Joseph¡¦s Journey
How Dreams Come True
Pt 5 ¡V Finish Well
Genesis 37:4-8 The Dream
Genesis 41:46-54 The Climax
Genesis 42:6 The Fulfillment
Genesis 45:1-8 The Finish
As we have progressed through this series over the last month ¡V let me take just a moment to recap 4 take home points with you before we finish the series.
„Y God has a plan (dream) for your life.
„Y You will never reach that dream without overcoming many obstacles in your life.
„Y Never give up, your salvation might be just out of sight. Never give in because God will never lead you to glory through the gutter.
„Y No one can stop God¡¦s dream for your life ¡V but you!
How many of you watched last months Olympic Games? One event that you probably didn¡¦t watch was in sharpshooting. American Matt Emmons went into the final shot of that competition only needing to hit the target anywhere near the bullseye to win a Gold Medal. He lined up his shot squeezed the trigger and watched as he hit the target near the bullseye. His elation was short lived however when he realized that he shot at the wrong target ¡V hitting the target in the lane next to his. Because he missed his target completely ¡V he was dropped out of the medals and finished in 8th place.
I tell you that story to remind you that when we are pursuing our dreams ¡V it¡¦s about finishing well. Joseph has spent his life overcoming obstacles and others ¡V from pits to prisons ¡V but God¡¦s plan remains the same and he continues on track to be all that God wants him to be. In these last verses that we are going to consider together Joseph shows us how to finish well. Here are just a couple of suggestions from the life of Joseph.
1) Remember the Journey is Part of the Dream ¡V For Joseph the dream started 13 years earlier when he was only 17 years old. He has a dream ¡V he tells his family about his dream ¡V and his dysfunctional family erupts. His brothers throw him in a pit then sell him into slavery. Once in Egypt ¡V he is thrown into jail for a crime he didn¡¦t commit and is forgotten by the one person who could help him. Joseph could have turned into a bitter angry person. In fact I would say that today we have a lot of bitter angry people who have much less cause than Joseph. But look with me at Joseph when he comes out of prison who is he? He seems to be the same positive forward looking man that started out 13 years earlier. Look at this pasasage in 41:46 ¡V Joseph names his children
„Y The first Manasseh ¡V it means Making to forget ¡V he says he names him this because God has made me forget all my trouble in my father¡¦s household. Joseph finds healing from God for his misfortunes in life. We have choices ¡V we can stay anchored in the past ¡V this was done to me ¡V that was done to me ¡V I hurt ¡V It¡¦s not fair ¡V on and on ¡V or we can seek the healing of God that helps us forget and move on.
„Y The second is Ephraim ¡V it means fruitfulness ¡V He says God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. Even in hardship God has blessed me.
Here is the truth for you ¡V The difficulties, obstacles, and even the betrayals of life are part of the journey to the dream. Listen to me folks ¡V everyone has a story. Every one has problems, everyone has difficulties, everyone has heartaches ¡V you might not know it because most people will never tell you their stories ¡V but your not the only one who ever had to deal with difficulty. Some people surrender to the pain and are simply content to wallow in self-pity. Others seem empowered by misfortune and use it to excuse their sinful behavior as if somehow they deserve to be let off the hook because of their past. Well folks if you are one of these realize that the only person who is destroying your dream is you. We have the choice to overcome by the power of God.
2) Extend the Grace Card Frequently ¡V 45:4-5 ¡V You say what¡¦s a grace card? Actually I have to give credit where credit is due ¡V this idea came from Mark Basinger as we had a discussion recently. I knew I had to preach about it I just didn¡¦t know when. A grace card is a spiritual get out of jail free card. It says ¡V I¡¦m giving someone a free pass today. Maybe they hurt my feelings, maybe they did me wrong, maybe they missed a meeting, maybe they did something stupid or blew their top ¡V I don¡¦t know there are a million reasons whey we may need a grace card on any given day. Joseph¡¦s brothers needed a grace card if ever anyone did. Joseph had all the power ¡V he could have had their heads for what they had done. But Joseph extends his hand and offers them a grace card. Here are a couple of insights on this
„Y Grace cards are not deserved, asked for, earned, or paid for they are given as a free gift of love from our hearts. We make a decision not to exert our rights to anger, punishment, or retribution.
„Y Grace cards are more about us than about others. They speak to the condition of our hearts. They demonstrate that we know people mess up in life ¡V that it¡¦s a natural part of life. They demonstrate that we understand that we mess up in life and need a grace card now and then.
„Y Grace cards demonstrate our understanding of God ¡V you see the biggest grace card ever given was given on the cross of Christ when Jesus with his own blood offered you a grace card.
„Y Grace cards are about obedience to God ¡V Colossians 3:12 says ¡§So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you¡¨
„Y Grace cards are part of the plan ¡V Matthew 7:12 ¡V ¡§So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.¡¨ How many of you have ever needed a grace card? How many of you have ever said something or done something stupid and wished you could take it back?
3) Remember that God¡¦s plan is to bless you so you can bless others ¡V One of the beauties of God¡¦s plans for our lives is that they are interconnected. I don¡¦t believe God ever sets a plan for a person¡¦s life that is self-centered. His plan is to bless others as he blesses you. We are designed to be conduits of God¡¦s blessing. Joseph says in v7-15 that God has planned his life and brought it about so that he could be a blessing to his family. In all the journey God has blessed Joseph now the plan is fulfilled and his family gets the blessing. It¡¦s funny that his brothers were jealous of the dream ¡V mad because of the plan ¡V but always it was meant for their good.
Where are you on the journey to your dream today? Just getting it, facing obstacles, enduring trials, tempted to quit or take it into your own hands, or just beginning to get it? God has a plan for your life ¡V let¡¦s pray today that we don¡¦t miss it on the journey.
