Sunday Morning - August 9, 1998
Text: Genesis 39:20-23 "And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21. But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 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."
FAVORED
Genesis 37:3 "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours."
SLAVERY
Genesis 37:36 "And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard."
FAVORED SLAVE
Genesis 39:6 "And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured."
PRISONER
Genesis 39:20 "And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison."
FAVORED PRISONER
Genesis 39:22 "And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it."
THE CUP BEARER
Genesis 40:13 "Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler."
DON'T FORGET ME!
Genesis 40:14-15 "But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15. For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."
FORGOTTEN
Genesis 40:23 "Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him."
TWO FULL YEARS FORGOTTEN
Genesis 41:1 "And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river."
JOSEPH WAITED THIRTEEN YEARS
Genesis 37:2 "These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren;..."
Genesis 41:46 "And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt."
JOSEPH WAS NOT ALONE
Genesis 39:23 "...the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper."
HE KNOWS THE WAY
Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."
HE MAKES OUR APPOINTMENTS
Job 23:13-14 "But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. 14. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him."
SAUL COULDN'T WAIT
1 Samuel 13:8-11 "And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. 9. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? ..."
KINGDOM LOST
1 Samuel 13:13-14 "And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, ...14. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, ..."
PAUL HAD TO WAIT
Galatians 1:18 "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days."
Galatians 2:1 "Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also."
2 Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and ... unto all them also that love his appearing."
THE LORD WILL WAIT
Isaiah 30:18 "And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him."
HOW LONG
Psalms 13:1-2 "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? 2. How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?"
FAITH TESTED
Luke 18:7 "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?"
THE TRIAL OF FAITH
1 Peter 1:7-9 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
WAIT, SOMETHING GOOD IS COMING
Isaiah 64:4 "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."
HE KNOWS WHEN TO RESPOND
Luke 18:8 "I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM!
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING
Psalms 145:17-19 "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them."
KEEP PRAYING, DON'T FAINT
Luke 18:1 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
BE OF GOOD COURAGE
Psalms 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."
HE SHALL EXALT THEE
Psalms 37:34 "Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it."