Leaning on Supernatural Power
Finding Jesus in Joseph • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro:
47 Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. 48 So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Gordon J. Wenham, “Genesis,” in Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible, ed. James D. G. Dunn and John W. Rogerson (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003), 67.
Genesis 39:
Today we will continue our series titled, [Finding Jesus in Joseph]. The subject of today’s message is [Leaning on Supernatural Power].
I often joke with dad that in our family pictures there is a unique progression. Early on dad always smiled. When Stephen came along, he looked very happy. By the time I came, the smile turned into a grin. Then with three kids, he always looked rather somber.
The Spirit of God was evidently in Joseph, but so far from rendering him a mere visionary,
I often joke with dad that in our family pictures there is a unique progression. Early on dad always smiled. When Stephen came along, he looked very happy. By the time I came, the smile turned into a grin. Then with three kids, he always looked rather somber.
F. B. Meyer, Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary, vol. 1 (Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, 1914–1918), 50.
F. B. Meyer, Through the Bible Day by Day: A Devotional Commentary, vol. 1 (Philadelphia: American Sunday-School Union, 1914–1918), 50.
Now that we are almost all gone from the house, he looks happy in all of his pictures again! He once had a conversation with Bekah’s dad. Mark said, we are empty nesters. Dad replied, isn’t great?
I had to decide whether I should remind him that he still had one child in the home. I chose to let him enjoy his temporary euphoria before reality set in again. Dad is happy that we are grown, living the lives God has for us, and mostly out of the house!
As I prepared this message, I thought about my childhood. As an infant, toddler, and a young child, I was totally dependent on my parents. They carried me, fed me, clothed me, and took care of me.
Mom, on the other hand, would go back to us being in diapers in a heartbeat.
As I prepared this message, I thought about my childhood. As an infant, toddler, and a young child, I was totally dependent on my parents. They carried me, fed me, clothed me, and took care of me.
But overtime, that began to change, as it should. No longer was I the little baby who loved to be carried around, I was an independent teenager, who couldn’t wait to get on my own and live my life.
This is the normal progression of life. People are born totally dependent on those around them. However, eventually, they should grow into independent people.
But what happens when we are born again? What happens when we accept Christ as our Savior? What happens when we enter into the Kingdom of God?
Let’s think about it for a moment. Salvation is not forced on anyone. Instead, independent people realize their need for a Savior, and they submit to plan of salvation, and they are born again.
When we get saved, we are infants, children in the faith. In the natural progression of things, we should move from being dependent children of God to independent thinkers and doers. However, this is not what is expected of us as Christians.
Instead of becoming independent Christians, we are to live a life of indefinite dependance on the Lord and His Spirit, realizing we will ALWAYS need His help.
However, the opposite often happens. Christians become dependent on God for salvation, then try to live independent of Him, until something catastrophic happens and then we rush to God and ask Him for help.
That is not the way God wants it to be from His children. We cannot flirt back and forth between needing Him and then not needing Him. If we are ever to anything significant for the Kingdom of God, we will have to lean on His supernatural help!
“Any ministry that we can do in our own effort is probably not worth the effort. Any ministry that is beyond our effort requires that we abandon ourselves to the mysterious action that God is able to work in us, and then through us. But this involves a STRIPPING away the hope that we can somehow accomplish the task on our own.”
As I studied this part of Joseph’s life, I thought of this quote. Every crutch in Josephs’ life had been removed. He was a servant for eleven years and in prison for two years. For over a decade he lived is a stranger in a foreign land.
“Any ministry that we can do in our own effort is probably not worth the effort. Any ministry that is beyond our effort requires that we abandon ourselves to the mysterious action that God is able to work in us, and then through us. But this involves a STRIPPING away the hope that we can somehow accomplish the task on our own.”
Perhaps he wondered, what about the great dreams I once had? What will happen in my life? However, through this process, God taught Joseph how to lean and trust His supernatural power.
Joseph shows us how independent people have to be totally dependent on God if they are ever going to do something significant for Him!
At first glance, it seems the two main characters in this part of the story are Pharoah and Joseph. However, I want us to see the work of the Holy Spirit as we divide this part of the story into three parts, [Pharaoh’s Frightful Dream], [Joseph’s Faithful Devotion], and [Pharaoh’s Fruitful Decision].
Let’s begin
1. Pharaoh’s Frightful Dream
The Egyptians were not a society of rational thinkers. They had an understanding of the supernatural world. Though they did not know the One True God, they had interest in faith in the unknown and unseen world.
In one evening, Pharaoh had two frightful dreams. In each dream, he knew that the gods were speaking to him. Being convinced that these two dreams were from a god, he summoned his magicians and wise men.
These people were skilled in interpreting dreams. One may wonder, how could they have interpreted these dreams if interpretations come from God?
When it comes to Satan, we MUST remember, he will always offer a counterfeit to what God has to offer. These men tried to offer their interpretation, but it never worked, it was counterfeit.
By this point it had to get tense in the room. Pharaoh was not an elected official, he inherited his position and he had absolute power. In rage and fury, he had authority to kill anyone who dissatisfied him.
After each magician and wise man spoke, I imagine Pharaoh becoming increasingly agitated. These false wise men could not interpret the dream through demonic means because the dream was not demonic in origin. It required a man of God.
As the intensity in the room increased, an unlikely man knew what to do. He had experienced the anger of Pharaoh before, and knew something had to be done.
9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, 11 we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.
After two years of silence, the chief butler finally spoke up to tell his story. His release from prison came as a result of a dream. He told Pharaoh what happened.
There was a Hebrew man in prison, both the baker and I had troubling dreams in the same night. We told the Hebrew and he interpreted and it happened exactly as he said it would.
Though the butler remained silent on Joseph’s good deed for two years, he was compelled to say something. He knew if anyone could help Pharaoh it was the Hebrew prisoner named Joseph.
Pharaoh was at his wits end, he needed peace and he would bring in the Hebrew slave. Because of Pharaoh’s frightful dream, we see...
2. Joseph’s Faithful Devotion
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”
16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
After two years of waiting to be remembered, the day finally came. Joseph was brought out of the dungeon, cleaned up, given fresh clothes, and summoned to meet with Pharaoh.
I imagine Joseph asking, what is happening? Why does Pharaoh want me? Obviously something must have happened if the ruler of the Egyptian empire wanted a Hebrew slave to meet him.
Perhaps someone gave Joseph forewarning, “Pharaoh has had a dream and he wants the dream interpreted. The butler said you are the man to do this, so come quick.
After a few years of being forgotten, Joseph had a decision to make. He understood if they called him to interpret, then Pharaoh must be desperate. Jospeh could have easily capitalized on this scenario.
He could have manipulated Pharaoh for personal gain. He knew Pharaoh had no concept of the One True God. Many would have taken advantage of the situation, but not Joseph.
For years now, all hope of accomplishing success by himself was stripped away. He knew that if anything good were to come out of his life, he had to be devoted to God.
In an instance, Joseph made a short, but profound statement. The answer is not in me, but GOD will give you peace! Joseph was devoted to God because for over a decade God was all he had.
His family was gone, his father thought he was dead, his brothers hated him, and most everyone back home had forgotten him. But there was one person who never forgot Joseph.
The Lord walked and helped Joseph every step of the way. The extra two years prison did Joseph good. He went from asking a person to remember him, to realizing God never forgot him.
Pharaoh shared his dream. In both dreams an inferior cow and stalk of grain, ate and devoured the healthy cow and head of grain. As Joseph listened to the dreams, God revealed to Him what would happen.
Here again, Joseph stayed committed to the Lord. Not once did he take credit or try to steal God’s thunder.
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do:
28 This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
Genesis 41
32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
As he outlined what the dreams meant, he consistently gave credit and honor to God. How could he do this? He was faithfully devoted to the Lord. His independent streak was left with his family, his position in Potiphar’s home, and his incarceration.
No longer are we dealing with an independent teenager who had big dreams. We are talking about a man who was totally dependent on God. Even when he had the chance to take the credit, He depict’s what it means to lean the the supernatural power of God.
He understood he was incapable of interpreting these dreams and the stakes couldn’t be higher. One misstep and Pharaoh could have taken his life. So his faithful devotion, led to...
3. Pharaoh’s Fruitful Decision
37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
When it comes to God speaking through someone, we must remember that God is ALL knowing. Furthermore, when God speaks, the troubled heart will find peace.
Pharaoh’s heart was troubled, he was discouraged, but Joseph had a word from God. I have underlined verse thirty-eight in my bible.
To think, thousands of years before the day of Pentecost, a pagan king over a foreign nation had enough insight to realize, Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God.
Unlike today where anyone can be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit empowered a select few in the Old Testament. Joseph was one of these select people.
When Joseph began to speak, peace came to Pharaoh. Wisdom begin to flow through Joseph as God used him to declare the plan for saving Egypt from the impending famine.
Everything Joseph did in this part of his story is nothing short of supernatural. There is no reason a Hebrew slave, who should have been hated by the Egyptians was able to speak peace and wisdom to Pharaoh.
Thousands of years later, Stephen recalled Joseph in
9 “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him 10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
God was with Joseph, giving him the supernatural power to speak life in Pharaoh’s dead situation.
Retired Assembly of God official, Charles Crank once said, Preach to hurting people and you will succeed every time.
Pharaoh was hurting, but God brought in a man who had the Spirit dwelling within him. Joseph spoke with undeniable authority and anointing, and Pharaoh was compelled to listen.
Within one day, Joseph was taken from the pit and brought to the palace. The man that went from riches to rags was back to riches once again.
Why? Because he leaned on the supernatural power of God. Because of Joseph’s supernatural authority, Pharaoh made a fruitful decision. He realized that Joseph had within him what no one else had. Therefore, he placed Jospeh in a position that would forever change the future of God’s people.
Close:
At the age of thirty, everything changed for Joseph. What seemed unimaginable when Joseph wore his multicolored robe and enjoyed a life of ease was now a reality.
Why did this happen to Joseph? For over a decade God worked on Joseph and now every hope that he could fulfill God’s plan in his life on his own was stripped away. He learned to to lean on the supernatural power of God.
Now, let’s find Jesus in this part of Joseph’s life. I read this two weeks ago, but I want us to read it again:
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Everything Jesus did on earth was a direct result of the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Why did Jesus do this? Why did the independent God of the universe limit Himself to become dependent on the Holy Spirit?
He did this so we might have a model of how to live as followers of Christ. Let’s look at how closely Jesus worked in unison with the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was present at His conception:
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”
35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
The Holy Spirit was present at His baptism:
16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.
The Holy Spirit was present during Jesus’ temptation:
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
The Holy Spirit led, guided, and directed everything Jesus did, because:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
The Holy Spirit was the catalyst at His resurrection:
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
Romans 8:
Jesus, who is God, was dependent on the Holy Spirit during His earthly ministry. He chose to lean on God’s supernatural power for all He needed to accomplish!
The result?
46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!”
Just as Pharaoh identified that Joseph was a man in whom the Holy Spirit dwelled, Jesus was a man in whom the Holy Spirit dwelled.
They were both characterized as people who leaned on the supernatural power of God. They trusted in the Lord, and chose not to walk independent of God’s help. Instead, they depended on God for all they did.
We must ask ourselves, do I lean on God’s supernatural power? Do I depend on Him? Or have I tried to live an independent life?
If we live independent from God, life is very difficult. However, if we will be dependent on the Holy Spirit, leaning on His supernatural power, then and only then will we possess:
supernatural peace
supernatural wisdom
supernatural joy
supernatural help
supernatural love
supernatural forgiveness
and supernatural assistance from heaven
Where is our focus? Do we believe that we can do it all on our own? Or do we realize we need the help of the Holy Spirit?
If we identify we need His help, Jesus came baptize us in the Holy Spirit, give us His power, and we can lean on His supernatural help, becoming totally dependent on Him!
