SECRETS OF FRUITFULNESS IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH
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OUTLINE
1.FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
2.FAVOUR WITH GOD AND MAN
3.FAITHFULNESS IN HIS RESPONSIBILITIES
4.FEAR OF GOD
5.FORGIVING NATURE
6.FORTITUDE
7.FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
THE MESSAGE
SECRETS OF FRUITFULNESS IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH :GENESIS 49:22-24
1.FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
Genesis 37:5,9 Genesis 39:2,21 Genesis 40:8
Joseph had an unbroken fellowship with God.His circumstances kept changing but his relationship with God was constant.He had fellowship with God when he was a favoured son in his father’s house. God communicated with him through dreams revealing his future.He grew up with a vision about his life and future.Soon the circumstances changed in his life. He became a slave in pothiphars house and later a prisoner in jail. But his fellowship with God was unaffected. God was with him all the time.He could still interpret dreams in the prison.He was still using his spiritual gifts inspite of adverse circumstances. His unbroken fellowship with God was a powerful secret of his fruitfulness.
2.FAVOUR WITH GOD AND MAN
Genesis 37:3 Genesis 39:4,21 Genesis 41:39-41
Joseph had favour in the eyes of God and man.Everywhere he went he had favour. When he was in his fathers house he had favour in the eyes of his father.His father loved him more than all his brothers. When he was a slave in pothiphar’s house he had favour in the eyes of Pothiphar. When he was a prisoner in jail he had favour in the eyes of the prison keeper.When he stood before Pharoh he had favour in the eyes of Pharoh who put him incharge of the whole kingdom.Jacob , Pothiphar,the prison keeper and Pharoh were all different people with different personalities but Joseph had favour with all of them. The favour of God and man in the life of Joseph was powerful secret of his fruitfulness.
3.FAITHFULNESS IN HIS RESPONSIBILITIES
Genesis 37:2 Genesis 39:6,22,23
Joseph was faithful in all his responsibilities. When his brothers were doing evil he was faithfully reporting it to his father. He did not join his brothers in their evil nor did he hide their evil doings from his father. He was concerned about his family’s honour.He continued to be faithful even when he was a slave in pothiphar’s house. Pothiphar was not inspecting the work of Joseph.But Joseph was faithful even when no one was watching his work.His amazing faithfulness continued even in prison where he was thrown on false accusations. He did not give up his faithfulness as a result of his bitter experience.He did not question whether it was worth being faithful after his faithfulness in Potiphars house only landed him in prison. His faithfulness remained constant and the prison keeper had a very relaxed life as Joseph took charge of everything and did his work efficiently and successfully. His faithfulness in all his responsibilities was a powerful secret of his fruitfulness.
4.FEAR OF GOD
Genesis 39:7-20
Joseph had the fear of God in his heart. The wife of Pothiphar was constantly tempting him to have an immoral relationship with her. But Joseph consistently refused her advances. His main argument was ‘How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God’ . Even if no man was present to witness their sin Joseph was primarily concerned about sinning against God who was watching him all the time.Therefore he refused to yield to her temptation and fled from her.The fear of God was a great protection in the life of Joseph and brought him the abundant blessings of God.
5..FORGIVING NATURE
Genesis 50:19-21 Genesis 40:14-15 Genesis 42:21
Joseph had a forgiving heart. He had no bitterness or resentment
against those who harmed him. His brothers had caused untold suffering in his life.He had pleaded with his brothers not to send him into slavery.But his brothers did not show mercy to him even though they saw the anguish of his heart.Pothipar’s wife had falsely accused him.It must have been very painful for a morally upright person like Joseph to be accused of such a serious immorality. Pothiphar sent him to prison without a reasonable enquiry.A great injustice was done to Joseph by sending him to prison on false accusations.He requested the cup bearer to help him come out of prison.He suffered in prison. But inspite of all this suffering he maintained a heart of forgiveness.He was not tied down by a spirit of anger and vengeance.He forgave his brothers wholeheartedly. A bitter attitude would have surely ruined his life and destroyed his happiness and fruitfulness. His forgiving nature was a powerful secret of his fruitfulness.
6.FORTITUDE
Psalm 105:19-20
Joseph had fortitude and endurance. He did not get discouraged
and backslide.He waited for God’s time.He committed everything to God
and endured till the end. He endured
a) Hatred : Genesis 37:4
b) Envy : Genesis 37:11
c) Slavery : Genesis 37:28
d) Temptation : Genesis 39:7-10
e) False Accusation: Genesis 39:14
f) Prison life : Genesis 39:20
g) Ingratitude : Genesis 40:23
But Joseph did not give up hope .He did not go away from God.The time came when God delivered him and lifted him up above everyone .He was submitted in the hand of God and God blessed him abundantly in due time. His fortitude was a powerful secret of his fruitfulness.
7.FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Genesis 41:38-44
Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God.There was a supernatural dimension to his life. Pharoh discerned this anointing upon the life of Joseph and asked his servants ‘Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?’. This spirit filled life helped Joseph accomplish great things in his life. He had a supernatural wisdom and understanding in the administration of his responsibilities.He could interpret dreams and unveil spiritual mysteries. Thus the spirit filled life helped Joseph to lead a blessed and fruitful life
