Low Joe!
Thesis: Our man Joe even in the midst of being at his lowest point in life grows into the man God desires him to be. Low Joe grows through adversity into a man on the go by God
Introduction: Joseph’s life can teach us a great deal on how to deal with adversity in our lives. Crowder notes this about life’s challenges:
It has been said that life has to be lived in forward motion but can only be understood by looking back. This demands that we trust in the loving purposes of a sovereign God. We must trust that He is in control-especially when life seems to be out of control.
This is what Paul referred to as walking by faith II Cor. 5:7. It goes against every element of self-preservation that is ingrained in us. We want to take charge, manipulate, and control. But God wants us to trust in the love of a Father who makes us “more than conquerors through Him who loved us”(Romans 8:37).
Such was the life of the Old Testament character Joseph. His life was filled with dark, difficult experiences-yet the final outcome was amazing! In fact, Joseph is able to teach us much about how to deal with the tangled threads of our own lives. He became a godly man in an ungodly culture-a true over comer-and his example can help prepare us as we face the issues of life (3).
Last week we left with Joe our hero being betrayed by his brothers. He was suffering from the disease of favoritism. He was threatened and thrown into a pit and then sold into slavery. So we now find that Joseph is on a 30 day journey thru the desert to a foreign country where he will be sold as a piece of merchandise.
Describe a scenario on slavery!
Slavery is a system of abuse- Stories from America’s early slavery movement are terrible: Slaves where beaten, raped, brutalized, starved, treated as dogs, children where sold from their mothers, listen to just a few:
· One man was whipped for being two minutes late because his church let out late.
· A slave mother’s doleful prayer.
· One woman was whipped for making a minor mistake after church on Sunday and the one who whipped had delivered the sermon that day.
· A man was beaten to death because he was accused of stealing money he never stole. Later it was discovered that the master’s wife had it.
· Essay to be a slave
· American slavery How bad was it?
The key in any circumstance is to learn the lesson in it. To grow out of life’s ordeals requires us to be teachable through the whole ordeal. Crowder states:
On the old Happy Days television show, Richie Cunningham had just been “grounded for life” by his father , Howard, for misbehavior. As they talked about it, Howard asked his son, “Did you know that there is a lesson in this for you?” Richie’s response was priceless: “I figured anything with this much pain had to have a lesson in it somewhere.”
That is real life! We do not learn character in times of ease and prosperity but in times of difficulty. The greatest lessons of life are often the product of our most serious heartaches (2).
Texts: Genesis 39,40,41
T.S.- Lets explore how our hero Joe deals with adversity and unjust circumstances in his life.
I. Low Joe says No to Mrs. Po. In the land of bondage (Genesis 39)
a. Joe said no unlike other Bible heroes like David, Samson, and Solomon.
b. Just because you say no to temptation once does not mean it will never come again.
i. Mrs. Po did not accept Joe’s no. Her repeated tempting was “Yo Joe!” “Come here Joe!” “Joe I want you.” “Joe he does not love me-he is too busy with his work!”
ii. Joe’s continual response was no. It was based not on what his father taught him but because of his relationship with God.
c. How did Joseph overcome this temptress? (Genesis 39:6 -12).
1. He knew that to honor God he had to live the life.
2. He knew if he sinned that it would affect others.
3. He knew that adultery was not permitted by God
4. He knew he had run.
a. Share about the women’s house we did for Urban.
b. Share about girl you dated (Denise)
d. Jo goes but Mrs. Po mo’s and puts on a show.
i. Result of this unfair circumstance is that Joe’s teachable spirit grows. She moans and he grows – who really Lost?
1. Who’s Master
a. Whatever injury wicked men-in-power inflict upon good men is to be regarded … as a test for the good man’s virtues. Thus, a good man, though a slave, is free; but a wicked man, though a king, is a slave. For, a wicked man serves not just one master, but, what’s worse, as many masters as he has vices. For, it is in reference to vice that the Holy Scriptures says: “For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave” (II Peter 2:19). -Augustine
II. Low Joe is thrown into death row-oh no!
a. Low Joe goes to prison and grows
i. Share Jim Bakers story about how 5 years of prison helped him to grow in leaps and bounds. It was a five year seminary.
ii. You might say “Wait a minute!” This is not the place to learn!
1. Well maybe we need to define the term teach-ability- It is defined as the willingness to learn from others, from life situations good or bad and to learn from God.
2. While unteachability sounds like this:
a. See excerpt from Northheartland sermon.
iii. Low Joe has made a decision to not be low but to grow. So what happens in prison he rises to the top.
1. Interesting side note – he should have been executed!
2. Notice cross reference coming up who put him in charge of Pharoah’s baker, and cup bearer.
a. Yes, it was Mr. Po
3. He does not become bitter but better.
iv. Low Joe in prison does not wine and moan he cares for others.
1. He then interprets dreams to these two men
a. Note he gives honor and glory for the interpretation to God.
b. Note the disease of favoritism is cured.
c. He asks not to be forgotten but he is – but he still after two years is not bitter just better.
d. Joe knew that he was not forgotten by God!
e. But one day the cupbearer remembers Joe!
III. Low Joe is on the go! (Genesis 41)
a. Low Joe receives his divine opportunity from the head leader to interpret a dream.
i. He takes it serious and cleans up. Egyptians were clean shaven and Joe knew he needed to look desirable and clean to be received.
b. It’s important to remember that as you stay teachable you also become a teacher to others.
i. Quote from Maxwell “When you are through learning your through.” But a good teacher is one who is always a student.
c. Joe in interpreting the dreams displays the heart of humility and teach-ability.
i. “I cannot but God can!” (verse 16) He knew that to do something he needed to tap the source which was God not him.
1. Andrew Murray said, “We can never have more faith than we have humility.” He continues, “As long as we take glory from another, we do not seek and cannot receive the glory that comes from God.”
2. Murray states, “We need only think for a moment what faith is. Is not the confession of nothingness and helplessness, the surrender and the waiting to let God work? Is it not in itself the most humbling thing there can be-the acceptance of our place as dependents, who can claim or get or do nothing but what grace bestows? Humility is simply the disposition which prepares the soul for living on trust. And every, even the most secret, breathing of pride-in self seeking, self-will, self confidence, or self-exultation-is just the strengthening of that self which cannot enter the kingdom or possess the things of the kingdom, because it refuses to allow God to be what He is and must be-the all in all” (46).
3. Humility releases more of the Spirit of God.
4. Sittser notes, “If God is not in control, then we should abandon faith and find our own way through the hard times of life”(38).
d. Teach-ability also releases more of the Spirit of God
i. Note verse 38
IV. Low Joe moves out to a knew motto in life “GO JOE!”
a. Bumper sticker – Make God laugh tell him your future plans!
Conclusion: What have learned today?
1. Joe learned from God that he needed to say NO to temptation.
· This meant over and over!
· He also learned here that if you say “No” there could be repercussions but don’t worry God is with you.
2. Joe learned through his adverse circumstance and even though he could have become bitter he chose to become better.
· Joe chose to grow and in midst of his trial he showed compassion and concern for others.
· His attitude and trust in God promoted him even in prison..
3. Joe’s humility before pharaoh helped him rise to the top.
· He choose to honor God in front of Pharoah.
· He gave credit to God for the interpretation
· He came to pharaoh all cleaned up
· His humility in God set him free
· His ability to learn through his ordeals helped him to become set free.
· His care for others paid great rewards – even though it was not immediate.
· Joe went from being low to Joe on the go!
