Faith's Fixed Focus Series

9-20-20 September Faith

Faith’s Fixed Focus _Part 3

Hebrews 12:2

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Introduction:

Familiar faith personality in the bible

Abraham; Joseph; Moses; David ; Daniel

Their faith made them great in the history of the Bible. They devoted their lives to God.

Take a look at the life of Joseph; How his faith and devotion to God blessed his life.

His Faith is so fixed focus on the God of his Father Jacob , and grandfather Isaac.

Remember, when your faith is fixed focus on God, and in Jesus finished works in your life.

It will surely protect you, guide you, and bless you, no matter what circumstances you are passing through right now. You may be passing through difficult situation but if your eyes are focus on God and Jesus’ finished works at the cross, He will help you go through it victoriously.

Let’s see the life of Joseph:

Joseph’s FOCUS Faith on God.

a. Sustained him from rejection of his own family.

Genesis 37:4, 10

4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?”

Even if he was hated by his own brothers and father for his dreams, we did not hear any word of complain from him.

b. Sustained him through his murderous brothers.

Gen 37:18

18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.

Even if he was threaten to be killed by his brothers, we did not hear any word of complain from him.

c. Sustained him through his time of slavery.

Gen 37:36

36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Even if he was sold as slave, he excelled as a slave in the palace of Photipar .

Gen 39:2-4

2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.

As a slave, Joseph excels in everything he does.

Because of his focus faith on the God of father Jacob, he excels in everything he does.

d. Sustained him through intent temptation.

Gen 39:7-9

7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

When we are Focus with God, temptations cannot overtake us…

He ran away from the great temptation of his life.

v.12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

Sad to say, to some Christians instead of running away from temptation, they run to come near which we are not supposed to do.

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

e. Sustained him through unjust accusation.

Gen 39:17-19

17 and she told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. 18 But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house.”

19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled.

Eventually , wrongfully put him in jail.

What a sad moment for a person like Joseph. He never done a wrong thing. How can he save/protect himself from false accusation. There’s no CCTV camera that time, in that place.