Graduation Sermon (8)

The New King James Version Chapter 5

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

James 4:8 NKJV

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

These verses give Identity and instruction to individuals swimming upstream, against the currents of our world, or for graduates swimming into uncertainty from comfort.

Something amazing is starting in the cold north next month, the return pilgrimage of the popular Alaskan Salmon. The story of this fish is well known and it’s life is indeed fascinating, and inspiring, a real tearjerker. After hatching in a stream bed, a young Alaskan Salmon easily and merrily heads downstream towards the ocean. This type of fish species is called eury haline, one that can survive in fresh and salty waters. After this long journey to the vast pacific ocean, for up to 4 years these fish swim, feed and grow but not without constant threats from fishermen to other aquatic animal such as seals and whales. When fully mature even through the vastness of the ocean by an amazing instinct from God these fish find their way back to the exact stream it was born, aiming to get to the stream bed to lay their eggs, despite the uncertainty of this journey, these fish swim upstream against the strong currents of the river, up they go, miles and miles of rocky waterfalls, rippling waters, doing their best to avoid persistent fishermen and hungry bears that stand in the middle of the strong currents waiting for a meal. Those that persevere and survive get to lay, then die, providing the streambed with necessary nourishment for their young.

This hard upstream battle of life, can be seen in the inspiring life of Joseph, a real tearjerker story and not tears of sadness, tears of praise to the great God that was with him and is with us.

Joseph is the son of Israel formally known as Jacob, the son of Issac and grandson of Abraham, but was renamed by God. Joseph wasn’t just his son, but his favorite son. He had 11 older brothers, and this didn’t slide too well with them, it bred hate. Deep Hatred that got even worse when he recieved and shared a dream from the Lord, showing the great plans the Lord had for him. This deep hatred and jealousy drove them to sell their brother into slavery, Joseph was then sold again to a high official in Egypt, captain of Pharaoh's guards, Potiphar.

You have to understand, Israel was a rich man, Joseph was in a comfortable situation, a life that of a prince, he was always cared for always clothed so going from that to being sold by his own brothers, now stripped and being auctioned off as a slave must have been very challenging and confusing, for many of us depression or anger would have taken hold of us, but as young Joseph stood on that auction block, all the prices they could’ve bid would never match his worth, I can imagine there wasn’t a defeated man on that block, but standing there was a man with full confidence approaching the uncertainty, not confidence in himself but confidence in his God and trusting in His promises.

For you graduates the word of God is full of true promises, as you draw near to Him even in the midst of uncertainty we can trust He will bring the fulfillment of His Word.

Genesis 39:1–6 NKJV

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

This well-built and handsome young man was labeled a slave, but we can see a light, one that the Lord was with and as a result he prospered as he went upstream as mentioned in verse 2, diligently providing his master with excellent results in all and even more that was required of him. His master saw his good works, and glorified his Father in heaven, verse 3 said Potiphar saw that the Lord, not a common L or any common god that may have been at the time, the I AM’s blessing was with Joseph, and that rubbed off on Potiphar’s household and in his fields so I implore you what ever field you are in or heading into, draw near near to God, follow His Word, do good works and as you do them in diligence do it will well, as you swim upstream avoiding the snares and traps set by our enemy satan. Ending as I began, here are the words of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ this time in a promise, He gave to His disciples, gave to us, after giving His great commission.

Matthew 28:20 NKJV

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.