Trusting God's Plan Through Joseph's Journey
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the central role of Jesus in the story of Joseph and in the entire Bible. He highlights that Jesus is the ultimate purpose and point of the story, and that God is fully in control of history, working out His perfect plan to exalt Jesus and save and glorify the church through His resurrection. The pastor encourages the listeners to trust in God's plan and purpose, even in the midst of the brokenness and hardships of this world, because in eternity, all the suffering and evil will be worth it.
The pastor then transitions to the topic of the sermon series called "Off Script," which focuses on the story of Joseph. He briefly summarizes the previous weeks' sermons, highlighting Joseph's dysfunctional family, his dreams, and his brothers' jealousy and betrayal. The pastor mentions how Joseph was sold into slavery and ended up in Egypt, where he remained faithful to God and was eventually put in charge of Potiphar's household. However, when Potiphar's wife made advances towards Joseph and he resisted, she falsely accused him, leading to his imprisonment. Despite his circumstances, Joseph continued to interpret dreams and remained faithful to God.
The pastor then focuses on the message that Joseph's brothers sent to him after their father's death. Joseph recognized that even though his brothers intended to harm him, God intended it for good, ultimately leading to the saving of many lives. The pastor emphasizes the incredible perspective Joseph had and encourages the congregation to trust in God's power and control, even when they cannot make sense of their circumstances.
The pastor emphasizes the redemptive and loving nature of God. He refers to the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis, highlighting how Joseph understood that God had a plan even in the midst of the evil and sin committed against him. The pastor also shares a personal experience of going through a difficult time with his wife's health issues, but even in the midst of that, he recognizes that God had a plan and used their struggles for a greater purpose.
The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing that God has a purpose in everything and that purpose is the saving of many lives. He recounts the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis, emphasizing the beauty of this moment and the power of forgiveness. The pastor discusses the significance of Joseph's story in relation to the promise that God made to Abraham. He concludes by drawing parallels between Joseph's story and the story of Jesus, emphasizing how Jesus, like Joseph, was betrayed, falsely condemned, and ultimately raised to a position of authority.
Key Takeaways:
- God is fully in control of history, working out His perfect plan to exalt Jesus and save and glorify the church through His resurrection. Trust in God's plan and purpose, even in the midst of the brokenness and hardships of this world, because in eternity, all the suffering and evil will be worth it. [49:33]
- Joseph's story is a powerful example of God's providence. Despite being sold into slavery and falsely accused, Joseph remained faithful to God and was eventually raised to a position of authority. This story encourages us to trust in God's power and control, even when we cannot make sense of our circumstances. [1:02:45]
- God's redemptive and loving nature is evident in the story of Joseph. Despite the evil and sin committed against him, Joseph understood that God had a plan. This is a reminder that God can take all things, even the most horrible, and use them as part of His plan. [1:15:30]
- The phrase "but God" is an important acknowledgement of God's sovereignty. No matter what we may be going through, God is in control and can bring about good. This belief in an all-powerful God who is in charge of everything and has a plan for each person's life is a source of comfort and strength. [1:28:15]
- The story of Joseph points to Jesus and is connected to the genealogy of Jesus. God's plan and purpose for saving many people were in motion long before Jesus came onto the scene. This is a reminder of the central role of Jesus in the Bible and in our lives. [1:40:00]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 50:20 - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
2. Genesis 45:5 - "And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you."
3. Genesis 50:15-21 - "When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?' So they sent word to Joseph saying, 'Your father left these instructions before he died: 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.' When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. 'We are your slaves,' they said. But Joseph said to them, 'Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.' And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them."
Observation Questions:
1. What were the intentions of Joseph's brothers when they sold him into slavery, and how did God use this situation for good?
2. How does Joseph respond to his brothers' fear and guilt after their father's death?
3. What does Joseph's reaction to his brothers' plea for forgiveness reveal about his understanding of God's sovereignty?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Joseph's understanding of God's sovereignty affect his response to his brothers' actions?
2. What does the phrase "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" reveal about God's character and His control over circumstances?
3. How does Joseph's story reflect the redemptive and loving nature of God?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a situation in your life where you felt wronged or betrayed? How can you apply Joseph's perspective of God's sovereignty in that situation?
2. What is one way you can demonstrate trust in God's plan and purpose, even when you cannot make sense of your circumstances?
3. Think of a person who has wronged you. How can you extend forgiveness to them, as Joseph did to his brothers?
4. How can you remind yourself of God's redemptive and loving nature in times of hardship or suffering?
5. In what specific way can you acknowledge God's sovereignty in your life this week, similar to Joseph's "but God" moment?
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Sovereign Plan
God's sovereignty is evident in every aspect of history, including the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of suffering and hardship, we are encouraged to trust in God's perfect plan, knowing that He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. [49:33]
Isaiah 46:10 - "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a recent hardship you've faced. How can you see God's sovereignty at work in this situation, and how can it help you trust Him more?
Day 2: Embracing God's Providence in Adversity
Joseph's life is a testament to God's providence, even in the face of adversity. Despite being sold into slavery and falsely accused, Joseph remained faithful to God, trusting in His power and control. This encourages us to also trust in God's providence, even when we cannot make sense of our circumstances. [1:02:45]
Genesis 50:20 - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Reflection: Can you think of a time when you faced adversity? How did you see God's providence at work in that situation?
Day 3: Recognizing God's Redemptive Nature
God's redemptive and loving nature is evident in the story of Joseph. Despite the evil and sin committed against him, Joseph understood that God had a plan. This is a reminder that God can take all things, even the most horrible, and use them as part of His plan. [1:15:30]
Romans 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's redemptive love. How did this experience change your perspective on God's nature?
Day 4: Acknowledging God's Sovereignty in All Circumstances
The phrase "but God" is an important acknowledgement of God's sovereignty. No matter what we may be going through, God is in control and can bring about good. This belief in an all-powerful God who is in charge of everything and has a plan for each person's life is a source of comfort and strength. [1:28:15]
Ephesians 2:4-5 - "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."
Reflection: What is a situation in your life where you need to acknowledge "but God"? How can this acknowledgement change your perspective on the situation?
Day 5: Understanding Jesus' Central Role in God's Plan
The story of Joseph points to Jesus and is connected to the genealogy of Jesus. God's plan and purpose for saving many people were in motion long before Jesus came onto the scene. This is a reminder of the central role of Jesus in the Bible and in our lives. [1:40:00]
Matthew 1:1 - "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
Reflection: How does understanding Jesus' central role in God's plan affect your daily life? How can you live in a way that reflects this understanding?
Quotes
"Joseph understood that God had a plan... he's like, you sinned against me, you sold me, but now I understand that even though you intended absolute evil against me, you sold me, but God was sending me because he had a plan and he was working his plan." ([23:26])
"God takes all things, the good, the bad, the ugly, the evil done against us, everything, the hardships, everything, right? And again, it doesn't mean those things are evil, there's some bad stuff in that God uses all things. All things is all things and some of the all things are horrible, but even the most horrible of all things, God can say, hey, I can take that and use that as a part of my plan." ([24:58])
"God doesn't lag behind reacting to things as we go. He is always out in front, and you need to understand that as we sift through the rest of this story, right? There has to be this core belief. You either believe that or you don't, that there is a God who is in charge of everything, almighty, all-powerful, all everything, everywhere all the time, knows everything before it ever happens." [17:45]
"What an incredible perspective that Joseph had on his life, even in the midst of all the hardship. Verse 21, so then don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." #!!10:21!!#
"You intended to harm me. God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done. You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good." #!!19:05!!#
"Joseph understood that God was up to something more than feeding hungry people. He was saving people." #!!32:06!!#
"All that was going on in Genesis 37 through 50 in the story of Joseph was pointing to Jesus... when you get to Christmas, you start reading the Christmas stories, right, and you will read the genealogy of Jesus." #!!33:28!!#
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