Sunday Morning - September 6, 1998
Text: Genesis 41:46-49, 53-57 "...And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number...
53. And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands."
JOSEPH STILL A SERVANT
Genesis 41:49 "And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number."
Ephesians 6:5 "Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;"
1 Peter 2:18-19 "Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19. For this is thankworthy [grace], if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully."
MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM
Genesis 41:50-52 "And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath [the gift of the sun-god] the daughter of Potipherah priest of On [a city which was a center of sun worship seven miles north of Cairo and also known as Heliopolis] bare unto him. 51. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh [Hebrew name, forgot]: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. 52. And the name of the second called he Ephraim [Hebrew name, fruitful]: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
FORGETTING THE PAST
Philippians 3:13 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27. But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
THE PRIZE
Philippians 3:14 "I press toward the mark [standard] for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:11 "If by any means I might attain unto the [out] resurrection of the dead."
Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first [best] resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Luke 14:8-10 "When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9. And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship [glory] in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee."
Romans 2:7 "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"
BE THUS MINDED
Philippians 3:15 "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [complete], be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
Colossians 3:22-24 "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."
Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."
Psalms 119:80 "Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed."
James 4:8 "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands [what you do], ye sinners; and purify your hearts [inward man], ye double minded."
KEEP ON GOING
Philippians 3:16 "Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."
Hebrews 10:35-36 "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36. For ye have need of patience [endurance], that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
BE AN EXAMPLE
Philippians 3:17 "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample."
1 Timothy 4:12-13 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers [faithful], in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."