Text: (Genesis 41:14-46 KJV).
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me. And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath–paneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti–phera priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:14-46 KJV).
Introduction:
Something must change when God wants to do a new thing. Look at story of 3 people who experienced a new thing. They had to change something. Everyone in scripture who experienced a major New Thing had to change something.
1. Gen. 41:14 Story of Joseph when Pharoah sent for him.changed his cloth
2. Ruth 3:2-3. Story of Ruth. A woman was told what to do in verse 3.
3. Mark 10:39 This is story of him, was called and in verse 50 throw aside garment.
Story of three people in a bad situation
- Joseph was sent for and changed cloths into a new career. From head of prisoners to prime minister. There is a better story for your life. He started well, middle rough, but ended well. The beauty of a New Thing is the ending.
- Ruth changed cloths into a new relationship after the death of her husband.
- In the case of blind Bathemeus he set aside his cloths and stepped into a new era.
What you re wearing reveal who you are, your attitude. To accept the new you must change your old garment. God will do a new thing.
JOSEPH
A closer look at Joseph.
- At time called was in prison
- with a garment of limitation- had limiting movement,
- life restricted,
- destiny stagnated,
- star suspended into uncertainty.
- Did not start in such a pitiable situation but started with a coat of many colors. Was a garment of beauty but it was collected from him.
Prayers
1. The garment of beauty collected by powers at mid night restore tonight
2. Joshua the High Priest had filthy garments on him. In the physical, he was wearing priestly robes but spiritually rags. Every garment of suffering they cloth me with catch fire tonight. Sit down
- Wore his third garment in prison and five in all.
- Started with dreams of stars and greatness but here was he in prison garment which Represented restricted movement. Many others wearing it in prison. Was surrounded by prisoners, advised by prisoners, talked to by prisoners, so no new thing but a cycle of restriction. You started with a garment of hope but you are now wearing garments with others thinking like you and you think u are ok. You don't see you are in prison. You are leaving there tonight. God is calling you out but you cannot go in prison garment. He shaved his beard and then cloths. You will be separated from your low level today. When he went to Pharoah was putting on garment of a leader and finally that of a Prime Minister
RUTH
- Ruth wore a widows garment. Her husband died, father in law died and sister in law husband died. So all were widows.
- Reasoned like widows which is hopelessness. Naomi angry but Ruth decided to follow her, tying her destiny to a bitter person. Was all she had and followed her to Bethlehem. When she went to look for food was advised to wash herself as she had to smell like a desirable woman not a hopeless widow. She had good cloths but was not wearing them. Had good perfume but not using them. Naomi said change your cloths. She already had it. Put away cloth of hopelessness. when she saw Boaz she had removed old garment of tears, sorrow, desolateness, loneliness and put on a diff one
- this new cloths was what Boaz saw not that of hopelessness. If she had not changed her cloths, she would have died hopeless. Many of you enjoy pity. You love it, in it you feel you have achieved. What you have on is grave cloths. Remove them tonight
BARTHMAEUS
- Barthmaeus was also putting on cloths,
- he wasn't naked,
- but they were beggars cloths. Identified him and treated as one. Dwelt iin self pity and no choice. Lived in self pity. Your days of begging over Jesus is calling you...
When called said I will not beg again. Maybe you are wearing his garment. You enter into an office they say the beggar has come. They ask what do you want and not how are you. Your cloths tells story of your life, a year of pity. No one sees you as a blessing but one to be assisted.
Change your garments I am not down, not weak, not lonely, not poor.
Tonight stand in faith to change your story permanently. Faith without action is dead
