Pastor Bernard
MN
revberna
The making of a leader. Lessons on leadership from the life of Joseph.
Lesson # 3: Always a leader. Dealing with delays.
Title: A leader in shackles or so it seemed.
Transition: We have seen that Joseph was a man of character and a gifted potential leader. As those qualities are tested against life trials and delays, what will happen?
Summary: Joseph passes through the tests of slavery, temptation and prison holding on to his dream.
Title: A leader in all times (the blizzard years).
Picture: The walk of faith in the maize of life.
Lesson reading: Gen 37:11-35
KJV Gen 37: 1And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
3Now 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.
4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
7For, 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.
8And 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.
9And 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.
10And 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?
11And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
12And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
13And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
14And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
16And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
21And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
22And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;
24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
25And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
28Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
30And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
31And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
32And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
33And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
34And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
35And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
36And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.
Theme: A leader in all times.
Introduction: You may feel like your life is spinning in circles, and think what happened to my calling? I am going nowhere! Are you really? Let’s check these impressions against the background of the life of Joseph.
Reading: Read the whole story of Joseph so you have the perspective: Genesis 37 to 50.
I.General observation: I observe 3 main seasons in Joseph’s leadership life:
Let’s consider in this lesson the blizzard years.
II.The preparation for the blizzard years : the divine dream!
Joseph’s mission started with a God-given dream that someday his whole family would bow to him.
It was the seed, the “small beginnings”.
The dream was an unclear dream, without dates attached, it was a general vision, a direction.
.Ex: “Go West young man”.
Abraham: leave your country for the country I will show you.
KJV Genesis 12: 1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.
KJV Genesis 13: 14And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
The country verbally given by God would only be inherited by his descendant Joshua some 600 years later.
We have to walk by faith. God’s will is often only revealed to us in part.
KJV Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Shape: It starts this way for most of us; we receive a God-given conviction, a sense that God has a plan for us, a calling, exceptionally a real dream or vision
Purpose: This original "word", message from God, will set the general tone for our life.
As you seek God’s will, don’t worry if the basic message is not perfectly clear yet, or if it takes years for the things suggested to come to pass, just walk by faith.
For Joseph, it started with just a dream, a symbolic dream that created quite an uproar around him.
God was giving him a direction, pointing to something denoting a future including leadership, authority, his family in need of him, begging him.
The important is to have received that passion, that call, that dream in our heart.
Even though it may not be a detailed road map, like a compass it points in the direction we will need to go, it sets the tone for our lives; it will help us make defining choices, defining decisions when we are at the cross roads.
In substance: Joseph knew he would be the leader of his family and that God given vision would be an anchor in times of North Pole type blizzards.
III.1st blizzard blow: the struggle with the “carnal minded”, the fleshly people:
A.The fleshly people and the apparent obstacles they create:
Definition: Paul defines them as people who have not been born of the Spirit or do not let the Spirit of God influence their lives, “men who do not have the spirit of Christ”. The term is translated carnal, natural, by opposition to spiritual. It also applies to spiritually immature people.
KJV Jude 1:19 19These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
KJV 1 Cor 3: 1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
KJV 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
They are part of our environment and we have to deal with them.
1.Joseph’s half-brothers:
His brothers were a rough bunch raised by mothers who were under the influence of the idolatrous beliefs of uncle Laban.
His non spiritual brothers were older, more numerous, stronger than him and he was in an isolated place away from his protecting father.
Gen 37:11-35
Jacob has favored Joseph because of his good dispositions and had no doubt shared with him his spiritual experiences, his revelations, his encounters with God.
a.The carnal minded brothers try to destroy subconsciously the prophetic announcement (V 19):
They are like the pigs, Jesus talked about, the swine, who do not understand the value of the things of God, trample on them and try to devour this spiritual young man.
KJV Matthew 7:6 6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
The carnal brothers could not stand the mark of spiritual authority Joseph was wearing (v23 ). The “pigs” tear the beautiful and uniform type robe. But God protects the robe wearer.
Carnal people and the devil cannot stand spiritual marks of authority.
Paul calls them children of rebellion, children of anger in the NT.
KJV Ephesians 2: 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
All of Jacobs’s sons were children of rebellion, they did not follow their father’s directives. They were the product of carnal decisions: First on the part of Laban (giving treacherously Leah instead of Rachel as wife to Jacob), and then of Leah and Rachel (giving their servants to Jacob to compete in having kids).
The brothers’ mixed motivations:
Why go to Shechem? Was it just because the valley was very fertile and the meadows lush? Couldn’t it be also to defy the remnant of the Shechemites or their neighbors whose men they had once slaughtered? (Genesis 34).
The carnal minded have all kinds of wrong motivations.
Why would Reuben try to save Joseph and bring him back to his dad? (v 21 ) To make up for his incestuous attitude (Genesis 35:22)? As eldest he was responsible for his brothers. Now he is in great dismay and despair, things went too far; he tears apart his own clothes. Is it just superficial rage because things have gotten out of his control?
Why would Judah want to protect Joseph, sell him instead of killing him? (v26)
To protect him from the blood thirsty Simeon and Levi (when the wolf has tasted blooded it wants more). Judah will be blessed abundantly by Jacob (Genesis 50) who will probably learn the whole story later on after they all go down to Egypt and get reconciled with Joseph(Genesis 46).
Notes: JFB Commentary v 26-28. Judah said, . . . What profit is it if we slay our brother?--The sight of these travelling merchants gave a sudden turn to the views of the conspirators; for having no wish to commit a greater degree of crime than was necessary for the accomplishment of their end, they readily approved of Judah's suggestion to dispose of their obnoxious brother as a slave. The proposal, of course, was founded on their knowledge that the Arabian merchants trafficked in slaves; and there is the clearest evidence furnished by the monuments of Egypt that the traders who were in the habit of bringing slaves from the countries through which they passed, found a ready market in the cities of the Nile.
b.As a prophet Joseph is despised in his own family.
Even Jesus suffered from the opposition of his carnal brothers;
KJV Matthew 13:57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
KJV John 4: 44For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country.
Application: Potential spiritual leader, be aware that carnal Christians struggling for power may oppose you, and don’t be surprised if your family does not understand you or your spiritual goals for your children.
Weather warning: beware of possible “brotherly” blizzards.
2.Joseph’s cousins: “fleshly” number 2 join in the apparent opposition to the accomplishment of Joseph’s dream.
The Ishmaelites (v 25) to whom Joseph is sold to are “natural, fleshly” descendants of Abraham through Sarah’s servant, Hagar. Ishmael is not the son of the promise but of the flesh, of the “natural plan”.
KJV Genesis 15: 4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars—if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
KJV Genesis 16: 1 Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar; 2 so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian maidservant Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she conceived.
Funny how the “carnal” slave traders appear at the right moment.
Even though they were his distant cousins, they had no mercy on him and sold him as a slave.
My my my, how birds of a feather can flock together! But God had a plan to use it all to his glory.
The only comfort was the good smell of the spices.
JFB they lifted up their eyes, . . . and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites--They are called Midianites ( Genesis 37:28 ), and Medanites, in Hebrew ( Genesis 37:36 ), being a travelling caravan composed of a mixed association of Arabians. Those tribes of Northern Arabia had already addicted themselves to commerce, and long did they enjoy a monopoly, the carrying trade being entirely in their hands. Their approach could easily be seen; for, as their road, after crossing the ford from the trans-jordanic district, led along the south side of the mountains of Gilboa, a party seated on the plain of Dothan could trace them and their string of camels in the distance as they proceeded through the broad and gently sloping valley that intervenes. Trading in the produce of Arabia and India, they were in the regular course of traffic on their way to Egypt: and the chief articles of commerce in which this clan dealt were
spicery from India, that is, a species of resinous gum, called storax, balm--"balm of Gilead," the juice of the balsam tree, a native of Arabia-Felix, and myrrh--an Arabic gum of a strong, fragrant smell. For these articles there must have been an enormous demand in Egypt as they were constantly used in the process of embalming.
3.Joseph’s master’s wife:
Potiphar’s wife, a very fleshly, sensual woman tempted Joseph and could have ruined his future, had he fallen for her charms. He then would have been her “slave” forever. Had he escaped from her influence, she may well have contributed to demote him later from his Prime Minister position.
JFB 7. his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph--Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people--in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar's wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly attest [WILKINSON]. Potiphar's wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station.
She tried to make him fall into the mire and sinking sands of sexual sin where many leaders had fallen and keep falling.
Sexual sin in probably one of the most common and worst pitfalls for potential leaders. Nothing like it to jeopardize their future; especially for young men.
When men struggle with sexual temptation or pornography, when they don’t seek help from good spiritual counselors and can’t master their thoughts and imaginations, they fall into guilt and soon abandon praying and spirituality alltogether. They may also fall into another form of jeopardy: hypocrisy.
Paul warns Timothy to “flee the passions of youth”.
KJV 2 Timothy 2:22 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Sexuality is a wonderful creation of God, potential leaders need to have a good biblical theology about it , good counseling, a strong healthy marriage, Christian support groups, and growth in “Self-control” an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit.
Beware of the “hot blizzards”, they sting and burn!
4.Joseph’s misled angry master:
Potiphar did not bother to make an inquiry and find out the truth but threw Joseph in prison.
He treated Joseph unjustly. He did not investigate or anything.
One more fleshly man who creates another injustice that seems to delay Joseph’s mission by having him thrown into prison.
As if slavery was not enough to apparently “kill his dreams”, he is now an imprisoned slave.
5.Joseph’s supposedly prison friend:
Joseph had helped the cup bearer regain confidence. He hoped this imprisoned “big shot” would help him in return when liberated.
Alas the selfish servant of the Pharaoh only thought about himself and forgot Joseph.
People who easily promise to help us in the ministry or get into the ministry cannot always be trusted and should not be depended upon.
B.Joseph overcame the influence or obstacles created by the fleshly people.
1.He avoided the trap of anger:
We overcome them by suffering patiently but not falling into their traps. Joseph could have become angry, irritated at the Ishmaelites, he could have tried to flee, escape and could have been killed.
2.He avoided the trap of self-pity:
He could have fallen for Potiphars' wife reasoning thus “in my misery, I need comfort, I will sleep with that woman” (he overcame self-pity).He could have rationalized and sinned.
3.He avoided the trap of discouragement and depression:
Jacob for his part did not: his fleshly children put him in the pit of desperation.
Our legitimate grief of hurt should not disconnect us so much from God that it stops our life, our spiritual understanding of things.
Don’t fall into desperation.
Jacob temporarily did not overcome the blows of the fleshly people:
The fearful nasty brothers will put a scheme together. They kill a goat, tear the robe to pieces, and dip it in goat’s blood (v 34). They take it to their father as fabricated evidence of a supposed accident occurred to Joseph. But there is a problem, court and justice would be most worried about: where is the body? Where is the real proof? Where are the bones? At least one little or big bone. No land animal can swallow entirely a body it tore to pieces. There were no whales in Dothan.
Shock and grief will blind Jacob. When he learned about his son’s probable death, he did not think about looking for evidence. Yes here was a bloody torn robe. But where were the remains, bones, hair, etc? He locks himself in his tent and in his depression; he does not want to be comforted. It gets the best of his senses, and even of his spiritual discernment.
Maybe he is not totally convinced but he fears his rebellious sons. Whatever the truth, he is incapable of sound judgment.
C.God used the fleshly ones to send Joseph to the throne:
They all contributed to his reaching the palace.
Believe that God is in control and that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28).
The unconscious role of the fleshly: The brothers put him on the caravan to Egypt. The Ishmaelites transported him to Egypt. Potiphars’s anger sent him to the prison. The cupbearer met in prison recommended him to Pharaoh later on.
D.Spiritual principles relating to the fleshly characters:
1. Beware of the fleshly ones, don’t act like them.
2.When the fleshly ones triumph, don’t let it get the best of you, don’t fall into anger, self-pity, or depression, keep trusting God.
Remember: The world is a mess because of sin and all the evil and bad attached to it but God is still in control and knows what he is doing and where he is leading his people.
Joseph will become the lead character in God’s plan now on because he keeps the faith and remains pure.
IV.2nd blizzard blow: the delay:
The testing, life imponderables. Why wait? I want to serve now. Life’s opposing circumstances.
A.The test of time:
Why doesn’t my dream come true right away? Why am I bound by my brothers and put in a cistern and sold? Why so many years as a slave, as a prisoner? Why didn’t the cupbearer remember me ?
Understanding God’s perspective:
God does not have the same understanding of time that we have.
He has all eternity.
Wait for God’s time:
He knows the right timing.
The big mission God has for us may not be for now but for later.
Joseph is kept in the “cooler” for D Day.
God’s timing in not ours.
Ex: The Scriptures refers to “When the time came.”
KJV Galatians 4:4 4But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Chronos time versus Cairos time in the NT:
Wikipedia Encyclopedia: Kairos (καιρός) is an ancient Greek word meaning the right or opportune moment (the supreme moment). The ancient Greeks had two words for time, chronos and kairos.
The term "kairos" is used in theology to describe the qualitative form of time. In rhetoric kairos is "a passing instant when an opening appears which must be driven through with force if success is to be achieved."[2] In the New Testament kairos means "the appointed time in the purpose of God", the time when God acts (e.g. Mark 1.15, the kairos is fulfilled). It differs from the more usual word for time which is chronos (kronos).
The Kairos Document (KD) is a theological statement issued in 1985 by a group of black South African theologians based predominantly in the black townships of Soweto, South Africa. The statement challenged the churches' response to what the authors saw as the vicious policies of the Apartheid state under the State of Emergency declared on 21 July 1985. The KD evoked strong reactions and furious debates not only in South Africa, but world-wide.
The KD is a prime example of contextual theology and liberation theology in South Africa, and has served as an example for attempted, similarly critical writing at decisive moments in several other countries and contexts (Latin America, Europe, Zimbabwe, India, etc.).
B.The delays: The out of my control events that seem to delay the fulfillment of my calling.
Paul had delays in his mission:
Sometimes caused by the Enemy:
KJV 1 Thessalonians 2:17But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
Sometimes allowed by the Spirit of Christ:
KJV Acts 16: 6Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
My trials seem to be so difficult to understand, it does not make sense.
Ex: God says he is going to bless me and I have an accident.
About delays: Delays are difficult to deal with.
In delays remember the principle contained in Rom 8:28
KJV 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Sometimes only the future or eternity will explain the delays.
When we look back later, it all makes sense why God allowed the delays as it does in Joseph’s case.
C.The “bites” of subjective guilt :
What have I done wrong? What is my sin? The many whys that can befall us as they befell Job.
Avoid falling into guilt:
Trials, delays, opposition don’t mean you have sinned nor done something wrong.
Joseph was the purest and most righteous guy in town.
He resisted his boss’s wife’s sexual advances to the point of prison.
Joseph’s understood the seriousness of sexual sin.
Through that temptation he was made to shine like a polished diamond.
He still sparkles today as we read his story.
D.An opportunity to shine in the dark:
God allows us to go through dark times so we may shine as a witness of his light in this dark and corrupted world.
Through that temptation Joseph was made to shine like a polished diamond.
He still sparkles today as we read his story.
He is one of the best role models for young people.
While we wait for the big jobs from God, we can influence others by our conversation, our conduct in facing temptations, trials, and opposition.
Joseph served God and others by showing the slaves that it was wrong to sleep with the mistress, to let her take advantage of them. He showed the way of purity to them.
He was even a witness of God to that woman. God wanted to save her too and only someone who would resist her could show her her sin and her need for God's mercy. We are to be witnesses to sinners.
When we don’t cheat at work, on the internet, etc, when we publicly refuse to be compromised, we are serving God, we are witnesses.
Doing God’s will is not always glamorous, it is the simple faithfulness in everyday life that impacts my children, my co-workers, my fellow Christians.
E.Character building: the needed Christian character building.
God is more interested in building our character and in the relationship we have with him than our accomplishments. He values our growth in fidelity, faithfulness, our worship of him, our depending on him, our prayer life. These can only develop through trials, problems, dilemmas. Through them we pray more, worship more, and count more on God.
Ex: My delays. Years of internship, 8 years, so long, but it built experience. The loss of a child. It was hard but it triggered growth in character, learning how to care for people who go through losses.
Moses, 40 years in the making, in Midian, in the desert, he learned to be a Shepherd, to listen to God; he met God in the desert (Exodus 3).
1.Growing in love and in the fruit of the Spirit:
Joseph may have had the feeling he was literally going in circles in the round prison. Instead he kept busy, cared for the other prisoners.
JFB 20. Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison--the roundhouse, from the form of its construction, usually attached to the dwelling of such an officer as Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean dungeon ( Genesis 41:14 ), though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the surface of the ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat in the form of an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the first ebullition of rage, threw Joseph and ordered him to be subjected further to as great harshness of treatment ( Psalms 105:18 ) as he dared; for the power of masters over their slaves was very properly restrained by law, and the murder of a slave was a capital crime.
a place where the king's prisoners were bound--Though prisons seem to have been an inseparable appendage of the palaces, this was not a common jail--it was the receptacle of state criminals; and, therefore, it may be presumed that more than ordinary strictness and vigilance were exercised over the prisoners. In general, however, the Egyptian, like other Oriental prisons, were used solely for the purposes of detention. Accused persons were cast into them until the charges against them could be investigated; and though the jailer was responsible for the appearance of those placed under his custody, yet, provided they were produced when called, he was never interrogated as to the way in which he had kept them.
He meets people he would not have met anywhere else than in prison. His divine connection, the cup bearer, his contact for his future mission was in prison.
Prison times are hard: we are restrained, we do not do what we want,
Prison times build character: they build patience, humility, self-denial, carrying our cross, caring for others, seeing people in worse conditions than we are, praying more, developing hope, learning to remain in peace ( fruit of the Spirit).
Appreciating the value of things we lost like freedom.
2.Growing in faith:
All the heroes of faith have had a tough road. Read Hebrews 11, especially verses 32 to 39 about those who were tested, tried, but triumphed in faith.
The secret of faith: Keep your heart on Jesus author and finisher of your faith.
KJV Hebrew 12: 1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Don’t lose the vision, even if you see dimly, not clearly, like through an ancient mirror, not well polished.
It is a day after day, hour after hour thing the walk of faith.
One reason: God’s plans are not ours.
Don’t lose heart, don’t lose the faith.
When you feel like you are going in circles, don’t give up, keep growing in God, keep loving, helping others, serving.
E.Service: Training, involvement.
As we mentioned in the previous lessons, Joseph was trained by God in the School of opposition. He became a better administrator in Potiphar’s house, a better manager in prison. He got training for the task ahead: lead a “life saving charity campaign” in the kingdom of Egypt.
Functioning as a leader as all times: means being faithful, doing what God puts on my path, help the people who need help and that I can help.
KJV Ecclesiates 9:10 10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Acting as a responsible spiritual person at all times, getting involved in Church, taking leadership under authority.
V.The dream is what kept him going:
Even though everything seemed to go wrong, he knew God had made a promise for him to be with his family again.
The dream kept his heart warm in the middle of the cold blizzard years.
He did not know how or when but he knew that one day people would bow down to him, that he would be in a position of rulership, that even the moon and the sun would bow to him. That was big but mysterious.
Hold on to the promises God has given you.
KJV Philippians 1: 3I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Overcome discouragement by remembering God’s promises.
Hold on to the original God-given dream, promise, calling, vision.
The dream the vision, the call will remain an anchor to your soul, to your faith.
The “promises” of God are our strength.
About God’s promises, using the example of Abraham, Hebrews presents them as a source of hope, as an anchor for or soul:
Hebrews 6: 13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast
VI.Conclusion, application, self-test:
1.Conclusion: Joseph was a leader in all times. He did not start leading at Pharaoh’s court. Wherever he was, in slavery or in prison, he developed his leadership character and talents preparing him for the big mission God had for him.
2.Application: When we are in the season between the call and the accomplishment, the promise and the realization, between the initial “dream” and the “involvement in the mission itself”, when the blizzards of opposition blow, here are 2 key verses to remember:
a.Romans 8:28
KJV 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
b.Philippians 4:6-7
KJV 6Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
3.Self-test:
a.Identifying my dream, my call:
Write down the calling, the dream, the vision, the promise, the passion God has clearly put in your heart.
b.Identifying your apparent maize:
Identify and write down the apparent and maybe confusing delays that have occurred since the original calling.
c.Identify and write down the doubts and fears that have gripped your heart:
d.Identify and write down how the delays, oppositions, etc. have helped you grow:
e.Do you now see how God is working in your life, shaping you?
Then refuse anxiety, doubts, and fears.
Praise him.
Hold on to your dream.
Copyright 2019 Pastor Bernard B. and Brookdale Christian Center. All rights reserved.
Pastor Bernard
MN
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