joseph’s position of power and
prosperity enabled him to become the “savior” of his brethren. We must be
humbled by the fact that while God cares for us as individuals, He often has a
broader purpose for what He gives to us. Spiritual gifts, for example, are not
given for our own benefit so much as for the up building of others:
In the ultimate sense, Joseph does illustrate the truth that
suffering comes before glory and, indeed, even prepares us for glory. The
Christian life will be marked by suffering, as countless passages of Scripture
inform us but we know that we will enter into many of the joys of our salvation
and the glory which is our Lord’s at His return. Let us be very careful,
however, that we do not view Joseph as a promise that all who are faithful in
suffering will be brought to glory and prosperity in this life.
God raises some up, giving them
power and prosperity, while He humbles others. We have no right to demand that
God treat us just as He did Joseph, for He may choose to deal with us as He did
Moses, who never was allowed to go into the promised land in his earthly life.
There is no guarantee that faithful obedience will always lead to position,
prosperity, and power in this life.
When you rest in the sovereignty of
God faithfulness is more important than success. And doing what God has gifted
you do to is more important than trying to be like someone else. God did not
raise up a preacher nor a priest, but an administrator to deliver His people
from extinction. Let us beware of categorizing occupations in such a way as to
make some more spiritual than others. One’s job is a matter of both gift and
calling, not of spirituality.
Some time ago, a few ladies met in
a certain city to study the Scriptures. While reading “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier
of silver. (Malachi 3:3) One lady proposed to visit a silversmith and report to
them on what he said about the subject.
She went and asked the silversmith
to tell her about the process of refining silver. After he had fully described
it to her, she asked, "But Sir, do you sit while the work of refining is
going on?" "Oh, yes madam," replied the silversmith; "I
must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary
for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be
injured."
She thought, God sees it needful to
put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of
purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us.
Our trials do not come at random, and He will not let us be tested beyond what
we can endure. Before she left, the lady asked one final question, "When
do you know the process is complete?"
"Why that is quite
simple," replied the silversmith. "When I can see my own image in the
silver, the refining process is finished."
While God is carrying out his plan and using you and me in
the process there is something else he is doing for our blessing-. refining us
in our disappointments that we might reflect the image of Christ. So may it be.
Pastor Dale
