Did you know that THIRTEEN chapters of the book of Genesis are devoted to the life of Joseph?
This means that the book of Genesis spends nearly as much time on the life of Joseph as Abraham himself!
Beginning this Sunday in our series, “Great Passages of the Bible” we now turn to Genesis 37-50 and begin to learn about one of the greatest men in history.
Joseph was a man who experienced horrible betrayal, and hardship, but kept his eyes on the Lord, and experienced the incredible favor of God. Joseph was able to say at the end of his life, “…you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good …” (Genesis 50:20)
I am looking forward to how the Lord will use this great passage of Scripture to encourage us during this unique season in our country and in our lives!
See YOU Sunday!
Greg 🙂
Wow.
Two awesome messages. First Saturday was like being on Holy ground with Chuck. Then today! Greg, God is giving you vision to speak life to us. I got so much. Its difficult to pick what was most important!
What spoke to me was how Joseph kept his identity intact in the midst of complete turmoil. Talk about having your world turned upside down. So when I think about our identity in Christ… this is what helps me. These are facts and with eyes of faith we need to understand that Our great God knew us and saw us before time was. In fact he loves us so much He can’t take His eyed of us. [ as you pointed out last week ] If this current situation in our country, gosh, the world is going the way it looks. We will all be in a pit of trouble. In reflecting on Joseph a hero of faith in action, identity recognition is paramount! So, what does God say about us, our identity from His stand point?
“Understanding your identity in Christ is absolutely essential to your success at living the victorious Christian life.”
If you are a Christian, then what is below is true of you.
Who I Am In Christ
I have been accepted…
John 1:12 I am God’s child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27
I am a member of Christ’s body.
Ephesians 1:3-8
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10
I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I can be assured of my security…
Romans 8:1-2
I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39
I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4
I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6
I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20
I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7
I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant…
John 15:5
I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16
I am God’s temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21
I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6
I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10
I am God’s workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12
I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.
“The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!”
(From Victory Over the Darkness , by Dr. Neil Anderson)
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Praise the Lord, Jim! I agree, two wonderful days of encouragement and strength. And, your remarks and insights are right on. BLessings on you! Greg 🙂
You my friend have really caused me to seek God, ask and wait for answers.I returned to my “normal” web surfing by going to one of my favorite sports, World Net Daily. They are kind of off path from main stream. Greg Laurie posts messages there on Saturday and Sunday so I feel safe. Well, I saw the article about AIG getting more bail out dollars and then read, “Insurer AIG to make $165 million in bonus payments/”
Stopping for a while and asking God, it definitely looks like you are turning our world up side down. What part do you have for me, and please keep me in the game!
So; all I could think of is that AIG also stands for answers in Genesis. And I believe Greg, that God has lead you to Genesis to provide us the answers of what part does He want His believers to play in this game we call life during these turbulent times when who knows what will happen!
I looked at the message the men were blessed with Saturday and the message you gave Sunday, and I prayed.
God woke me up and told me to type…so here goes.
Now #1 I am not a profit!
I look at all the things we see and I remember that Jesus said when He returns will He find “faith” in the earth.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Saturday Chuck told us about Elisha’s servant Gehazi, and how he needed his eyes opened to actually see what God was doing.
In thinking about Joseph in the pit and what looks like a deep financial pit that we are being hurled into I thought, who else in the bible was in the pits. The list could be endless, but I thought of, (1 Chronicles 11:22-25) and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds; he smote two ariels of Moab. He also went down and slew a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen. And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits tall. The Egyptian had in his hand a spear like a weaver’s beam; but Benaiah went down to him with a staff, and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear. These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men. He was renowned among the thirty, but did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.
His situation is much different than Joseph, he saw the enemy in the pit and went after it. Wow, what a warrior.
There is so much I could say, but lets cut to the chase. He volunteered for pit duty, on a snowy day to face a lion. I could go on about the symbolism, but I won’t. Who is this guy, what kind of faith does he have, how did he get to this point of trust. The answer, of course, if you think about it, is that Benaiah was able to do this because that is the kind of man he was. He was indeed a mighty man of valor. It was not the deeds he did which made him that way. He was already a mighty man of valor. The deeds simply revealed what he already was. He had what it took. He was that kind of man. These deeds simply made it clear to everybody else that he was that kind of man.
What does this name mean — “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada”? That is a clue to the kind of man he was. Well, there is an interesting thing about it. This man was well-known in David’s day, and is mentioned often in Scripture. But in almost every instance, with only one or two exceptions, his name is listed as “Benaiah the son of Jehoiada.” So his father’s name is important too. If you take the meaning of those two names, in the order of seniority, you get the secret of how to face the enemy in your pit.. Jehoiada means “God knows,” and Benaiah means “God builds.” Those twin truths are the secret of how to meet a lion, the worst possible foe, in the worst possible place, under the worst possible circumstances, and win. Remember to rest upon the facts that God knows, and God builds.
God knows where you are. He chose that place for you. That is the revelation of Scripture. God put you where you are, and, therefore, he knows. He knows all about you. Jesus said that the hairs of your head are numbered. He knows what you are going through, and he brought it about. “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose,” Paul tells us in Romans (8:28). And he not only knows what you are going through, but he feels what you feel. God knows how you feel. That is one of the most comforting things to realize when you are upset, when somebody has done you dirt. When you are angry, or remorseful, or impatient, or are tempted to be bitter, or have been betrayed, or have been hurt — God knows how you feel. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “We have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,” (Hebrews 4:15a RSV). We do not have the kind of God to come to who says, “Oh, don’t bother me! Your little troubles — what are they to me?” No, no. We have one who “in every respect has been tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:15), who has been where we have been, and knows how we feel.
In 1895 Andrew Murray was in England suffering from a terribly painful back, the result of an injury he had incurred years before. He was staying with some dear friends. One morning while he was eating his breakfast in his room, his hostess told him of a woman downstairs who was in great trouble and wanted to know if he had any advice for her. Andrew Murray handed her a paper he had been writing on and said, “Just give her this advice I’m writing down for myself. It may be that she’ll find it helpful.” This is what was written:
In time of trouble, say, “First, He brought me here. It is by His will I am in this strait place; in that I will rest.” Next, “He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial to behave as His child.” Then say, “He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.” And last, say, “In His good time He can bring me out again. How, and when, He knows.” Therefore say, “I am here
(1 ) by God’s appointment,
(2) in His keeping,
(3) under His training,
(4) for His time.”
That is how we face any pit, problem or predicament. Look unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith.
Joseph knew this and did this what example. Thank you Greg for your leadership, and I pray God grants you and your family “handfuls of grace, mercy and peace”, now and forever! Happy B-day Sarah!