I'd like you to take
your Bibles this morning
00:00:32.69\00:00:34.50
and open to Genesis 50.
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And we're going to
read the scripture reading
00:00:46.91\00:00:48.24
for this morning.
00:00:48.28\00:00:49.61
The Word of the Lord
00:01:01.02\00:01:04.83
"Joseph said to them..."
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Verse 19 and 20.
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"Joseph said to them,
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do not be afraid,"
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for I am...
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"For am I in the place of God?"
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But as for you, you
meant evil against me,
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but God meant it for good.
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In order to bring it
about as it is this day,
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to save many people alive."
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Let us pray.
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Our loving Father in heaven,
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this morning we open our hearts
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to the wooing of
Your Holy Spirit...
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For in the journey
that each one of us
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is taking right now if
it were not for Your grace,
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our stories
would be catastrophic.
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And so, Lord, we
pause this morning
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at the fountain of
grace to drink afresh again
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as we peer into the life
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of one who is so much like us
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yet in many
ways quite different.
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And we pray for You
to speak to our hearts
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that the purpose of
Jesus may be revealed,
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that Your love may be revealed.
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And that You may be
exalted that we might find
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as it were courage to go
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through the trials and
difficulties of this life
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that will land us
in that place of grace.
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In Jesus' name, amen.
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Our greatest trial
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is the introduction
of God's greatest dream.
00:03:04.31\00:03:10.22
Our greatest trial is
often the introduction
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of God's greatest dream.
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Said another way,
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our greatest
trial will prepare us
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for God's greatest dream.
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Said yet still another way,
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the brightest
morning only rises on those
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that endure the darkest night.
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The journey to God's
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greatest dream.
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I'm kind of
embarrassed to admit it
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but a number of years ago,
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I bumped into a clean version,
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you got to say that nowadays
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because movies are
quite crude of a story
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that someone kept telling me
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about called
Shawshank Redemption.
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I hope you saw the clean version
00:04:06.91\00:04:10.95
of a young man by
the name of Andy Dufresne
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who had been wrongly accused
and had been placed in jail.
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But he knew he
shouldn't be there.
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And although
incarcerated in an institution
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where very few
people find freedom
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and very few get out.
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Matter of fact statistically
no one had broken out up
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until that particular point.
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But although he had
been incarcerated in body,
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he was free in his mind.
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And as one of the
other inmates said,
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"What crime have you committed?"
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He said, "I'm innocent."
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And the other inmate replied,
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"Everybody in here is innocent."
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That's just how it is.
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But the sun would rise
and set on Andy Dufresne
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this young mild mannered man
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whose mind was somewhere else
00:05:02.66\00:05:05.03
other than in
the Shawshank prison.
00:05:05.07\00:05:09.54
He envisioned freedom.
00:05:09.57\00:05:11.67
He thought about freedom.
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He planned for freedom.
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And 20 years later by
his diligent planning,
00:05:16.81\00:05:21.32
by his diligent passion
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through the
trials and difficulties
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he went through
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to the many nights
spent in isolation,
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to the many beatings he endured,
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to the hardships
of the prisoners.
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To the beating that brought
him within inches of his life.
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To the shame and embarrassment
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of even those
that he worked for,
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the warden who had
one moment favored him,
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but at the other
moments tormented him.
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He kept his mind free and clear
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until one day
through a 500 yard tunnel
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of filth Andy Dufresne broke
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through on a
thunder filled rainy night.
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As he stood up
and extended his hands
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indicating I am finally free.
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You know many of us don't know
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that the price of freedom
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sometimes require that we go
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through many yards
of filth in our lives.
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And only those who determine
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that even the
stench of our experiences
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will not prevent us from freedom
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will eventually one day
breathe the air of freedom.
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And such was the life of
this young man named Joseph.
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The brightest
morning rose on him
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because he
endured the darkest night.
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And I say again,
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our greatest trial
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is but the introduction
of God's greatest dream.
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Very few stories in the
Bible grab your attention
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such as the story of
Joseph and his 12 brothers.
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And as it were his four mothers
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and his father
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who plopped himself in
the midst of confusion.
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All the components
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of one of the
greatest blockbusters
00:07:04.05\00:07:05.89
are in this saga
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that extends from
Genesis 37 all the way
00:07:08.19\00:07:12.93
to Genesis 50.
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Thirteen
chapters, thirteen years.
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How amazing
that God orchestrated
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every step of
this young man's life.
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Jealousy, deception, hatred,
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envy, contention, lies, anger,
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conspiracy, pain,
reconciliation, redemption,
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deliverance, forgiveness,
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and finally joy
all the components
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of the journey of
the Christian life
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are incased
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in the sermon entitled
from "Pits to Palaces".
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Let me say this morning,
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your life may be in a
pit but if your God's child,
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if you endure you are
on your way to the palace.
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Today you will discover
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that God's dream
for us never dies.
00:08:01.14\00:08:04.85
God's promises
are always reliable.
00:08:04.88\00:08:07.68
And God is orchestrating
00:08:07.72\00:08:10.49
our future in
spite of what comes,
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Paul the Apostle
said it so wonderfully.
00:08:13.12\00:08:16.06
And we know that all
things, how many things, church?
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All things work together
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for good to those who love God,
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to those who are the called
according to God's purpose.
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Not just the good things.
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But the despair, the hatred,
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the contention,
the envy, the lies,
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the anger, the
conspiracy, the jealousy,
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the deception, all
things work together for good.
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You see, for Paul also says,
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if God before us, come on
now, who can be against us.
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And when God chooses a person,
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when God chooses a
young man or a young woman,
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we must never
forget that the highway
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that will shape our
dream is named tribulation.
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The highway on which we travel
to God's greatest dream for us
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is a highway named tribulation.
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If you have your Bibles,
go to Genesis 37 with me.
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And we're going to walk
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through the life
of this young man.
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And we are going
to see ourselves.
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We're going to see
that God's dreams never die,
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and God's promises are reliable.
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And God is in fact
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the orchestrator of our future.
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Genesis 37.
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And I begin in verse 3.
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"Now Israel..."
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who is also Jacob,
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"Loved Joseph more
than all his children,
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because he was a
son of his old age:
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also he made him a tunic
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of many colors."
00:10:02.16\00:10:07.14
I would not want to be
00:10:07.17\00:10:10.24
in the place of Jacob.
00:10:10.27\00:10:14.01
I got to spend little
time developing who Jacob is.
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Jacob is a man
00:10:16.34\00:10:19.71
who not long before
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this had stolen his
brother's birthright.
00:10:21.18\00:10:25.95
And his life
was pursued by Esau.
00:10:25.99\00:10:28.99
And God met him at a night
of wrestling and Jacob said,
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"I refuse to let you
go unless you bless me."
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And God blessed him
00:10:35.33\00:10:37.07
and changed his name
from Jacob to Israel.
00:10:37.10\00:10:42.17
So Jacob was not
unfamiliar with the deception
00:10:42.20\00:10:46.24
because he himself
00:10:46.27\00:10:47.61
had portrayed it in his own life
00:10:47.64\00:10:50.01
stealing the birthright,
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having his brother
sell his birthright
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for a bowl of lentils.
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But here he stands
amidst the 12 sons that,
00:11:05.03\00:11:08.86
for the most part he
orchestrated not God.
00:11:08.90\00:11:11.47
You see, Jacob was a man
that was impatient with God.
00:11:11.50\00:11:14.40
But God's dream
was more powerful
00:11:14.44\00:11:17.84
than anything that
Jacob could do to prevent
00:11:17.87\00:11:21.51
that dream for his life.
00:11:21.54\00:11:23.41
God's dream for
Joseph was more powerful
00:11:23.45\00:11:27.75
than any hatred
that his brothers
00:11:27.78\00:11:30.02
could extend before him.
00:11:30.05\00:11:31.85
You see to understand
00:11:31.89\00:11:33.59
what happened to Joseph
00:11:33.62\00:11:35.62
we first have to understand
the kind of man that Jacob was.
00:11:35.66\00:11:39.19
Jacob's
household was contentious
00:11:39.23\00:11:41.46
because Jacob
failed to wait on God,
00:11:41.50\00:11:44.07
not only that but
Jacob's wife Rachel.
00:11:44.10\00:11:47.70
When you read the story,
00:11:47.74\00:11:49.34
Rachel was such a lovely woman
00:11:49.37\00:11:50.71
that the Bible
said in the early days
00:11:50.74\00:11:52.84
when he was seeking a wife,
00:11:52.87\00:11:54.94
Rachel was so beautiful
that when he kissed her,
00:11:54.98\00:11:57.05
he lifted up his eyes and cry.
00:11:57.08\00:11:59.35
And no matter what
his father-in-law Laban
00:12:02.38\00:12:04.12
put him through, he
was willing to go through
00:12:04.15\00:12:05.95
and work for her
seven years at a time
00:12:05.99\00:12:08.46
just so that when
his labor was done,
00:12:08.49\00:12:11.09
he could embrace
this young woman named
00:12:11.13\00:12:13.06
Rachel the woman of his dreams.
00:12:13.09\00:12:16.97
The woman that
God desired for him.
00:12:17.00\00:12:20.00
But when God made the promise
00:12:20.04\00:12:21.37
that he would
bless Jacob and Rachel,
00:12:21.40\00:12:25.61
and Rachel was
unable to bear children,
00:12:25.64\00:12:28.61
she became impatient
with God and made suggestions.
00:12:28.64\00:12:31.38
She made proposals to Jacob
00:12:31.41\00:12:33.95
that since I am
unable to bear children.
00:12:33.98\00:12:37.32
Since I am as the Asian man said
00:12:37.35\00:12:40.29
who is just becoming familiar
with the English language
00:12:40.32\00:12:43.26
he was sitting on an
American Airlines jet.
00:12:43.29\00:12:45.16
He was on his way to America.
00:12:45.19\00:12:47.26
And he was on his way to America
00:12:47.30\00:12:48.76
to try to get his wife
00:12:48.80\00:12:50.67
to find a way to
have her have children.
00:12:50.70\00:12:52.97
And with his broken English
00:12:53.00\00:12:54.34
he was telling an American
why he was coming to America.
00:12:54.37\00:12:57.07
And he says,
00:12:57.11\00:12:58.44
"Why are you on
your way to America."
00:12:58.47\00:12:59.81
And he says, "My
wife is impregnable.
00:12:59.84\00:13:01.64
My wife is unbearable.
00:13:05.11\00:13:06.68
My wife is inconceivable."
00:13:09.68\00:13:13.49
A disaster on the human language
00:13:13.52\00:13:15.32
but the American man
understood what he meant.
00:13:15.36\00:13:18.06
Rachel was unbearable.
Rachel was impregnable.
00:13:18.09\00:13:23.37
Rachel was inconceivable.
00:13:23.40\00:13:24.93
But she made
suggestions to Jacob
00:13:24.97\00:13:27.20
that were ridiculous
00:13:27.24\00:13:28.67
but even more
ridiculous than the suggestions.
00:13:28.70\00:13:32.01
Lord have mercy was the
fact that he followed them,
00:13:32.04\00:13:36.11
can somebody say, umm.
00:13:36.14\00:13:40.02
That was approved by
the board by the way.
00:13:40.05\00:13:42.88
Jacob followed
00:13:42.92\00:13:45.49
the ridiculous
proposals of his wife.
00:13:45.52\00:13:48.82
And when you follow that,
00:13:48.86\00:13:51.89
Rachel had a maid.
00:13:51.93\00:13:56.03
And Rachel said,
"Well, my maid is fertile.
00:13:56.06\00:14:00.37
Why don't you have
a child with my maid?"
00:14:00.40\00:14:02.24
And Jacob said, "Okay."
00:14:02.27\00:14:06.51
Now I want you to know
00:14:06.54\00:14:08.74
that was a long time
ago, come on ladies say, amen.
00:14:08.78\00:14:12.05
That's not going to fly today.
00:14:12.08\00:14:14.22
You got to be out
of your God given mind
00:14:14.25\00:14:17.25
to make that suggestion.
00:14:17.29\00:14:18.62
And even more
than that your husbands
00:14:18.65\00:14:19.99
got to be insane to follow.
00:14:20.02\00:14:21.96
But if you go back far enough,
00:14:26.33\00:14:30.97
wasn't too
different than Abraham.
00:14:31.00\00:14:34.44
It's amazing how
family traits go on
00:14:34.47\00:14:36.04
from generation to generation.
00:14:36.07\00:14:39.17
And when you keep
on going down the line,
00:14:39.21\00:14:40.71
you begin to see
the lineage unfolding
00:14:40.74\00:14:42.24
because in fact
00:14:42.28\00:14:44.95
the pattern
continues to repeat itself
00:14:44.98\00:14:47.08
in the context of polygamy.
00:14:47.12\00:14:48.85
She said, "My maid is fertile,
00:14:48.88\00:14:51.45
go ahead and have
a child with her."
00:14:51.49\00:14:52.82
And he had a child with
her and another child with her.
00:14:52.85\00:14:55.29
And then she pointed to
Leah, her sister who Jacob...
00:14:55.32\00:14:59.13
Who Joseph which
I can't figure out
00:14:59.16\00:15:03.13
after he married her
and spent a night with her,
00:15:03.16\00:15:06.77
he didn't know
that she wasn't Rachel.
00:15:06.80\00:15:11.11
Yeah, you know what I mean.
00:15:11.14\00:15:13.34
Joseph, yeah, him too.
00:15:13.38\00:15:17.58
Jacob,
00:15:17.61\00:15:20.22
I wish they had different names.
00:15:20.25\00:15:24.72
So Leah now
receives the proposal.
00:15:24.75\00:15:29.82
And Leah now
bear sons for Jacob.
00:15:29.86\00:15:32.56
And then Leah's
handmaid bears sons for Jacob.
00:15:32.59\00:15:36.80
And God in His patience bears
along with this motley crew
00:15:36.83\00:15:41.40
that we now call
the 12 tribes of Israel.
00:15:41.44\00:15:46.88
Messed up where the
foundation that was messed up.
00:15:46.91\00:15:52.01
But the good news,
00:15:52.05\00:15:53.38
they all are
mentioned in Revelation.
00:15:53.42\00:15:55.78
Come on say amen somebody.
00:15:55.82\00:15:57.32
Because each one
of them except Dan...
00:15:57.35\00:16:00.02
Was all saved.
00:16:04.29\00:16:05.99
Dan never made it.
00:16:06.03\00:16:07.73
Because Dan was that individual,
00:16:07.76\00:16:09.20
that's why you
have to be very careful.
00:16:09.23\00:16:11.37
Dan lived his life focusing
on everybody else's sin.
00:16:11.40\00:16:16.81
And when you don't
focus on your own sin,
00:16:16.84\00:16:18.87
you cannot be saved from sin.
00:16:18.91\00:16:21.44
The Bible says, Dan
shall be a serpent by the way,
00:16:21.48\00:16:24.31
a viper in the path
that bites the horse's heel,
00:16:24.35\00:16:27.68
so that the person
00:16:27.72\00:16:29.05
who is the rider
always falls back.
00:16:29.08\00:16:31.12
Dan was critical.
00:16:31.15\00:16:34.82
But he never
looked at his own life.
00:16:34.86\00:16:36.83
And he was replaced by Manasseh.
00:16:36.86\00:16:38.66
But the problem in the story
00:16:45.50\00:16:46.84
began for Joseph
when the sons realized
00:16:46.87\00:16:51.44
that he was
favored over all of them
00:16:51.47\00:16:54.84
because he was the
firstborn of Rachel,
00:16:54.88\00:16:57.55
the wife that God gave to Jacob.
00:16:57.58\00:17:01.55
And Jacob so excited
00:17:01.58\00:17:02.92
that God came
through for his wife
00:17:02.95\00:17:05.02
who had felt the
unease of being ostracized,
00:17:05.05\00:17:09.36
barren, no child,
00:17:09.39\00:17:11.46
finally God visits her
with a young man named Joseph.
00:17:11.49\00:17:15.86
God smiles on her.
00:17:15.90\00:17:18.33
And Jacob pours his joy
00:17:18.37\00:17:22.77
into that young man name Joseph.
00:17:22.80\00:17:26.41
Buys him a beautiful outfit.
00:17:26.44\00:17:28.71
A coat of many
colors. Now look at verse 4.
00:17:28.74\00:17:31.35
And he brags about it.
00:17:31.38\00:17:33.42
He brags about it.
00:17:33.45\00:17:34.78
And because he had
a divided household,
00:17:34.82\00:17:36.89
children of contention,
impatience and out of control,
00:17:36.92\00:17:39.99
the Bible says
00:17:40.02\00:17:41.36
how his brothers
felt about him in verse 4.
00:17:41.39\00:17:43.89
"But when his brothers saw
00:17:43.93\00:17:45.53
that their father loved
him more than all his brothers,
00:17:45.56\00:17:49.16
they hated him,
00:17:49.20\00:17:50.90
and could not
speak peaceably to him."
00:17:50.93\00:17:55.30
This verse demands
a pause to parents.
00:17:55.34\00:17:57.71
There's nothing more
dangerous to your household
00:18:00.98\00:18:02.94
than when your children sense
00:18:02.98\00:18:05.61
that you favor one more
than you favor the other.
00:18:05.65\00:18:10.95
I know that, I was raised...
00:18:10.99\00:18:13.66
I was raised in a home
where I was the last child.
00:18:18.33\00:18:23.50
And to understand
my mixed up family,
00:18:23.53\00:18:25.47
you got to follow me carefully.
00:18:25.50\00:18:27.14
I was raised by
a man from Barbados
00:18:27.17\00:18:29.00
and a woman from Trinidad,
00:18:29.04\00:18:30.41
Pastor CA has
some Barbadian in him.
00:18:30.44\00:18:32.34
Am I right?
00:18:32.37\00:18:35.24
And he was so desirous,
00:18:35.28\00:18:37.68
the man raising
us was so desirous.
00:18:37.71\00:18:40.25
He and his wife
didn't have children,
00:18:40.28\00:18:42.05
they brought us
over from Trinidad
00:18:42.08\00:18:43.49
that they had adopted
a young Trinidadian boy
00:18:43.52\00:18:46.22
who was Indian, West Indian.
00:18:46.25\00:18:50.33
And they desired so much
to give them a good education
00:18:50.36\00:18:52.66
but he spurned
it, he didn't want it.
00:18:52.69\00:18:54.76
They want to give him the
best schools, and colleges,
00:18:54.80\00:18:56.70
and every advantage
that they could offer him,
00:18:56.73\00:18:58.37
but he didn't want it.
00:18:58.40\00:19:00.50
And he threw it back at them.
00:19:00.54\00:19:03.14
And my sister, the
second one that came along.
00:19:03.17\00:19:06.88
She was offered
the same advantages.
00:19:06.91\00:19:09.51
We'll pay for
your college education.
00:19:09.54\00:19:10.95
We'll put you through school.
We'll give you piano lessons.
00:19:10.98\00:19:14.15
And she didn't want it.
00:19:14.18\00:19:16.02
And so when my time came,
00:19:16.05\00:19:17.59
I wanted piano
lessons and I didn't get it.
00:19:17.62\00:19:20.92
I wanted my
college to be paid for,
00:19:20.96\00:19:22.72
but I didn't get it.
00:19:22.76\00:19:24.33
And the response was,
do you see what they did,
00:19:24.36\00:19:27.63
I'm not going to
waste my time on you either.
00:19:27.66\00:19:30.37
And I found
myself at Oakwood College
00:19:30.40\00:19:32.10
on the promise
00:19:32.13\00:19:33.47
that my tuition would
be paid for the first year.
00:19:33.50\00:19:36.24
When I made the
phone call at home,
00:19:36.27\00:19:38.24
my dad said, "I'm
not giving you anything.
00:19:38.27\00:19:40.94
It's better for you
to just come on home."
00:19:40.98\00:19:43.98
So I know what it's
like to be in a home
00:19:44.01\00:19:49.22
where child feels the
tension of being left out
00:19:49.25\00:19:53.89
and the other two
being favored above them.
00:19:53.92\00:19:56.26
But I want to tell you,
00:19:56.29\00:19:57.63
I said to you
before, God's blessings,
00:19:57.66\00:20:01.76
the greatest trials are often
00:20:01.80\00:20:03.37
the introduction to
God's greatest dream
00:20:03.40\00:20:05.50
because I look back now
00:20:05.53\00:20:07.40
and I am better off
than my brother and my sister
00:20:07.44\00:20:11.77
because God had a
different dream for my life.
00:20:11.81\00:20:13.58
But He had to shape me through
the avenues of tribulation.
00:20:13.61\00:20:16.81
That's why parents, I
want to say to you today,
00:20:16.85\00:20:18.81
don't ever let it be said of you
00:20:18.85\00:20:20.85
that your children sense.
00:20:20.88\00:20:24.29
And if you're
already on that avenue,
00:20:24.32\00:20:25.79
you can change it,
you can turn it around.
00:20:25.82\00:20:27.79
But if you want to
have a peaceful household,
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.79
if you want your
children to be at peace
00:20:29.82\00:20:31.66
even in blended families,
00:20:31.69\00:20:33.73
show that each one is
loved as much as the other.
00:20:33.76\00:20:38.40
Can you say amen to that?
00:20:38.43\00:20:42.07
God allowed Joseph
when he was only 17
00:20:42.10\00:20:45.14
for his life to be
turned upside down.
00:20:45.17\00:20:47.38
And look at verse 5 and 7.
00:20:47.41\00:20:49.04
Joseph at 17 years old.
00:20:49.08\00:20:51.45
A pivotal age at 17 years old,
00:20:51.48\00:20:54.42
God allowed Joseph's
life to be turned inside out.
00:20:54.45\00:20:58.55
The Bible says,
"Now Joseph had a dream.
00:20:58.59\00:21:03.09
And he told it to his brothers,
and they hated him even more."
00:21:03.12\00:21:06.59
You know, sometimes I
want to pause and say something
00:21:06.63\00:21:08.93
because I know
that is in your mind.
00:21:08.96\00:21:10.53
Sometimes God has
given you a dream,
00:21:10.57\00:21:12.87
but there are
times you got to know
00:21:12.90\00:21:15.24
when to keep your mouth shut.
00:21:15.27\00:21:19.44
Am I right?
00:21:19.47\00:21:20.81
I mean, you got an
extra check in the mail,
00:21:20.84\00:21:22.51
you don't go
around saying to people,
00:21:22.54\00:21:23.91
"You know, I know you
broke but God sent me a check
00:21:23.95\00:21:26.41
for $2,000 this week."
00:21:26.45\00:21:28.52
And you wave your
money in their face
00:21:28.55\00:21:30.19
and they are broke as ever.
00:21:30.22\00:21:32.49
And then the next week
God sends you more money,
00:21:32.52\00:21:34.62
and God does this
and God does that.
00:21:34.66\00:21:36.46
One of the problems that
Joseph had as a young man
00:21:36.49\00:21:39.13
and God straightened this
out is that he loved to boast
00:21:39.16\00:21:43.73
because he knew
his father favored him.
00:21:43.77\00:21:46.07
But there was
another side of that,
00:21:46.10\00:21:47.44
God gave him dreams
that it was also imperative
00:21:47.47\00:21:51.07
for his brothers and
his father to know about
00:21:51.11\00:21:53.27
because those
dreams were but a precursor
00:21:53.31\00:21:57.18
of what God would do for
them many years down the road.
00:21:57.21\00:22:04.09
And so while there are
those who like to boast
00:22:04.12\00:22:05.59
about their successes
at the behest of others.
00:22:05.62\00:22:09.32
I speak to those who are hearing
00:22:09.36\00:22:11.56
about the blessings of
God in somebody else's life.
00:22:11.59\00:22:14.10
If you hear that God
is blessing somebody,
00:22:14.13\00:22:16.36
don't be jealous,
praise God for them
00:22:16.40\00:22:21.57
'cause your blessing is coming.
00:22:21.60\00:22:23.10
But your
blessing will never come
00:22:23.14\00:22:24.57
if you hate God's blessings
in somebody else's life.
00:22:24.61\00:22:28.01
You've got to praise God that
He's blessing you in your life.
00:22:28.04\00:22:31.38
And don't be upset that
God is blessing somebody else
00:22:31.41\00:22:33.45
in their life 'cause
God blesses each of us
00:22:33.48\00:22:35.68
at different intervals.
00:22:35.72\00:22:37.05
If somebody is
being blessed, praise God.
00:22:37.09\00:22:39.49
Rejoice for them.
00:22:39.52\00:22:41.12
The Bible says, now
Joseph had a dream, verse 5.
00:22:41.16\00:22:45.33
And he told it to his brothers,
and they hated him even more.
00:22:45.36\00:22:51.53
So he said to them,
00:22:51.57\00:22:53.94
"Please hear this
dream which I have dreamed."
00:22:53.97\00:22:56.77
I can see him now
a little young man,
00:22:56.81\00:22:59.01
all the brothers
however long it took for them
00:22:59.04\00:23:00.54
all to be born.
00:23:00.58\00:23:01.98
They all are older than him
00:23:02.01\00:23:03.35
and here he is as
little lad missing.
00:23:03.38\00:23:05.28
Come on, listen to
what I have to say to you.
00:23:05.31\00:23:06.98
And he's about
to tell him a dream
00:23:07.02\00:23:08.48
that is not
favorable to any one of them.
00:23:08.52\00:23:13.86
"There we were,"
he says, verse 7.
00:23:13.89\00:23:16.83
"Binding sheaves in
the field, then behold,
00:23:16.86\00:23:21.00
my sheaf arose
00:23:21.03\00:23:25.03
and also stood upright.
00:23:25.07\00:23:27.30
And indeed your
sheaves stood all around
00:23:27.34\00:23:30.97
and bowed down to my sheaf."
00:23:31.01\00:23:35.98
I can hear it brother, I
wish I could just choke him.
00:23:36.01\00:23:40.22
Every time he opens
his mouth, my skin crawls.
00:23:40.25\00:23:46.39
What did Jacob do by
having a son like him?
00:23:46.42\00:23:53.26
The last thing
they wanted to hear
00:23:53.29\00:23:55.46
was that Joseph would succeed
00:23:55.50\00:23:57.23
and that they would
amount to very little.
00:23:57.27\00:24:00.40
But that wasn't the end of it.
00:24:00.44\00:24:02.20
Look at verse 9.
00:24:02.24\00:24:03.57
Then he dreamed
still another dream
00:24:07.94\00:24:13.25
and told it to his brothers,
00:24:13.28\00:24:16.72
and said, look.
00:24:16.75\00:24:20.02
Bible doesn't say that
it happened the next day
00:24:20.06\00:24:21.82
or the next week but
he had another dream.
00:24:21.86\00:24:23.32
And I'm sure they were
done with his dreams already.
00:24:23.36\00:24:26.73
"Look I have
dreamed another dream,
00:24:26.76\00:24:28.46
and at this time,
the sun, the moon,
00:24:28.50\00:24:34.40
and the eleven stars," did what?
00:24:34.44\00:24:38.07
"Bow down to me."
00:24:38.11\00:24:40.08
"You might be a
star, all eleven of you
00:24:40.11\00:24:42.78
might be a star,
00:24:42.81\00:24:44.38
but your stars are
going to bow down to my star."
00:24:44.41\00:24:49.05
Can you see it?
00:24:49.08\00:24:51.55
Can you see the look of
discontent in their faces?
00:24:51.59\00:24:53.86
To make it clear, this
was not an additional dream
00:24:59.19\00:25:01.26
but just another
piece of the many pieces
00:25:01.30\00:25:05.07
that would complete
God's dream for him.
00:25:05.10\00:25:07.87
God unfolds our
dreams little by little.
00:25:07.90\00:25:12.27
He lets us know at
different intervals.
00:25:12.31\00:25:13.84
And let me just say this,
00:25:13.88\00:25:15.21
when God has a
dream for your life,
00:25:15.24\00:25:16.58
He chooses at
what point to reveal
00:25:16.61\00:25:18.55
the next component for you
or the next component to you.
00:25:18.58\00:25:21.98
Only as you embrace
00:25:22.02\00:25:23.69
and are faithful
in this component
00:25:23.72\00:25:26.52
where God see fit to
reveal the next component.
00:25:26.55\00:25:30.93
And when I look back on
our ministry how God led us.
00:25:30.96\00:25:34.96
There are times that
00:25:35.00\00:25:36.77
in our walk after
30 years of ministry,
00:25:36.80\00:25:38.83
and going on 35
years of marriage,
00:25:38.87\00:25:40.70
there are times when
I hear God say to me,
00:25:40.74\00:25:44.24
"John, I want you to go back
in your relationship with me
00:25:44.27\00:25:49.11
to 1989, to 1992.
00:25:49.14\00:25:53.78
And your dedication to 1995
00:25:53.82\00:25:56.58
when your life was
difficult and in trial.
00:25:56.62\00:25:59.62
I want that
version of John back."
00:25:59.65\00:26:02.79
And every now and
then God calls on us
00:26:02.82\00:26:04.83
to readjust our lives.
00:26:04.86\00:26:06.19
Can I get an amen to that?
00:26:06.23\00:26:07.56
Every now and then God
calls on us to remind us
00:26:07.60\00:26:10.40
that you may be successful,
00:26:10.43\00:26:12.43
but don't be so
overly successful
00:26:12.47\00:26:15.17
that you forget
who you really were.
00:26:15.20\00:26:19.21
So God chooses to
reveal pieces and pieces.
00:26:19.24\00:26:22.34
And not only did he
tell this to his brothers
00:26:22.38\00:26:24.58
but it says in verse 10,
00:26:24.61\00:26:26.05
"So he told it to his
father, and his brothers.
00:26:26.08\00:26:28.58
And his father
rebuked him, and said to him,
00:26:28.62\00:26:31.29
'What is this dream
that you have dreamed?
00:26:31.32\00:26:33.25
Shall your mother and I
and your brothers indeed come
00:26:33.29\00:26:36.12
to bow down to
the earth before you?"
00:26:36.16\00:26:38.99
And when you read
00:26:39.03\00:26:40.36
what Ellen White
has to say about it.
00:26:40.40\00:26:41.73
Ellen White says
that Joseph's brothers
00:26:41.76\00:26:44.07
were so amazed by his purity,
00:26:44.10\00:26:46.47
by the innocence
that he displayed
00:26:46.50\00:26:48.64
that they knew that
he was not saying this
00:26:48.67\00:26:51.04
out of self
glory, they admired him,
00:26:51.07\00:26:54.21
but they hated him
at the very same time.
00:26:54.24\00:26:56.34
But don't miss verse 11.
00:27:00.78\00:27:03.25
"And his brothers envied
him, they did," what church?
00:27:03.28\00:27:07.86
"They envied him,
00:27:07.89\00:27:09.22
but his father kept
the matter in mind."
00:27:09.26\00:27:14.30
His father said,
"Could it be that
00:27:14.33\00:27:17.97
God is revealing the
future to us through Joseph?
00:27:18.00\00:27:22.47
Could it be that these
dreams that irritate us
00:27:22.50\00:27:25.44
is an
indication, a sign from God
00:27:25.47\00:27:28.14
about how our
future is going to unfold?"
00:27:28.18\00:27:30.25
So when somebody
comes up with something
00:27:30.28\00:27:32.21
that you may not be in
agreement of, hear them out
00:27:32.25\00:27:35.68
because sometimes God
may speak through somebody
00:27:35.72\00:27:38.15
for our own good.
00:27:38.19\00:27:41.16
But if we reject it,
00:27:41.19\00:27:45.93
then we can place
ourselves in the same position
00:27:45.96\00:27:49.60
as Joseph's 11 brothers.
00:27:49.63\00:27:52.97
When you follow the
story in the first eight verses
00:27:53.00\00:27:55.54
of the story, the word
hate is mentioned three times.
00:27:55.57\00:27:59.74
By the time you get to verse 11,
00:27:59.77\00:28:01.64
a new word is introduced,
his brothers envied him.
00:28:01.68\00:28:07.55
As if it couldn't get any worse,
00:28:07.58\00:28:09.72
hate gave birth to envy.
00:28:09.75\00:28:12.52
And then verse 18
reveals the innermost feelings
00:28:12.55\00:28:15.36
about their brother.
00:28:15.39\00:28:16.73
The Bible says,
"They conspired against him
00:28:16.76\00:28:20.16
to kill him."
00:28:20.20\00:28:22.66
Now I'm going to fast forward.
00:28:22.70\00:28:27.04
At 17 Joseph is sold for
$2,560 to the Ishmaelites.
00:28:27.07\00:28:31.17
As Joseph is 17,
Jacob his father has lied
00:28:36.34\00:28:39.08
and told that Joseph is dead.
00:28:39.11\00:28:40.92
They lied to his father
and say that Joseph is dead.
00:28:40.95\00:28:45.99
Then the
Ishmaelites who bought him
00:28:46.02\00:28:48.16
now sell him to the Egyptians.
00:28:48.19\00:28:50.86
And as an indentured
slave in the court of Egypt,
00:28:50.89\00:28:54.00
Joseph serves under
the direction of Potiphar.
00:28:54.03\00:28:58.93
And we read 39:2, 3.
00:29:01.50\00:29:03.97
I love this verse.
00:29:15.22\00:29:17.32
The Bible says, "The
Lord was with Joseph."
00:29:17.35\00:29:19.65
Come on say amen somebody.
The Lord was with Joseph.
00:29:19.69\00:29:23.96
Here's the point,
in spite of being sold,
00:29:23.99\00:29:26.33
in spite of being left for dead,
00:29:26.36\00:29:28.13
in spite of being
delivered as a slave,
00:29:28.16\00:29:30.07
the Lord was with Joseph.
00:29:30.10\00:29:33.84
And he was a successful man.
00:29:33.87\00:29:36.54
And he was in the house
of his master, the Egyptian.
00:29:36.57\00:29:41.04
And his master saw
that the Lord was with him,
00:29:41.08\00:29:44.28
and that the
Lord made all he did
00:29:44.31\00:29:47.78
to prosper in his hand.
00:29:47.82\00:29:50.79
But the one thing we
have to be assured of
00:29:57.59\00:29:59.36
is when God is prospering you,
the devil takes notice of it.
00:29:59.39\00:30:03.50
He takes notice of it, Gloria.
00:30:03.53\00:30:05.57
He looked at
Joseph's life and said,
00:30:05.60\00:30:07.34
"I cannot allow
this man to be the one
00:30:07.37\00:30:09.60
to experience God's
fulfilling dream for his life."
00:30:09.64\00:30:11.71
And so he tries to
derail the dream of God.
00:30:11.74\00:30:14.98
And you know
the story very well,
00:30:15.01\00:30:16.81
God allowed Joseph
to be in charge of all
00:30:16.85\00:30:21.25
that is in Potiphar's
house except Potiphar's wife.
00:30:21.28\00:30:27.06
And Potiphar's
wife begins to notice
00:30:27.09\00:30:30.06
how stately, and how
strong, and how healthy
00:30:30.09\00:30:34.20
a young man that Joseph is,
and she makes passes at him,
00:30:34.23\00:30:38.90
and tries to get his attention.
00:30:38.93\00:30:40.54
And Joseph said to her,
00:30:40.57\00:30:42.60
"My master has given
me in charge of everything
00:30:42.64\00:30:45.87
in his household,
his money, his finances,
00:30:45.91\00:30:48.94
his administration,
everything, but you,
00:30:48.98\00:30:51.68
how can I do
this great wickedness
00:30:51.71\00:30:54.12
and sin against God."
00:30:54.15\00:30:56.28
He made up his mind
not to cross the boundary
00:30:56.32\00:30:59.45
and to philander
with Potiphar's wife.
00:30:59.49\00:31:04.06
Potiphar's wife had
more intention for Joseph
00:31:04.09\00:31:06.59
than Joseph had
for Potiphar's wife.
00:31:06.63\00:31:08.46
And she tore her garment
and made it appear as though
00:31:12.83\00:31:14.87
that Joseph tried to rape
her, and he got thrown in jail,
00:31:14.90\00:31:18.81
and spent two years in
jail at least for a crime
00:31:18.84\00:31:23.51
that he did not commit.
00:31:23.55\00:31:25.61
And while he's in jail,
00:31:25.65\00:31:31.32
he uncovers the
plot to kill Pharaoh.
00:31:31.35\00:31:33.92
And he asked his fellow
inmates to let Pharaoh know that
00:31:33.96\00:31:37.63
I by God's grace
uncover the plot.
00:31:37.66\00:31:40.00
Remember me when you
get out and the cup bearer,
00:31:40.03\00:31:44.47
and the baker
gets out of prison,
00:31:44.50\00:31:46.70
and doesn't mention
a thing about Joseph.
00:31:46.74\00:31:49.20
And he spends two
years more in prison.
00:31:49.24\00:31:53.41
Now, I got to pause
and ask you a question.
00:31:53.44\00:31:56.04
I don't like to ask questions,
but at some point or the other,
00:31:56.08\00:31:59.91
when you go through
difficulties in life
00:31:59.95\00:32:02.18
at that stage
and that magnitude,
00:32:02.22\00:32:05.02
it sometimes may appear
to you that God has left you.
00:32:05.05\00:32:08.69
But I want to let you know,
00:32:08.72\00:32:10.06
no matter how difficult it gets,
00:32:10.09\00:32:11.49
if you keep your
relationship with God pure,
00:32:11.53\00:32:14.30
God will never forsake you
in spite of the circumstances
00:32:14.33\00:32:18.00
that surround your life.
00:32:18.03\00:32:23.71
And he is eating
prison's food now.
00:32:23.74\00:32:27.11
He's in a cell for
doing nothing wrong.
00:32:27.14\00:32:30.75
And the Bible
says in Genesis 40:23,
00:32:30.78\00:32:32.95
"When the time
comes they forget Joseph."
00:32:32.98\00:32:35.35
Two more years passed
before the truth is told,
00:32:35.38\00:32:37.39
and Joseph is set free.
00:32:37.42\00:32:39.25
And finally, Pharaoh has a dream
00:32:39.29\00:32:41.29
and God makes
known through Joseph
00:32:41.32\00:32:43.66
the interpretation
of Pharaoh's dream
00:32:43.69\00:32:46.06
and then he is restored.
00:32:46.09\00:32:48.16
Every trial has a
beginning and it has an end.
00:32:48.20\00:32:51.30
Amen?
00:32:51.33\00:32:53.13
Every trial has a
beginning and an end.
00:32:53.17\00:32:55.94
The prophet says, "Weeping
may endure for the night,
00:32:55.97\00:32:58.47
but joy comes," when?
00:32:58.51\00:33:00.01
"In the morning." Every trial.
00:33:00.04\00:33:02.61
And as I said to you
earlier, the road to blessings
00:33:02.64\00:33:05.55
is often the highway of trials.
00:33:05.58\00:33:08.28
But God allows those
trials because some of us
00:33:08.32\00:33:11.09
need to be
shaped, and some of us are
00:33:11.12\00:33:13.09
so full of ourselves
that God has to break us down
00:33:13.12\00:33:16.86
before He builds
us up to His glory.
00:33:16.89\00:33:21.73
But it takes a
person that really trust God
00:33:21.76\00:33:23.57
to go through difficulty
without walking away from God
00:33:23.60\00:33:26.37
because at any point
Joseph could have said,
00:33:26.40\00:33:28.80
"This is unfair.
00:33:28.84\00:33:30.47
First I'm in a pit,
then I'm sold as a slave,
00:33:30.51\00:33:33.81
now I'm in Egypt as a slave,
00:33:33.84\00:33:35.58
I'm forcefully
accused, I'm in prison.
00:33:35.61\00:33:37.61
I'm in prison, they forget me.
00:33:37.65\00:33:39.21
I'm done with
this Christianity."
00:33:45.69\00:33:49.12
People leave
church for less than that.
00:33:49.16\00:33:50.83
Thank you, Bob.
00:33:54.73\00:33:56.56
Have mercy has been
approved by the board.
00:33:56.60\00:33:58.43
Have mercy.
00:33:58.47\00:34:00.74
No, really people walk away
from God for less than that.
00:34:00.77\00:34:05.97
Why haven't you been to church?
00:34:06.01\00:34:09.11
"Cause a few months
ago, somebody gave me
00:34:09.14\00:34:12.01
a bad look after
church on Sabbath.
00:34:12.05\00:34:15.25
If you cannot endure
trials among your own brethren,
00:34:15.28\00:34:18.79
you are not
ready to endure trials
00:34:18.82\00:34:20.72
when the world
turns against you.
00:34:20.76\00:34:24.53
Trial is the method
whereby we are shaped
00:34:24.56\00:34:28.60
and molded for
God's great purposes.
00:34:28.63\00:34:33.27
And to go to the beginning
from the beginning of the story
00:34:33.30\00:34:36.84
to now fast forward
toward the end of the story,
00:34:36.87\00:34:39.47
every trial has a beginning,
and every trial has an end.
00:34:39.51\00:34:45.38
The blessings that had
been delayed finally arrived.
00:34:45.41\00:34:50.12
Wrapped in the blessings of God.
00:34:50.15\00:34:52.42
Wrapped in the favor of God.
00:34:52.45\00:34:55.26
Wrapped in the glory of God.
00:34:55.29\00:34:59.46
So finally, God begins
to shine some brighter light
00:34:59.49\00:35:03.06
on Joseph as He
pulls him out of prison.
00:35:03.10\00:35:05.57
Finally, the power
of God rests upon now
00:35:05.60\00:35:08.24
a more mature man.
00:35:08.27\00:35:10.64
And now he is governor
of all the land of Egypt.
00:35:10.67\00:35:16.51
And the vision that Pharaoh
had now begins to come to pass.
00:35:16.54\00:35:21.98
And every land except
Egypt is going through a famine
00:35:22.02\00:35:27.09
including the land of Canaan.
00:35:27.12\00:35:32.19
Now this is where
the plot thickens.
00:35:32.23\00:35:36.93
Our lives are often
lives of abundance and of lack.
00:35:40.87\00:35:44.81
What did I say?
00:35:44.84\00:35:46.27
Abundance and what else? Lack.
00:35:46.31\00:35:49.04
God knows where the
abundance is coming from,
00:35:49.08\00:35:52.28
and God knows when the
days of lack are coming.
00:35:52.31\00:35:57.55
But the Apostle Paul
said, "It is not up to us
00:35:57.59\00:36:00.92
to be fearful of
the days of lack,
00:36:00.96\00:36:03.83
to enjoy the days of abundance
00:36:03.86\00:36:05.69
because when you trust
God, here is the promise.
00:36:05.73\00:36:08.33
And my God," says it with
me, "And my God shall supply
00:36:08.36\00:36:13.23
all of my need
according to His riches
00:36:13.27\00:36:18.14
in glory by Christ Jesus."
00:36:18.17\00:36:22.04
The plot thickens,
00:36:25.28\00:36:28.68
Jacob finally gets to the
place where he accepts the idea
00:36:28.72\00:36:31.29
that Joseph is dead.
00:36:31.32\00:36:35.52
In the midst of the
famine he sends his sons
00:36:35.56\00:36:37.53
to look for food.
00:36:37.56\00:36:38.89
And they hear that Egypt
has an abundance of food.
00:36:38.93\00:36:42.93
Pharaoh had a dream of
fat calves and thin calves.
00:36:42.96\00:36:47.14
And Joseph said,
"There's a famine coming
00:36:47.17\00:36:49.14
that's going to
last for seven years.
00:36:49.17\00:36:50.71
So what you need to do is
store up as much as you can.
00:36:50.74\00:36:53.31
So when the famine comes,
00:36:53.34\00:36:54.88
Egypt is not
left without supply."
00:36:54.91\00:36:57.05
And the news gets
around, Egypt has food.
00:36:57.08\00:36:59.35
So Jacob sends
his sons to Egypt.
00:36:59.38\00:37:02.58
Oh, how God...
00:37:02.62\00:37:03.99
Oh, I want to say
this, God, it may take time
00:37:04.02\00:37:06.89
but God sends us back
to the ones that offend us
00:37:06.92\00:37:10.36
or that we offend so
that we can get things
00:37:10.39\00:37:12.99
right for the glory of God.
00:37:13.03\00:37:15.73
It may take a while.
00:37:15.76\00:37:17.83
But for God to
cause us to be His sons
00:37:17.87\00:37:20.87
that live in peace,
that live in harmony.
00:37:20.90\00:37:22.80
You may avoid a
person as long as you want,
00:37:22.84\00:37:25.54
but God knows in
your heart what is there.
00:37:25.57\00:37:31.98
And so they go to
Egypt looking for food,
00:37:32.01\00:37:36.02
but God is sending them
to Egypt to get repentance.
00:37:36.05\00:37:39.42
They go for something
to eat, but God is going
00:37:39.45\00:37:42.92
because of
something that's eating them.
00:37:42.96\00:37:44.73
Come on now.
00:37:44.76\00:37:46.76
They're going because
their supply is dwindling,
00:37:46.80\00:37:50.57
and they're about to understand
00:37:50.60\00:37:52.20
that God supplies
more than enough for those
00:37:52.23\00:37:55.87
seeking God's blessings.
00:37:55.90\00:37:57.27
They're on their way to Egypt.
00:37:57.31\00:38:00.48
God put Joseph in a position
not just to provide food.
00:38:00.51\00:38:04.35
But God put Joseph in a position
00:38:04.38\00:38:08.08
to provide forgiveness.
00:38:08.12\00:38:10.29
Can I take a minute
or two on forgiveness?
00:38:14.82\00:38:16.66
Forgiveness is not human.
00:38:23.73\00:38:25.17
Forgiveness is not human.
00:38:28.84\00:38:30.41
I'm reading one of
the best devotional books
00:38:33.81\00:38:35.38
I've had in many years.
00:38:35.41\00:38:39.35
A man by the name
of Oswald Chambers.
00:38:39.38\00:38:41.08
And he points out
in such beautiful terms
00:38:46.45\00:38:52.79
about the forgiveness of God.
00:38:52.83\00:38:54.53
And he says that,
"God does not forgive us,"
00:39:01.90\00:39:04.17
and I want you to
hear me carefully.
00:39:04.21\00:39:05.54
I want to unpack
this very carefully.
00:39:05.57\00:39:07.04
God does not forgive us
00:39:07.08\00:39:10.95
simply because
He's a God of love.
00:39:10.98\00:39:13.58
That's a fact.
00:39:13.62\00:39:15.82
God does not
forgive us just because
00:39:15.85\00:39:19.29
He is a God of love.
00:39:19.32\00:39:21.02
People say, "Well,
God will forgive me
00:39:21.06\00:39:23.86
because He loves me."
00:39:23.89\00:39:25.76
He loved us before Jesus died.
00:39:25.79\00:39:29.20
So the question
is, if He loved us
00:39:29.23\00:39:31.60
before Jesus died,
why did Jesus have to die?
00:39:31.63\00:39:37.51
Because it's only
by the death of Jesus
00:39:37.54\00:39:39.64
that forgiveness
is imparted to us.
00:39:39.67\00:39:43.75
God does not forgive us
because He's a loving God.
00:39:43.78\00:39:46.15
He forgives us because
Jesus took on Himself us,
00:39:46.18\00:39:50.02
took us to the
cross, died in our place.
00:39:50.05\00:39:53.89
And at the moment of His
death before He close His eyes,
00:39:53.92\00:39:57.63
Jesus uttered the
words, "Father, forgive them,
00:39:57.66\00:40:01.96
for they know not what they do."
00:40:02.00\00:40:04.17
Forgiveness is not
something that's human.
00:40:04.20\00:40:05.97
Forgiveness is not
something that we do naturally.
00:40:06.00\00:40:08.37
God has to take
hold of our hearts
00:40:08.40\00:40:10.31
for any forgiveness
to be extended by us,
00:40:10.34\00:40:14.31
and any
forgiveness to be permanent
00:40:14.34\00:40:16.64
in the lives of somebody else.
00:40:16.68\00:40:18.11
Can you say amen to that?
00:40:18.15\00:40:19.81
It's not natural.
00:40:19.85\00:40:21.18
You think about it.
00:40:21.22\00:40:22.55
We always add
conditions to our forgiveness.
00:40:22.58\00:40:23.99
I'll forgive you but...
00:40:24.02\00:40:25.35
Don't you ever...
00:40:30.69\00:40:32.03
What if God did that to us?
00:40:37.13\00:40:39.90
Mitch, I'm going to forgive you,
00:40:39.93\00:40:41.27
but if you ever
step out of line again...
00:40:41.30\00:40:45.47
This is where I want to say
00:40:51.51\00:40:52.85
praise God for
His long suffering.
00:40:52.88\00:40:54.88
God suffers long in His
kind because God is love.
00:40:59.82\00:41:05.36
He forgives us
because of the life of Jesus.
00:41:05.39\00:41:07.76
He does not forgive
us because we deserve it.
00:41:07.80\00:41:11.13
He forgives us
because the blood of Jesus,
00:41:11.17\00:41:14.34
His Son cleanses us.
00:41:14.37\00:41:17.04
That's why the text is
there, "If we confess our sin,
00:41:17.07\00:41:20.01
He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sin
00:41:20.04\00:41:23.91
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:41:23.95\00:41:30.82
That's not human, that's divine.
00:41:30.85\00:41:35.49
But now the sons are
there and they are in Egypt.
00:41:35.52\00:41:39.03
And as they go to visit,
the now governor of Egypt,
00:41:43.77\00:41:47.70
they have no idea that
Joseph is their brother.
00:41:47.74\00:41:52.04
He looks like an Egyptian.
00:41:52.07\00:41:53.68
He walks like an Egyptian.
00:41:53.71\00:41:55.58
He talks like an Egyptian.
00:41:55.61\00:41:57.71
They don't even know him.
00:42:00.92\00:42:02.25
He has learned the
language of the Egyptians.
00:42:02.28\00:42:04.09
And to conceal his identity
00:42:04.12\00:42:06.42
he speaks in
the tongue of Egypt,
00:42:06.45\00:42:08.69
the Egyptian tongue,
00:42:08.72\00:42:10.29
and an interpreter
communicates to them in Hebrew.
00:42:10.33\00:42:13.36
So they had no clue
00:42:13.40\00:42:16.00
that he is who they
don't know him to be.
00:42:16.03\00:42:21.17
If I said it right, praise God.
00:42:21.20\00:42:24.57
They don't know who he is.
00:42:24.61\00:42:26.34
And also when you read
00:42:26.37\00:42:27.71
as he does not allow himself
to be easily seen by them
00:42:27.74\00:42:30.55
because Hebrews and
Egyptians don't sit together.
00:42:30.58\00:42:33.72
He gives them supply
00:42:37.19\00:42:39.89
and he says, "Now go home
00:42:39.92\00:42:41.26
but leave Simeon
until you come back."
00:42:41.29\00:42:45.59
And so Simeon is kept in prison.
00:42:45.63\00:42:49.03
And then he says, "Now go home.
00:42:49.06\00:42:51.10
And in a show of favor
00:42:51.13\00:42:55.00
I want you to bring
Benjamin back with you."
00:42:55.04\00:42:58.24
What you don't understand
00:42:58.27\00:42:59.61
is when he sits
down the brothers
00:42:59.64\00:43:00.98
to feed them in Egypt,
00:43:01.01\00:43:02.34
he sits them down at a table
00:43:02.38\00:43:04.88
and then all of a
sudden dawns on them.
00:43:04.91\00:43:06.95
I see you, Karen.
00:43:06.98\00:43:08.32
It dawns on them
that they have no clue,
00:43:08.35\00:43:10.65
when he sat them down, he
sat them down in age order.
00:43:10.69\00:43:17.33
God begin to, wait a
minute, wait a minute.
00:43:17.36\00:43:21.50
How did that happen?
00:43:21.53\00:43:23.13
How could he have known our age?
00:43:23.16\00:43:25.00
They began to
talk among themselves,
00:43:25.03\00:43:26.77
and he is overhearing them,
00:43:26.80\00:43:28.27
and they don't have a clue
that he's even understanding
00:43:28.30\00:43:30.77
because they
think he is an Egyptian.
00:43:30.81\00:43:36.08
Now I want to say this,
00:43:36.11\00:43:37.95
God gave Joseph in the story
00:43:37.98\00:43:41.88
the right to teach
his brothers a lesson.
00:43:41.92\00:43:44.85
So he says, when you
go home, bring Benjamin.
00:43:47.92\00:43:51.53
And they go back home and said,
00:43:51.56\00:43:52.89
"Dad, we've got
food in abundance.
00:43:52.93\00:43:54.40
But here's the caveat,
Simeon is still in prison.
00:43:54.43\00:43:57.07
He's back there in Egypt.
00:43:57.10\00:43:58.43
And to get him out,
we've got to take Benjamin."
00:43:58.47\00:44:00.07
And the father says, "Benjamin?
00:44:00.10\00:44:02.40
I don't have Joseph
00:44:02.44\00:44:04.17
and now you're
going to take Benjamin,
00:44:04.21\00:44:05.54
the only son left from Rachel,
the woman that I really love.
00:44:05.57\00:44:09.04
Oh, no. Oh, no.
00:44:09.08\00:44:10.41
There's no way I'm
sending Benjamin back."
00:44:10.45\00:44:13.85
But when the famine gets worse,
00:44:13.88\00:44:16.35
Jacob makes a desperate
choice to save his family.
00:44:16.38\00:44:19.62
And he relents and sends
00:44:19.65\00:44:21.89
his youngest son
Benjamin back to Egypt.
00:44:21.92\00:44:26.16
I wish I could preach
long today but I can't.
00:44:32.37\00:44:36.30
Please don't say amen.
00:44:36.34\00:44:37.67
'Cause this sermon...
00:44:42.78\00:44:44.11
when Joseph sees Benjamin...
00:44:47.02\00:44:49.18
he is so moved
to see his brother.
00:44:52.22\00:44:55.52
And he weeps so loudly
00:44:55.56\00:44:58.43
that is heard throughout
the court of the palace.
00:44:58.46\00:45:03.77
He weeps, he weeps aloud.
00:45:03.80\00:45:08.34
Genesis 43:30.
00:45:08.37\00:45:10.71
"Now his heart
yearned for his brother.
00:45:10.74\00:45:13.38
So Joseph made haste and
sought somewhere to weep,
00:45:13.41\00:45:17.21
and he went into his chamber
00:45:17.25\00:45:20.35
and wept, and wept, and wept."
00:45:20.38\00:45:24.39
They released Simeon.
00:45:32.99\00:45:35.56
And they're sending all the food
00:45:35.60\00:45:36.93
back that they need to Canaan.
00:45:36.97\00:45:39.90
And for some unusual reason
00:45:39.93\00:45:41.27
he gives Benjamin
five times more food
00:45:41.30\00:45:43.87
than all the other brothers
00:45:43.91\00:45:45.24
and they don't think
anything unusual about that.
00:45:45.27\00:45:47.08
And then he did something
else, he put a golden cup
00:45:47.11\00:45:49.98
he had one of the suppliers
00:45:50.01\00:45:52.35
put a golden cup
in Benjamin's bag.
00:45:52.38\00:45:55.22
And on the way back to Canaan
they get stopped along the way
00:45:55.25\00:45:59.35
by those men
that were dispatched
00:45:59.39\00:46:01.42
intentionally to
fulfill God's plan.
00:46:01.46\00:46:06.23
And they said, "The
King's Cup is missing."
00:46:06.26\00:46:09.63
And they said, "Would
we do such evil to a man
00:46:09.66\00:46:12.27
who has shown such favor to us?"
00:46:12.30\00:46:17.31
And they begin to
search through all the bags
00:46:17.34\00:46:18.87
and they come up to Benjamin
and there they find the cup.
00:46:18.91\00:46:22.24
But before that
moment they said,
00:46:22.28\00:46:23.88
"We are so grateful to the king.
00:46:23.91\00:46:25.61
If we have stolen it,"
they were so sure they didn't,
00:46:25.65\00:46:28.08
"if we have stolen
it, deal with us unjustly,
00:46:28.12\00:46:31.25
make us a slave,
take us back to Egypt,
00:46:31.29\00:46:35.49
kill us if you find us guilty."
00:46:35.52\00:46:38.59
And they find it in
the bag of Benjamin.
00:46:38.63\00:46:43.67
And the brothers begin to lament
00:46:43.70\00:46:45.43
that they made the
conditions of their own capture,
00:46:45.47\00:46:50.87
"Kill and slave, keep in Egypt.
00:46:50.91\00:46:54.88
How could we do that?"
00:46:54.91\00:46:56.24
And Benjamin is caught
00:46:59.95\00:47:02.08
and commanded
to remain in Egypt.
00:47:02.12\00:47:05.69
And his
brothers now more mature,
00:47:09.86\00:47:12.69
they go back to Egypt with him.
00:47:12.73\00:47:16.20
And now they're waiting
for the governor to come out.
00:47:16.23\00:47:19.07
They're waiting for
the governor to come out
00:47:19.10\00:47:20.80
and make the judgment.
00:47:20.84\00:47:22.17
And he comes out. And then he...
00:47:22.20\00:47:25.64
It is so difficult for
him to maintain his composure,
00:47:25.67\00:47:30.58
God is tugging on his heart.
00:47:30.61\00:47:33.05
And in 45:2, the Bible
says, "And he wept aloud.
00:47:33.08\00:47:37.79
And the Egyptians
00:47:37.82\00:47:39.15
and the house of
Pharaoh heard it."
00:47:39.19\00:47:40.62
And the Bible says,
"He couldn't even speak,
00:47:40.66\00:47:43.26
he wept so loudly,
00:47:43.29\00:47:44.63
Joseph looking at his brothers."
00:47:44.66\00:47:46.29
And then he said to his brothers
00:47:57.44\00:48:01.41
after he cleared the
hall of all the Egyptians,
00:48:01.44\00:48:03.35
he said to his
brothers, "Come, come to me.
00:48:03.38\00:48:05.08
Come near to me."
00:48:05.11\00:48:06.45
And so they came near to
him and then he said to them,
00:48:06.48\00:48:09.45
"I am Joseph, your brother
00:48:09.48\00:48:11.59
whom you sold in Egypt."
00:48:11.62\00:48:16.56
And instead of
hatred, there are hugs,
00:48:16.59\00:48:19.43
instead of rebuke,
there is repentance,
00:48:19.46\00:48:22.56
instead of fear,
there is forgiveness.
00:48:22.60\00:48:25.03
Come on somebody say amen.
00:48:25.07\00:48:27.37
The reconciliation that
took years to accomplish.
00:48:27.40\00:48:31.54
Fear turns to forgiveness,
rebuke turns to repentance,
00:48:31.57\00:48:37.71
hatred turns to hug.
00:48:37.75\00:48:39.25
And there they are
in the complete embrace
00:48:39.28\00:48:42.32
of God's goodness to them.
00:48:42.35\00:48:45.15
God turns a tragedy of
many years into a triumph.
00:48:45.19\00:48:50.33
And we read these
words in Genesis 45:5.
00:48:50.36\00:48:55.50
Listen to the words of God.
00:48:55.53\00:48:57.43
"God sent me before
you to preserve life.
00:48:57.47\00:49:01.34
God send me but now do
not therefore be grieved,
00:49:01.37\00:49:04.37
or angry with yourselves,
because you sold me here:
00:49:04.41\00:49:08.74
for God send me
before you to preserve life."
00:49:08.78\00:49:12.55
God has a way of
working out His dream
00:49:12.58\00:49:15.72
and get this, not just for us,
00:49:15.75\00:49:20.62
but for our
families, for our lives.
00:49:20.66\00:49:26.80
But if you would dare go through
00:49:26.83\00:49:28.16
the difficulty of trials
00:49:28.20\00:49:29.53
just so that your
family can be blessed.
00:49:29.56\00:49:32.37
That takes a person
whose heart is moved by God,
00:49:32.40\00:49:35.64
whose heart is
moved by God's compassion,
00:49:35.67\00:49:37.64
whose heart is
filled by God's Holy Spirit.
00:49:37.67\00:49:39.84
Forgiveness is
not a natural thing.
00:49:39.87\00:49:44.58
And then the verse that we
have all heard and have coined,
00:49:44.61\00:49:47.58
Genesis 50:20.
00:49:47.62\00:49:51.72
"But as for you, you
meant evil against me,
00:49:51.75\00:49:57.86
but God meant it for good."
00:49:57.89\00:50:00.96
Let's read that together.
00:50:01.00\00:50:02.36
"But as for you, you
meant evil against me,
00:50:02.40\00:50:06.07
but God meant it," what?
00:50:06.10\00:50:07.64
"For good.
00:50:07.67\00:50:09.00
In order to bring it
about as it is this day,
00:50:09.04\00:50:12.84
to save many people alive."
00:50:12.87\00:50:17.55
Amen?
00:50:17.58\00:50:19.31
Now I want to cap
off by saying this.
00:50:19.35\00:50:21.78
The life of Joseph is
a life parallel to Jesus.
00:50:21.82\00:50:26.12
Look at the
parallels, it's amazing.
00:50:26.15\00:50:27.92
Joseph's life is spared
as he is exiled in Egypt.
00:50:27.96\00:50:31.43
Christ is taken to Egypt
as a child to spare His life.
00:50:31.46\00:50:35.33
Joseph is 31,
00:50:35.36\00:50:37.20
he is exalted to
governor of Pharaoh by Pharaoh.
00:50:37.23\00:50:40.17
Christ was 31 when
He began His ministry.
00:50:40.20\00:50:43.00
The Bible says of Jesus,
00:50:43.04\00:50:44.47
the government shall
be upon his shoulder.
00:50:44.51\00:50:47.58
Joseph is sold
to heathen enemies
00:50:47.61\00:50:49.71
by those closest
to him, his family.
00:50:49.74\00:50:52.25
Christ is sold to His bitterest
enemy by those closest to Him,
00:50:52.28\00:50:56.28
one of His disciples.
00:50:56.32\00:50:58.59
Joseph is going to condemned
to prison by false accusation.
00:50:58.62\00:51:01.89
Christ is condemned to the cross
00:51:01.92\00:51:04.03
by the testimony
of false accusation.
00:51:04.06\00:51:06.76
Look at the
parallels, it's amazing.
00:51:06.80\00:51:08.50
Joseph is a type of Christ.
00:51:08.53\00:51:10.90
In the hour of
Joseph's greatest trial,
00:51:10.93\00:51:13.57
there was no water
for him in the pit.
00:51:13.60\00:51:16.71
In the hour of
Jesus' greatest trial,
00:51:16.74\00:51:19.27
there was no water
for Him on the cross.
00:51:19.31\00:51:23.68
Joseph is released from
prison in his third year.
00:51:23.71\00:51:28.58
Jesus is raised from
the tomb on the third day.
00:51:28.62\00:51:32.39
Come on say amen somebody.
00:51:32.42\00:51:34.69
Joseph changes his garment
00:51:34.72\00:51:36.59
when he is released from prison.
00:51:36.62\00:51:38.06
Christ changes His garment
00:51:38.09\00:51:40.50
when He is
released from the tomb.
00:51:40.53\00:51:43.16
Joseph forgives
those who betray him.
00:51:43.20\00:51:45.90
Christ forgives all of us,
00:51:45.93\00:51:51.04
not just the Jews,
not just the Romans,
00:51:51.07\00:51:53.41
Christ forgives all of us.
00:51:53.44\00:51:54.78
Can you say amen?
00:51:54.81\00:51:56.75
Because all we like
sheep have gone astray.
00:51:56.78\00:51:59.45
Joseph is given all authority
00:51:59.48\00:52:01.85
after he is
released from prison.
00:52:01.88\00:52:03.82
And Jesus says, "All
authority is given to Me
00:52:03.85\00:52:07.29
after His resurrection."
00:52:07.32\00:52:09.06
Through the trials of Joseph,
00:52:09.09\00:52:11.09
his family is spared
in a time of trouble.
00:52:11.13\00:52:14.03
And through the trial of Jesus,
00:52:14.06\00:52:16.40
we will be spared
in our time of trouble.
00:52:16.43\00:52:20.87
So what's the
purpose of the story?
00:52:20.90\00:52:22.30
If I were to summarize
with this closing statement,
00:52:25.47\00:52:27.41
it is this.
00:52:27.44\00:52:30.58
God allows our trials
00:52:30.61\00:52:34.22
to take us from
our pit to our palace.
00:52:34.25\00:52:39.35
Our trials will
shape us for our blessings.
00:52:39.39\00:52:46.29
But I want you to remember this.
00:52:46.33\00:52:48.53
And you can play
softly, Adam, I appreciate it.
00:52:48.56\00:52:53.30
Are you listening?
00:52:53.34\00:52:55.00
Here it is.
00:52:55.04\00:52:57.74
The coin of the
entire message, here it is.
00:52:57.77\00:53:02.04
What you become
during your trials
00:53:02.08\00:53:08.62
are more important
than what you become
00:53:08.65\00:53:10.79
at the end of your trials.
00:53:10.82\00:53:14.12
What you become
during your testing
00:53:14.16\00:53:18.46
is more important
than what you become
00:53:18.49\00:53:21.56
at the end of your testing,
00:53:21.60\00:53:23.73
for the trial will shape you
00:53:23.77\00:53:25.73
if you allow God's hand
to remain upon your life.
00:53:25.77\00:53:30.17
The trials will mold you.
00:53:30.21\00:53:31.57
They'll break you down.
00:53:31.61\00:53:33.07
They'll put you in the
pit of your experiences.
00:53:33.11\00:53:35.14
They'll turn the world
against your family, friends.
00:53:35.18\00:53:37.91
It will seem as though
you're closed in by everything
00:53:37.95\00:53:40.15
that is designed to crush you.
00:53:40.18\00:53:41.92
But if you remain
faithful during the trials,
00:53:41.95\00:53:47.66
at the end of your trials
00:53:47.69\00:53:51.26
you will be what God always
knew that you were going to be
00:53:51.29\00:53:55.43
a glory to the kingdom of God.
00:53:55.46\00:53:58.27
This morning how many of you,
00:53:58.30\00:54:00.17
I don't want to
know about your trials,
00:54:00.20\00:54:01.54
but how many of you want to
be all that God wants you to be
00:54:01.57\00:54:05.27
in the midst of your trials,
00:54:05.31\00:54:07.84
not just at the end, in
the midst of your trials.
00:54:07.88\00:54:11.91
If that's your desire today,
I'd like you to stand with me,
00:54:11.95\00:54:15.38
we want to sing a
closing stanza of this song.
00:54:15.42\00:54:17.75
God sent His Son
00:54:42.58\00:54:48.45
They called Him Jesus
00:54:48.48\00:54:54.39
He came to love
00:54:54.42\00:55:00.30
Heal and forgive
00:55:00.33\00:55:06.53
He lived and died
00:55:06.57\00:55:13.14
To buy my pardon
00:55:13.17\00:55:19.58
An empty grave
00:55:19.61\00:55:23.69
Is there to prove
00:55:23.72\00:55:27.09
My Savior lives
00:55:27.12\00:55:30.79
Let's just sing
that chorus together.
00:55:30.83\00:55:33.46
Because He lives
00:55:33.50\00:55:39.70
I can face tomorrow
00:55:39.73\00:55:46.21
Because He lives
00:55:46.24\00:55:52.65
All fear is gone
00:55:52.68\00:55:59.09
Because I know
00:55:59.12\00:56:06.90
He holds the future
00:56:06.93\00:56:12.97
And life is worth
00:56:13.00\00:56:17.17
The living just
00:56:17.21\00:56:20.94
Because He lives
00:56:20.98\00:56:26.05
Our heads are
bowed, our eyes are closed.
00:56:26.08\00:56:29.02
My heavenly, Father,
today we stand because You live.
00:56:29.05\00:56:34.92
Your trials, Your betrayal,
00:56:34.96\00:56:39.59
Your scourging,
00:56:39.63\00:56:42.43
Your false accusations.
00:56:42.46\00:56:46.37
You bore them all,
Father, because You loved us.
00:56:46.40\00:56:49.04
And then You bought a gift
00:56:52.07\00:56:53.41
called forgiveness to
extend to each one of us.
00:56:53.44\00:56:56.95
So divine, so
devoid of humanity,
00:56:56.98\00:57:00.22
You came to us in
the broken down state
00:57:00.25\00:57:03.25
like the 11 brothers of Joseph,
00:57:03.28\00:57:06.09
envious, jealous, contentious,
00:57:06.12\00:57:09.89
liars, deceptive.
00:57:09.92\00:57:14.40
At best our righteousness
is like filthy rags
00:57:14.43\00:57:17.30
but You came to us.
00:57:17.33\00:57:20.14
And when You
could have condemned us,
00:57:20.17\00:57:21.74
You gave us food to eat.
00:57:21.77\00:57:24.91
When You could
have condemned us,
00:57:24.94\00:57:26.27
You embraced us.
00:57:26.31\00:57:28.48
And with Your tears You drew
us in as Brother to Brother,
00:57:28.51\00:57:33.55
Savior to saved.
00:57:33.58\00:57:37.05
And, Father, today, we thank You
00:57:37.09\00:57:39.92
that our lives are
no longer in the pit,
00:57:39.95\00:57:44.53
but we are on our
way to the palace.
00:57:44.56\00:57:48.03
But, Father, this
morning there's somebody here
00:57:48.06\00:57:49.93
who may be
wrestling with forgiveness.
00:57:49.96\00:57:54.64
They may be
recounting all the things
00:57:54.67\00:57:56.50
that have happened to them
00:57:56.54\00:57:58.47
from their betrayers
from those who have disliked,
00:57:58.51\00:58:03.01
and have maligned, and
have wrongly accused them.
00:58:03.04\00:58:08.38
That may be even something
00:58:08.42\00:58:09.75
that they've done
in their own lives
00:58:09.78\00:58:11.12
to bring the
displeasure of God upon them.
00:58:11.15\00:58:13.96
And in their pit they wonder
00:58:13.99\00:58:15.32
what tomorrow is going to bring.
00:58:15.36\00:58:18.29
In the moment of their slavery,
they wonder whether or not
00:58:18.33\00:58:20.36
God still cares and loves them.
00:58:20.40\00:58:22.03
But today, Lord, I want
to thank You for reminding us
00:58:22.06\00:58:25.87
that You love us
with an everlasting love.
00:58:25.90\00:58:30.17
And with loving
kindness You draw us.
00:58:30.21\00:58:33.58
So, Lord, today as we
stand on December 2nd,
00:58:33.61\00:58:37.55
the year is about to close,
00:58:37.58\00:58:39.01
may it close
with a reconciliation
00:58:39.05\00:58:41.32
between our
brothers and our sisters,
00:58:41.35\00:58:44.12
between member and member alike,
00:58:44.15\00:58:48.42
between those called
to represent You Lord,
00:58:48.46\00:58:50.53
may we extend that gift
00:58:50.56\00:58:52.99
through the channels
of Christ to one another
00:58:53.03\00:58:56.06
that we may go into the
New Year healed and whole
00:58:56.10\00:58:58.40
and one in Jesus.
00:58:58.43\00:59:01.47
That we all
together may walk together
00:59:01.50\00:59:03.30
on our way to the palace.
00:59:03.34\00:59:05.77
So we thank You today
for Your saving grace.
00:59:05.81\00:59:08.44
May we not take it for granted,
00:59:08.48\00:59:10.18
may we rejoice, and
reflect, and reveal.
00:59:10.21\00:59:17.05
Forgiveness is so divine.
00:59:17.09\00:59:19.95
And this we ask
that You may be honored
00:59:19.99\00:59:23.76
and that You may be glorified.
00:59:23.79\00:59:26.46
In Jesus' holy and
precious name we pray.
00:59:26.49\00:59:30.67
Amen and amen.
00:59:30.70\00:59:33.34