(ill) Have you heard about the conversation at church camp where one of the counselors was leading a discussion on the purpose that God has for all of his creation? They began to find good reasons for the clouds and trees and rocks and rivers and animals and just about everything else in nature. Finally, one of the children asked, "If God has a good purpose for everything, then why did He create poison ivy?" This made the discussion leader gulp and, as he struggled with the question, one of the other children piped up, "The reason God made poison ivy is that He wanted us to know that there are certain things we should keep our cotton-pickin' hands off of!"

T/S: Everybody deals with some poison ivy moments in life - times where the things we encounter get under our skin, and cause us to chafe and itch and sometimes, we just feel pain. This morning I'd like to look at the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis, and see how we can catch God's vision for life, and help grow in patience to deal with the poison ivy moments. And you know, we all need patience. Like the old poem;

Patience is a virtue,

Possess it if you can.

Found seldom in a woman,

Never in a man.

Joseph's life is a series of tragedies and redemption, all moving toward fulfillment of God's grand design and plan. By examining Joseph's life, several lessons about developing and practicing patience emerge.

1. Approach life from a foundation of Godliness.

That is, Joseph cultivated from an early age, the understanding that all of life flows from God's goodness. Godliness and goodness are intimately related here, because the very character of God is good, and as we acquire His character more and more, we exhibit more and more the virtue of goodness. And as discerning as Joseph is about God's goodness, he is also cognizant of the badness, or unrighteousness, that pervades the world. Joseph was determined to live in God's goodness and righteousness.

Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Genesis 37:2 (NKJV)

I'm going to suggest that Joseph might have been better served if he had shown a little more humility and a little less enthusiasm to point out his brothers' faults. And frankly, one of the things that Joseph learns on the journey is humility. Nonetheless, at age 17, what drives him is an acute awareness of right and wrong. Parents, what is it worth to have a teenager who is compelled by doing what is right and confronting what is wrong? Shoot ? most of us grownups are not even settled in our mind that we are going to live in a godly manner. We are much more committed to living in a manner that benefits us and avoids the most amount of pain. We are very utilitarian here: do what works and feels good. Avoid what hurts and isn't effective.

(ill) We're like the boy whose mother told him not to go swimming. However, when he came into the house his mother noticed that his hair and bathing suit were wet. "Johnnie," his mother scolded, "I told you not to go swimming." "I couldn't help it mom," he defended himself. "The water looked so good." "But why did you take your bathing suit with you?"
"In case I was tempted."

T/S: We spend more time rationalizing why we do what we want to, and then excusing ourselves for doing what we want to .. instead of preparing to do what God wants us to. Joseph faced a moment like that when his master and owner, Potiphar, was out of the house and his wife came on to Joseph. Wanted Joseph to sleep with her. But Joseph said:


There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9 (NKJV)

Take notice here: Joseph could have indulged himself. After all ? he is single, hot-blooded young man, right?! If you watch TV or the movies, listen to most popular and country music ? follow the cultural signs of our times, you would assume that all red-blooded Americans are sexually active. As much as possible, And you might assume that sexual activity was the goal. Joseph practices the Spiritual Discipline of chastity: which is, intentionally turning away from dwelling upon or engaging in the sexual dimension of life, so as to learn how NOT to be governed by aspect of our life.

T/S; Truth is - there's a lot of people who need to make practicing chastity a part of their life. Because they are like buck deer during the rutting season ?. Chasing what it is they think will satisfy them and make them happy ? until they find themselves squarely in the headlights of an oncoming accident.

Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. So he asked Pharaoh's officers who were with him in the custody of his lord's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?" Genesis 40:6-7 (NKJV)

Joseph is demonstrating humility and compassion and service. We need to fix this picture in our minds: Joseph is an inmate and he takes the time to see why two other inmates are in the dumps. When was the last time that you lovingly and thoughtfully and actively promoted the good of someone else, even if it meant going out of your own way? And Joseph is not play-acting?because these guys let him down and still Joseph maintains his perspective. His God-given vision of life.

(ill) Fred was driving down the street in a sweat because he had an important meeting and couldn't find a parking place. Looking up to heaven he said, Lord take pity on me. If you find me a parking place I will go to church every Sunday for the rest of my life and give up drinking." Miraculously, a parking place appeared. Fred looked up again and said, "Never mind, I found one!"

T/S: The King's Cupholder begs Joseph to help, but as soon as he is freed, he forgets Joseph is even alive. And yet Joseph does not get embittered, he says the course of seeing evey circumstance as part of God working out His perfect plan through Joseph's life.

"Render service with enthusiasm, as unto the Lord not men." Ephesians 6:7 NRSV

When we do that, we experience a small death of our old selfish, sinful self ? we literally put to death the old man. That's one way that Jesus is talking about in the Gospel when He says we are to take up our cross daily.

Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace." Genesis 41:16 (NKJV)

What we see through Joseph's life is an utter reliance on God and God's goodness. Joseph refused to take credit or glory for what was God's. This is what I mean, in part, by Catching God's Vision for your life. You have to see every step of life through God's eyes, and folks, that won't happen accidentally, it won't happen simply by showing up to church. You must be committed to living with Jesus.

(ill) Do you know what the difference between commitment and involvement is? It's the difference between bacon and eggs. With bacon and egg, the hen is involved but the pig is committed.


You must be committed to, and buy into the truth that God is good, God is in control and that your job in life is to walk with Him, looking for Him in every aspect of life. Which is what Paul means when he writes "walk by faith, and not by sight."

 

2. Accept hardship and trial with faithful maturity.

(ill) I don't want this to be like the man who was going to start a new exercise class, and the instructor said "Be sure to wear loose fitting clothes." To which the man replied, "If I had any loose fitting clothes, I wouldn't be taking this exercise class."

T/S: When I say ?face life's difficulties with faithful maturity, what I don't want you to do is say, "Óh yeah, if I had faithful maturity I wouldn't need more patience."

The words faithful and maturity go hand in glove to describe the cooperative effort between God and you (or God and me) to accomplish the work of transforming us into the image and character of Jesus Christ. My part (and your part) is to be faithful --that is, to apply our faith to the circumstances of life. And then God does His part which is to impart grace through our faith efforts, so that we are empowered and enabled to do what it is God wants us to do .. and we are trying to do ? in this case: respond to hardships with patience.

For instance, Joseph practiced chastity, so when he was tempted sexually, he was not a blithering idiot unable to think or act rationally. He was able to face temptation (a hardship) with faith and acceptance. Joseph faced a trial by continuing to walk with God.

Joseph walked with God because he knew that God walked with him. Because of that knowledge, Joseph chose to make himself available to God. He was able to face some tough circumstances and painful trials, all the while confident that God had a larger purpose than his immediate pain and hurt.

Joseph was able to do this because he was practicing the Spiritual Discipline of submission. Joseph surrenders to God, and the evidence that God is accompanying Joseph through life is visible to all.

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. Genesis 39:2-4 (NKJV)

Joseph has chosen to surrender himself to God - which is such a Christian cliché. These can be nice church words "Surrender to God." Or they can be life-changing words - where you decide that you are going to live subordinate to the guidance and wisdom and love of God.

"Submit yourselves therefore to God." James 4:7 NRSV

Joseph determined early in life that he was following God, and that's why he put such stock in the dreams and visions that God revealed to him. So when his brothers capture him and sell him, he doesn't back down from his position. He has chosen to trust and follow God, and God continually rewards Joseph with His Presence. After the incident with Potiphar's wife, we can read:

The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. Genesis 39:21-22 (NKJV)

Here's the difference between the garbage that some preachers are serving and what the Gospel really says: a lot of preachers want to tell you to have faith and if you do, you'll get blessed with good health and financial prosperity and personal success. And I suppose that's an appealing message, but it's also a lie. You live long enough and what I can promise you is that some circumstances are going to hurt you deeply, rob you of happiness and threaten your hope and joy. But what I can also promise you is that you, just like Joseph, can be guaranteed the very Presence of God with you I whatever you go through. And you will be prepared to face those trials with God, as you make yourself available to Him today and from now on, to be changed and transformed into a person of faithful acceptance. A patient person.

(ill) Phillip Brooks, a famous pastor of the last century, was in his office, pacing the floor, frustrated. Somebody walked in and saw him and asked, "What's the matter, pastor?" He said, "I'm in a hurry and God isn't!"...

 

3. Receive and accept God's plan for your life.

(ill) John W. Gardner, founding chairman of Common Cause, said it's a rare and high privilege to help people understand the difference they can make -- not only in their own lives, but also in the lives of others, simply by giving of themselves.

Gardner tells of a cheerful old man who asked the same question of just about every new acquaintance he fell into conversation with: "What have you done that you believe in and you are proud of?"

He never asked conventional questions such as "What do you do for a living?" It was always, "What have you done that you believe in and are proud of?"

It was an unsettling question for people who had built their self-esteem on their wealth or their family name or their exalted job title. It's an eye-opening question for those going through trials and troubles, because it forces us to look beyond what we are experiencing. God's got something going on .. a plan that involves you, and it's bigger than just what's happening to you at this moment. You must receive and accept that plan.

First things first:

God is God and you're not. And God is good. All the time, in every way, God is perfectly and unfailingly good.

Secondly: as you faithfully engage the spirit of God in every circumstance of your life, God will make you more and more like Himself. You can be and will be transformed to be more like Jesus - more loving, more kind, more patient - as you faithfully and daily engage the Holy Spirit.

Finally: Receive God's plan. And the corollary is that you may not be able to discern, understand or explain God's plan. That doesn't matter. I can't see or understand or explain oxygen transfer from air to my bloodstream ? but without it I would choke to death. And without God's plan, you are nothing more than a haphazard, coincidental, accidental, meaningless, purposeless, hopeless blob of carbon based cellular matter.

I prefer to believe that God created me in His image, values me above the rest of creation, loves me unconditionally and died on a cross to redeem me from myself and my sins. I prefer to believe that God is bigger than me, and that His ways are bigger than my ways and His thoughts higher than my thoughts. I prefer to believe that rather than racing toward a evolutionary implosion, the creation is being redeemed, one soul at a time, by the same gracious Creator Who spoke it into existence. And that Creator God is personally involved with the universe, fashioning and directing His perfect plan, until the fulfillment of His purpose is complete. And His purpose was to create a family of children, who were in His image, in Spirit.

God is first and foremost concerned with the inside of you and me - our character. And our character is formed by dealing with tough stuff, as God would. As God did, when He became one of us in the Person of Jesus. Who lived without sin, died without cause and then rose from the dead. His death looked horrible, but worked the most perfect good of all history. That's what God can do and what God does: take what looks bad and work good out of it.

God had a plan for Joseph to fulfil the promise made to Abraham. A nation would be created from them that would bless the whole world. That nation, that family ? was Israel - Jacob's clan. Preserved and protected by his son Joseph who was sold into slavery.

Going through some tough times right now? God can work good out of it. You have to trust Him and choose to follow Him.

Everything going great for you right now? Hold on, because it won't last. Right now God is giving you a chance to prepare, to be transformed into a person who can withstand whatever comes your way.

"If we don't change direction soon, we'll end up where we're going." Professor Irwin Corey

The Oyster

There once was an oyster whose story I tell,
Who found that sand had got under his shell;
Just one little grain, but it gave him much pain,
For oysters have feelings although they're so plain.
Now, did he berate the working of Fate
Which had led him to such a deplorable state?
Did he curse out the Government, call for an election?
No; as he lay on the shelf, he said to himself,
"If I cannot remove it, I'll try to improve it."
So the years rolled by as the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate destiny?stew.
And this small grain of sand which had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl, all richly aglow.
Now this tale has a moral?for isn't it grand
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand;
What couldn't we do if we'd only begin
With all of the things that get under our skin.
Author Unknown