Intro:

We have followed the amazing story of Joseph through some of the most difficult situations imaginable! Imagine being your father’s favorite son and having 11 brothers that hate you because of it. Also imagine them hating you so much they plan to kill you. Well, instead of killing him they sold him as a slave to some merchants on their way to Egypt.

Review:

            Last week we saw how the Lord was with him and everything that he did prospered. Everything he touched prospered. That is because God has promised to make his children the head and not the tail, the top and not the bottom. (Deuteronomy 28:13). It was true for him, and it also applies to us. (Apply)  Joseph went from slave to manager of the second most powerful man in Egypt. Potiphar!  This was a preparation for what was to come. God was actually preparing him to be over all of the riches and food supply of Egypt. His schooling of preparation was being manager over all of the affairs of Potiphar, a very rich man. – What you were doing yesterday prepares you for today, and what you are doing today is preparation for what God has for you in the future. There are no small insignificant jobs in the kingdom of God. There is no unimportant chore. It may seem that what you are doing now doesn’t matter but it is a preparation for the future. (Example: My visit to the small Bible school on the Outskirts of Matamoros, Tmp., Mexico.)

1.     He Resisted Temptation:

If you are struggling with temptation you need to get a hold of last week’s tape. (Apology for them not being ready) We learned from 1 Corinthians 10:13, and from James 1:12-15, that everyone is tempted (even Jesus in Matthew chapter 4); that temptation does not come from God but from the tempter; and that temptation is the devil’s provision of that which is your weakness and latches onto your own lust (craving).

·        There is a great promise for those who resist temptation and don’t fall for it. It is found in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endures (resists) temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to them that love him.” It is worth all the effort to resist temptation. There is great reward for those who resist the way Joseph did.

·        We also learned (I’m reviewing now), that we should look for the way out! According to 1 Corinthians 10:13 there is a way of escape that comes with each temptation. Look for the escape, (the way out). In Josephs’ case running was the best way out of a situation that seemed hopeless. Running is always a good way to escape temptation. “What if they call me a chicken?” Remind yourself that you’d rather be a live chicken than a dead duck!

2.     Wrongfully Accused:

Isn’t it awful to be accused of something you didn’t do? Have you ever been in a similar situation? If not, you will be some day. It’s no fun. Yet the scriptures don’t say that he defended himself or blamed his bosses wife.

·        Yes, there will be suffering if you serve the Lord.  2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Psalm 34:19 says, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”

·        The unrighteous also suffer. Believe me, they don’t have it easy. It is an established principal that whatsoever a man sows that also will he reap.

·        Since you are going to suffer either way it is better to suffer for a righteous cause like Joseph. I would rather have the favor of God than the favor of man. (He could have sinned with Potiphar’s wife and maybe even had an ongoing secret affair with her) but he feared the Lord. 1 Peter 3:15 says, (Read it through verse 17)

·        Offences are a fact of life, I’m sure you’ve heard me say it before. It is found in Matthew 18:7. It says, “ Woe unto the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

·        Matthew 5:11 says you are blessed when they speak badly about you. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Matthew 5:11-12

·        In fact if you are only being spoken well of, watch out!  Luke 6:26 says, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

·        How do you respond to them? Matthew 6:27 tells us how, “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smites you on the one cheek offer also the other and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

·        I believe Joseph reacted this way. He obviously didn’t hold any grudges, because he was able to go on with his life.

3.     God was with Him:  (verse 21-23)

Yes, even in prison God was with him. God never promised we wouldn’t go through difficult times. He did promise however that he would never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

·        Even in the prison you can be prospered. We’ll learn of a great revival that is happening in the prison systems this coming Friday.

·        Even in an unlikely place like a hospital. Eve Nuñez’ operation testimony.

·        God’s favor and grace is something you take with you wherever you go. It goes before you to open doors. That grace and favor is found in your particular gift. “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” - Ephesians 4:7.

·        Cream always rises to the top. God’s people will be prospered in whatever circumstance they find themselves in.

·        3 John verse 2 says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”

4.     He Operated his Gift:  (Chapter 40:1-19)

Even though he was in what some would consider dire straights, he was still willing to operate in his vision/dream gift.

·        He interpreted the dreams of the prisoners given to his charge. He could have been bitter after remembering that his dreams were part of what got him into the mess he was in.

·        Yet he had healed enough to operate again in the very gift that he had operated in before. You too, heal up! Turn the other cheek. Stop using Phrases like, “Never again, or I’m not going to set myself up again!” etc.

·        He was honest and direct even when one of the dreams was bad news! Don’t pull punches. Let your yes, be yes and your no be no!

·        He said remember me. There is nothing wrong with remembering whom God used to give you direction. In this case the servant didn’t remember until 2 years later.

·        What he was saying in essence is, “This is my gift, remember to help me as I helped you.” Give God the glory but remember to give honor to whom honor is due.

·        “No, it’s not me, it’s Jesus.” We say humbly. Yes, but remember who can operate in what gifts. You may have to go back and solicit help from that one again. Bless those that bless you.

Next week I’ll finish this message. This has been a long 5 part series but we have learned so much from these rich passages of scripture. This morning, however, let us come and surrender unto the Lord our bitterness concerning some of the very prisons of depression and accusations that we have been thrown into. Holding onto hurts, abuses, neglects and rejection only hurts you as you refuse to let go. Some of you have been holding onto them since your childhood. Forgive, let go so you can go on with your life and exercise the gifts and abilities God has given you so you can live your God ordained destiny without hindrance.