All right, Genesis 45 verse 5.
Miles reads,
Now therefore be not grieved,
nor angry with yourselves
that you sold me hither,
for God did send me
before you to preserve life.
These are the words of Joseph here
and you notice that
he's telling his brothers in this verse
that it's God that sent him to Egypt.
You know this whole time
we thought it was his brothers
that sold him into Egypt, right?
I mean of course his brothers did
but what you see here with Joseph
is that he's able to acknowledge God.
He's able to say actually
it was God's purpose overall.
You know he was the one
that allowed me to come here.
He's the one that had a purpose
for me in Egypt
and so he's able to acknowledge God
and that's a title for the sermon this morning
Acknowledge God.
Genesis 45 Acknowledge God.
We'll see many times
Joseph acknowledging God
throughout this chapter.
Let's start off with verse number 1.
Genesis 45 verse 1.
Then Joseph could not refrain himself
now let's uh before we actually keep reading
remember his brothers had returned.
His brothers had returned back to Egypt
and they brought Benjamin with him, right?
They brought Benjamin back
and so we pick up the story here
and Joseph could not refrain himself
before all them that stood by him
and he cried.
This is when he cries
this is something he says out loud.
He says cause every man to go out from me
and there stood no man with him
while Joseph made himself known
unto his brethren.
So Joseph commands the steward of his house.
He commands the servants of his house
whoever it is that's in the house
besides his brother to leave.
He tells them to go
and then he wants his purposes
to make known himself to his brothers.
Now he's going to finally reveal
that the second in command of Egypt
is their brother is Joseph himself.
So he sends out the servants.
Verse number 2.
And he wept aloud
and the Egyptians
and the house of Pharaoh heard.
So even though he tries
to send these people out
he weeps so loud
they still hear what's going on.
They still hear it, right?
And he's weeping
cause he's finally
his burden his pressures coming off him
is going to reveal the truth
and it says here
and the house of Pharaoh heard.
So the news travels
they hear of Joseph weeping
they hear what Joseph is about to reveal
and this news gets sent to Pharaoh.
So even the house of Pharaoh
hears what's going on.
Verse number 3.
And Joseph said unto his brethren
I am Joseph, doth my father yet live?
And his brethren could not answer him
for they were troubled at his presence.
So I think obviously it says here
that the brothers are troubled
to see this revelation of Joseph.
They're troubled obviously
they're shocked by this revelation.
They're shocked.
You know they're not expecting
this to be Joseph
that Joseph would rise to such power
so such prominence in the land of Egypt
and of course we know that happened
because of the Lord
and perhaps they're a little bit troubled
for their own welfare as well.
You know they have done evil toward Joseph
they could be wondering
hey what's going to happen to us?
What's it going to do to us?
This is a man of power
man of authority
and so they're troubled
and the other thing you'll notice
by this troubled
it didn't fully process in their mind
that this is Joseph their brother right now.
All right he says look I am Joseph right
doth my father yet live?
Look at verse number 4.
And Joseph said unto his brethren
come near to me I pray you
and they came near
and he said I am Joseph
your brother right?
I'm not some other Joseph
just in case they didn't process in their mind.
He goes I'm Joseph your brother
whom you sold into Egypt
not just your brother
the one that you sold that's me
is what he's saying right?
He's realizing these guys
just aren't processing the information
and so he gives them that further revelation
I'm your brother not just some other Joseph
I'm the one that you sold into Egypt.
Verse number 5
now therefore be not grieved
nor angry with yourselves
that you sold me hither
for God did send me before you
to preserve life.
Wow you know we see the the forgiving heart
of Joseph there right?
He says look don't be upset
don't be angry
don't grieve
you know don't go back to the remembrance
that you've sold me into Egypt
you already saw in the previous chapters
they had remorse
they already saw in the previous chapters
that they were they felt guilty
about what they had done
and they felt that the evil
that was being done upon them
was a result of the wickedness
that they did to their brother Joseph
and Joseph said look
I don't want you to go back
and remember those things anymore
don't let it grieve you
God had a purpose for me
what an amazing thing right?
What an amazing thing
to be sold by your family
to be betrayed by your brothers
to be taken away from your father's house
and is able to turn around
and just forgive his brethren
you know forgive his brethren
and my immediate thought
when I think about this forgiveness
in Joseph's part
is the forgiveness of Christ
when he was being crucified on the cross
in Luke 23 you don't need to turn there
Luke 23 33 it says
and when they were come to the place
which is called Calvary
there they crucified him
and the malefactors
one on the right hand
and the other on the left
then said Jesus
father forgive them
for they know not what they do
and they parted his garments
and cast lots
you see Joseph was able to see
the evil that was being done upon him
and he was able to just forgive those
that did it right
he was able to acknowledge
this was God's plan all along
and we see that with Christ
when Christ is being crucified
yes he was by the wicked hand of the Jews
yes he was by the ignorance of the Romans
you know denying him a fair trial
yes they intended wickedness on Christ
but Christ was able to forgive
those that were doing it
brethren they'd forgive them
because it was God's purpose all along
it was God's purpose
that Christ would die on the cross
hey it was God's purpose
that Joseph would go into Egypt
what was the purpose
at the end of verse number five
God did send me before you to preserve life
he says look you sowed me here
you meant harm
but God meant it for good
God meant it for good
and again the you know Romans 8 28
which I spoke about last chapter
and we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God
to them which are called
according to his purpose
Joseph could see the good
Joseph could see the hand of God
but brethren sometimes it takes time
it takes time to see the hand of God
you could be going through those hardships
but brethren just stay true to the Lord
just remind yourself
whatever difficulty you're going through
God is allowing you to go through that trial
God is allowing you to go through that
for good purposes
for your profit
okay remind yourself these things
and it might take several years later
you know for Joseph
this is like 20 years later almost right
that he's come to realize
God meant this for good
God and he's able to receive
he's able to receive it
and forgive others
you know one reason
that we struggle to forgive other people
is we don't focus on the good
that's come out of the hardship we went through
we don't focus on what they
you know we focus on what they've done against us
rather than thinking about
what did God mean for me
to go through this situation
for me to go through this trouble
and you know we see this great similarity there
between Joseph and Jesus Christ
look at verse number six
for these two years
have the famine been in the land
and yet there are five years
in the which there shall neither
be erring nor harvest
erring is basically just like
plowing the ground
sowing seeds
he goes look there's another five years to go
you know that this is that
this is the second year of the time of famine
we know the first year they had to go and get food
then they run out of food
they had to go again
I guess the second year they've gone out again
just saying look
it's just going to keep happening
for another five years all right
verse number seven
and God sent me before you
to preserve you a posterity in the earth
and to save your lives
by a great deliverance
what is that
when he says that
before you to preserve you a posterity
what is that what's a posterity
that's basically your descendants
you know your children
future generations
Joseph says the reason I've been sent here to Egypt
is to preserve future generations
okay
now this is important because
what is the great promise
that we see in the book of Genesis
what is the great promise
that God gives to Eve
remember that she would have a seed
that would bruise the head of the serpent
what about the promise
that God gave to Abraham
that he would be a father
of you know that
he would be a father of many nations right
that all nations will be blessed
because of him and his seed
hey that same promise
was passed down to his son Isaac
and then it was passed down to to Jacob
who became Israel all right
and so what we see
even through the life of Joseph
is that God is still faithful to his promise
you know that through these descendants
these physical descendants
we will receive that seed
that seed will be born
that seed of course being Jesus Christ
who would save
not just a physical seed here
but of course Christ being the seed
would save a spiritual seed right
all of us can see salvation
even to the point here
of God sending Joseph
to preserve these future generations
to preserve this seed
listen if God did not allow Joseph
to go to Egypt
this life this generation
would have died out
and God would not fulfill
that promise of Jesus Christ
and so we know that God has a plan
a big plan
you know a big plan to bring Christ
and brethren God has a plan for you
God has a plan
God has a vision for your life
that you would serve him
all the days of your life
and when you're going through those difficulties
just remind yourself
God has a plan for me
God has a will for me to serve him
and just keep serving the Lord
no matter what difficulties come
you know just make sure you acknowledge God
that's what Joseph is able to do
acknowledge God
verse number eight
so now it was not you
that sent me hither
it wasn't you
but God
and he have made me a father to Pharaoh
it's like father I guess
you know a position of high authority
or maybe a father you know
because he was also a counselor
as it were to Pharaoh
maybe that's what it's referring to
authority or a council
and lord over all his house
and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt
so again time will bring you
to understand the past
you know why did I suffer in the past
why am I suffering today
it's going to take time
it took Joseph to the point
where he had to be second in command
over all the house of Pharaoh
over the house of Israel to
sorry of Egypt
to finally realize
God's come through
God had a plan
just keep that at the forefront of your mind
acknowledge God
whatever difficulties you're going through
even if you're going through
no difficulties
and if you're having a great life
if you're not going through problems
guess what
acknowledge God
you know just give God the honor
just tell yourself that
it's God that's allowed me
here's the one that's given me life
here's the one that's given me purpose
here's the one that's given me
new life Baptist Church
here's the one that's given me
my husband or my wife or my children
here's the one that's given me what I have
acknowledge God
you know and you know
beautiful characteristic we see here
in Joseph
verse number nine
haste you
and go up to my father
and say unto him
thus saith thy son Joseph
God have made me
Lord of all Egypt
come down unto me
tarry not
what's flowing out of the mouth of Joseph
reverend
God
right
he acknowledges God
verse number five
he said
God did send me
verse number seven he says
and God sent me
verse number eight
and now it was not you that sent me hither
but God
and verse number nine
God have made me
Lord of all Egypt
is Joseph boasting of himself
is he full of pride
you know what he's a great accomplishment
his great position
is it from his efforts
he says no it's all of God
it's all of God
I can only thank God
and if you can please turn to
please turn to Deuteronomy chapter 32 please
Deuteronomy chapter 32
please turn there
while you keep your finger in Genesis 45
and I'll just read a few verses to you
in a very famous one
Proverbs 3 5
trust in the Lord
with all thine heart
and lean not unto thine own understanding
in all thy ways acknowledge him
and he shall direct thy paths
does God want you to acknowledge him?
he does
and if you get into the practice
of acknowledging God
no matter what you're going through
he shall direct thy paths
right
trust in the Lord with all thine heart
but it's easier said than done
okay
because I know you know we have
flesh and blood
I know we have doubts
I know we struggle
when we go through hardships
and we don't think that God is looking after us
but God is seeing us through
God is allowing us to go through
whatever hardship
whatever trials
so he can profit us
he can direct our paths
the the thing you need to develop in your lives brethren
is just acknowledge God
just just give him acknowledgement
whatever situation you find yourself in
you know just find yourself able to do that
acknowledge him from your mouth
1 Corinthians 14 37 says
if any man think himself to be a prophet
or spiritual
let him acknowledge
that the things that are right unto you
are the commandments of the Lord
hey not only are you to acknowledge God
but you're to acknowledge this book
you're to acknowledge the words of God
that these are the words of God
these are the commandments of the Lord
not just the writings of men
you know God wants you to acknowledge this book
this is not some other book on your shelf
okay this is not a work of fiction
you know this is this is a work of truth
this is what God has revealed unto us
this book is a miracle
there's no way you can get 40 different authors
writing about religion writing about faith
writing about eternity
writing about salvation about sin
and yet be as consistent as this word is
this is an impossible work of God
we are to acknowledge the Bible as well now
when you can appreciate your Bible
you can't help but pick it up
you can't help but read those verses
when you set aside the Bible
when you stop reading your Bible
you've stopped acknowledging the commandments of God in your life
God wants you to acknowledge him
God wants you to acknowledge his commandments
found in the word of God
and one more verse before we go to do it on me
Luke 12 8
these are the words of Jesus
also I say unto you
whosoever shall call upon you
whosoever shall confess me before men
him shall the son of man also confess
before the angels of God
and if you acknowledge God in public
you acknowledge God to other people
that's preaching the gospel amen
but just thanking God in public
he's going to acknowledge you
he's going to confess you
before the angels of God
what a privilege
you know for God to name you know brother Tim
you know he says you know
father this is Tim who acknowledged me
you know every time he got an opportunity to preach the gospel
he acknowledged my name
you know every hardship every trial he went through
he acknowledged God
he acknowledged me as his savior
as his help in a hard time
now what an honor to be presented before God the father and his angels
by name by Jesus Christ
and all you need to do is acknowledge him
that's all you need to do
acknowledge him in this life
now look at Deuteronomy chapter 32 please
we're just going to read a portion of the song of Moses
and this is a song that Moses sings shortly before he dies
and I want you to see Moses
because Moses was a very successful man as well wasn't he
he was a man of authority
he was a man who you know God used to defeat Egypt
so the the Israelites would leave that land
but what does Moses do verse number one
he says give ear O ye heavens and I will speak
and hear O earth the words of my mouth
what's going to come out of his mouth
man I had such great victory
I was such a great leader
is that what's going to come out of his mouth
he says my doctrine shall drop as the rain
my speech shall distill as the dew
as the small rain upon the tender herb
and as the showers upon the grass
because I will publish the name of the Lord
ascribe ye greatness unto our God
hey who does Moses acknowledge
God right
he publishes he proclaims the name of the Lord
the great victory that Israel has had at the hand of Egypt
Moses does not proclaim his own name
he proclaims the name of the Lord
he acknowledges God for the greatness that he's done
verse number four
he is the rock
his work is perfect
hey not the work of Moses
the work of Moses is not perfect
you'll never be perfect brethren
you'll never be a hundred percent righteous
you're going to keep mistake making mistakes
for the rest of your life
so don't don't rejoice in your your work right
he says his work the work of God here's my rock
his work is perfect
and uh for all his ways of judgment
a God of truth and without iniquity
just and right is he
a God without iniquity
you've got iniquity
God is just
you're not always just and right is he
you're not always right
but God is always right
God is always just
God is always about iniquity
God is always truth
what a great proclamation from the mouth of Moses
and so we need to acknowledge good uh God
and listen brethren
again when you're going through those trials
when you're going through those problems
just say to yourself
he is just what did Moses say
and right is he
it is right for God to allow me
to go through this trial
it is just
I'm going to trust that God knows what he's doing
he's allowing me to go through this
it is right for me to go through this
can you say that brethren
that's what you need to get to in life
and you get through your trials
your difficulties your tribulations
your hardships
whatever you struggle with your pain
it is right for God to allow me to go through this
that's hard for me to say
I know it's hard for you to say
but this is where we need to be
this is where we need to grow in maturity
in our spiritual life
grow and acknowledge God
magnify the name of the Lord
please go to Psalm 34
Psalm 34
verse 1
a psalm of David
David another great man
another great leader
another great man
that God used to accomplish great things
what does it say in verse number 1
Psalm 34 verse 1
I will bless the Lord at all times
all times
his praise shall continually be in my mouth
is that us brethren
do we bless the Lord at all times
is his praise continually in your mouth
now brethren
you know
sometimes we have a bit of a chuckle
right
we brother
you know brother
I brought up my brother Michael many times right
but he
how many times does he acknowledge the Lord
then look I'm sure he doesn't want me to
acknowledge him for this right
but it's true right
no matter how hot he gets in this building
he's thanking God
that it's not as hot as hell
but praise God right
no matter how unreceptive
the sunshine coast can be
he's thanking God
that it's not as unreceptive
as the Czech Republic
thank Jesus right
what a blessing
hey that's praising God continually with your mouth
that's what David was doing
he was blessing the Lord right
continually
praising him
are you going to be continually in good spirits
no there's going to be times when you're in bad spirits
there's going to be times when you're not doing well in life
but does that mean you stop praising God
hey this is why you come to church
hey there might come a time in your life
and you say well I'm just you know
I don't like the situation I'm in
I'm not happy with my life
I'm not happy with what the Lord's allowed in my life
and that might stop you to come to church
but that's wrong
listen when you're going through difficulties
where you need to be is church
what you need to be doing is praising God and singing the hymns
singing the songs of praise unto the Lord
praising him continually you know with your mouth
verse number two Psalm 34 verse two
my soul shall make her boast in the Lord
now we know we shouldn't boast
all right because we're nothing
but he does boast he boasts in the Lord
the humble shall he thereof and be glad
oh magnify the Lord with me
and let us exalt his name together
okay this is why church is important
so we can magnify the Lord together
exalt his name together
and brethren this church has to be a church
that boasts of the Lord
that magnifies the name of the Lord
not the name of Pastor Kevin Sepulveda
not the name of some other preacher
the reason this church exists brethren
is because of God all right
why is this church on the Sunshine Coast?
oh because Pastor Kevin worked hard to move up here
and prepared himself to start a church
no because of God okay
God is the one that's allowed this church to exist
and he's allowed me to be a vehicle to help this church exist
he's allowed you to be a vehicle to help this church exist
because we're all part of the same one body
it is because of the Lord
that we can exalt his name together in this church
not only brother Michael that obviously
often praising the Lord out of his mouth
but let me just tell you about Pastor Patrick Boyle
at the conference
and just a quick story
at the conference at Paperwood Baptist Church
Pastor Boyle and I we were going to team up to go soul
I was actually looking forward to going soul
when we passed the boil all right
and it was the day of the Indian reservation
so we needed it was like an hour's drive
so we were under the impression
that we're going to get picked up
or we're going to be taking lifts with another brother okay
and this other brother was often on the phone
because he was kind of at the conference
but he was working at the same time
so every now and again he had to step out
and he was on a call
and sometimes he'd be on a call for like half an hour or more okay
anyway both he and I Pastor Boyle and I
were under the impression
that this brother was going to give us a lift
and we were both excited
I had the tracks
we knew where we were going to go right
we had a map
we were going to knock doors
and then our brother that was meant to give us a lift disappeared
and we couldn't find him
and I just said oh
and we both kind of knew this
we both said oh yeah
he's probably taking a call like for work right
so we're just hanging around
we're just waiting for him to come back to you know
let us know he's ready to go
and then it's like 10 minutes later
he's not showing up
20 minutes later he's not showing up
I'm like I better go check if he's still out there you know
has he forgotten to keep right
and I go I can't find him
about half an hour into this
we're like he's gone
he's like and we found it later
he left he forgot to get
oh I don't know if he forgot
or there was a miscommunication
and I was kind of like bummed out a bit
I was like man I really want to go to the Indian reservation
I really wanted to go soul winning with Pastor Boyle
and the words that came out of his mouth surprised me
because look this is something that we know God wants us to do
we know he wants us to go soul winning
I was pumped up for it right
to do a work for God
but then we couldn't do it
it was too late it was an hour away
by the time we'll come back
we're gonna you know mess up the the conference schedule
things like that
but what he said to me was
well God just wanted to give us a rest
it wasn't God's plan for us to go soul winning today
amen right
I was bummed out
it's like oh man he's like no
God wanted us to have a rest
God wanted us just you know take time out
you know that's right
that's acknowledging God
that's turning what I thought was a negative into a positive right
that's me from being
stopping from being frustrated
to saying well no let's acknowledge God
and I'm thankful went to the hotel
got freshed up got a shower
ironed my clothes for the next service
hey it was time that I needed
we needed a bit of a break
and God gave us that break
you know God can step in
and even the things that you know you intend for good
God may stop you from being able to do that
instead of getting frustrated
just acknowledge God
hey God's made me to stop
you know
and I just think that's a great characteristic to have
something that I need to work toward right
and you know it's not a shame to say even as a pastor
where I see qualities of good godly man
that I need to work toward
and maybe I have certain qualities that you say
well I need to work toward that
well I look at you guys and I see you guys as a good example many times
and I need to work toward that
you know
and so we all have a place that we all need to work toward something brethren
we all need to keep growing in the Lord
we need to keep maturing in the Lord
none of us can truly say we made it
because we'll never make it
until we have those new resurrected bodies right
another passage if you can turn please to
is go to John chapter 3
go to John chapter 3
and while you're turning to John chapter 3
I'm going to read to you from Job chapter 2
you go to John 3
and I'll read to you from Job 2
because we all know the story of Job
we all know this is a man who suffered great loss
he lost his 10 kids
I mean I got 10 kids
if I lost my 10 kids
I don't know what would happen
like at once
freak accident right
or not even an accident
it was intentional right
I mean if you lost your whole family
how would you feel?
you know he lost amazing things uh Job
and I'm just going to read to you from Job 2 verse 7
it says so when Satan
so sorry
so went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord
and smote Job with sore boils
from the sole of his foot unto his crown
so not only does he lose his family
he loses his great possessions
his his herbs and his uh
certain buildings and things
and now he has this great sickness
this these boils on his flesh
from the sole of his foot to his crown
he's full of these boils
verse number eight
and he took him a potshed
to scrape himself with all
and he sat down among the ashes
I mean he's just scraping these boils right
I mean it's itchy
and he's probably bleeding
all this pus coming off his body right
I mean he just looks disgusting
verse number nine
but then said his wife unto him
dost thou still retain thine integrity
curse God and die
and what a harsh what harsh words
this is what he says in verse number 10
and he said unto her
thou speakest as one of the foolish women's
women speaketh
what shall we shall we receive good
at the hand of God
and shall we not receive evil
in all this did not Job sin with his lips
man Job is able to acknowledge God
he says man God has given us
so many good things for so long
we receive that
can't we receive a little bit of evil
that God has allowed us to go through
he's able to acknowledge God and say
well God's allowed me to go through this evil
God's allowing us to go through this hardship
don't be like a silly woman
you know what I'm saying
get back on the program
get back and serve God
get back and acknowledge
could you say that if you lost your 10 kids
Job was able to do that
what a man of integrity
what a man who's faithful
and yet he's able to acknowledge
so many good examples in the bible
of men who suffered
more than we'll probably ever suffer
more than we'll probably have suffered
and they will ever stop
and just acknowledge God
be thankful to God for the good
and he's thankful to God for the evil
amazing amazing
look at John chapter 3 verse 26
you know even in your personal ambitions
your personal goals in life
there will come a time in your life brethren
as you mature and you grow in the Lord
where those things that you once craved
the goals that you had once set before you
you know your personal desires
they're going to diminish
and it and it helps diminish those
it'll help you diminish those things
by acknowledging God
and we see here with John the Baptist
in John chapter 3 verse 26
John chapter 3 verse 26
and they came unto John and said unto him
Rabbi
he that was with thee beyond Jordan
to whom thou bearest witness
behold the same baptizer
and all men come to him
so what's it who who did
John bear witness of
that's Jesus Christ
you know these these are
these people are coming up to John saying look
everybody that was following you
is now following Christ
okay
he's saying look your ministry was huge
you had thousands coming to you
but now they've all flocked to someone else
you know your ministry is on a downhill spiral
is what they're thinking right
how does John respond verse number 27
John answered and said
a man can receive nothing
except to be given him from heaven
so look he acknowledges his ministry
the success came from God
hey the fact that now these people
have come to Christ
he's saying look this is all coming from heaven
verse 28
ye yourselves bear me witness
that I said I am not the Christ
but that I am sent before him
he that half the bride is the bridegroom
but the friend of the bridegroom
which standeth and heareth him
rejoiceth greatly
because of the bridegroom's voice
this my joy therefore is fulfilled
he must increase increase
but I must decrease
this is what you need to set for your life
reverend
he must increase
Christ must increase
but I must decrease
listen
when you're a carnal Christian
all right
you've got things planned for your life
you've got things you're aiming for
you things you want to achieve
you're going to find
as you mature in the Lord
those things are just going to seem like
nonsense after a while
you're just going to be
you know as you acknowledge God
you're going to be able to see
the greater truth
you're going to be able to
acknowledge eternity
rather than the temporary things in this life
the more you acknowledge God
the more you want him to increase
and as he increases in your life
as his will becomes your will
you're going to be able to be like
John the Baptist what do you say
he says I rejoice greatly
because of the bridegroom's voice
you know what's going to give you
the most joy in your life
is not when you accomplish your goals
you know you're going to have great joy
in your life when you accomplish
the goals that God has for you
the goals of Christ
when you can set Christ
you know as the priority in your life
and you know since becoming a pastor of a church
this has become easier for me
you know I set the Lord
because I have to
like there are things you know
I've got to prepare sermons right
I'm constantly thinking about this church
I'm constantly thinking about
blessed old Baptist church right
I'm constantly thinking about the brethren
constantly praying for their needs
sort of because I'm kind of forced to do it
more as a pastor
and I remember you know
just as a regular church-going person
you know I had my ambitions
and I had the things of God as well
you know but you know
as a window when I was just a babe in Christ
you know I had my goals first
and you know I'll see where God fits in
but then slowly those priorities will change
slowly the priorities of God
will become my priorities
and of course there is great joy
when you can accomplish that
but it takes you
your acknowledgement to God
and for John the Baptist
he was able to acknowledge Christ
and the great work that Christ was able to do
let's go to back to
let's go back to Genesis 45 please
Genesis 45 verse 10
acknowledge God brethren
all the days of your life
acknowledge him continually with your mouth
continually give him praises
verse number 10
Genesis 45 verse 10
and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen
so these are the words of Joseph
to his brethren right
and thou shalt be near me
thou and thy children
and thy children's children
and thy flocks
and thy herds
and all that thou hast
and there will I nourish thee
for yet there are five years of famine
lest thou and thy household
and all that thou hast come to poverty
and behold your eyes see
and the eyes of my brother Benjamin
that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you
and you shall tell my father
of all my glory in Egypt
and of all that you have seen
and you have haste
so and you shall haste
and bring down my father hither
now brethren I want you to think about this story here
you know it's a land of
it's a time of famine right
they're struggling with getting the food they need
it's only two years in the seven year period
that they've gone through
Joseph says look come to the land
come to Egypt
and you can live or you can dwell
in the land of Goshen right
he says look it's a place that's fruitful
it's a place that's productive
you can come with your children
you can come with all your herds
all the animals you have
and he says look that he will provide the needs
he's going to be able to give them food continually
for them okay during this time of famine
and if you can go to Psalm 37 now
Psalm 37
again keep your finger there in Genesis 45
but Psalm 37
and parents I guess I want you to focus in
on this passage here in Psalm 37 verse 23
obviously Jacob was concerned for his family
for his household his children
he was concerned for his children's children
he was concerned for his cattle
you know were they going to starve to death
were they going to die
but look at verse number 23 Psalm 37 23
the Bible says the steps of a good man
are ordered by the Lord
and he delighteth in his way
you know if you want your steps
to be ordered by the Lord
you've got to be a good man
you've got to be a good woman
you've got to be a good child serving the Lord
look at verse number 24
though he fall and we will fall
okay we're not perfect
he shall not be utterly cast down
for the Lord uphold of him with his hand
now were the children of Israel
was Jacob falling as it were
yeah to some extent right
they were they were without food right
but were they actually cast down
were they going to die from hunger
no the Lord will uphold him
look at verse 25
I have been young and now am old
yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken
nor his seed begging bread
he is ever merciful and lender
and his seed is blessed
brethren a great promise of God
if we're saved
if we seek to live righteously for God
it says that your seed will not be begging for bread
that you will not be forsaken
and brethren I know as parents
one of our greatest concerns
one of the greatest things that's on your mind
is can I provide for the family
are we going to have enough
is this job going to provide our needs
are my children going to suffer
are my children going to go hungry
we have a promise here of God
that your children will never go hungry
you know if you're saved
you're serving the Lord righteously
he's going to provide bread for your seed
you're never going to have to beg for bread
you're never going to have that hunger
you know and be concerned for your children
you know I'm also teaching through the end times
and the end times is going to be tribulation
there's going to be a shortage of food right
but what's the promise here
your seed will never beg for bread
God's going to provide our needs
all we need to do is live righteously for God
and look did it seem difficult for Jacob
absolutely they didn't have food on their land
in the land of Canaan
they had to go to Egypt
but God had set things in motion
that they would not starve all right
God had set things in motion
that they would have the food
that they would be taken care of
look at verse number 26 in Psalm 37
it says here speaking of the righteous
speaking of the saint
he is ever merciful and lendeth
and his seed is blessed
man if there's a shortage of food
don't I mean your natural thought would be
I need to keep this for myself
what does the righteous do
he is ever merciful and lender
he gives of himself
and this is why we don't need to be afraid to lend
we don't have to be afraid to give to others
because God's going to make sure
that our seed is blessed
he's going to make sure that we're provided for
you say well then I can just quit job
I can just quit my job
and God's going to provide for me
that's not being righteous
you quit your job and think oh well
God's going to take care of it
that's not being righteous
God wants you to go to work
that's part of his commandments to you
to provide for those that are under you
okay to be a hard worker
to provide for your family
if you do what God's asked you to do
you get a job you work hard
he's going to make sure he provides your needs
you're going to make sure he provides for your family
for your children and for your children's children right
he's going to do that for you
but you need to do the righteous thing
you need to go out there get a job
provide for yourself
go back to Genesis 45 verse 14
Genesis 45 verse 14
and he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept
and Benjamin wept upon his neck
moreover he kissed all his brethren
and wept upon them
and after that his brethren talked with him
and the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house saying
Joseph's brethren are come
and it pleased Pharaoh well and his servants
and Pharaoh said unto Joseph
say unto thy brethren
this do ye laid your beasts and go
get you unto the land of Canaan
and take your father and your households
and come unto me
and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt
and ye shall eat of the fat of the land
now thou art commanded
this do ye take you wagons
out of the land of Egypt for your little ones
and for your wives
and bring your father and come
also regard not your stuff
for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours
so Pharaoh he's so happy with Joseph right
he says look just bring your family
look just take these wagons right
verse number 19
out of the land of Egypt for your little ones
if you don't have the necessary resources
you don't have the modes of transport
take the wagons
take the take the cars right
take the van take whatever you need right
so so the little ones the children
so the women don't have to uh
you know labor hard in their journey to Egypt
let them ride in comfort is what he's saying right
and so he's very generous to to Joseph and his family
oh I like this Pharaoh all right
I like this Pharaoh
he's good to to God's people here
and it's interesting what he says in verse number 20 also
he says also regard not your stuff
he says look if you can't take all your things all your stuff
don't worry about it don't don't regard it
just just let it go
if you can't take everything with you
he says for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours
it's going to be better for you over here
whatever whatever you you can't take with you
you're going to have more of it in the land of Egypt okay
and uh I'll just read a portion of scripture to you here
in 2 Corinthians 4 17
it reminds me of this it says
for our light affliction which is but for a moment
work it for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory
Brethren you know what the bible says here
your hardship your affliction is a light affliction
no no it's very heavy
no it's light in comparison to the glory
the eternal weight of glory in heaven that's awaiting you all right
this is like what Pharaoh says regard not your stuff
don't worry about your afflictions
it's it's it's so small in comparison
to the glory you're going to get in eternity
now what a truth to live by
it's hard it is hard
and then it says in verse number 18
while we look not at the things which are seen
but the things which are not seen
for the thing for uh for the things which are seen a a temporal
but the things which are not seen are eternal
what does God want us to think about
what what does God want us to see set our sights on the eternal
the glories of heaven
don't regard your stuff on this earth brethren
you know don't be someone that's laying up your treasures on this earth
you know do what God asked you to do
yeah work hard the Lord will bless you on this earth
God will give you many things
as Australians you probably heard my sermon at Pay for Word
we're rich we're like the richest people in this world
all right per adults
you know God's given us amazing riches on this earth already
but God does not want us to regard our stuff here on this earth
the temple things okay
they're here to get us through life
but they're here to help us serve God and be focused on eternity
you know use your riches use your possessions
to serve God not to serve yourself
use to serve God
have your sights set on eternal matters
Genesis 45 verse 21
and the children of Israel did so
and Joseph gave them wagons according to the commandment of Pharaoh
and gave them provision for the way
to all of them he gave each man changes of raiment
but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver
and five changes of raiments
so Joseph is given his brothers all this stuff
the wagons right the transportation
he gives them a change of clothes
he gives them especially Benjamin 500 pieces of silver
all right he's given them money clothing and transportation
all right and here's what you need to understand Brevin
to get to heaven all right we live on this earth
we're traveling through you know we're sojourners on this land
our destination is the new heavens and the new earth
you know the new Jerusalem
God's going to give you every provision you need to get there in life
okay now of course that first provision is Jesus Christ
okay I am the way the truth and the life
no man cometh unto the father but by me
but then we're living on this earth as well
okay we're going through the hardships of life
we're going through the struggles of life
we're going through the struggles of sin
we're going through the struggles maybe financially
maybe the struggles with relationships
whatever it is maybe you're lacking faith in the Lord
but God promises to give you everything you need to make that journey smooth
to make it easy what did Jesus says
this is my burden is light take my yoke upon you right
he says and learn of me
you know Jesus does not ask a lot from you
he gives you the power of God
this is why we have to walk in the spirit
you know if we're not in the spirit
if we're not relying upon the strength of God
yes life is difficult
but when you're in the spirit
when you have the power of God at your disposal
God makes it light
God makes it easy
in fact it's his power that's getting you through in life brethren
you know if life is difficult for you today
you're not using the spirit of God
you're not using the power of God
you know we need to tap into that power
he gives us the change of raiment
he gives us the finances
he gives us the mode of transportation
so we can be focused on the travel to heaven
and look at verse number 23
and to his father he sent after this manner
10 asses laden with the good things of Egypt
and 10 she-asses laden with corn
and bread and meat for his father by the way
so food as well he's given him
and so he sent his brethren away
so they're going back to the land of Canaan right
and they departed
and he said unto them
see that you fall not out by the way
he says don't give up
you know make sure you go all the way
and you come all the way back
you know you accomplish the goal
you accomplish the mission is what Joseph says
don't be afraid just do what I've asked
you've got everything at your disposal
don't stop don't fall out of the way
and brethren Galatians 6 9 says
and let us not be weary in well-doing
for in due season we shall reap if we faint not
and if you want to reap the blessings of God
don't faint keep going
even when you're tempted to faint
even when you're tempted to give up serving the Lord
don't faint don't get weary in well-doing
just complete the journey
be faithful to the journey that God has asked us to do
verse 25 and they went up out of Egypt
and came into the land of Canaan
unto Jacob their father
and told him saying Joseph is yet alive
and he is governor over all the land of Egypt
and Jacob's heart fainted
for he believed them not
so they're telling their father brothers get back
and tell look Joseph's alive
he says here the father believed them not
he doesn't believe why
because he believed he died
all right he believed
as far as Jacob is concerned or Israel is concerned
Joseph is dead
he's mourned the death
he's accepted the death of Joseph right
and he's hearing about him being alive
he says he believed them not
all right now as we finish this chapter
I want you to think about someone else that died
and was alive he's yet alive right
that's of course our Lord Jesus Christ
okay brethren
and I just want to finish up on solving in here
because we're going right
we're going to people
we're telling them about the Savior who died
Jesus Christ
but what I need you to focus on
when you give the gospel
is not just focus on the death
but also focus on his resurrection
focus that Jesus Christ is alive
now obviously when we give the gospel
what is the gospel?
It's a death
it is a burial
it is a resurrection
it is a fact that Jesus Christ has been risen from the dead
and the bible says
and if Christ be not raised
your faith is vain
ye are yet in your sins
it's important for you to acknowledge
the resurrection of Christ
that he is alive
and if they're not convinced at his resurrection
that he's alive
then he's going to be like Jacob
believe not
they're not going to believe that you know the gospel message
all right
now sometimes you know obviously I'm giving the gospel to people
maybe you've all experienced this
those that go thoughts or soul when you
and I say to them you know
once we finish the gospel presentation
I summarize it you know
so would you admit you're a sinner?
yes according to the bible
where the sinners go without Christ or to hell
all right but does God want us to go to hell?
no
and then I'll get to this question
so what did God do so we didn't have to go to hell?
oh he died on the cross
or he sent Jesus something like that right
he died on the cross for our sins
and that's usually I mean
I would say the vast majority of time
that's without end
he died on the cross for our sins
and then I'm like and?
how long was he dead for?
oh yeah three days
and then oh yeah he rose again from the dead
amen that's the gospel now you're getting it right
you've got to acknowledge the resurrection
that's so important okay
without the resurrection your faith is in vain
now how do they convince him though
when you look at Jacob he doesn't believe
they told him no he's alive
he doesn't believe
what convinces him let's keep going verse number 27
and they told him all the words of Joseph
which he said unto them
and when he that's when Jacob saw the wagons
which Joseph had sent to carry him
the spirit of Jacob their father revived
and Israel said it is enough
Joseph my son is yet alive
I will go and see him before I die
so what convinced Israel that Joseph was alive
it's basically the evidence of his
that he's alive right
all the things that Joseph had given them right
all that evidence the wagons the food the money the clothing
look Joseph is alive
look what he's given us
and he looks at the evidence
yep it is enough
he believes now that Jesus Christ is alive
Brethren what is the evidence
that we need to give of Jesus Christ
did you witness the resurrection of Christ
can you go and knock on someone's door
and say listen I'm telling you
I saw Christ resurrected 2000 years ago
I mean you can't say that
now that is one witness that Jesus Christ used
that is one sure evidence that Christ used
in the first century right
these people that saw the resurrected Christ
but for us brethren you know 2 Peter 1 19
we have also a more sure word of prophecy
what's the sure word of prophecy
this book once again
this is the evidence of Christ's resurrection
of his sacrifice of coming back to life
Romans 10 17
so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing
by the word of God
brethren as soul winners
use this book as much as you can
this is the evidence of Christ's resurrection
this is what's going to cause people
to believe that Christ not only died
but that he rose again from the dead
that he is alive
brethren you know as you know
if you're someone that's not used to soul winning
maybe you're going out for the first time
stop relying on you convincing people
just from your own words
go to the word of God
use the word of God
memorize the scriptures all right
memorize the gospel presentation
as far as the scriptures go
that's what's going to cause people to believe
okay
and if you're finding that you're struggling
to see people believe on Christ
you probably need more scripture okay
you probably need to rely less on what you
you know can uh argue
and more on the word of God
this is the evidence of the resurrected Christ
and so those are some of the parallels there
that we see in Genesis 45
but what I want to end with
just once again brethren
acknowledge God
and get into the habit every day of your life
ask yourself a question tomorrow
before you go to bed
have I acknowledged God today?
say man I'm not really
then you need to work on it right
and say well I didn't really do very well on Monday
so Tuesday I'm going to acknowledge God
Wednesday I'm going to acknowledge God
it's not just church on Sundays
it's not just church on Wednesday evenings
you need to learn to acknowledge God
all the days of your life
let's pray