From The Pit To Paradise

* When God promises you His favor and grace, don’t let the pit stop you.

* When God says He will bless and prosper you, don’t let the pit stop you.

* When you have a goal in life that will bless you and bring honor to God, don’t let the pit stop you!

K) Listen, we learn important lessons from God when we get into the pit!

* You see, Joseph didn’t realize, and his brothers certainly didn’t know it, but God had a reason for

Joseph’s pit … Joseph was in the center of God’s will in the pit!

* If you’re in the pit this morning, just keep on waiting on God, for He has a way out.

* And when you come out, He has a plan, He has a purpose, and He has an idea for you.

L) Listen, sometimes pits are necessary! * Listen to this email I got here while back …….

* If you never felt pain, how would you know that I’m a Healer?

* If you never went through difficulty, how would you know that I’m a Deliverer?

* If you never had a trial, how would you know that I’m a Comforter?

* If you never made a mistake, how would you know that I’m Forgiving?

M) If you never were in trouble, how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

* If you never were broken, how would you know that I can make you whole?

* If you never had a problem, then how would you know that I can solve them?

* If you never had known suffering, then how would you know what Jesus went through?

* If you never went through the fire, then how would you become pure?

N) If I gave you all things, how would you appreciate them?

* If I never corrected you, how would you know that I love you?

* If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?

* If your life was perfect, then what would you need me for? * His dreams put him in the pit …….

(2) HIS DISCIPLINE PUT HIM IN PRISON – 39:20! * Here’s the story …….

A) As the brothers were eating while Joseph was in the pit, they looked up and saw a caravan of

Ishmeelites, and Judah said in Gen. 37:26-27 …….

* Then Midianites merchantmen passed by and they helped lift Joseph out of the pit.

* He was sold into slavery for 20 pieces of silver and his brothers concocted a story – Gen. 37:31-33.

* The Midianites then sold him to Potiphar, who was an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, and

an Egyptian – Gen. 39:1 …….

B) God blessed Joseph …Gen. 39:2 says that “the Lord was with Joseph.”

* God blessed him so much that he became second in command under Potiphar.

* v.2 says that Potiphar moved him into his house and v.6 says that he was “well favored.”

* But look at v.7-9 … * But she never stopped trying to get Joseph to sleep with her – v.10 …….

C) One day when Joseph went into the house to do his business, Potiphar’s wife and Joseph was

alone … There was nobody in the house with them!

* But this time she grabbed him by his garment and said, “Lie with me.”

* And being the disciplined man he was, he ran out of his garment and fled from her.

* And when she realized she had his garment, she began to scream, “RAPE!”

D) And when Potiphar came home, she told him the story of how Joseph tried to rape her!