Job And Joseph And You And I.

[Reading: Isaiah 12 through 24]

“ ‘Look full in His wonderful face’; not just a glance, but a full look that is strategic.” –Rev. Dr. Samuel Vassel

“To whom can you compare me? Whom do I resemble?” says the Holy One. Look up at the sky! Who created all these heavenly lights? He is the one who leads out their ranks; he calls them all by name. Because of his absolute power and awesome strength, not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40:25-26)

In Sunday’s sermon we were reminded that we are to reflect on God’s control, compassion, competence, and character. This is what gives us confidence in our Lord. Pastor Sam referred to the lives of two prominent Old Testament men: Job and Joseph.

The book of Job has many chapters where the focus is on circumstances rather than God. Job’s friends, instead of focusing on God, continued to insist that Job must have done something wrong in order to have suffered such calamities. Job, instead of focusing on God, continued to insist that he was innocent. Towards the end of the book, we see that God instructs Job to consider the majesty and power and creativity of the LORD. Job, even before his goods and household were restored, gave testimony to his change of focus: “My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.” (Job 42:5)

The narrative of Joseph, found in Genesis 37 and 39 through 50, reveals to us that Joseph kept his focus on God. He shared his prophetic dreams with his family. He remained in favor with God. His captors and overseers recognized and rewarded his abilities. Joseph’s seasons of suffering did not move him to bitterness nor self-defense; instead, he continued to point to God as his source of strength and wisdom.

Pastor Sam shared with us that we start with the knowledge that God is in control. Can we walk in this knowledge that saved Job and kept Joseph? Are we ready to turn our focus from our circumstances, however challenging, and instead turn our eyes to the One who rules over all?

What are you reflecting on today? Where is your focus? Who are you watching? 

Lord God, give us grace to keep our eyes fixed on You!

Space (And Time) Invaders!

As we close out our week of reflections on Pastor Joy's sermon, let's consider one last thought (paraphrased here):

God may reveal His plan long before it's fulfilled. The waiting time is a purging time, pruning time, and preparation time.

When Pastor Joy gave us this word, I had two immediate internal reactions:

1) Yeah, God revealed some things years ago and I'm still waiting to see them manifested.

2) I don't know how much more pruning I can take; I feel like there's nothing left but stump.

But, as I thought a bit longer, I found myself encouraged. If Joseph endured and overcame not only his sufferings, but also the temptation to take revenge on his persecutors, then I can do the same. So can you.

It's funny. We like to sing "Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary pure and holy, tried and true," but sometimes we get upset if God's prep schedule is longer than we're willing to wait... and we get even more upset if people ruin our lives in the process. But God loves us! His way, which is perfect, is not designed to frustrate us. His word is sent to bolster us and to give us strength to endure, even if our world is turned upside down while we wait for revelation to become fulfillment.

Here's a little project for today:

*Write down the thing(s) that God has promised you that (to date) remain unfulfilled.

*Write down the name(s) of the individual(s) who are actively working against the word(s) that God gave you.

*Forgive the person (or persons), and thank God for working out His perfect will in each of you.

*Wait on the Lord's timing and placement. What He has said, He will do.

Pastor Joy shared, "Absolutely nothing comes to us unless it crosses God's desk." There is such a thing as Divine delay. There is such a thing as ordained opposition. Does it feel good? Of course not. But we can remain hopeful in God; at His appointed time, He will bring His word to pass.

Saints, be encouraged. God will give you His grace to endure the purging, pruning, and preparation.

Engagement Party.

Today, let's reflect on some of the points shared by Pastor Joy (paraphrased here):

• We are not just people who pray; we are people who have a life of prayer.
• The devil is relentless in pursuing us. We must be relentless in pursuing God.
• God overrides our natural inclination towards unforgiveness.
• The closer we are to God, the more empowered we are to pursue holiness and promote healing.

Questions:

*Are we engaged in a life of prayer? (First Thessalonians 5:17; Ephesians 6:18)
*Do we make the pursuit of God's presence a habit? (Psalm 5:1-8)
*Have we committed ourselves to the demonstration of authentic forgiveness? (Matthew 6:12-15)
*Can we describe ourselves as being a people who draw close to God? (James 4:4-10)

Lord God, may our prayer walk always match up with our prayer talk.

Biting The Hand That Needs You?

Joseph needed the love and support of his family.
Joseph received unhealthy favoritism from his father and jealous rage from his brothers.

Joseph needed a mentor to help him adjust to life as a slave in a strange land.
Joseph received unhealthy attention from an adulterous woman bent on corruption and seduction.

Joseph needed exoneration from false accusation.
Joseph received a prison sentence, and the one man positioned to appeal for Joseph's deliverance forgot about his plight for a full two years.


The story of Joseph is familiar to many of us who have been attending church and/or reading the Bible for a long time. But, God has a way of taking the familiar old words and painting them in new light. Pastor Joy opened our eyes to the level of spiritual maturity resident in the life of this young seventeen year old whose early adulthood was marked by abuse, separation, and hardships imposed by family and society.

Our pastor shared that we pursue intimacy with God regardless of where we are; Joseph was still connected to the Lord even though his circumstances were not good. Joseph certainly evidenced a life of closeness to God. Instead of being angry and bitter, Joseph showed compassion and concern toward the very people who abused him.

What about us? Do we pursue intimacy with God regardless of our station in life? Is our life marked with God-infused holiness, forgiveness, and love? Do we, as Christ instructed, love our enemies and pray for our persecutors?

Loving our haters in our own strength is an impossible task. But with the Spirit of God resident in us, we can easily operate in love... His love.

Lord, fill us with Your Spirit, so that we can authentically forgive and love those who conspire to hurt us.

Rejecting Bitterness... Embracing Holiness.

In this past Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Joy shared with us that holiness is not self-imposed; it is God-infused.

When we are fully committed to developing a growing relationship with God, then we have the privilege of experiencing His presence and peace no matter where we are.  Our private communion with Him is evidenced in the way we live. Our pastor noted that Christians whose prayers are sporadic are powerless and miserable: they are saved, but they are sick.

In the life of Joseph, we see that his relationship with God empowered him to live a life of holiness and compassion. Joseph’s choice to embrace God-infused holiness was not dependent on his circumstance: as a slave, as a prisoner, and as second in command to Pharaoh, Joseph’s connection to God remained constant.

v  “I won’t sin against God by doing such a terrible thing.” (Genesis 39:9b)

v  “I cannot do this on my own; it is God who gives the power to interpret dreams.” (Genesis 40:8b and 41:16)

v  “You sold me into Egypt, but God sent me here to save lives.” (Genesis 45:5)

v  “I live in the fear of God. You meant to harm me, but God has made it turn out for the best and all these people are saved. Don’t be afraid.” (Genesis 50:20-21a)

Though Joseph’s life was hard and unfair, he did not give in to bitterness. Instead, he found his peace in God. Are we able to rest in God, even though our circumstances are horrible?

Lord, give us grace to be in constant communion with You, even when we are disowned, downcast, and disenfranchised. We reject the seeds of bitterness and embrace Your holiness.

Some Pray. Some Prey.

In Genesis 39 we have the account of Joseph's brief tenure in the house of Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. It is in this chapter that we read of Joseph's challenges with Potiphar's wife. After repeatedly failing to seduce Joseph, she eventually lied to her servants and her husband, falsely accusing Joseph of attempted rape. Her story was believed. Joseph, the seventeen year old slave purchased by Potiphar, was imprisoned. He was not released from prison until he was thirty years old.

Pastor Joy accurately described Potiphar's wife as a wicked woman. And, for some strange reason, several congregants found Pastor Joy's description to be funny. They laughed out loud.

What is funny about sexual harassment?
What is funny about an older adult attempting to seduce a minor?
What is funny about persons in power falsely accusing the disenfranchised and voiceless?
What is funny about wickedness?

Why the laughter?

At the beginning of the sermon our pastor gave a brief summary of the spectrum of Christianity (from spiritual infancy through spiritual maturity). And, interestingly, her summary may hold the explanation as to the immature reaction of the laughing congregants. They laughed because they are spiritual infants. Guess what? We really can't be angry at persons who exhibit immature behavior. It's the nature of immaturity. Spiritual infants, like physical infants, need time and training to grow up.

The distinction between the mature and immature Christian is never chronological. The spectrum is spiritual, and the evidence is behavioral.

The immature pursue wickedness while the mature pursue holiness.

The mature understand the importance of integrity and obedience to God while the immature relentlessly press for self-indulgence and temporal pleasure.

But there's more to consider. Pastor Joy noted that some in the community of faith have been "Christian" for decades, yet are exhibiting the traits of spiritual infancy. They are old chronologically speaking, but are still babies spiritually speaking. This gives us cause for deep concern. Why? Because, in effect, the "decades-old infant" is a type of Potiphar's wife-- a source of inappropriate thoughts and actions, a destroyer of the weak-minded, and an agent in support of Satan's agenda-- equipped with position and power. That is scary.

"As Potiphar's wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or to even be in the same room with her." (Genesis 39:10)

Pastor Joy asked a question that we must ask ourselves: "Where are we on the spectrum from spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood?"

Are you praying? Or are you preying?

You Send Pain... I Maintain.

Pastor Joy was our speaker for this past weekend's English-language services. Her sermon, titled "PRAYER: The Power To Pursue Holiness And Promote Healing", provided insights on the role of prayer in the life of Joseph.

Our pastor shared with us that Joseph lived a life of God-infused holiness. In a decades-long experience of hardships and betrayals, he remained steadfast in his decision to walk in obedience to God. His ability to endure hardships, forgive betrayers, and live peaceably was not gained in his own strength, but was gained because he maintained a close relationship with God.

The life of Joseph is recorded starting in Genesis chapter 37, then continues from chapters 39 through 50. I would encourage us to make the effort to read through these chapters, making note of Joseph's crisis moments, his response to each crisis, and the incredible favor of God in his life.

Today, let us take encouragement in Joseph's testimony:

"You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that He could save all these people, as He is now doing." (Genesis 50:20)

Dear Lord, thank You for Joseph's enduring example of how to conduct ourselves in the face of crisis. We are pleased to learn of You through him.