*The test used in reference for this message was a thought received from a message on the 7 test of Joseph submitted by SermonCentral.com contibutor, Derek Vreeland.
A New Year Brings a New Beginning!
Genesis 37
You look over the last year and no doubt you can find some high points of your life. But most people tend to dwell on the negative things that happened to them.
· Lost of loved one
· Financial crisis
· Divorce
· All the fights
· All the disappointments
· All the let downs
· The splits
· The family quarrels
What if:
· You were able to start over
· You were given a second chance
· You could change something about yourself to make your life better.
I am happy to tell you that:
A New Year brings for you a New Beginning
But for this new beginning to work in your life, you have to decide today to make some new choices for your life. You have to renew some commitments that you have made many times before, but this with a made up mind not to give in.
Many people will make what is known as “New Year’s Resolutions”. They make these so-called commitments and hope they turn out.
Top Ten Resolutions
1. Spend more time with family and friends
2. Fit in Fitness
3. Tame the Bulge
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy life more
6. Quit drinking
7. Get out of debt
8. Learn something new
9. Help others
10. Get organized
For the Christian, the list might look like this:
1. Read my bible more
2. Spend more time with family and friends
3. Pray more
4. Witness more
5. Tithe more faithfully
6. Attend more church services regularly
7. Quit gossiping
8. Quit fighting
9. Help others
10. Get involved with the church
But the problem with all of these resolutions is that they are all made at the beginning of the year and they are said as though they are going to take place without any effort.
To lose weight – You might just have to exercise and watch what you eat
To become debt free – You have to put yourself on a budget
To read your Bible more – You might have to own one, first. Second you might have to find it.
What am I saying? You have to put effort into your resolutions.
In 2006,
· I want to be a better Christian
· I want to do more for Christ
· I want to have a better job
· I want a better home
· I want a better car
· I want to be happier
· I want to have a better hold on my bills
· I want to start over
· I want … I want… I want…
So how bad do you want it?
Matt. 7:7
“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find…”
Luke 12:48
“And from everyone who has been given much, much is required…”
Over the next four weeks, we will have a series of messages from the life of Joseph. For Joseph to reach his dream, he had to pass eight tests. For each test that Joseph faced, there is a test question for us to consider.
So how bad do you want your dreams to become reality? You will soon find in the life of Joseph that some things don’t come easy, but they’re worth it once you receive it.
Your dedication to the services over the next four weeks will also show how serious you are about your dreams.
Let’s jump into today’s first test.
Read Genesis 37:1-4
Joseph’s Test: The Persecution Test
Joseph’s brothers hated him to the point of wanting to kill him. (Background: Joseph’s coat)
PERSECUTION IN THE BIBLE - Harassment and suffering which people and institutions inflict upon others for being different in their faith, worldview, culture, or race. Persecution seeks to intimidate, silence, punish, or even to kill people.
You’re Test Question:
Will I lose my faith when the pressure is on?
When it comes time for me to stand up and be counted as one of the faithful, will I stand or will I just let it pass on by.
· Will I join in the berating of a fellow employee
· Will I stand for my God when His name is being taking in vain
· Will I stand up for my church when people want to criticize
· Will I allow people to down play the pain that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins
· Will I allow others to tell me when I can and can’t pray
· Will I stand up for my Jesus or allow the peer pressure of my co-workers or family dictate what I think and what I say.
A few people in the bible come to mind:
3 Hebrew Children -
In the face of persecution they stood the test. The king threatened to put these guys in the fiery furnace if they didn’t bow to his statue.
· This world wants you to bow or give in to their method – Will you do it?
· They will pressure you. Make fun of you. Talk bad about you. Try to overtake you. Hoping that you will cave into their way of thinking.
You have to have a made up mind that:
· My God is faithful to deliver me – whatever the situation
· My God is always on time – His time
· My God knows what I can take – He will not put onto me more than I can bear
· The circumstances that are before me are not for my pleasure but for my gain.
I like the way these boys think: Daniel 3:17, 18
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will us out of your hand, O king.”
“But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king that we are not going to server your gods…”
· My faith cannot be stretched if it is not tested.
· My faith cannot grow unless it receives some good exercise.
Hebrews 11:6
“Without faith, it is impossible to please Him…”
Your faith will be tested. Persecution will come from:
Co-workers
Friends
Family
Spouse
Kids
Circumstances beyond your control
You have to have a made up mind:
Whether God sees fit to deliver me out of your hand that is His decision. But I am still going to be faithful.
· I will be faithful to services – when I am depressed!
· I will be faithful to stand – even if I am standing by myself
· I will be faithful to bow my head in front of my peers to bless the food God has given me
· I will be faithful in constantly living a life in front of my family at home the way I want my church family to think that I live
· I will be faithful to give – when I am giving my last dime
· I will be faithful – even if it costs me my life
That’s what happened in Acts 7:54-60.
We read of a preacher who was persecuted for preaching the Gospel. To the point of losing his life.
· Stephen was a man who was put in front of all of his peers.
· He was being questioned about his faith.
· He was being made fun of.
· He had no one else on earth standing with him.
What did he do?
Stephen was still faithful to preach God’s Word. It cost him is life but he was faithful until the very end.
Want to talk about being persecuted?
Let’s talk about our Lord Jesus Christ.
· He was killed without a crime being committed
· He was stripped naked
· He wore a crown of thorns
· The stripes He endured
· He bore His own cross
· But He never exercised the thought of giving up.
So right in line with these great figures of the bible, we see Joseph being put through his first test.
· His own blood has rejected him
· His own brothers have left him for dead
· Those he looked up to has let him down
· Those he thought were close to him has left him
· He’s in a pit
· He has hit rock bottom
· His brothers hate him
· He has nowhere else to go but up
· The test of persecution has arrived.
Would this be the test that keeps him from his dream?
Will it be the test that keeps you from seeing your dream come to pass?
2nd Corinthians 4:8,9
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed
Perplexed, but not in despair
Persecuted, but not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed.
Times of persecution will come! How will you handle it?
· Will your faith be tested? Yes
· Will you feel the pain of their wrath? Probably
· Will you be made fun of because of your stand? Probably
· Will you lose friends in the process? Possibly
· Will you give up? Only you can decide!
This New Year brings a New Beginning.
Your dream is out their for your taking.
Are you going to let the persecutions stand in your way of receiving it?
Test Question: Will I lose my faith when the pressure is on?
