Faith’s Hall of Fame – Part 16

Message Date: September 18, 2022
Bible

  • Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:21-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • The nature of faith is acceptance of truth.
    • The nature of unbelief is rejection of truth.
    • Ignorance and unbelief are are two separate things.
  • 19 Until his word [to his cruel brothers] came true, until the word of the Lord tried and tested him. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭105:19‬ ‭AMPC‬‬
  • ‭‭3-4 Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons because he was the child of his old age. And he made him an elaborately embroidered coat. When his brothers realized that their father loved him more than them, they grew to hate him—they wouldn’t even speak to him. Genesis‬ ‭37:3-4‬ ‭MSG‬‬
    • We see that up to this point Jacob still has some healing to do, but we also see that even tho Joseph is exposed to brokenness he doesn’t perpetuate the cycle. The proof is how Joseph responds to his problems.
      • His upbringing does not carry more weight than God’s word.
      • His experience does not dissuade him.
  • 5-7 Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. He said, “Listen to this dream I had. We were all out in the field gathering bundles of wheat. All of a sudden my bundle stood straight up and your bundles circled around it and bowed down to mine.” His brothers said, “So! You’re going to rule us? You’re going to boss us around?” And they hated him more than ever because of his dreams and the way he talked. Genesis‬ ‭37:5-8‬ ‭MSG‬
    • God gives him a word. God reveals his destiny to him, but he is rejected because of their unbelief.
  • 1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. ‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:1-6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
  • 18-20 They spotted him off in the distance. By the time he got to them they had cooked up a plot to kill him. The brothers were saying, “Here comes that dreamer. Let’s kill him and throw him into one of these old cisterns; we can say that a vicious animal ate him up. We’ll see what his dreams amount to.” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭37:18-20‬ ‭MSG‬‬
  • 2-6 As it turned out, God was with Joseph and things went very well with him. He ended up living in the home of his Egyptian master. His master recognized that God was with him, saw that God was working for good in everything he did. He became very fond of Joseph and made him his personal aide. He put him in charge of all his personal affairs, turning everything over to him. From that moment on, God blessed the home of the Egyptian—all because of Joseph. The blessing of God spread over everything he owned, at home and in the fields, and all Potiphar had to concern himself with was eating three meals a day. 6-7 Joseph was a strikingly handsome man. As time went on, his master’s wife became infatuated with Joseph and one day said, “Sleep with me.” Genesis‬ ‭39:2-7‬ ‭MSG‬‬
  • 8-9 He wouldn’t do it. He said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master doesn’t give a second thought to anything that goes on here—he’s put me in charge of everything he owns. He treats me as an equal. The only thing he hasn’t turned over to me is you. You’re his wife, after all! How could I violate his trust and sin against God?” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39:8-9‬ ‭MSG‬‬
  • Joseph should have been executed.
  • 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” ‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
    • Peace does not just mean the absence of conflict.
    • Shalom refers to something that is complex with a lot of pieces, like a house or an assembly line, that is in a state of completeness and wholeness. The essential idea is that life is complex, full of moving parts, relationships, and situations, and when any of these are out of alignment or missing, shalom breaks down. Life is no longer whole; it needs to be restored.
  • 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬