Handling Guilt Genesis 42

 Sermon Nuggets Mon Dec 10 Handling Guilt

Gen 42:1-5  When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” ² He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”

³ Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. ⁴ But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. ⁵ So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.

Handling Guilt

            Have you ever gone to a twenty year reunion in school or a twenty five year? There are some people who you don’t recognize, or whose names you don’t remember. Joseph is about to have a surprise 20 year reunion with his family.

The problem that caused the separation for this length of time was that fact that his brothers took him and put him in a well only to be sold to slave traders. They had committed sin against Joseph, against Jacob and against God. As we had looked before the plan was to tear up his multicolored coat and take blood from an animal and lie to dad that they found it this way and believe a lion must have attacked and killed him and eaten him.

This action was prompted by jealousy. He and Benjamin were their half brothers. Rachel had died and so they were all more loved by their father, Jacob. Favoritism does cause jealous when each of us desires either preferred or at least equal treatment. Yet most kids will look at other siblings and often feel as if they are in competition for love or special treatment.

Now they also got some money for the sale of Joseph. That was probably quickly gone divided 10 days.

But what remained for those 20 days was the cover up of sin, lying, and pretense.

I heard recently of an owner of the company telling his staff that it was always better to tell the trust, even if you think you are going to get in more trouble, because sooner or later truth will come out. It is always better to be honest for sooner or later dishonesty will be revealed.

It is easier to remember the truth than it is to remember lies and the details that surround them. After awhile you forget what you say to other people.

20 years of covering up their sin allowed for them to often think about it and continue the cover up and lies as Jacob continued to mourn the loss of his beloved son. Every time the name of Joseph was raise their conscious would prick them of their sin. 

You will remember from last week that just as God had told Joseph there was 7 years of bounty and now they face 7 years of famine. As I looked at the 42^nd chapter of Genesis and the story of Joseph’s brothers coming to Egypt to seek food, I noticed some interesting parallels with the truths God has for us as believers in typological form; Joseph is serving as the savior of the Jewish nation, represented in his family. The story of redemption and salvation finds itself woven throughout many of the Old Testament stories.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Dec 11 

Gen 42:6-13 ⁶ Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. ⁷ As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked.

“From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”

⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ⁹ Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

¹⁰ “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food. ¹¹ We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

¹² “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

¹³ But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

Recognizing Need.

The word began to spread among some of the other nations and people that food and grain was available in Egypt for a price. Jacob with his 11 sons and their families thought it best, rather than sit back and do nothing, go there and buy some grain so they could live. He did not allow Benjamin, the youngest, to leave because of what had happened to Joseph. They had a need. They couldn’t be self reliant.

There are circumstances and situations in our lives that often bring us to recognize our needs. It is easy to avoid God when we feel self-sufficient. It is easy to feel that you have no need of God's touch when everything is running smoothly. These men were comfortable in their denial and their deceptions. As long as the status quo remained they would never change. So God provokes a crisis. This crisis would either harden them further or wake them up.

When they got to Egypt they needed to present their request to none other than Joseph. Who would have thought he was now the second in command in the nation? Who would have thought these men who sold him into slavery would now be bowing down before their brother in honor and respect. Yet just like God revealed over 20 years ago this is exactly what happened. They saw him dressed before in a multi colored robe, now he was finely dressed in robes of rulership, speaking a different language, not letting on he recognized them nor understood their vocabulary did everything he could to find out all about his father and Benjamin his full brother.

           

Their need was to bring them to their knees in realization they could do nothing about it. When Jesus came to the world he taught it is the sick that need a doctor, not those who are well. This was an important lesson that when you think you don’t have any need for a doctor there is no reason to go and get help. When you realize you are sick and need help you go and seek the help you need. There are lots of needs in our lives and many people will never admit it. It isn’t until we face our needs that we learn lessons of  humbleness. We are needy people, mostly in need of God.

            The need of hunger brought these brothers to the feet of Joseph. I think again the type is the forerunner of the father of the savior of the people just like Joseph was the savior of the people in a physical way and preserving the nation. For a time the people went Egypt and there was the prophecy of Jesus needing to go to Egypt when Herod’s forces went around killing the babies. God provided a way of escape.

           

What needs do you come with this morning? For some it may be physical, for others emotional. For some the need might be in relationships, or some spiritual need, a beguiling sin or out of fellowship with the Lord, or need for salvation. We humble ourselves before God and surrender our wills to him. We must recognize our need for God’s help and lay ourselves before him and ask for his filling.

Are you going through tough times? Is life a struggle right now? Could it be that God is trying to get your attention? Is it possible that God is trying to move you from a profession of faith to a possession of faith? We come each week as needy people.

           

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Dec 12 

Gen 42: ¹⁴ Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies! ¹⁵ And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives,you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. ¹⁶ Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” ¹⁷ And he put them all in custody for three days.

¹⁸ On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God: ¹⁹ If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households. ²⁰ But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

²¹ They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.”

²² Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” ²³ They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.

²⁴ He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.

 Recognizing Sin

            Joseph’s brothers had more of a need than just for food. Joseph put them into a place where they could do some thinking and confronting with their own consciences. Joseph proposes a test. They were accused of being spies and brought into prison for 3 days. One of the men is to be selected to go home and return with Benjamin before the others will be set free! So, Joseph throws them all in prison for three days. What is going on?

I found Alistair Begg writings on Joseph is helpful. “Do you recall what three things had annoyed the brothers about Joseph? There were his special coat and his dream, but he had also brought a bad report about the men to their father. In other words, the brothers had seen Joseph as Jacob's spy, sent to get information and then run back to Daddy with it. . .

            So Joseph decided to accuse his brothers of the very thing they had held against him. Now the brothers were protesting their innocence, and Joseph responded with harsh words and imprisonment and enslaved in Egypt. He kept them in prison as long as he was in the pit for 3 days. Jesus was kept in the tomb for three days and Jonah in the belly of a whale for 3 days. This all relates to the way God designs stories to ultimately point to the greatest story of salvation of them all.

I wonder if the main reason for doing this is in the hope that his brothers will wake up to their actions. He is hoping this treatment will make them "come clean."

We do not understand the affect our sin has on God and destroys others unless we experience some consequences ourselves. You can't treat a disease until you know what disease you are dealing with. A person can't be saved until he realizes he is lost. The brothers needed to see, to feel, to understand their own wickedness

Joseph gave his testimony as one who also feared God. He said he would let them go if one would stay as hostage and they come back with their youngest brother. Joseph wanted to see his family and his full brother whom he loved and hadn’t seen.

But this also triggered the sin in their lives that they tried to forget and cover up. God used this to bring to their minds the consequences of what they did which was wrong because of their jealousy and hard feelings.

God will bring us into situations where our thoughts also ask, what have I done to deserve this? Most tragedies bring us to that point because we want to somehow make sense out of tragedies. We want to have purpose of suffering and if we can find out why we can correct the situation or set up to judge God who we might think is unfair.

Well, you know that there may not have been anything we have done to deserve this. Job did nothing wrong to deserve his treatment, Jesus did nothing wrong to deserve his crucifixion and mocking. The man born blind was not caused by a sin of he or his parents and Jesus told his disciples so, it is that the glory of God might be seen.

But as a chaplain I have also discovered that this is an opportunity to look at our lives and do some re evaluation. A time set apart sometimes forced and some times planned is a way to do some spiritual housecleaning. It is a time to be confronted with sin and giving an opportunity to confess it and ask God for forgives and seek his pardon and our freedom from the bondage Satan lays upon us. If we say we do not sin we are a liar and Gods’ truth is not in us. He is saying this in John to Christians not to none Christians. Yes, we have been forgiven when we have accepted Jesus as our savior, but we need to turn from sinful ways and make things right which is one of the tasks of spiritually coming at communion.

Joseph wanted to see if the brothers were willing to desert one of their own again. Will they abandon Simeon as they did Joseph? The brothers had an interesting conversation in front of Joseph not realizing he could understand them. They thought it was a private conversation they didn't know that the Egyptian leader who sat before them knew Hebrew and knew very well the situation they were talking about.

They had sinned. The Bible says "...all of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Some are in a state of denial, in which we think that our sins will never be exposed. We think we can get away with it.

I was reminded this is the 10^th anniversary of when Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped and never heard from again. How unbelievably frustrating that must be for the family and for friends and law enforcement agencies that can’t solve that case. But whoever it was cannot think time will erase this sin from the mind of God. Even if he is never caught he will have to give an account to God. Time does not erase sin.

We can even pretend among good Christian folks when God knows our heart may be lying to family and friends all around us. I went to a seminar this past Friday of a Christian counselor and seminary graduate who lived 11 years as a sex addict having both prostitutes as well as affairs with at least 10 women he counseled before he was caught. Here was an member of the CIA who was a master at cover up when he sold state secrets to Russia. And if he never got caught he could  never run from the Lord.

We should recognize from this account that people will frequently say they are sorry for what they have done, but only when they are faced with the consequences of their sin. The consequences, not the sin, cause the tears to flow. Joseph's brothers were facing, they believed, a tough Egyptian taskmaster who didn't believe their story. To convince them of his seriousness he threw them in prison for three days--a softening process­ and then demanded that they bring their youngest brother before him to prove their words. Was this the reason they suddenly began to express their remorse for how they had treated Joseph 20 years earlier? Had the consequences finally caught up with them? If so, then theirs was not true repentance.

Maybe some of you are reminded of how you had hurt others, taken advantage of family members, lied to bosses, or spouses. Slowly sin eats away at our joy and our heart. Looking squarely at our sin is painful, embarrassing, and at times, makes us sick. But without recognition of sin there can be no forgiveness. Without seeing our need, we will never need a Savior.

           

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Dec 13 Mercy

Gen 42:²⁴ He turned away from them and began to weep, but then turned back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.

²⁵ Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man’s silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. After this was done for them, ²⁶ they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

²⁷ At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. ²⁸ “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”

Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

Recognizing Mercy

Joseph has no interest in taking revenge on his brothers for their past misdeeds. He longs instead, for evidence of change in their lives. He was hoping for repentance and restoration, not revenge. As he overheard their recriminations about their treatment of him, he realizes that some of them, at least, are sorry for what they did to him. This brings a gush of tears to his eyes.

        

We see in this story the mercy that also points to the story of salvation and the mercy of the savior toward sinners all. There was no reason why Joseph needed to release his brothers from jail. They had made it clear they didn’t want anything to do with him and no longer wanted to be his family.

At this point it seems there is no need for further examination of the brothers' reason for coming to Egypt. Joseph has overheard their conversation. We could well ask, therefore, why not skip ahead to Genesis 45 and read about their joyful reunion, when Joseph at last reveals his true identity to his brothers? Why does Joseph insist on a further examination of their motives?

 There is a very good reason for it, as we will see. Repentance is more than mere words. It is changing our thinking, our way of life. It shows in results in keeping with change.  Joseph determines to test his brothers: to see if they had indeed had a change of heart for their past actions.

Joseph sends his brothers away from his presence except Simon who is held hostage. How would they respond when they opened their grain sacks and found their money inside? What story would they tell their father this time? That is what Joseph intended to discover when he posed this dilemma for his brothers. Had they changed their minds?

While on their journey one opened his sack of grain and found the money. Joseph hid it there on purpose He doesn’t need it and doesn’t want it. It is a gift of grace to give them food and more. When they got home to Jacob their father they told him the whole story and as they opened up their bags of grain to their surprise found all their money returned. They couldn’t buy the grain since it was a gift. They didn’t know it was a gift at this point. They thought they would just get into more trouble and be accused for stealing the grain.

Do you think that when you accept the gift from God that you will be more in a prison than you are now?  Many see Jesus as their enemy instead of their friend.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Dec 14 Faith

Gen 42: 27 At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack. 28 “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”

Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

29 When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, 30 “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’

33 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’”

35 As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. 36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”

37 Then Reuben said to his father, “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.”

38 But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”

The need for Faith

It is a curious thing to live by faith. The fact of the matter is faith is trusting God when the future is uncertain, or even a risk. It is not doing so much what we want as it is putting ourselves at his disposal and regardless of the outcome believe that God will be in charge and work things out for good or glory.

Challenges most certainly come into our lives. There are things we think we can control and other things over which we know we have very little control. Trust is not easy. It is sometimes believing when we are expected to receive the worst. I think of the Hebrews who refused to bow down to the idol of Nebuchadnezzar. They were willing to die. But trust God whether he was going to deliver them or not.  I think of Daniel who continued is commitment to prayer even if it meant the Lion’s den.

But where does faith come in for those who are not standing strong on the Lord. There is no indication that these brothers were trusting God as much as they were hoping against hope that Joseph’s demands of having Benjamin come would result in good things. They needed to trust Joseph. They felt they had no alternative. Jacob was unwilling to let his younger and now favorite son go.

The sons of Jacob have still covered up their sin from their father. They haven’t completely confessed, but mercy is granted to them anyway out of love.  God himself is acting sovereignty in their lives to accomplish His will. That is what set Joseph free. It wasn't his brothers acting upon him--they were only the secondary cause. It was God who was working in his life to accomplish constructive, redemptive, purifying things, to prepare for his own people, and to do something in his own life. That principle is found throughout the Scriptures.
           

Joseph could have held on to his bitterness, but chose to make it an act of mercy. Robert Moeller says that letting go of past hurts can be difficult: "After the Civil War, a woman entertained the distinguished Robert E. Lee in her home. She pointed out a once-beautiful oak tree that had been burned and disfigured by invading armies. "`What should I do?' she asked with bitterness in her voice. "`Cut it down and forget it,' the general replied. "That same advice applies to letting go of past pain. Don't allow yourself to live in the past. Surrender your painful memories and experiences, and with a decisive act of your will, get on with your life."
 

            Because Joseph understood this principle, he was able to act in love toward those who had wronged him.

As a pastor I have learned not believe everything people tell me. When I first entered the ministry I believed when people said to me, "I've quit drinking," or, "I've really changed," I believed them. But I have learned through the years to wait and see have they indeed changed; to see if they are truly expressing the desires of their hearts when they say they want to change. I have seen too many families suffer misery because of sinful behavior, and listened to their tearful promises that things would change in the future, only to see the cycle repeated again and again. Joseph likewise remained to be convinced of his brothers' true repentance. That is why he acted as he did toward them. Time would tell the tale.

We know how this ends, the family is together as they go to Egypt. They had to put their faith that Joseph would do what is right. They were tested.  God was teaching them a lesson to trust even when it might not turn out well for them. That step of faith became for them the results of seeing the grace and goodness of God.

Where might your struggle of faith be this day? How hard is it to make a decision to trust when you are given that opportunity? Do you believe God will work it out for your good ultimately and for his glory always? It may not be the way we want it, but it results in seeing Him do the work which in the end is better.

Pastor Dale

Handling Disappointments Genesis 41:1-40

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 

Handling Injustice Genesis 40

Sermon Nuggets Mon Nov 26 Injustice

Verses- Gen 40

Handling Injustice                                         

            If you ever have trouble with table conversation, start talking about dreams. Every one has dreams. I don’t mean goals and vision and hopes, but dreams while you are sleeping. Sometimes they are funny, or scary, or go back to childhood, or sometimes people even solve problems in their dreams. I have a recurring nightmare that it’s time to preach and I can’t find my Bible and sermon notes.

Many people try to interpret dreams. Some seek some prophetic meaning like in the Bible stories. There have been other examples of God speaking to people in their dreams like Abimelek warned not to take Sarah to bed or God’s judgment would fall on him and his country. He spoke to Jacob a couple of times in a dream, like the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. God told Jacob in another dream how to mate the goats and sheep to increase his flocks.

Of course, I am so glad that we live at a time we don’t have to wonder what God is telling us in dreams or interpretations. We have the Bible and the Holy Spirit who speaks to us. I definitely gave up thinking God speaks to me in dreams. I had a dream once of a famine coming and severe draught and it was the rainiest spring we ever had. I dreamed one girl I knew in College who worked with the drug culture to witness to them at MSU was in danger and I awoke and prayed for her and when I saw her I asked her what happened. Nothing she said she was at home sleeping and hadn’t had any problems like that for some times. I also dreamed about giving someone some money. I did so and was told it was not needed and some time afterward there was no particular need for it, but thanks anyway. So I’ve closed the door on thinking God speaks to me in my dreams. I’d much prefer the Bible and the times with the Holy Spirit lays something on my heart.

The story today has to do with two prisoners who told Joseph their dreams and God gave Joseph the gift of interpretation. They both had a bad day. They made the Pharaoh mad and ended up in a dungeon with Joseph.

           

I saw on the email some examples of having a bad day. Have you ever felt like it was a really bad day? You know it’s a bad day when you turn on the morning news and they’re displaying emergency routes out of your city. You know it’s a bad day when the bird singing outside your bedroom window is a buzzard. You know it’s a bad day when your horn goes off accidentally and gets stuck when you’re following a group of Hells Angels on the expressway.

            Well Joseph had many bad days and even bad years. He experienced many injustices. But  the way he acts and witnesses of the Lord serve as tremendous example to me in a study on how to handle injustices.

            We will look this week on ways you can handle them.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues Nov 27 Bitter

Genesis 40:1-9 Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. ² Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, ³ and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. ⁴ The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.

After they had been in custody for some time, ⁵ each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

⁶ When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?”

⁸ “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Injustice can make you Bitter              

           

Joseph had every reason to be bitter. There were people who abused him. There may be people in your life who abuse you. That’s certainly a major cause of bitterness.

How do you think Joseph felt when he obeyed his father went to his brothers and the jealousy and hatred were so strong they wanted to kill him? They bound him and threw him into a pit and sold him to some Ishmaelites when they came traveling by.

Abuse was done directly to Joseph out of a spiteful heart by Potiphar’s wife who was embarrassed and angry that he would not go to bed with her. Her vengeful spirit was had him arrested and put in stocks and in a dungeon. .

People abuse others when they intentional try to hurt someone or do evil to them Abuse is always unjust treatment.  I know there are various degrees and circumstances of abuse I took a class at MSU on child abuse as a social problem in our society. I was made aware of some of the worse examples of inhumanity on the most vulnerable of people, children. The class was on social problems but we had an invited professor of social services for the state of Minnesota and he used this class as a soap box to make public aware of the magnitude of physical emotional, verbal and sexual abuse of kids.

I grew up in a Christian home were such treatment was never thought of. O yeah, I thought I was abused when I had gotten a spanking with a belt by my parents for misbehavior, but never burned, cut, hung upside down, had bone broken or had head put into a toilet or scalding water poured over my body.

Some of you know what abuse is like? Some of you know what it is like to live in a home where someone gets drunk and angry and begins to beat everyone. Some of you have been sexually abused and have felt ashamed, guilty and dirty. Some as children still carry secrets that you think it has some way been your fault and it wasn’t. People make choices to abuse other people just like Josephs brothers and Potiphers wife. They had the intent to destroy and hurt Joseph. 

            Now that is not all there is to injustice. Some may never be abused but you can say they’ve been misused. I think this is when people take advantage of you. These are people who generally are manipulators. They claim to be a friend or helper but use information to turn on you or get your money or a sale or gossip about you or spread lies about you. There are bosses that misuse employees, using them beyond what their job calls for. We see examples when someone will claim to repair a car and change parts that don’t need changing, or do work on house repair and persuade people they need certain treatment that just isn’t so.

            But as far as this passage goes there is an illustration of how people use other people. In this story the two prisoners, the butler and the baker used Joseph’s gift. Joseph had the ability to interpret dreams, remember a couple of weeks ago when he told his family some dreams. Joseph had this gift and these two men used it for their benefit.
           

Unfortunately people often use other people. They will use your gifts, talents, good looks and ideas and then get rid of you. Have you ever felt used, like someone told you a lie in order to use you? Even after helping the butler Joseph was forgotten and left in prison for a long time.

           

            One can become bitter. People might feel justified to be bitter. Some people think they have a right to never forgive another and will hold angry and hateful spirit for years. Such people never get over it because they do not want to get over it.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds Nov 28 Barren

Gen 40 ⁹ So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, ¹⁰ and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. ¹¹ Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

¹² “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. ¹³ Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. ¹⁴ But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. ¹⁵ For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

           

Injustice can make you Barren

Many people treat life as if there is nothing that can be done to change their circumstances and so they withdraw into depression, discouragement and a numb and barren existence. I see this in the faces of many prisoners in Rush City. Instead of making something different of their situation, they have blank faces.

To be sure I do not know each story. Many, in order to survive, do not want to get involved with anyone lest they be hurt more. Some realize the rule of the Armed Forces. Don’t volunteer for anything.

I think I see this in some people who may not have experienced injustice, but disappointment or changes in life. The writer of Ecclesiastes might sum it up by saying “Vanity of Vanity, all is vanity.” There is nothing to enjoy, or do but exist. It can be a depressing book. There are people filled with barrenness for they have given up on hope. They have stopped living.

I know people who have lost loved ones whose grief lasts so long and hard they close up themselves to do anything. They no longer get involved in the outside world. They do not go to activities. Their loneliness makes them a prison hidden from other people. They do not feed their body, mind, soul, or spirit. They stop growing; they stop living.

I have a book written by a hospital chaplain entitled, “Make this illness count.” He tries to help patients face facts that life has changed for them, but there is something to learn from each and every experience. Don’t waste your illness in bitterness or in barrenness. (he uses different words). We have choices to make even though those choices are different than before. We can give up or get up.

Instead of sulking in the cell Joseph used his gifts, skills, and spiritual life to make a difference in prison. His life had some choices to interact with prisoners and with guards. And most importantly he continued in his prayers and faith. God was with him even in the prison. He was given the gift of interpreting dreams and used that gift even when the butler forgot about him. He had administrative and leadership skills that he used so rose to the place of helping those around him. Knowing the butler would be out in three days also gave him hope so he asked to be remembered to the Pharaoh. He wouldn’t have that opportunity if he just minded his own business and refused to get involved with others.

As I face retirement I realize there are many who give up, sit at home, and do nothing. They soon wilt in their depression. But I have choices to make to get involved in growing in my faith and doing service according to my gifts and God’s opportunities. On lady who impressed me while a youth pastor was blind, old, bed ridden. I called on her every so often only to be encouraged as she showed interest in my ministry and prayed for me every day. Her life didn’t change much from day to day, but her mind was active and her spirit full as she could be encouraged in the ministry of youth through prayer and keeping up on their activities from her bed. She made an influence on my life and opened up a new friendship that wouldn’t have happened if she was closed up instead of opened up to a young pastor.

Beware of barrenness when life seems unjust. There are other things before you what wouldn’t be there if you just emotionally and spiritually drop out. Make your situation count for something as Joseph did.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs Nov 29 – Better

Gen 40: ¹⁶ When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread. ¹⁷ In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”

¹⁸ “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your headand hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh.”

²⁰ Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: ²¹ He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand, ²² but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.

Injustice can make you Better

            Joseph had another choice to handle his injustices. So do we. They can make you better. Joseph could have sulked and had a pity party and wallowed in bitterness or barrenness, but he made his circumstances better by using his gifts and abilities in leadership and was a model prisoner. He was willing to help others. He noticed these two men who were thrown into prison because they made the Pharaoh very angry. He listened to the cup bearer’s dream and told him he will be reinstated in 3 days and he was. But when it comes to the baker things are not all that good. He will be hanged and birds will eat his flesh.   

            Why is such a gruesome prediction necessary anyway? If you know what was going to happen to the baker and he was in prison don’t you think it would be better to not tell him?

Joseph’s task as an interpreter was not to create God’s message, nor did he dare to change it. He spoke as God directed. The message of the baker’s dream was one from God, and it was true. I think of that when there are parts of the gospel that I would just as soon not tell. But  the gospel is not our message to men; it is God’s

This prediction of his death also allowed him to prepare for eternity. Would it have been less cruel for Joseph to have lied to the baker about his future? If he had lied, then there would have been no incentive for him to consider his ways and turn in faith to the God from whom this warning had come. Far better to be warned of the “wrath to come” and to prepare for it than to be deceived and face it unprepared. The part of the Gospel is that you too will be like the Baker or the Butler. We are condemned due to our sins. One group will be forgiven and the other group will be destroyed forever. Right now if you have not allowed Jesus to die for your sins by confessing repenting and asking Christ to come into your life then you are bound for hell. God’s word says ‘God sent his son not into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved”, Jn 3:17, but the following verse reads, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.”

The baker did not have a choice in the matter. We too do not have a choice -you will die and so will I. Where will you spend eternity? God’s word is not cruel, but offers for you an alternative to know that you will go to heaven. Will you say yes to Christ?

            How else might injustices make you better? Pastor Rick McKinnis noted that most people think to be happy or to be successful in this world you need to have good circumstances, and good relationships; Circumstances might be defined as car, boat, house, job, money and so forth. Good relationships means having some good friends, wife or husband to share life experiences with, and a normal to good relationships with kids, grandkids, parents and so forth. If things do not work out that way and dreams are not fulfilled then it is adversity. Adversity is when circumstances and relationships do not work out the way dreamed or wanted them to be.

           

            Some people will try to make it better by going out and shopping or buying new things, or playing music, or changing their circumstances to be something else. Some might party to forget or drink or do drugs so they will feel better. Some might read a novel, or go to a movie or work harder to keep busy. Sometimes that works. It is way of taking circumstances and replacing them with different circumstances hoping the other circumstances will change.

           

Trying to face it as a better person is accepting what cannot change and change what can be changed. I can’t do anything about. If I crash the car there is nothing I can do about it but either get it fixed or sell it or leave it they way it is for awhile. So I’ll change the situation by rather than feeling bitter about the accident, I’ll take steps that need to be taken to find different transportation, borrow a car, get a loan to buy another, or walk. It’s a better solution than to do nothing and let the circumstances get you down.

            Some might use injustices to do a personal inventory. It generally doesn’t help to make excuses for others mistakes. It helps to re-evaluation yourself and the situation as objectively as possible and learn from it and maybe make some important changes in one’s life. We might be tempted to blame others for the trouble we're experiencing.

Most certainly that could have been the way Joseph might have coped with his situation. He didn’t do anything wrong it was all his brothers fault, Mrs. Potiphar’s fault, Potiphar’s fault, and the Cupbearers fault that he is where he is.

           

Some will look at their situation and be somewhat correct when they conclude that The co-workers who don't do their jobs right ... the parents who failed to provide us with the love and support we needed ... the doctor who didn't diagnose the problem soon enough ... the crooks in Washington who take all our money and give us corruption and scandal in return ... the weatherman who told us it would be sunny for our picnic. If you look hard enough, you can always find someone partly responsible for the mess you face. But someone who wants to make things better instead of bitter say, I can’t do anything about what others have done, I can only do what I have decisions and ability to do. I can’t change my husband, but I can change me. I can’t change my kids, but I can change me. I can’t change my situation but I can change me within the situation. That is a positive and better step to take.

           

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri Nov 30 Blessed

Gen 40: ²³ The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

 Injustice can make you be Blessed.

First, we should notice that the two dreams, when taken together, tended to strengthen the testimony of Joseph that God was with him and enabled him to interpret dreams. Joseph did not, as is often done, give nebulous and vague predictions. He gave two very specific prophecies to two persons, yet they were exactly opposite in their outcome. If both came true, it would be much harder to attribute Joseph’s accuracy to good luck. It was a means of giving glory to God.

            Had Joseph believed that if he only had the faith he could have been instantly delivered from his troubles, his faith would have been devastated by the fact that his troubles did not go away. If freedom from pain and problems is solely dependent upon my faith, then when pain and problems come my way, there must be something wrong with my faith. Joseph would then have been questioning his own relationship with God, perhaps even the existence of God, at the very time when he should have been ministering to others and giving testimony to his faith. If our faith does not endure the storms of life, what good is it?

            Now part of our problem even with making things better is a matter of perspective. We too often do not see the picture for what it really is. This might be illustrated by something I got in an email this week. I can’t vouch for the exact validity of the statistics, but I think it makes a valid point never-the-less.

            “If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human relations remaining the same, it would look something like the following.  “There would be: 57 Asians; 21 Europeans; 14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south;   8 Africans; 48 would be male; 52 would be female; 30 would be white; 70 would be nonwhite; 30 would be Christian; 70 would be non-Christian. 89 would be heterosexual; 11 would be homosexual 6 would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth and all 6 would be from the U.S.  80 would live in substandard housing; 70 would suffer from malnutrition.

1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth 1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education; 1 would own a computer When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for both acceptance, understanding, and education becomes glaringly apparent.

The following is also something to ponder . . . If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or death, you are more blessed than three billion, yes 3 billion people in the world. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof  overhead, and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

           

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthiest people.

            If you can read this, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.”

            Does that help put some things in perspective?

But we come to the look at things as they are for Joseph. I could think of all those who are less fortunate than him. He could have been beaten instead of been made in charge in leadership position with the prisoners. He could have been in bad favor with the guard than in good favor with the guard. He could have not had any communication with the others instead of esteemed by the others.

           

Pastor Rick McKinnis preached sermon on Adversity and he asks a very important questions. "could the equation of success we're following be wrong?" In other words, does that blueprint we saw earlier really work? My contention is that if it doesn't help you deal with adversity, then something's wrong. You have to be able to handle circumstances and relationships that don't turn out as you'd hoped in order to find success in any venture.

            Adversity tests the foundation upon which your life is built. In the first model, the foundation was the pursuit of good circumstances - job, health, money, home. (Please understand that I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with these desires. It's the way God wired us up.) But those things are fickle. They're unreliable, sometimes unattainable.      

            God is the opposite of all of those qualities. Faithful, reliable, available. And a life that has the pursuit of Him at the foundation is much better equipped to withstand the adversities of life. That's exactly what Jesus meant when he told the parable of the wise man and the foolish man. One had circumstances that were self serving. The other had a foundation for his life that was built on the Lord or the Rock. One did not stand when circumstances were difficult the other did. One crashed the other stood even though both went through the storms. Jesus was speaking of something more than house building he was talking about life building.

            Joseph story is also more about life building for even in prison in the worse of circumstances there was a different formula for handing injustices. It was the route of blessedness by the only true source of all blessing. It was in the relationship and foundation of his relationship with God that allowed him to make it., success is not ultimately about getting your circumstances right or relationships right, as important as those things are. It's about God. It's about pursuing him, first. And that's why Joseph, in spite of all the adversity that had come his way, eventually received the success that God had promised him

            Joseph didn't overcome the tremendous adversity in his life by denying his disappointment; he didn't blame others; and he didn't try harder. He overcame adversity and became a success because he built his life according to an equation that made the pursuit of God the most important element of it.

He was ready for the tests when they came. And I guess that's the most important lesson we need to learn in order to pass the test of adversity.

Realize that you don't respond to it, you prepare for it. Ask yourself, "on which equation is my life based?" What am I pursuing?  Finally, ask yourself, "what changes do I need to make in order to pursue Christ first?"

Pastor Dale