The Life of Joseph || Message Four || Positioned for Purpose

We cannot reach the end of a long journey in one great leap. We must take a step—and another step. Sometimes our path leads through rough terrain or takes frustrating detours. We may believe our ordeal will never end—and that we face it alone. But God never abandons His people. Although we can’t see where He’s leading, we can trust that He has a purpose for every steep climb and every valley.

The times we find most difficult may be the very occasions God is positioning us where we need to be before He unfolds the next part of His plan.

Joseph endured an unjust imprisonment for more than two years. He must have wondered what God’s purpose was during that time. In spite of his faithfulness to God, his troubles continued to drag on. Joseph could not see what his life had in store, but God had a purpose. Every perceived setback actually brought Joseph one step closer to the fulfillment of God’s purpose. In Genesis 41 we see how Joseph’s perseverance finally paid off.

WE WILL REMEMBER TODAY - THAT

A DELAY IS NOT A DENIAL

A DETOUR STILL GET TO THE DESTINATION.

POSITIONED FOR PURPOSE.

Genesis 41:1–13 CSB

1 At the end of two years Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing beside the Nile, 2 when seven healthy-looking, well-fed cows came up from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, sickly and thin, came up from the Nile and stood beside those cows along the bank of the Nile. 4 The sickly, thin cows ate the healthy, well-fed cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time: Seven heads of grain, plump and good, came up on one stalk. 6 After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream. 8 When morning came, he was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I remember my faults. 10 Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guards. 11 He and I had dreams on the same night; each dream had its own meaning. 12 Now a young Hebrew, a slave of the captain of the guards, was with us there. We told him our dreams, he interpreted our dreams for us, and each had its own interpretation. 13 It turned out just the way he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged.”

RECAP:

Joseph - the favorite son with a coat.

Joseph - the objet of hatred from brothers

Joseph - tossed in a pit and sold into slavery

Joseph - appointed overseer of slaves

Joseph - accused of rape by master’s wife

Joseph - toss in jail on false accusation

Joseph - made overseer of prisoners

Joseph - interpreter of dreams (prison)

Joseph - Remember Me! - Was Forgotten

What a life - Seems like Joseph hits a new bottom every turn (by worldly standards) - but God continues to bless and lift him up

Joseph is POSITIONED FOR PURPOSE

We may find detours and delays all throughout our life - but if we keep the faith, and rely on God and God alone - we too will be positioned for our purpose.

IT IS STARTING TO UNFOLD:

vs 1-7 Pharaoh’s dreams (cows /wheat)

Pharaoh tried the worlds way first. vs 8

He went to the magic workers, the witches, wizards, and “wise-men” and they could not do a thing. Do I believe in such - you beat your best mule I do! I’ve seen it - watch it - and know the demonic influence of witchcraft - recalling our spiritual warfare series.

Now Pharaoh tried it all - now the cupbearer remembers Joseph (now that it’ll get him some attention) (vs9-13)

We must not follow the line of Pharaoh

- God must be our only solution - not our last attempt.

WE FIND POWER AND PURPOSE WHEN WE ALLOW GOD TO GROW OUR FAITH AND REMAIN FAITHFUL - THROUGH IT ALL.

Pharaoh’s first response was to call on worldly answerers. today we would call that - “self help”

Joseph has only one source - the power and faithfulness of God.

WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT YOU FEEL DEFEAT, FORGOTTEN, DELAYED, or DETOURED - RECITE THIS PASSAGE:

Psalm 121 NKJV

A Song of Ascents. 1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.

We have help!

We have access to the same power and faithfulness.

A WHILE back, Jackie Chan starred in a movie called The Tuxedo. He played a taxi cab driver. His job was to serve his customers. He wound up becoming the driver for Clark Devlin, a top secret agent.

During one scene in the movie, the car comes under attack and Clark Devlin becomes critically wounded in the attack. Mr. Devlin tells Jackie Chan to put on a tuxedo located in the car that will give him extraordinary power. The injured passenger told Chan, “When you put my coat on, then you will share in my glory.” Jackie Chan put on Clark Devlin’s tuxedo and he found powers to walk on walls, do all kinds of flips, and overcome the enemies who would seek to bring destruction—all because he wore the clothing of another.

When you and I put on Jesus Christ and when we wear His character and His glory, we share in His greatness. Don’t think you are going to be great if you are not willing to put on His jacket, which is always the jacket of servanthood. If you really want to be somebody in time and in eternity, ask yourself if you are serving others more than they are serving you

PURPOSE UNFOLDING

Genesis 41:14–16 CSB

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.” 16 “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Pharaoh sends for Joseph.

Joseph got ready: Shaved, and changed clothes and went to pharaoh

“I have had a dream”

The whole of Joseph’s delays and detours have positioned him exactly where he needed to be, when he needed to be there, for the exact purpose that was about to unfold.

Quickly - Joseph exclaims - It is not me, I cannot do a thing. It is GOD who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.

Just like Pharoah & Joseph - we have a choice to make : We can get up everyday and put on the JIVE (worthlessness of the world) or we can get up each day and put on JESUS (where we have our purpose)

DECIDE TO START EVERY DAY BY PUTTING ON JESUS and LIVE IN YOUR PURPOSE

Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Listen closely :

DELIVERANCE COMES WHEN YOU ARE FAITHFUL TO GOD IN YOUR PURPOSE.

JOSEPH HAS KEPT THE FAITH. THROUGH ALL THAT HE HAS BEEN THROUGH - HE IS ABOUT TO GET HIS BREAKTHROUGH.

ALLOW ME TO ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY:

NO MATTER WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ARE FACING - GOD IS BIGGER.

THERE IS NO VALLEY TO LOW, NO MOUNTAIN TOO HIGH, TO SIN SO BAD, NO PROBLEM TO HARD - FOR GOD. I BELIEVE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM TODAY HAVE THIS TESTIMONY -

“I WAS.... BUT GOD TURNED IT AROUND.

HERE THIS - WRITE THIS DOWN - DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO GET THIS ON YOUR HEART.

“A SET BACK, IS A SET UP, FOR A COME BACK”

Your come-back starts with accepting Christ as your Savior.

Acts 4:12 CSB

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Ephesians 2:8 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—

2 Timothy 1:9 NKJV

9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Your Come-Back can also start by:

Knowing that with God all things are possible

Surrendering Your life to God’s Will.

Trust that God Cannot Fail. (Trust Him)

Job 42:2 CSB

2 I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.

(You Cannot Be Stopped)

Psalm 138:8 CSB

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands.

The Final Word.

With God it is Possible

Live a Surrendered Life

Trust God, He never fails.

God Cannot Be Stopped

God will fulfill HIS purpose for me.