Do you come from a dysfunctional family? One of the most famous characters from the Bible came from a very unhappy family.
Joseph was the 11Th son of the 12 sons of Jacob. No one in this family was happy. Jacob’s wives Leah, Rachel and the maidservants Zilpah and Bilhah were always disputing with one another.
Furthermore Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son and his brothers hated him. Jacob gave him a colored coat which just to make matters worse – Joseph wore.
When he was 17 years old, he had two dreams you can find in Gen. 37:7 and 9.
The brothers could not bear the thought that one day they would bow down to Joseph. But God had a purpose in these dreams.
The important dreams that we have are not dreams about riches, fast cars, beautiful cloths, etc. The important dreams are the dreams of destiny – Dreams about life as it was intended to be lived – Dreams about fulfilling God’s purpose in our life. Dreams about making the world a better place through God’s love.
These dreams cannot be pushed aside or destroyed. The enemy has no power to push aside your dream. The enemy may try to persuade you but he cannot destroy a dream of destiny.
The enemy can interfere with the circumstances of your life, but he cannot shape you. Although people may die dreams of destiny will be fulfilled. Martin Luther King, the American civil rights campaigner, had a dream. He died but the dream lives on.
Joseph’s brothers grabbed him when he came to see them at
But Joseph although he did not understand his dreams, at the time, knew he had heard God.
The question arises what do you do when you heard God but nothing is happening. What do you do when you are in a ‘pit’ – your brothers are having a meal and about to sell you?
1. When you are in the pit, throw away the shovel! Be holly surrendered to God. Trust God, do not panic. Submit to Him. Give everything over to Him.
2. Joseph heard his brothers arranging a sale price with the Midianite traders. Do not let the culture of the day, establish your value. You are worth more than anything the world has to offer. Jesus gave everything for you – He paid the full price for you.
3. Even though you are in the pit and what God said is not happening – believe that you have a future!
In Chapter 39 when Joseph was a slave in Potiphar’s house, he knew that although he was a slave, he was also a man of destiny. He determined to live like that. He would have nothing to do with Potiphar’s wife when she tried to seduce him – he was a man with a dream and a vision and the enemy was not going to destroy him. Joseph although living in Potiphar's house lived in a place of grace. Potiphar’s house was blessed because of Joseph. By our presence we can make the office, factory, university, be a better place. Whether in the pit, in Potiphar’s house, in prison, or in the palace, Joseph reigned in life.
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
We too, whatever our circumstances , can dream dreams of destiny and reign in life through our Savior Jesus Christ.
Message preached in our Church
Sunday, 20Th of September
By John Patman
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