Sermon Central
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Forgotten, But Not Forsaken Series
Contributed by Allan Kircher on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Some of you are looking at disappointments and discouragements and you do not know how to handle them.
If He/God/mountain, He/also God/valley, or He is God of neither.
He is God and we need to glorify Him as God in spite of what we face in life, 1 Thes. 5:16-18; Phil. 4:4.
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III. V. 6-7 PRISON DEMEANORS
• Joseph went about his duties
• he saw that these two fellows were sad
• I can understand their sadness, can’t you?
• They been removed/prestigious position/cast into prison.
• Only there because Pharaoh is mad at them.
• They are short timers! They will be getting out soon.
Joseph, on the other hand, is there to stay, as far as he is concerned.
• Yet, he is not sad.
• In fact, he is concerned about their attitude
• He reaches out to help them through their prison experience.
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What a lesson that is for us!
Isn’t it true:
• Most of us can see no further/our own need?
• when we are in a prison in our lives
We really don’t have time/worried about/needs/others because all we can think about is how bad we hurt?
o Most of us are pretty self-centered when it comes to dealing with our burdens and problems?
Did you know that an attitude like that is not what the Lord wants from His people?
He wants us:
o lose ourselves in the needs of others, Phil. 2:4
o look around for someone we can help, Gal. 6:1-2
o To be like Jesus Who willingly laid down His life so that others might get help!
That’s not easy, but it is biblical!
Fact is, when you/I get our eyes off self and all its pains, needs and problems, and set our heart about the business of helping someone else, we will find that our own load gets lighter!
Lord wants us to be a blessing, even when we are in the prison!
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There is another lesson here that we do not want to miss.
• Joseph may be in a prison. His dreams seem/shattered
• Seem that he is in that prison to stay.
• Joseph still had joy! That is an amazing example!
Most people/no problem being joyous when they have no burden.
Most folks/praise Lord/laugh/smile/joyful when their need is met.
Takes someone filled/genuine faith/praise/Lord when the bottom falls out of life.
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• Joseph is in prison, but he is happy. Why?
• He is serving the Lord and the Lord is blessing him.
• Blessing him in the prison! Absolutely!
• Look again at Gen. 39:21-23.
Anybody can praise/Lord/be filled with joy when everything is going their way.
• When the bills are paid/everyone is healthy
• there are no problems, it is easy to say
• “Hallelujah! Glory to God!”
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When you can:
• Praise the Lord and testify to His grace and goodness, even when your heart is broken, you are getting somewhere in your faith!
When you can:
• Shout and bless His name in spite of and in the midst of your pain and heartache, it glorifies Him!
• Most folks aren’t even good for a holy grunt anymore!
