The Pit's Of Life Series

A. GOD’S AVERAGE JOE is saying:

-“I RELATE TO EVERYBODY.”

-“I LOVE EVERYBODY.”

1. I don’t “I HAVE TO FIT IN THE CROWD - THING””

2. Or “I have a certain “STATUS” I have to MAINTAIN”

B. God desires that an AVERAGE JOE is like the Man in Gen 5, ENOCH.

Genesis 5:24 (NIV)

Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.

1. Everything he had, Everything he was he gave to God

2. ENOCH, didn’t walk in FRONT or BEHIND God, “He walked with God”.

3. Because of his humility, God missed him, SO HE TOOK HIM UP EARLY.

C. God’s desire for all of us is to walk with HIM, so He can take US UP.

1. But unfortunately, most AVERAGE JOES aren’t humble.

2. So God INVENTED something to make us an AVERAGE JOE.

3. ITS CALLED FAMILY (turn and say, love ya family)

D. Our story today is about our AVERAGE JOE’s FAMILY.

1. Joseph’s family was extremely DYSFUNCTIONAL in everyway.

2. His FATHER Jacob most of his life was a DECEIVER

3. There was always turmoil going on between the parents and the kids.

4. The oldest slept with one of his father’s wives

5. They were DYSFUNCTIONAL to the CORE.

They were the “TYPICAL AMERICAN AVERAGE JOE FAMILY”

SKIT: VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER

CUE: TYPICAL AMERICAN AVERAGE JOE FAMILY

Jacob died and now his brothers are worried

Genesis 50:19 (NKJV)

Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?”

He knew he was in the place of God, but he didn’t want to take God’s place

A. Where’s the best place to be in your life? GOD’S PLACE

1. As we continue to go through this story.

2. I want you to get the END OF THE STORY in your HEART

3. Joseph ENDED up in GOD’S PLACE.

WHERE WE END IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE

Genesis 50:20-21 (NKJV)

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good,” in

order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now

therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." And

he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

B. Did you GET THAT?

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good”

1. As you’re taking this JOURNEY to get to GOD’S PLACE.

2. There’s going to be EVIL going against you.

3. But God takes the EVIL and BRINGS GOOD out of it

LET’S GET BACK TO THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY

Genesis 37:2-4 (NLT)

…Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.

C. WHO HATES A TATTLETALES?

1. The BROTHERS knew he was a DADDY’S BOY, he always ran to DADDY.

D. FATHER showed PARTIALITY.

1. The BEAUTIFUL ROBE that he gave to JOSEPH, belonged to the ELDEST that was JEWISH TRADITION

2. Then JOSEPH TELLS his brothers the DREAM.

E. God knew for Joseph to be GREAT, he had to be HUMBLED.

1. Because of his brothers’ hatred, they threw him into a PIT.

Genesis 37:19-20 (NLT)

“Here comes the dreamer!” they said. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw

him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has

eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

F. Did you Get what they said, “Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams”

1. UNDERSTAND, SATAN says the same things to us.

2. “Your DREAMS will never happen in your life.”

3. BUT GOD IS SAYING, “It all depends how you look at the PIT EXPERIENCE”

4. Is the PIT a “PRIVILEGE OR IS IT “THE PITS” “This is the PITS”

PESSIMISM PIT

A. What you Persistently THINK will CRYSTALLIZE. Come together, take Shape

1. Our THOUGHTS will become OUR BELIEFS.

B. People feel like they’re in “THE PITS” of slavery to their marriage, their family, their financial responsibilities.

1. Change your thinking! In a pit, you’re just 15 ft deeper.

2. The difference is YOU GIVE UP. It’s all HOW YOU LOOK at the situation.

3. You could LOOK AT THE PIT as a TIME TO PLAN, TIME WITH THE LORD

Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not

for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord