Life Of Joseph; God's Plan Series

Life of Joseph; Fulfilling God’s plan

Genesis 50:15-21

Prayer-

Introduction-

We are wrapping up a mini-series today on the life of Joseph.

We have looked at some of the things he went through in his life.

Some of the things done to him were deserved and many things were beyond his control.

Yet God instructed him and instructs us to persevere and live in the fact that He (God) will never leave us nor forsake us as we live our lives for God in this world.

We looked at the persecution of believers and the fact that bad things happen to good people because we live in a sinful world and it will be that way until Christ returns and guaranteed He will return!

We looked at dreaming big! Godly dreams happen!

If God is in it, dream bigger than what you yourself can do. If you can do it without God, it is not a miracle.

Yet, while dreaming, make sure you have God blessing upon it and guiding what you are doing.

We saw Joseph integrity- He determined that before he was in hard situations that he was going to do what was pleasing to God FIRST - even if no one else saw him or weather he was going to get caught.

Integrity is a lifestyle, it is not what you say, it is what you do and how you live.

Integrity is your faith in action. Don’t tell me…show me.

Last week, we looked at purpose- His life was a mess, but his faith and his relationship with God was organized and strong.

He had learned to depend on God.

He learned to stay focused on God and not the circumstance.

Today fulfilling God’s plan-

In your life

Through your life

2 separate things- Both with God at the center

Genesis chapter 50:15-21

Questions-

What are you willing to let God do in your life?

Do you give Him permission to do what He desires and not fight Him every step of the way?

What are you willing to let God do through your life?

Do you give Him permission to use what you are going through or what you have been through to help someone else who is struggling with the same thing?

After 17 years of not knowing exactly what God had intended for him in his life, but still knowing that God was in it, He is thrust into a ministry that is bigger than anyone could imagine.

He is 2nd in charge of all Israel and in a position of fulfilling the God-given dream to feed a nation of people.

Restore a relationship with his brothers who had wronged him.

Remember when all these things began to happen to the teenage Joseph? He said to the accusers- 39:9-

“How could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God.” As Potiphars wife attempted to seduce him-He was more concerned what God thought than even what the accusers thought.

When he was imprisoned and waiting for God to release him, he was being used by God to interpret dreams- 40:8-

“Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

He is brought to Pharaoh because of previous interpretations he had done and he says to Pharaoh 41:16-

“I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer.” He was not going to let the glory of God be given to him- he was pointing the ruler of Egypt back to God.

Years later, Joseph is in charge of all of Egypt for food trade and meeting the needs of people on that side of the world.

His brothers are now standing before him… they do not even yet know that it is he.

The ones who had betrayed him, the very brothers who were willing to destroy his life, tried to kill him, sold him to thieves and vagabonds who would sell him as a slave for profit, those same boys who lied to his father of how he had died.

Joseph stands before them and has a heart of compassion- choosing to take the high road which is to let God be the judge and jury and he (by choice) would have a heart tender to the things of God and not personal revenge.

Through a series of test and by divine direction, his whole family including his ailing Father stands before him as a witness of God’s goodness, God’s mercy, God’s Grace, and God’s power of forgiveness.

Here is where his journey has taken us today-

Without hearing God’s direction, you will make bad decisions.

Without depending on God, you will give up at a moment when God may be ready to turn things around.

Many have given up just before God was ready to pour out his blessing upon them.