The Secret To Success Series

Rev. Dr. Tamela A. Walker

February 15, 2013

St John Baptist Church

Atlanta, Ga

The Secret to Success

Genesis 37:26-28

And Judah said unto his brethren, what profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Genesis 39:20-23

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.

The Secret to Success

Many times we have heard the story of Joseph in the bible yet in this scripture. Let us review Joseph life that God used to bring forth his plan by using Joseph. For Joseph was a true servant unto The Lord, in spite what he faced at the beginning of this journey from Canaan to Egypt. For instance in the beginning of Joseph's life his brothers developed jealous towards him due to how his father Jacob not only favored him but also was intense about his education which prepared him for the journey that God had for him. Keep in mind that Joseph was given a gift from God to not only dream the vision but also to interpret the dreams. There are three key points that are important having a strong Christian life as Joseph which points to being successful. Is to hold strong in

1. Obedience in The Lord

2. Faithfulness unto his word

3. Having the spirit of Forgiveness.

In the first point Christians today need to have the same heart as Joseph to Be Obedient unto The Lord. Now with that statement making ourselves accountable for our salvation is not as easy as it sounds. Think about it when you were a child and you disobeyed your parents what happened. You suffered punishment yet it is human nature to disobey. Look at Joseph and why he held Gods heart for his obedience. As Joseph faced each circumstance from the rejection of his brothers, to slavery, to prisoner he was still obedient unto The Lord. What this means for each of us is that we have be same as Joseph even when we don't understand the circumstances that we may be facing in this life's journey.

For that it is important that we must seek God to give us the desire in our hearts to obey his every word. Not just read the bible but live the bible. See that is how Joseph was successful; for he practice by living the word of God. He believed so deep in God that no matter what he faced he still trusted in The Lord. So, Joseph had the understanding that through obedience unto God brought his deliverance in his life. Ask yourself the question if you were in the same situation today as Joseph your brothers turned against you, you were sold into slavery and put in jail for a crime you did not commit would have the same obedience unto The Lord. Would you avoid temptation, would you still pray daily unto The Lord, and would you still hold to your Faith. Nevertheless understand that obedience is an act of doing but having the heart to obey is something we have to pray for.

Therefore not only are we to have obedience we must also have faithfulness. Understand that in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In this scripture we must understand that our faith is what maintains our spiritual journey in life. Look at it this way in society today there are still forms of adversities that we all have faced. Look at your past life before you fully converted to Christ. Think about it is was it pretty, was easier, and was it hard. Now look at your life in Christ is the same, different or better.

Going back to Genesis where Joseph who was first sold to slavery by his own brothers, second he was jailed for crime he did not commit yet he remained faithful unto God and in all that he faced God still elevated him look at it this was God speaking, hey Joseph you have been faithful unto me; I'll be faithful unto you. Inspite of what you have faced you still stuck strong unto me, therefore I God the created of the heavens and earth is going to stick to you, understand that in order to have such powerful relationship with God we have to hold obedience first to his word. That is what Joseph did he held to his obedience and by doing that everything that Joseph touched whether he was a child, slave or prisoner prosperity was always blessed unto him.