Overcoming Life's Challenges

SERMON

BY BRO. SETH A. ARYEE

LOCAL PREACHER, BETHANY METHODIST CHURCH, DZORWULU, ACCRA-GHANA

THEME: OVERCOMING LIFE’S CHALLENGES

GENESIS 39:1-23

TEXT: “And the Lord was with Joseph” [Genesis 39:2]]

In my Christian life I have noticed that God doesn’t waste anything? Everything happens in our lives for a reason, and a great part of that reason is to help us grow in our faith, especially when we are baptised with the Holy Ghost and fire. It has been said that life has to be lived in a forward motion; but that can only be understood by looking back.

This demands that we trust in the loving purposes of a sovereign God. We must trust that He is in control - especially when life seems to be out of control for He says: "I know the plans I have for you; plans for your welfare and not for evil" (Jeremiah 29:11)

Such was the life of the Old Testament character Joseph. His life was filled with dark, difficult experiences - yet the final outcome was amazing! He was determined to overcome the challenges of life, by the unction of God. Joseph’s life teaches us much about how to deal with our entangled lives. His example can help prepare us as we face the issues of life

God knew every detail about Joseph’s life, and He knows every detail about my and your life. He knows the good things, and He knows the ugly things. He knows your genuineness as a Christian or otherwise

Look at Joseph. God put a dream in his heart as a youth; yet it was fulfilled in his late thirties. In these days of prosperity preaching, many young people are expecting too much to happen too soon. This has led many of them to what Paul calls: “they erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10b)

But seeing your purpose and destination from afar does not mean you will immediately possess it. There are seasons of preliminary preparation. Seasons are processing times and not finishing times for “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22]

Preparation is that period when you are still watering your dreams and visions with the tears of prayers: "Those that sow in tears shall reap in joy" (Psalm 126:5). “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3”

In agriculture, there is a season for planting, another for waiting and a time for harvesting. You cannot expect a seed to produce its harvest outside its time and season. When a foundation is laid, the height of the building is already determined, so it is important for us to lay proper and solid foundation that can carry the weight of the blessings to come. Very often we are not ready for the blessings God has for us so that when they come, we do not see them and they pass over

The fact that God has shown you what a great future you have is good, but do not frustrate your own future by launching out when you should be going through your waiting and preparatory season. When you are flying in an aeroplane, you notice that before the take-off the engine must reach its full velocity or else it will crash

You have to understand your seasons of change, because good planning takes place during those times. In general, we are not patient. We want to grab what we perceive in our spirit quickly.

Our waiting must satisfy three basic requirements:

· You must physically wait for “they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). Such waiting shall cause you to

* Walk without fainting

* Run and not be weary

* Soar (fly) like the eagle

· You must wait in expectation – that the vision is yet for an appointed time – you know that GOD’S TIME IS THE BEST

· You must wait like a “waiter” in a restaurant, providing service to God and mankind

God obviously has a plan for your life and if you listen to Him and allow His Spirit, you will arrive at His purpose for your life for He says: "I know the plans I have for you; plans for your welfare and not for evil; to give you a future and a hope"(Jeremiah 29:11)

Following God’s plan and season does not necessarily take away the pain. However, it guarantees the continuous presence of the Lord. When Jesus told His disciples it was time to cross over the Galilee Sea, He did not tell them of the storm ahead, neither did it influence His understanding of where He was going. Moreover, in Habakkuk 3:17-19 we are encouraged that in spite of the frustrations, disappointments and disillusionments in life, we should “rejoice in the Lord” because He will cause you “to walk upon high places”