Rev. Dr. Tamela A. Walker
February 15, 2013
St John Baptist Church
Atlanta, Ga
The Secret to Success
Genesis 37:26-28
And Judah said unto his brethren, what profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Genesis 39:20-23
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
The Secret to Success
Many times we have heard the story of Joseph in the bible yet in this scripture. Let us review Joseph life that God used to bring forth his plan by using Joseph. For Joseph was a true servant unto The Lord, in spite what he faced at the beginning of this journey from Canaan to Egypt. For instance in the beginning of Joseph's life his brothers developed jealous towards him due to how his father Jacob not only favored him but also was intense about his education which prepared him for the journey that God had for him. Keep in mind that Joseph was given a gift from God to not only dream the vision but also to interpret the dreams. There are three key points that are important having a strong Christian life as Joseph which points to being successful. Is to hold strong in
1. Obedience in The Lord
2. Faithfulness unto his word
3. Having the spirit of Forgiveness.
In the first point Christians today need to have the same heart as Joseph to Be Obedient unto The Lord. Now with that statement making ourselves accountable for our salvation is not as easy as it sounds. Think about it when you were a child and you disobeyed your parents what happened. You suffered punishment yet it is human nature to disobey. Look at Joseph and why he held Gods heart for his obedience. As Joseph faced each circumstance from the rejection of his brothers, to slavery, to prisoner he was still obedient unto The Lord. What this means for each of us is that we have be same as Joseph even when we don't understand the circumstances that we may be facing in this life's journey.
For that it is important that we must seek God to give us the desire in our hearts to obey his every word. Not just read the bible but live the bible. See that is how Joseph was successful; for he practice by living the word of God. He believed so deep in God that no matter what he faced he still trusted in The Lord. So, Joseph had the understanding that through obedience unto God brought his deliverance in his life. Ask yourself the question if you were in the same situation today as Joseph your brothers turned against you, you were sold into slavery and put in jail for a crime you did not commit would have the same obedience unto The Lord. Would you avoid temptation, would you still pray daily unto The Lord, and would you still hold to your Faith. Nevertheless understand that obedience is an act of doing but having the heart to obey is something we have to pray for.
Therefore not only are we to have obedience we must also have faithfulness. Understand that in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. In this scripture we must understand that our faith is what maintains our spiritual journey in life. Look at it this way in society today there are still forms of adversities that we all have faced. Look at your past life before you fully converted to Christ. Think about it is was it pretty, was easier, and was it hard. Now look at your life in Christ is the same, different or better.
Going back to Genesis where Joseph who was first sold to slavery by his own brothers, second he was jailed for crime he did not commit yet he remained faithful unto God and in all that he faced God still elevated him look at it this was God speaking, hey Joseph you have been faithful unto me; I'll be faithful unto you. Inspite of what you have faced you still stuck strong unto me, therefore I God the created of the heavens and earth is going to stick to you, understand that in order to have such powerful relationship with God we have to hold obedience first to his word. That is what Joseph did he held to his obedience and by doing that everything that Joseph touched whether he was a child, slave or prisoner prosperity was always blessed unto him.
Now we have heard of the first two keys to successes which are obedience and second faithfulness let address the third forgiveness. Take a moment and put yourself in Joseph place as child your brothers where jealous of you all because your father displayed more love to you from birth, they even put sold you to be a slave, also consider as a slave you where faithful to your master and in your faithfulness you jailed for injustice. Yet we must not only obey God inspire of let alone remain faithful when in despair. This when our success is proven to be strong because when take whatever anger, disappointment, jealousy or hardship that put upon us by others such Joseph faced along our Savior Jesus Christ we must let our salvation generate our Forgiveness. We all been subject to being upset and hurt by someone we trusted or loved yet to forgive is the most powerful tool we as God children can use to overcome adversity from others. Keeping in mind in the bible Joseph displayed his hurt and anger towards his brothers when he laid eyes on them when they traveled for food supplies from Egypt.
His first reaction was to put them all in jail for injustice he received from them yet he in a sense challenged them to bring his younger brother to him. He also was spiteful towards them by framing them Ashe was by his maters wife. But God placed upon him a forgiving spirit and he spoke to them that he was their brother. Understand that in Genesis 44:4-8 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. And they said unto him, wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks 'mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? And in Romans 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Joseph life is an illustration of this passage for his brothers meant him harm but God prevailed with through the dream and elevated Joseph even in the midst of his circumstances. Think about if Joseph wasn't sold into slavery by his brothers the children of Israel would perished to the famine in the land, therefore God elevated Joseph just as he elevates us in our Christian walk. Therefore bring the message together obedience, faithfulness, and forgiveness are important for each of us to live righteous before The Lord. Just as Abraham did for through a chain of miraculous events by way of his great grandson Joseph brought forth a blessed nation of people wherefore the genealogy of our Savior Jesus Christ. Let me leave this message with you looking back, makes you smart; looking forward, makes you mature; looking down, makes you wise; looking up, makes you strong. Therefore my brothers and sisters take heed to the word of God and apply it daily into your heart, Minds, body and souls for when you do you begin use looking back makes you smarter, You begin to look forward to mature stronger in the Lord, you look down you gain wisdom. And looking up makes you strong for you seek your refuge in Jesus Christ. With that note let the church say AMEN.
