Invisible Thanksgiving

Bigger Than Life, Part 2

Do you ever think of the unseen blessings in life?

We can easily focus on the blessings we see. Even the people in our lives, are blessings we can see (or have seen.) They are visible expressions of God’s love. But there are some blessings that you can’t see at all!

Genesis 39:

• Joseph’s secret: God was with him, and he knew it.
• People in ancient times through God was location bound. So they believed the “gods” were over a territory. But Joseph believed that God was not held captive to any one space. God was not just back in Canaan with his family, but was with him way out in Egypt.
• Joseph’s behavior was unique because he knew God was with him..

Genesis 39-41 is an emotional Rollercoaster.

• Favorite to slavery.
• Running the household.
• Rejects his masters wife and is sent to prison. The fact he is not executed suggests that the master might have doubts about his wife’s account. If he fully believed her, he would have had Joseph executed.
• Soon,

Genesis 39:21 describe three invisible blessings:

39:21: But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

1. God was (Genesis 39:21)

• God is omnipresent. It means he is not confined to geographic or political boundaries.
• Theologian Wayne Grudem writes, “God does not have size or spatial dimensions and is present at every point of space with his whole being, yet God acts differently in different places.”
• God created space. He cannot be contained by any space.
• The Bible emphasizes not just God’s omnipresence, but God’s “Manifest Presence.” Not just that God is everywhere; God is HERE.

2. God was (Genesis 39:21)

• This refers to “chesed”, a Hebrew concept that encompasses all the positive aspects of God’s love. It’s his covenant, faithfulness, mercy, kindness.
• God’s love doesn’t quit when life falls apart.

3. God was (Genesis 39:21)

• Favor is what we think we want; until we realize God’s favor comes with a lot of work. Responsibility.
• Genesis 39:23, interesting that the keeper of the prison didn’t worry because a prisoner was running his prison.
• Genesis 41:15, when Pharaoh tells Joseph his dream, Joseph faces one of life’s greatest temptations; to take credit for God. Or to leave God out. Because no one sees God; they see you! Unless you give God praise and thanks, you can put yourself in the place of taking credit for what God has done.
• Interesting, the more wealth you obtain, the harder it is to trust God with your wealth.

II. What are some of the Invisible things God has given me?

There are so many unseen gifts of God. The Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts, the Fruit of the Spirit. Let’s look back at the three God gave Joseph. Ask God to show you those three deeply in your own life. To make you aware of them this thanksgiving.

1. His

His love was most deeply expressed at the cross. While something visible happened, a crucifixion, our deepest gratitude goes to what was unseen a the cross.

2. His

• God gives you promotion and advancement in this world to fulfill His purposes.
• Egypt was a ridiculous place to work.

3. His

God is not just everywhere. He’s with you.

How this week different if you were intensely aware God with you?

• More willing to take steps faith.
• Endure difficulties with greater peace.
• Kinder to people around you.
• Care less about others’ opinions.
• Care more about just doing what’s right.
• Have a healthy self-perception.
• Maintain a Godly World View.
• More patient with other Christians
• More understanding with the lost world.
• More tender toward spouse.
• Problems would seem lighter.
• Less stressed.
• Be a lot more generous
• Cuss in front of Jesus? Commit adultery? Gossip?
• You would be happier if you realized he was with you.
• Be more thankful for the success you have.

III. What made Joseph bigger than life?

He stood before Pharaoh aware that he was not just standing in the presence of a King, but int eh presence of God.

Spend some time thinking: What are some ways God has blessed me:

–Ask him: God, how have you blessed me, and I’ve missed it?

–I thank him for those blessing.

–Look for God’s blessing this week.