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Redemption Ministries Intl.
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A Teaching on trusting the Lord, and knowing he has a plan for our lives.
Destiny! Where I'm Going Is Not Where I Am,
But Where I AM Is Taking Me To Where I Am Going.
Sometimes in life we do not understand all the events that take place. Some events seem to be very painful. We may feel forsaken or rejected, but if we will seek the face of the Father, he will show us his plan in the midst of our struggles. If we will trust him, he will turn our mourning into dancing, and he will help us to put off our sackcloth and put on a garment of praise, for the mighty things he will do in our lives.
I would like to look at the life of Joseph, who would not have chosen the circumstances he found himself in, if he had had a choice. But God in his infinite wisdom had a plan of redemption that would touch many lives through his chosen vessel. For this plan to be fulfilled, God had to take him out of his familiar surrounding, and allow him to walk in paths that were painful, fearful, and sorrowful, and yet these led to promotion of the Lord, placing him into a position of national leadership, and the saving of many lives. Because Joseph chose to honor the Lord in his situation, and to embrace the walk the Lord had ordained for him history was changed for all eternity. Let's look at this vessel of the Lord, and see what the Lord would speak to our hearts.
The Story Of Joseph
Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel in Genesis 30:22-24 And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach: 24. And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son.The birth of Joseph was not accident. His conception was very specific as we see that God himself opened Rachel's womb, that he might come forth. God had a plan, and a purpose.
Joseph's Father, Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel (Genesis 32:24-28), treated Joseph with favor more than all his brothers. Genesis 37:3-4 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. Because of the father's favor, Joseph's brothers hated him. But God began to show Joseph in a dream the specific purposes as to why he had been created.
God would eventually raise Joseph up in leadership above all of his brothers, and they envied him because of it. But God had a plan and purpose! Genesis 37:5-11 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7. For, Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11. And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
Godly Influence
Joseph was taken to a foreign land, against his will, and yet God had a plan and purpose. Joseph found himself in the house of Potiphar as a slave. Joseph submitted to his lot in life, and God blessed him in the process. Genesis 39:1-4 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. Joseph found grace and served Potiphar. Joseph had the heart of a servant. He did not complain, blame or make excuses for what had happened to him, instead he embraced it, and made the best of the situation. Attitude is a very powerful force in life, and it will determine our level of success with each experience we encounter.
Business Fidelity
Even though Joseph would not have chosen to be carried away captive to Egypt, the Lord was with him, and Joseph prospered. God's grace covered Josephs' situation, and his second promotion came, as he was put into the position of overseer of Potiphar house, seeing to all Potiphars' affairs. Genesis 39:5-6And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. As Joseph had decided to be a faithful servant, in the situation the Lord had allowed him to be put into, God made Joseph look good by blessing the house of Potiphar under Josephs' care. Because of this Joseph was well favored. When we walk in submission to the will of God, he makes us, and himself look good and favor begins to flow into our lives.
Resistance Of Temptation
The lust of the flesh is probably the most destructive force to destroy the ministry, and destiny of God's people. Joseph was a man of integrity. In the following scripture it seems as if Potiphars' wife was stalking Joseph, trying to catch him in an isolated moment, and wrap him in the web of sexual immorality. Genesis 39:7-18And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10. And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14. That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15. And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. 16. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: 18. And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. When Joseph realized he was trapped, he did the only thing he could do, he fled. We are exhorted to do the same in 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. We live in a very sexually perverted society, and we must guard against allowing ourselves the damaging pleasure of illicit sexual behavior. It not only ruins our personal testimony, it also brings disgrace to the Lord, and causes others to feel they have the right to justify their sin, if they see believers fall. If one happens to be in ministry, and falls sexually, it is very possible, they may never again be restored to the level of ministry, God had intended to take them. Not that his forgiveness is too short, but because people do not forget. Joseph was faithful, he did not allow himself to fall to the whims of an unfaithful woman. His third promotion was on about to take place.
Divine Favor
Genesis 39:19-23 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21. But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23.the keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper. Joseph, because of being falsely accused found himself in prison. He could have complained, but instead he took on his new 'prison ministry' with a humble attitude, moving in integrity, and uprightness,and God again gave him great favor.
Divine Appointments
God brings people into our lives by divine appointment to help accomplish his purposes. This was the case with Joseph. While in prison Joseph ministers to the kings' butler and baker, who had been thrown into prison because they displeased the king. The butler and baker, each had dreams, and Joseph was able to interpret their dreams. When the interpretations came true, Joseph asked that the butler remember him and his unjust plight in the prison. The butler once released from prison completely forgot about Joseph's request. Though man had forgotten about Joseph, God had not. The timing of Joseph's release from prison had not yet come, but God had a plan. Genesis 40:1-23 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. 5. And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 7. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? 8. And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10. And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11. And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15. For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. 16. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head: 17. And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18. And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee. 20. And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 22. But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. Joseph may have wrestled with discouragement and loneliness, but God was still at work behind the scenes. Even when men forget about us, God does not, and he will still bring to pass his plan for our lives, if we will just continue to trust him.
Honoring God
Joseph spent another two years in prison before the butler remembered him. God had given Pharaoh a dream that puzzled him, and he needed an interpreter. It was only then that the butler remembered to tell Pharaoh about Joseph. Genesis 41:9, 14-16 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:........... 14. Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. When Pharaoh called for Joseph, it was a quick work to remove him from prison. In the time it took to bathe, shave, and change clothes, he had gone from the prison to the palace. Pharaoh had heard of Joseph and his reputation, to interpret dreams, but when they met, Joseph honored God in his humility and told Pharaoh that God would give him the interpretation of the dream. I was Josephs' humility that was going to bring him to his next level of promotion.
Divine Revelation
God had given Joseph the ability to interpret prophetic dreams by the Spirit of God. This helped equip him to reach his final destiny. Genesis 41: 17- 43And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: 18. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: 19. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: 20. And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: 21. And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22. And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: 23. And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24. And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me. 25. And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 27. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. 29. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30. And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31. And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. 37. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Divine Deliverance
As God gave divine revelation to Joseph, Pharaoh saw that the Spirit of God was operating through him. As a result Joseph stepped into his fourth promotion to save the nations of the earth from the famine that was coming. Joseph had gone from the pit, to Potiphar, to the prison, to the palace, and thus he was ruling over nations. When God gave him his first dream of destiny, his brothers rejected him, then Potiphars' wife tried to seduce him, the prisoners forgot about him, but God brought him out of all of it and made him second in command in all the land of Egypt. Divine revelation came to Joseph concerning Pharaohs' dream, but also the divine revelation came to Joseph, as to why the this trouble had fallen upon him. It was only after many years that he understood that God had been working every detail together, not only for his own good, but also for the good of his family, Egypt, and all nations that would come to Egypt for food during the famine.
I'm sure Josephs' brothers must have suffered in their guilt for how they treated Joseph, and how they lied to their father as to what truly happened to him (Genesis 37:31-35), but now the full picture has come into play and forgiveness flowed from his heart to his brothers. Genesis 45:3-8And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. 4. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. God restored the relationship with Josephs' brothers, and now he would restore the relationship with Josephs' father, Israel in Genesis 45:29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. The final picture is seen in Genesis 50:19-22 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. 22. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. God had it all planned out from the beginning. He have a plan of preservation, and restoration. He chose an ordinary man who loved God, and who had a humble servant's heart to save nations. If we will allow the Lord, he will do so with us. Can we trust him enough to work out all the details of our lives in a way that will bring him glory? Think about it.
Points Comparing The Life Of Joseph,
With The Life Of Jesus, And The Christian Church
1. -Joseph was conceived in answer to prayer, and by a divine act of God
-Jesus was conceived in fulfillment of prophecy, and by a divine act of God
-The Christian is supernaturally born again through the Spirit of God.
2. -Joseph was favored by his father.
-Jesus was favored by the Heavenly Father.
-Christians are favored by our Heavenly Father.
3. -Joseph had a vision and plan from God that could save the nations.
-Jesus came with the ultimate vision and plan that could save all nations.
-Christians must learn to see the plan of God operating in the earth, and find their place to help bring it to pass.
4. -Joseph was sent out by the father to find his brothers.
-Jesus was sent out to find the lost sheep of Israel.
-Christians are sent out into all the world to bring the lost to Christ.
5. -Joseph received direction for his mission as he went forth.
-Jesus was led by the direction of the Father as he fulfilled his mission on earth.
-Christians are to be led by the word of God and the Holy Spirit to fulfill the great commission in the earth.
6. -Josephs' envious brothers conspired against him, and thought to kill him.
-Jesus was reject by many of the religious leaders of whom he was sent to minister to. They conspired and eventually were used to bring forth the death of Jesus.
-Christians have been rejected and persecuted by the world and religious system for our faith and calling in him.
7. -Joseph exhibited humility, and a servants heart.
-Jesus exhibited humility, and a servants heart.
-The Church is to exhibit humility and a servants heart.
8. -Joseph was taken to a foreign land, and taken captive.
-Jesus came to earth from heaven, was eventually taken captive, but would eventually break all the chains of captivity.
-The Church, delivered from captivity, is to go to all the world and set the captives free.
9. -Joseph became the overseer over all Potiphars' house, and caused it to prosper.
-Jesus was the overseer of his Fathers' house and drove out the money changer,
and caused the kingdom to expand, as he taught the people the ways of the Lord.
-Christians are to do greater works than Jesus did, as we guard and propagate the faith throughout all the world.
10. -Joseph refused to give into the lust of the flesh with Potiphars' wife.
-Jesus overcame the lusts of the devil in the wilderness.
-Christians are to resist the devil and submit themselves unto God, resisting the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. We are to be a people of integrity.
11. -Joseph was sent to the prison, because of someone else's sin. Yet he ministered to the prisoners.
-Jesus came to set the captives free, and break the bondages of sin.
-Christians have been set free, and are to show others how to be set free from sin.
12. -Joseph probably felt forsaken in the prison, when the butler forgot about him.
-Jesus cried out ‘My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me.
-Christians have the promise from Jesus that he will never leave or forsake us.
13. -Joseph was delivered from the dungeon, and brought before the King
-Jesus was delivered from the grave, and seated at the right hand of the Father.
-Christians are delivered from the penalty of sin and death, and we will reign with Jesus, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
14. -Joseph forgave his brothers for their sin against him.
-Jesus forgave all mankind for their sins against him.
-Christians are to forgive all those who offend them.
15. -Joseph was given the ability to see and understand prophetic dreams.
-Jesus' life was the fulfillment of prophetic word.
-Christians must learn to see the circumstances of our lives as part of the complete work of God, realizing that he is working all things together for our good. In the end, we will see will see the ultimate fulfillment of all prophecy and revelation, as recorded in scripture, and only then will we understand fully our role in the plan of God.
Twelve Steps To Success
1. Recognize you have been created, called, and appointed by God for his specific purposes.
2. Know that you are favored by your Father in heaven.
3. Realize that not all those around you will understand what the Lord is doing in your life. But if your sole desire is to honor God, he will bring all things to pass according to his perfect will for your life.
4. Humility, and a servants' heart bring promotion from the Lord.
5. Be ready to shift out of your comfort zone, when the Lord begins to move in your life. Realize that relocation may be a part of the plan, and don't be afraid to step out into the unknown.
6. Know that God will give you grace for whatever he has called you to.
7. A proper attitude and mindset based on biblical principles will get you through the hard times. Trust in God and his word will help you to hold to the vision God has given you.
8. Faithfulness is required to walk into the fullness of God's plan for our lives.
Be faithful in the little things, and God will make you ruler over much.
9. Recognize that the ways of the flesh and the ways of the spirit war against one another. Therefore, we must make no provision for the flesh. We must live holy lives before the Lord. Walking in the Spirit, will keep us from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh.
10. Remember divine favor comes from the Lord. If our hearts and lives are right before him, he will be faithful to us, as we continue to trust him regardless of our circumstances.
11. Honor God in all things. When others praise us for our accomplishments, we need to transfer that honor to our heavenly father. This will keep us humble, and give glory and honor to him as well. As men see our good works, our Father in heaven will be glorified.
12. Receive the revelation that you are precious in the eyes of the Lord. He is watching over you. You are not alone. Keep your eyes on him. Let the word of God dwell in you richly. Lean not to your own understanding, but commit your ways unto the Lord, and he shall bring all things to pass concerning you. He will complete the work he has started in your life.
I hope this lesson has been a blessing and an encouragement to you to trust the Lord in all things. Keep believing. He is on your side!!
This message is copy written (2008) by Linda Conrey. No part of this teaching may be used without prior written consent.
All scripture is taken from the King James Bible.
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