“THE PROSPERITY OF JOSEPH”
May 31, 2010
“THE PROSPERITY OF JOSEPH”
Genesis 39:1-23 (Vs. 23)
39:23 “…because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”
3. He was discerning- Vs. 9 “great wickedness.” To call this sin what it is is half the battle. Sin needs to be labeled correctly if it is to be defeated. Our society tones down terms and makes them more acceptable.
Drunkenness is alcoholism. Homosexuality is gay people.
Abortion is pro-choice. Adultery is free love. How do we develop discernment with regard to these things?
By acquainting ourselves with God’s Word on matters. “Through Thy precepts I get understanding.”
Ps. 1:1-3 Blessed is the man…His delight is in the law of the Lord…his fruit also shall not whither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”
I believe Joseph knew the story of Abraham and Abimilech’s wife.
Gen. 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife…6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
Joseph understood from revelation that this sin was serious! It destroys marriages, it destroys trust, it destroys little children, it breaks down the fabric of society! It is a great sin! Anyone who does not understand that either doesn’t know scripture or just is unwilling to obey scripture!
4. He loved His God- Vs. 9 How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? Sin is against God.
Ps 51:4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Ultimately, the great defense we have against this sin is not that we stand to get some disease or even that we might lose our marriage. But our God wants us to be pure from this sin!
1Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
“The Lord was with him and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.”
The key to it all is keeping God’s hand on your life. The Lord was with him. Someone said to Abraham Lincoln during the War between the States, “Mr. President, do you think God is on our side.” He said, “The thing that concerns me is whether I am on His side or not.”
The man who will take God’s side will:
I. Prosper in his Training (1-4)
II. Prosper in his Testimony (Vs. 3,5,6)
III. Prosper in his Temptation
