In this sermon we explore the life of Joseph who was enrolled in God's Faith Hall of Fame because of the faith that he demonstrated in the special instructions he gave concerning his bones. What he did created a powerful testimony of hope.
Welcome to the Management Seminar hosted by God. He places us in the right place, in the right time and is always there with us, no what hole we have managed to get ourselves thrown in. Audio available at http://edthepastor.podbean.com/e/dream-job-genesis-3920%e2%80%9323-401%e2%80%9323/?token=fe3ddcc38c1be170e5a2502f3e9ae898
A verse by verse commentary on Genesis chapter 37 dealing with the dream of Joseph that made his brothers so angry that they sold him into slavery, and then they faked his death and took his bloody robe to his father Jacob.
Welcome to the Management Seminar hosted by God. He places us in the right place, in the right time and is always there with us, no what hole we have managed to get ourselves thrown in. Audio available at http://edthepastor.podbean.com/e/dream-job-genesis-3920%e2%80%9323-401%e2%80%9323/?token=fe3ddcc38c1be170e5a2502f3e9ae898
A verse by verse commentary on Genesis chapter 37 dealing with the dream of Joseph that made his brothers so angry that they sold him into slavery, and then they faked his death and took his bloody robe to his father Jacob.
Bible+Culture 2015: Media 3. Moonrise KingdomTony Watkins
My slides on media from days 3 and 4 of Bible & Culture 2015 (www.bibleandculture.org). These sessions used Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom as an extended examples of film engagement.
Slides from day 2 of my teaching on Daniel at Bible & Culture 2015 (www.bibleandculture.org). This session looks at the structure of Daniel and chapter 1.
Joseph is a key figure in the old testament. His life is very well chronicled in the book of Genesis. This is the first of a series of 6 total sermons. By Brian Birdow. www.cmcoc.org to listen to complete series
1.Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by hi.pdfapnafreez
1.Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make
everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his
brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph
said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer
him, for they were dismayed in his presence.
a. Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him: Joseph ordered all the
Egyptians out of the room and was then alone with his brothers. His great emotion showed that
Joseph did not cruelly manipulate his brothers. He was directed by God to make these
arrangements and it hurt him to do it.
b. Joseph made himself known to his brothers: This perhaps means that Joseph told them he was
Joseph and showed his brothers that he was circumcised. Jewish legend says the brothers could
never believe this high Egyptian official was Joseph unless he showed he was circumcised.
c. But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence: Because of the
punishment they anticipated, the great emotion of Joseph, his manner of revelation, and the total
shock of learning Joseph was not only alive but right in front of them, the brothers were
dismayed.
Pharaoh and Joseph send the brothers home with many gifts.
Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for
the journey: The sons of Israel received transportation, provision, garments, and riches because
of who their favored brother was. Pharaoh blessed the sons of Jacob for Joseph’s sake.
i. “To return to Canaan with ‘carts from Egypt’ was the cultural equivalent of landing a jumbo jet
among a tribe of isolated savages. It would be the stuff legends are made of.” (Boice)
b. See that you do not become troubled along the way: The idea behind the words “become
troubled” is literally become angry or quarrel. Joseph knew as soon as these men left his
presence they would be tempted to act in selfish, unspiritual ways. They had to anticipate and
guard against this.
Jacob hears the good news – that Joseph lives.
Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father. And they
told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And
Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them. But when they told him all the words
which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him,
the spirit of Jacob their father revived. Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still
alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
a. He did not believe them: Jacob was told Joseph was dead and believed it. Then he was told
Joseph was alive, and he did not believe it until his sons told him the words of Joseph and
showed him the blessings that came to them through Joseph. Then he believed Joseph was alive,
though he had not yet seen.
Our little Church is using a Chronological Bible Reading Schedule by Skip Andrews. It can be found here: http://www.churchofchristduluthga.org/
Each Sunday a lesson is given from some of that week's reading. This lesson covers Jan 27-Feb 2, 2008.
What does “Islam” mean?
The word الإسلام [Islam] is an infinitive word derived from س ل م [silm] root in if‘al pattern and used as noun and infinitive. The word silm means “release/keeping away; and to be distant from fear, doubt, trouble, lack of peace, unhappiness, fight, war, pain, suffering, material and spiritual inconveniences, weakness and decaying, and all the negativities.” This word is also the root of salim, selam, teslim, Islam etc. The word’s “Islam” form means “strengthening” [removal from problems, worries, fear, unhappiness, fights, wars, and similar negative things]. Hence, the religion Islam means the “the religion that strengthens humans [entire range of principles that protects and secures people by putting a distance between them and problems, worries, war, weakness, spiritual illness, unhappiness, and similar things].”
The Blessing of Betrayal Part.2
Join us as we look at Joseph during his time serving Potiphar & his household and punishment he receives after having integrity.
Girls of Royalty Online Bible Study
Every Tuesday at 9 PM ET on GirlsOfRoyalty.blogspot.com
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The Prophecy of Enoch in Jude 14-16_.pptxStephen Palm
In Jude 14-16 Jude cites one of the most cryptic characters in the Book of Genesis, Enoch, the man who never died! Jude quotes Enoch, but the words are not found in Genesis nor anywhere else in the Bible. Jude is actually quoting from a pseudepigraphical book named 1 Enoch. In this sermon we will take a close look at Enoch, consider the way that biblical authors at times cited non-biblical books as illustrations and how Jude applied these words to the false teachers of our day.
Jude: The Acts of the Apostates: Waterless Clouds (vv.8-13).pptxStephen Palm
Jude continues to paint a portrait of false teachers by piling up Old Testament examples of rebels who rejected God-given authority. This week we will consider the bad example of Satan and three men he worked through: Cain, Balaam and Korah. These examples continue to help us identify what false teachers are like and how to quickly identify them.
Jude: The Acts of the Apostate: High Handed Sins (vv.5-7).pptxStephen Palm
One of the key characteristics of Jude as an author is that he frequently alludes to or directly quotes Old Testament texts. He assumes knowledge of these great stories of the Hebrew Scriptures and without some solid understanding of the Books of Moses, in particular, Jude is almost indecipherable.
In this sermon, we will use a category of sin described in the Book of Numbers, the High-Handed Sin, as a way of organizing Jude 5-7. The High-Handed sin is the sin of the apostate, those who raise their fists against God. Jude, who loves triads, will share three "high-handed sins" committed by unruly mobs. Each of these OT stories are intended to demonstrate the true severity and danger posed by false teachers. In the process of considering these background texts to Jude's words we will grapple with some of the most confusing and even unnerving texts of scripture. Prepare for a wild ride!
Jude: The Acts of the Apostates (Jude vv.1-4).pptxStephen Palm
In this sermon Pastor Ryan Shannon introduces a new sermon series on the Book of Jude entitled, "The Acts of the Apostates". Apostates are the earliest "deconversion" stories of the New Testament. These are false teachers who rejected a truth that they once felt some affinity towards. They preached another gospel and posed a great danger to the early church. Like the first century, the 21st century church faces this same real risk. False teachers are often attractive, charismatic and incredibly positive in their message. But they reject the hard teachings of Jesus and offer a message that offers affirmation without correction. There is nothing sadder than someone who believes a lie and stakes their eternal destiny on that lie that our sin is something God winks at. In this series we will learn the importance of discernment coupled with a bold commitment to stand up, stand out and stand firm for the gospel.
This sermon will explore the broad topic of bioethics from a Christian perspective. The sermon is organized around three points borrowed from bioethicist Dr. Nigel Cameron and Charles Colson: Taking Life, Making Life and Faking Life. We will observe how current innovations offer great hope for healing major diseases but also pose the risk of creating dystopic nightmare scenarios. We will see what God's Word has to say on these relevant topics.
This is the concluding message in the series Trivial Pursuits and the fifth message of "Meaningful Pursuits." This message considers the pursuit of obedience. Shockingly, the words "obey" and "obedience" are not found in all of Ecclesiastes. However, the concept appears in a variety of expressions such as Pleasing God, Doing good, Walking in the "Sight of the Eyes" and Keeping the Commandments. We will explore each of these key phrases and the texts in which they appear, and we will explore what "keeping the commandments" means for the New Covenant believer. We will also explore the "God-rail" of judgment and what the believer in Jesus can expect on the "Day of Judgment."
Meaningful Pursuits_The Fear of God.pptxStephen Palm
In Proverbs Solomon says that "The Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." The idea of fearing God is peppered throughout Ecclesiastes. It is found in some texts that we have explored in this series and some that we have not. In this message we will bring five key texts concerning the Fear of God that identify five key reasons why we are wise to Fear Him. We will also investigate the Hebrew word that lies behind this concept of fear in order to gain a more accurate view of this important biblical concept.
This sermon is part of the Easter Apocalypse series in which we are looking forward to the Book of Revelations for a sense of the sequel to the Easter story, Jesus in Heaven and King of kings and Lord of lords. In this message we will contrast Jesus' "veiled glory" during His earthly ministry including his post-resurrection appearances and Jesus' full display of his glory in John's vision in Revelation chapter 1.
Today we launch our Easter series entitled "Easter Apocalypse". This Palm Sunday we are going to study a moment from the Book of Revelation where a great multitude, much larger than the crowd in Jerusalem, will worship Jesus, waving palm branches. This amazing moment is found in the seventh chapter of the Book of Revelation. We will look at the entire chapter with a special focus on the middle of the chapter where this scene plays out in heaven.
Ecclesiastes 4: The Pursuit of Companionship.pptxStephen Palm
In Ecclesiastes 4 we find another meaningful pursuit sandwiched between two meaningless pursuits, as is Solomon's style. The Meaningful Pursuit is the pursuit of companionship. This passage contains the great statement that a cord of three strands is not easily torn apart. We will explore the primary meaning in context and then explore an additional meaning that the n+1 formula in this text suggests, that the plus one is also a reference to God. He is the one who truly provides enduring strength to our human relationships, whether we are looking at a marriage or a friendship. Excluding God leaves us "under the sun" and fending for ourselves.
The Pursuit of God's Timetable_Ecclesiastes 3.pptxStephen Palm
This week marks the shift from Trivial Pursuits to Meaningful Pursuits. This week we will look at Pursuing God's Timetable, embracing God's understanding of time and eternity. However, we will see that the jaded side of Solomon continues to intersperse rain clouds of doubt and cynicism. He bears the spiritual and emotional scars of a man who spent too much time in Trivial and sinful pursuits.
Culture Clash_Reasserting the Gospel to a culture that wants to reshape its m...Stephen Palm
This sermon is entitled Reasserting the Gospel to a culture that wants to reshape its message. In this sermon we will look at some key aspects of the gospel which clash with our culture, 5 common distortions of the gospel and finally 3 biblical examples of how to contextualize the gospel without compromising or confusing its message.
The Pursuit of Self Sufficiency_Ecclesiastes 9:11-12.pptxStephen Palm
In Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 Solomon bemoans how random chance falls upon mankind. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race. The smartest person doesn't always get the scholarship; life doesn't operate purely on the basis of fairness. The "under the sun" solution is self-reliance. In this sermon Mike Bealer demonstrates that the mathematics hard-baked into the universe suggest that God does not operate randomly. He creates a purposeful universe and one of His purposes is that we will rely upon Him rather than rely upon ourselves and our meager understanding of God's purpose and plan.
In this service, we will celebrate a child dedication. Then we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together, and finally believers baptism by immersion. Each section will include a brief devotional focusing on the scriptures that inform and inspire these practices of the Christian faith.
Trivial Pursuits - The Pursuit of Riches_Contentment.pptxStephen Palm
This sermon is a tag team preaching. Pastor Steve Palm will begin with the bad news concerning the "Trivial Pursuit of Riches" in Ecclesiastes 5:8-17. We will look at several active "taxes" that siphon wealth: the Corruption Tax, the Consumption Tax and the Calamity Tax. Those who love money struggle to have enough. Cole will preach on the flip side of the coin in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. The answer to the love of money is not more money and things. The true answer is contentment.
The Pursuit of Worldly Pleasure_Ecclesiastes 2.pptxStephen Palm
In Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 Solomon is convinced that he can run a dangerous experiment, safe-guarded by his great wisdom. The experiment is to explore every conceivable pleasure taken to inconceivable extremes and yet be unscathed. However, the experiment goes badly and leaves him jaded and empty. In the last three verses he finally allows a little of God's light to shine through. In this sermon we will contrast Solomon's life of empty pursuits with Jesus' balance life. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life and set us an example of how to live beyond the "daily grind."
The Pursuit of Worldly Wisdom_Ecclesiastes 1:1-18.pptxStephen Palm
The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the least taught least preached and least read books in the Bible. However, it has one of the most relevant messages for our day. It is a rich tapestry of opposing threads, horizontal threads of an "under the sun" perspective that is worldly-wise and vertical threads of an "under God's Heaven" perspective that reflects the wisdom of God. Which perspective you embrace will determine whether life is a chore or a blessing. Man's wisdom leads to meaninglessness. God's wisdom leads to significance and true joy.
Culture Clash_Antisemitism and the Abrahamic Covenant.pptxStephen Palm
Antisemitism has spiked by 400% in the United States since the beginning of the Hamas/Israel War. However, antisemitism, the hatred and persecution of Jews, has been spiking since 2017. Antisemitism has been described as a "light sleeper" that has awakened yet again. In this sermon, we will look at two definitions of antisemitism, explore the history of antisemitism including the history of Christian antisemitism and then explore what God has to say by examining the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12, 15 and 17 and other prophetic texts. Pastor Steve will assert that the Abrahamic Covenant is an essential lens through which Bible-believers view history and current events. We will also learn what a "trope" is and then explore several insidious antisemitic tropes which are the fuel on the fire of antisemitism.
Christmas List - Jesus: Prioritizing Mission over Everything Else.pptxStephen Palm
4. Jesus: Prioritizing Mission over Everything Else. (Dec. 23 & 24) John 1:1-18
John’s gospel begins at an earlier point than the other gospels. Mark begins at Jesus’ baptism and adds nothing to the Christmas story. Matthew and Luke begin with the circumstances of Jesus’ humble birth. But John begins in Heaven with the story of the pre-incarnate Son of God. Heaven’s Prince was a partner with His Father in the work of Creation; “without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). He was worshipped by angels and shared in the same divine essence possessed by the Father and the Holy Spirit. As the ancient creed says, “He was God of God, Light of light, true God of True God”. In order to accomplish His Father’s Redemptive Mission, to redeem mankind, he voluntarily chose to forego the heavenly privileges of his throne at His Father’s side, and came to earth, was confined to the womb of a young Jewish girl and then was born and placed in a feeding trough, likely in a cave used for birthing lambs. We know so little about Mary, Joseph and the Wise Men whom we have been studying. We are left with the challenge of piecing their lives together. But we have four gospels that describe the miraculous life of Jesus. We see through their four accounts a common picture of a man who consistently prioritized God’s Mission over everything else, culminating in His crucifixion and death. His was a hard life lived perfectly. The challenge before us is whether we will choose to accept His Great Co-Mission, to join Him in prioritizing serving God over security, reputation, comfort, and everything else this world esteems that God sees as less than?
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
Homily: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday 2024.docxJames Knipper
Countless volumes have been written trying to explain the mystery of three persons in one true God, leaving us to resort to metaphors such as the three-leaf clover to try to comprehend the Divinity. Many of us grew up with the quintessential pyramidal Trinity structure of God at the top and Son and Spirit in opposite corners. But what if we looked at this ‘mystery’ from a different perspective? What if we shifted our language of God as a being towards the concept of God as love? What if we focused more on the relationship within the Trinity versus the persons of the Trinity? What if stopped looking at God as a noun…and instead considered God as a verb? Check it out…
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
2. Search Faithbook Home
Joseph
Edit Profile
My brothers are such high maintenance.
Reuben
9 hrs
Sometimes your
dreams are a bit much.Groups
Hebrews in
Egypt
Potiphar’s Wife
Elohim
9 hrs
What they intend for evil, I
intend for good! Hang in there.
3. Passing on a Vision of the Future
Joseph
Edit Profile
Hebrews
11:22
Genesis
37; 39-50
Passing on a
Vision of the
Future to the
Next Generation
4. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Frog:
“Where am I?
At a singles
club?”
Fortuneteller:
“Biology class.”
5. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Our society’s fascination with the
future
Nearly half of all Americans say
astrology, the study of celestial bodies'
purported influence on human behavior
and worldly events, is either "very
scientific" or "sort of scientific.“
6. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Our society’s fascination with the
future
23% of those identifying themselves as
Christians believe that there is “spiritual
energy” in physical things such as
mountains, trees and crystals.
7. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Our society’s fascination with the
future
22% of those identifying themselves as
Christians believe in reincarnation, that
people will be reborn again and again.
8. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Our society’s fascination with the
future
14% of those identifying themselves as
Christians state that they have consulted
a fortune-teller or a psychic. 28% of
Christians believe that they have been in
touch with someone who has died.
9. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Our society is forming a
world-view increasingly
like that of Egypt during
the days of Joseph.
10. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Dr. Gunther
von Hagens
11. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, at the end of his
life, made mention of the exodus
of the Israelites and gave
directions concerning his bones.
12. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
First Post
A true vision of the future
requires a willingness to
postpone gratification.
13. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Joseph postponed
sexual gratification.
14. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 39
Joseph in
the house
of Potiphar
15. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 39
6b Now Joseph was handsome in form
and appearance.7 And after a time his
master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph
and said, “Lie with me.”
16. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 39
8 But he refused and said to his master's
wife, “Behold, because of me my master
has no concern about anything in the
house, and he has put everything that he
has in my charge.
17. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 39
9 He is not greater in this house than I
am, nor has he kept back anything from
me except you, because you are his wife.
How then can I do this great wickedness
and sin against God?”
18. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 39
10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after
day, he would not listen to her, to lie
beside her or to be with her.
19. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 39
11 But one day, when he went into the
house to do his work and none of the
men of the house was there in the
house, 12 she caught him by his garment,
saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his
garment in her hand and fled and got
out of the house.
20. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Joseph helped the
Egyptians postpone
material gratification.
21. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 41
28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown
to Pharaoh what he is about to
do.29 There will come seven years of
great plenty throughout all the land of
Egypt,
22. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 41
30 but after them there will arise seven
years of famine, and all the plenty will be
forgotten in the land of Egypt. The
famine will consume the land, 31 and the
plenty will be unknown in the land by
reason of the famine that will follow, for
it will be very severe.
23. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 41
32 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream
means that thething is fixed by God, and
God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now
therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning
and wise man, and set him over the land
of Egypt.
24. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 41
34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint
overseers over the land and take one-
fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt
during the seven plentiful years.
25. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 41
35 And let them gather all the food of
these good years that are coming and
store up grain under the authority of
Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let
them keep it.
26. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 41
36 That food shall be a reserve for the
land against the seven years of famine
that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so
that the land may not perish through the
famine.”
27. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
How are we doing with postponed
gratification?
Average American’s Debt (2015)
•Credit card debt = $ 15,863
•Mortgage Debt = $156,584
•Student Loans = $ 33,090
•Total Debt = $225,238 (2012)
28. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
76% of
Americans
are living
paycheck
to
paycheck.
29. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Total U.S. Revolving Credit Debt
2013
30. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Second Post
A true vision of the future
requires the exercise of
great patience.
31. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
17
Sold
into
slavery
33
Made
Over-
seer
Reunited
with
Jacob
41
39
Brothers’
First Visit
110
Joseph
Dies
Dream about the
Cup-bearer &
Baker
28
32. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Joseph trusted in
God’s sovereign
control of the future.
33. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 41:16
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in
me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable
answer.”
34. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
“The trouble is
that I’m in a
hurry, but God
isn’t!”
Rev. Phillips Brooks
35. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Third Post
A true vision of the future
requires the development
of God’s perspective.
36. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Joseph's godly
perspective is
powerfully seen
in his first
encounter with
his brothers.
Comment
37. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 45
1 Then Joseph could not control himself
before all those who stood by him. He
cried, “Make everyone go out from me.”
So no one stayed with him when Joseph
made himself known to his brothers.
38. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 45
2 And he wept aloud, so that the
Egyptians heard it, and the household of
Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to
his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father
still alive?” But his brothers could not
answer him, for they were dismayed at
his presence.
39. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 45
4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near
to me, please.” And they came near. And he
said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you
sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be
distressed or angry with yourselves because
you sold me here, for God sent me before
you to preserve life.
40. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Joseph’s godly
perspective is further
demonstrated in his
treatment of his
brothers following the
death of their father.
41. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 50
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their
father was dead, they said, “It may be
that Joseph will hate us and pay us back
for all the evil that we did to him.”16 So
they sent a message to Joseph, saying,
“Your father gave this command before he
died:
42. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 50
17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the
transgression of your brothers and their
sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And
now, please forgive the transgression of
the servants of the God of your father.”
Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
43. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 50
18 His brothers also came and fell down
before him and said, “Behold, we are your
servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do
not fear, for am I in the place of God?
44. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 50
20 As for you, you meant evil against me,
but God meant it for good, to bring it
about that many people should be kept
alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I
will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus
he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
45. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 50
22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and
his father's house. Joseph lived 110
years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's
children of the third generation. The
children also of Machir the son of
Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.
46. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 50
24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am
about to die, but God will visit you and
bring you up out of this land to the
land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac,
and to Jacob.”
47. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Genesis 50
25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel
swear, saying, “God will surely visit you,
and you shall carry up my bones from
here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years
old. They embalmed him, and he was put
in a coffin in Egypt.
48. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
17
A
Dreamer
33
A
Savior
110
A
Prophet
Joseph’s Journey from
Dreamer to Prophet
49. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, at the end of his
life, made mention of the exodus
of the Israelites and gave
directions concerning his bones.
50. Passing on a Vision of the Future Joseph
A Discouraging Word
“More than at any time in
history, mankind faces a
crossroads—one path leading
to despair and utter
hopelessness, the other
leading to total extinction. Let
us pray we have the wisdom
to choose correctly.”
Woody Allen
Passing on a Vision of the Future to the Next Generation
The Frog and the Fortuneteller
Fortuneteller, gazing into crystal ball, to frog: You are going to meet a beautiful young woman. From the moment she sets eyes on you she will have an insatiable desire to know all about you. She will be compelled to get close to you—you’ll fascinate her.”
Frog: “Where am I? At a singles club?”
Fortuneteller: “Biology class.”
Source unknown
Nearly half of all Americans say astrology, the study of celestial bodies' purported influence on human behavior and worldly events, is either "very scientific" or "sort of scientific.“
National Science Foundation Study
23% of those identifying themselves as Christians believe that there is “spiritual energy” in physical things such as mountains, trees and crystals.
Pew Research Center - 2012
22% of those identifying themselves as Christians believe in reincarnation, that people will be reborn again and again.
Pew Research Center - 2012
14% of those identifying themselves as Christians state that they have consulted a fortune-teller or a psychic.
Pew Research Center - 2012
Our society is forming a world-view increasingly like that of Egypt during the days of Joseph
An insatiable hunger to know the future.
A turning to pagan practices of divination and spiritism.
Amongst our young people there is an obsessive fascination with death. (the Goth movement)
We even see a bizarre fascination with preserving our corpses (cryogenics chambers, hermetically sealed caskets, frozen sex cells and embryos)
Perhaps this fascination with death is best illustrated by the career of Dr. Gunther von Hagens, a German doctor who, in 2002, sold tickets to the first public dissection of a human body in 170 years. 500 people attended. This led to a prosperous world exhibition called Body Worlds. I will not show you the images I saw. The most recent Amsterdam show featured over 200 cadavers. It was called the “Happiness Project” and featured real corpses in the way you might see them posed in a wax museum. They were doing gymnastics, playing soccer, playing musical instruments, riding dissected horses, dancing like ballerinas, hugging, kissing… I’ll stop there. I love science and especially love anatomy. But I have to say, I found it disturbing. I think what bothered me was the fact that this was a grim view of the afterlife, a picture of the future in which death is glorified and fun, but still dead. That is the secular progressive view of the future. Death is inevitable. Don’t fear the reaper. Don’t delay the reaper. Don’t look for anything beyond death.
Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
First Post
A true vision of the future requires a willingness to postpone gratification.
Joseph postponed sexual gratification.
Joseph’s brothers, jealous of the special treatment he receives from his father, Jacob, sell him into slavery.
The Midianite slave traders sell Joseph to an officer of Pharaoh named Potiphar.
God blesses Potiphar through Joseph and Potiphar makes Joseph the steward or manager of his household. But, as you can see from this picture, Potiphar’s wife also was impressed with Joseph.
Genesis 39
6b Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”
8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.
9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.
11 But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, 12 she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.
Here is a great lesson on how to handle temptation. FLEE. Get out. Joseph didn’t just not wait for the door to hit him on the way out… he didn’t wait for his clothes. Joseph’s integrity comes at a cost. Potiphar’s wife had no love in her, just lust. And once he rejected her advances, she is ruthless. She falsely accuses him of making advances on her and sees that he is stripped of more than his clothes. He is stripped of his position and his freedom.
Joseph helped the Egyptians postpone material gratification.
Genesis 41
28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do.29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt,
30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.
32 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that thething is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years.
35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.
36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
How are we doing with postponed gratification?
Average American’s Debt:
Credit card debt = $ 15,863
Mortgage Debt = $156,584
Student Loans = $ 33,090
Total Debt = $225,238
A new report released by the GoBankingRates, which tracks interest and banking rates nationwide, found that the average American is more than $225,000 in debt with many having less than $500 in savings.
76% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. ewer than one in four Americans have enough money in their savings account to cover at least six months of expenses, enough to help cushion the blow of a job loss, medical emergency or some other unexpected event, according to the survey of 1,000 adults. Meanwhile, 50% of those surveyed have less than a three-month cushion and 27% had no savings at all.
That is equal to the Gross Domestic Product of Belgium and Denmark combined!
The average household gets about 25 credit card promotional offers a year. Experts worry that the “irresponsible and rabid marketing of credit cards” could result in a crisis for the economy.
Second Post
A true vision of the future requires the exercise of great patience.
The chronology of Joseph's life tells us a great deal about the nature of his faith.
Joseph was 17 when his brothers sold him into slavery.
Joseph was around 28 when he dreamed the dream concerning the fate of the cup-bearer and the baker. He was 33-34 when he became second in command under Pharaoh. He has been a slave for 17 years. He is reunited with his father Jacob after a 24 year separation. Despite these lengthy periods of enslavement and separation from loved ones, Joseph shows a consistent trust in God's sovereign control of the future.
Joseph trusted in God’s sovereign control of the future. After rotting in prison for years, including two years after having the dream which resulted in the cup-bearer's reappointment, Pharaoh's asks Joseph to interpret his dream. Joseph says:
Genesis 41:16
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
There is no hint of anger directed towards God. Joseph remains faithful to God. He understood that The purposes of God often develop slowly because His grand designs are never hurried.
The great New England preacher Phillips Brooks was noted for his poise and quiet manner. At times, however, even he suffered moments of frustration and irritability. One day a friend saw him feverishly pacing the floor like a caged lion. “What’s the trouble, Mr. Brooks?” he asked. “The trouble is that I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t!”
Third Post
A true vision of the future requires the development of God’s perspective.
Joseph's godly perspective is powerfully seen in his first encounter with his brothers. In fact, I think you could easily say that this is one of the high watermarks of the entire Bible and one of the clearest pictures of grace. Joseph’s brothers are braced for the worst once they realize who they are standing before, but Joseph says:
Genesis 45
1 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, “Make everyone go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Joseph’s godly perspective is further demonstrated in his treatment of his brothers following the death of their father. Following Jacob's death, his brothers are once again panicked. Perhaps Joseph was merciful during the life of their father. Now, he would exact his revenge. And Joseph knew it. He didn’t need to be a mind reader to realize that they had good reason to be afraid. But look at how Joseph deals with his scurrilous brothers:
Genesis 50
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.”16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died:
17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.
24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
From Dreamer to Prophet
At 17 years of age, Joseph was a dreamer of dreams.
At 30 years of age, his dreams enabled him to save nations from starvation.
At 110 years of age Joseph is more than a dreamer. He is a prophet, seeing not just decades into the future, but centuries.
Long before the Hebrews were enslaved, he saw the bondage – they would need God's aid. He looked ahead 430 years and he saw the exodus.
Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
When we combine the ability to postpone gratification with the patience to endure difficulties, the result is the development of a godly perspective which sees a third road, the ultimate triumph of God's plan and program.
A Discouraging Word
“More than at any time in history, mankind faces a crossroads—one path leading to despair and utter hopelessness, the other leading to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”
These words were spoken by the eternal optimist, Woody Allen. Sometimes the future looks that bleak… like a true Lose/Lose.
Without God in the picture, the future looks pretty ugly.
The man of faith is a man who has God's perspective.
When we combine the ability to postpone gratification with the patience to endure difficulties, the result is the development of a godly perspective which sees a third road, the ultimate triumph of God's plan and program.