PREACHER: REV. DR. WILLY MUTISO.
TEXT:GENESIS 40 : 1 – 23 ;2 CORINTHIANS 4 : 7 – 12.
INTRODUCTION:
Joseph was in the midst of a great trial of faith. Joseph has been misrepresented, mistreated, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Through it all, Joseph remained patient and kept his testimony. He refused to see himself as a victim but a victor. He refused to go under but to remain above. He refused to be the tail but the head. His brothers have treated him unfairly and sold him into slavery to a foreign land. In a foreign land, he is falsely accused of attempted rape and imprisoned. Through it all, he has refused to be a victim. “The Lord was with Joseph” (Gen. 39:21-23).
Through this trial of faith, Joseph learnt that “people may forget you, but God will never forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). Let us learn:
I: Prison life and duties (40:1-4).
A. While in prison, Joseph gets company.
.Pharaoh’s butler – “Cupbearer” (Neh. 2:1).
.The Cupbearer would taste every drink and food before Pharaoh ate (food and beverage).
.The Baker was over Pharaoh’s kitchens.
.The Baker was the chief chef of statehouse.
.Both men are in trouble and in prison.
B. When these senior men are in prison. They had rights – Joseph was handpicked to be their servant.
C. Never despise the small things in life.
.What we see as luck, chance, accident, or coincidence are God’s appointments.
.There are no accidents with God (Ps. 37:23; Pro. 16:9).
II: Prison and dreams (40:5-19).
A. The two top officers of Pharaoh dream dreams.
.They don’t know the meanings.
.Joseph was also a dreamer (Gen. 37:5-11).
.Joseph encouraged them to tell him because he knew the God Who knows every dream (9-19).
B. Joseph did not say he does not believe in dreams and visions.
C. If you are a dreamer, you learn to wait.
.Life has many waiting rooms.
.In the prisons of life, glorify God (1 Cor. 10:31).
God is not just the God of the hills but the God of the valleys as well (1 Kings 20:22-29).
.Despite what you are facing in life, glorify Him (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
III: Prison disappointments (40:20-41:1).
A. The dreams of the Butler and Baker are fulfilled.
.The Butler is restored, the Baker is killed.
.The Butler forgot Joseph (v.23).
.Days turned to weeks, weeks to months, months to two long years (Gen. 41:1).
B. The prison disappointments served to teach Joseph two valuable lessons:
1. Joseph learned that he should never put his confidence in man.
.There is no REAL help in humans.
.God may use humans in our lives as vessels.
.Real help comes from God (Ps. 121:18).
2. Joseph learned that God’s unseen hand moves us along a hidden pathway.
.God is seldom early. But He is never late!
.God fed Elijah morning and evening right on time.
.God helped Daniel and the three boys right on time.
C. There will be disappointments in our prison experiences as well.
.The Lord does not move when we think.
.Human help always falls short.
CONCLUSION:
Some of you are disappointed and discouraged. The best thing to do is to bring them to Christ.
You might feel forgotten, but you will never be forsaken.
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