Walking in Your Purpose

FCF: We don’t seem to live purposefully. We seem to quit when life hurts. We ignore the reality that God is in control.

Proposition: God is sovereign and has purposed us all in His divine will.

As we look at our text a convicting question arises. How did Joseph get to this point? His story provides an encouraging perspective of the way God can rescue and deliver us from our troubles. More correctly stated God can use our troubles to catapult us to where He wants us to be. I want though to look at Joseph’s life for a few moments to analyze Gods purpose for allowing things to happen in our lives. He is no doubt a good God. God is a great God! Let’s be honest though you just can’t figure him out. Just when you think you’ve got it under control, when you believe it’s gonna be alright for a while He allows a little something else to occur. Don’t get it twisted, He isn't playing games, He isn't stacking the deck against you, He’s not setting you up, He’s allowing somethings to happen in your life to make you better. He is allowing some problems to occur so he can get some glory out of your life!

Joseph is the favorite son of Jacob, he is a dreamer but hated by his brethren. That’s a tough cookie to swallow isn’t it? His story shows us a couple of things I want us to look closely at. If we are going to fulfill the purpose God has given us we must recognize that God is always working at our best interest. He is in control.

To Walk In Your Purpose You Must Know God Is With You (; )

Genesis 39:2 ESV

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:21 ESV

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

“The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man.”

“21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

1.When you are misunderstood ()

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.

When you are mistreated()

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;

When you are manipulated()

7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

ILLUS: Haddon Robinson Speaks of a time when he had such confidence in his father that when he walked with him there was no such fear. When he faced a dog he stood his ground because he knew his father would protect him.

Transition: Likewise we must show this same type of confidence with God. Regardless of what we face we do it knowing God will take care of us.

Application: On your job trust God. In your home, trust God. In the mall, at the Church trust God.

Look, do your best and what is right regardless of the consequences or ramification and I assure you God will take care of you.

To Walk In Your Purpose You Must Continue Using Your Gift

When life is miserable ()

20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

When others forget you()

Genesis 40:23 ESV

Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

ILLUS: A Lesson from the Gulls

Some time ago in Reader’s Digest there was a short article about a group of sea gulls that was starving to death in St. Augustine. They were not starving because of a food shortage but because they had forgotten how to fish. For years they had depended on the shrimp fleet operating out of the harbor to toss them scraps from the nets. When the shrimp fleet moved to Key West, they began to starve. They had lost their natural ability to fish because they had not been using it. This is a rule of nature. If you do not use what you have, it will be taken from you. This is the lesson in the parable of the talents. The servant who did not use the one talent had it taken from him.

Application: When you feel unappreciated how do you respond? Do you throw in the towel? Do you walk away? Do you quit? Allow me to suggest that quitting is not an option; Walking away is not the correct answer. When you feel unappreciated, when you do your best and no one seems to care, hears what you do: Say “to God be the glory” and then get back to it. See, that’s to remind you that what you are doing is not for man but so that God would be glorified.

To Walk In Your Purpose You Must Forgive Those Who Hurt You ()

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.

1. perhaps God allowed your pain to help you & them

2. give them your best

3. Show them your heart of Love

ILLUS:

Application: Take a moment and think about how blessed you are right now. now think back at how you got to where you are. None of the evil that was done to you has prevented you from being where God has placed you. As a matter of fact some of their attacks helped you. you ought to just raise your hand and say thank you.