God knows us by name and cirumstance

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 28 February 2016

Genesis 41

We are continuing to look at the story of Joseph through the eyes of his father, the blessings his life brought to others not only to himself, to his father but blessings wherever Joseph found himself to be.  He was revealing a life lived for God and others.  Our lives must make a mark for God no matter where we might be or where we might go.  Joseph was the son of Jacob, the son he loved the most.  He made his mark in the home but also on foreign soil.  We see that time and time again.  People brought up in the home then leaving the home to go out to universities and make a mark, a stand for Christ in a hostile environment.  Notice Joseph in the prison.

His attitude.  That is the amazing thing and really describes us.  Maybe it is a good or bad, a positive or negative attitude.  Moses in the wilderness.  God came to him and told him he had a task for him to do.  He had a negative attitude - "I cannot do that."  Joseph was sitting in the prison house for 2 full years.  From the day the butler walked out of the prison cell he waited.  He thought this man will speak up for me.  I shouldn`t be here because I am innocent but he never came back for him for another 2 years.  He had been lied about, his character has been assasinated, let down by friends.  Did that affect his attitude in any way - no.  He was ready to get up and go about his duties as usual day after day.  Have you ever been there?  Praying for God to move into your situation yet the next day have the same difficulties.  God was going to move in a certain way.  One day out of the blue his cell door was opened and he was told Pharaoh was asking for him.  Joseph gets up and follows.  After 2 full years, after Joseph thought nothing would happen to change his situation.  Maybe you have been in that same situation.  God doesn`t forget us.  Hannah had no child when she came into the temple and prayed.  We read "God remembered Hannah".  Remember Abraham when God came down to destroy Sodom and Gomorroh.  Abraham began to plead "if there are 50 righteous people found in that place will you destroy it?"  The Lord agreed he would not do that.  Abraham continued until he got down to 10 people.  He had a family in that city he was concerned about.  He left off praying.  When God came down to destroy that city God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out.  That is a wonderful statement.  Will it be said of you or I?  God remembered so and so because he remembered the prayers he sent that young one out of the situation they are in.  Not just an attitude of negativity.  He was waiting for the call to go out and he went with the men into the presence of Pharaoh.  Remember the attitude of the young man in the scriptures when he was told to go into the vineyard by his father and he did not go.  Remember the man with the one talent.  All the servants were called together and the master told them was going away.  To each he gave different amounts - one 5 which was doubled to another 5, another was given 2 and he too gained another 2.  The one man with one talent buried his and when the master returned he dug it up and showed what he had done.  Maybe he had an attitude about being given only one when the others were given 5 and 2.  Remember the attitude of Paul and Silas in the prison house - at midnight they were praying and singing songs of praise when an earthquake struck the place.  The jailer drew out his sword to kill himself but Paul told him to put his sword away.  What an attitude to have.  Daniel`s attitude after a night in the lions den was one of positivity.  When you think of his reply to the king`s question the following morning you can hear the compassion in Daniel`s voice, the love and respect he showed.  "Then said Daniel to the king O king live for ever. My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions` mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." (Chapter 6 verse 22)  Joseph`s attitude was never affected in the prison cell.

His approach.  They brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh."  Today we are called by God of heaven to come together.  Pharaoh was a powerful man in all the ancient world.  Their attitude to cleanliness and hygiene was part of the culture of that day.  Joseph although in haste to act did not want to cause offence.  He paused to wash himself, shaved and changed his raiment.  He didn`t want to disgrace himself.  As we come to approach the loving God we need to be aware of the presence of the one we come into.  Joseph took time to enter into the king, the monarch of Egypt.  Do we take time ourselves to prepare to sit with God`s word, to meditate on his word, take time to pray, to have our hearts cleansed?    Have we taken time to prepare out hearts?  In Hebrews 10 the writer is speaking of the Old Testament priesthood.  A priest would come into God`s presence "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (verse 22)  There was to be nothing false about it.  All were coming with a true and honest heart in full assurance of faith knowing that the one whose prsence would come into is able to save use, cleanse us, symbolic washing and cleansing - verses 23 - 25.  What was happening here - they were living in a time of tremendous persecution and there was a danger in turning back into old religious ways.  Here the writer is encouraging them to keep on going.  Talking here of how to approach God of heaven.  The danger is once someone starts to drop off from attending the meetings they can become cold and hard, can get into temptation, backsliding and apostacy thoughts all come into mind.  Here the writer was saying do not forsake the assembling with others in worship.  Joseph didn`t do that - his approach in to the presence of Pharaoh.

His answer.  Joseph brings this king to think on the things of God.  Pharaoh tells him about fat and thin cows, the ears of corn that were thin and empty and those that were fat.  He could have taken the opportunity to exalt himself.  Verse 15 what does Joseph do?  It is not in me but God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.  Here he was standing in front of the most powerful man at that time.  Joseph is bringing him to the God of heaven.  In verses 25 and 28 he is taking him back to God. In verse 32 Joseph`s answer was not to promote himself.  The lives we live, the things we do, the places we go, the things we say are all to glorify God.  Joseph was telling what God can do.  That is what we need to be doing in the pulpit and in the streets and in the home.  Verse 38 because of Joseph`s witness Pharaoh now talks of the God of heaven.  Verse 39 "Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art".  We find that in the days of Daniel too.  When Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and Daniel explained the dream to him he glorifyied God all the time.  Daniel said "there is a God in heaven." (chapter 2 verse 28)  When he is finished talking to Nebuchadnezzar the king answered unto Daniel "of a truth your God is a great God, the king of kings, revealer of secrets." (chatper 2 verse 47)  He is saying there is none who could reveal this secret but God.  Joseph had a great approach - he had the answer.  Let`s remember God must deal with the attitudes if we have any.  Let`s give him the glory as we answer to others about the life we live.  Joseph is now promoted to the second seat in Egypt.  It took a number of years to do it but God was working it all out.  When he stood before Pharaoh he was 30 years of age.  13 years before he had left home.  God will bring to your life and mine what he really wants for us individually.  "He will perfect that which concerneth us." (Psalm 138 verse 8)

Joseph`s attitude, approach and answer to Pharaoh

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 28 February 2016

Genesis 41

We are continuing to look at the story of Joseph through the eyes of his father, the blessings his life brought to others not only to himself, to his father but blessings wherever Joseph found himself to be.  He was revealing a life lived for God and others.  Our lives must make a mark for God no matter where we might be or where we might go.  Joseph was the son of Jacob, the son he loved the most.  He made his mark in the home but also on foreign soil.  We see that time and time again.  People brought up in the home then leaving the home to go out to universities and make a mark, a stand for Christ in a hostile environment.  Notice Joseph in the prison.

His attitude.  That is the amazing thing and really describes us.  Maybe it is a good or bad, a positive or negative attitude.  Moses in the wilderness.  God came to him and told him he had a task for him to do.  He had a negative attitude - "I cannot do that."  Joseph was sitting in the prison house for 2 full years.  From the day the butler walked out of the prison cell he waited.  He thought this man will speak up for me.  I shouldn`t be here because I am innocent but he never came back for him for another 2 years.  He had been lied about, his character has been assasinated, let down by friends.  Did that affect his attitude in any way - no.  He was ready to get up and go about his duties as usual day after day.  Have you ever been there?  Praying for God to move into your situation yet the next day have the same difficulties.  God was going to move in a certain way.  One day out of the blue his cell door was opened and he was told Pharaoh was asking for him.  Joseph gets up and follows.  After 2 full years, after Joseph thought nothing would happen to change his situation.  Maybe you have been in that same situation.  God doesn`t forget us.  Hannah had no child when she came into the temple and prayed.  We read "God remembered Hannah".  Remember Abraham when God came down to destroy Sodom and Gomorroh.  Abraham began to plead "if there are 50 righteous people found in that place will you destroy it?"  The Lord agreed he would not do that.  Abraham continued until he got down to 10 people.  He had a family in that city he was concerned about.  He left off praying.  When God came down to destroy that city God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out.  That is a wonderful statement.  Will it be said of you or I?  God remembered so and so because he remembered the prayers he sent that young one out of the situation they are in.  Not just an attitude of negativity.  He was waiting for the call to go out and he went with the men into the presence of Pharaoh.  Remember the attitude of the young man in the scriptures when he was told to go into the vineyard by his father and he did not go.  Remember the man with the one talent.  All the servants were called together and the master told them was going away.  To each he gave different amounts - one 5 which was doubled to another 5, another was given 2 and he too gained another 2.  The one man with one talent buried his and when the master returned he dug it up and showed what he had done.  Maybe he had an attitude about being given only one when the others were given 5 and 2.  Remember the attitude of Paul and Silas in the prison house - at midnight they were praying and singing songs of praise when an earthquake struck the place.  The jailer drew out his sword to kill himself but Paul told him to put his sword away.  What an attitude to have.  Daniel`s attitude after a night in the lions den was one of positivity.  When you think of his reply to the king`s question the following morning you can hear the compassion in Daniel`s voice, the love and respect he showed.  "Then said Daniel to the king O king live for ever. My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions` mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." (Chapter 6 verse 22)  Joseph`s attitude was never affected in the prison cell.

His approach.  They brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh."  Today we are called by God of heaven to come together.  Pharaoh was a powerful man in all the ancient world.  Their attitude to cleanliness and hygiene was part of the culture of that day.  Joseph although in haste to act did not want to cause offence.  He paused to wash himself, shaved and changed his raiment.  He didn`t want to disgrace himself.  As we come to approach the loving God we need to be aware of the presence of the one we come into.  Joseph took time to enter into the king, the monarch of Egypt.  Do we take time ourselves to prepare to sit with God`s word, to meditate on his word, take time to pray, to have our hearts cleansed?    Have we taken time to prepare out hearts?  In Hebrews 10 the writer is speaking of the Old Testament priesthood.  A priest would come into God`s presence "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (verse 22)  There was to be nothing false about it.  All were coming with a true and honest heart in full assurance of faith knowing that the one whose prsence would come into is able to save use, cleanse us, symbolic washing and cleansing - verses 23 - 25.  What was happening here - they were living in a time of tremendous persecution and there was a danger in turning back into old religious ways.  Here the writer is encouraging them to keep on going.  Talking here of how to approach God of heaven.  The danger is once someone starts to drop off from attending the meetings they can become cold and hard, can get into temptation, backsliding and apostacy thoughts all come into mind.  Here the writer was saying do not forsake the assembling with others in worship.  Joseph didn`t do that - his approach in to the presence of Pharaoh.

His answer.  Joseph brings this king to think on the things of God.  Pharaoh tells him about fat and thin cows, the ears of corn that were thin and empty and those that were fat.  He could have taken the opportunity to exalt himself.  Verse 15 what does Joseph do?  It is not in me but God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.  Here he was standing in front of the most powerful man at that time.  Joseph is bringing him to the God of heaven.  In verses 25 and 28 he is taking him back to God. In verse 32 Joseph`s answer was not to promote himself.  The lives we live, the things we do, the places we go, the things we say are all to glorify God.  Joseph was telling what God can do.  That is what we need to be doing in the pulpit and in the streets and in the home.  Verse 38 because of Joseph`s witness Pharaoh now talks of the God of heaven.  Verse 39 "Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art".  We find that in the days of Daniel too.  When Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and Daniel explained the dream to him he glorifyied God all the time.  Daniel said "there is a God in heaven." (chapter 2 verse 28)  When he is finished talking to Nebuchadnezzar the king answered unto Daniel "of a truth your God is a great God, the king of kings, revealer of secrets." (chatper 2 verse 47)  He is saying there is none who could reveal this secret but God.  Joseph had a great approach - he had the answer.  Let`s remember God must deal with the attitudes if we have any.  Let`s give him the glory as we answer to others about the life we live.  Joseph is now promoted to the second seat in Egypt.  It took a number of years to do it but God was working it all out.  When he stood before Pharaoh he was 30 years of age.  13 years before he had left home.  God will bring to your life and mine what he really wants for us individually.  "He will perfect that which concerneth us." (Psalm 138 verse 8)

What do we have in Christ as a believer?

Ephesians 1 verses 1 - 14

The apostle Paul was writing to the little church of Ephesus.  It is something of a hymn of praise.  It just seems as if he is sitting here having these wonderful thoughts of what happened to him in the salvation of his soul.  He wanted to share these with these saints.  It is a letter of encouragement.  Maybe they were not longed saved.  The church was probably not long established, living in a pagan society, the enemies of God all around.  In Ephesus the pagan gods were worshipped and idolised.  Paul writes to encourage them.  The apostle Paul wants them to realise what they have in Christ.  Do we ever really consider what we have in Christ as a believer, a child of God?  It trips off our tongues that we are saved but do we ever take it in fully what it means to be saved?  Paul points them to the richness of their salvation, what they really possess in their lives.  It made them changed, new creatures in Christ.  This was salvation worked out before the foundation of the world.  We notice how Paul brings out the workings of the triune God in salvation.  Verse 3 "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  God the Father has made that choice, the great plan of salvation was in God`s heart.  It was he who made this great plan.  Verse 7 God the Son "in whom we have redemption through his blood."  God the Father made the plan, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the purpose on the cross.  It was in God`s heart and mind.  It was the Lord who carried out the work.  John 17 "I have finished the work you have called me to do."  "It is finished" Jesus said on the cross.  He finished the work of salvation.  The third triune, God the Holy Spirit verse 13 "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."  Coming to you and I revealing our need of salvation then sealing us when we accepted him as our Saviour.  God would plan that, the Son would carry it out and the Holy Spirit would apply the truth to our hearts.  It is by God`s great love for us.  Notice what we have in this salvation.

The relationship we have in Christ.  We are coming tonight as God`s own children.  Abraham whenever he believed he obeyed the word of God "and it was accounted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4 verse 3) then he became a friend of God.  What a prvilege to be called the friend of God.  Galatians 4 verse 7 "therefore thou are no more a servant but a son."  John said "as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God." (John 1 verse 12)  We are sons of the most high God.  If a son then an heir, heirs to all God has promised in his word.  Praying and seeking God`s face is not the same thing.  Praying is when we come to ask God`s blessing on our lives.  Seeking God`s face is coming to lay hold on God for something that God has promised. Abraham said to God "I will not let you go until you bless me."  When God gives a promise in the scripture we are to seek his face until he seals that promise in our lives.  We are joint heirs with God tonight.  Children of God, heirs to every promise he has given in his word, we are joint heirs, rooted in Christ,  Paul pointed out to the Ephesian church at that time "ye were without Christ." chapter 2 verse 12.  Strangers of the covenants of promise.  Having no hope yet God has brought us into covenant relationship.

There is a reconciliation that he makes.  We are on speaking terms with God.  In our unsaved days didn`t matter whether we prayed or not.  Now we are reconciled unto God, have a relationship with him.  Sin had severed the relationship but God took the steps to mend it.  He was the grieved party but yet he took the steps to mend our relationship.  Hebrews 2 verse 17 "wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren."  Let`s remember he has made reconciliation through the cross of Calvary.  We come with hearts that are humble and thankful,  lives enriched by the relationship with God.

The redemption that was offered.  Verse 7 the price that was offered "through his blood".  Christ`s life was offered.  His precious blood.  Was there ever such a price paid before?  So great a sacrifice paid.  The apostle Paul wanted the Ephesian church to understand what we have in Christ Jesus.