Sermon Notes at Jubilee Church: 05.09.04
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Joseph - How to be successful
by Adrian Warnock
Audio version
Cell questions
1. Who has a dream that has inspired you?
2. How can we be more effective at work?
3. What is the next step for you at work?
4. Who here wants prayer for their work?
I Cor 12: 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say,"Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, [5] yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
This passage has really got me thinking over the last few weeks.
My broken toe has demonstrated to me the relevance of this. As my consultant said 'the rest of life is on hold'
Each of us have a vital role to play. Are you fulfilling your role?
Do you feel weak? Insignificant? Fulfill your role or we will all suffer.
Message to all listening even Henry and Tamasin on CD
Some of us are good at some things, others at other things. Me and housework for example.
Looked after the kids for a week but place WAS tidy on Andrees return it was tidy (OK, I admit I had brought in a cleaner) But that shows we must each fulfil the role we have.
God does not believe in a secular spiritual divide. I want to look at a man who's spiritual success was carried out in the workplace.
Not all of us to be like Stuart and soon Tope- some of need what could be called 'proper jobs' (not to say that they don't work hard of course.
Trouble with bible stories is that we know the ending. We tend to think of the characters as highly significant.
At the beginning of Joseph's life this was far from true. A son of a wandering shepherd who carried the strange promises of his grandfather which must have seemed very very distant.
A product of a broken home where the tension was apparent every day.
One verse sums it up "Gen 30:15 But she said to her, "Is it a small matter that you have taken away my husband? Would you take away my son's mandrakes also?" Rachel said, "Then he may lie with you tonight in exchange for your son's mandrakes." 16 When Jacob came from the field in the evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, "You must come in to me, for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes." So he lay with her that night."
Joseph was despised by his older brothers and all the more because he was his fathers favourite. He would have lacked the love of a mother as she had died whilst he was young.
Did he need counselling?
Actually he seemed to be a pretty together guy who coped with whatever life threw at him.....
How to succeed- 1. Don't let your background disqualify you
2. Dream big dreams
But he wasn't very wise at first- encouraging to all of us- we can learn wisdom.
The young upstart had a dream- do you have a dream? Be careful how you share it. "I dream to be a leader of a cell group" good dream- but don't tell the whole cell group!
"I want a promotion at work" Don't go in and say to everyone "in two years I will be your boss..."
Gen 37:5-9 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.
Dreams are meant for us to encourage us and to share with those who love us and can help us fulfil them- could have told his father.
Some people are such dreamers that they are no use where they are.
Even his father got it wrong and rebuked him. But his father seemed to trust him and foolishly sent him to check up on his brothers- a big mistake…..
Eg Richard Branson, etc
3. Expect opposition and praise
God's people can often inspire strong emotions- hatred and love.
His own family rejected him. Almost killed and sold as a slave.
4. Be faithful in the day of testing
Didn't ask 'how come no ones bowing down to me!
Got on with the job in hand
Gen 39:3- His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 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.
He was clearly reliable, trustworthy, a hard worker and one who was a joy to be around.
All his work prospered.
He refused to take advantage of his master by sleeping with her wife.
Thank goodness haven't had such an offer.
Do you trust yourself? Don't!! Instead protect yourself from getting close to the situation of temptation.
Today we often work closely with members of the opposite sex and might even be expected to travel the world with them.
In prison, Joseph just carried on being faithful.
He treated the little things as though they had eternal significance.
When God thrust him centre stage he had a long training of being faithful!
5. Turn dreams into practical steps
6. Expect to make a difference- it might be bigger than you think
Don't wait for promotion- make a difference here and now at work, home and church.
7. Be gracious towards those who wrong you recognising God is at work.
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