Today we continue our series entitled, “Faith and Patience Volume IV — The Wonder Twins.” I am using Joseph as an excellent example of our need for patience. We are seeking to learn from the different phases of Joseph’s life. Let’s get into it.
(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.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
(Genesis 50:15-21 ERV)
15 After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were worried. They were afraid that Joseph would still be mad at them for what they had done years before. They said, “Maybe Joseph still hates us for what we did.” 16 So the brothers sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he told us to give you a message. 17 He said, ‘Tell Joseph that I beg him to please forgive his brothers for the bad things they did to him.’ So now Joseph, we beg you, please forgive us for the bad things we did to you. We are the servants of God, the God of your father.” That message made Joseph very sad, and he cried. 18 His brothers went to him and bowed down in front of him. They said, “We will be your servants.”
19 Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I am not God! I have no right to punish you. 20 It is true that you planned to do something bad to me. But really, God was planning good things. God’s plan was to use me to save the lives of many people. And that is what happened. 21 So don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.” And so Joseph said kind things to his brothers, and this made them feel better.
(Isaiah 54:17 NKJV)
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. God prepared for every attack against you.
— God knows everything. He knows your thoughts before you think them, your words before you speak them, and your actions before you take them. He knows the end from the beginning. This means that He knew all the actions Joseph would take and all the actions others would take, both for and against him.
— Not only is God aware of everything you are going to do, but He is also aware of everything others will do FOR YOU or in OPPOSITION TO YOU.
— God’s foreknowledge means He is never caught off guard. He already prepared for every attack against you, even if you were unprepared for it.
— Joseph was not prepared for the day his brothers betrayed him and threw him into a pit. He was not prepared for the day he wound up as a slave in Potiphar’s house. He was not prepared for the day he got registered into the prison for a crime he did not commit. And he was not even truly prepared to be the Prime Minister of Egypt. But the fact that God knew all these things would happen, means that God was prepared and He had already prepared the way for Joseph’s success!
— God is not moved by what people do to you. He is already prepared. He already prepared a way for you to succeed through the opposition. As you are led of the Holy Spirit, God prepares for you for what He already prepared for you!
— When something happens that you were not ready for, don’t freak out. Remind yourself that God was ready and He lives in you. If He was ready, then He will make you ready!
2. God can turn the enemy’s attacks around for your good.
Since God knew everything that would happen to Joseph, both good and bad, then God was able to take the moves that the enemy meant for evil, and turn them around for Joseph’s good.
— God used the attacks of the enemy to actually propel Joseph into the fullness of his assignment.
— Think of your life as a chessboard. Every time the enemy makes a move on you, and he is truly trying to derail you from your destiny, God (who already knew what the enemy would do) is more than prepared for every attack. God is able to take the moves the enemy made and flip them around for your good! This should bring you peace, especially in this season. This series is about faith and patience. Understanding this point will help you to remain patient, knowing that God reserves the last move on the board for Himself!
Joseph reminds me of one of my mentors, General (Retired) Dennis Via. GEN Via started in every humble beginnings and he was only the 7th African American (at the time) to earn the rank of 4 Star General in the United States Army. Not only that, but GEN Via is the ONLY Signal Officer to make 4 Star General in the 245-year history of the Army. Normally, the highest rank a Signal Officer can attain is 3 Star (Lieutenant General). When GEN Via was a LTG, a decision was made to dissolve his position on the Joint Staff. Those who know what happened behind the scenes know that there was malice behind it. The underlying motivation behind the effort to get rid of the position was a dislike for the person who held it. I saw GEN Via get attacked like this several times. And EVERY TIME, I saw him respond without malice. He took the high road EVERY TIME! In this last case, when his position was removed, it opened the door for him to take a position as the Deputy Commander of the Army Materiel Command (AMC). He did such a great job there that when the AMC Commander retired, GEN Via became the commander of AMC and he was promoted to 4 Star General. This would have NEVER happened if he had not been attacked. This is one of those, “You meant it for evil, but God turned it around for my good” moments!
So please be encouraged. No attack from the enemy can stop you. The enemy’s poison cannot stop your purpose! God can turn it around!
3. No weapon formed against you shall prosper.
— The enemy will do all he can to stop you, but he can’t. Especially if you are Born-Again. Once you are Born-Again, no attack, curse, hex, vex, spell or work of divination has any power over you!
— In Luke 10 Jesus said to His disciples, “I saw satan fall like lightning from the sky. He is the enemy, but know that I have given you more power than he has. I have given you the power to crush his snakes and scorpions under your feet. Nothing will hurt you!” Jesus was saying, “Listen, I know satan has power. But I want you to know that I was there when he was kicked out of heaven. I was there when he fell like lightning from the sky. I know what power he has. But I want you to know that I HAVE GIVEN YOU MORE POWER THAN HE HAS! I have given you the power to trample all over his minions. Everything satan has is UNDER YOUR FEET! Nothing shall BY ANY MEANS harm you. You are deputized to OPERATE IN MY NAME!” (Luke 10:18,19 Rick Pina Version).
Last point: The Bible says that no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isa 54:17). This means that:
a) God never said the weapon would not be formed. You may face attacks. You may face more attacks once you are Born-Again than before.
b) God just said that the weapon formed against you shall not prosper. If it looks like the attack is working, then it is obviously NOT against you. God is going to TURN IT AROUND for your good!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, no devil, demon, or demonic force has any power over me. No hex, vex, sorcery or spell can touch me. If any virus, negative bacteria, diseased germ, or anything else that is not for my good, touches my body, or the bodies of my family members, it has to die instantly! Because I am not on this planet doing my own thing. I am here representing You Father. I am doing Your will. So no weapon formed against me shall prosper. It the attack looks like it is working, it is because You are going to turn it around for my good! GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
