This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Let’s talk about Joseph today. At some point in this series I will do a ‘deep dive’ into the life of Joseph. But for this morning we will simply take a quick look at how the Lord blessed Joseph to prosper (succeed) while he was a slave in Potiphar’s house. The Bible says, “The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.” (Gen 39:2).
Joseph was the apple of his father’s eye. Jacob loved Joseph so much that he favored Joseph over his brothers. This caused Joseph’s older brothers to dislike him. And when God gave Joseph a dream — by grace; completely unearned and unmerited — Joseph’s brothers hated him even more. Joseph’s brothers almost killed him; they threw him in a pit, they sold him as a slave, and he wound up in Potiphar’s home.
While with Potiphar, living as a slave, Joseph did not have the warmth of his mother’s embrace, the affirmation of his father’s words, the friendship of his little brother Benjamin, or his prized possession, his coat of many colors. Joseph did not have his family or his freedom, but what Joseph did have was God. Since God was WITH Joseph, the Bible says, “he succeeded in everything he did.” Joseph was a slave, and he prospered as a slave. Why? Because of God’s presence, because of power, because of God’s grace.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Godly success cannot always be measured by the world’s standards: money, fame, cars, homes, etc. God can provide a type of prosperity that far exceeds anything that can be measured in dollars and cents.
2. Christ-centered prosperity is prosperity with Jesus Christ at the center of it. It is a dependence on Him and not self.
3. You should not have a limited view of success (or prosperity). God has a way of getting you everything you need to succeed in life, even when the circumstances are less-than favorable.
4. Success cannot be defined simply in terms of WHAT we have. Sometimes success is defined by WHO we have WITH us. The presence of the Lord in our lives is what brings us ultimate and everlasting success.
5. God wants you to believe that He will never leave you, nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Your confidence in His presence will open the door to success.
6. Like Joseph, you might have been betrayed by people you loved, but you can find strength in knowing that God will never betray you and He will never let you down.
7. The presence of the Lord made Joseph a prosperous slave. Everything he put his hands on prospered, because God was with him. If the presence of the Lord could make Joseph prosper as a slave, imagine what it will do for you as you head off to work this morning.
8. It doesn’t matter what’s absent when God is present. God’s presence makes all the difference.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your amazing grace. You love me so much that it is sometimes hard for me to accept. Your love is unearned and I often feel like it is undeserved. I did nothing to get you to start loving me, and Your Word teaches me that nothing I do can make you stop. Your unconditional love is a perfect picture of your amazing grace. You love me in spite of my flaws, You made plans for me even though You knew all the mistakes I would make, and You tirelessly dedicate Yourself to me, even when I don’t acknowledge Your presence. You are a good God and the more I learn of Your grace, the more I understand and embrace Your goodness. Joseph was betrayed by his family members, but You stuck by Him and You made him prosperous, even as a slave. Like Joseph, I have been mistreated by some, but I find strength in Your commitment to me. You will never leave me, nor forsake me. You will never turn Your back on me. You will never let me down. You will never relax the grip You have on me. You have promised to be WITH me and Your presence makes all the difference in my life. I enter this day and this week confident, because You are WITH me. My work shall succeed because of Your presence. No matter what or who is absent from my life, the fact that You are present changes everything. I decrease so You can increase through me, and together we will leave a mark that will never be erased. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
