(Read Gen 45:3-8)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”, by continuing in the story of Joseph. In our last message Joseph revealed Himself. He said to his brothers, “I am your brother Joseph. Is my father doing well?” But the brothers did not answer him because they were confused and afraid. So Joseph said to his brothers again, “Come here to me. I beg you, come here.” When the brothers went to him, he said to them, “I am your brother Joseph. I am the one you sold as a slave to Egypt. Now don’t be worried. Don’t be angry with yourselves for what you did. It was God’s plan for me to come here. I am here to save people’s lives. This terrible famine has continued for two years now, and there will be five more years without planting or harvest. So God sent me here ahead of you so that I can save your people in this country. It was not your fault that I was sent here. It was God’s plan. God made me like a father to Pharaoh. I am the governor over all his house and over all Egypt.”
So what does this mean to you today? There is a lot that we can draw from what Joseph said. Let’s simply seek to glean a few golden nuggets today.
1. God is sovereign. As the years went by God revealed to Joseph that He had purpose wrapped up in what had happened to him. This does not mean that God makes bad things happen to good people. God did not make the brothers sell Joseph as a slave. Joseph later told them, “You tried to harm me,” but Joseph went on to say, “but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing” (Gen 50:20). So this does not mean that God makes bad things happen to you, but it does mean that He make the most out of what does happen to you. God can take situations that were planned for your evil and make them turn out for your good. So if you are facing a bad situation this morning, seek God, and ask Him to reveal the purpose in the pain. God may not have caused the pain, but He can still use it for your good.
2. Look beyond the problem and focus on the purpose. Once you realize the purpose God has in your situation it will help you approach it from a different perspective. After Joseph realized that he was in Egypt to save millions of lives, he concentrated on his purpose, instead of the wrong done to Him. Sure, his brothers had done him wrong. Sure, they had bad intentions when they did it. But Joseph had a greater purpose and he focused on that purpose. So when he finally had an opportunity to be reunited with his brothers, he was too focused on God’s purpose to be focused on the pain they had caused him. See, when you are purpose-driven you have the ability to look past problems and those who cause them. You will still acknowledge the problems existed and the evil intentions of those who caused them, but you will be too focused on God and His plans to waste good time and energy on things that are not taking you forward.
3. Give God the glory. God always wants acknowledgement for what He does in your life. Joseph did not say that he got to the position he was in because he worked hard. He did not say that he made it there because of his intellect. He did not attribute his success to his own ability. Joseph gave the credit to God and His grace. Joseph acknowledged the fact that it was God who had supernaturally placed him in command of Egypt. Learn from Joseph and do the same thing. Every chance you get you should brag on God and tell others about the things God is doing in your life. Don’t be foolish enough to think that you are where you are because of your own ability. You know it was God’s grace and you should be quick to openly acknowledge His grace before the world!
4. Believe God for Favor. God favored Joseph everywhere he went. Joseph prospered as a salve and as a prisoner, because the hand of God was on Joseph to succeed. God caused him to prosper because of the grace that was on his life and Joseph’s grace was connected to his divine purpose. Well, your name may not be Joseph and God may not have called you to lead Egypt, but God surely has a plan for your life and His grace is connected to that plan. As you die to self and as you attempt to become the person God called you to be, ask God to favor the work of your hands. Ask God for divine favor with Him and with man. Ask God to raise up people to use their power, their ability, their influence, and maybe even their money, to help you in ways you cannot help yourself. Ask God to open doors no man can close and to close doors no man can open. Ask God for supernatural favor and when He gives it to you, be sure to acknowledge His hand and also be sure to use the influence to HELP others. You are blessed TO BE a blessing to others!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. I acknowledge Your sovereignty in all things. I don’t blame You for the bad things that happen – to me or to others. I know there is a devil and I know satan only comes to steal, kill and destroy. Satan will come against me and he will use as many people as he can to attempt to derail me from my destiny, but his plan won’t work. You are bigger than satan and Your power is stronger than anything or anyone against me. You are on my side, whom shall I fear? You are the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Since I know You are ON me, IN me, WITH me, and FOR me, I have nothing to fear. And I trust that You can take the things that were meant for my evil and turn them around for my good. So I am not moved by people or the bad they attempt to do in my life. I am only moved by You, Your plans and Your purposes. Since I am so focused on Your purpose for my life, I don’t carry the pain of my past, nor do I harbor bitterness towards those who caused it. I look beyond problems and those who cause them, I focus on Your and Your purpose, and I am determined to become the person You called me to be. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
