Divine Presence

Divine Presence

Sermon Starters, Volume 4 (Divine Presence (Genesis 39:3))

DIVINE PRESENCEGenesis 39:3“And his master saw that the LORD was with him [Joseph], and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand” (Genesis 39:3).Joseph was sold into slavery but he was still devoted to the Lord. Many of us are only sunshine Christians, put us in adversity and we do not do well at all.

That was not Joseph’s caseFIRST—THE WHY OF HIS BLESSING“The Lord was with Joseph.” In coming to Egypt, Joseph had lost so very much that man counts so very important. He lost position, possessions, friends and material comforts. But he had not lost the presence of God in his life. The presence of God is more important than all the blessings he lost.

Many in society have all the other blessing which Joseph lost but they do not have the presence of God. The presence of God can make a prison a palace, the lack of God’s presence can make a palace a prison. The presence of God made Joseph’s situation in slavery better than his brothers’ situation in freedom. To have the presence of God with you, you must want it and respect it. Our nation indicates in the classroom and courts that we do not want God. God will oblige that terrible attitude and judgment will follow.

SECOND—THE WITNESS OF HIS BLESSING“His master saw that the Lord was with Joseph.” Though he was a slave, Joseph so lived his life that it was evident that God was with him. If you want to give forth a good witness for the Lord, you cannot be slack in your performance. Those who claim to be Christian, but perform poorly at work, give forth a poor witness on the job.

Doing just enough to get by, working only when the boss is looking, extending coffee breaks beyond the allotted time, constantly grumbling and complaining, etc. etc. does not give forth much evidence of your faith in the Lord. You may pass out tracts, carry a Bible in your lunch pail and wear a religious t-shirt at work, but it is your work habits that says what you really are and is your real witness. Joseph was a slave, but he still showed by his work habits that he belonged to the Lord. Our conduct is out best witness.

THIRD—THE WELFARE OF HIS BLESSING“The Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” The presence of God is extremely valuable. “Prosper” means here to be successful. In our materialistic day, it is hard for us to perceive Joseph as successful, for he was only a slave. But out text says Joseph’s success was in the fact that God was with him. It is the presence of God, not the presence of gold, that made Joseph successful.

Many today who are esteemed a roaring success in the world, if judged by the standard of this verse, are not successful at all; for they do not have the presence of God in their life. Like Joseph’s brothers, they have too much baggage to carry around in their lives to enjoy life. They may be wealthy but they are nor prosperous as our text says Joseph was. Joseph is the envied one. Not his brothers.