God is. . . Able to Redeem
God Is. . . • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsGod is able to redeem both the evil in and around us.
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Introduction
Introduction
In his book, The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer wrote:
What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.
The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man’s spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God.
For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.
We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God.
—A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (New York: HarperCollins, 1978), 1.
God Is. . .
God Exists
God is actively interested in you
God Is. . . For His Own Glory
We are not the center of all things - God is.
God being for his own glory is both right and good.
The church exists to display and advance the glory of God
God Is. . . Love (1,2)
God’s Love is the Evidence of the Believer. (7-8)
God’s Love is the Evidence of the Believer. (7-8)
We show we belong to God when we love like God. (7-8a)
God loves because he IS love. (8b)
God’s Love is the Gift of the Believer. (9-10)
God showed the world his love by sending Jesus. (9)
Jesus shared God’s love by satisfying God’s wrath. (10)
God’s Love is the Mission of the Believer.
God Is. . . Good
Sometimes the goodness of God is assumed. (LORD is good.)
Sometimes the goodness of God is overlooked. (See)
We are blind to the blessings already around us.
2. We're missing an eternal definition of what is good.
3. We have a selfish view of our blessings.
Sometimes the goodness of God is misunderstood. (Taste)
Sometimes the goodness of God is underused. (Blessed . . . refuge)
God Is. . . Able to Redeem
What Redemption Means
Ryrie’s Basic Theology C. The Doctrine Summarized
Redemption may be summarized around three basic ideas. (1) People are redeemed from something; namely, from the marketplace or slavery of sin. (2) People are redeemed by something; namely, by the payment of a price, the blood of Christ. (3) People are redeemed to something; namely, to a state of freedom; and then they are called to renounce that freedom for slavery to the Lord who redeemed them.
Redeemed:
Redeemed:
from bondage (slavery/sin)
by means of a payment of price
to freedom
There is also a restorative
4 who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
God is in the business of redemption.
From on, God has been in the process of redemption- working in and through all sorts of people to bring about an end to sin and a start to freedom.
I want to look at the story of Joseph for two reasons:
To see common areas of life where we feel the need for redemption - Areas of life that we might be able to identify with that we would consider a ‘loss.'
To see the character of Joseph as he waits on God’s plan of redemption.
*God is able to redeem both in and through His people.*
The hero of the Joseph story is not Joseph - It’s God. Joseph did not save himself - God saved Joseph.
Gen 50:18-
Common areas where we feel the need for redemption :
Relationships
Reputation
Time
Sin
Reputation
Sin
Relationships
Relationships
18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
1 Jacob lived in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
Gen 37:
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
:
All of Joseph’s relationships changed in an instant
What must Joseph been feeling while sitting in the pit?
Direction of life completely changed
What must Joseph have been thinking on his way to Egypt?
Reputation
Reputation
1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”
Gen 39:6b-
19 As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
Gen 39:19-
Joseph did the right thing yet was still accused of wrong.
He was accused falsely - he was labeled.
Gen 39
Time
Time
cupbearer and baker
14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.
Gen 40:14
14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. 15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”
15 For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head,
20 On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,
Joseph had been faithful to God and God had used Joseph to interpret the dreams yet now
Sin
Sin
Gen 50:
17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
The guilt of Joseph’s brothers must have been intense - or at least the fear that Joseph would retaliate.
Throughout the story they tend to attribute difficulties to punishment for what they did to Joseph
Heavy conscious for past sins
Joseph leaves to God to judge
18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
“You meant evil against me,”
“You meant evil against me,”
Joseph told his brothers, using a Hebrew verb that traces its meaning to “weave” or “plait.”
“You wove evil,” he was saying, “but God rewove it together for good.”
I want to look at the story of Joseph for two reasons:
To see common areas of life that need redemption - Areas of life that we might be able to identify with that we would consider a ‘loss.'
To see the character of Joseph
Joseph told his brothers, using a Hebrew verb that traces its meaning to “weave” or “plait.”
“You wove evil,” he was saying, “but God rewove it together for good.”
Common areas in need of redemption :
Time
Relationships
Reputation
Sin
*God is able to redeem both in and through His people.*
What to do while waiting for God’s plan of redemption: (20min)
What to do while waiting for God’s plan of redemption: (20min)
Focus on redemption instead of revenge.
Focus on redemption instead of revenge.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?
Vengeance is mine
Joseph’s attitude was one of forgiveness, not revenge
Joseph did not let allow the sin committed against him to lead him to commit sin
What would have happened if Joseph spent his days plotting revenge?
Remain faithful.
Remain faithful.
This doesn’t mean to remain faithful so that the right thing will happen to you; it means to remain faithful because it is right.
Joseph did not give in to temptation, or have an entitlement mentality of “Do good, Get good.”
His character did not change when his circumstances did.
Look for your mess to become your ministry.
Look for your mess to become your ministry.
“Only God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony, a trial into a triumph, a victim into a victory.” -Unknown
You can still be a blessing even when you feel you are cursed
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
How can you use what you’ve been through or are going through to further God’s plan of redemption?
Have patience in the process.
Have patience in the process.
God controlled the time
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
God’s plan of redemption is less like tennis and more like chess.
God is more eager to redeem than you are.
“The real secret to patience is finding something to do in the meantime.” - Doug Larson (columnist)
Rest in the presence of the Redeemer.
Rest in the presence of the Redeemer.
“The Lord was with Joseph”
39:1 - The Lord was with Joseph
39:3a - the Lord was with him
39:3b - the Lord caused. . .
39:21 - But the Lord was with Joseph
39:23 - The Lord was with him.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Gen 45:
Where we may see a situation as hopeless, God sees it as an opportunity. Where we see testing as painful, God sees it as preparation.
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom
Conclusion
Conclusion
Joseph told his brothers, using a Hebrew verb that traces its meaning to “weave” or “plait.”
“You wove evil,” he was saying, “but God rewove it together for good.”
Where in your life do you sense the need for God’s redemption?
What do you need to do while you wait for God to work redemption in and through you?
Segue to Communion:
God redeemed Joseph
God redeemed through Joseph
God redeemed from Joseph through Jesus
God worked his plan of redemption through Joseph to save the lives of his brothers - one of whom was Judah. (the one with the idea to sell Joseph)
Through Judah comes Jesus - the pinnacle of God’s plan of redemption.
‘Redeemer’ = goel = kinsman redeemer
Person who was both related to and had the legal right to save the life of someone
Jesus is our goel
is related to us as fully man
has the legal right to save as fully God