Not An Average Joe

NOT AN AVERAGE JOE

SECRETS OF FRUITFULNESS IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH

Genesis 49:22-49:24

Genesis 49:22-24 (NIV)

22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. 23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

OUTLINE

1.FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

2.FAVOUR WITH GOD AND MAN

3.FAITHFULNESS IN HIS RESPONSIBILITIES

4.FEAR OF GOD

5.FORGIVING NATURE

6.FORTITUDE

7.FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

INTRODUCTION

Jacob had many sons. Joseph was the eldest of two sons from his wife Rachel. Jacob loved Joseph more then all his other sons, because Joseph was born to him in his old age. Joseph is probably best known for the long coat of many color pieces that his father made for him. A coat that only a child of high nobility would have probably worn.

At the end of Jacob’s life he brings his son’s together and speaks blessing on them. This morning I want to share with you what Jacob spoke about Joseph. More then a blessing, I think it is a summation of the life that Joseph had already lived.

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 49:22-24 (NIV)

22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. 23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. 24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

As Joseph grew, so did a fracture of relationship between the elder brothers he had.

Genesis 37:4 (NIV)

4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Joseph faced bitterness, not just from his brothers – but through many of his circumstances, but as verse 22 says he was a fruitful vine, whos branches did climb over a wall. A wall of undaunting circumstances that would have made the average Joe curle up and want to die. Joseph was not an anverage Joe, and we don’t have to be an average Joe, or Josephene either. What made Joseph extra-ordinary?

THE MESSAGE

SECRETS OF FRUITFULNESS IN THE LIFE OF JOSEPH :GENESIS 49:22-24

1. JOSEPH HAD FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

a. OBSERVATIONS

i. Genesis 37:5 (NIV)

5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more

Genesis 37:9 (NIV)

9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

ii. Genesis 39:2 (NIV)

2 The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

Genesis 39:21 (NIV)

21 the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

iii. Genesis 40:8 (NIV)

8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

iv. Joseph had an unbroken fellowship with God. His circumstances kept changing but his relationship with God was constant. He had fellowship with God when he was a favored son in his father’s house. God communicated with him through dreams revealing his future. He grew up with a vision about his life and future. Soon the circumstances changed in his life. He became a slave in Potiphars house and later a prisoner in jail. But his fellowship with God was unaffected. God was with him all the time. He could still interpret dreams in the prison. He was still using his spiritual gifts in spite of adverse circumstances. His unbroken fellowship with God was a powerful secret of his fruitfulness.

b. APPLICATION

i. Nothing in this life is forever. Family health, Job security, even freedom. All of the things we value today could be gone or changed in an instant. But God is never changing. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. My circumstances do not define me, but my relationship with God defines me. I WILL STRIVE TO MAKE MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IN MY LIFE.

2. JOSEPH HAD FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN

a. OBSERVATIONS

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i. Genesis 37:3 (NIV)

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.

ii. Genesis 39:4 (NIV)

4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.