The Thread of Life – Part 6 (Joseph and the Shield that surrounds)

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The Thread of Life – 31 Stories that point to Jesus

(Part 6)

Welcome to Jesus Church – Good to have u online

In middle of our series: Thread of Life (31 stories that lead to Jesus)

• Each week Read individual stories from Bible in chronological order
  • We see a specific life & how they grew in relationship w/ God
  • But we also start to see more & more of the BIG PICTURE
  • What God is doing in the bigger story… meta-narrative
    • Last week was Abraham and faith – God is faithful
    • Start to see pictures showing who God is/what he’s doing

Last week we talked about the gift of FAITH

Eph. 2:8 (ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God

• So important to understand that faith is a gift from God
  • And if you are given a gift… you can’t take credit for it
  • Taking credit for a gift makes it a purchase
  • And Jesus purchased it all on the cross
• Too often we want to take credit for the faith God gives us
  • The only exception to rule is wife picking out bday present
  • She gets all the credit for those gifts
  • But a true gift can only be given… its not your purchase

So if u have your Bibles – Lets turn to Gen.. 37

Gen. 37:3-4

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

• This week we look at the story of Joseph…
  • Joseph’s story revolves around a dream God gives him
  • Just like God gives us all dreams to pursue
  • But 2 get to dream – Joseph goes thru ton of disappointment
• I’m sure there were times Joseph wanted to give up
  • Where it seemed like all hope was gone
  • And all that surrounded him was disappointment & frustration
• I think we all have times where expectations aren’t met
  • Where we expect for one thing to happen
  • But it doesn’t happy in our timing… taken away… we lose it

Before we dive in… want to read two verses over you this morning

OT – Ps. 5:12

For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Take note of righteous/favor/surround)

• And what does it say our shield is… it’s God’s favor

NT – Col. 3:3

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Once you received Jesus you died to your old life

• Frustrating when people find Jesus… live like nothing’s changed
  • They don’t walk in the promises of God
  • They don’t speak with the confidence of God
    • We ARE NOT just saved from Hell as a destination
    • We ARE JUST AS MUCH saved from Hell on Earth
• When you walk with God… there is an authority that goes with you
  • And yes… you will still face storms… still face disappointments
    • Too often we deal with the storm
    • When we should take authority over the storm
• We give authority to storm by the way we relate to the storm

[PRAY]

Story – Neighborhood kids and scooter

• A bit shy growing up
  • Sometimes had trouble making friends
  • Problems speaking because of ears
    • That’s how God works
• Always something you have that you see as confidence builder
  • Your car… clothes… purse… shoes…
    • I’d say Cardinals Jersey – Hard to have confidence in that
    • Chris Paul jersey for sure though!!!
• I had a SCOOTER
  • Growing up in Phoenix, scooters made sense (ground flat)
  • Moved to Seattle – Land of the hills
    • You can’t scoot very well
    • Either down hill about to die
    • Walking uphill

I didn’t know Scooters didn’t make it to Seattle

• Wanted to make friends in my new neighborhood
  • Sister and I went to see if any kids were playing in front yard
  • (For some reason) Thought bringing little sister was cool too
• So we see these kids playing… I’ve got my scooter
  • And this one main guy comes up and his friends surround us
    • Says: I never want to see you or your sister here again
    • Didn’t even take the scooter

TAG: Have you ever felt surround?

Story of Joseph… life surrounds him over & over

Joseph has these dreams… his whole family bowing down to him

• Granted… he sorta brings some of this on himself… we all do
  • He thinks it’s a good idea to tell his brothers about dream
  • And of course they hate him for that… already don’t like him
• Dad just gave him this coat… they know he’s dad’s favorite
  • He’s the child with a future
  • He’s probably acccels in everything he does
  • Voted most likely to succeed… and they probably all see it
• One day… dad asks Joseph to go check on his brothers
  • For some reasons they all work… Joseph hangs out at home
  • So you can see the family dynamics at play here

Gen. 37:19-20

“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits… (pretty serious)

Gen 37:26-27

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

In a moment… Joseph goes from hope & future > darkness & despair

• Age 17 Joseph is taken to Egypt
  • Sold to a powerful Egyptian named Potiphar
  • Potiphar was the head of Pharoah’s body guards (executioner)
• Almost right away Potiphar sees something special in Joseph
  • Joseph is put in charge over his entire household
  • Has favor in Potiphar’s eyes… just like he did in his dad’s eyes
  • Things seem 2 be looking up… surrounded by little hope again
• But then everything falls apart again
  • Potiphar’s wife starts desiring Joseph
  • Says “Come lay with me” – PG version of what she really says
  • He says no… she gets mad… accuses him of rape
    • He goes to jail – Could have had him executed (save face)
• Joseph finds himself once again… disappointed (favored but…)

Life has a way of surrounding us sometimes

Where it wants 2 crush our dreams… and bring destruction 2 our story

• Where we face challenges & problems on ever side
  • Personal side… family side… friend side… emotional side
  • HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SEASON OF LIFE?
  • Every side of life is stressful and a struggle
• And that’s why Ps. 5:12 is such an important verse
  • Being surrounded by a shield means…
  • Even if my enemies are on every side
  • My God/My shield/My protection is there as well
    • And that shield is God’s favor on my life

Favor

To be pleasing & accepted by God, protected, preferential treatment

• Enemy would love for u to think only things around u is problems
  • No hope… No future… No God

I’m here to tell u that contrary to feelings/percieved circumstances

• You’re not just surround by your problems
  • Ur surrounded by your God (He says: think of me as a shield)
• Look at Joseph in the midst of his problems and failures
  • Gen 39:2 – The Lord was with Joseph
  • Gen 39:21 – The Lord was with Joseph
  • Gen 39:23 – The Lord was with Joseph
• God surrounded Joseph even when he is was…
  • Betrayed
  • Slave
  • Prisoner

Guess who else is surrounded – Everyone who is Righteous… why?

• Because the Bible says God will bless the righteous…
  • And the Good news is: Righteousness is a given just like grace
    • Not based on age… status… money
    • It is ONLY BASED ON JESUS
• Righteousness is a benefits of following Jesus
  • You don’t earn righteousness
  • You don’t deserve righteousness
    • You just receive righteousness

2 Cor 5:21

“He who knew no sin, became sin so that you could become the… WHAT? righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

TAG:

So if you’re Righteous > Favored

So if you’re favored > Surrounded by God on every side

And God is not just before you (TYPE OF SHIELD)…

• No God says that He surrounds you… pretty effective shield
  • Behind you
  • Beside you
  • He is under you as your foundation
  • He is above you as the lifter of your head
• Illustration – It’s like the old school video game Super Mario Bros.
  • You get the star… and u just run because NOTHING can get u
  • My goal is for u to leave here impowered to run
  • Knowing… You are surrounded by ur God not just ur problems

Because God’s promise is… HE IS WITH US – YOU!!!

• And If we’re gonna be who God’s called us to be/do what called us
  • You have to walk believing you are surrounded by his favor
  • That he is protecting you because he loves
• You know… there’s nothing like a child convinced they’re favorite
  • Growing up I always thought that I was the favorite child
    • Loved, cared for, supported, paid attention to…
    • Funny enough my sister thought same thing I did…

This is why Joseph was given a coat of many colors – constant reminder

• Colors or ordainments… many think that word means ordainments
  • Which – How annoying would it be if Joseph’s Jacket Jingled!
  • And from scripture… it seems like he never took it off
• But life will always try to strip you of a divine sense of favor
  • Remember the story… when his brothers try to crush his dream
  • They strip him of his coat… yet he doesn’t lose his favor

Biggest fear is u would think an indicator God’s favor is having stuff

• To think: Someone else is more favored b/c their house… car… job
  • Listen… Favor can never be stripped… just squandered
  • And Favor: Can never be taken… only taken for granted
• You can take my stuff… by car… phone… job
  • But you can never take my favor
  • Because favor is the result of righteousness
  • And righteousness is the result of Grace

Thought they could take his favor (Maybe even Joseph thought that)

• You might be thinking where is my favor
  • Slave in Potifers house… still has favor
  • Prisoner… still has favor
  • Brought before Pharoah… FAVOR
  • Put in charge of the entire world… FAVOR
• In fact… while he is in prison: Meets kings baker and butler
  • Joseph hears about their two dreams (Explain)
    • Baker – You’re gonna die
    • Butler – Gonna be restored
• And Joseph talks to the Butler… when restored – REMEMBER ME
  • Butler gets back to his job in the king’s court
  • Think he remembers Joseph… absolute not
  • But When others forget you favor will not let you be forgotten

Gen. 41:1 – After two full years (Specific!)

Shows it wasn’t easy… not 1 year… not 1.99 years – TWO FULL YEARS

• And then finally… Joseph is brought before the king
  • Ring slipped on his finger
  • One minute ur in the depths, next ur number 2 in the world.
    • Explain that one? Favor!
• Favor easy to say in good times… but what about the dark times?
  • What about in the two full years
    • Can you see past the turmoil to the truth
    • Can you hear past the problems to the promise

Never let bad things preach louder than Heavenly Father

• Close to the end of Joseph’s story… He stores up food for a famine
  • Effects the whole world – Including his family & dad (still alive)
  • They show up to buy food… Joseph see them and is wrecked

Gen 45:1-5

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

• Joseph realizes it was all part of God’s story

Gen 50:20 – You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

• No one knew this at the time… God didn’t make all the sin happen
  • But he takes all the poor decisions and disappointments
  • Works with it to bring forth his glory and purpose
    • God doesn’t cause all things
    • He causes all things to work 4 good to those who love him
• Never give up on God redeeming your story
  • He can redeem anything, never too late

And this again… individual piece – But it also points to the larger story

• All the broken pieces lead to our great redeemer of Jesus
  • B/C God never left Joseph
  • Easier to see after everything how God worked everything out
    • Makes sense in my own life how this happens
    • Personal Story (Dad’s cancer – Family in Tecate)
• In reading the story you are experiencing right now…
  • How are you interpreting the pain… hurt… disappointment
  • B/C In the midst of our disappointments God is still there
    • We can know that He is still working all things for good.
• Matt. 3:16 – Jesus is Baptized – God says this is my Son…
  • Jesus on cross – Father forsakes his son – Why?!?!
  • Only way we could be favored
    • Jesus became sin so we could be preferred
• God turned back on Son so He could turn His face towards you.

Col. 3:3 – Old life isn’t who you are – you are hidden in Christ

• When father looks at you he doesn’t see what you’ve done
  • He only sees what his SON DID!
  • Matt. 3:16 is now about you. THIS IS MY SON

Rom 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good…

• Do we know?
  • When all the stuff surrounds us… do we know?
  • B/c if you don’t know… come to the place where we know

End of Joseph’s Life says – “You meant it for evil… God meant for good”

• Is there is evil in this world… absolutly
  • Joseph gets that – but God meant everything for good.
  • That even when evil is done against you…
  • There is a good God that will work it out for your good
• God is for You and You have the favor of God and authority in Him
  • Authority 2 WALK in Victory
  • Authority 2 BELIEVE for Brake through
  • Authority 2 LIVE in Gods Favor regardless of circumstance

[PRAY]