SHEAF ROSE & STOOD UPRIGHT…
Genesis 37:3-11.
Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." 8 His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind."
I would like to explain my sermon under the following headings so that you understand clearly:
A.COVENANT KEEPING GOD
B.THEY HATED HIM
C.OBEDIENT HARD WORKER
D. GOD’S DESTINATION:
E.PATIENTLY WAITED
F.FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
G. STEADFAST IN TRIAL:
H.TURN AWAY FROM EVIL
I. REPENTANCE BRINGS BLESSINGS:
INTRO:
Today we live in an unsteady, wobbly, unstable world with fragile promises that would break any moment; after many betrayals and disappointments, I make sure today to write down everything and get it signed so that I have proof of the conversation. However, today we are going to see about an UNCHANGING GOD who will never ever forsake you or the promises He made to you. Sometimes the path might look dark and tough; however, today’s messages points out to us that we remain firm, rooted and secure in the promises of God. God gave His promises and plans to Joseph in the form of dreams. They were not mere dreams but His promises to Joseph. We should hold on to the visions, dreams and prophesies given to us by God and pray over them unceasingly. Say Amen.
A.COVENANT KEEPING GOD: God is a God of promises, the Bible is full of lovely promises made by God for His children who obey His Word. Let me make it very clear, the promises of God are for His children who follow His commandments and live according to His rules. He said:
I will show love to thousand generations! Wow! Mind blowing!
Deuteronomy 5:10 “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, ……….showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
Don’t be content with just small blessings but focus on your generations getting blessed because of your life and the decisions that you take today. Are you listening? Every small decision counts! Who you date, who you meet, who you associate with, what business you do, ….everything matters to God. We are going to look at the life of Joseph who was a great man of God whose life has inspired many.
B.THEY HATED HIM: they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.
Imagine the days the brothers and sisters played hide and seek, rolled on the bed together, laughed and joked, ate from a single plate and one fine day when God starts revealing His plans in your life, all hell breaks loose! Joseph had been naïve to share the ‘info’ meant for him which was revealed in a vision by God with his brothers! Who would suspect your own kith and kin, flesh and blood to turn against you? To draw a line with your own brothers and sisters is tough but we got to operate with godly wisdom and not jump high and low – calm down.
ENVY can be very destructive! The brothers of Joseph had already hated him because their father loved him more than the other brothers. Envy, jealousy was already boiling in their hearts and the Bible says, ‘they hated him even more’ when he shared his dream with them. Ok, I guess Joseph was not even aware that they all hated him, isn’t this sad? At times, don’t we blabber out all our secrets and fall all over the very person who is already seething with anger against us, who has been gossiping about us and mocking us? What duds we are at times!
The more mightier and greater the vision – the more lonelier and heavier would be the burden! They hated him more and their anger turned dirtier and murderous when they conspired against Joseph to kill him. (verse 18) Got that? Envy when allowed to take root turns murderous! Cut away all bitterness, anger and unforgiveness, get the help of God otherwise this journey of deliverance is tough. Only Jesus can help you do this. Talk to Him, cry out to Him, confess and release the person who has wronged you, may be even years ago. Let that go in the name of Jesus! Most important forgive your brothers and sisters; it can be property dispute, misunderstandings, rejection or ill-treatment – WHATEVER – forgive and let go!
C.OBEDIENT HARD WORKER: Genesis 37:13 Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them." And he said to him, "I will go."
14 Then he said to him, "Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me." So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15 A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, "What are you looking for?"
16 He said, "I am looking for my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock."
17 Then the man said, "They have moved from here; for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
We can see an awesome character of forgiveness in Joseph here, he did not refuse his father’s request to go and visit his brothers. Knowingly fully well that his brothers did not like him, he willingly took up the assignment. Further, he did not give up when he did not find them immediately, he pressed on to look for them until he found them in Dothan. Awesome! We have great lessons to learn here:
• At the very first instance of being hurt, we don’t want to look at their face anymore, but here we see Joseph with a lovely heart. Great quality for a leader.
• Joseph was a hard worker and a go-getter.
D, GOD’S DESTINATION: Verse 28 Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.
36 the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh's officer, the captain of the bodyguard.
I now remember the way Joseph was carried away to Egypt by the Midianite traders.
Mark it, it was no small pain for Joseph, he had to be carried away from his loving dad,
family, home land and everything, besides the pain of being betrayed and hated by his
own brothers at home. Friend, the hurt can cut you deeper when the attack comes from your own loved ones. Jesus foresaw this and that’s why He said: Mathew 19:29 " And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or
children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal
life.
Joseph' brother Judah made the suggestion that they should sell Joseph to the
Midianites, to be carried far away to Egypt, where, in all probability, he would be lost,
and never heard of anymore. But now watch, God's plan in this is totally different.
Sometimes we are never able to understand the plans of God immediately but in retrospect, we surely can see His fingerprints throughout our lives. Perhaps you are
passing through the deep waters of trial and disappointment? Does everything seem to
be going against you? These apparent misfortunes are not accidents. The Lord allows
such things for a blessed purpose. So, patiently trust Him, someday you will praise Him
for it all!
God was not going to use a lad who was not even able to keep the dreams to
himself. A lot had to be done in the life of Joseph and hence God had to carry him away
from his familiar surroundings, in order to make him a ruler. Joseph being 'carried away'
to Egypt was God's plan! Did you get that? If today you are going through a period of
loneliness and separation, do not despise it, may be God has carried you to this place, in
order to speak with you. I know of a young man working for a bank in Dubai, but his
parents were in India, though. One day while I was just having a chat with him, he said,
"God has brought me to this wilderness to speak to me." This statement certainly
bewildered me, because I thought, here he was in an affluent country, working for a
bank and yet be cribs;however, he explained to me about the persecutions that he was
facing in the hands of his boss and also the pain of being away from his beloved
parents. Nevertheless, this separation had done a lot of good in his life, in terms of
spiritual growth. There was none, but God and him all the time in that foreign land. How
many of you would love to be cornered like this to be with God?
Five months pregnant, as I lay abandoned with pain in the hospital bed, I rolled my
eyes upwards to look at my Master. I had never looked up at Him that way in my life! I
had too many distractions, too many people around me. God had to remove them away
and bring me close to Him. What a privilege! It was not enough, God wanted to drag me
more closer to Him. I had refused to abort my child and I was determined to complete
the pregnancy period and deliver my child which was impossible according to the
doctors. Hence, we took a risk and returned home. Now listen, when I came back home,
I was now brought back in a stretcher in an ambulance van. Four people carried me
back home!
My spiritual journey started right there in the stretcher! The 'invisible Hand of God'
carried me through the trial period. As I look back at the events of my life, I could see
God orchestrating everything in my life to fulfill His divine purpose. I can now say like
Job, "I thank God for the affliction, because he has refined me as gold." (Job 23:10)
What sets apart great athletes from similarly gifted competitors, is their overwhelming
will to win, their cut-throat mindset and the tenacity to lift their game on the biggest
stage. Let us never be satisfied to be mere ‘survivors’ but let us aim to be ‘conquerors’.
God healed me and I miraculously delivered a baby boy Joshua who is now a pastor.
E.PATIENTLY WAITED:
Hebrews 6:
14 saying, "I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you."
15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.
16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.
17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath,
18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.
Psalm 25: Psalms 25: Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon. A Psalm of David.
1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You.
F.FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Isaiah 32:15 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil;
16 He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land.
G. STEADFAST IN TRIAL: James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
I.TURN AWAY FROM EVIL: Job 28:28'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
J. REPENTANCE BRINGS BLESSINGS:
Ezekiel 36: 29 "Moreover, I will save you from all your uncleanness; and I will call for the grain and multiply it, and I will not bring a famine on you.
30 "I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field, so that you will not receive again the disgrace of famine among the nations.
31 "Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and your abominations.
32 "I am not doing this for your sake," declares the Lord GOD, "let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel!"
33 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places will be rebuilt.
34 "The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by.
35 "They will say, 'This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.'
36 "Then the nations that are left round about you will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken and will do it."
AFTER OBEDIENCE NOW COMES THE BLESSINGS:
SUDDENLY:
LAST WILL BECOME FIRST:
STOOD UPRIGHT
SUDDENLY
Verse 7 “when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright!” This portion captivated me. Just when we think that things look bleak and uncertain, suddenly God would do a miracle and make our sheaf rise up. Hallelujah! When Hannah arose and went into the presence of God, she received an incredible miracle in her life.
Just keep faithfully obeying God and doing your normal work with diligence, excellence and carefulness. Not grudgingly but patiently trusting God for a breakthrough.
Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts.
Suddenly Joseph was summoned to the king’s palace and asked to interpret his dream. Opportunities come to your door when you trust in God.
STAY FOCUSED DON’T GIVE UP/ SHIFT IS COMING: LAST WILL BECOME FIRST:
The little one of the family Joseph, became the leader of Egypt,
Your anointing brings an excellent spirit that will be identified:
God will give you wisdom, power, faith, good friends, suddenly people who hate you will be for you. One idea, favor of god, one thought can spectacularly change your life.
PROMISES FULFILLED:
Joseph was seventeen years old when God gave him the dreams, twenty short years later, the promises came true. Turn the Bible to Genesis 42:3-6.
"Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. 5 So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. 6 Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground .”
Twenty long years he had to wait for God to keep the promise (Gen. 41:46; Gen. 41:47-49; Gen. 45:6).
SOMEONE SAID, "THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY
HAVE WITHIN THEM THE VERY REAL POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT US!"
Rudyard Kipling wrote a story of a little ship about to go on its first voyage. The captain’s
daughter christened the ship and named it "Dimbula." Then she said to her father, "Now
we have a great ship." The captain replied, "No, daughter, not yet. I must take her to
sea." When he took the ship on her maiden voyage, it began to give off creaking sounds
which grew louder and louder as though each part was straining and groaning and
struggling to fall into its proper place, as though the ship was trying to pull itself together.
But after sixteen days at sea, as she sailed back into the harbor, the creaking and the
straining and the groaning had been transformed into an even sound -- as if to say, "My
master has taken me through the rough spots in which everything seemed to be coming
apart, and I have become what I have been made to be. I am the ’Dimbula.’ Because I
have a master, I am a ship."
JOSEPH’S SHEAF ROSE & STOOD UPRIGHT! God bless you!
