The Hardest Thing

Intro

The comeback.

I love a good comeback story. The underdog coming out on top. the least likely winning.

We’ve been going through the story of Joseph. He understand ups and downs.

No matter what life threw he still continued to trust God and rise above.

Went from favorite Child of his father, Had a dream his family bowed down to him,

his brothers beat him, threw him in a pit and sold him in to slavery.

Slavery in the house of an Egyptian official, lied about and stuck in prison.

became a leader in prison, was forgotten, and then was able to interpret the Pharaohs dreams about years of plenty and famine.

Pharoah takes him out of prison and places his as the right hand in all of Egypt!

Joseph was able to see a bigger narrative going on.

There was what was happening, but then there was a bigger, what God was doing.

Anyone have animals??

If you do, you’ll understand this.

There have been moments where eve been outside, we walk in and after a few min we can sense that something from the outside followed us in....

Everyone.. Check your shoes.

Something from where we were stuck and snuck into where we now are...

If you’re like most people, me included, life has a way of sticking to you.

The past, the hurt, the offenses, the bitterness.

And if we’re not careful, we’ll carry that everywhere we go. tracking it.

maybe even not fully understanding why, but sensing something is off.

Joseph had to do some hard things in order to really not just get free, but live free and to stay free.

If not, he could have gotten out of the pit and the prison, but still lived trapped and imprisoned.

We have to find FREEDOM.

often that is found in doing the hard thing.

Like Joseph, unless we really find freedom, our situation my change, things may look better on the outside, but things never really change in us.

Always tethered to and stuck in what was, never able to actually love forward.

A real comeback is learning to find freedom no matter where you are.

Joseph is second in charge of all Egypt. A person of influence. Important now.

7 years of plenty. collected and stored grain, so much lost count.

Genesis 41:50

“During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.”

Things were going well!

Got married, had a couple kids.

Named them Manasseh and Ephraim.

Manasseh - Forgetting, the trouble that happened in his fathers house.

Ephraim - twice fruitful, I’m fruit here where I am.

I’m good! no problems here. I’m so good I even named my kids after how good I am.

I’m fine. really....

If we aren’t careful and intentional we can come out of things but never overcome them.

but just like the dream that Joseph interpreted, the years of good ended and famine started.

Genesis 41:53-57

“At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.”

It came true!

Famine was severe everywhere and Egypt was the only place that had grain.

All the way where Joseph family still lived in Hebron about 250 miles away.

Jacob hears there is grain for sale in Egypt, so he sends his 10 oldest sons to get some. He didn't’ send his youngest son, Benjamin, who was now his favorite.

It has been over 20 years since his brothers betrayed him and sold him.

Joseph is not almost 40 years old.

Genesis 42:6-8

“Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.” Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him.”

Imagine this scene!

Here are his brothers. Joseph’s dream is coming true!

They are bowing down to him.

He knows who they are. he’s seen them every night and day in his mind.

they don’t recognize him.

What would you do??

He had the power to do anything he wanted.

How you answer that question reveals how free you really are.

Joseph isn’t in a pit or a prison anymore, but would his past still control him?

The famine brought all of this old stuff back up.

See pressure has a way of revealing pain.

New struggle will uncover old wounds.

What comes up when difficulties arise, what comes up when you hear certain peoples names, What gets revealed when the pressure is on?

Sometimes it shows I may have come out of, but have never overcome.

Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies.

Places them in jail for 3 days and then says He’ll believe they aren’t spies if they bring their youngest brother Benjamin back.

Will keep Simeon in jail until they bring Benjamin back.

The brothers are talking and Joseph overhears them (they don’t know he can understand Hebrew)

Genesis 42:21

“Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.””

Brothers are still feel guilty about what happened 20 years before. This must be payback.

This past issue has destroyed their family.

If we let it, the past will continue to disrupt and destroy all of our future.

They go back to Jacob and he won’t let Benjamin go!

Until the famine gets bad again. The only way to live it to travel back to Egypt.

Jacob gives in and sends them back with Benjamin. (remember Simeon is still setting in jail!)

They come back, Joseph welcomes them, eats with them. Gives Benjamin 5x more food than the others.

Fills their sacks with grain gives their money back and sends them on their way.

But… He also has his servant sneak his silver cup in Benjamins backpack.

Set them up...

(better than days of our lives)

Joseph sends his men to catch them and find the cup. Accuse them of stealing and threaten to enslave Benjamin.

when they get back to the house Judah begs and pleads for Benjamins life. Begs to stay in his place.

Genesis 45:1-3

“Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, “Out, all of you!” So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him, and word of it quickly carried to Pharaoh’s palace. “I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them.”

Joseph had a decision to make, and its one only he could make.

Would his past continue to control him, or would he do the hard thing and find freedom?

What’s the hard thing???

Forgiveness.

Oh wait, maybe I’m not fine...

Joseph was out of the pit but the poison of the pit could still destroy him.

Hurt, bitterness, resentment, grudges,

Unforgiveness.

Without finding freedom through forgiveness, your past will continually walk with you into your future.

It will spill over into every relationship and decision.

even when things look good, you know it’s not.

Genesis 45:4-5

““Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.”

You sold me, but God sent me.

Bitterness and resentment can’t see the God narrative.

Freedom is God’s plan.

Galatians 5:1

“So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

Forgiveness is often the process.

Even the sound of this makes some of us uncomfortable.

Because we’ve had things buried for years.

It’s easier not to think about it. Deny.

But it’s always there, holding you back. Never letting you move forward. Keeping you stuck.

That’s why its the hard thing.

Most people avoid the hard things.

Why should we forgive?

Because it’s the only way to freedom. Wholeness, health and restoration.

If you don’t it builds roots of anger, bitterness, until that bitterness becomes yoru identity.

Every offense become a major blow up. Ever disagreement becomes a wedge.

Always guarded.

If we don’t it gives the devil a place to work in our lives.

Are you forgiven?

Col 1:13-14

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

Never forget how much we have been forgiving. It’s so easy to minimize our sins.

We didn’t have to pay for that sin, Jesus did. and forgave us, wiped it clean.

Luke 11:4

“and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation.””

Jesus as he was on the cross made 7 statements.

the 1st one was here.

Luke 23:34

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.”

Are you forgiven?

Then you are commanded to forgive.

What is forgiveness?

What is it not?

Is:

the opposite of vengeance

Losing the record of wrong. (bitter person keeps it)

Fulfilling a debt is totalling up and atoning for the wrongs. (do you have it filed away?)

Forgiving is tearing up the debt of wrongs.

changing focus from who hurt you to who can heal you.

Refusing to let the pain be the center of my life.

Forgiveness is opening the door to their repentance and even reconciliation.

(forgiveness takes one person, repentance takes on person, reconciliation takes 2)

But it opens the door.

is a choice. I didn’t choose the pain but I choose the place it gets in my life.

It’s choosing freedom and health.

Instant and continual.

Is Not:

Denying or Pretending.

Minimizing.

Covering up.

Based on them. (does’t need their repentance)

Completely Forgetting.

Permission

Agreement

Trust. (trust is earned, Joseph tested his brothers)

Real forgiveness doesn’t start with me. But with God.

It’s a supernatural working of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to forgive to free us.

Stop living in denial.

Who do you need to forgive?

Living a comeback story doesn't just mean life is in a better place not, things are easier..

it’s seen I am healed and whole and walking in victory and FREEDOM

If unforgiveness in the way of that?

Who is it?

Test it.

You know your bitter when their life craters and your happy.

Or when their life succeeds and your mad.

What is it that you need to forgive?

It’s not just hurting them. But you and everyone around you.

Joseph chose the hard thing.

He was forced with a decision. (so are we)

Pain, past, and hurt had destroyed his family long enough.

Who is God putting on your heart?

Do you need to forgive yourself?

CONCLUSION

You can’t just move on if you want to overcome.

Im fine!

Are you??

The famine revealed.

life will reveal.

Don’t let it continue to rule and imprison you.

Joseph forgave them, embraced them, reunited, moved his family to live by him.

Jacob (dad) is now dead, Brother are afraid again.

Genesis 50:19-21

“But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.”

There is freedom.

Corrie Ten Boom.

When she was a child her and her family hid jews from the Nazi’s in their home.

When they were discover they forced into a concentration camp. Corrie barley survived the conditions and torture but her family didn’t.

After Corrie escaped she traveled around Europe and Germany talking about her faith in Christ and how she has forgiven.

In 1947 while talking in Munich, she saw a bald man in a grey coat that she immediately notice.

He was one of the brutal guards from the concentration camp. She could picture him as he was in the camp.

He didn’t recognize her..

After the message he goes up to her with is hand out and said “fine message, isn’t it great that our sins are at the bottom of the sea!”

She couldn’t grab his hand.

He described who he was and that he’d given his life to Jesus but said it’d had been hard to believe that he’d really been forgiven for all he’d done and said he’d love to hear it from her lips too that God had forgiven him.....

She recorded her response in her book:

I stood there—I whose sins had again and again been forgiven—and could not forgive. It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do. For I had to do it. I knew that. It was as simple and as horrible as that. And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. And so, woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me.

And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, and sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. “I forgive you, brother,” I cried. “With all my heart!”

For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely as I did then.

Let’s check our feet.. have we been allowing stuff to stick to us and walk around with us and affect everything we do?

It’s time for freedom.