CHARACTER AND TIME
INTRODUCTION: THE LIFE OF JOSEPH IS A MODEL STUDY OF PERSEVERANCE AND DOING THINGS RIGHT. POORLY TREATED AND SOLD INTO SLAVERY BY HIS BROTHERS, HE ENDING UP IN PHARAOH’S COURT IN EGYPT, THE PHARAOH ULTIMATELY PROMOTED HIM TO THE EQUIVALENT OF A PRIME MINISTER OVER EGYPT.
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SPIRITUAL INSIGHT. PHARAOH BROUGHT JOSEPH INTO HIS PALACE TO INTERPRET HIS DREAM. JOSEPH INTERPRETED THE DREAM AND ADVISED PHARAOH HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE DRAUGHT. PHARAOH RECOGNIZED THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS UPON JOSEPH.
CHARACTER MUST DRIVE GIFTS AND TALENTS. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS TIME INTENSIVE. JOSEPH WAS THIRTY YEARS OLD UPON HIS APPOINTMENT. THIRTEEN OF THOSE YEARS, HE SPENT IMPRISONED!
PROVERBS 10:9 (NASB) HE WHO WALKS IN INTEGRITY WALKS SECURELY, BUT HE WHO PERVERTS HIS WAYS WILL BE FOUND OUT.
PROVERBS 11:3 (NASB) THE INTEGRITY OF THE UPRIGHT WILL GUIDE THEM, BUT THE CROOKEDNESS OF THE TREACHEROUS WILL DESTROY THEM.
ROMANS 5:3-4 (NASB) AND NOT ONLY THIS, BUT WE ALSO EXULT IN OUR TRIBULATIONS, KNOWING THAT TRIBULATION BRINGS ABOUT PERSEVERANCE, AND PERSEVERANCE, PROVEN CHARACTER; AND PROVEN CHARACTER, HOPE.
APPLICATION: QUOTE BY F.B.MEYER: IF YOU LIVE FOR GOD, HE WILL SEE TO YOUR INTERESTS. SUCH JOY WILL BE YOURS THAT YOU WILL FORGET YOUR SORROWS AND BE FRUITFUL.
