Jehovah with Joseph

                       "JEHOVAH WITH JOSEPH"

                                                                       GEN 39:2

INTRODUCTION

I. JOSEPH........."JEHOVAH HAS ADDED".

THE BELOVED OF JACOB AND RACHEL

THE ELEVENTH SON OF TWELVE BROTHERS 

THE SHEPERD WHO BROUGHT BACK THE FAITHFUL REPORT

THE BROTHER WHO'S PRESENCE LEFT A BAD TASTE IN HIS BROTHERS MOUTHS

THE OWNER OF A TAILOR MADE MULTI-COLORED TUNIC

THE DREAM-ADDICT

SEIZED BY HIS BROTHERS

SEPERATED FROM HIS FAMILY

SOLD AS HUMAN CARGO INTO SLAVERY

BROUGHT DOWN TO EGYPT

BOUGHT BY POTIPHAR

BLESSED OF GOD

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THE THEME OF CH. 39, IS "JEHOVAH WITH JOSEPH"..."THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH"...WE MUST POINT OUT THAT THIS IS THE THEOLOGICAL TRIGGER OF THE STORY ... IT IS FROM HERE THAT...

V2.    POTIPHAR PERCEIVES "SOMETHING IS GOING ON"

V3-4   POTIPHAR PROMOTES JOSEPH TO HIS HOUSEHOLD ADMINISTRATOR

V4B    POITPHAR'S HOUSE IS THE RECIPIENT OF PROSPERITY FOR JOSEPH'S                  SAKE

V5     POTIPHAR ENTRUTS POWER JOSEPH

V7-21  MRS. POTIPHAR PINES, POSITIONS HERSELF, PROPOSITIONS JOSEPH          AND THEN IN HER SCOURN SHE PUBLICIZES A FALSE ACCUSATION OF             PROMISCUITY WHICH POSITIONS JOSEPH IN PRISON.        

AS WE TELESCOPE AHEAD AND TO FIND THE CONCLUDING WORDS OF JOSEPH TO HIS BROTHERS,

"YE THOUGHT EVIL AGAINST ME; BUT GOD MENAT IT UNTO GODD, TO BRING TO PASS, AS IT IS THIS DAY, TO SAVE MUCH PEOPLE ALIVE." GEN 50:20

JOSEPH

                        HEIR OF HIS GRANDFATHER'S AND FATHER'S FAVORITISM

                        HEIR TO HIS UNCLE'S AND BRO.S HATRED

                        HEIR OF HIS GRANMOTHERS'S AND HIS FATHER'S DECEPTION AND                                    SEPERATION.

WE SEE THE SINS OF THE FATHER  FILTER DOWN INTO THE SUBSIQUENT GENERATIONS...SEPERATION, SLAVERY, SUPPRESSION AND SANCTIFICATION... AND THROUGH IT ALL JOSEPH'S MAINTAINED A CONSCIENTIOUS CHARACTER AND HE HELD ONTO HIS INTEGRITY....

FOR THE "LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH".

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IF THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH AND HE WAS PROSPEROUS; NOT HAVING THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

HOW MUCH MORE VICTORIOUS SHOULD OUR WALK WITH CHRIST BE.....???

WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM THE LORD BEING WITH JOSEPH?

                                           THIS OT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOD AND MAN?     

                                                  THIS BOND OF INFINITE TO FINITE?

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THE FIRST THING WE LEARN IN THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD.  THROUGH ORAL TRADITION THE STORIES PASSED DOWN...

OF HOW GOD APPEARED TO GREAT-GRANDFATHER ABRAHAM WITH THE GREAT               PROMISE..

OF HOW GOD, JEHOVAH JIREH, PROVIDED FOR HIMSELF A SUBSTITUTE                SACRIFICE FOR HIS GRANDFATHER ISSAC...

OF HOW GOD WRESTLED WITH HIS FATHER, BREAKING HIM TO BLESS HIM...

THEIR WAS NURTURING IN THE WORD...AND BY THE SOVERIGNTY OF GOD...THE WORD FELL ON GOOD GROUND.

THE WORD...WAS HID IN HIS HEART  

                         IT WAS A HIDING PLACE

                         OFFERED HOPE

                         OFFERED DIVINE SUPPORT

                         ORDERED HIS STEPS 

                         MADE HIM WISE

                         IT BUILT HIS FAITH.

"FAITH COMES BY HEARING, HEARING THE WORD OF GOD..."

SO THE FIRST THING WE LEARN IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD.

"IN THE BEGINING WAS THE WORD AND THE WORD WAS WITH GOD...

...AND THE "WORD WAS WITH JOSEPH"

...FOR THE "LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH".

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AS WE OBSERVE  THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD, WE SEE THAT "JOSEPH WAS BROUGHT DOWN TO EGYPT"... "BOUGHT OF THE HANDS OF THE ISMEELITES, WHICH BROUGHT HIM DOWN THITHER."  GOD BRINGS US DOWN, BREAKS US IN ORDER THAT ME MIGHT BE COMFORMED, MIGHT BE BLESSED...

I.          THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFATION   - THE INNER CHANGE

WHERE MANY OF US WOULD HAVE REBELLED AGAINST THE PERILS, PESTILENCE AND OPPRESSION OF THE STRONG ARM OF EGYPTIAN SLAVERY; BACKS BEAT INTO THE SUBMISSION OF SERVITUDE OR WE MAY HAVE SUCCOMMED THE SENSATIONAL SEDUCTION OF THE SWEET PERFUME OF MRS. POTIPHAR...AND... SURRENDERED TO THE WILES OF THE DEVIL, ENJOYED SIN FOR A SEASON...

MANY OF US WOULD HAVE FAILED THE TEST...HANDS DOWN!!!

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BUT THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH & JOSEPH WAS BEING SANCTIFIED; SEPERATED FROM HIS FAMILY AND SET APART FOR GOD. 

GOD SANCTIFIES MEN.   

SANCTIFICATION IS THE PROCESS OF BEING SETTING APART, BEING CHOSEN OF GOD TO BE USED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. 

SANCTIFICATION IS THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SO ALTHOUGH THE SPIRIT WAS UPON HIM EXTERNALLY, THE SPIRIT OF GOD WAS AT WORK.

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BECAUSE OF THE GODHEADS INFINITE HOLINESS, THE FATHER , THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT - ARE ETERNALLY SANCTIFIED.  THE FATHER SANCTIFIES, THE SON SANCTIFIES, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT SANCTIFIES.  OUR SANCTIFICATION IS THE WILL OF GOD.

WE ARE SANCTIFIED IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD.

            "SANCTIFY THEM IN TRUTH, THY WORD IS TRUTH", JN 17:17

            "NOW YE ARE CLEAN THROUGH THE WORD WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO               YOU",

WE ARE SANCTIFIED, PARTAKERS OF GOD'S HOLINESS, THROUGH HIS       CHASTISEMENT.

WE ARE SANCTIFIED BY FAITH.

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SANCTIFICATION IS SOMETHING WE PURSUE, AND SEEK AFTER, IF WE ARE TO OBTAIN IN. WHILE IT IS THE WORK OF GOD - WE HAVE OUR PART IN IT.

                        ROM. 6:19B "PRESENT YOU MEMBERS AS SERVANTS TO                 RIGHTEOUSNESS.:"

WE ARE SANCTIFIED BY OUR UNION WITH CHRIST, BY THE WORD OF GOD, BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, BY THE SPIRIT, BY OUR OWN CHOICE AND BY FAITH.

SANCTIFICATION IS THE POWER OF GOD'S SPIRIT MADE MANIFEST BY BELIEVERS CHOOSING RIGHTEOUSNESS.....

II.          THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S GRACE - THE OUTWARD MANIFESTATION

MOSES DESCRIBES THE SLAVERY OF JOSEPH AND SAYS "THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH."  WHAT A PARADOX!!!

IN THE MIST OF OPPRESSION THERE WAS JOY

IN THE MIST OF SUFFERING  THERE WAS COMFORT

IN THE MIST OF POTIPHAR'S HOUSE THERE WAS THE POTENTATE...

IN SPITE WHAT WE WOULD CALL EXTRANEOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, JOSEPH WAS SENSITVE TO THE PRESENSE OF GOD'S GRACE, THE EXTERNAL PRESENSE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

INDEED HIS FLESH DID FEEL THOSE HORRIBLE ASSAULTS OF THE TRIALS, TEST AND TEMPTATIONS, SINCE THE  FLESH IS SOFT, WEAK AND UNABLE TO BEAR TRIALS...BUT GOD'S GRACE STRENGHTHED HIM...  FOR WHERE THE LORD IS, THERE THER FRUITS OF THE WORD FOLLOW, NAMELY, CONFESSION, DOCTRINE, THANKSGIVING, SACRIFICES OF PRAISE. THERE WAS A SPIRIT OF FAITHFULLNESS, LOVE, TRUSTWORTHINESS, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL, PEACE, KINDNESS...THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH.

AND BECAUSE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S GRACE, HE BECAME A SUCESSFUL MAN."   HE WAS A "MAN OF ACHIEVEMENT."

HIS MASTER SAW THAT THE LORD WAS WITH HIM...

THE LORD MADE ALL THAT HE DID TO PROSPER...

JOSEPH FOUND GRACE IN HIS SIGHT...

JOSEPH WAS MADE OVERSEER OVER HIS HOUSE...AND ALL THAT HE HAD...

LORD BLESSED THE EGYPTIAN'S HOUSE FOR JOSEPH'S SAKE

BLESSING OF THE LORD WERE ON ALL THAT HE HAD IN THE HOUSE / FIELD.

DESPITE THE SITUATION, NEVER-MIND THE CIRCUMSTANCES, GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT AND GOD REWARD'S FAITHFULNESS!!!

"NOW FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR , THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN." HEB. 11:1

"ABOVE ALL TAKE THE SHEILD OF FAITH, WHEREWITH YE SHALL BE ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIREY DARTS OF THE WICKED." EPH.6:16

"WELL, THOU GOOD SERVANT: BECAUSE THOU HAST BEEN FAITHFUL IN A VERY LITTLE, HAVE THOU AUTHORIY OVER TEN CITIES." LU.19:17

..."BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH, AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE."  REV. 2:10B

JEHOVAH'S ASSISTANCE, BLESSINGS AND SUCCESS ARE A PART OF THE POWER OF GOD'S SPIRIT IN ACTION.  GRACE = THE POWER OF GOD'S SPIRIT.

THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH...

THE LORD WAS WITH ENOCH FOR HE WALKED WITH GOD AND WAS NOT..

THE LORD WAS WITH MOSES AS HIS BACK WAS PRESSED BY A MAN WHO KNEW                                   NOT JOSEPH & AS HE FACED THE REA SEA...

THE LORD WAS WITH JOSHUA AS THE WALL OF JERICHO CAME CRASHING DOWN

THE LORD WAS WITH DAVID FOR SAUL SLEW HIS THOUSAND, BUT DAVID SLEW

                                                HIS TEN THOUSANDS

THE LORD WAS WITH JEHOSAPHAT AS HE KNEN NOT WHAT TO DO BUT KEPT HIS                                      EYES UPON HIM...

THE LORD WAS WITH SHADRACK, MESHACK, AND ABEDNIEGO IN THE FIERY                                             FURNACE

THE LORD WAS WITH DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN

THE LORD IS WITH US AND PROMISED TO NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US.

III.         THE POWER OF HIS PRESENSE

IN SPITE OF WHAT EGYPT SAYS, WHAT THE WORLD SAYS...

PRACTICING THE POWER OF HIS PRESENCE....

WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS THERE

THE LORD IS WITH US...

IN SPITE OF WHAT THINGS MAY APPEAR TO BE

WE TRUST THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD

BECAUSE OF THE INVISIBLE MANIFESTATION OF GOD

IN SPITE OF THE SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS AND THE ROLLING VALLEYS

THE UNCERTAIN TOMORROWS, THE CLOUDY SHADOWS YESTERDAYS

GOD IS WITH ME..

THE EVERYDAY FUNCTIONS OF THIS JOURNEY CALLED LIFE

GOD IS WITH ME...

I AM CERTAIN OF SALVATION

LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH  ALLOW ME TO INVITE YOU TO SEE OUR HISTORY NOT AS "JEHOVAH WAS WITH JEHOVAH HAS ADDED" BUT TO VIEW JEHOVAH ADDING JEHOVAH; THAT IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME... GOD GAVE ALL THAT HE HAD, GOD SENT GOD THAT IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME CHRIST JESUS WAS BORN....

LIKE JOSEPH ...

THE LORD WAS WITH JESUS - CAUSE HE WAS ABOUT  HIS FATHER'S                                                          BUSINESS...

GREW IN KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MAN

THROUGH WILDERNESS OF DEMONIC TEMPTATION

INSPITE HATERED BY HIS BRETHERN

INSPITE OF THE PREDESTINED PLOT TO TAKE HIS LIFE

AS HE WAS FALSELY ACCUSED

AS HE WENT FROM JUDGMENT HALL TO JUDEMENT HALL

AS HE HEARD THE PEOPLE DEATHFUL CRY OF DEATH... CRUCIFY HIM

AS HE WAS STRIPPED AND BOUND

AS HE WAS SCOURGED AND MOCKED

AS THEY SLAPPED HIS FACE

AS THEY AS THE BLOOD POURED FROM HIS THORN PIERCED BROW

AS MARCHED TOWARD DUSTY PEAK OF CALVARY

AS THEY NAILED HIM TO THAT TREE

AS THE SUN REFUSED TO SHINE

AS HE DIED FOR YOU AND ME

THE LORD WAS WITH JESUS AND IN DEATH LIFE SPRANG FORTH AS IT YEILDED THE INFINITE POWER OF RESURRECTION MORNING

POWER TO JUSTIFY. ..THE POWER SANCTIFY...THE POWER TO GLORIFY. 

IT IS THE POWER OF HIS PRESENCE THAT CAUSES DARK NIGHTS TO TURN             INTO DAY.

 THAT WIPES MY TEARS AWAY ...

 THAT SPEAKS PEACE TO MY SOUL...WHOLE

 THAT CONVICTS ME OF SIN...DRAWS ME CLOSER TO HIM...

 THAT MAKES ME SAY AMEN...

THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH

AND THE LORD IS WITH ME

ALL MADE POSSIBLE BY CHRIST DEATH ON CALVARY

HE IS NOT ON ME, OR UPON ME BUT DEEP WITHIN

MY SOUL, MY SPIRIT IS WRAPPED IN HIM...

THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH

AND THE LORD IS WITH ME

WITH ME, WATCHING ME, WALKING WITH ME, TALKING WITH ME

AND WHEN I SPEAK MY LAST WORD, SING THE LAST SONG, WALK THE LAST MILE, BREATH THE LAST BREATH

I HAVE THE CERTAINTY OF HIS WORD,

GRACE,

PRESENCE,

POWER,

THAT HE IS WITH ME...THAT I'M IN HIM AND HE'S IN ME, ....

ARE YOU CETAIN HE IS WITH YOU...?

I AM CERTAIN

THAT UNLESS YOU BELIEVE, THE HELL FIRES OF DAMNATION AWAIT

THAT UNLESS YOU BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF GOD

THAT YOU WILL SUFFER A CERTAIN ETERNAL DEATH

CERTAINTY IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT IS FACT, AND CAN BE REALIZED

-IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN HOLD ONTO WHEN THE NEGATIVES ARE BURSTING ALL AROUND YOU

-IS A CLUSTER OF POSITIVS SIGNS  AND APPROACHING ACHIEVEMENTS THAT DEFY THE OVERRIDING POWERS AND WILL NOT DIE IN THE OF DEATH  AND HELL..

I AM CERTAIN I CAN TRUST HIM, HOLD ONTO HIM

I AM UNCERTAIN OF TOMMOROW, BUT I AM CERTAIN OF WHO HOLDS          TOMORROW..

I AM CERTAIN

NIGHTS ARE DARK AND BITTER., HE IS WITH,

FRIENDLESS HE IS WITH ME

WHEN I CLOSE MY EYES IN SLEEP THAT HE IS WITH....

THAT ON THE OTHER SIDE I WILL AWAKE IN THY LIKENESS...

I SERVE A RISEN SAVOUR, HE'S IN THE WORLD TO DAY

I KNOW THAT HE IS LIVING WHATEVERMEN MAY SAY; I SEE HIS HAND OF MERCY, I HEAR HIS VOICE OF CHEER AND JUST THE TIME I NEED HIM HE'S ALWAY NEAR.

I AM CERTAIN THAT HE LIVES, HE LIVES, CHRIST SJESUS LIVES TODAY! HE WAKS WITH ME AND TAKKS WITHME ALONG LIFE'S NARROW WAY. HE LIVES, HE LIVES, SALVATIONTO IMPART! YOU ASK ME HOW I KNOW HE LIVES? HE LIVES WITH IN MY HEART.!!!!!!!!!!!!!