WE KNOW NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING, BUT AS A BELIEVER IN CHRIST WE KNOW WHO BRINGS THE DAY. GOD IS PROVIDENTIALLY WORKING IN THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE. WE REJECT THE VIEW OF THE DEIST, WHO BELIEVES GOD IS CREATOR BUT IS NOT OPERATIVE IN THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE.

LOOKING AT GENESIS 37:12- 36.

JOSEPH WAS ACTING IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS FATHER AND FIND HIMSELF IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION. OBEDIENCE IS NOT AT EXEMPTION FROM TRIALS TROUBLES AND TRIBULATIONS.

LIFE ONLY CAN BE SEEN CLEAR IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD. JOSEPH”S SITUATION WAS ALL THE PROVIDENTIAL PLAN AND WILL OF GOD. GOD DID NOT CAUSE HIS BROTHERS TO ACT AS THEY DID, BUT GOD IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL OF JOSEPH’S LIFE.

JOSEPH HAD NO CLUE WHAT HE WOULD ENCOUNTER ON THAT DAY HIS FATHER SENT HIM TO CHECK ON HIS BROTHERS; HAD HE KNOWN WHAT HIS BROTHERS WERE GOING TO DO TO HIM, MAYBE HE WOULD HAVE RETURNED WHEN HE DIDN’T FIND THEM IN SHECHEM.

AS I LOOKED AT THIS PASSAGE I SEE:

THE ACTIONS OF HIS BROTHERS

DEVIOUS

DEADLY

DECEITFUL

Genesis 37:18–20

[18] They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. [19] They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. [20] Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” (ESV)

REUBEN THE OLDEST BROTHER KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING WAS WRONG, BUT HE WAS NOT WILLING TO STAND FOR THE TRUTH HE KNEW. WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT YOU OUGHT TO DO RIGHT.

THE DECEPTION OF HIS BROTHERS

SIN MAY START AS A SMALL THING, BUT UNDEALT WITH IT WILL INCREASE. IN THEIR ACTIONS THERE WAS NO STAND FOR TRUTH, BUT IN THEIR DECEPTION THERE WAS THE SILENCE OF TRUTH, AS THEY STAND BEFORE THEIR FATHER. THEY WILL PRESENT HIM WITH FALSE EVIDENCE FOR HIM TO MAKE A FALSE CONCLUSION. JACOB CONCLUDES HIS SON IS DEAD. THEY CAME HOME DELIBERATELY TO DECEIVE THEIR FATHER.

Sin is so destructive in its ultimate results and yet it can be so subtle in its iniatial stages.

IT IS INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THEIR DECEPTION TO JACOB AND JACOBS DECEPTION OF ISAAC IN GEN. 27. THE SAME INGREDIENTS

LIED TO FATHER

LIED ABOUT BROTHER

USE OF CLOTHING IN DECEPTION

USE OF A GOAT

LESSON: BE NOT DECEIVED GOD IS NOT MOCKED. OUR SIN HAS A WAY OF COMING BACK TO US AND ON US.

THE RESPONSE OF JACOB

Genesis 37:34–35

[34] Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. [35] All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. (ESV)

JACOBS HEART IS BROKEN, HIS SON WHO HE LOVES GREATLY HE BELIEVES HE IS DEAD. THE BROTHERS STAND THERE.

HOW CAN THEY COMFORT THEIR FATHER KNOW THEIR OWN DECEIT?

THROUGH THIS STUDY I SEE JOSEPH AS A TYPE OF CHRIST, NOT IN CHARACTER BUT IN CIRCUMSTANCES.

1. SENT BY HIS FATHER
2. TO FIND HIS BROTHERS
3. REJECTED AND HATED BY HIS BROTHERS
4. SOLD FOR MONEY

SO JACOB THINKS JOSEPH IS DEAD. GEN. 37:35 SAYS HE WEPT FOR HIS SON. NOTICE EVEN THOUGH HE WEPT HE HAD HOPE OF SEEING HIM AGAIN. I THES. 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

SO INSPITE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE BROTHERS AND THE DECEPTION OF THE BROTHERS AND THE RESPONSE OF JACOB, THE CHAPTER DOES NOT END WITH VERSE 35 IT ENDS WITH VERSE 36

Genesis 37:36

[36] Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. (ESV)

PROVIDENCE OF GOD. JACOB RECKONED THAT JOSEPH WAS DEAD BUT HE WAS ALIVE.

ALL THAT JOSEPH HAS EXPERIENCED HE WAS YET ALIVE. ALL THAT HIS BROTHERS PLANNED AND PLOTTED AGAINST HIM, YET HE IS ALIVE.

AFTER THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST MANY TODAY RECKON THAT HE IS DEAD. THIS IS NOT SO HE WAS DEAD BUT HE IS ALIVE FOREVER MORE. HALLELUAH TO THE LAMB!

MANY MAY PLOT AND PLAN OUR DEMISE, BUT GOD TAKE WHAT OTHERS USE AGAINST US AND WORK IT FOR OUR GOOD AND HIS GLORY!

REGARDLESS OF WHAT A DAY MAY BRING, GOD WORKS IT ALL FOR THE GOOD OF THEM THAT LOVE THE LORD AND ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.

Romans 8:28

 

Philippians 1:15-21
[15] Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. [16] The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
[17] The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
[18] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
[19] for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
[20] as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
[21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (ESV)

Meditation on My Christian Service

Apostle Paul’s perspective of Christian Service seems to be very different from many others that I observe and this includes my own.

It is very easy to make Christian Service out of what I do for the Lord.

Christian Activity – Praising God for My Active Service to the Lord!

WARNING: Active Service to Christ can be a Desire of Personal Enterprise.

It is accurately stated, the test of all service is this: Its MOTIVE. Is the motive, from start to finish, that in all things HE (Christ) may have the Preeminence – that Christ may be all in all? It is not so much about WHAT we do as it is about WHY we do it. – Sparks

There is a Great Danger in Serving the Lord.
Outward Expressions with no Examination of Inward Incentives.

If my motive is not right I can do the right thing for the wrong reason. Is it about ME being known or CHRIST being known? This is a Challenge for My Own Heart as a Christian and Preacher of the Gospel.

Have I made the work MINE – it is MY work – it is MY interests; if I am not careful I can take great delight in the service because I am being used rather than delighting in the fact that Christ is being known.

A great test of motive in Christian Service is not so much when I am leading or have involvement in the service but what is MY attitude and satisfaction about the service when I have no visible part in the service.

Can I serve in the shadow? Can I become the cheerleader of others who are being used in the service of the Lord? Am I only willing to rejoice and give and support when I have some direct input into the service?

Christian service is an Attitude that leads ME into an Action that desires to see Christ Exalted whether I have apart in service or not.

It is an Attitude that can rejoice in the usefulness an promotion of others and a willingness to give all I can for the promotion and advancement of others for the Glory of God in Christ even if I am never recognized.

“God forgive me when I am tempted to think of MYSELF as an Needed Instrument in the Service of the Christ, rather than a Grateful Participant to even be in the Kingdom of Christ”

Faithful Christian Service requires My Purposes and Practices to be for Christ to be KNOWN.

This is not to say men will not recognize my gifts and services to the Kingdom.

This is not the question of what am I doing for Christ, but Why Am I doing it?

What is my MOTIVE?

May God by His Grace make Paul’s Words My Words, “that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The Great Fault and Failure of the Contemporary Church is found in Attempting to do God’s Work in Its Own Power. God’s Work Requires God’s Power. The Power is to be found in the Third Person of the Sacred Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:8-10

[8] And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: [9] concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; [10] concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; John [11] concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (ESV)

The Call of Christ

by A.W. Tozer

TO BE CALLED TO FOLLOW CHRIST is a high honor; higher indeed than any honor men can bestow upon each other.

Were all the nations of the earth to unite in one great federation and call a man to head that federation, that man would be honored above any other man that ever lived. Yet the humblest man who heeds the call to follow Christ has an honor far above such a man; for the nations of the earth can bestow only such honor as they possess, while the honor of Christ is supreme over all. God has given Him a name that is above every name.

This being true and being known to the heavenly intelligences, the methods we use to persuade men to follow Christ must seem to them extremely illogical if not downright wrong.

Evangelical Christians commonly offer Christ to mankind as a nostrum to cure their ills, a way out of their troubles, a quick and easy means to the achievement of personal ends. They use the right words, but their emphasis is awry. The message is so presented as to leave the hearer with the impression that he is being asked to give up much to gain more. And that is not good, however well intentioned it may be.

What we do is precisely what a good salesman does when he presents the excellence of his product as compared with that of his closest competitor. The customer chooses the better of the two, as who would not? But the weakness of the whole salesmanship technique is apparent: the idea of selfish gain is present in the whole transaction.

Jesus Christ is a Man come to save men. In Him the divine nature is married to our human nature, and wherever human nature exists there is the raw material out of which He makes followers and saints. Our Lord recognizes no classes, high or low, rich or poor, old or young, man or woman: all are human and all are alike to Him. His invitation is to all mankind.

In New Testament times persons from many and varied social levels heard His call and responded: Peter the fisherman; Levi the publican; Luke the physician; Paul the scholar; Mary the demon possessed; Lydia the businesswoman; Paulus the statesman. A few great and many common persons came. They all came and our Lord received them all in the same way and on the same terms.

From any and every profession or occupation men and women may come if they will. The simple rule is that if the occupation is good, continue in it if you so desire; if it is bad, abandon it at once and seek another. If the call includes detachment from all common pursuits to give full time to the work of the gospel, then no profession or occupation, no matter how good or how noble, must keep us from obeying the call.

The activities in which men engage may be divided into two categories: the morally bad and the morally neutral. The activities of the burglar, the gambler, the dictator, the procurer, the dope addict, the gangster and all who prey upon society are bad; nothing can make them better. The call of Christ is away from all such. This is not to be questioned or debated, but accepted without delay and acted upon at once.

But the majority of our human activities are not evil in themselves; they are neutral. The laborer, the statesman, the housewife, the doctor, the teacher, the engineer-such as these engage in activities that are neither good nor bad. Their moral qualities are imparted by the one who engages in them. So the call of Christ is not away from such things, for they may be sanctified by the prayer and faith of the individual, and thus turned into a positive good.

One thing is certain: the call of Christ is always a promotion. Were Christ to call a king from his throne to preach the gospel to some tribe of aborigines, that king would be elevated above anything he had known before. Any movement toward Christ is ascent, and any direction away from Him is down.

Yet though we recognize the honor bestowed upon us, there is no place for pride, for the follower of Christ must shoulder his cross and a cross is an object of shame and a symbol of rejection.

Before God and the angels it is a great honor to follow Christ, but before men it is not so. The Christ the world pretends now to honor was once rejected and crucified by that same world. The great saint is honored only after he is dead. Rarely is he known as a saint while he lives. The plaudits of the world come too late, when he can no longer hear them; and perhaps it is better that way. Not many are selfless enough to endure honor without injury to their souls.

In those early Galilean days Christ’s followers heard His call, forsook the old life, attached themselves to Him, began to obey His teachings and joined themselves to His band of disciples. This total commitment was their confirmation of faith. Nothing less would do.

And it is not different today. He calls us to leave the old life and to begin the new. There must never be any vacuum, never any place of neutrality where the world cannot identify us. Peter warming himself at the world’s fire and trying to seem unconcerned is an example of the kind of halfway discipleship too many are satisfied with. The martyr leaping up in the arena, demanding to be thrown to the lions along with his suffering brethren, is an example of the only kind of dedication that God approves.

The Holy Spirit Most Often Ministers Through You, after He has Ministered To You.

All Humanity must be Convicted by the Holy Spirit Concerning Sin Righteousness and Judgment then we become more useful agents of the Spirit of God.

The Church has given much attention to the External Activity of what WE call the Holy Spirit in the House, with little or no concern about the Internal Affections and Activity of the Holy Spirit upon the Heart.

Peace with God Through Faith

[1] Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. [2] Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (ESV)

All True Believers are in Safe and Secure because of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, Therefore We ENJOY AMAZING BENEFITS!

True Believers have

1. A Settled Position v. 1a

Our Position is Declared – Justified by Faith

Our Position is Described – We presently and Perpetually Have Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

True Believers have

2. Secured Possessions v. 1b-2

Acceptance – Into this Grace in which we STAND

Access – Through him we have also obtained access by faith

Assurance – We rejoice in HOPE of the Glory of GOD

Not only that!

True Believers have v. 3-5

3. Strange Privileges

Ability to Rejoice in Troubles – but we rejoice in our sufferings,

Ability to Recognize our Troubles –  knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame,

Ability to Rest in Troubles – because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The Cross of Christ was God’s Ultimate Performance for his people has now become the Unique Pattern for his people. For this God is to be Praised!

In John 5:39-40 Jesus Says, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

All of The Scriptures point to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ.

The Goal is not to know About Jesus but to know Jesus.

Paul said he wanted to know Christ Intimately, Relationally and Experientially (Phil. 3:10) This was Paul’s Desperate Pursuit. Phil. 3:14

The aim and importance of the written word is to point and bring us to the Living Word.

It is a good thing in knowing the word intellectually. However If that intellectual knowledge doesn’t lead me into an experiential relationship with Jesus Christ.

I am on a boat with directions to a destination that refuses to leave the dock.

Cognitive Religious knowledge can be Dangerous, if not properly Applied to one’s Life.

Eternal Life is not found my knowledge it is only found in Jesus Christ.

John 17:3

[3] And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (ESV)

When you reject Christ you reject the princples you claim to know.

Any Knowledge of the Scriptures, the  Cross, the Church or any such thing that doesn’t bring you to a relationship that submits to practical obedience to the Lordship of Jesus Christ is empty.

[1] For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4] I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. [5] For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. (Colossians 2:1-5 ESV)

I write today with Great Concern.

My Concern is many in the Church are not Concerned.

1995 NY TIMES REPORTED A STORY ABOUT DEER THAT WERE TO BE KILLED BECAUSE THE WERE STARVING TO DEATH THEY WERE WEAK AND ENEMIC, IN GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK.

IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS VEGATATION THEY WERE STARVING. THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.

AFTER RESEARCH THEY FOUND OUT THE DEER WERE BEING FED SNACKS AND SWEETS BY TOURISTS THAT WAS CAUSING THEM TO LOSE THEIR APPETITE FOR NATURAL VEGATATION.

Paul’s concern for the Colossian church was that they as well as us not becoming consumed by the diet of the Gnostics and false teachers and lose our appetite for the Natural Vegetation for the Word of God. Believers who truly love God and the church should have great concern for the church. Saints again, I am concerned that too many are not concerned.

In chapter 1 Paul has already Declared the Preeminence of Christ in his greeting prayer and his declaration of the gospel. He has declared that Jesus is God. He is the creator and sustainer of all things. He is Preeminent over creation and the new creation the church.

His Preeminence is declared in the fact that the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in and through the person and work of Jesus Christ. He ALONE has reconciled all things to Himself making peace by the blood of his cross.

And those of us who were alienated and enemies and evil doers have now been reconciled in order that he might present us holy and blameless and above reproach as we continue in the faith stable and steadfast not shifting from the hope of the gospel.

Paul concern is that the Church not get caught up looking for something New that is not True. He does not want them to Attempt to Substitute for the Substitute.

Then Paul shared with us His Personal Philosophy of Ministry.

In verses 25-29 he talks about the Mission Message Method Motive and Might of a true biblical ministry of preaching. I tell you Apostle Paul was a man on fire.

After talking about his Philosophy of Ministry to the Church, Paul will now express his Concern for the church as he moves from the Preeminence of Christ Declared to the Preeminence of Christ Defended.

Paul is sharing his hearts Concern for the Colossian church and the church as the body of Jesus Christ.

This text calls Christians to the place of examination of our hearts in relationship to our Concerns for the Church of Jesus Christ.

Sound Doctrine in the Life of the Church should alway be of Supreme Importance to the Church. Everything that Sounds Good is not Sound Doctrine. Somethings that are good to you are not good for you.

Somethings TASTE GOOD but are LESS FILLING. My Prayer is that more Christians will have the Heart Concern for the Church of Apostle Paul.

Paul was Struggling and Agonizing with Concern that the people of God hearts would be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

He said this in order that no Christian would be delude you with plausible arguments of men. Paul had never met these Christians face to face and  though he was not present with them in body, yet he understood he was with them in spirit, for the church is One Body. Paul rejoiced to see the Church in good order and the firmness of their faith in Christ.

Many are rising up with New and Untrue Doctrines today that is making people lose their appetite for the Natural Vegetation of God’s Word. Snacks and Sweets lace with poisonous and destructive ingredients that will lead to Eternal Damnation.

The Church of Jesus Christ must be Concerned about TRUTH. Truth in deed Matters If Jesus Christ Matters. John 14:6

Are You Christian People CONCERNED?