FROM THE PIT TO PALACE
When the Spirit Promotes a Man
Genesis 41
Gen 41:37 Joseph's Rise to Power So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?"
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you."
41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." NKJV
The plan that God has for us has to more to do with his eternal purposes and the desire to accomplish his purposes in the earth than our individual circumstances or situations. In other words it is “Not About Me” Now in a pleasure loving, self serving, narcissistic culture this might not be a popular message but the reality that all promotion from God has to do with us accomplishing his purposes in the earth. When the Lord sees us he sees potential for advancing his causes in the earth. The possibilities are endless in this room this morning. The rest of the story and the end of the story is known by the Lord alone.
As we’ve been studying the life of Joseph, he was anything but a bad employee with a poor performance record. In fact, it was because he was such a “good” employee that he got in the trouble he found himself.If you’ll remember, when we last left Joseph, he was in prison for attempted rape. A crime he didn’t commit. “Hope” came in the form of two fellow prisoners. He was able to interpret their dreams, and they swore that when they got out, they would mention his case to Pharaoh.But the cupbearer failed to even remember Josephs name, (let alone talk to Pharaoh about him!) “REMEMBER ME” Two long years passed after that event, and still Joseph sat… his life wasting away. Or so he thought… What God had in store for his life was greater than he could ever imagine! Now as we study the life of Joseph, I want you to pay special attention to the way God works, because in His actions towards Joseph, He’s revealing something about Himself to us.The bible says that Jesus Christ is the same “yesterday, today and forever.” Because that’s true, the way you see him dealing with Joseph and other Old Testament characters, shows us how He works today in our lives. In otherwords, we can gain insight into what God is doing in our lives and how He is working in our situation, by studying how He’s worked in the past!
And so the first principle I want you to see from Joseph’s life is…
The First Principle to True Spiritual Promotion is Understanding that Spirits role in your Adversity.
Contrary to popular opinion, success is not an event… it’s a process! It’s a journey… not a jack-pot! There’s no such thing as “instant” success. Instead, success is a process that involves a lot of flops, falls & failures along the way. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that the people who usually succeed in life, are the ones who’ve failed more than anybody else! While most people live by the motto…“If at first you don’t succeed, find out if the loser gets anything!”… winners in life, refuse to give up! They refuse to see their failures as final. As far as we know, Joseph never gave up hope and never lost his perspective. No matter what, he always found the positive benefits of a negative experience.He reminds me of another slave who lived thousands of years later. Booker T. Washington, was born a slave and overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles to form the “Natl. Black Business League”. He once said, “I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life, as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed.”You know, most people will grudgingly agree that they have to make it through some tough times in order to succeed… but I think you have to take it one step further than that…I believe that in order to achieve your dreams, you actually have to learn how to EMBRACE adversity. That’s right! Give ‘em a big ole bear hug! But chances are… if you’re running from your problems today, instead of embracing them, you’re probably not moving forward in life!Let me give you (very quickly) 3 very positive “Benefits of Adversity”…
1. Adversity Creates Resiliency . Nothing breeds resilience like adversity. And if you’re going to be able to handle the pressure that comes with success, you have to have this quality.
2. Adversity Develops Maturity. Adversity helps you to grow up. Joseph grew from an impetuous, little brat, to a man ready to assume the resp. of a whole nation, during the 13 years he was a slave. God knew that if He’d allowed Joseph to stay at home, his father’s pampering would have never prepared him for the great future he had in store for him. Could it be that God doesn’t want you to get used to being pampered and comfortable to achieve his plan for your life? Believe me…you can count on God to use adversity to develop maturity in your life! That’s one of the ways He always works.
3. Adversity Benefits us Unexpectedly. Some of the greatest success stories in history can be found in the unexpected benefits of mistakes. For example, did you know that Edison invented the phonograph while trying to invent something entirely different? That the discovery of the Polio Vaccine was an accident?Listen… “Pain… when properly handled, can shape a life for greatness!”For 13 years Joseph had welcomed adversity… and when his ship came in… he was ready to board it!
You’ll know you’ve learned a lesson when your actions change. Joseph had changed. He wasn’t the same person he was as a young man at his father’s house, because he’d learned to see his trials as preparation for a greater future.
II. When the Spirit Promotes a Man there is Always a Problem to Solve v1-8
Gen 41:8 Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh. NKJV
Problems of Life our preparation for Promotion in God’–
Pharoah had a dream that he could not interpret – The world’s problems can only be solved by spiritual means. The things that Pharaoh saw troubled him and rightly so. The fact is that there will be things that trouble people you know that God has allowed so that you the spiritual person can help solve them. You see God has saved you in order to be a blessing.
All this stuff that Joseph has gone to up to this point will not be wasted. God has the ariel view of life and Joseph season is hour is about to come.
God uses men/ women who have been tried and tested to accomplish spiritual problems.
Troubling times require Spiritual Tough people. Promotion is always about purpose. God’s purpose to accomplish a greater task than just making your life easy.
The Third principle to understanding Promotion Is When it Comes it May Come without Out Warning. V9-14
Gen 41:9-Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: "I remember my faults this day. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker, 11 we each had a dream in one night, he and I. Each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12 Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream. 13 And it came to pass, just as he interpreted for us, so it happened. He restored me to my office, and he hanged him." 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. NKJVa.
The butler suddenly remembers – God’s knows the future if it would have been any earlier then Joseph would have arrived on the scene to early.
*Notice that the cupbearer – after having forgotten Joseph for two years – finally remembers Joseph.
*Notice that the cupbearer – after having forgotten Joseph for two years – finally remembers Joseph.
Lamentations 3:25-26 – The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.*
Notice the haste with which things were done:
1. Joseph was cleaned up.
2. Joseph was clothed.
3. Joseph was put before the Pharaoh. How surprising the whole chain of events must have been!
When the spirit begins to move in your life you will not be able to keep up. It is breaking out for Joseph all of those years of waiting are coming to an end.
When the Spirit of the Lord moves in your life you will not be able to keep up. Joseph had waited for 13 years for his dream to come to pass, but when it was God’s time for promotion it happened so fast it made Josephs head spin. He was cleaned up, clothed and brought before Pharaoh
When the spirit begins to move in your life you will not be able to keep up. It is breaking out for Joseph all of those years of waiting are coming to an end.
When the Spirit of the Lord moves in your life you will not be able to keep up. Joseph had waited for 13 years for his dream to come to pass, but when it was God’s time for promotion it happened so fast it made Josephs head spin. He was cleaned up, clothed and brought before Pharaoh
Many times when God moves in your life it will happen suddenly, years of hardship, trials and long periods of waiting will turn quickly. I have found that when God speaks to me many times I have to get ready to run quickly because when God moves we generally cannot keep up.
The Fourth Thing Spiritual Man Understands about God's Promotion - It is God who Gives Us The Ability to Succeed v15-36
Gen 41:15-16 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it." 16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying,"It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." NKJV
Gen 41:25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: NKJV
Gen 41:32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. NKJV
Imagine yourself in Joseph’s place. He hadn’t been a part of the real world for years, probably hadn’t even seen the light of the sun… …and now he’s standing in the middle of the most beautiful palace in the world, before the ruler of the most powerful nation in the world.Pharaoh addresses him in Gen.41:15 (READ) Gen 41:15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it." NKJV
Pharaoh’s saying, “According to my sources, you’re the answer man! Tell me what my dream means, and I’ll make it worth you’re while!” My boys can’t do it….To God that we would see more of our men and women have solutions that the world would come to us and say I have a problem that I can’t solve can you help. Here’s his chance! He could have said, “That’s right… I’m the man, and if you want an interpretation to your dream, let’s work out a little deal first.”a. Joseph is fully aware of His source = God is the one who gives the answers. TRUE HUMILITY
But that’s not what he says… Instead he responds, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
But that’s not what he says… Instead he responds, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
Proverbs says that Prov 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,but victory rests with the LORD. NIV
Talk about humility! Joseph’s not about to take the credit! Instead he points to God.
“Pharaoh, God’s the one you need to talk to… I’m just His messenger! Then, calmly and methodically, Joseph explains Pharaoh’s dream. He explains that the seven fat cattle coming up out of the Nile Delta represent 7 good years of crops and prosperity for the nation. But that the seven ugly, gaunt and starving cows represent 7 years of famine and want, that would swallow up the 7 good years. b. Over and over he gives credit where credits due. God is doing this. God will bring it about. God is telling you’re the future. All through his answer Joseph refers to God again & again!
Notice Joseph Tells Pharaoh the whole truth – this is risky because he does not tell just what he wanted to hear. He tells him the truth that there are going to be good years and bad years.
Here is the deal my friends, the reality in all of our lives we will have good times and bad. The wisdom of man understands that live is all about preparation.
*Note verse 32, where Joseph proclaims that these things have been established by God.
Gen 41:32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. NKJV
Notice Joseph Tells Pharaoh the whole truth – this is risky because he does not tell just what he wanted to hear. He tells him the truth that there are going to be good years and bad years.
Here is the deal my friends, the reality in all of our lives we will have good times and bad. The wisdom of man understands that live is all about preparation.
*Note verse 32, where Joseph proclaims that these things have been established by God.
Gen 41:32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. NKJV
• God is all-knowing• God is all-present• God is all-powerful
c. By the Spirit Joseph warns of coming famine and gives wise council.
So many people live paycheck to paycheck because they have never learned the discipline of saving. It starts when you have little. Some people money is a like a hole in the pocket. Joseph is preparing Pharaoh for difficult times that are going to come. If you are in a season of employment and prosperity you must discipline yourself to save.
The fact is that know one has a promise that there prosperity will continue. 2-3 years ago the housing market was booming people were making money buying and selling houses. Today they cant’ give them away and many are having to give them back.
Wisdom comes from God.- The bible says... Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,NKJV
And then along with his interpretation, he gives his recommendation of how to deal with the problem. How Egypt was going to need a strict, well-organized rationing process.
• Joseph’s honest response: *I cannot – but God can!Joseph was quick to give God all the credit The fact is that we can do nothing significant or of any eternal consequence without God, but we can do all things through God.
c. By the Spirit Joseph warns of coming famine and gives wise council.
So many people live paycheck to paycheck because they have never learned the discipline of saving. It starts when you have little. Some people money is a like a hole in the pocket. Joseph is preparing Pharaoh for difficult times that are going to come. If you are in a season of employment and prosperity you must discipline yourself to save.
The fact is that know one has a promise that there prosperity will continue. 2-3 years ago the housing market was booming people were making money buying and selling houses. Today they cant’ give them away and many are having to give them back.
Wisdom comes from God.- The bible says... Eph 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,NKJV
And then along with his interpretation, he gives his recommendation of how to deal with the problem. How Egypt was going to need a strict, well-organized rationing process.
• Joseph’s honest response: *I cannot – but God can!Joseph was quick to give God all the credit The fact is that we can do nothing significant or of any eternal consequence without God, but we can do all things through God.
Our problem is that when God does bless us, we quickly forget or even ignore where the blessing came from…We begin to think it was our intelligence, or our hard work…that got us where we are. Never stopping to realize who gave us the intell. and talents to succeed in the first place. Instead of giving Him the credit, we give Him the cold shoulder… and keep the praise for ourselves. When God blesses us financially, instead of tithing, we keep the money and spend it on ourselves.
When God is answering prayers in our lives, instead of drawing closer to Him… we tend to push away from Him!… And then we wonder why the blessings stop! Joseph rose from the PIT to the Prison to the PALACE; from A SON , A SLAVE to THE SAVIOR… But he never forgot what it was like to be down and out. He never forgot what it was like to be imprisoned with no way out…and as a result, he spent the rest of his life fulfilling the position of promotion that the Lord had given him.
