(Read Gen 45:14-20)
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. After Joseph offered to be a blessing to his family he finally got the opportunity to settle down and spend some quality time with them. He went over to his little brother Benjamin, they hugged each other, and they both started crying. Joseph was still crying as he kissed each of his other brothers and they all spent some time talking to each other. By this time the word got back to the king that Joseph’s brothers had come. Now, what do you think happened? Joseph had promised his family land in Egypt. Joseph had promised to be a blessing to them. Joseph was very excited about a family reunion. The king (Pharaoh) was the only person with the power to disrupt his plans. The king could have thrown the proverbial wrench in the works. But the Lord had given Joseph favor with the king. Instead of having an issue with it, the king told Joseph, “Tell your brothers to load their donkeys and return to Canaan. Have them bring their father and their families here. I will give them the best land in Egypt, and they can eat and enjoy everything that grows on it. Also tell your brothers to take some wagons from Egypt for their wives and children to ride in. And be sure to have them bring their father. They can leave their possessions behind, because they will be given the best of everything in Egypt.”
Once again in this text I see the grace and favor of God in operation. Now, you may be thinking, “Rick, you have taught on God’s grace and favor over and over again. Today’s Word is good, but you keep driving home some of the same points over and over.” Well, you are right. I don’t mind sharing some of the same truths over and over with you, because that is how you grow and expand your capacity to believe God. You can’t just hear something one time and get it in your spirit. When Paul was writing to the church at Philippi he was teaching them to develop their joy in the Lord. He repeated this theme throughout his letter. By the time he got to the third chapter he said, “It doesn’t bother me to write the same things to you that I have written before. In fact, it is for your own good” (3:1). In his letter to the church in Rome Paul taught us that “faith comes by hearing” (10:17), and this “hearing” is a direct reference to the Word of God. Notice that he did not say that it comes by what you have heard. For your faith to consistently be in operation you must consistently hear and receive the Word of God. The more you hear and receive the Word of God in an area, the more your faith develops in that area. I have a responsibility to preach it (or in this case, write) and you have a responsibility to receive it, believe it, and release faith for it. God operates with you by His grace, but He requires you to access His grace with your faith. Messages like the ones you receive through Today’s Word help you do just that.
I feel led to reiterate the fact that God used Pharaoh to BE a blessing to Joseph and his family, because that should elevate your capacity to believe God in that area. Pharaoh used his power, his ability, and his influence to help Joseph. Likewise, you should believe God to move on the hearts of others to do the same for you. It’s called divine favor and it is available to you in order for you to accomplish your divine assignment.
So what does this mean to you today? A few quick things:
1. Put yourself in a position where you consistently receive the Word of God. You need a steady diet of God’s Word in order to grow and develop your faith.
2. The Word you consistently receive will be the Word you believe, exercise faith in, and become.
3. If you are not studying the Word of God (what God said), and hearing from God on a consistent basis (what God is saying), you won’t be able to maximize your purpose or potential.
4. You cannot make the most of the life you have been given by yourself. God will give you favor with others and move on their hearts to help you accomplish your divine assignment. Favor can do more in a minute than labor can do in a lifetime.
5. Nothing is impossible with God. When you look at the many ‘seemingly impossible’ situations that were turned-around for Jacob and his boys, you know we serve a God who can do all things. No matter what you are facing this morning, the grace and favor of God is available to you to both deal with it, and overcome it.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You have taken the time to teach me about Your amazing, unearned and unyielding grace towards me. You have also taken the time to help me develop and grow my faith. The more You pour into me, the more I see myself becoming the person You birthed me to be. I see the kind of favor You gave Joseph with Pharaoh. Joseph did nothing to earn that favor. You simply moved on the heart of Pharaoh to help Joseph. You then used Joseph TO BE a blessing to millions and to his family. Like Joseph, I live my life with Your dream IN me. Your dream, Your purpose, Your divine assignment, is the driving force behind everything I do. I am nothing with You, but with You, by Your grace, through Your Spirit, I can do all things. I enter this day and every day focused on You and Your divine purpose for my life. My life is not my own. I am submitted and surrendered to You. None of me, all of You, use me for Your glory. As I live this way I know You will give me both the power to do what I must do on my own and the favor to receive what I need to receive from others in order to accomplish Your will. I live by my faith and Your grace, with the added benefit of divine favor. I will arrive at Your desired destination for my life, no by my might or my power, but by Your grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
