Posts

Lessons from Joseph Life in Prison

Life In Prison (Life in the Palace - future)  Favorite son Betrayed brother Enslaved servant Trusted Steward Condemned prisoner ??? Leader God is doing a deep work in Joseph life through his suffering.  We may on not in a physical prison, but we may be in spiritual prison: eg-Painful prisoner, Mistreatment prisoner, Guilt prisoner, fear prisoner.  1. Prison is a place of  (a) Obscurity - you are alone (b) Obedience - trust the Lord and serve him.  (c) Opportunity - Joseph interpret the dreams of his prison partners.  From prison to platform - He helped others while hurting.  - he used his gifts where he was - he was faithful in small things 1. Waiting time is working time... Gen 41:1 a) the hand of God and hand of Joseph - build character without crowds - teaches dependance through disappointment.  - Align timing to task  2) Delay is not denial (gen 40:23). God's timing is the best.  3) Man forgets, God remembers . (Gen 41;14) the turn...

Lessons from Joseph Promotion

Life in Potiphar's house.  Faithfulness in private prepares us for promotion in public. Joseph didn't go to the palace but became a slave to Potiphar. The wrong question is "When will I get out of the season."  The right question is "Who am I becoming in this season." Potiphar's House Season : 1. Unchosen position 2. The unkind environment 3. Unfair treatment 4. Unjust situation 1. The power of perception - The lord was with Joseph, that's why he was prospered, though Joseph was only a slave. When the Lord is with us, we will prospered despite the situations and circumstances we are in.  God is now here, not nowhere. Eg 12 spies in Numbers saw the same thing but have different perspective. "God, we do not know what to do, but my eyes are on You." 2. Passion before promotion.   God bless Potiphar because of Joseph. Joseph did not allow slavery to impact him - he did it for the Lord with the best of his heart, without complaining. The Passion...

Lessons From Joseph's Pit

Four lessons from the life Joseph - Pastor Kevin (COP camp)  1. A place of development but not destruction. (Gen 37:18-20). Joseph was a dreamer, but he was not ready for the dream. He was thrown into the pit. But the pit is not a destruction but for development.  Like building a tunnel, you can it see it. All you see a mess and dust on the surface. God will Refined, Redirected Repositioned. God uses setback and emotional and physical pain to develop us into something we don't expect.  2. The gift of grace. Reuben told them not to kill Joseph. This is not luck, it is grace of God.  Grace is strategic - it's a purposeful.  Grace is sufficient - it is more than enough. (eg Paul and his thorn). We want God to remove bad things and bad people - remove my Mil.) But God is not the business of removal and the business of improvement. God wants us to grow in our challenges and suffering 3. Your identity is being investigated . (v23-24) the robe represent identity and ...

Aaron Implicated With Moses' Disobedience (Numbers 20)

  I Just read Numbers 20. It is a very very sad chapter. Miriam and Aaron died, Moses was prohibited from going into the promise land. The people rebelled again, and didn’t learn the lessons of their fathers. But what was saddest for me is that God hold Aaron accountable for what Moses did. The short story was that Moses strike the rock twice, when God told him to speak to it so that water will come out (v8, v11). 1 Cor 10:4 said that the rock symbolizes Christ, and he only need to be “strike” once only, when he completed the redemption work at his crucifixion and resurrection. And this already happen in Exodus 17:6, where Moses strike the rock as God told him to do so. So now, all we need to do is speak to Jesus and ask for the Holy Spirit (symbolized by the water pouring out from the rock). However, Moses ruined God's purpose to demonstrate the redemption plan. But Moses makes things worse when he spoke harshly to the people: “Listen, you rebels: shall we bring water for you ...

We Are Still Unfinished

1. We need to be a generation that sees: (Prov, Joel) We still need to listen. We still need to receive insights and revelations. a. See God - Hagar (Gen 16:13), Jacob (Gen 30:32), Moses n Aaron (exo 24:9-11), Isaiah (isa 6:1), job (job 46:6) b. See God's kingdom. His kingdom is already here when Jesus came the first time. He wants believers to extend his kingdom to the world.  c. See People. Jesus was the one who walked with people - all who loved him, all who hated him, all who are disabled, all who are rich and all who are pure.  2. A generation is still ploughing. We don't know which ploughing will be successful. We continue to plough in all generations and trust God will bring harvest or build up a person to be a great preacher.  A morning and evening ploughing will be different. We cannot do the same ploughing using the past ways for new generations.  3. A generation that still releases. Prov 11:26 "A generous person will prosper. Whoever refresh others will ...

The God Of Spring

Spring symbolizes new beginning. 1. God the persuer   (Hoses 6:3). He will come to us. He takes the initiative and wants intimacy with us. Eg-Adam and Eve, after they sin.  Eg-Paul when he was persecuting believers. Paul said “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” . (Philippians 3:10.)  Our response - We need to approach Him.  2. God the Provider Deut 11:14-15 - he will provide. Jehoveh Jireh.  A time to gather  A time to gratify  Our response - Always be trustful and thankful.  Trust that God will provide if we have a burden for God's calling. God gives enough but overflows.  Do not be like the Israelites who always complained after the escape from Egypt. We should always be thankful and show our gratitude.  Paul said “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:9 3. God the promise keepe...

Compassion

1. Compassion is not just an emotion but - a drive to bring about change and move us to action. - change the way we love - to suffer and the ability to emphatize with the emotional state of another person. 2. Compassion has no boundaries  Matthew 9:35 (KJV): "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." Compassion and grace is interchangeable. Compassion is rooted in the love of God. Compassion does not mean you will be loved or rewarded by them. 2) Compassion sees and feels the need Matthew 9:36 (NIV) says: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Harrased - they are defeated by life Helpless - they are broken and without purpose. sheep without a shepherd - they would follow any fad, guru or ideas that lead them into destruction. 3) Compassion leads to a ...