[0:00] Welcome to you all to our service this morning. We gather together in God's name and we look to our God to bless us together under his word.
[0:15] We shall begin by singing some verses from Psalm 119. Psalm 119, verse 57.
[0:30] Psalm 119, verse 57. Thou my sure portion art alone which I did choose, O Lord, I have resolved and said that I would keep thy holy word.
[0:47] With my whole heart I did entreat, thy face and favour free, according to thy gracious word, be merciful to me. I thought upon my former ways and did my life well try.
[1:02] And to thy testimonies pure, my feet then turned die. I did not stay nor linger long as those that slothful are. But hastily thy laws to keep, myself I did prepare.
[1:17] Bands of ill men be robbed, yet I thy precepts did not slight. I'll rise at midnight thee to praise, even for thy judgment's right.
[1:30] I am companion to all those who fear and thee obey. O Lord, thy mercy fills the earth. Teach me thy laws, I pray.
[1:40] We can sing the whole of this section of Psalm 119 to God's praise, verse 57 to 64. The my sure portion art alone.
[1:53] The my sure portion art alone, which I did choose, O Lord.
[2:14] I have resolved and sent thou not, O King, my holy word.
[2:31] When my whole heart I did intrigue, my faiths and heaven free.
[2:47] According to thy graceful word, Emmanuel, he made me hope to me.
[3:04] I thought upon my former wish, and did my life well cry.
[3:21] And to thy destiny born in truth, my goodness were in life.
[3:38] I did not sing or linger long, and so shall not fall on.
[3:54] But his name I lost to ye, myself I did prepare.
[4:10] And to thy graceful word, O King, my God, my God, my God, my God, my God, my God.
[4:40] I am a judgment right. I am companion to all those who hear on me, O Lord.
[5:02] O Lord, thy name I am, O Lord, thy grace.
[5:22] Let us join together in prayer. Let us pray. Let us pray.
[5:55] Let us pray.
[6:25] Let us pray.
[6:55] Let us pray.
[7:25] We find it so difficult when we approach your world and we are confronted with the truth that declares to us the beauty of Christ.
[7:39] So that we are persuaded of that. We cannot compare him to anything living in this world. We cannot compare him to anything that we ever encountered in this world.
[7:52] We cannot compare him in his morality or in his obedience or in his willingness to submit to the will of God to anyone in this world.
[8:10] And at that moment we may be inclined to speak well of him. And yet if our need is not according to the way that it should be so that we see that need met by Christ.
[8:30] Then we will go away from that encounter with the truth and be as we once were. Lord we give thanks that at this moment we are in the presence of your people gathered in your name and sitting under your word.
[8:51] We lift our voices to the heavens and ask Lord that you would open to us and pour out your blessing upon us. Not because we deserve it because we do not.
[9:05] We deserve nothing less than the wrath and the curse of God to be settled upon us. Because by nature we sin against you in thought, in word and in deed.
[9:20] But you have shown mercy, even abundant mercy to this world in which we live. To our lives as we live them in this world.
[9:33] To our homes, our families, our children. You have revealed yourself as the God who has provision for us that cannot be sourced anywhere else.
[9:48] And yet we do not acknowledge you as the giver of these good gifts. You are indeed the provider of good and perfect gifts as the Father of mercies, the God of all grace.
[10:03] Help us to acknowledge it by our worship here in this place. Bless each one, each individual soul that is precious in your sight.
[10:16] Bless them young and old. Bless them parents and children. Bless them elderly and infant. We commit them to your care and ask Lord that your mercy toward us would fill us with awe.
[10:33] And draw us into your presence. Yielding our lives to your care and keeping. Visit every home and family within the community where we are found.
[10:45] All the homes and families represented here we pray for. We seek a day of grace. In a day of your own appointing.
[10:58] Where we clearly are under the cloud of your displeasure. And you keep from us what you could so amply provide to meet our spiritual needs.
[11:13] We are obsessed with the material. We are obsessed with the things that are in the eyes of man precious and that are desirable and that satisfy the lusts of the flesh.
[11:29] But each and every one of these things will perish with the using. There is a driving impetus in our hearts that would want more of the same and yet never realizing that the things that we crave will never ever content us.
[11:49] Oh grant to us the true understanding that what is of worth is something that lasts and what lasts is of your own providing.
[12:01] And that there is a place that you have set before us where the things that perish will not be found. The things that that martyr will be found. The things that that martyr will be laid up in store where moth and rust will not corrupt.
[12:18] Grant to us an understanding that these are the things that we should desire above all else. Pour out your spirit upon us that the blindness that affects us would be taken away.
[12:32] That the cataracts that are spiritual would be dissolved and that vision would be given to us of your holy one. We pray for our congregation with all its needs remembering those of our number who are unwell.
[12:48] We pray for their healing, for their recovery. We pray that they would be restored to the company of your gathered people. This is where your people want to be.
[13:00] Whatever name they go under. If they are your people, they desire to be where your people are met together. That is what marks them out pre-eminently.
[13:13] That where two or three are gathered in your name, not only will you be there, but they too will be found there. We pray, Lord, that you would dissolve any thought that there is in the heart of some to make them believe that they are of your people when they are not.
[13:35] When they do not possess the marks of grace that set them apart from the world. We pray, Lord, for you to do that work.
[13:47] To convict, convert, convince. To bring to light the things that ought to be seen. And also to bring to light the things that are there that ought not to be seen.
[14:01] So visit us in mercy. Calling to yourself again a people who bear your name. Bring repentance where it is to be found and sought.
[14:12] And who of us should not repent of our sin? Our sins are many. They cause a rift between us and yourself. Help us to confess it.
[14:23] To see these sins are what they are. Help us to bear one another's burdens. Even those who are limping in the way. May we envelop them in our arms and guide them to the one who is declared in your word as the one who has the everlasting arms.
[14:46] Underneath are found his people. Remember the grieving and the sorrowful. When your voice is declaring to us once again the brevity of our sojourn here in this world.
[15:01] Break our hearts so that we could see the reality of what sin has wrought in the lives of this sin sick people.
[15:14] That death is the end product. We cannot disguise it. We cannot pretend that it is anything that it is not. Because it is in the way for all of us.
[15:25] And each one of us are progressively heading towards it. Headlong. And some without due care and attention. We see ourselves in the path of life.
[15:39] And we think that life and its path is enduring and it is not. And we do not know when it will end or where it will end or how it will end.
[15:49] But it will. Lord help us to. Remember the grieving and the sorrowful. Some for whom death has come unexpectedly.
[16:00] And they are looking upon places that were so full. And even so full of life. And now life is extinct. And their sorrows abound because of the inability that they have to deal with such.
[16:16] So be merciful too as we pray. Remember our nation. A nation that is forward and forgetful. A nation that has chosen to stamp under foot the word of God.
[16:32] The truth of God. The life giving bread of life that you have set before us. That speaks to us of the salvation brought by the hand of the saviour of sinners.
[16:46] And yet he is despised and rejected. So your word says that was his lot in the world. It is his lot as his name is proclaimed. Do not allow us to think otherwise.
[16:59] However successful the gospel may be at times. However promising it may appear to us. That it has created an impact on society.
[17:11] This world will remain as it ever was. And it will be your power alone that can translate sinners from darkness to light.
[17:22] From death to life. And it is the case of our own nation. They think that there is power in numbers. And yet these numbers if they are blind.
[17:35] And if they are ignorant of the truth. And if they are perversion they are thinking. There is but one destiny awaiting. All who are bound up in it.
[17:47] Your word declares it so and we dare not go against it. So open our eyes to see the truth. As your truth sets before us. The path of life.
[17:59] And the path that leads to destruction. Visit this world in mercy remembering the nations of the earth. Particularly those devastated by famine or flood.
[18:11] Most recently earthquake. We cannot. We cannot. Even with the power of the media. Penetrate the darkness.
[18:22] That pervades the atmosphere of those who have to live. In such awful. Awful circumstances. Be merciful to the surviving.
[18:33] Grant aid and recovery to them. By the hand of those who have mercy. Be governing their hearts. So remember Syria. Remember Turkey.
[18:44] Remember the war torn nations of the Ukraine. Russia and all embroiled in it. We pray Lord for other places that have never known peace in our lifetime.
[18:58] They may not be newsworthy but they are there. And we think of the many children left parentless. And the many elderly left with no means of support.
[19:11] Struggling to eat and living from day to day. Lord help us to think of these things. With the true spirit of understanding given to us by God.
[19:26] Who tells us that there is no rest for the wicked. And there is peace only to be found. From the God who is the source of peace. Bless us in our time together we pray.
[19:39] Forgive our sins in Jesus name. Amen. We're going to read from the Old Testament scriptures. And we're reading from the book of Genesis.
[19:52] And chapter 41. Genesis 41. And in this chapter we read about Joseph being informed about the dream of Pharaoh.
[20:17] And we're going to take up the reading of verse 25. Where Joseph and Pharaoh meet.
[20:29] And the dreams are interpreted. And Joseph said unto Pharaoh. The dream of Pharaoh is one.
[20:41] God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kind cows are seven years. And the seven good ears are seven years.
[20:52] The dream is one. And the seven thin and ill-favored kind that came up after them are seven years. And the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
[21:06] And the famine shall consume the land.
[21:31] And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following. For it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice.
[21:44] It is because the thing is established by God. And God will shortly bring it to pass. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise and set him over the land of Egypt.
[21:57] Let Pharaoh do this and let him appoint officers over the land. And take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come.
[22:11] And lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh. And let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt.
[22:26] That the land perish not through the famine. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said unto his servants can we find such a one as this.
[22:39] A man in whom the spirit of God is. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph for as much as God hath showed thee all this. There is none so discreet and wise as thou art.
[22:51] Thou shalt be over my house and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
[23:02] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph see I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand.
[23:14] And I laid him in vesture of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. And they cried before him bow the knee.
[23:26] And he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph I am Pharaoh. And without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.
[23:40] And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Safnath Paniah. And he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipharah priest of one. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
[23:55] And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
[24:06] And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 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.
[24:17] The food of the field which was round about every city lady up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea. Very much until he left numbering.
[24:29] For it was without number. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came. Which Asenath the daughter of Potipharah priest of on bear unto him.
[24:43] And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. For God said he hath made me forget all my toil and all my father's house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim.
[24:56] For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended.
[25:07] And the seven years of death began to come. According as Joseph had said. And the death was in all lands. But in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
[25:19] 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.
[25:34] 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 walked sore in the land of Egypt.
[25:48] And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph. For to buy corn. Because that the famine was so sore. In all lands.
[26:00] Amen. And may God at his blessing. To a reading of his word. To his name be the praise. Now boys and girls before you.
[26:13] Go out to Sunday school. You're going to be looking I think today. At Jesus calming the storm.
[26:27] In Mark's gospel. And when I was looking at that. I remember preaching a sermon on it.
[26:37] And probably preached it here as well. Or one like it. Maybe once or twice. But I remember preaching it in Graber. When I was there. And after I preached it.
[26:50] One of the elders came down and said. Or met me when I came down and said. Oh he said. That was a terrible storm. I felt seasick.
[27:03] By your description. I think he was having a laugh. Because he was a fisherman. Of many many years. And I think he had been in many storms himself.
[27:14] And I don't think my picture of a storm. Really made him feel sick sick at all. But in the Bible. We are given that story. Of Jesus.
[27:26] On. In a boat. With his disciples. And a storm comes. And. When you wonder about the storm.
[27:39] It was Jesus. Who invited his disciples. To go into the boat. To cross to the other side of the sea. And. When you think about Jesus.
[27:50] Many of the things. That we know about him. Is that there were very few things. That he didn't know. Very few things. That God did not tell him.
[28:01] About. And I would be very surprised. If he didn't know. That there was a storm coming. And probably some of the disciples.
[28:13] Would have a good idea. That there was a storm coming. Because they were fishermen. But Jesus said. We will cross to the other side. And the storm came.
[28:24] And it was a terrible storm. And. What we read in the story. Is that the disciples.
[28:36] Reacted very badly. To the storm. Because they were afraid. They were filled. Full of anxiety. And.
[28:47] When they became anxious. When they were afraid. What did they do. Well. They went to Jesus. And they. Began to accuse Jesus.
[28:58] For allowing them. To be in the storm. And for putting them. At risk. Putting their life in danger. And.
[29:09] The third thing. That is in the story. Is that. The storm. Is brought. To account. Instantly. And that.
[29:21] Filled them. With amazement. So three years. For you there. For your alliteration. They were afraid. They were. Accusing.
[29:34] And. They were amazed. And in many ways. In the storms. Of life. And there are many. We don't have to be.
[29:44] In a storm. In a boat. We don't have to be. In a storm. Where the wind is blowing. And the light. The lightning. Lightning is. Flashing. And so on. To be afraid.
[29:54] But we are. I'm sure. There are times. In the winter. When there's been a gale. And we've been hearing it. Or when we've seen. Lightning. Flashing. Through the lights. Through the.
[30:06] Windows. We've been afraid. And we wonder. When it's all going to come to an end. But gradually it does. But the miraculous thing about this.
[30:17] It was Jesus that brought the camp. And we know that was Jesus. Because. It came. Instantly. He just said.
[30:29] Peace be still. And that was it. In many ways. It's a bit like our story today. There's a spiritual lesson there.
[30:40] The disciples were in a real storm. They were in a real boat. On a real lake. They were in a real storm. And they were really afraid.
[30:50] And they really blamed Jesus. For taking them there. And for allowing them to be afraid. That was the truth of it. But.
[31:03] It reminds us that. That's the way we are. Sometimes. Especially if we're Christians. Maybe we're not Christians. We don't think so much of God.
[31:15] In the things that happen to us. But strangely enough. There are people. Who don't believe in God. Who say they don't believe in God.
[31:26] Who don't pray to God. Who don't speak of God. And yet when things go wrong. It is strangely God. That is blamed. God finds some way.
[31:38] Into their thinking. And they say. Why did God allow this? Why did God permit me. To be so afraid? Why did God. A God they don't believe in.
[31:49] A God they're not. Worshipping or acknowledging. And yet. Sometimes. That's the way it is. But sometimes. For the Christian. Who believes in God.
[32:00] When they are in a storm. When they are afraid. When they don't know. What the end of their. Problem is going to be. What the end of their.
[32:12] Troubles are going to be. They go to God. And they say. Why? Why God. Did you allow this? Why God. Did you. Permit this?
[32:24] And then they find. That. When God. Makes himself. Known to them. In the storm. That the peace.
[32:35] They experience. At that moment. And it is a moment. One moment. They're in the storm. One moment. They're overwhelmed. One moment. They're afraid.
[32:46] One moment. They're thinking. This is the end. One moment. They're saying to themselves. There's no recovery. And then God says. Peace. Be still. And it all changes.
[33:00] It all changes. And the reason it changes. Is God. Makes a change. And that is sometimes. Not always the case.
[33:13] When Jesus. Makes himself. Known to us. And we should always remember. When we are. Experiencing troubles.
[33:23] To know. To go. To Jesus. As the one. Who can. And often does. Still. Restore.
[33:34] And bring calm. When others can't. I hope you'll remember that. I'm going to sing. As you go out. Some verses. From Psalm 102. Psalm 102.
[33:46] The first version. Of the psalm. Verse 13. Singing down to verse 18. Psalm 102.
[33:56] First version. Thou shalt arise. And may she have. Upon thy scion yet. The time to favour her. Is come.
[34:08] The time that thou hast said. For in her rubbish. And her stones. Thy servants pleasure take. Yea they. The very dust thereof. Do favour for her sake.
[34:20] So shall the heathen people. Fear. The Lord's most holy name. And all the kings on earth. Shall dread thy glory. And thy fame. When Zion by.
[34:32] The mighty Lord. Built up again. Shall he. Shall be. In glory then. And majesty. To men appear. Shall he. The prayer of the destitute.
[34:42] He surely will regard. Their prayer. Will he not despise. By him. It shall be heard. For generations yet to come. This shall be on record.
[34:55] So shall the people that shall be created. Praise the Lord. These verses. Thou shalt arise. And mercy have upon thy scion yet.
[35:06] The time to fill.
[35:30] The one day. All day. versal이고 Let them. O Lord. Thou shalt me. I'm a song of the rush.
[35:51] Thy son of pleasure. Thank you.
[36:26] The Lord's most holy name, and all the kings on earth shall let thy glory above him.
[36:50] When Zion by the mighty Lord, there's love against the king.
[37:07] In glory and majesty to men of children, thou hast seen.
[37:25] The praise and all that I give to, is your ring with the heart.
[37:41] Then bring the will in all these lives. By him is not a dear.
[37:58] For generations yet to come, is far beyond report.
[38:15] So shall the people, and shall ye created with the Lord.
[38:33] I'm going to turn to the book of Genesis chapter 41. And we can read again at verse 55.
[38:45] 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.
[39:03] And the famine was over all the face of the earth. And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians.
[39:14] And the famine was sore in the land of Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt, and all the countries came to Egypt, to Joseph, or to buy corn, because the famine, because of the famine was so sore in all lands.
[39:31] Go unto Joseph. Go unto Joseph. I think the story that we have in the scripture of the life of Joseph is one of the most wonderful stories that we can read anywhere.
[39:56] There are many stories in the world that we can be familiar with. And there are stories that are told and retold, and they have certain qualities about them.
[40:13] But the story that we have in the Bible, we believe to be a true story. It's not a work of fiction, but the story of God's providential dealings with our world.
[40:30] From the fall to the promised restoration of all things. But the story of Joseph itself has many, many sides to it.
[40:45] It's got many parts to it. We could spend time talking about his upbringing and the kind of life that he had before he was then sold into slavery by his brothers.
[41:03] There's his experiences after being sold. His imprisonment, and then his false imprisonment. His restitution, his recovery.
[41:16] His elevation to power. And the providential provision that God made in bringing all this about.
[41:27] And every part of that has got an interesting part to it. It's full of pathos. It's full of wonder, as a good story should be.
[41:41] But it's also got a very, very strong spiritual backbone. And it's meant to convey to us spiritual truth.
[41:53] Truth concerning God and his ways of dealing with the world and those who are in us. In this world, with us.
[42:05] There are a number of verses that we could identify as perhaps revealing to us the true nature of this story.
[42:20] And when Joseph came to be a prince in Egypt, he said the following. God, he said to his brothers, God had sent me before you to preserve life.
[42:34] And again, God has sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth. And this is something that sustains Joseph in all his experiences.
[42:56] And finally, in chapter 50. Fear not, for am I in the place of God. But as for you, you thought evil against me.
[43:09] But God meant it for good. There is this, at the heart of the whole of what is described to us. All these experiences, God is there.
[43:21] God is to be seen. His actions are to be recognized. Whatever the brothers did. Whatever their father did.
[43:32] Whatever happened to Joseph, good and evil. God was the one who is sovereign in all of these things. I was speaking to the children in school this week.
[43:45] And coincidentally, probably that's what encouraged my thoughts towards this life of Joseph. But we just spoke about the experience of Joseph and his response to his brothers.
[44:04] And the children were invited to ask questions. And one question which was offered was, why did Jacob behave the way that he did?
[44:24] That resulted in the jealousy of Joseph's brothers. Why did Jacob behave like that? And I suppose in a sense, I mean that was the key to it all.
[44:39] If Jacob had dealt fairly and squarely with all his family, the jealousy wouldn't have been there. The brothers would not have fallen out with Joseph.
[44:51] They wouldn't have sold him into slavery. They wouldn't have pretended he was dead. Joseph wouldn't have gone to prison. In prison he wouldn't have met the butler and the baker.
[45:03] And he wouldn't have been introduced to Pharaoh. And I suppose when we look at our lives, as I suppose every one of us should be looking at our lives, we should ask ourselves questions concerning the things that happened to us.
[45:22] And wir' الhub preocuазыв us when we look at the movie. Because our lives thought actually was a gambling path. Those the clueless that couldn't and this hair was OP19. Of perhaps opens us to usип the seemingly champs occurrences that are part of life, that we dismiss as being an irrelevance.
[45:33] Or of no consequence.
[45:47] Or of no consequence, whereas in reality, they're actually quite important to the direction of life a light, a light. Sometimes it's a wrong direction. And we work our way back to the point at which that direction was followed. Where we departed from the road we were on.
[45:59] And we went a completely different way to the one that we had previously been intent upon following. Sometimes it can be the other way.
[46:10] It can be something positive. We can meet somebody and they introduce into our thinking something that wasn't there previously. Now the story of Joseph is one where we see God's hand at work in a mysterious way.
[46:30] And the most incredible of truths is this fact that God is at work in this world.
[46:45] In this congregation. In your family. In your life. In your life.
[46:59] You've got to personalise it. It's not a remote God that is the God of this world. It's not a God who is indifferent to what you're doing. What you're saying.
[47:10] Where you're going. That is the God of the Bible. That's not the way it is. Our God is a God who is at work.
[47:23] Whether we see him working or not. Whether we can identify what he is doing or not. Spoke of the storm to the children.
[47:37] And there are verses that speak about him working in the storm. Of his footsteps being seen. When at other times they're hidden.
[47:50] And in Joseph's experience. We can't say that at all times. I'm sure we could pinpoint times in his experience. Perhaps when he was in chains.
[48:02] Perhaps when he was being driven away from his family environment and imprisoned. Where is your God? If you ask Joseph. At that point would he say what he is saying.
[48:14] Now so long down the line. But the story of Joseph is central to this. I suppose.
[48:26] More importantly the story of God. But I want us not to focus so much on Joseph. Or on Joseph's God.
[48:37] But on Pharaoh. An unlikely subject perhaps. I want us to think about Pharaoh. Who encounters Joseph.
[48:51] And who encounters through Joseph. Joseph's God. And by reason of encountering Joseph's God. His encounter results.
[49:03] In the most wonderful thing taking place. Without and probably realising it. The ability that is given to Joseph.
[49:13] To be someone who has full storehouses. That he can invite his family to. Go to and avail themselves of.
[49:25] Pharaoh. Is. Necessary for that to happen. So we ask a question about Pharaoh. We ask a question about.
[49:37] How Pharaoh fits into. The story of Joseph. And. The confession.
[49:49] That we have here. Or the direction that is given. Here. By Pharaoh. And it is Pharaoh. Who is given this direction. Go unto Joseph.
[50:00] And what he says. To you do. There is a lot. Not a lot we can say about Pharaoh. I suppose. Because. This particular Pharaoh.
[50:11] Is one among many. If you go back. Into the life of Abraham. There was a Pharaoh. Who is mentioned. In the life of Abraham. If you go forward.
[50:22] Into the life of Moses. There is a Pharaoh. That is mentioned. In the life of Moses. But it is not. The same Pharaoh. It is as if the name Pharaoh. Is just a. A title.
[50:34] Like king. Not the same. But like king. And they have other names. And other names. Are mentioned. In the history books. That accompany.
[50:45] The name Pharaoh. This one isn't named. But he was a king of Egypt. And as a king of Egypt. And through the collective.
[50:56] Exposure that we have. To them. We know what kind of people. They were. We know that he. Possessed immense power. And riches. His word was law.
[51:08] And we know that. Even from the story of Joseph. Because we meet. Those who. Are suffering. Because. His word was law.
[51:20] His butler. And his baker. Were both imprisoned. When Joseph met with them. And they were imprisoned. Because. Pharaoh. Put them to prison.
[51:32] It was his word. Which was law. And. Their imprisonment. Was entirely his doing. Sometimes. They were ruthless. Sometimes.
[51:43] They were. Vindictive. Sometimes. They were. Careless. Indifferent. About how they executed. Their power. And. Used it.
[51:54] In judgment. But it seems. That this Pharaoh. Was a fair man. Because. When Joseph. Intervened. In the life. Of these two men.
[52:05] And exposed. The wrong of one. As opposed. To the good. Of the other. Pharaoh. Executed. Judgment. Fairly. I don't suppose.
[52:16] Today. You would say. It was fair. But one. Was. Elevated. His head. His head. Was raised up. The other. Was. Put to death. He rewarded.
[52:26] One. And he punished. The other. He had the power. To do that. And. I suppose. That's as far.
[52:37] As we can go. In. Understanding. What kind of person. He is. But. It is. Because.
[52:48] Of his power. That he was. Important. To Joseph. Because. In chapter. 41. We. We are told. About.
[52:58] How he. Comes. To encounter. This. Pharaoh. Joseph. And Pharaoh. Are brought together. And.
[53:09] We read. In. This chapter. The thing. Was good. In the eyes. Of Pharaoh. In the eyes. Of all his servants. And Pharaoh. And the servants. Said unto his servants. Can we find.
[53:19] Such a one. As this. A man. In whom. The spirit. Of God is. And. That encounter. That exposure. To. To Joseph.
[53:30] That. Encounter. And exposure. To Pharaoh. On the part. Of Joseph. Was all important. We see as well. An interesting.
[53:41] Fact. I suppose. It's not. I don't know. If it's key. Or if it's. How we can. Assess. It's importance. That. The use of dream.
[53:53] In the life story. Of Joseph. Joseph. Was the dreamer. Joseph. Himself. Before he. Before he. Stimulated. The jealousy. Of his brothers.
[54:04] Further. He dreamed. A dream. Concerning. The future. Of. His brothers. And his relationship. With him. And then we have.
[54:16] The king. The pharaoh's dreams. He dreamed. Two dreams. And Joseph. Is in the position. Not just to dream. But. To interpret. Dreams. And.
[54:28] While we cannot. Always say. That. We recently. A while ago. Looked at the life. Of Daniel. And Daniel. Was. Was an interpreter. Of dreams. As well as a dreamer.
[54:39] Himself. And not always. So can we say. That every dream. That's dreamed. Is of God. We all dream. We all have dreams. And visions.
[54:50] And what have you. What I mean by visions. Is we have. We allow our thoughts. To. To navigate. Into the realms. Of fantasy. I suppose. But dreams.
[55:01] That. That are. Real to us. And that we remember. Some of us have them. Some of them. Some of us don't. And they're not all from God. That's the point.
[55:12] I want to say. But we do know. That this. Appears to be. Stimulated. By God. In the. Mind.
[55:23] In the night. Of the experience. Of Pharaoh. Now. What is true. About Pharaoh. Is that he was not. A believer.
[55:33] In God. The daughter. That he gave. To. Joseph. To be a wife. Subsequently. Is. Clearly.
[55:44] A servant. Or a worshipper. Of. Idols. False gods. That were so. Prevalent. In Egypt. In Egypt. Pharaoh. Himself. Was considered. A god. By the people.
[55:57] That was. Their religion. That was. Their supernatural. Belief. It didn't. Really. Have much. Place. For the god. Jehovah. And yet.
[56:11] When. Pharaoh. Encounters. Joseph. Joseph. Joseph. He. Is. Encouraged. To believe. In. Pharaoh.
[56:21] In. Joseph's. God. And that. Is. Something. That. Is. Not. Really. When we.
[56:32] Read this. There's. Not. A lot. Of. Emphasis. Put. Upon it. And I'm. Not. Really. Sure. If. It's. Something. That. We. Should. Do. Or. Not. If.
[56:43] We. Believe. That. Pharaoh's. Encounter. With. Joseph. Where. Joseph's. Interpretation. Of. The. Dreams. And the. Fulfillment. Of. These. Dreams.
[56:54] That. Persuaded. Pharaoh. That. Joseph. Was. Somebody. Who. Had. The. Mind. Of. God. The. Insight. That. God. Gave. To. Him. Whether.
[57:05] That. Belief. Was. A. Spiritually. Rooted. Belief. Or. Not. Maybe. It. Was. I. Know. That.
[57:15] There. Are. Some. Christian. Commentators. Who. Are. Fully. Persuaded. That. Through. This. Encounter. With. Joseph. Pharaoh. Was. Converted.
[57:27] Pharaoh. Was. Converted. That's. What. They. Say. Conversion. Is. Something. That's. Quite. Complicated. At. Times. But. In.
[57:37] Our. Experience. In. New. Testament. Terms. A. Person. Who. Experiences. Conversion. Is. Somebody. Who. Does. A. Right. About. Turn. In.
[57:47] Their. Spiritual. Lives. At. The. Point. Of. Conversion. The. Path. That. They. Were. On. Is. Abandoned. And. They. Follow. Another. One. The.
[57:57] Belief. That. They. Had. Before. In. God. Is. Either. Transformed. And. Changed. Completely. Or. They. Are. Given. A. Complete.
[58:08] New. Belief. In. God. That. They. Did. Not. Have. Before. They. Forsake. Their. Sins. And. They. Embrace. The. God. Of. The. Bible.
[58:19] And. His. Son. Jesus. Christ. So. If. You. Ask. The. Question. Did. Pharaoh. Have. Such. An. Experience. And.
[58:30] I. Suppose. We. Have. To. Be. Very. Careful. How. We. Assess. Whether. A. Person. Is. Converted. Or. Not. R. De. Kendall. Some.
[58:40] Of. You. May. Know. His. Writings. He. Wrote. A. Book. About. Joseph. And. In. His. Book. He. Affirms. The. Conversion. Of. Pharaoh. But.
[58:53] In. His. In. His. Talks. He. Mentions. He. He. Mentions. I. Think. He. He. Was. A. Minister. In. The. UK. But. He. Was. Well. Known.
[59:03] In. The. Conference. Circuit. And. He. Mentions. Two. American. Presidents. One. Was. Jimmy. Carter. And. The. Other. Was. Ronald. Reagan. And.
[59:15] He. Says. Both. Of. These. Men. Made. A. Profession. Of. Being. Converted. Not. Just. Being. Converted. But. Being. Born. Again. And.
[59:26] He. Didn't. Go. He. Didn't. Say. I. Don't. Believe. Them. I. Disagree. With. Their. Assessment. But. That. Is. What. They. Said. Not. Just. That. They. Were. Christian. But. That. They. Were. Born.
[59:36] Again. Christians. Now. Americans. Have. A. Different. Way. Of. Talking. About. Christianity. And. Their. Experience. Of. Christianity. To. The. Way. That. We. Talk. Perhaps.
[59:48] But. He. Said. Well. A. Person. Can. Speak. About. Their. Experience. And. Say. That. They. Are. Christian. When. They. May. Not. Be. Or. That.
[59:58] They. Have. An. Experience. Of. God. When. Their. Experience. Is. Not. Really. Anything. Other. Than. A. Shallow. Encounter. We've. All. In. The. Last.
[60:08] Week. Been. I. Think. Astonished. I. Have. Anyway. Been. Astonished. By. The. Experience. Of. Kate. Forbes. Who. Announced. Her. Candidacy. For.
[60:20] The. SNP. Leadership. And. The. Attack. Which. Was. Personal. Which. Was. Not. On. Her. Politics. I.
[60:31] Don't. Care. What. They. Say. It. Wasn't. On. Her. Politics. But. On. Her. Christian. Beliefs. She. Was. Attack. Because. She. Made. A. Public. Profession.
[60:42] Of. Believing. In. The. Lord. Jesus. Christ. As. Her. Personal. Savior. And. The. Teachings. That. Encourage. Us. To. Believe. In. That. Christ. That. Come.
[60:52] From. The. Scripture. And. Amazingly. You. Had. Some. Who. Who. Disputed. Her.
[61:02] Right. To. Stand. On. The. Basis. Of. Such. Proclaimed. And. An. Ashamed. Confession. Of. Her. Faith. Who.
[61:13] Themselves. Claimed. To. Have. The. Same. Faith. But. Disputed. Her. Right. To. Stand. Because. Her. Form. Of. Christianity. Was. Unacceptable.
[61:24] As. Far. As. They. Were. Concerned. And. This. A. Party. That. Is. All. Out. For. Inclusivity. There. May. Be. Differences. Of. Opinion. As.
[61:34] To. What. Faith. Is. What. Christianity. Is. Who. God. Is. And. What. God. Has. Done. But. My. Warrant.
[61:45] For. Telling. You. The. God. Of. The. Scripture. Is. The. Scripture. Itself. Who. He. Is. What. He. Does. Why. He. Did. It. How.
[61:55] He. Did. It. The. Bible. Is. The. Basis. For. What. I. Preach. Depart. From. That. Because. You. Don't. Like. What. It.
[62:06] Says. And. You. Depart. From. The. God. Of. The. Bible. You. Depart. From. The. Word. That. He. Gives. To. Us. To. Be. A. Warrant. For. Believing. What. We. Believe.
[62:16] Call. Ourselves. What. We. What. We. Care. To. Call. Ourselves. But. Don't. Be. Of. The. Mind. That. By. So. Doing. That. You. Are. Consistent.
[62:27] In. Your. Profession. Or. Declaration. Of. I.
[62:43] Don't. Think. This. Issue. With. Regard. To. Kate. Forbes. Is. Is. Anything. To. Do. With. Party. Politics. It's. Something. To. Do. With. The.
[62:53] State. Of. Our. Nation. And. The. Fact. That. Any. Political. Party. Can. Tell. You. On. The. Basis. Of. Inclusivity. That.
[63:06] You. Can. Exclude. Somebody. You. Are. All. Right. If. You. Include. What. They. Want. You. To. Include. But. Don't. Dare. Say. Something. That. They.
[63:16] Don't. Like. And. That. Is. Really. The. State. Of. Play. As. Far. As. Our. Scotland. Is. Today. That.
[63:28] Somebody. Can. Tell. You. What. You. Are. All. To. Believe. And. If. It's. Not. What. They. Want. You. To. Believe. Then. Don't. You. Dare. State. It's.
[63:42] Not. Right. And. It. Shouldn't. Be. The. Way. It. Is. But. It. Is. The. Way. It. Is. Pharaoh.
[63:53] Was. A. Man. Of. Many. Gods. That. Was. His. Background. That. Was. His. Experience. That.
[64:03] Was. The. Way. He. Lived. His. Life. In. Fact. He. Believed. Himself. To. Be. God. That. Was. Their. Culture. But. When. He. Encountered.
[64:14] The. God. Of. Joseph. He. Encountered. Something. The. Like. Of. Which. He. Never. Met. Before. And. That's. Why. The.
[64:25] Likes. Of. R.T. Kendler. Say. His. Life. Was. Changed. And. His. Life. Was. Transformed. Joseph.
[64:37] Highlighted. To. Him. What. God. Has. Done. And. What. He. Is. Yet. To. Do. And. That. God. Is.
[64:47] The. One. Who. Allowed. Him. To. Do. That. It's. Interesting. Purely. From. The. Point. Of. View. That. Obedience. To. God. Is. What. Elevated.
[64:57] Joseph. To. Power. Not. Pretending. To. To. Be. Something. That. He. Wasn't. Not. Lying. About. What. He. Believed. So.
[65:07] That. Others. Would. Accept. Him. But. Telling. The. Truth. About. His. God. And. What. God. Had. Done. In. His. Life. And. What. God. Was. Yet. To. Do. In. His. Life. And. What. He. Believed. God. Was.
[65:18] Able. To. Do. He. Had. The. Power. The. Potential. To. Change. To. Transform. Even. Pharaoh's. Life. You.
[65:30] Look. At. The. Words. Of. 32. For. That. The. Dream. Was. Doubled. Unto. Pharaoh. Twice. It. Is. Because. The. Thing. Is. Established.
[65:41] By. God. And. God. Will. Shortly. Bring. It. To. Pass. That. Was. A. Conviction. Held. By. Joseph. He. Shared. It. With.
[65:51] This. Idolater. He. Shared. It. With. This. Demigod. He. Shared. It. With. Somebody. Who. Knew. In. His. Heart. Of. Hearts. This. Is. The. God. That. I.
[66:01] Must. Come. To. Know. And. When. You. Meet. That. God. For. Yourself. When. You. Really. Meet. That. God. For. Yourself. Not. A. Sham. Picture. Of. It. Or. A. Pretense.
[66:12] That. Some. People. Represent. As. Their. God. Your. Life. Will. Be. Transformed. Your. Life. Will. Be. Changed. Your.
[66:22] The. Direction. Upon. Which. You. Set. You. Will. Find. Completely. Turned. Round. Apart. Pharaoh.
[66:35] Said. Unt. His. Servants. Can. We. Find. Such. A. One. As. This. Is. A. Man. In. Whom. The. Spirit. Of. God. Is. I.
[66:47] Think. That's. A. Confession. Of. Faith. But. I. Suppose. They. Could. Come. Easily.
[66:57] From. The. Lips. Of. Many. When. You. Do. Look. At. American. Religion. The. Language. Is. So. Appropriate. The. Language. Is. So. Righteous.
[67:08] And. You. Know. Scriptural. In. Many. Respects. But. The. Lives. Lives. Are. Not. You. Know. There. Are. Many. Many. Many. Self.
[67:20] Confessed. Christians. Christians. Who. Are. Scream. And. They. Claim. To. Be. Christians. And. The. Kind. Of. Films. That.
[67:30] They. Take. Part. In. The. Kind. Of. Language. That. Comes. From. Their. Lips. Is. Appalling. Not. That. I. Watch. I. Can't. Remember. When. I. Watched. A. Film.
[67:40] Last. From. Start. To. Finish. But. You. See. If. You. Sit. In. Front. Of. Your. Televisions. You. See. Clips. Of. These. Films. And. You. Hear. Language. From. Their. Mouth. Which.
[67:51] They. Say. Well. It's. My. Profession. I've. Required. Artistically. To. To. Portray. Such. Characters. Who. Swear. And. To. Curse. And. To. Do. All.
[68:02] Kinds. Of. Things. There. Is. Nobody. That. Could. Compel. You. To. To. Do. Work. That. Is. So. At.
[68:12] Odds. With. The. Profession. Of. Your. Faith. It. Would. Be. Wrong. And. It. Is. Wrong. But. It. Seems. It's. Acceptable. And.
[68:24] We. Have. To. Remember. It's. Not. Enough. For. Us. To. Say. The. Words. It's. To. Do. The. Things. To. Behave. The. Way. To. Follow. The. Path. Look.
[68:38] At. What. Pharaoh. Comes. Up. To. Say. I. Know. The. Time. Is. Passing. You. Know. If. You. Go. To. Paul. Paul. Says.
[68:49] To. Us. When. He's. Talking. About. Love. He's. More. Less. Saying. To. You. Can. Talk. About. It. All. You. Like. You. Can. Talk. About. Your. Faith.
[68:59] All. You. Like. You. Can. Talk. About. Your. Christianity. All. Your. Life. But. If. Your. Life. Is. Without. The. Grace. Of. God's. Love. All. You. Are. He. Says. Is. Like.
[69:10] The. Sound. Of. Brass. Tinkling. Brass. Tinkling. Symbols. And. Just. Empty. Empty. Meaningless. Words. I.
[69:22] Don't. Think. That's. What. What. We. Have. Here. Pharaoh. Trusted. Joseph. Not. Just. Seen. In. The.
[69:32] Way. That. He. Elevates. Him. To. Power. And. He. Does. You. Know. It's. Amazing. What. We. See. There. Pharaoh. Said. To. Joseph. I. Have. Seft. You. All. Over. The. Over. All. The. Land. Of.
[69:42] Egypt. Took. Off. His. Ring. Put. On. Joseph's. Hand. I. A. Made. Him. In. Vestures. Of. Fine. Linen. Oh. Apparent. Place. That.
[69:52] He. Gives. To. Him. Elevating. Him. To. To. Status. And. Power. Like. No. Other. In. The. Land. Apart. From. Himself. But.
[70:03] More. Importantly. I. Mean. It. Wouldn't. Cost. Pharaoh. Anything. Really. He's. The. Most. Powerful. Man. In. Egypt. He. Didn't.
[70:13] Allow. Joseph. To. Be. The. Same. As. Himself. He. Was. Underneath. Him. He. Gave. Him. Wealth. But. He. Had. Wealth. To. Give. But.
[70:24] He. Also. Had. The. Conviction. When. Those. Came. To. Him. To. Seek. Bread. He. Said. You. Go. To. Joseph. Go.
[70:36] To. Joseph. What. He. Says. To. You. Do. I. Think.
[70:46] That. Was. Born. Out. Of. Conviction. But. Again. We. Spoke. About. The. History. Of. This. Account. Spoke. About.
[70:56] The. Spirituality. Of. This. Account. That. God. Is. At. The. Heart. Of. It. His. Sovereign. Over. Lordship. Of.
[71:06] All. The. Events. On. The. Scene. Of. Time. Joseph. Sold. Into. Slavery. Elevated. To. The. Second. Most. Powerful. Man. In. Egypt. For. The. Sake. Of. His.
[71:17] Father. And. His. Brothers. But. It. Also. Symbolizes. It. Typifies. It. Testifies. To. God's. Provision. For.
[71:29] This. World. In. The. Passion. Of. His. Son. Jesus. Christ. It. Almost. Undergirds. What. We. Have. Here. This. World.
[71:39] That. Is. Ravished. By. Famine. Destitute. Impoverished. Spiritually. People. Crying. Out. For. Spiritual. Bread.
[71:49] And. Not. Knowing. Where. To. Go. For. It. And. Yet. In. The. Gospel. God. Has. Provided. One. Like. Joseph.
[72:01] And. His. Storehouses. Are. Ever. Full. Ever. Full. It. Doesn't. Matter. How. Many. Have. Gone. To. These. Storehouses. To.
[72:11] Grow. Out. Of. Them. They. Have. Done. So. And. They. Been. Satisfied. And. They. Will. Go. Again. For. More. But. The. Joseph.
[72:22] Of. The. New. Testament. Is. The. One. Who. Has. Spiritual. Bread. For. Spiritual. Fram. Fram. Have.
[72:33] You. Recognized. Him. As. The. One. To. Whom. You. Can. Go. Do. You. Know. Him. Oh. You. Heard. About. Him. You. Read. About.
[72:44] Him. The. Story. Is. One. You. Familiar. With. If. Your. Child. Was. To. Sit. On. Your. Knee. You. Could. Tell. The. Story. Of. This. Wonderful. Christ. But.
[72:57] Is. That. The. Same. As. Knowing. Him. For. Yourself. Is. That. The. Same. As. Being. Wise. Enough. To. Go.
[73:07] To. The. Storehouses. That. Are. Full. Is. That. The. Same. As. Being. Able. To. Stretch. Out. Your. Hand. To. Accept.
[73:18] From. His. Hand. What. He. Has. Laid. Up. In. Store. I. Was. Listening. To. A. Sermon.
[73:29] This. Week. And. He. Was. Talking. About. An. Awesome. Conversion. Talking. About. The. Conversion. Of. The. Woman. Of. Samaria. And.
[73:40] Talking. About. Her. Role. In. Evangelizing. The. Whole. District. When. She. Went. Back. To. Her. Village. She. Began. To. Tell.
[73:51] The. People. About. Jesus. And. This. Minister. Said. You know. He says. In our day. We. We.
[74:01] Spend. A lot. Of. Time. In. Evangelistic. Outreach. Corporate. Activity. And.
[74:11] Churches. To. Evangelize. The. Unevangelized. And. He says. There is. A place. For it. There is. A place. For it. But.
[74:22] The true. Gospel. Evangelist. He said. Was. One. Beggar. Telling. Another. Beggar. Where. To. Find. Bread. One.
[74:35] Beggar. Is. That. Not. What. You. Should. Do. You. Know. Any. Beggars. Who. Are. Hungry. I. Ask. Them. Where. They.
[74:46] Got. Bread. Jesus. Christ. Is. The. Bread. Of. Life. Go. To. Him. Pharaoh.
[74:57] Said. Reach. Joseph. To. That. Let's. Pray. O.
[75:09] Lord. O. God. We. Give. Thanks. For. The. Story. That. The. Bible. Has. Said. Before. Us. Of. The. Wonder. Of.
[75:20] God's. Provision. For. A. Family. Who. Were. So. Corrupt. And. So. Intent. On. Their. Own. Destruction. And.
[75:31] Yet. In. His. Mercy. He. Prepared. For. Them. Provision. That. Would. Satisfy. Them. When. Famine. Overtook. Them. We. Bless.
[75:42] You. And. Thank. You. For. That. Account. And. For. All. It. Says. To. Us. Forgive. Us. In. Jesus. Name. Amen. We're.
[75:58] Going. To. Sing. From. Psalm. 132. The last verses of the psalm. For God of Zion hath made choice. There he desires to dwell.
[76:10] This is my rest. Here still I'll stay. For I do like it well. Her food I'll greatly bless. Her poor with bread will satisfy. Her priests I'll clothe with health.
[76:23] Her saints shall shout forth joyfully. And there will I make David's horn to bud forth pleasantly. For him that mine anointed does a lamp ordained abye.
[76:35] As with a garment I will clothe. With shame his enemies all. But yet the crown that he doth wear upon him flourish shall. These verses for God of Zion hath made choice.
[76:48] There he desires to dwell. For God of Zion hath made choice.
[77:02] There he desires to dwell. This is my rest.
[77:15] Here still I'll stay. For I do I am well.
[77:28] Her food I'll greatly bless. Her food with bread will sound divine.
[77:44] Her priests I'll clothe with health. But then I will zurück.
[78:14] The church I'll ye in the morning. After all we'll meet. For in the mind I'm already A love for you I As with a garment I live full When sin is in me Lord But never comes I live the way Upon him glory is now
[79:16] In grace, mercy and peace In God the Father, the Son of the Holy Spirit Rest and abide with you all Never and always Amen Wake it way