INTRODUCTION
Recap previous messages in series? “Last week we looked at Jacob, the man who had his name changed from a name that meant “deciever” (an accurate description of his character) to Israel which means “God prevails”. Jacob is proof that God can change the most corrupt heart!
Today we?re going to look at a man who spent a lot of times in the “ditches” of life. The man I?m going to talk about today probably was the first who exclaimed, “If life is a bowl of cherries, why am I in the pits?” Yet if there ever was a guy who knew how to take lemons and make lemonade, it was this man?
Hebrews 11:22 (NIV)
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
The write of Hebrews lists Joseph as a hero of faith. Why? What is it about this man that makes him worthy of making the list?
Not only did he make the list, but Genesis devotes more than 8 full chapters to the life of the servant of God named Joseph. If Joseph burst through our doors this morning, strode to this pulpit, and began to preach, what would he say to you? What nuggets of wisdom would he share with you? What things would Joseph maybe have done differently?
From some observations I?ve discovered about Joseph?s life, I believe that there are 3 things Joseph would say to us if he were here this morning.
PRAY
Before I get into the statements that I believe Joseph would speak, there are I few things I?d like to establish first.
Joseph was a favored son?
One of the first things we are told about Joseph when we are introduced to him in Genesis 37 is that he was a favored son among many brothers.
Genesis 37:3 (NIV)
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.
Joseph?s dad, Jacob, loved him so much that he made for him a special robe for him. Joseph was loved so much by Jacob because he was the first of two sons born to him by Rachel ? the love of Jacob?s life [elaborate]?
What is significant here is that because Joseph was favored he had a rather easy beginning to his life! Life was pretty rosy for him for the first seventeen years! However?
Joseph was a hated brother?
Genesis 37:4 (NIV)
4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Joseph was a dreamer?
In his young age Joseph was given a pair of dreams by God that prophesied about his future. A future that, for Joseph at least, was a very interesting and blessed one.
Genesis 37:5-11 (NIV)
5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
Needless to say, when Joseph?s family heard his dream they weren?t exactly enthused! Joseph wasn?t the only one in the Bible who received a God-given dream?
Moses & Israelites ? freedom from slavery and then promised land
Joshua ? victory over inhabitants of promised land/a nation serving God
David ? a kingdom united under God, a temple for God
Nehemiah ? the kingdom and temple restored/rebuilt.
Jesus ? the reconciliation between God and man. This is God?s dream!
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Then there are dreams that God has given great men down through history ? men like?
Abraham Lincoln ? the America would be a land of freedom
Martin Luther King Jr. ? his famous “I have a dream” speech
Or more modern day “dreamers” like Dr. Dobson ? Focus on the Family.
Then there are dreams that God bestows on everyday people like you and me. Dreams for your family, dreams for your future, dreams for your church. One of the dreams he has given many people here for HPC ? myself included ? is that our church would have an incredible impact on our community and that we will see our sanctuary full of new believers in Jesus Christ. I have a dream to be in a new church building in five years. I have a dream to see our community in the midst of a revival. What is your dream? What dreams has God given you for your life, your family, your home, your church? Do you have a dream? What are the “palaces” that God has placed in your mind? What kind of mountaintops are capturing your heart? What are the blessings that you yearn for?
So Joseph was a dreamer ? now, what would the dreamer say to us today if he were here?
THERE ARE SOME PIT-STOPS ON THE WAY TO THE PALACE?
The journey to your God-given dream?s destination will mean walking through some valleys?
Look what happened to Joseph?
His own brothers sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:12-28)
He became the slave of an Egyptian official (Genesis 39:1)
He was falsely accused of sexual molestation (Genesis 39:11-18)
He was thrown into prison (Genesis 39:19-20)
His hope to get out of prison was dashed when a man he helped forgot about him and he spent another two years in the dungeon. (Genesis 39:20-23)
There were definitely some pit-stops or valleys on Joseph?s journey to his dreams? destination! We too will face some pit-stops on the road to our palaces! The path to the fulfillment of a dream is always filled with valleys?
Some valleys may be of your own making?
Sometimes we will walk right into the valleys that God would rather we didn?t ? but he has given us free-will and will not interfere. Folks sometimes we just do plain stupid things when we take things into our own hands! Look at Joseph?
IF you were the runt of the litter?
If you were a Daddy?s boy who got special treatment?
If your brothers already hated you and scorned you?
Would you go and share the dream Joseph had been given with your brothers?
God never told Joseph to share those dreams.
God never instructed him to tell his brothers that he would rule over them.
If that wasn?t enough, He decided to tell the whole family about another dream that he?d had that indicated they all would bow down to him.
Or what about when Joseph was accused of molesting his master?s wife. Notice what Genesis 39:11-12 says? (expand)
Genesis 39:11-12 (NIV)
11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.
Some valleys may be of God?s choosing?
Sometimes God allows certain things to happen in our lives so he can make the preparations in your life and in the lives of others for the fulfillment of the dream He?s given you.
Sometimes we go through valleys that just defy explanation and we simply have to trust that God is doing a work in our lives through those valleys (this will be important to remember when we come to the second point).
For instance, the question that sometimes comes to my mind when I read the story of Joseph is why did God wait two full years to pass before giving Pharaoh his dream that would lead to the release of Joseph from prison (see Genesis 41:1-14)?
Some valleys may be caused by Satan?
John 10:10 (NIV)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV)
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
More often these valleys are simply a combination of all three?
The thing we need to remember about our Lord is that He is all-knowing and all-powerful. Don?t think for a moment that He doesn?t already know about some of the dumb decisions, or choices you will make when He gives you a dream. Yet, He still does. Don?t think for a moment that God isn?t aware of the enemy?s plans and schemes to derail you of the track to God?s dream for your life. I believe that sometimes the valleys we go through are a combination of our choosing and His allowing so that we will not only learn a lesson but also so that He will be glorified.
Maybe Joseph made his own valley by spilling the beans on his God-given dream to the wrong people. But God used that opportunity to get Him on the road to Egypt.
Maybe Joseph shouldn?t have placed himself in a dangerous position with Potiphar?s wife. Or maybe Satan was doing his best to get Joseph to sin. But God transformed the valley into an opportunity to meet the king of Egypt.
One of my most favorite verses in the Bible is found in Romans 8:28;
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Certainly this was the case with Joseph.
Friend?s I believe Joseph would tell us that the journey to your God-given dream?s destination will mean walking through some valleys?.BUT when you persevere you WILL get there!!!
Moses & Israelites ? freedom from slavery and then promised land
Joshua ? victory over inhabitants of promised land/a nation serving God
David ? a kingdom united under God, a temple for God
Nehemiah ? the kingdom and temple restored/rebuilt.
Jesus ? the reconciliation between God and man. This is God?s dream!
Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
This is where faith comes in ? having faith that the valley will eventually start sloping upwards!! Which brings me to the next statement I believe Joseph would make if He were here this morning?
WHAT YOU DO IN THE PITS INFLUENCES HOW LONG YOU?LL STAY THERE!
While it is true that there are some pit-stops on the way to the palace ? it is equally true that the length of time you spend in those valley?s depend on what you do! You see you have two choices when you come to the valley?s of life ? you can grow or you can choke! You can give up or you can give more!! The dream God has given you will either live or die in the pit-stops you face in your journey.
The hallmark of integrity is what a person does when they are in the low points of life. A person of integrity will not see defeat as an excuse for depravity but instead will see defeat as a challenge to diligence and perseverance. This was the case with Joseph?
when he became a slave of Potiphar he could have griped, he could have groaned, he could have complained, and certainly he could have been a miserable person or at least tried to run away ? after all, he wasn?t supposed to be there right? Joseph was a favored son of a prominent leader in the land of Canaan. He was where he didn?t deserve to be! Yet listen to what the Bible says about what Joseph did in Potiphar?s household.
Genesis 39:2-6 (NIV)2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
Joseph chose integrity over giving up and giving in when he was at the house of Potiphar. Notice that because of his choice he ended up becoming the most important person in Potiphar?s household next to Potiphar himself! He was rising out of the pit in which he found himself because his attitude and actions reflected his integrity.
Then there came a further test of Joseph?s integrity when Potiphar?s wife threw herself at him and tried to seduce him. Certainly this young man would have been tempted to give in to the bosses wife but listen to his response to her advances?
Genesis 39:8-10 (NIV)8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.
Certainly you would think that now Joseph would be rewarded somehow for his character and strength in resisting this woman?s advances and remaining a man of integrity ? but what happened? He got tossed into the pit again! And isn?t that how life is? It seems that no matter what good you do ? you just end up in the pits again!! Joseph could have thrown in the towel this time and said, “That?s it! I?m done with this nice guy bit” But he didn?t ? why? Because integrity wasn?t just a trial thing for Joseph ? it was his life because of his relationship and love for God. Even though he was in the valley again ? Joseph persevered. And once again he rose out of the pit?
Genesis 39:20-23 (NIV)20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
Expand the same point with the cupbearer and the baker? (Genesis 40)
Genesis 40:23 (NIV)23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
What you do in the pit influences how long you stay there? and let me add something to that ? even the deepest valleys can turn into the highest mountains when you make the right choices?
When you?
choose to grow rather than gripe.
Choose to give more rather than give up
Choose to last rather than list.
Choose to depend on God rather than divorce yourself from him
Choose to rejoice rather than wail
The sad thing is, there are so many people who don?t get out of the valleys of life because they?ve lost sight of the mountain. Joseph never forgot his dream ? and he never forgot his God. Because he continued to act like a mountain dweller even when he was in the valley?s ? because he continued to behave like an inhabitant of the palace even when he was in the pits ? those valleys turned into mountains in Joseph?s life.
Now this brings me to the next point?
WHEN YOU REACH THE PALACE ? DON?T FORGET WHO PUT YOU THERE!!
I was struck with what Joseph said as the dreams of his youth were realized when his family had to come to him as the most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh in order to get food because of the famine (expand on story]. Joseph very easily could have destroyed his brothers for what they had done to him. He could have very well exacted a fitting revenge for their betrayal of family ties. While Joseph did test them he never took revenge and when he revealed who he was to his brothers ? in face of their fear ? Joseph said these words?
Genesis 45:4-9 (NIV)4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.
Joseph made it clear his understanding that he was only in the palace because of what God had done. When your God-given dreams get realized don?t ever forget who gave you them in the first place! Isn?t it funny that when we find ourselves in the valleys of life it?s so easy to blame God, yet when we bask in the sun of the mountaintop we forget Him! Remember to glorify God for the fulfillment of His dream for your life ? the dream he has given you?
CONCLUSION
Folks, I?d like to repeat some of the questions I asked at the beginning of this message?
What is your dream? What dreams has God given you for your life, your family, your home, your church? Do you have a dream? What are the “palaces” that God has placed in your mind? What kind of mountaintops are capturing your heart? What are the blessings that you yearn for?
On the first Day of Pentecost after Jesus? Resurrection ? the day that Christ established his church in the power of the Holy Spirit ? the apostle Peter addressed a crowd of people in Jerusalem who had just witnessed the baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Christ. In the midst of his message Peter quotes from the prophet Joel and says,
Acts 2:17 (NIV)
17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Folks, I believe with all my heart that God has a dream He wants to give you (if He hasn?t already done so). If you have that dream already then I want you to believe in it and pray for it and have faith that the dream will become a reality in the power of God. Remember that there will be some pit-stops on the way to the palace of your dream (maybe you are in one of those pits right now!!), and decide now what you are going to do about it! Don?t let the valley become the grave of your dream instead let it be a step to its fulfillment! If you are in that valley right now then I want to pray with you that you will have the integrity of Joseph and make the right choices.
If you are a Christian here today and don?t have a dream then I want to pray with you and for you today that the Holy Spirit will birth the dream He has for you, in you today!
If you are not a Christian then I want to share with you the dream God has for you right now [share the gospel message] Will you fulfill God?s dream for your life right now? Will you receive Christ? Will you receive the dreams he wants to give you as your own – dreams that are possible as God works in and through your life?