Passing the Pit Test

Sion Alford

Dream to Destiny • Sermon • Submitted a year ago

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Dream to Destiny

Week 2

Passing the Pit Test

Robert Morris

We are talking about how to get from our dream to our destiny!

• Everyone has a dream from God and a destiny from God

• Many people live WITH the dream instead of IN the destiny

• But what are the character tests that we must pass along the way?

Genesis 37:13

And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem?

Come, I will send you to them.” So he said to him, “Here I am.”

Genesis 37:14

Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

Genesis 37:15

Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”

Genesis 37:16

So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”

Genesis 37:17

And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.

Genesis 37:18

Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired

against him to kill him

Genesis 37:19

Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming!

Genesis 37:20

Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

Genesis 37:21

But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.”

Genesis 37:22

And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pitwhich is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

Genesis 37:23

So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him.

Genesis 37:24

Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

There was a guy who fell into an open grave

•You can’t get out of here. But he did!

1. The Position of the Pit

What puts us in the position of the pit? (Search me oh God…) • People are just jealous of me! It’s not pride in me!

• It’s not the way that I’m acting or the way I present myself!

• It’s not pride in me; it’s envy in them!

Everything that happens to me is because of others!

• It’s not my fault! It’s not the action; it’s the reaction!

• Joseph had a great opportunity to develop a victim mentality!

People go from financial pit to financial pit and never think

• I’m under-giving and over-spending!

Why wasn’t Joseph with his brothers in the first place?

• Many theologians believe Jacob had to separate them!

• Jacob sent them to help the relationship!

They knew how to tend sheep! 9 of them were in their 20’s and 30’s • Rueben and Simeon were in their 40’s!

• They didn’t need a 17 year old coming to check on them!

Genesis 37:18

Now when

they saw him afar off

against him

to kill him.

, even before he came near them, they conspired

How did they see him from afar?

• He was wearing that blasted coat! He wore it everywhere!

• He wore it in August in Texas!

Look for spiritual analogies when you read the Bible

• Joseph had His father’s favor! You have your Father’s favor!

• Joseph’s father gave him a gift! Your Father has given you a gift

Joseph was proud of the gift his father had given him

• And wanted everyone to see it and showed it off as often as he could!

• Are you proud of the gift your father has given you and show it off!?

I want you to notice that his father didn’t take the gift from him!

• The gifts and callings of God are irrevocable!

• He lost his Father’s gift through his own pride!

Just like he wore that coat everywhere, do you show off your gift?

• Many people slip their gift into conversations

• I’m a prophet! I a prophet too so I already knew that!

Because of his pride, he lost his gift. Many misinterpret Rom 11:29

• First it’s talking about the Jewish people. Even as an analogy,

• Secondly, I didn’t say God took it away, I said He lost it

When he was governor of Egypt, he had hundreds of coats! (Electric button)

• I think he got it back because I don’t think Jacob ever threw it away

• He got his relationship with his father back!

2. The Perspective of the Pit

Let’s get God’s perspective on why we’re in the pit, not ours or

Satan’s

• Once you’re thrown into the pit, the accuser of the brethren starts!

• Satan will try to set your perspective! (Conviction vs Condemnation)

John 3:17

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Satan will say, “Look what God did to you!” (Biblical Worldview)

• Satan will remind you of all the pits you’ve been in!

• Satan will tell you that you’re a Pit Professional

Genesis 37:31

So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood.

Genesis 37:32

Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”

Genesis 37:33

And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.”

Satan will fabricate evidence to substantiate his lies.

• Satan will fabricate evidence to get us to jump to conclusions.

• Jacob came to the conclusion and believed a lie for 22 years!

• He probably had nightmares about his son’s death!

Satan will fabricate evidence that you married the wrong person!

• She’s completely opposite! Of course she is!

• If you married you, you would kill yourself!

Here’s the biggest lie. God created marriage to make you happy!

No He didn’t! He created marriage to kill you!

• Kill your selfishness and pride and then you’ll be happy.

And if marriage doesn’t kill you then he’ll give you kids!

• Then they grow up and leave and then you have to live with just him!

Don’t marry someone like you!

• You know you!

• (Looking at the gym!)

Satan will tell you that you’ve messed up to bad!

• The Bible is full of stories of people who have messed up and God restored them! This is a book of restoration!

It’s not too late to call out to God!

• The purpose of the pit is so we will cry out to Him!

3. The Purpose of the Pit

The purpose of the pit is to get us to cry out to God.

• It gives us time to think and reflect!

• What else is there to do in a pit?

Jonah 2:1

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the fish’s belly.

Jonah 2:2

And he said: “I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice.”

Jonah 2:6

“You have brought up my life from the pit”

God delivered him when he cried out to God!

• God’s will is to deliver us from every pit!

There was no food or water in the pit! (A dry well!) • You might be in more than one pit!

• Marriage, finances, health, relationships, job…

• The question is, “Are you going to turn to God?”

I’ve got such a destiny! My dreams are from you!

• I’ve got that dream about those guys bowing down to me!

I believe as soon as Joseph repented for his pride

• Is when his brothers got the idea to pull him up and sell him!

You might think that this isn’t a good thing to be sold as a slave, • But compared to death, it was.

• Also, it was an important step toward his destiny!

Genesis 37:22

And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

Reuben as the firstborn should have been the favorite!

• The firstborn son has two purposes

• “That he might deliver us and bring us back to the father!”

The purpose of every pit is to:

• Deliver you and

• Bring you back to the Father!

Joseph was stripped of his robe!

• Jesus was stripped of his robe!

Joseph was sold for 20 pieces then later for 30 pieces of silver

• Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver

Joseph was betrayed by Judah!

• Jesus was betrayed by Judas!

The Midianites were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh,

• The same ingredients that they brought to the tomb to embalm Jesus!

Joseph is an Old Testament type of Christ

• But Jesus didn’t do anything to get thrown in the pit!

• Do you know who did something to get thrown in the pit?

We did!

• Jesus was stripped of His robe, betrayed by His brothers

• And thrown in the pit for us!

Do you know how I know for sure God will not leave us in the pit?

• Because He didn’t leave His own Son in the pit!

Psalm 16:10

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol

If you’re in a pit right now, someone’s been there before you!

• His name is Jesus and He went there for you!

If you’re in a pit right now,

• He’ll deliver you and restore your relationship with the Father!

• Jesus wants to deliver you and bring you back to the father!

What brought you to this position

• But don’t have Satan’s perspective on the pit, have God’s perspective

• And understand what God’s purpose it

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