Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 8/23/09:
1. Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was a man of wisdom. Joseph’s wisdom was a product of his choosing righteousness and faithfulness. His ability to make good plans was a product of his wisdom. (See Proverbs 21:5; 22:3; 16:1-3,5,9; 30:24,25) “Plans are a necessary part of the wise man’s life; only fools follow the path of fateful chance. The plans of wise [men and women] incorporate righteous principles.” (from: God’s Wisdom for Daily Living)
2. Joseph’s life illustrates a Biblical principle of life: faithfulness in little things leads to being trusted with greater things. The parable of Luke 19:11-27 illustrates this principle for the believer. Four lessons of life can be deduced from this passage: 1) God has made an investment in us, we are to bear fruit; 2) we are responsible to the Lord for the way we use our gifts, abilities, opportunities, circumstances, means, and time. He will hold us accountable; 3) Faithfulness is the key to fruitfulness & success (but see also point #3); 4) this life is training for the kingdom and for eternity.
3. Joseph has two sons and he names them “forget” and “fruitful.” He, in God’s goodness “forgot” about the pain of the past, his mistreatment by his brothers, his slavery and imprisonment. He determined to let go of the pain of the past, the hurts of the past. Without this step in our lives we condemn ourselves to relive the past over and over in every new situation. Fruitfulness is dependent, not only on faithfulness (as point #2 above) but on forgetfulness of past hurts.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
A Reversal In Fortune
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 8/16/09:
1. With suddenness Joseph’s position changes in Genesis 41. He begins the chapter in prison, he ends the chapter in power.
2. For two years the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh forgot about Joseph. These were not wasted years for Joseph, however; God was perfecting him, maturing him, and preparing him for what was ahead.
3 . Because of his faith, Joseph was able to go through this time without becoming bitter, vindictive, or disillusioned.
4. About the suffering of the righteous, Peter writes: “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” (The Message)
5. When given the opportunity to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh, Joseph is careful throughout to give God the credit. (Genesis 41:16,25,28,32).
Recap of 8/16/09:
1. With suddenness Joseph’s position changes in Genesis 41. He begins the chapter in prison, he ends the chapter in power.
2. For two years the chief cupbearer of Pharaoh forgot about Joseph. These were not wasted years for Joseph, however; God was perfecting him, maturing him, and preparing him for what was ahead.
3 . Because of his faith, Joseph was able to go through this time without becoming bitter, vindictive, or disillusioned.
4. About the suffering of the righteous, Peter writes: “Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like Him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want.” (The Message)
5. When given the opportunity to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh, Joseph is careful throughout to give God the credit. (Genesis 41:16,25,28,32).
Monday, August 10, 2009
Why Me?
Click here to download the sermon file.
Recap of 8/9/09:
1. There are two ways we can respond to the hurts, failures, unjust treatment, and disappointments of life, we can be consumed by them, eaten up inside, never letting go of the hurt, never surrendering the pain, consumed with bitterness and revenge; or we can see beyond the hurt, pain, disappointment and allow God to use those things to fulfill His purposes for us. The latter is the path that Joseph trod.
2. What we can learn from Joseph’s response to injustice is:
-do what’s at hand and do it well, be conscientious, keep a positive attitude, an attitude of expectation (Joseph could not have seen how being in prison could be helpful to his cause)
-stay busy, make yourself available to God, to be used of Him, even in menial things
-be sensitive to the hurting people around us (Joseph could have been so locked in self-pity that he could have missed the pain of the baker and cupbearer and an opportunity for service – which would lead to his release )
-when the opportunity to share your plight comes, do not remain silent, trusting God does not mean just doing nothing
-wait for God to work (Genesis 41:1, Joseph waited two years)
3. “All the water in the ocean cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside; and all the trouble in the world cannot harm us unless it gains entrance to our hearts. On such analogy faith is pitch and caulking.” (Eugene Peterson, Praying with the Psalms)
Recap of 8/9/09:
1. There are two ways we can respond to the hurts, failures, unjust treatment, and disappointments of life, we can be consumed by them, eaten up inside, never letting go of the hurt, never surrendering the pain, consumed with bitterness and revenge; or we can see beyond the hurt, pain, disappointment and allow God to use those things to fulfill His purposes for us. The latter is the path that Joseph trod.
2. What we can learn from Joseph’s response to injustice is:
-do what’s at hand and do it well, be conscientious, keep a positive attitude, an attitude of expectation (Joseph could not have seen how being in prison could be helpful to his cause)
-stay busy, make yourself available to God, to be used of Him, even in menial things
-be sensitive to the hurting people around us (Joseph could have been so locked in self-pity that he could have missed the pain of the baker and cupbearer and an opportunity for service – which would lead to his release )
-when the opportunity to share your plight comes, do not remain silent, trusting God does not mean just doing nothing
-wait for God to work (Genesis 41:1, Joseph waited two years)
3. “All the water in the ocean cannot sink a ship unless it gets inside; and all the trouble in the world cannot harm us unless it gains entrance to our hearts. On such analogy faith is pitch and caulking.” (Eugene Peterson, Praying with the Psalms)
Monday, August 03, 2009
Guest Speaker ~ Frank Ochello
Click here to download the sermon file.
Guest Speaker Frank Ochello speaks todays from 1 Peter 1:13-25. Approximately 40 minutes.
Guest Speaker Frank Ochello speaks todays from 1 Peter 1:13-25. Approximately 40 minutes.
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