Sermon # 11 - Joseph The Shadow - Jesus Our Reality Series

We continue our meditation based on 2 Corinthians 9:8, “Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work.” (ISV)

Based on the above verse, we are learning the ways in which God will make us those who will overflow with His bounteous blessings in every area of our lives. If you are in doubt as to if this is possible, the word of God reminds us that it is achievable. We may not be there right now, but as we believe in the Lord and His word, this will become a reality.

Jacob and Joseph are great examples, where we see that Jacob got his overflowing blessings through his son Joseph. Joseph was in Egypt while Jacob was in Canaan.

We read in Genesis 41:57, “People came to Egypt from all over the world to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.” (GNB)

Joseph was in Egypt where everything was bountiful, and he was living in a place of abundance with no lack. However, Joseph’s father Jacob and his brothers lived in Canaan where the situation was grim as there was a severe famine.

We read in Genesis 42:1-2, When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why don't you do something? I hear that there is grain in Egypt; go there and buy some to keep us from starving to death." (GNB)

On the one hand Joseph was living a life of ampleness while his father Jacob and Joseph’s brothers lived a life of want. If you are wondering as to what the life of Jacob and Joseph means to us let me explain. In Jesus there is fullness, He is seated on the throne and Jesus has promised that those who come to Him will never go back empty. Those who come to Jesus can experience healing, peace and everything that we ever need. Sadly, those of us who say we belong to the body of Christ are living a life of lack.

Through this incidence we will learn how our lack can be replaced by abundance. In the previous message we looked at the part where Joseph’s brothers came to him, got the food and went back to Canaan.

Jacob and his family were in want once again

Once all the grains that they had purchased in Egypt was over, they were once again in want.

We read in Genesis 43:1-2, The famine in Canaan got worse, and when the family of Jacob had eaten all the grain which had been brought from Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Go back and buy a little food for us." (GNB)

Only when the want arose again did the family think about going back to Joseph.

So often we come to the Lord, and He fulfills all our desires and then we forget about Him. The next time there is a need we think about the Lord and run to Him. As we continue to remain in the family of God, and as long as our relationship with the Lord Jesus is consistent, He will replace our needs with His bountiful supply.

Sometimes we think it is not a big deal if we miss out on one Sunday, and don’t go to church. Think about the number of Sundays in a year. To some they will be overwhelmed that there are 52 Sundays while to others 52 Sundays seems really less. Many don’t understand the things they miss out on when they are not in church. Every time we come to the presence of God we will certainly receive something from the Lord.

Let me give you an example. Think about a child going to school who cannot attend school for a week for some unforeseen reason. A good parent will take the effort to get the notes from other students in the class, and do everything possible to see that their child is up to date with all the portions that he or she missed out.

So also, as a Pastor I sometimes wish someone will say to me, ‘Pastor I was unable to attend Church for 2 Sundays, can I get to hear the messages that I missed out.’ Up until today, every believer expects me as the Pastor to check and find out why they were unable to come to church. We give so much importance to academics and worldly knowledge, but take our commitment to the Lord, and the church rather lightly. I take great pleasure in teaching the word of God and spend much time with the Lord before I share the word. The reason is I want the word of God to impact the lives of people in the church so they can change, and attain greater heights in their walk with the Lord.