We've been doing this series about “Teaching Your Children”, and we have taught them about “work”; from the life of Joseph. Joseph was 17 years old when he had the dream; and now he's 30; but suddenly Pharaoh has a dream; the prison door flies open and Joseph is promoted.
Now we're going to another season: “Guard Carefully - the Anointing”. God places an anointing on our lives to do the thing that He has called us to do; we need to guard it carefully and cautiously. We do not want to forfeit the promotion after waiting all of this time.
Joseph is in the process of being promoted; there are five actions here that indicate that he wants to protect and guard the anointing of God.
Redirect (when asked if he had the ability to interpret dreams- he gives the glory to God) Genesis 41: 16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
Reflection of God's Spirit ( when he finally gives the interpretation to Pharaoh) Genesis 41:38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Responds in Humility (Joseph responds in a humble attitude to the promotion given to him by Pharaoh.) Genesis 41:42 Then Pharaoh … set him (Joseph ) over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
( Waits to be) “Rewarded” Genesis 41: 45 “And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On.”
Ready to take on responsibility Genesis 41: 45b “So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.”
He was only 30 years old but he was ready because he had lived in obedience to God, he had kept a good attitude, he had honored God, he had feared God more than he had feared man. Promotion is coming… but how are you going to survive…the hoopla and the praise of the masses and the desire to please? God trains us in the wilderness and in the prison in order for us to survive.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “Surviving the Promotion .”
Blessings,
Kevin
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