Losses of Broken Fellowship: When Fellowship is Restored
Losses of Broken Fellowship • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Intro
Intro
This will be a review and a conclusion on our study thus far...
We’ve seen that when fellowship is broken due to undealt with sin, we lose several things:
Time is Lost (22 years and 20% of Joseph’s life)
Peace was Lost and replaced with Guilt, Fear and Envy
Familiarity was Lost of Language (communication), looks and lineage
Trust was lost - safety, stability and security
Now our attention this evening is to see what can be restored when fellowship is made right...
Review what led to broken fellowship:
1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
12 And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. 14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? 16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. 17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. 18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? 31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.
Once you get to chapter 42, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy corn...
And Joseph sees his brothers for the first time in 22 years...
1. Time Past Can Never Be Recovered, but Future Time Can
1. Time Past Can Never Be Recovered, but Future Time Can
As you are in the process of mending broken fellowship, it may not be past time lost that you’re trying to recover...
It may be future that that wouldn’t be stolen anymore...
Because of restored fellowship that was driven by grace and forgiveness...
Jacob was able to find the relief that his son was actually alive and see him again before his death...
They lost those 22 years for good, but then they were able to be a part of Joseph’s life for the next 71 years (from 39-110)...
Don’t let satan steal future lost time...
2. Peace was Lost, but Can Be Restored Again
2. Peace was Lost, but Can Be Restored Again
15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
a.) Peace was replaced with envy
b.) Peace was replaced with guilt
c.) Peace was replaced with fear
How it all started when envy, guilt and fear prevailed:
4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
But once forgiveness and grace ruled:
15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
And instead of fear, you have Joseph saying:
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Because the person whom they fear, forgave and said, “Fear not.”
This is why you can have the peace of God...
If you fear the Lord only, He’s already forgiven you and said, “Fear not.”
Because of this, peace can once again take its rightful place as ruler of our hearts...
33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely,
And shall be quiet from fear of evil.
23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life:
And he that hath it shall abide satisfied;
He shall not be visited with evil.
1 Praise ye the Lord.
Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord,
That delighteth greatly in his commandments.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings:
His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid,
Until he see his desire upon his enemies.
The fear of the Lord produces the peace of God in our hearts...
3. Familiarity Was Lost, but Can be Restored Again
3. Familiarity Was Lost, but Can be Restored Again
Though 22 years and 20% of their life was lost, once forgiveness and grace was extended, familiarity returend...
a.) In their language (communication)
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
Instead of proper communication, once fellowship is broken due to undealt with sin, communication stops...
This was restored:
1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. 2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
No more interpreter...
Instead of hiding, there was communicating that was taking place...
b.) In their looks
15 Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
Once communication picked up, it was a joyful sight to see that person coming again...
c.) Familiarity in their lineage was recovered
Instead of not knowing Joseph’s children:
10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these? 9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
4. Trust was Lost, but took Time to Recover
4. Trust was Lost, but took Time to Recover
a.) Physical safety was lost
But was recovered:
10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
Instead of casting out or down, they were brought close...
b.) Mental stability was lost
But was recovered:
4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
c.) Emotional security was lost
But can be recovered… over time:
33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
Hatred, anger, guilt, fear and envy stole the hearts of Joseph’s brothers because of undealt with sin...
Once grace and forgiveness prevailed in the relationship, broken fellowship was made new...
Now peace, confidence, nourishment, comfort and kindness were the drivers of the relationship...
