JACOB’S REVIVAL
Genesis 45
1) Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
2) And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3) And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4) And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
9) Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me Lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
13) And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
19) Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20) Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your’s.
21) And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22) To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
23) And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.
24) So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
25) And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
26) And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.
27) And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
28) And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
Introduction:
I want to preach to you on the subject, "Jacobs Revival"
I want to say to you right up front, "I believe in Pentecost Now." Not next week, not next year, not somewhere else, but here and now!
Now! Pentecost! Here and Now!
I do not believe we have to spend our days window shopping thru the book of Acts, looking and searching and picking and choosing, but it’s right here in the book.
2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Now!
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord, and in one place,
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven like as a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting,
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat up on each of them,
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This is a revival message, and it’s a revival message about Pentecost Now!
We know that the Lord sent the Former rain in moderation, but He promised that the Latter rain would be a deluge. A flood of water that would fill the ditches that you have dug!
If you think they got wet on the day of Pentecost;
If you read through the book of Acts all the happenings, and miracles, if you think they got wet then, you ain’t seen nothing yet! I said, "You haven’t seen nothing yet! God is about to show himself mightily in this last day.
It’s time to come out:
From behind the rocks;
From you hiding place;
From underneath you umbrella; And let God pour out some water upon you.
This is a day for old men to dream dreams;
This is a day for young men to see visions;
Joseph was a man that was hated for his dreams. People hate it when you have a dream or vision. That they don’t have!
They despise it when you have a dream. Before they announce their dream. Come on........
Though he was hated for his dreams, he never forgot his dreams. Do you have a dream?
Do you have a vision of something? You don’t have to be on this platform to have a dream. You don’t have to be a preacher that stands in the pulpit to have a dream.
God didn’t just give the preacher that ability but he gave it to the church! Who’s the church? Say, "I am" God didn’t call the preacher to win the city, but he called you to win the city.
God didn’t call one preacher to win the world, but God called the church to win the world.
You don’t need to be moving off to Ten- Buck-Two, or Tucumcari, or greener pastures, but you’re where you are because God sent you there. Give me a church where the preacher and the saints have the same dream, and the same vision, and I’ll show you a church that’s going to reach that city for God.
Do you have a dream?
Paul said, "For the which cause I also suffer these things"
Suffer:
Because of your dreams;
Because of your vision;
Because you will not compromise;
Because you preach the truth;
Because you live Godly;
Because you stand for Holiness; Nevertheless I am not ashamed for I know in whom I have believed, and I am persuaded, that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."
Joseph was sold into slavery;
He was lied on;
He was put in prison;
Forgot about; But then, in God’s time, promoted.
I’m looking for my promotion. I said, I’m looking for my promotion.
It wasn’t very long after he was promoted that those who lied on him had to come to where he was. And when they came he knew who they were, but they didn’t know who he was.
Listen, church, I think it’s very disturbing to stand in His holy presence and not know who he is!
And not know:
How he wants to help us;
How he wants to embrace us;
How he wants to sustain us;
The provisions that he has stored up for us;
Hey, I’m not preaching this by myself, but the Holy Ghost is forming the words way down deep inside my inner most being; The helper is here;
I’m not standing in my own strength, but I’m looking unto the hills from whence cometh my help, my help cometh from the Lord.
I can preach if my help comes;
I can pastor if my help comes;
I can live for God if my help comes;
I can prophesy if my help comes;
Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
But, If my help don’t come:
The church is in trouble;
The service is in trouble;
I’m in trouble;
You’re in trouble;
But thank God He said, "I’ll never leave you, and I’ll never forsake you, but I’ll go with you all the way."
I want to give you some types here before I preach.
These are not pure types. We’re going to put Joseph as a type of Jesus. His brethren as a type of the church. Jacob, as the unbelieving world.
Firstly, Let’s look at the church:
1) GETTING THE REVELATION
Now when his brothers (The church) came to meet Joseph, he made every man to leave, so he could reveal himself to them. He wanted to be alone with them.
Before he talked to them about reaching Jacob( The world); Before he sent them on their mission; He said, First of all, you and I need to have an understanding.
I want to give you a revelation before you go out there.
Not just anybody is qualified to:
Teach a Bible Study;
Lead a mens group;
Lead a women’s group;
Teach a class;
Not just anybody is a God recognized preacher.
I don’t care what you have:
Hanging on your wall;
In your files;
As credentials;
Your confidence in;
It doesn’t matter:
What school you attended;
What Seminary you came from;
What degrees you have;
You’ve got to have an understanding, and a revelation; You’ve got to have had an encounter with Jesus Christ; A revelation of just exactly who he is must have taken place in your life.
So, Joseph made every man to leave so he could reveal himself. And I’m preaching today that if we’re going to have: Real revival; A clear revelation; That latter rain fall upon us; An unveiling of truth;
Then we’re going to have to:
Have an open mind;
Have a mind to work;
Dig our ditch;
Come close to him;
Get alone with him;
Because once you get alone with him... When you’re all by yourself and it’s just you and God. That’s not a popular place, because when your with God you can’t brag on yourself.
He doesn’t care:
How many you’re running;
What title you hold;
If this one likes you;
If that one don’t like you;
If people look up to you or not;
You can’t:
Inform God of something, He already knows.
Impress God with your intellect;
Impress God with your abilities;
Gossip about anybody;
Be one an ego trip in his presence.
As a matter of fact in His presence you’ll fall down and begin to praise this one who is thrice Holy; This one that: Plucked you out of Hell like a brand plucked from the fire; Redeemed you; Called you by your name; Gave Egypt as a ransom for you;
In his presence you’ll say like Isaiah, "Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips" I want to tell you that if we’re going to reach this world for Jesus, we need for some people to get alone with this heavenly Joseph. They came wanting grain, but he said, first you have to know who I am.
You’re not getting grain, until you get a revelation that I’m Joseph. You got to know who he is before you take part in this harvest. Hear me, if you don’t have a revelation of who he is, you’re harvest is not going in his basket. Verse 3 says, "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
I’m telling you the church ought to be troubled at the presence of God when we haven’t been doing the Will of God. Oh Preacher, Speak to us smooth things; I didn’t come to this service to hear this; I came to hear: Smooth things; How Holy I am; How much you like me; How much you need me; How much you can’t do without me; I came to: Shout; Get my spiritual back rubbed; Feel good; Get in my spiritual Jacuzzi; To shout;To dance;
Well, I’ve got some news for you, I’m not preaching to:
Make you comfortable;
Tickle your ears;
Make you feel good;
To build you up;
But, I’m preaching to stir you up and let the Word of Almighty God quicken you and change you that you might receive a revelation. I’m preaching to disturb you. (Clap your hands)
2) After you get the Revelation Go tell the unbelieving world
Verse 9, Haste ye, and go up to my father, and when you go to the father, he’s an un believing father, and he depicts the un believing world; He’s those on the outside that does not believe; You’re on the inside; You now have the revelation; But, he doesn’t believe yet; And I’m sending you to take my message. I’m sending you in my place. And when you go, hurry up! Haste ye, go to my father, come on church, let’s get in a hurry to reach the world.
I don’t believe that we need to get in a hurry when we’re in his presence, we need to linger in his presence. The Bible says, "They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength." You’ve got to: Tarry before the Lord; Bask in his presence; Seek his face; Know him; If you want renewed strength you’ve got to get out of that hurry up mode you’re in, Telling God to: Hurry up; Do this; Do that; Answer this request like this; You’ve got to wait on God.
But, when you get out of your prayer closet, When you get up off your knees; it’s time to hurry! The harvest is ready! The time is now! It’s time to get to Jacob and tell him the good news, Joseph is alive!
Oh, preacher, what’s all this hype about revival; What’s all this hype about reaching the world; Let’s sit back and relax, oh no my friend, we got to haste, we got to get to Jacob because he hadn’t heard the news yet.
3) BRING HIM HERE
notice in verse 9 he said, "You go to my father and bring him here." Bring him here! Don’t put me in your Rock Songs, and take me to them; Don’t put me in your mimes and take me to him; Don’t buy ball bats, bricks or ice and break it with your heads, and put my name in it; Don’t put on your worldly attire, and your worldly vernacular, and put my name on it; Don’t take me down to them, but you go get my father and bring him to me! Hear me, we need to bring the father into the place where God can touch them and clean them up.
Joseph wanted to know, Is my father yet alive? Is there any hope for Dad? Is there any hope for the world? "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son...." What are we doing about Jacob? What are we doing about the world? Is my father yet alive? There four things that God wants the unbeliever to know about him.
1) Tell Jacob, I’m alive. When you go over there you tell my daddy, I’m alive! When you get to that unbeliever that thinks I’m dead, well, why do they think he’s dead? That’s the way they presented him. I’m talking about that church on worldly avenue. The first church of the fridgedar; With ice sickles hanging off the ear lobes of the preacher; And they have presented a dead Jesus! They know he’s dead because the: Preaching is dead; The service is dead; The worship is dead; The praying is dead; Everything is dead; They serve One who:
Does not heal; Cannot perform miracles; Left us to ourselves; Left us with no hope; Does not intervene in our affairs;
But hear me, I serve a living Jesus;
One who:
Saved my soul;
Altered my destiny;
Heals my body;
Intervenes in my affairs;
Gives me hope;
And Jacob thinks that Joseph is dead. But he’s alive! Tell him I’m alive.
Eastern religions, all their Gods are dead. The Hindus have 330 million gods. Buddha is dead; Mohammed is dead; All the self proclaimed messiahs are dead; You can go to their tombs and their body is still there,
But, hear me, you can go to the tomb of Jesus Christ and written there in big bold letters are the words, "He is not here for he is risen, why seek ye the living among the dead." Jesus is here tonight! He’s Alive!
He’s here! He’s here! You don’t have to look for him, he’s here tonight. You didn’t find him in your dead church, but you found him here.
Joseph said secondly:
2) You tell him that I’m Lord of All
Tell daddy, I’m Lord of all. Tell daddy: I’ve got what he needs; I’ve got Corn; I’ve got oil; I’ve got wine; I’ve got provision; I’ve got all that he needs; I’m Lord of all; I’ve got a commission for you brethren , You go tell that unbelieving world that I’m Lord of all. Tell them, I’ve got what they need.
He’s the one that:
Reached into the abyss of nothing and formed the entire world;
Carved out the rivers and valleys;
Gave the sea their bounds;
Gave the river their course;
Put the Blue in the sky;
The green in the grass;
The corn in the pod;
And the fragrance in the rose;
He is God! And besides him there is no other.
Thirdly he said, when you get over there you tell Jacob:
3) ABOUT ALL MY GLORY
I’m giving you some clothes, but you don’t go talking about your glory.I’m going to give you a bunch of gifts, but you don’t go talking about your gift. When your gift is not in submission, your gift becomes your downfall. If you got a gift and you don’t have a pastor, you’re in trouble. Do you know that the bible said to submit yourselves unto them that have rule over you. Well, preacher, I’ll submit as long as I agree with it. Hey, that’s not submission. Submission does not want it’s own way. Submission does not necessarily have to be in agreement; Submission is coming under authority of the one over you.
I have people who attend this church that call me pastor, but I’m not their pastor. They do their own thing; They’re their own pastor. If he’s truly your pastor you’ll listen to him. You see, you’ve got a chance to submit: When you don’t see the whole picture; When you don’t understand it all; When you don’t know what to do; If your pastor tells you something, let him be your pastor and submit! Joseph says, tell him all about my glory. The church, ought to be proclaiming the glory of God. It’s time to abase ourselves and proclaim that He: Is Lord of Lords; Is King of Kings; Is My saviour; Is altogether lovely; Is the way maker; Is our Peace; Is glorified;
Fourthly, you tell my father Jacob:
4) Everything you’ve seen here
You tell him I’m alive.
You tell him that I’m Lord of all.
You tell him about the glory. And then you tell him what you’ve seen here. We could say to the World: I’ve seen: The blinded eyes open; The deaf to hear; The lame to walk; Dead raised; Get the Holy Ghost; Maybe you haven’t seen some of these things, but if you’re living for God and in a church that’s alive you’ve seen something that you can tell the unbelieving world about. God’s wanting us to show the world that this Heavenly Joseph has our answer. There’s a world out there that needs to know about this Jesus we serve. There’s a world out there that needs: A vision; To hear; To see; To know; Hope; And Joseph said tell them!
You can sit down with some people and argue doctrine all day long, but they can’t argue with your experience.
You say look here, I was blind, but now I see; I was lame, but now I can walk; I was lost, but now I’m found; I was on drugs; I was hooked on alcohol; I was addicted to crack cocain; But, now........
They can’t argue with that. That’s the message you take to old Jacob, tell him what you’ve seen here. Take him the good news. The gospel is good news. The gospel is not negative. There’s some people that if you listen to them long enough they’ll almost convince you that nobody is saved but me and you, and I’m not too sure about you. The church is going belly up. I’ve come by to drop off the news, the church is alive and well; Joseph is still alive; The chief cornerstone is still in place; The brothers are on their way; They’ve got some good news for you!
I’m closing with this:
Conclusion:
Verse 20, "Regard not your stuff, for I’m going to give you what you need for the journey." You know what the problem is? We’ve got too much of our stuff in this. If we could just keep the stuff: Out of the church; Out of our lives; Out of our homes; We could have revival. The problem is, there’s too much stuff. Stuff’s what you keep in the garage because you don’t use it. And you don’t use it because you don’t need it. It’s time to trim down and travel light. We’ve got some bitterness that nothing but stuff; We’ve got some judgmental attitudes that nothing but stuff; Worldliness; Attitudes; When you get over there to that sinner, you’re going to need more than theology to convince him.
You’re going to need an experience. A relationship with Joseph. Joseph said, "I’ve given you the message, but you’re going to need some extras; Verse 23, Some wagons, donkeys, Silver, raiment, good things, some corn, some bread, some meat, I’m not just going to give you a message to deliver, but I’m going to give you the things that you’re going to have to live by. I’m going to give you some ministerial gifts; Some gifts of the Spirit; Some fruit of the Spirit; You go tell them what I told you. When Jacob saw the wagons that he was to be taken to Egypt in, The wagon for the unbeliever; God don’t ask the sinner to come under their own power; He said, "No man comes except the spirit draw him"
That’s why we have to have real God sent conviction. It’s not all the: Preaching; Singing; Shouting; Dancing; It’s the Spirit that draws people.
We need a change of raiment. Those old clothes you had when you put me in the pit, I’m giving you some different ones. I’m giving you some holiness within, and without. You’re not taking the message in your own garments, but new garments. God gave us all we need to take the message. But, when they got over there, it says he believed them not. He had heard so many stories to where he didn’t know what to believe. I say this as a challenge to us. We need to put up or shut up. They need to hear the sound of the pomegranates in the holy of holies. They need to know everything is alright in the church.
