Sermon from Singapore

Hey everyone, Joel here from Singapore. Just want to share what I got from today's sermon in Gospel Light Christian Church with you all. The speaker was Pastor Les Heinze from Red Rocks Baptist Church, Colorado (http://www.redrocksministries.org/).

It centers around the story of Joseph, Genesis 42 - 50. As most people know, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:28), sent into prison by Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39), yet in the end became in charge over the whole land of Egypt. In many ways, Joseph is like a face of Jesus, betrayed by close people (Judas), but became the saviour of the land, Joseph saved Egypt and possibly the surrounding countries from the famine (Genesis 41).

From the story of Joseph, there are 3 lessons to be learnt.

Firstly, it is not what you remember, but what you choose to forget.
Joseph had all the reasons to not help his brothers when they came to ask for food. He had the power to refuse to grant them any grain, but he didn't do as such. Before they even went to Egypt, Joseph had already forgiven them of the evil they have done agaisnt him. In fact, he named his firstborn Manasseh, which means forgetting (Genesis 41:51). If he had kept all the hatred in his heart, hatred of people who have done him wrong, not just including the brothers, he wouldn't have been able to save the land of Egypt.

Secondly, it is not what you achieve, but what you become.
Joseph probably had the worst imaginable career track, from shepherd, to house slave, to dungeon dweller, and to prime minister (or something like that). Not a career path many of us would wish for, well, maybe the last part =) but anyway, through all these, Joseph still worshipped God, and God blessed Joseph. In Genesis 39:5, God blessed the household cause of Joseph, in Genesis 39: 21, the Lord was with Joseph and granted him favour in the prison warden's eyes. In everything we do, we need to be Christ-centered, and God will bless us in return.

Thirdly and lastly, it is not how high you climb, but how low you bow.
In other words, it is not ability nor tenacity, but humility before God. Joseph had skills, God gave him the gift of intepreting dreams, but when Pharaoh asked for him, his reply was this, "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." (Genesis 41:16) He could have said to Pharaoh, "I'm the best person to do this, I'm your man, without me, you will fail etc. etc." but he didn't, he gave all glory to God. We need to stop being a glory-grabber, but be a glory-giver. It is said for a fruit tree, the most laden branch (means branch with most fruits) bows the lowest.

Ending off with this simple piece of verse

Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Hopefully this has been an inspiration, and here's wishing everyone all the best for the week ahead. Remember, people may do you wrong, but God always do you right.

Signing off,
Joel