Note: Today is the birthday of our only daughter, Alyssa. If you know Alyssa, please wish her a happy birthday.
YouTube Channel: To watch a video version of any of these messages, please visit: https://youtube.com/rickpina
Today we continue our series entitled, “Faith and Patience Volume IV — The Wonder Twins”. I am using Joseph as a good example of our need for patience. We are seeking to learn from the different phases of Joseph’s life. Each phase (paternal, pit, Potiphar, prison, and palace/Prime Minister) has significance to this series and to our lives. There are lessons to be learned in every season.
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
(Gen 41:41 MSG)
So Pharaoh commissioned Joseph: “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt.”
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Setting the stage.
Pharaoh was a king and not an elected official. Egypt was under a monarchy and not a democracy. This is very important because God operates under kingdom principles and not democratic ones. Those of us who are accustomed to a democracy sometimes find it hard to relate to kingdom concepts.
Let’s use our Presidential office as an example of the text. Even if God gave you supernatural favor with the President of the United States, he could not do what Pharaoh did with Joseph. If a sitting President (or Prime Minister of any nation today) decided to place a prisoner in charge of the nation it would be plastered all over world news and the newly appointed prisoner and possibly the President/Prime Minister would be removed through the nations’ system of checks and balances.
A President does not have supreme power or overall authority. Their power is limited to the system of government. A king, on the other hand, is not elected. A king is either born into power (blood) or takes the position as a result of conquering a nation (force). A king rules with complete and total authority. A king is not subject to checks or balances. A king reigns over his kingdom and his word is final.
2. Differences between Kings and Presidents/Prime Ministers and what it means to You.
a) Establishment. People are elected President or Prime Minister, but one must be born into royalty. Normally the person(s) who establishes your authority has a say in how you carry it out. In the case of Presidents and Prime Ministers, this role is executed by the people. If the people do not approve, changes are normally made. Since Kings are born and not elected, there is no tie to external pressures for administration.
b) Rule. Presidents and Prime Ministers govern, while Kings rule. There is a big difference. Presidents and Prime Ministers have checks and balances. Their word may not be final. They can be removed from office. Kings do not have checks or balances. They rule with absolute authority. Their word is final.
c) Tenure. Presidents and Prime Ministers govern for set terms of office. This is basically a “job” for them. When their tenure is over they must move aside and allow the next elected official to govern. Kings rule until they die. They never move aside and submit to another human’s rule while they are still living. Kings are born as royalty and they die as rulers.
d) Limitations. Presidents and Prime Ministers do not own the land they govern. They simply oversee the nation and help to establish policies while they are in office. Kings are referred to as Lord. Why? Because they own their kingdom. The more land they own, the bigger the kingdom.
All of this is important because Pharaoh was a king. His earthly authority gave him the legal right to do what he did with Joseph in his kingdom. No one could check Pharoah. No one could remove him from the throne for his decision. No one could do anything about it, because he was a King and not an elected official.
Why this is important to you? It is very important because our God likens Himself to a King. As a matter of fact, He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. This means that God is not subject to man. He is the complete ruler of all things in His kingdom, and His Kingdom will have no end!
God does not have checks or balances. So He does not have to check with anyone before He promotes you. He does not have to get clearance to increase you. He does not have to get permission, approval, consensus, or buy-in, to make a move that will change your life forever!
*** God can turn your life around in one day, with one Word, just like Pharaoh did with Joseph. Why? Because our God is a KING! You should be excited about that!
3. When you realize God is a the King of kings, you OPEN YOUR HEART to believe on another level.
a) One Word from God can turn any seemingly hopeless situation around. So please be patient. Keep your hopes up. Remain in faith. GREATER IS COMING!
b) There is nothing too hard for God because He has complete authority in His Kingdom. His Kingdom is everywhere (the universe) and it will be around forever (His Kingdom will have NO END).
c) King Jehovah is limitless. Any limits you see in your life, as it relates to God, are artificial limits you placed there. The moment you remove those artificial limits will be the movement you OPEN your heart to dream on God’s level!
d) We limit God’s operation in our lives with our limited capacity to believe. There is no limit to what God can do. But you do limit what God will do you in your life if you have a limited capacity to believe. As a result of this series, I pray you are EXPANDING your capacity to believe God. If you can believe it, “it” becomes possible for you (Mark 9:23).
*** Pharaoh did not have to ask Congress for the approval to promote and appoint Joseph. God doesn’t either!
*** God will SWEAR by HIMSELF to bless you! When God wanted to bless Abraham richly, He looked around, He could not find anyone to confer or agree with, so the Bible says He swore by Himself (Heb 6:13). Basically, God said, “I swear to God I will bless you!” That’s the kind of God we serve. He does not need to check with anyone. If anything, He will check with Himself!
So please, keep the dream alive! Never allow frustration to keep you from keeping your heart open to God’s DREAM for your life!
That is enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I better realize Your position and Your power. I better grasp the reality of Your limitless nature. By faith, I declare, that I expand my capacity to believe You! You are the God of unlimited possibilities. There are no impossibilities for You. Nothing is too big, hard, or complicated. Nothing, literally nothing, is impossible. So I come to You with great expectations every day. I take the limits off of my limitless God. I dream big dreams (God-sized dreams), and I expect that You will manifest every dream You have placed in my heart. GREATER IS COMING FOR ME and it can happen AT ANY TIME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!