Patient Endurance

Genesis 40:1-23 Patient Endurance 1. GOD'S PLACE OF SUFFERING Acts 9:16 I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. I. THE PRISON IS A PLACE OF OPPRESSION

Ch 39:20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. A. Joseph was "bound" in the prison. B. Joseph was "blessed " in the prison 21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. C. Joseph was "blooded " in the prison Sometimes on the mount, Where the sun shines so bright, God leads His dear children along; Sometimes in the valley, In darkest of night, God leads His dear children along.

Some through the waters, Some through the flood, Some through the fire, But all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, But God gives a song, In the night season, And all the day long.

II. A PLACE OF OBSCURITY 20 and he was there in the prison. A. A Place Of Dreams B. Of Disappointments C. Of Discouragements III. A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITY 21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison

An Opportunity to :- Perceive God - 21 But the LORD, Presence God 21 was with Joseph

Prove God - and shewed him mercy, Praise God - and gave him favour

IV. A PLACE OF OBEDIENCE

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. His Passion For Service, His Patience In Service, His Persistence With Service

V. A PLACE OF OVERCOMING

23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Psalm 1:3 and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

2. GOD'S PRICE OF SERVING

4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: I. HE TOLD THEM OF REDEMPTION 9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

A. The branches - 10 And in the vine were three branches:, BRANCH, JESUS

B. The bud promise of LIFE 10 and it was as though it budded

C. The blood - grape juice 10 and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

II. OF RESTORATION 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.

Mr 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

III. OF REFLECTION 14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: - Luke 22:19 this do in remembrance of me.

IV. OF RETRIBUTION

22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

3. GOD'S PURPOSE OF SIFTING

23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

(a) God delays because his ways are not our ways. -

Isa. 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (b) God delays to perfect our faith.

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

(c) God delays to bless our waiting.

Isa 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

(d) God delays to be glorified in the end.

John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

4. GOD'S PLAN OF SAVING

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.