Get Through It! (not final) Genesis 39.1-23
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 17 viewsNotes
Transcript
Title - Get through it!
Text - Genesis 39.1-23
Intro:
Many times our expectations are not to get through anything...........but to get over it!
(Pause - Expound)
And whenever we get to a place where we feel like we can no longer get over it.......we began using tools of avoidance!
(Pause)
Because to live through it opens us up to a host of dangers......
from which our talents.............
and/or our social status..........don't seem to be able to protect us....
(Pause)
And from an Existential perspective........no matter what I achieve in life I believe that I am capable of losing it!
(Pause)
Barrel -
(Growing up as a teenager reluctant to build relationships)
- But what I discovered is that........ignoring life.......does not stop life from happening!
And so the best thing to do......is to prepare my mindset........to "Get through it" instead of worrying about how I was going to "Get over it!"
(Pause)
And so many people...........are stuck trying to get over something..........that they wish they could get through!
(Pause)
You wish you could get through..........
........the relationship conflict
........the fear of failure
.........struggles to let go of some stuff.......
(Pause)
But when what you're doing ain't working............you result.......to just trying to....
........Get OVER IT!
and.........
.......our attitude of triumph subservient to a mindset of tolerance
(Pause)
But............the worst thing you could ever do..........
is allow DESPAIR..........the opportunity to destroy the DREAM......
(Pause)
And so today I came to minister to some Dreamers.........who can't seem to shake some stuff off!
(Pause)
And the enemy knows...........that if you figure out how to shake it off......
(Pause)
........If you figure out how to.............GET THROUGH IT............
...You're that much closer to the DREAM........
(Pause)
There may be some fathers in here...........that folk keep describing as a dead beat dad.....
(Pause)
But you have been inappropriately defined......
(Pause)
......it's not that you don't care............
(Pause)
......You just don't know how to GET THROUGH IT.....
.....So you have resulted to.......GETTING OVER IT!
(Pause)
And there may be some sisters in here.......
......that if you ever GET THROUGH.......what you have been trying to GET OVER.........
It's going to change your ENTIRE LIFE.......
(Pause)
And Joseph............is going to help us get through it today!
(Pause)
Look at it now.....
1. The first thing we deal with is how to get through being blessed!
Because the favor of God requires a certain level of maturity and balance.....
(Pause)
And so the question becomes......can you handle God elevating you?
Joseph in verses 3 and 4........is blessed of God......
(Pause)
His master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hands.
So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him; he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
The first thing that happens when God blesses us.......is that our level of responsibility increases....
(Pause)
Joseph's master recognizes that God is helping Joseph.........
and everything that Joseph deals with.......turns out good!
(Pause)
And when people begin seeing that God is helping you win...........if they have any common sense........
they will begin asking you to help them to deal with their stuff....
(Pause)
And when Joseph's master saw that God was helping Joseph, he put him in charge of the entire house!
(Pause)
Everything he had..........he told Joseph to run it!
(Pause)
Because people don't mind getting blessed folk to run things!
Because blessed people..........understand responsibility.....
(Pause)
But the question becomes.......can we handle more responsibility?
(Pause)
And........here's how you can tell if God is really blessing your life.....
(Pause)
Because when God blesses your life.........
.it's always equal to more.........than the capacity of your life!
(Pause)
Church family......
If you can handle what God is doing in your life.........that ain't a blessing!
(Slight pause)
And........if what's happening to you..........don't influence others around you.........that ain't the real blessings.......
(Pause)
Because when the real blessings start happening..........
folk start putting stuff in your hands......
because you know what to do with it!
(Pause and expound)
Look y'all.......
This Egyptian........knows nothing about the God of Israel.........
But..........what he does know..........is that.........what Joseph is using............is working.......
(Pause)
And.........when people begin watching God work successfully in your life...........
.they come closer........and start asking questions......
"Can you pray for my husband/wife........I'm dealing with something?"
"Can you help me understand how you were able to take your business to the next level?"
(Pause)
But don't get it twisted..........you didn't come this far.......to GET OVER............
you came this far........to GET THROUGH!!
(Preach Baker - pause)
Look at it now.......
From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.
And so......the next thing that happens when God blesses us.......is that our level of exposure increases....
(Pause)
According to the text.........
After Joseph is made overseer..........
From the Egyptian's house........all the way to the field was blessed.........
And it was blessed........
"for Joseph's sake!"
Meaning.......
Not only..........does everybody see that the Egyptians house is prospering......and everything around it......
But they know the reason why!!
(Pause)
And this is what keeps a lot of people from being blessed......
.......they can't handle being seen!
(Pause)
They can handle the responsibility..........
but when the exposure happens.........
.........They get the big head
.....and begin thinking it's all about them
(Pause)
But..........Joseph........you can't afford to let your ego get in the way at this level.........of blessing.......
Because these blessings.........are not in the DREAM either!
these blessings are stepping stones to the Real Thing!
(Pause)
See sometimes it's not the bad things that STOP us dead in our tracks........
But sometimes...........it's the BLESSINGS that get us sidetracked.......
(Pause)
Anybody ever met somebody like that??????
(Pause)
They was doing good.............
Until...........everything started working right for them,!!!!!
(Pause)
And now............they don't know how to act at all!!!!!
(Pause)
But you should never allow.........a BLESSING.........to BLOCK you........from GETTING THROUGH!!!!!
especially when.......
.......you just got out of a pit!
(Pause)
Look at it now......
So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge; and, with him there, he had no concern for anything but the food that he ate.
Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking.
The next thing that happens when God blesses us is that our level of relationship increases......
- And in my spiritual imagination.......
This verse proves the level to which Joseph could be trusted.........which also speaks to the level of relationship...
(Pause)
Because if I don't trust you........I'm not putting nothing in your hands......
But the text says.......that Potiphar puts everything in Joseph's hands.......
...and so much so, to the point that the only thing he worries about is what's for dinner!
(Pause)
And when we are blessed to be trusted to this level in the relationship.........RESPECT IT!
(Pause)
And sisters.......nothing destroys relationships faster for a man.........than.........disrespect!
[OPTIONAL - WHERE my fellas at?]
(Pause and Expound)
Because what Love is for Women........Respect is for Men......
And so when another MAN.........respects a MAN to the point that he is willing to trust him to take care of everything that he is in charge of.......
"THIS IS.........HUGE!"
Don't miss this........
For Potiphar..........to tell Joseph.........
"HERE MAN...........take care of everything...."
(Pause)
That's RESPECT...........like a MUG!
(Pause)
Let me help you..........
That's like me telling Bro. Darryl......
"Hey man...........here's all my bank account info.........I'm going to let you handle all my bills!"
(Pause)
And not even...........WORRY about the bills getting paid!!!
(Pause)
And so............if you're going to get through being blessed..........in relation to relationships........you got to have some RESPECT!!
(Pause)
Because if I trust you............and you BURN ME.........
I'M DONE!!!!
(Pause)
And it's hard to get through this..........when you chose to GET OVER!
(Long Pause)
Look at it now.......because here is the second thing we see Joseph getting through.......starting in verse 7......
And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.”
But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my hand.
He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except yourself, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
2. The next thing we have to get through according to Joseph's saga is...........Temptation
(Pause)
And according to the text.........being blessed is attractive to more people than we think!
(Pause)
And so the question becomes........
Can we refuse.........what we desire?
(Pause)
And the first step to "Getting Through" temptation is found in "verses 8-9."
(Pause)
Because Joseph says......to Potiphar's wife
"I have been blessed by my master to be in charge of everything in this house........and the only thing he did not give me access to was you!"
(pause)
Here it is......
1. Recognize who would get hurt
- Because in Joseph's mind........Potiphar trusted me!
And the worst thing Joseph could do.........is disrespect Potiphar........after he trusted him...
(Pause)
And sometimes we don't think about who we hurt.........based on what we want!
(Pause)
And let me help somebody..........it's not always a man and a woman........
Sometimes we go after stuff.............!
(Pause)
But Joseph is not only concerned about disrespecting Potiphar.........he is also concerned with disrespecting God!
"How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
(Pause)
2. Ask yourself the question.........What does God expect of me?
And for Joseph...........God would not be pleased!
(Pause)
And nothing will humble you quicker.......than comparing human motives.......to divine expectations...
(Pause)
In other words......
Is what you want..............what God wants?
(Pause)
Church family.....look.....
I did not come to day to help you "GET OVER IT..." today....
I came to help somebody "GET THROUGH IT!"
(Pause)
Look at it now.....
And although she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not consent to lie beside her or to be with her.
Here's where the text went a little deeper for me......
Because.......I could not for the life of me......see how Joseph was tempted.....
(Pause)
Because everywhere in the text.......we keep seeing that Joseph REFUSED.........
everywhere we look....
We see......the strength of Joseph.........
(Pause)
But what verse 10 shows us.......is that wrong motives.........
cares nothing about right actions!
(Slight pause)
Because the text says..........that every day........Potiphar's wife........is coming after Joseph!
(Pause)
And so.......if she is the TEMPTER.........that means that Joseph.........had to be TEMPTED.....
Because........she can't tempt him..........if he does not want her!
(Pause)
2. You got to be honest about your TEMPTATIONS
(Pause)
- Do not........walk around here........like don't nothing..........tempt you........
Because the fastest way.........to fall in a trap.........is to deny that there is a 20 foot ditch is right up under your foot!
(pause)
And let me help somebody........
Dealing with your stuff..........is not dangerous............
But what is dangerous...........is acting like you good when you ain't!
(Pause)
And everybody has blind spots........
And so that's when you need somebody surrounding you..........helping you deal with what you can't see!
(Pause)
Because sometimes..........you don't even know you are in trouble!
3. Surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth!
Husbands...........trust your wife..............and Wives..........trust your husband!
fellas
- I had to learn.......that when my wife says to me......
"You better watch that one!"
........I don't deal with that no more........
(Pause)
And when I tell my wife...........
"You better watch that negro!"
She listens.........
(EXPOUND)
See.........Dreamers...........miss a lot..........
.....because we're so focused on our destiny...........that we forget about the DANGERS!
(Pause)
But you got to be careful.............when you're moving closer to where God wants you to be........
(Pause)
And just like Joseph........in verse 11 and 12.......if you got to run.............."to get through.......it....."
Do what you got to do!
The text says.....
Joseph walked in the house..........to do his business...........and she caught him!
(Pause)
But Joseph was determined to "GET THROUGH IT"
(Pause)
4. And so the last step to GETTING THROUGH Temptation........is to make the decision To ...........LEAVE if you have to!
(Pause)
And sometimes.............you don't need to negotiate.........
Sometimes............you just need to TURN AWAY FROM SOME STUFF...............and WALK OFF!
(Pause)
Stop talking to your temptation.............and leave it where it is!
(Pause)
Look at it now......
39.14-18 (summarize)
3. The next thing to get through according to Joseph's story is........."Being Lied on!"
Because what we are getting ready to see......is that being blessed does not keep people from lying on you!
(Pause)
And I don't know about you.........but this part was difficult for me......
Because it's two things that I can't stand.......
A thief.........and a stinking liar!
(Pause)
And the text says that Potiphar's wife says......
"Look at how this Hebrew that my husband has put in charge of the house........is trying to make a fool out of us!"
And she shows them Joseph's skirt that would have came untied from around his waist when she grabbed him.....
(Pause)
And for most of us........when we find ourselves in a position like Joseph........we just attempt to "GET OVER IT!"
(Pause)
But if you want to "GET THROUGH IT" here's what you got to remember......
1. Truth.......never has to argue with lies!
Psalms 55.23 says.....
"But you, o God, will bring them down to the pit of destruction: Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days. But I will trust in You."
(Pause)
And so the way you get through it.......is by holding your peace
Because God will use the Lies.......to get you that much closer to your destiny....
(Pause)
Because even though Potiphar's wife........gets Joseph thrown into prison.......
Watch this.........
He was thrown forward..........and not backward!
(Pause)
See we think..........that the lies are a negative......
But because God is intentional......
ALL......things.......are working......for YOUR GOOD!
(Pause)
Look at it now....
And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; he remained there in prison.
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
And so the last thing.........JOSEPH has got to get through.............is the Prison......
He has gotten through the Blessing......
He has gotten through the Temptation.....
He has gotten through the Lies..........
And now..........he has to get through........
........The Prison.....
(Pause)
And Just like Joseph...........if we can remember two things..........we can get through the PRISON......
Here it is...
But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love; he gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
1. God is with you!
The text says.......
“But the Lord was with Joseph!”
(pause and expound)
See Freedom
- We lack the resources to gain redemption...........
It is absolutely impossible for us to get through it by ourselves...........
(slight pause)
BUT when GOD is with us.................
(Pause and expound)
Look at it now.....
The chief jailer committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison, and whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.
The chief jailer paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.
......The second thing we have to remember like Joseph is.......
2. Not even a PRISON.......can stop God from blessing you!
GET THROUGH IT............
Because.........God never left your reality.........even though God showed you a dream!
(Pause)
And every now and then........
You need to remind your prison
..........my life didn't start with you!
(pause)
.......my life started with God!
......and I Promise you
........God is going to get me through this too!