Four Things Everyone Can Have in Their Problems

FOUR BIBLE TRUTHS EVERYONE CAN HAVE IN THEIRPROBLEMS

Genesis 39:20-23

Introduction: Joseph did exactly what his father had commanded him to do. His brothers were jealous. So they plotted his death. Common sense and seemingly decency prevailed so instead his own brothers sold Joseph into slavery. This was almost a sentence of death. In Egypt land a man by the name of Potiphar bought him. This man, not even knowing the precious promise of Genesis 12:3 (“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”) and was made prosperous. The Lord blessed Potiphar because of the way he took care of Joseph.

Joseph was an industrious young man and did his job very well. He was given the job of overseer as reward for his hard work. When Potiphar made Joseph boss, the Lord blessed him even more.

Every time the Lord blesses, Satan wants to curse and destroy. Satan used Potiphar’s wife to try to bring down Joseph. But Joseph would not sin against the Lord and his master by giving into her seduction. So her pride was hurt when Joseph rejected her and fled so she lied and Joseph was thrown into jail. Many people would have gripped or railed against the Lord or even murmured against the Lord for the situation that they find themselves.

Here is a fact that everyone should know. Every person in this room has problems in their lives. Joseph had four things in that prison cell which I believe will help us in whatever a saved person may find him or herself.

I.JOSEPH HAD DIVINE COMPANIONSHIP.

Vs. 21

“But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

Matthew 28:20

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

A. We have a companion who knows our problems and has all of the solutions. All we have to do is ask. James 1:5

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

It does not matter what your problems are. It may be problems with family, finances, fear, or falsehoods. There are times that people come to me for answers. I cannot always help but I know one who can and does. How do I know this for certain? It is because He has helped me. He cares.

B.A Companion who knows our pride and has the solutions to this sin. Pride is a very dangerous sin.

C.A Companion who knows our purposes and has the solutions. He knows exactly how and what we should do in life and has all of the solutions.

II.JOSEPH HAD DIVINE ASSISTANCE.

Vs. 23

“The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

A.His Assistance can be found in the Holy Scriptures.

1. All the answers to life's trials can be found in the Word of God.

1st Peter 5:7

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

My wife went to the doctor a while back and the doctor was concerned with her blood pressure being a little high. She told him that she never had problems with her blood pressure. He told her that people who say that they don’t have blood pressure problems just have not live long enough. As we get older, we will have problems with either it being high or low. The same can be said about trials. People who try to say that they never have any trials in life just have not lived long enough. I don’t have the time to go into the problem with trials. But I can tell you that if you live long enough you will have them and Jesus can help you.

2. All the answers to life's tragedies can be found in the Word of God.

John 13:7

“Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”

In the generation behind folks that are my age, remember the bombing of Pearl Harbor that took us into that horrible war for those years and some many million of people died. For this generation, it was 9/11. In many ways that was a tragedy. We have seen killer hurricanes. That was a tragedy. In times like these we have divine assistance.

3. All the answers to life's triumphants can be found in the Word of God.

Job 2:10

“But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? 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.”

Every thing we get in life is from the Lord. You have God’s Word. The Word of God is like a gold mine; it must prospected to do us any good.

B.His assistance can be found in the Helpful Saints. 2nd Corinthians 1:4

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

You are not the first one with these problems. You are not the final one with these problems.

C.His Assistance can be found in the Holy Spirit. John 14:16,17

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

Jesus told the disciples that this Comforter would be like Him. You just need to ask for His help. He will help. I know because He has helped me.

III.JOSEPH HAD DIVINE FAVOR (GOD'S APPROVAL). Vs. 21

“But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

Proverbs 16:7

“When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

1. You gain divine favor when you obey His commands.

John 14:15

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

There are not any commandments that you cannot obey. It may seem hard but when you step out by faith in obedience and God will bless.

B.You gain divine favor when you are open to open to His correction. God will correct us when we go wrong. It may seem grievous by it is for our best and His glory.

C.You gain divine favor when you observe commitment. Commitment is doing your best for Jesus.

IV.JOSEPH HAD DIVINE BLESSING.

Vs. 23

“The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Matthew 6:33

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

How many blessings do we have? I read an article one time giving fifty-three blessings that we got that we were saved. I will give just a few blessing that we have.

1. We have the blessing of sins forgiven.

Romans 4:7

“Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”

1. We have the blessing of Adoption.

Ephesians 1:5

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”

1. We have the blessing of Justification.

Romans 3:24

“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”

It is just as if I have never sinned.

Conclusion: Have you any problems? You would tell me “of course, I do.” Joseph was imprisoned unjustly but he still had God and His help. For every saved person this is true. But for every lost person, you don’t have God’s companionship or assistance. You will not have divine favor or His blessings. You need to be saved more than you know.

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Smithfield Manor Youth Night

Wednesday March 2, 2011