Genesis 39- Life with God present

As Christians there is a very wonderful truth out there for us! This truth is that we have God with us! How amazing is that! We have the almighty creator God with us! Out of all the places or people HE could be with he chose us!

Matthew 28:20 “20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Hebrews 13:5 “5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Look at what the Psalmist says about God’s presence!

Psalm 139:7 “7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”

- God’s presence will never leave us! It is GREAT that HE will never forsake us but God’s presence should change our PRESENT! Does God being with us affect the way we live? If it doesn’t it should! Look at what the Bible teaches.

Ephesians 6:5-6 “5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”

Galatians 1:10 “10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Colossians 3:22 “22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:”

Look at what is said about Jesus!

Matthew 1:22-23 “22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

DOES GOD’S PRESENCE AFFECT YOUR LIFE?

- What does this look like? It is exemplified so well in the life of a young man named Joseph!

The life of Joseph is one of the most remarkable stories found in the Bible. His life is a mixture of sadness and glory, or pain and of success. As a result, Joseph's life contains many lessons from which modern believers can learn. One of those lessons is found in this passage.

Let me introduce you to a young man named Joseph. He is just seventeen. He is the favorite of twelve sons. His father clearly chose him as the favorite, and his father gave him a beautiful coat to show his status. Joseph was on his way to being the most influential and powerful person in his family. He had even had some dreams that God had given him. These dreams confirmed everything that was happening in his life. According to the dreams, Joseph was on his way to the place of absolute leadership in his family, Gen. 37:5-11

All of Joseph’s older brothers hated Joseph because he was their father’s favorite son, and because of the dreams Joseph had shared with them, Gen. 37:19.

One day, Joseph’s brothers had the chance to handle him. His brother attacked him, threw him into a pit, and sold him as a slave. Joseph was sold to some Ishmaelite merchants for less than $100.00. The Ishmaelite slavers took Joseph to Egypt and sold him into slavery in that land.

So, here is a 17 year old young man.

• He is stripped of his coat.

• He is separated from his beloved father.

• He is betrayed by the very people who should have loved him most.

• He is sold as a slave and carried off to a strange land to live as a slave.

• Imagine the fear that must have filled his heart.

• Imagine the hurt that must have shattered him.

• Imagine the lies Satan must have told him.

• Imagine the disillusionment over the shattered dreams.

Despite all that has happened to Joseph look at who was still with him!

Genesis 39:2 “2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”

Genesis 39:3 “3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.”

Genesis 39:21 “21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

Genesis 39:23 “23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”

Acts 7:9 “9 And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,”

God was with Joseph! Despite all the he went through, all the places he had been taken, and the pain he endured God was with him!

God will stick with us too!

Lets see how God being with him affected his living!

His Labour (Genesis 39:2-4)

Genesis 39:2-4 “2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”

Joseph’s knowledge of God and his God’s presence affected his work!

Even in a spot that he did not want to be.

For those who were not the nicest

He was still prosperous as a slave!

See when we realize it is ultimately God we are working for it will change how and WHY we work!

- Col 3:24 “24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”

Obedience to God and his word can cause us to prosper too!

Deut 29:9 “9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do.”

Joshua 1:7 “7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”

Are we obeying like God is there? Even when its hard?

His Lusts (39:7-18)

Joseph was a handsome guy! His bosses wife saw that Joseph was handsome and wanted to sin with him.

She tried repeatedly

She tried when he was alone

Notice God narrating. He saw it all along and Joseph knew that!

Look at his response to her temptation.

Genesis 39:9 “9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

He knew people may not know but he knew God would know.

We can’t hide sin from God.

Jer 16:17 “17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.”

Joseph also knew that sin was just no small matter. It was a direct violation against God

Psalm 51:4 “4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, And done this evil in thy sight: That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, And be clear when thou judgest.”

Because Joseph knew and loved God, the thought of sinning against Him was unpleasant.

HIS CHARACTER PERSISTED UNDER PERSECUTION BECAUSE GOD WAS PRESENT

1 Cor 10:13 “13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

God helps in the temptation!

His Loss (Gen 19:19-23)

Joseph is lied against and put into jail. He suffered there.

Psalm 105:17-20 “17 He sent a man before them, Even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: 18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: He was laid in iron: 19 Until the time that his word came: The word of the Lord tried him. 20 The king sent and loosed him; Even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.”

He even suffered well because in that cell with him was God almighty. He was never truly alone.

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy: If God blessed Joseph in the pit, if He blessed Joseph the slave, we are not surprised to see that He blessed Joseph in prison. None of these terrible circumstances changed or defeated God’s plan for Joseph’s life.

In the darkest pit, lowest low, or saddest situation God is still there! We can trust that!

Hebrews 13:5 “5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

Is 43:2 “2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

It is God’s presence in the trials that helps!

Exodus 33:14-15 “14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.”

Daniel 3:25 “25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

It was God that led them through the wilderness and desert !

Nehemiah 9:19 “19 Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.”

It is God’s presence that brings joy even in the storms!

Psalm 16:11 “11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Conclusion- Is God’s presence in our life making a difference? On our work ethic? Character? How we suffer? In that Trial?

Know he’s there!

Maybe you don’t have assurance of that presence? Jesus is the key!

Matthew 1:22 -23 “22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

John 14:6-7 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”