[00:00:00] At Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California. On today's program, we'll see how God used two dreams to elevate Joseph from the misery of prison to the splendor of Pharaoh's court. Joseph had proven himself faithful to God and ready for service.
[00:01:14] And now here is part three of Cheryl's message titled, Learning to Cultivate the Presence of God. We've seen people on diets. They forgo all the great things of life, but as soon as they reach their goal weight,
[00:01:27] they start eating everything that made them fat in the first place. I'm just saying my own experience, alright? But after we see that with Pharaoh in Moses or Diel, that whatever the frogs were deviated, whenever the flies were alleviated, whenever the knaps stopped biting, Pharaoh
[00:01:52] went right back to his refusal to let the people go. I have seen countless men when their wires finally get fed up and say, I'm done. I can't take it anymore. They have a pseudo repentance. They're out church whenever the doors are open. They're volunteering for whatever jobs.
[00:02:11] But as soon as that wife comes back or that husband realizes that that wife is never coming back, he leaves his commitment to the Lord. I knew a woman who, way back when her husband wanted to make a commitment to the Lord and
[00:02:32] she discouraged him from doing it. She didn't want to give up her lifestyle. Her choice resulted in 15 years later, her husband leaving her for another woman. Oh my goodness, she was so disrot. She came, she sought out Brian, she sought out me.
[00:02:50] She was at church all the time praying for her husband, wanting him back, talking to him. She was reading her Bible and I prayed with her over the phone in person for this man to come to Jesus as he had wanted to do at one time.
[00:03:06] And I remember the Lord speaking to me and saying, Sheryl, there's a specific timetable in this. If I bring her husband to Jesus right now, she will discourage him and try to pull him back to their old lifestyle. This is going to take some time.
[00:03:21] And you tell her, this work is going to take time. And during this time, she needs to become rooted and grounded in me. That's exactly what I did. I said to her, God's not going to bring your husband back until you are rooted and grounded
[00:03:35] in Jesus Christ so that you are no longer serving Jesus to get that man back. But you are serving Jesus because he is everything you need and all that you need and you can't live life without him. That's exactly what happened.
[00:03:50] It was a process of about two to three years and that man came back. And when that man came back, they both began to grow in Christ Jesus and you know what? Today they are both serving in ministry together. You see, God's timetable is perfect.
[00:04:07] And it is not only training us in the ways of the Lord, it is moving us into the purposes of God. Now in Genesis 41, we read two full years later again. Two years is a long time for us.
[00:04:25] But God uses it to finish the work that he is doing in us, to establish it. We read that Pharaoh has two dreams in one night. He wakes up after the first dream, goes to sleep and has another dream much like the first dream and it troubles him.
[00:04:46] This is not just any dream, it is a dream that stays with him. It's a dream that troubles him. He senses that there is something divine about this dream that God or one of the God is trying to speak to him.
[00:05:02] But when he calls on the magicians, those who supposedly know the gods of Egypt, they are unable to offer him the interpretation. There is now perplexity in the court of Pharaoh, none of the gods of Egypt can interpret the dream of Pharaoh.
[00:05:25] It is at this moment that the Butler remembers what he forgot. And he relates to Pharaoh the circumstances his own testimony of when he was in the dungeon that he and the Butler had had dreams.
[00:05:40] And there was one in the dungeon, Joseph, who interpreted their dreams, an exactly what Joseph said came to happen. By this time, the Butler had become a trusted advisor to the king. Joseph is sent far. In an unexpected moment, suddenly Joseph's entire life is changed.
[00:06:09] He goes from the lowest run of society to the highest office. He is taken out of the prison. He is bathed, he is shaved. So even looks different. He smells different. He is given new clothes. He looks different. And he is taken before the Pharaoh everything.
[00:06:29] In his appearance, his smell of everything is changed. His placement, Pharaoh addresses Joseph. I have dreamed a dream and there is no one who can interpret it but I have heard that you can understand a dream to interpret it.
[00:06:46] Verse 15, Joseph responds by giving all the glory to God. Joseph has learned in whatever circumstances of life, whether out of slave and pot of our life or up prisoner in a dungeon, or in the highest office in Egypt. He depends on God entirely.
[00:07:10] He publicly in the court of Pharaoh even before Pharaoh's officers confesses his dependency on God. It is not in me. It is not in me or as Jesus said without me, you can do nothing. It is not in me but God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
[00:07:36] It is in God. Pharaoh's dream is that he saw seven facts. Cows coming up out of the river and feeding on the banks and they were fine looking and fat. Oh, why don't we have that kind of esteem in our generation? Why can't dimples in our thighs?
[00:07:59] We thought of as a thing of beauty on to the same. Then out of the river came seven skinny cows that were ugly and gaunt. On the ugly, notice ugly is because they were gaunt. Cows ate up the fat and fine cows. Dream number two.
[00:08:16] When he saw seven, get this plump. Remember plump is a virtue. Stocks are growing coming out of the ground. Then seven thin, thin is not a virtue here. Heads blighted by the east winds bring up and the blighted heads ate up the plump heads.
[00:08:32] Joseph has the interpretation from God. And he says in verse 25, chapter 41, God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. God is over the affairs of life. God is over the affairs of nature. God knows the end from the beginning.
[00:08:53] The God Joseph serves is above all of nature. The God Joseph serves is above all the gods of Egypt. He is over all of the affairs of life. And over the circumstances, the God Joseph serves is the God of the whole world.
[00:09:13] The seven years represent seven years of plenty that will be followed by seven years of famine. The repetition shows the certainty of what God is going to do. It is of note that Joseph also had two dreams.
[00:09:30] And what he is saying to the Pharaoh is the repetition of a dream means it is certain. Joseph knew that the repetition of those two dreams that he had in Canaan were certain. Though it carried, it was certain. And Joseph held on to those dreams.
[00:09:50] His dream that his sheave had stood erect in the midst of his brothers' sheaves and his brothers sheaves had bound down to his Genesis 377. The second dream where the sun, the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to Joseph. Genesis 379.
[00:10:06] Joseph had not lost the sense of God speaking through dreams. He had not lost faith in God's word. The repetition of these dreams signified the validity. Joseph then advised the Pharaoh. And when he advised the Pharaoh notice his bold, his reasoned, his diplomatic, his respectful,
[00:10:27] his wise, he knows how to administer it. And he has a plan. His plan is that Pharaoh should appoint someone during these good years to collect a revenue of one fifth from all the people and store it up.
[00:10:46] He needed Pharaoh needed someone who knew that bad times were inevitable. And wouldn't live in denial. He needed someone like Joseph who knew how to sudden change could happen and knew how to prepare.
[00:11:06] He needed someone who knew how to redeem the time and knew the importance of redeeming the time. This is an important lesson. In fact Paul reiterates this lesson Ephesians 515 through 16 says, see that you walk circumspecally not as fools but as wise.
[00:11:25] How do the wise walk redeeming that time because the days are evil? Therefore, do not be unwise. But understand what the will of the Lord is. Pharaoh recognized the wisdom of Joseph for 37.
[00:11:39] So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. Can we find such a one as this? A man and whom is the spirit of God?
[00:11:48] Even as much as God is showing you all this there is no one as discerning and wise as you. Pharaoh was not hiring Joseph as much as he was hiring God and Joseph was God's representative.
[00:12:05] Pharaoh wanted the wisdom of God and he knew and recognized it was in Joseph. Suddenly in a moment, all of Joseph's life was changed. He has made ruler over Pharaoh's house the government of Egypt. He has made ruler over Pharaoh's people.
[00:12:28] They will be ruled according to Joseph's word. No one that Pharaoh will be greater in all of Egypt than Joseph. Joseph is given the signet ring right off of the finger of Pharaoh. He is quote them, fine linen.
[00:12:43] A gold chain is put around his neck signifying his esteem. The respect to him and the kingdom of Egypt. He has given a chariot to hide and behind Pharaoh. The greatest honor that all of the public, all of the people of Egypt would see.
[00:13:05] He has given recognition and respect all the people when they see Joseph's chariot must bowled the knee whenever they see him. Joseph is given power. I am Pharaoh and without your consent, no one may lift his hand or foot in all of the land of Egypt.
[00:13:24] First 44, Joseph is given a new name. Zafnath Pahania, which means God speaks. God lives a reveal of dreams. Notice the new reputation. Notice the new reputation and the new dream. Everyone who in the new name, everyone who looks at Joseph who says his name will realize
[00:13:49] that God speaks through Joseph God lives in Joseph and God reveals dreams to Joseph God fulfills dreams. Joseph is given a wife. He did not get a wife for himself but he received one and he accepted the one he has given a snap.
[00:14:07] She's a daughter of a priest. Joseph is now 30 years old. He is ordial and his training has been 13 years. But now after this 13 years, he is ready for the power, the position and the prestige. He can handle the power. He can handle the fame.
[00:14:32] He can handle the possessions. Joseph demonstrates faithfully. He collects the one fifth during the times of prosperity. He stores it up in the right places and in the right way. He operates in and by the wisdom of God, he is just as dependent on God.
[00:14:52] Now, as second in command, as he was when he was in Potifar's house, as he was in the dungeon, just as dependent on God. Joseph testimony is seen in his sons. He gives his sons Hebrew names, even though he is in Egypt and over Egypt.
[00:15:14] Their names are testimony to God's triumph. Verse 51, his oldest son is named Manasa. God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house. God has more than compensated for all that Joseph went through in his father's house.
[00:15:33] This is the declaration that everyone who trusts in Jesus will make when they are translated into glory. Second Corinthians, 417, Paul states for the our light affliction, which is about for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding an eternal weight of glory.
[00:15:53] When we get to heaven and we see that weight of glory, when we see that reward, we won't remember one hardship we went through. We will not remember one sorrow, we will be so overtaken with a goodness of the Lord.
[00:16:10] But the second name of the second son, Ephraim, for God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. God has used all the hardship for fruit. God has taught and trained me in these hard things. This is Joseph's declaration.
[00:16:27] God has prospered me through and in adversity not in spite but through using hardship and adversity. God's presence is not an exemption from hardship. God uses hardship, God uses affliction, and all the circumstances of our life for our good if we will only cultivate His presence.
[00:16:54] God did not exempt Himself from pain, suffering, rejection, captivity, beatings or crucifixion. In fact, we're told in Philippians chapter 2 that Jesus suffered the loss of His reputation that He became as nothing. He was obedient to God in all the circumstances of His life even unto death.
[00:17:19] But because of that God has given Him a name, that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus Christ every nation bound every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord.
[00:17:32] Even as the Egyptians bowed the need of Joseph who was a Hebrew and who had once been a slave in potifars' house and then in the dungeon so now Jesus who had been a servant
[00:17:48] to all of mankind placed in the dungeon by the high priest crucified as a criminal. Now every man and woman on earth and in heaven above will bow the need someday and say Jesus is curious. Jesus is Lord.
[00:18:12] Jesus is the greatest authority of all and when we do it will bring God the highest glory. It is by cultivating the presence of the one who lives and was dead but ever lives Jesus that we are able to prosper in through and even because of adversity.
[00:18:37] In the times of adversity that we presently find ourselves in, we can redeem it and we can redeem it by cultivating the presence of the Lord and how do we do that? One, remember the word that God has given you.
[00:18:52] My God used to say never forget in the darkness what God spoke to you in the light. Be in the Word of God right down God's promises to you. Simply, seek to serve the Lord in all you do.
[00:19:07] Colossians 317 says in whatever you do in Word or deed do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him. Going back to point number one I just remembered that Colossians 316 tells us to cultivate the Word of God.
[00:19:24] Do it by singing and talking to each other about it and then again seek to serve the Lord in all we do. 3. May God the absolute authority over your life. Realize you are under the governing authority of Jesus. Jesus is the great authority in our lives.
[00:19:47] He is the first word and he is the last word. Heaven and earth will pass away but his word will never pass away. Fourthly depend on God in everything. Think about it and you will be able to hear your survival for all you need emotionally,
[00:20:02] physically, mentally and spiritually. Years ago I knew a woman who was a pastor's wife. She lost everything because of her husband. Her husband fell into sin and this woman lost her reputation. She lost her house. She lost all of her possessions.
[00:20:18] They were all taken away from her, all her furniture, her car. She lost her income. She lost her sense of purpose. She lost everything. And I remember talking to her about that time and I said, where you ever angry with God and she said, never.
[00:20:39] She said, Cheryl my whole life depended on God without God. I really had nothing. I could do nothing. I needed God more than ever. He had to be my furniture. He had to be my transportation. God had not let me down.
[00:20:58] A man had let me down but God would lift me up. He would sustain me and that's exactly what happened in her life. In John chapter 6, Peter said to Jesus, where else can we go? You alone have the words of life.
[00:21:18] How you so dependent on Jesus, that you could let go of everything else in life but not Jesus. Sometimes I look at the homeless people and I say, you know what?
[00:21:31] Could I make it and I think as long as I have Jesus, I can do anything as Paul says in Philippians 4, I can do all things through Christ. That's a secret. All things through Christ.
[00:21:45] Paul said I have learned to abound and to abased but I can do it as long as I have Jesus. Fifthly, seek to bring God glory in all you say and do, seek to make the name of Jesus great.
[00:22:04] Whether you're in the dungeon or in potifar's house captivity or you're in the palace, you represent God to others. Six learn all the lessons that God has for you in the heart places. What lesson does God have for me now?
[00:22:22] Joseph knew how to prepare for the leaners because he learned to listen to an obey God during the leaners of his captivity. God has lessons. My dad was famous for pausing and awoke just to look and draw people's attention to
[00:22:40] the blade of grass or to a bird in a tree. And what time he said to me, you know something, Cheryl? I'm not as strong as everybody thinks but when I need to rest, I start and I just take inventory
[00:22:56] of my surroundings and I try to learn what lesson in that place I'm tired and I look around me and I look for something that God is seeking to show me. And sometimes it was a bird, a beautiful bird, other times it was a blade of grass
[00:23:17] and the green hues in the blade of grass in this place that you are, stop, pause and seek to learn and seek to see what God is showing you, seek to learn what God is teaching
[00:23:32] you, seek to hear what God is speaking to you because God is always speaking. God is always teaching. God is always revealing. Finally, daily and trust your life to God. Practice Romans 12 1 to present yourself as a living sacrifice.
[00:23:54] God used me right here right now for your purpose as I belong to you. I've used my fingers, use my hands, maybe not to make gross lemon cookies but for greater purposes. Lord what do you have for me? Who can I pray for?
[00:24:13] Who can I send a text to? Who can I call and talk to? What can I pick up for someone at the market? Lord, use me right now as your child.
[00:24:26] With that, let's take a moment right now just to give God a fresh and a new our lives in the place where we find ourselves. Tests prove what we know and what we need to learn.
[00:24:41] Joseph faced many tests before God promoted him to the Office of Prime Minister. In all these, Joseph excelled by continually seeking to please God. May Joseph's life be an example and inspiration to us.
[00:24:56] As we face trials, may we hold onto our faith, trusting that God's presence will go before us and bring us through. We hope you have been blessed by today's Bible study. For more information about the Gracious Words Radio Program and the Teaching Ministry
[00:25:11] of Cheryl Broderson, please visit our website at GraciousWords.com. Coming up next time on the Gracious Words Program, we'll look at how God works in famine as we continue our series Our Great Creator in the Book of Genesis with Cheryl Broderson.
[00:25:26] We do hope you make plans to join us. Again, for more information, please visit our website at GraciousWords.com. This program is sponsored by Calvary Chapel, Costa Mesa, California.
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