Hello and welcome to the Heart of Grace Broadcast today. It’s a pleasure to have you here, and I hope that what you hear today, you take away and apply in your life, that it be a blessing and help you to grow and be a better you.
Know that no matter where you are right now, that God is with you, and that He is your joy and your strength, no matter how tough things may get, and no matter how far that you feel like that you may get out there.
Today I want to talk about the story of Joseph. If you were a person that grew up in church, I am sure that you had this story drilled into your head at some point in your life. And if you haven’t heard about Joseph at all, and this is the first time for you, let me give you some background.
Jacob, the son of Isaac, married Leah and Rachel and had twelve sons. Jacob favored and loved his eleventh son Joseph the most among his brothers. This made Joseph’s brothers jealous and cruel with him. One night, Joseph dreamt that he and his brothers were binding bundles of corn in field, and that his brothers’ bundles bowed down to his bundle. Another night, he dreamt that the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowed before him. Joseph told his father and his brothers about these dreams. This made the brothers more jealous and full of hate towards their little brother Joseph. The brothers decided to get rid of Joseph.
This is where the start of Joseph’s troubles began, and where I want to start talking about the points that God has given me today.
There are going to be times in your life when you face situations that are beyond your control.
You may face being rejected by others. Joseph was rejected by his brothers from the favor he received from his father Jacob. You might actually be forgotten. Joseph was put into the pit and regarded as dead by his brothers to his father Jacob. You might face temptation. There was a woman that tempted Joseph, to which he resisted. You might face unjust punishment. Joseph had to face the consequences for a crime he didn’t even commit. You could be betrayed by others. Joseph faced betrayal from his brothers. You might be falsely accused. Joseph was falsely accused for the temptation he did not commit.
Joseph faced a lot of these same hard times as well.
He was thrown out into the pit, pretty much left for dead. He was sold out into slavery and tempted, did nothing, and still faced time in jail for something he did not do. Through all of the trials he went through 13 years of bondage. But there were things from the beginning that Joseph possessed, that nothing anyone threw in his way could try and stop him.
First of all, Joseph had a CALLING
He was a dreamer, you see, and could interpret dreams. You have a calling on your life to do something amazing
2 Timothy 1: 8-9 says
[8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began
Secondly, Joseph had a PURPOSE
He showed mercy to his brothers, even though they wronged him. He blessed the land in that time with giving bread, despite being forgotten. He was cast into prison, but gave a message of deliverance despite being left behind. He was recognized as a person having the spirit of God.
Finally, Joseph had FAVOR
He went from being considered dead, to a slave, to being in jail, to being a governor over all of the land of Egypt.
Romans 8:26-28 introduces a key passage that applies to what He went through as well as how it applies in our current lives today:
[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
[27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
You might feel like today that you are in the pit, or forgotten, or bound up in your own mind, facing unjust things, or dealing with rejection from others, or Lost out in this world.
But I’m here to tell you that you have a way out. You have a way of escape from the way that you are feeling, from the load that you are carrying, and the feelings of rejection that you have inside.
Matthew 11:28-30 says
[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Today, as we bring the message to a close, take this opportunity to come unto God, and lay down the heavy burden that you may be feeling in your heart. Don’t fear of what people may think about you, for this is the best decision that you could ever possibly make. I encourage you to be brave and go for this as fast as you can. It’s worth it; I promise you that you will never be the same.
You do not have to walk this life alone. And we at Heart of Grace are with you in this fight; we are praying for you, that you come forward and be those brave people. See, we’re standing with you and we believe together that you can make it, and that with God all things are possible. Through Christ Jesus all things are possible, and with his spirit in our life, all things are possible!
God Bless You!
