IT DIDN'T START WITH YOU...
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Series Introduction
A new season is upon us. Although the memories and lessons learned will stay with us, yesterday, with its joys and sorrows, is now behind us.
Regardless of your temperament, mood, or perspective, it is important to note that God created each one of us for a purpose. Often, we run from God’s purposes or simply don’t recognize them because we get caught up in our situations, with all the accompanying emotional baggage.
Perspective can change everything! We want to encourage you during this season to seek God’s perspective and purpose for your life. King Solomon, a very wise man, penned these poetic words that remind us of the proper perspective on purpose.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
A perfect example of how perspective changes everything is the story of Joseph, one of Israel’s 12 sons. Although he was brutally betrayed by his brothers and sold into Egyptian slavery, enduring character assassination and imprisonment (), God clearly had purposes in mind that could not be imagined in light of Joseph’s atrocious circumstances. His brothers had one thing in mind…God had something else in mind!
Flash forward nearly 25 years…Joseph is now the 2nd most powerful person in Egypt. How can such a crazy thing happen? God’s purpose prevails!!
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives
Series Big Idea: Assuming what your life is worth, or how it will turn out, or how much of a failure you are, is not helpful at all. Let’s pursue God’s purpose for us as individuals, families, and church community.
Sermon Introduction:
You might be familiar with the story of Joseph
You might be familiar with the story of Joseph, son Jacob (Isreal) and Rachel. He is one of the most famous people in the Bible. Andrew Lloyd Weber even created a Broadway musical about His life: “Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat.”
Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
Genesis 37:
In the coming weeks we will explore Joseph’s dreams, his difficult learning curve that aided in motivating his brothers to betray him…and his trials as well as victories.
One thing we can know for sure is that Joseph didn’t come to be Jacob’s favorite in a vacuum, nor did he end up at such a high place of authority by accident. Joseph’s life was shaped and directed by his past…going all the way back to Abraham.
Do you think your life is any less important?
Big Idea: Since God’s purposes are always perfect, realize this: your history sets the stage for your future...
Transitional: You didn’t just show up one day out of the blue…this thing you call your life didn’t begin with you. Remember...
JOSEPH’S HISTORY BROUGHT HIM TO HIS FUTURE
JOSEPH’S HISTORY BROUGHT HIM TO HIS FUTURE
— The amazing story of Joseph’s life came about because of his family history
Abraham
Abraham
Genesis records the grand narrative of creation, the fall of man, the flood, and the patriarchs
After the great flood, Noah and his sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth), along with their wives and children, started a new life
Abram — was Shem’s 8-9 times great grandson
Terah was Abram’s father
The promise
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
The fulfillment
It didn’t happen overnight — Abraham was 75 when he left Haran (His father’s home)
He was a nomad…became wealthy in livestock, servants, etc.
His nephew Lot and family travelled with Abram
During his many years of waiting, God spoke to Abram and taught him many things —
After Abram rescued Lot from a bad situation...
After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
In 15:2 Abraham asks the Lord, “What can you give me since I am childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer — a servant in my household?”
In , Abraham asks the Lord, “
He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
At the age of 100, Abraham became the father of Isaac — Sarah was a young whippersnapper at 91
....God’s purpose is always perfect…Abraham’s promise became Isaac’s promise
Isaac
Isaac
The Promise
Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
The Fulfillment
Isaac and Rebekah became the parents of Jacob and Esau
Their story is extremely important — we still see it playing out today in the Jewish and Muslim world
…God’s purpose is always perfect…Abraham’s faithfulness to God made it possible for Isaac to gain God’s promise which led to Jacob receiving the benefits of the same promise...
Jacob
Jacob
Jacob was a persistent fellow, if nothing else: He worked 7 years to be able to marry Rachel — but ended up with the old “wife switcharoo” trick and woke up the next morning next to Leah, Rachel’s sister.
He worked another 7 years to finally get to marry Rachel
The Promise
Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
The fulfilment
and 30 record the birth of Jacob’s 12 sons…the ones that became the 12 tribes of Israel…the 11 sons that betrayed the 12th son Joseph
Transitional: We have the perspective of looking at the complete stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. They didn’t have that luxury — they had to live each day not knowing how God would fulfill His promises. That’s the way we live our lives…
YOUR HISTORY BRINGS YOU TO THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
YOUR HISTORY BRINGS YOU TO THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE
Illustration: Genealogical research is huge these days — with ancestry.com, 23 and me DNA testing, and other companies out there racking in millions of dollars for the privilege of telling you where you came from or what your tendencies are based upon your DNA. The TV show “Who do you think you are?” let’s us follow the journeys of famous people as they travel the world discovering their history.
Linda has done a lot of research on both of our families. It is pretty amazing. Without even looking at genealogy, I know that my grandmother was a preacher/evangelist. Linda discovered quite a few preachers in both of our history’s going all the way back to the 1300’s. Some were quite prominent during their lives. Is that why I am a pastor? I don’t know — but either way, my life didn’t start with me — my history impacts my present and my future
Ancient history
Ancient history
All the way back to Adam and Eve —
God’s knows our family trees in perfect detail because He is our Creator and He has a plane for us
Even though most of us would be considered Gentiles (Not Jewish), our history does go back to the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph
Back to Moses, David, Elijah, Samuel, Daniel, Amos, Jeremiah,etc.
Recent history
Recent history
The things about our family that we learn from grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, etc.
The things we know about our family from our own personal experiences
Our own personal history — we know very intimately because we were right in the middle of it — good, bad, ugly…etc.
We are greatly effected by our family — parents, siblings, others — their words and actions can have a great impact on the way we live and the choices we make
Most important history of all
Most important history of all
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Jesus is the most important link in our family history
He is unlike any other ancestor we have
Born of a virgin
Fully God and fully man
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
Since God’s purposes are always perfect, realize this: your history sets the stage for your future...
God knows your history, He knows your life and all the things you have experienced, and praise God…He knows your future…will you choose to follow Him and take your own path?
Do you truly trust God’s purpose and plan for you?
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Why would we not trust God’s purpose and plan?
We we are going through trials…we are being prepared for what is coming and how God will show His might power at work in our lives.
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Determine in your heart for 2019 to learn God’s plans and follow His path — there is no other path we should follow
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Since God’s purposes are always perfect, realize this: your history sets the stage for your future...