The Joseph Factor

I want to talk to you today about the Joseph factor. The first thing I want to say today is that I don't only want you to hear my words today, I want you to hear my heart.

I'm not a person given to snap judgments, or to extremes. I'm pretty even tempered, and pretty even-keeled.

Also I do believe that I am a man of faith. I believe the Word of God. I believe that fear is the work of the devil. I agree with the Word of God that says... "For God did not give us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 1 Timothy 1:7

Now having said that, I'm going to deliver a word to you today that may not sound typically like a faith word, but it is.

Let me start by saying, I have found that many in the body of Christ mistake presumption for faith. In other words, an attitude of many is that if you've got faith that's all you need. Many have the attitude that faith is the fix all. And that faith makes up for all of our all of our lack of thought, and all of our lack of preparation.

One of the things we need to understand that is critical to the hour we're living in, is that faith and wisdom are not the same. I do believe that a person of true biblical wisdom will have faith, but faith itself is not wisdom.

While I do believe that person with wisdom has faith, it does not necessarily follow that a person of faith has wisdom.

Let me give you an illustration: You may have a terrible physical condition, and you hear the word of God preached, and faith for healing comes alive in your heart, and you get healed. But you don't change the lifestyle that got you into trouble to start with. So you had faith for healing, but not wisdom to stay healed. "Faith is not a substitute for good common sense."

Again let me say, you can have faith and not have wisdom.

One of the definitions of wisdom is the ability to discern consequences....

In other words wisdom is the ability to look ahead, and see the consequences of the decisions, or the actions, that you are presently taking, or not taking as the case may be.

Sometimes people think that they are actually acting in unbelief by looking ahead, and by taking precautions, and making preparations. That's why I wanted us to look at Joseph today. That's why we're talking about... the Joseph factor.

What was the Joseph factor? Well the word factor means the ingredient that produces a result or an outcome.

What was the ingredient in Joseph's life that served to bring a desired result or outcome, which was the preservation of Israel during a 7-year famine?

Of course the answer is, wisdom: In other words... the ability to look ahead and determine the consequences of actions taken, or not taken. Yes I believe Joseph was anointed, but it was not the anointing of power to cast out devils that made Joseph valuable, and brought him to the position of prime Minister of Egypt... it was the anointing of wisdom.

Proverbs 22:3 says... A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

The word, evil in this verse could also be interpreted as... pain, grief, sorrow, adversity, afflictions, calamity, and hardship.

Certainly seven years of extreme famine would fall into the category of evil, or calamity, adversity, sorrow and pain.. But notice that the wise man feareth and departeth from the evil. That word feareth could also be interpreted... wisely considereth the consequences.

When I was a kid in school they would have random fire drills. We would hear the fire alarm, then we would line up and walk single file out into the open field far away from the buildings. There wasn't any fire. All of this was preparation based on forethought of what could possibly happen, and how to act in case of a fire.

It has been said that the best defense is a good offense. Which means to act proactively. In other words, to make the first move. To go first. To take the first action. Which is just another way of saying, preparation is the best policy.

Another definition of wisdom is the ability to discern differences....

Differences in people, in atmospheres, in a moment, in places. And differences in times and seasons. Remember David's secret weapon was the Sons of Issachar, because they had understanding of the times they were in. Which gave them the knowledge of what to do in that particular time. That is wisdom.