Survivor: When Life Is Full Of Rats Series

Have you ever felt like it was a really bad day?

You know it’s a bad day when you turn on the morning news and they’re displaying emergency routes out of your city.

You know it’s a bad day when the sun comes up in the west.

You know it’s a bad day when your boss tells you not to bother to take off your coat.

You know it’s a bad day when you jump out of bed in the morning and miss the floor.

You know it’s a bad day when the bird singing outside your bedroom window is a buzzard.

You know it’s a bad day when you wake up and your braces are locked together.

You know it’s a bad day when your horn goes off accidentally and gets stuck when you’re following a group of Hells Angels on the expressway.

You know it’s a bad day when you put both contact lens in the same eye.

You know it’s a bad day when your pet rock snaps at you.

You know it’s a bad day when you walk to work and find your dress is stuck in the back of your panty hose.

You know it’s a bad day when you call your answering service and they tell you it’s none of your business.

You know it’s a bad day when you wake up to discover your waterbed is leaking, and then you realize you don’t own a waterbed.

You know it’s a bad day when you see the 60 Minutes’ news team waiting for you in your office.

You know it’s a bad day when Suicide Prevention puts you on hold.

We think we know what bad days are like, can you imagine Joseph? Already, sold by his own family, accused by his boss’s wife and thrown into jail. What else could happen?

Have you ever had one of those days, or weeks or even years when it seemed like it just got worse and worse and worse and just when you thought it had to be over it got worse? Ever been there?

Sometimes we wonder, Does God have anything to do with this? If you are like me it is in those times when you even wonder if God exists or is really a part of your life.

There have been times when it seemed like all I dealt with was terrible emergency after emergency. Then I hear someone give a testimony about how God is doing this or that in their life or ministry. Or turn on the TV and this preacher is talking to Jesus on stage. And here I am dealing with tragedies and I just seem to be getting a busy signal from God. Do you know what I’m talking about?

How can we survive in world full of rats. People are selfish. They will do whatever it takes to take you out so they can get more, so they can get the job, the grade, the promotion, whatever.

How many of you have ever had a rumor spread about you?

Ever had someone out to get you? When others start to hurt you, sometimes you start to believe it and feel like you can’t be loved.

Sometimes the world is full of rats. Full of people that want what you have and will hurt and climb all over you to get it.

Ever had someone claim credit for your work or idea? Joseph did. He had someone promise to get him out of prison and they forgot him. Ever feel like that, like someone purposely forgets about you. When everyone else is getting together, going out, hanging out, but they forget to call you, how do you feel? Now you can appreciate Joseph. Notice.

Joseph is Forgotten.

Genesis 40

Simple message today, people can be cruel, but Jesus is always there.

I. When People Behave Like Rats

·People Use

In this story the two prisoners, the butler and the baker used Joseph’s gift. Joseph had the ability to interpret dreams, remember a couple of weeks ago when he told his family some dreams. Joseph had this gift and these two men used it for their benefit.

Unfortunately people often use other people. They will use your gifts, talents, good looks and ideas and then get rid of you. Have you ever felt used, like someone told you a lie in order to use you?

There are some young men that do that every week to young ladies. They talk real sweet and promise them everything only to use them and their bodies.

When you are used it is like someone stealing from you. Stealing something precious. I have sat and listened to father’s cry and weep because they learned their daughter had been used by some boy.

I get used by people wanting to get married, they agree, meet, get married and then are gone.