The End Of The Story.
Genesis 50.20
The end of the story is what makes a story good or bad, happy, or sad?
What if I told you the story of a man hated by his own family, sold into slavery, taken to a foreign land, thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit, and forgotten by man, and, it seems, by God.
What kind of story would you say it is? A sad story. The story of injustice and oppression… A tragedy.
But the story is from the book of Genesis. And the man is Joseph. And before it ends, Joseph will be released from prison, given a position of great honor, saving Egypt from famine, and being reconciled to his family.
There are many comparisons (Over 100) in the lives of Joseph, and Jesus:
* Relationships with their father.
* Hated, despised, and humiliated.
* Sold for money.
* A life of servanthood.
* Resisted temptation but falsely accused.
* Foretold the future.
* Provided for people in need.
* Promoted to honor etc.
Again, Joseph will be released from prison, Now would you say the story is sad and tragic?
-I think you would agree with me that this story is one of triumph!
Hear Joseph’s testimony of the whole scheme.
Genesis 50:20NIV ”You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.“
Remember this, The parts of a story (your story), are not all of equal weight. A happy story with a tragic ending is not a happy story, but a tragic one.
-A tragic story with a triumphant ending is not a tragic story, but a triumphant one!
1 John 5:4-5NIV ”for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.“
This I know, You can never judge a story by its beginning, or middle, or by any of its parts before it’s ending.
The apostle Paul wrote from prison in, Philippians 1:6NIV ”being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.“
~It is the ending of the story that determines everything that went before it!
Again, Remember the nature of the story is determined by its end… So too the story of your life.
Remember this, “You can never judge your story by your current circumstances or problems.’ ‘
It doesn’t matter where your story is presently, As long as your on earth, you have not seen the end of the story.” P.H
Although they were filled with trails, and grief.
The last days of Jesus were not the end of the story!
Monday- The temple courts had devolved into a marketplace for the buying and selling of animals to be sacrificed on the Temple altar.-What was once a sacred place had become a pigsty.
Tuesday- Tuesday was a busy day.-
-Jesus spent all day in Jerusalem sparring with religious leaders, teaching parables, and healing the sick.
Wednesday- The highlight of the day occurred during the evening. Jesus was anointed by Mary in Bethany -Matthew 26:6-13.
Thursday- Jesus and His disciples observed the Passover and the Lord’s Supper in the Upper Room. Judas betrays Jesus.
-Gethsemane, Jesus receives the bitter-cup of suffering for all humanity.
Friday- Judas hanged himself. -Jesus was condemned and crucified.
On Friday, here’s the seven last words from the cross:
1. Matthew 27:46, tells us that about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
2. Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing, Luke 23:34.
3. Jesus told the thief on the cross, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise," Luke 23:43.
4. Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit, Luke 23:46.
5. "Dear Woman, here is your son!" and “Here is your mother”, John 19:26-27.
6. “I am thirsty,” John 19:28.
7. “It is finished,” John 19:30. -The end of the story is being completed!
Saturday- Jesus was in the tomb. Fear, hurt, sorrow, denial, disbelief, it’s not real.
Sunday- Resurrection day! -This is the day that changed everything. -The end of your story can now be made complete!
Mark 16:5-6 And the angel said to the women, “Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, he was crucified. He has risen. 6 He is not here; see the place where they laid him,”
Hear me well, “The end of your story has not been told yet!” P.H
From the book of Job, Job was tested in every area, Job losses his finances, his house, his livestock, his family, and finally, his health.
Everything Job once knew was gone. You could say, “Gone with the wind.”
* Job’s wife beseeches him to curse God.
* His friends only found fault in Job.
* Everything Job prayed about and dedicated to the Lord daily was either dead, or gone.
But listen to the end of the story-Job 42:10-17MSG After Job had interceded for his friends, God restored his fortune—and then doubled it! All his brothers and sisters and friends came to his house and celebrated. They told him how sorry they were, and consoled him for all the trouble God had brought him. Each of them brought generous housewarming gifts.
12-15 God blessed Job’s later life even more than his earlier life. He ended up with fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand teams of oxen, and one thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first daughter Dove, the second, Cinnamon, and the third, Darkeyes. There was not a woman in that country as beautiful as Job’s daughters. Their father treated them as equals with their brothers, providing the same inheritance. 16-17 Job lived on another 140 years, living to see his children and grandchildren—four generations of them! Then he died—an old man, a full life.
If you’re a child of God, the end of the story is revealed, which is… Victory, Restoration, Triumph, Blessing, Joy, glory, and of course streets of Gold!
Hear the apostles Paul write about your triumph- 2 Corinthians 2:14AMP But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us spreads and makes evident everywhere the sweet fragrance of the knowledge of Him.
And it is that end, that makes your life a good story, a wonderful story.
Therefore, when you look at your life, see everything in the light of that ending. Every problem, every defeat, every sorrow, every failure, every evil… P.H
Hear this word, “They’re only the components of a story of triumph and glory.”
Hebrews 12:1-2TPT”As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us. 2 We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his, he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation, and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!“
Fix your eyes on the end of the story.-And press on that end. -It is the end that makes your story, and your life… A great one.
This is your mission. No matter what you’re going through today or in your life, believe, look to, and live in confidence to the end of the story. (Heaven changes everything)!
The disciples of Jesus were lost seemingly with all hope gone. Although the rest of the story had taken place, still many of His disciples haven’t heard, or failed to believe.
Even though, Luke 24:6NIV ”He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:“
Always remember even though the story has been told, and history is written, He is not here; he has risen!
Again, Many of Jesus’ disciples hadn’t heard, some doubted. Others felt unsure and even shaky.
Therefore let’s look at what Jesus does to assure His disciples of the end of the story.
Luke 24:45-53NIV ”Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.“
Do you know the end of the story? -How about the end of your story? -You can know!
Testimony- Occasionally I’ll purchase a book and my inquisitive side of me will turn near the end of the book, and begin to read.
Although I might learn the characters fate, it never justifies the life-story behind it. The nitty-gritty, -It’s the trails, victories and defeats that make the end of the story complete! P.H
What is Easter all about? Easter is about the impossible becoming a reality. Easter is about death giving way to life. Easter is about a Savior who died and a Lord who lives for eternity. -It is worst tragedy melting into the greatest triumph. It is about the penalty of sin being paid with blood as the price of salvation.
What is Easter all about? Easter is about, a stone being rolled away, a Savior being risen and the sting of death being removed. It is about, Jesus doing the unthinkable to win your heart and God doing the unimaginable to give you new life, because without the resurrection, Easter is just an ordinary day.
Our Daily Bread. 3/29/2024. A wealthy 20-year-old was drag racing with his friends when he struck and killed a pedestrian. Although the young man received a three year prison sentence, some believed that the man who appeared in court, and who subsequently served a prison sentence was a hired surrogate for the driver who committed the crime. This type of thing has been known to occur in some countries, where people hire body doubles to avoid paying for their crimes. This may sound scandalous and outrageous, but more than 2000 years ago, Jesus became our substitute and suffered once for our sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, 1 Peter 3:18.
Benediction. -Easter is about resurrection, Easter is about newness, Easter is about power, anointing, Easter is about second-chances, Easter produces love, prayer and grace. And Easter saints of God is the end of the story! P.H
-Easter gives every believing person the end of the story. -Because at the end you win!
