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Intro:
Today we will continue our series titled, [Finding Jesus in Joseph].
The subject of today’s message is [Learning Contentment in Confinement].
We live in a nation with unlimited potential.
I have been fortunate to travel to different nations, and it always makes me thankful to live in the United States.
In our county, we have freedom to say what we feel, freedom to worship, and freedom to live our lives the way we want.
Our nation has more money and opportunity than ever.
I watch as it seems people have more stuff than ever.
Cars are easy to finance, stores allow people to purchase on credit, and home loans are easy receive.
People seem to have more in terms of things, however, many people are discontent.
I recently read an article titled, “Americans are becoming less happy, and there’s research to prove it.”
The results of the three year survey indicate Americans are more miserable than ever before.
Even though incomes have increased three times since the 1960s, people are less happy than in the past.
It intrigues me that in a country where people have more opportunities and they seem to have more possessions, they are more likely to be discontent and discouraged than people from developing nations.
As income and wealth has increased, interest in the Lord and church has decreased.
One two year survey (Gallup) showed in the late 1950’s to the early 1960’s 73% of Americans belonged to a church.
Form 2016-2018 that number is now 55% of people belong to a church.
People increasingly disinterested in church, however, discontent and unhappiness are on the rise.
Can we see what is happening?
As people become less interested in the the Lord, they become more unhappy.
The wise King Solomon explained,
The New International Version reads, “The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.”
When we have respect, awe, and admiration for the Lord, we will live a life of contentment.
However, the farther we get from God, the more difficult our lives become.
Simply put, when we exclude God in our lives, problems are inevitable.
When we include God in everything, God will help us.
That is not to say problems will never arise, however, we will have the proper perspective on our problems.
Contentment is defined, a state of happiness and satisfaction.
I want us to think of that word as we look at this portion of Joseph’s life.
Born into a life of luxury as the favored father of Jacob, Joseph’s life took a downward spiral when he was sold into slavery at age seventeen.
However, God was with him.
Even though he was in a foreign land, God gave him a leadership position.
God honored his commitment to fear and love the Lord.
Nevertheless, God was with him.
Even though he was in a foreign land, God gave him a leadership position.
God honored his commitment to fear and love the Lord.
Even his pagan master Potiphar recognized God was with Joseph.
Therefore, Joseph was placed in a position of trust.
Everything in Potiphar’s house was under the direct influence and control of Joseph.
However, the enemy wanted to stop Joseph.
He had to hear Joseph when he told his brothers about the prophetic dreams he had.
Satan knew enough about God to know Joseph’s was not going to be in Potiphar’s home forever, God had bigger and better things for him.
Therefore, through a series of lies and innuendo, Joseph ended up in prison.
Out of sight and out of mind, Satan thought perhaps he had squashed any future for Joseph.
However, God used this time in prison to help Joseph grow in Him.
Notice, even in prison, the Lord was WITH Joseph and gave Him supernatural favor.
As we look at Joseph’s life, I want us to see how he become content even though he was confined.
Later we will see how Jesus exhibited this as well.
Then we can learn how to be content in all things.
Contentment in confinement.
I have three points, [Joseph Ruled in a Dungeon], [Joseph Revealed the Dreams], and [Joseph Requested Deliverance].
Let’s begin
1.
Joseph Ruled in the Dungeon
Prisons were virtually unheard of in these days except in Egypt.
The normal way of handling crimes was to execute or severely punish the offender.
Knowing this helps us realize Potiphar’s response to the accusations against Joseph.
Had he really believed Joseph was guilty, he would have wasted no time in killing him.
Instead he placed him in prison with the king’s prisoners.
The prisoners would wait there until Pharaoh’s judges could determine their guilt.
To say this was a difficult time in Joseph’s life is an understatement.
He had to be miserable in prison.
After being plucked from his family at age seventeen, he served Potiphar for eleven years.
Sure he missed home, but he adjusted to his new normal.
Now at the age of twenty-eight, he was sentenced to prison for a crime he did not commit.
Even though the enemy thought he had silenced Joseph, two times from verses 21-23, we are told that the Lord was WITH Him.
As a result, whatever he did, the Lord caused it to prosper.
God’s presence and supernatural prosperity is wonderful, but if I were Joseph, I would prefer to have these two things OUTSIDE OF PRISON.
But notice what happened, as a teenager Joseph two dreams that showed him he had a great future.
Then at Potiphar’s house, he had great favor and he flourished in all he did.
Surely being in prison would cause all of that to stop, right?
Wrong.
Joseph began to notice a progression, it was not luck or good fortune, it was God’s hand on his life that helped him.
Joseph prospered in an unlikely place.
He never wanted to be there and the keeper of the prison noticed Joseph’s leadership abilities so he gave him responsibilities.
Were these responsibilities a result of Joseph’s good ideas or natural skills?
No, it was because God was with Joseph and He had so much more to teach him.
When Joseph was imprisoned, God enabled him to rule in the dungeon...
2. Joseph Revealed the Dreams
After Joseph was placed in prison and put in charge, he acquired two new cell mates.
These were not common criminals, they were men who were once in positions of trust and power.
They were the chief butler and the chief baker.
These two men held important positions.
Though they seem menial and insignificant, they were responsible to ensure the safety and health of the Pharaoh.
In their primitive society, murdering a king was a normal way of introducing a new king.
People would conspire to kill the king by poisoning his food or drinks.
Therefore, the butler would taste the kings drinks to ensure they were not poisoned.
The baker was another unique position of trust.
He was responsible to make sure they kings food was safe to eat.
The Bible is silent on why these two men were sentenced to prison.
Perhaps there was a plot on Pharaoh’s life and they were implicated in the process.
It is likely that they were in prison as they determined their fate and their guilt.
As they two men were in prison, one morning they both were sad.
Joseph saw their sorrow and sympathized.
Joseph asked why they were sad, and both answered they had a dream that troubled them.
Joseph showed his faith and trust in the Lord by indicating all interpretations belong to God.
The butler dreamt of a vine with three branches which brought forth ripe grapes.
Suddenly the cup of Pharoah was in his hand and he gave it to Pharaoh.
God revealed to Joseph that in three days the butler would return to his position as butler.
This was excellent news for he would return to his former position of power and prestige.
The baker heard it and hoped for good news.
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