Joseph Series

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS SERIES

3 – JOSEPH

This morning, we’re continuing our sermon series on “CLOSE ENCOUNTERS” and we’ve been talking about the great heroes of the Bible who’ve had close encounters with God, and how that no matter…

--who you are

--what you’ve done

--the mistakes you’ve made

--the pain you’re enduring

--the heartaches and the heartbreaks

You too, can have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God

And this sermon series has an URGENCY to it, friend, because if there’s ever been a time to know God Almighty more…

--deeply

--intimately

--personally

If there’s ever been a time for us to have CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God, it’s now!

And…

--in our first message, we talked about Adam

--last week, we talked about Abraham

--next week, we’re going to be talking about MOSES

But this morning, we will be looking at the life of Joseph

Now, there’s no doubt that Joseph was one of the great heroes in the Bible

Someone said recently that in the day we live, we have a lot of STARS…

--super stars

--music stars

--movie stars

We have a lot of STARS, but very few HEROES

Well, Joseph is one of our heroes this morning, and most importantly, we’re going to see how he had CLOSE ENCOUNTERS with God

Let’s read…

• Genesis 37:5-11 ( KJV ) 5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him

• Genesis 45:9 ( KJV ) 9Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

INTRODUCTION

When you think of the life of Joseph, TWO THINGS immediately grab you

One is…

A. The similarities between Joseph and Jesus our Lord

There is never any mention that Joseph sinned and of course, Jesus never sinned

Joseph was his father’s most beloved son, and Jesus was His Father’s most beloved son, for on the day he was baptized, the Bible says…

Matthew 3:17 ( KJV ) 17And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Joseph was sent by his father to look for his brothers, Jesus was sent by his Father to seek and save the lost

Judah, Joseph’s brother, sold Joseph for 20 pieces of silver

Judas, Jesus disciple, sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver

Joseph was let down in a pit and raised again

Jesus was let down in a pit of death and was raised again

Joseph became ruler of the world and one day, Jesus will rule this world from sea to shining sea

So, the first thing we see in Joseph is Jesus

And the second thing that grabs you about Joseph is not only the similarities between Jesus and Joseph, but, secondly…

B. Joseph never performed a miracle

He never…

--raised the dead

--brought mighty signs and wonders

--spoke in tongues

--cast out demons

But he did become Prime Minister, and although we never read of Joseph performing supernatural miracles, his contribution to the plan of God was just as spiritual

And there are so many people today who think unless you’re…

--casting out devils

--doing miracle

--a tele-evangelist

--a pastor

That you’re not doing a whole lot important

But I’ve got news for you, God needs some…

--accountants

--engineers

--doctors

--lawyers

And when Joseph was running Egypt and saving the world, it wasn’t the gift of tongues and interpretation that helped him, it was old-fashioned math and accounting!

And without question, God used Joseph mightily

And so this morning, I want us to look at the life of Joseph and I want us to see how he hand CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD

And it all started with a DREAM

And so, first of all, let’s talk about phase one…

1. THE DREAM

The Bible tells us…

Genesis 37:5 ( KJV ) 5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him…

You talk about a close encounter – God gave him a dream

And I want you to know this morning that God is still giving dreams to his people

And as I look out across this congregation this morning, I see people who have great dreams from God

Dreams…

--of a healthy body

--of a fulfilling marriage

--of a family (like me and Darnell)

--seeing your family saved

I have a dream for this church

And there’s nothing wrong with having a God-inspired dream

For the Bible tells us

Acts 2:17 ( KJV ) 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: