“Circumstantial Christianity”
Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go on.
There is a great truth that I would like to bring out to you this morning, and that is beloved that Christianity is not based of how we feel it is based on truth and if you base your faith on your feelings you will lose every time, God responds to faith not circumstances.
Genesis 37:23-28
23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
We are at a point in life that as people, as human beings we make decisions based on circumstances and not based on faith. We live in a faithless generation. Jesus spoke of such that would be of today’s nature in the word of God when he rebuked His own disciples.
Mark 9:19
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Luke 9:41
41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
Jesus is dealing with a faithless people that determined their faith based on what they were able to see or not see, even today people make their decisions whether or not to serve Christ based on if Christ were to help them or come to their aide or their comfort when they request. Yes it is God will for His people to be at peace but sometimes our peace come through the storms.
If we look at Mark 9:17-18 we see that men that have walked with Jesus and that come to see Jesus work miracles were not able to cast out a demon spirit.
17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
We live in a generation where circumstances now dictate their decisions, determine their destiny and control their emotions. We live in a generation that feel as if they are entitled, you owe me, why not me? Take from him and give to me, I deserve it mentality. Today’s generation are raised with an expectation to expect with no intention to give back, our nation was birthed on giving, with supporting with nothing in return, godly motives and godly standards, Christ-like mentality laying down your life for others. But today what is happening is that when things don’t go our way or if things don’t pan out for us the way we thought they should have the God we once served has now become the God we have chosen to forget and deny even with cursing. I’m not a Christian I’m one of you.
Mark 14:70-71
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. 71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
So now we come to our text this morning beloved we see Joseph life is good, he has been given dreams of a promise he has the hand of God upon him but something seems to have taken a wrong turn, he is betrayed, he is to his understanding about to die, But how could this happen I am destined to greatness? God promised him greatness but God never told him when. If anyone had a reason to deny God it was Joseph. The question is this can you wait on God even when you don’t see God’s plan unfold in your life at your timing?
We look at Joseph during this curial time in his life he did not waver in faith, yet grew stronger in his God for his destiny. Throughout his trials we understand God was with him.
• First Joseph was thrown in the pit and sold into slavery
Genesis 39:1-10
1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. 7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
He honors God and is lied about and is placed in prison. All because he denied to disgrace God. Joseph did the right thing and it seemed as if nothing good came out of it, oh I serve God for this, even though it seemed as if nothing came from it integrity was being formed, honor was being prepared, godliness is being developed.
• Now he’s thrown into prison
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from.
Beloved it is in the trials of life that God is training us and our faith to develop and glorify Him.
God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars..
James 1:3-4
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.
Joseph had some patience being developed in him, his trials, his betrayals and his circumstances did not detour him from Gods plans for his life. He saw promise than disappointment, promise than disappointment and this continued on for quite some time but every moment brought him closer to his destiny.
Where are you at this time? Are you blaming others for your issues? Are you looking at others as if they were the real issue of your travail? Or would you consider to look up as oppose to looking across? Could you look with me at the outcome of what has happened to Joseph and why. Joseph’s circumstances did not determine whether or not he would serve God, He drew closer to God in these trivial times.
Beloved in your time of travail, in your time of hurt and betrayal, in your time of disappointment I would ask that you would draw closer to God, look up and touch God, because God has a plan, God has a blueprint all lined out that your circumstances are bringing you to destiny and within that you are helping others get to their destiny as well.
Genesis 50:20
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.
In our account we have Joseph that has been betrayed by his own blood, sold into slavery, lied about and forgotten about and in the midst kept his eyes and his heart focused on God, later to find himself confronted with his betrayers being second in command in Egypt those who have betrayed him have now come for his help, he could of easily cast them away, he could of easily denied them yet he noticed that because he kept his heart right with God, God has brought him to his place in destiny for the purpose of saving not only his family but also a nation.
Could it be that God has allowed issues and problems and maybe certain situations to be a part of your life because He is in want to see you have all the characteristics and elements of a Christian because there is a famine coming and only you can bring hope to your family and friends and even those who have hurt you?
In our weakness God is made strong, in those moments God is causing us to rely on Him, we can’t do this without Him. Are you in Joseph’s shoes this moment? Are you in a situation that someone else put you in and thinking this ain’t fair? Let us remember God is in control.
Jeremiah 29:11-14
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
God brought Joseph back to that place to face those who have had a hand in his grief but also to use Joseph to be that hand to free them from their condemnation, forgiveness set them all free.
The circumstances of life often speak to us like Lucy one day spoke to Charlie Brown. Lucy said to Charlie Brown "Sometimes, I feel we are not communicating: You, Charlie Brown, are a foul ball in the line drive of life. You’re often in the shadow of your own goal post you’re a miscue. You‘re 3 putts on the 18th green. You are a 7-10 split in the 10th frame. You have dropped a rod and reel in the lake of life. You’re a missed free throw. You’re a shacked 9-iron, a called 3rd strike, a bug on the windshield of life! Do you understand? Have I made myself clear?"
But the Christian who is living as a follower considers that which he is confidently assured of-that he will be like Christ one day and that as he lovingly surrenders to God, he can be blessed by becoming more like Christ today. Then he replies like Paul in Romans Chapter 8 verse 31, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
In your world of defense God is for me.
