Sunday AM Service
"When Nothing Seems To Make Sense”
Genesis 39:20-23 (ESV) 20 And Joseph's master took him and (A)put him into the (B)prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. 21 But (C)the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love (D)and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison (E)put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because (F)the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.
Joseph was placed in prison not for doing anything wrong, but for doing something right.
1. DON’T DEMAND TO UNDERSTAND
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) 5 (A)Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and (B)do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways (C)acknowledge him,
and he (D)will make straight your paths.
Isaiah 50:10-11 (ESV)
10 Who among you fears the LORD
and obeys (A)the voice of his servant?
(B)Let him who walks in darkness
and has no light
trust in the name of the LORD
and rely on his God.
11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire,
who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire,
and by the torches that you have kindled!
(C)This you have from my hand:
you shall lie down in torment.
You can come to a time of perplexity even though you have done nothing wrong.
per•plexed
1. Filled with confusion or bewilderment; puzzled.
2. Full of complications or difficulty; involved.
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1. Job was perplexed at times.
2. Habakkuk was perplexed at times.
3. John the Baptist was perplexed at times.
Luke 7:28 (ESV)
28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
John 1:29 (ESV)
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, (A)the Lamb of God, who (B)takes away the sin (C)of the world!
Matthew 11:3 (ESV)
3 and said to him, “Are you (A)the one who is to come, or shall we (B)look for another?”
4. Paul was perplexed at times.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
9 (A)For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
2. DON’T FAIL TO BE FAITHFUL
Genesis 39:21-23 (ESV)
21 But (A)the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love (B)and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison (C)put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because (D)the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.
Genesis 39:2 (ESV)
2 (A)The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
The same God who was with Joseph in the good times was with him in the bad times.
3. DON’T BOW TO BITTERNESS (Genesis 40:14-15)
Genesis 40:14-15 (ESV)
14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For (A)I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and (B)here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”
1 Peter 2:20 (ESV)
20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But (A)if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.
One of the greatest tests in life is this: Not how you react when you’re punished for doing wrong, but how you react when you’re persecuted for doing right.
4. DON’T BE UNWILLING TO WAIT (Genesis 40:23)
Genesis 40:23 (ESV)
23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Genesis 41:46 (ESV)
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he (A)entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.
Psalm 37:5-9 (ESV)
5 (A)Commit your way to the LORD;
(B)trust in him, and he will act.
6 (C)He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as (D)the noonday.
7 (E)Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
(F)fret not yourself over the one who (G)prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 (H)Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
(I)Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 (J)For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the LORD shall (K)inherit the land.
1 Peter 5:6 (ESV)
6 (A)Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
5. DON’T LET DREAMS DISSOLVE (Genesis 41:37-44)
Genesis 41:37-44 (ESV)
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, (A)in whom is the Spirit of God?”[a] 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 (B)You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command.[b] Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, (C)I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh (D)took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and (E)clothed him in garments of fine linen (F)and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. (G)And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!”[c] Thus he set him (H)over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and (I)without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
Joel 2:28 (ESV)
28 [a] (A)“And it shall come to pass afterward,
that (B)I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
(C)your sons and (D)your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.
Closing
Joseph never forgot the dream that God gave him and God never forgot the dream either.