A Coat Of Many Colors - #5 Green Series

This is a series of sermons on the coat of many colors – Free Power point is available through E-Mail retssi@bellsouth.net

Several Illustrations, points, and the main idea for this series of sermons dealing with the coat of many colors was from James May’s sermon, “A Coat Of Many Colors.” Also Several Illustrations and points came from Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible and Many other sources were used to help compile this series!

A Coat of Many Colors #5 Green

Genesis 37:1-3 (KJV) 1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

What, have we learned so far about this coat of many colors?

The First week we looked at the color of Amber which represented God’s Presence and Glory in the life of Joseph.

Then we took a glance at the color Black which could have represented two ideas. The first thought was that there would be days of darkness that he would have to face. The second thought, had to do with the future of the Famine in the land that was still to come into his life.

Also we learned that it was a possibility that Jacob gave this coat of many colors to Joseph and put Dark Blue into it to signify that he wanted his son to continue to Worship God!

The second idea with the color Blue in mind would be that someday Joseph would make Heaven his home. So the color could have been Sky Blue or Light Blue.

Now this week, Jacob might have put GREEN into that coat.

Green, the color of life, renewal, nature, and energy, is associated with meanings of growth, harmony, freshness, safety, fertility, and environment. Green is also traditionally associated with money, finances, banking, ambition, greed, jealousy, and wall street.

The color green has healing power and is understood to be the most restful and relaxing color for the human eye to view. Green can help enhance vision, stability and endurance. Green takes up more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye and it is the dominant color in the natural. It is a natural choice in interior design as an ideal background or backdrop because we as humans are so used to seeing it everywhere.

With the color green’s association with renewal, growth, and hope, often green stands for both a lack of experience and need for growth.

Green also stands for new growth and rebirth, common in the spring season when all of the plants are coming back to life with fresh growth and life after the cold winter months.

Green could have stood for so many things that Jacob wanted to teach Joseph.

Psalm 23:1-2 (KJV) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

In this Passage it teaches us that the Lord provides spiritual nourishment, and the comfort of life and fellowship for those who follow Him.

When you look at the reference: Green Pastures – it is a metaphor for spiritual nourishment,

It was no doubt that God was Joseph’s source of fruitfulness and growth in life. Just as Green represented fruitfulness and growth in every plant that God had put on this earth from the time of the creation.

Jacob could have been trying to tell Joseph of the great rest in knowing God and lying down in those green pastures.

It could also have served as reminder that no matter how great the things of this life can be, and no matter how much you might enjoy them, never forget that the green things will someday be gone forever.

Psalms 37:1-2, "Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb."

For our study tonight, GREEN will be REPRESENTATIVE of GROWTH. That spiritual nourishment and diet that is needed for growth.

I want us to look at 5 characteristics of someone who is growing spiritually.

I. A Growing Christian Will Embrace the Growth Process!

Just as the body needs the proper daily nourishment of food, spiritual fitness requires the proper daily nourishment of spiritual food.

We need a healthy diet. Do you remember from grade school what the four major food groups are?