December 9, 2007

40 1 - 23 Though all the world forsake Thee
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.

an outline

Joseph and his reaction to being forgotten ,no bitterness. Do you like being left out? forgotten on a birthday invite or left out of a good time? Joseph was seemingly left out of the party.. but he knew that God was alert to those things and he maintained righteousness. It was really Joseph’s party, even though he didn’t know it yet.
Ever do things the way God said and not seem to get the trophy? Know why? Because the race ain't over yet.

We visited this last time and we noted 2 illustrations of us...we are all in a life situation.. Some of us are used of God in those situations and some of us are not. But this week I want to look at another angle, the angle of Joseph perhaps, or any of a thousand others who have been faithful and yet seemingly left out of the party.

1. Visible Means of support

23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Excitement as God uses Joseph and he pins his hopes on- the butler. You cannot pin your hopes on people.

Abram/Hagar what was God's plan? Where was Abraham's confidence. Did his lack cause a lack in God? NO! God always does his part.

Jesus in Matt 4: a better way?

Tell of Joseph seeing a ray of hope. “This MUST be the way, it looks right” Then NO it didn't pan out. what could he have felt? What have you felt? depression? anger? loss of faith?

Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Ps 118:8 [It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the LORD.

Mic 7:5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.

2.Invisible Means of support vv1-22(tell?)

Here God uses Joseph in prison and Joseph could get his hopes up. Here at last is a visible way out. BUT man let him down
.
How very often this is true....the visible means seems to run out....only God could and would deliver him. And so in his trial he developed a godly attitude
.
Like our good friend Paul in the Mammertine(built 100 yrs earlier, grim building, deep dungeons cleaned by opening gates and letting the Tiber river in. Political prison like Joseph) But hear him:

Recall when Paul said “No man stood with me?” The next verse says this:2Ti 4:17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion

Php 4:11-12 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Here was a man of faith: Faith trusts in the darkest hour. Like the inscription found on the walls of a room in which one victim of the holocaust had to hide from the Nazis Under a scratched star of David were the words “ I believe in the sun-even when it does not shine. I believe in love-even when it is not shown, I believe in God even when he does not speak.”
Katherine Von Bora (Wife of Martin Luther) “I will stick to God like a burr to a topcoat.”
Trust is what we are talking of here, trust means you KNOW who is in charge.(business man in Swindoll's church /gave business to God, burned next day. He said “I gave it to God if he wants to burn it, that's his business) Not a Health and wealth man, that's a sure thing.

Compare Hebrews 11..some died ,etc.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. attitude!
.
God is faithful. Phil 1:6 notes that he has promised to get us safely home.

Ps 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.

Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isa 41:17 [When] the poor and needy seek water, and [there is] none, [and] their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Heb 13: 5-6 [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. So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
De 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

De 31:8 And the LORD, he [it is] that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Jos 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

1Sa 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

1Ch 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do [it]: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, [even] my God, [will be] with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Ps 37:25 I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

Pr 16:20 He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he.

Pr 30:5 Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

A final thought here....

Visible Meaning of support

The end result of HIS faithfulness is ours.

Mt 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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.

What are you doing to reach out to your family

What are you doing to reach out to your neighbors

What are you doing to reach out to your friends

What are you doing to reach out to your fellow workers

What are you doing to reach out to your community at large

IS what you do a Benefit to the gospel or a detriment?