Rev. Dr. A. A. Obe (JP)
April 10, 2022
YOUR STORY WILL CHANGE FOR BETTER.
TOPIC: YOUR STORY WILL CHANGE FOR BETTER
Text: Genesis 37:1-11, 19-24, 26-28; Genesis 39:1-4,7-12, 19-22; Genesis 41:14-16,37-44;
Genesis 42:3-8
Genesis 37:1-1:
VS 1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
VS 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
VS 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
VS 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
VS 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
VS 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
VS 7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
VS 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
VS 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
VS 10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
VS 11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
Genesis 39:1-4
VS 1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
VS 2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
VS 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
VS 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
Genesis 39:7-12;
VS 7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
VS 8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
VS 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
VS 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
VS 11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
VS 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
Genesis 39:19-22;
VS 19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
VS 20 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.
VS 21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
VS 22 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.
Genesis 41:14-16;
VS14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
VS 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
VS 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Genesis 41:37-44;
VS 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
VS 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
VS 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
VS 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
VS 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
VS 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
VS 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
VS 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 42:3-8;
VS 3 And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
VS 4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
VS 5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
VS 6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
VS 7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
VS 8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
Definition and Introduction:
Story is an account giving or a narration. It is some happenings whether in life or death. It is an historical account.
In life, story can be said to be the account of what a person is passing through. It can also be what those persons pass through before getting to where they are in life today.
Not every story has a negative ending. The Bible told us a lot about great men and women who passed through a lot of life challenges but at the end God saw them through and today we share their story.
What to note:
A. Note that the glory you attain today came after one or two challenges of life.
B. The story you share today is based on the victory God gave you over that challenge(s) you overcame.
C. Every great man or woman had their story period
D. Behind every GLORY there is a STORY.
I. Observation from the text
1. Joseph brother hates him with passion – Chapter 37
2. In Egypt, Potiphar’s wife lied against Joseph because he refused to have unholy affair with her. And he found himself in prison – Chapter 39.
3. In prison Joseph interpreted two persons dream, but he was not remembered – Chapter 40.
4. God caused Pharaoh to have a dream and Joseph was remembered – Chapter 41.
5. Joseph was rewarded and he became an important part of the government of Egypt – Chapter 42.
Note: Whatever you are passing through now is the STORY for your tomorrow’s GLORY In Jesus’ name.
II. What to do when passing through your story period:
*1. Be faithful and truthful to God no matter what may come your way- Proverb 4:20-27
Proverb 4:20-27;
VS 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
VS 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
VS 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
VS 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
VS 24 Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
VS 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
VS 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
VS 27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
*2. Be strong, be courageous and have the believe that God can still do it – Matthew 19:26
Matthew 19:26 – 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
*3. Always make the Word of God your friend. Read it daily – Psalm 1:1-3
Psalm 1:1-3;
VS 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
VS 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
VS 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
*4. Don’t play with your prayer life (be prayerful) – Luke 5:16
Luke 5:16 – 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
*5. Lean to give room to the Holy Spirit, listen to Him and allow Him to guide you – John 14:26
John 14:26 – 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Conclusion:
As long as you allow God via the Holy Spirit to guide you, your story can still change. Even our Lord Jesus Christ after enduring the cross and died, on the third day He rose again from the dead and today He is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Note This Song:
Move on, Move on, Don’t be frightened.
The Saviour understands, it shall be well
Move on, Move on, Don’t be frightened.
The Saviour understands, it shall be well.