Sheaf Rose & Stood Upright

SHEAF ROSE & STOOD UPRIGHT…

Genesis 37:3-11.

Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it." 8 His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me." 10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?" 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind."

I would like to explain my sermon under the following headings so that you understand clearly:

A.COVENANT KEEPING GOD

B.THEY HATED HIM

C.OBEDIENT HARD WORKER

D. GOD’S DESTINATION:

E.PATIENTLY WAITED

F.FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:

G. STEADFAST IN TRIAL:

H.TURN AWAY FROM EVIL

I. REPENTANCE BRINGS BLESSINGS:

INTRO:

Today we live in an unsteady, wobbly, unstable world with fragile promises that would break any moment; after many betrayals and disappointments, I make sure today to write down everything and get it signed so that I have proof of the conversation. However, today we are going to see about an UNCHANGING GOD who will never ever forsake you or the promises He made to you. Sometimes the path might look dark and tough; however, today’s messages points out to us that we remain firm, rooted and secure in the promises of God. God gave His promises and plans to Joseph in the form of dreams. They were not mere dreams but His promises to Joseph. We should hold on to the visions, dreams and prophesies given to us by God and pray over them unceasingly. Say Amen.

A.COVENANT KEEPING GOD: God is a God of promises, the Bible is full of lovely promises made by God for His children who obey His Word. Let me make it very clear, the promises of God are for His children who follow His commandments and live according to His rules. He said:

I will show love to thousand generations! Wow! Mind blowing!

Deuteronomy 5:10 “I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, ……….showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

Don’t be content with just small blessings but focus on your generations getting blessed because of your life and the decisions that you take today. Are you listening? Every small decision counts! Who you date, who you meet, who you associate with, what business you do, ….everything matters to God. We are going to look at the life of Joseph who was a great man of God whose life has inspired many.

B.THEY HATED HIM: they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.

Imagine the days the brothers and sisters played hide and seek, rolled on the bed together, laughed and joked, ate from a single plate and one fine day when God starts revealing His plans in your life, all hell breaks loose! Joseph had been naïve to share the ‘info’ meant for him which was revealed in a vision by God with his brothers! Who would suspect your own kith and kin, flesh and blood to turn against you? To draw a line with your own brothers and sisters is tough but we got to operate with godly wisdom and not jump high and low – calm down.

ENVY can be very destructive! The brothers of Joseph had already hated him because their father loved him more than the other brothers. Envy, jealousy was already boiling in their hearts and the Bible says, ‘they hated him even more’ when he shared his dream with them. Ok, I guess Joseph was not even aware that they all hated him, isn’t this sad? At times, don’t we blabber out all our secrets and fall all over the very person who is already seething with anger against us, who has been gossiping about us and mocking us? What duds we are at times!