WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.400 Wonderful. 00:00:00.940 --> 00:00:03.140 If you have your Bibles, turn to Genesis chapter 45. 00:00:03.140 --> 00:00:10.839 Genesis chapter 45, I want to tell you about we gave the high school graduates Bibles. 00:00:11.380 --> 00:00:18.899 And we asked you if you had the opportunity to circle a verse or underline a verse out there 00:00:18.899 --> 00:00:22.960 or put your name in it and let them know you encourage them. 00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:24.859 And I appreciate you participating. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:29.280 That's a new thing that we want to try this year and plan to continue that. 00:00:29.420 --> 00:00:31.100 And so we're thankful for that. 00:00:31.100 --> 00:00:34.760 And then we always give college graduates a devotional book. 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:39.640 And this year we gave Dr. Connor Ph.D. in chemistry. 00:00:40.719 --> 00:00:40.980 Hello. 00:00:41.719 --> 00:00:42.460 My soul. 00:00:42.660 --> 00:00:44.480 I realized we had something in common. 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:45.719 I took chemistry. 00:00:46.420 --> 00:00:49.760 So and it didn't turn out that way for me. 00:00:49.820 --> 00:00:57.600 But anyway, but what she got was a book by Lou Giglio called At the Table with Jesus. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:04.180 And a couple of years ago, well, we've I've been meeting with men on Tuesday mornings at 6 a.m. 00:01:04.180 --> 00:01:05.019 And at 9 a.m. 00:01:05.019 --> 00:01:06.200 And we read a book together. 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:07.620 We read about a chapter a week. 00:01:07.960 --> 00:01:13.359 And we talk about it and try to as iron sharpens iron, let one man sharpen another. 00:01:13.500 --> 00:01:15.319 It's a blessing time, blessed time together. 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:18.140 And we read a book a couple of years ago that was impactful. 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:26.260 And so I bought a bunch of copies and put them out there for a summer read, a church summer read to encourage you to read in the summer. 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:27.799 A lot of things happen during the summer. 00:01:27.939 --> 00:01:30.099 People go places and do things and all that stuff. 00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:34.379 Let me just remind you that miss for the extraordinary. 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:36.060 Don't miss for the ordinary. 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:36.760 All right. 00:01:36.760 --> 00:01:41.060 Go and do as God enables you to go and do. 00:01:41.180 --> 00:01:45.140 And then when you get done, come back and get your tail back in church. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:45.520 All right. 00:01:45.880 --> 00:01:49.100 And so but summer gets us all over the place. 00:01:49.580 --> 00:01:51.560 And so we get scattered. 00:01:52.620 --> 00:01:57.560 We can have a common bond in the midst of that by reading something together. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:02.260 We're not going to discuss it together, but we're just going to do it individually. 00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:14.719 And gave her this book this year because next week we're going to make available at the Information Center right out there in the foyer this book, At the Table with Jesus. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:19.480 It is 66 days of just two-page devotions. 00:02:19.580 --> 00:02:20.879 Sometimes just less than two pages. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:24.240 Two-page devotions about the Lord Jesus. 00:02:25.020 --> 00:02:30.060 And I just couldn't help but think every one of us needs a touch of the Lord Jesus every day. 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:31.599 Just a little Jesus every day. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:37.180 And so it's a great opportunity for us to kind of do something in common together. 00:02:37.799 --> 00:02:39.840 And we don't make money off this. 00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:42.219 Matter of fact, the church subsidizes the cost of these books. 00:02:42.340 --> 00:02:42.719 They're $10. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:44.979 They'll be available next week. 00:02:45.060 --> 00:02:47.400 And so I just wanted you to know about that. 00:02:47.599 --> 00:02:49.079 It's 66 days. 00:02:49.180 --> 00:02:51.680 It's set up to read six days a week. 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:58.199 But if you read 66 days total and you start next Monday, you'll be done at the end of July, 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.000 which is just in time for school to start back. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:10.199 And if you're still in the school system as an employee and as a student, you need a touch of Jesus every day during the summer leading up to the new school year. 00:03:10.340 --> 00:03:15.020 So anyway, if you want to take the slower pace, you'll finish in middle of August or something. 00:03:15.139 --> 00:03:17.020 So either way, it don't make any difference. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:18.879 And they're made available for you. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:24.579 And so I encourage you to pick those up and be a part of that this summer together. 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:31.819 At the 2023 commencement graduation, let me say one more thing too before I get started with that. 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:40.099 I missed a couple of weeks ago because my daughter got engaged to her fiancee. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:41.120 And they're here today. 00:03:41.400 --> 00:03:43.979 And so will you congratulate them and let them know that? 00:03:43.979 --> 00:03:44.159 Thank you. 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:53.919 I tried to get him to do it first thing on Saturday morning so I could be back on Sunday, but he didn't want to do that. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:58.159 And then I'm also blessed today to have my mom and daddy here. 00:03:58.739 --> 00:04:01.579 And I'm thankful that they were able to worship with us today. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:02.359 That's a blessing. 00:04:03.019 --> 00:04:03.659 It really is. 00:04:03.739 --> 00:04:04.679 Mama's had a rough week. 00:04:04.839 --> 00:04:09.099 And I'm thankful that you are here and thankful both of you are. 00:04:09.519 --> 00:04:18.319 At the 2023 commencement graduation ceremony at Northwestern University, J.B. Prixker gave the address. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:30.459 Now, J.B. is the governor of Illinois, and his family owns the Hyatt Hotel chain along with several capital and capital investment companies. 00:04:30.819 --> 00:04:33.139 He is safely a billionaire. 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:44.120 And he talked about how our society has become one that weaponizes cruelty as if it was a well-thought-out plan. 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:49.759 He said empathy and kindness are often seen as weakness. 00:04:50.780 --> 00:04:54.420 And, however, the most profound thing he said in that commencement address is this. 00:04:55.399 --> 00:05:04.980 He said he had found one thing to be universally true, that the kindest person in the room is most often the smartest. 00:05:06.600 --> 00:05:09.699 The kindest person in the room is most often the smartest. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:14.339 Now, think about that as you go and as you interact with others. 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:19.439 We'll see today that Joseph was the kindest. 00:05:20.599 --> 00:05:28.319 It's been nearly two decades since Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers when we come to our passage today. 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:35.719 And in that time, a lot of water rolled under the bridge, good and bad, for Joseph as well for his brothers. 00:05:35.719 --> 00:05:39.459 And neither one of them knew anything about what the other ones had been doing. 00:05:39.699 --> 00:05:44.979 In the brothers' lives, Joseph didn't know, both wondered about that. 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:47.839 And now a great famine has hit the land. 00:05:48.620 --> 00:05:55.159 All the known world is affected, including Jacob and his family, which is Joseph's dad. 00:05:55.879 --> 00:06:00.000 Joseph's 11 brothers are affected by that, as well as their families. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:15.399 So either they stay where they were and starve, hoping for better days, or they set out for Egypt to get the only grain available from the governor of Egypt. 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:17.279 So they did that. 00:06:17.399 --> 00:06:22.420 They left Benjamin behind and they went to Egypt for grain. 00:06:22.420 --> 00:06:34.259 Now they didn't realize that the governor of Egypt, the one who was managing this whole food distribution, was in fact their long lost brother. 00:06:35.400 --> 00:06:41.460 And they got up and went to get grain, got their grain and left. 00:06:41.459 --> 00:06:52.339 And upon arriving home, they realized the silver that they had paid had been put in their bags of grain. 00:06:54.759 --> 00:06:56.279 They believed it was a mistake. 00:06:57.359 --> 00:07:01.000 They were horrified by it because it looked as if they were thieves. 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:03.480 They ate the grain. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:06.279 And now it was time to go get more. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:10.139 And so in the effort to go get more, food is low again. 00:07:10.300 --> 00:07:15.860 They will go back and they'll pay for what they got last time. 00:07:16.540 --> 00:07:20.680 Hope they understand the misunderstanding and get more grain. 00:07:22.540 --> 00:07:30.339 But much to Jacob's horror, the governor had asked when they come back for Benjamin to come as well. 00:07:31.000 --> 00:07:40.879 And apparently a favorite of Joseph's, excuse me, of Jacob's, after Joseph's disappearance. 00:07:41.220 --> 00:07:46.060 And if you remember, Joseph was a favorite child, very favored by his daddy. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:52.939 And apparently he took up with Benjamin like he did Joseph, favoring him. 00:07:54.279 --> 00:07:57.699 When they came, Joseph fed them well in his home. 00:07:58.300 --> 00:07:59.740 And again, they didn't know it was Joseph. 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:02.560 That was the governor of Egypt. 00:08:03.560 --> 00:08:07.800 He set them at his table in order by birth. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:12.939 He fed Benjamin five times more than the others. 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:20.300 He asked them about their father, who was his father, of course, as well. 00:08:20.900 --> 00:08:22.920 They never picked up on any of it. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:28.180 So now remember, I've said this before, but it just rings in my mind. 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:32.180 You know, they look kind of like Duck Dynasty walking in there, you know. 00:08:32.800 --> 00:08:40.259 And Joseph has taken on the Egyptian look, which is a completely shaved look, 00:08:40.740 --> 00:08:45.039 along with makeup and all the Egyptian garb and that kind of thing. 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:46.279 So they didn't recognize him. 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:47.700 They had no idea. 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:49.400 He played a trick on them. 00:08:49.460 --> 00:08:57.879 He placed their silver back in the bag again, along with his personal silver cup, his Yeti. 00:08:58.259 --> 00:09:03.160 He placed that in Benjamin's bag and he sent them off. 00:09:04.160 --> 00:09:11.740 But soon after they left, they were caught red-handed by Joseph's men in their theft. 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:17.060 So they offered themselves as slaves in response. 00:09:18.460 --> 00:09:20.399 They didn't know what else to do. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.820 Their life was at risk. 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:30.060 And Joseph said, I'll just take Benjamin. 00:09:33.259 --> 00:09:39.940 The brothers refused to make the same mistake twice. 00:09:41.740 --> 00:09:46.879 One time before, they had given their brother over to slavery, Joseph. 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:50.419 They were not going to do that with Benjamin. 00:09:50.419 --> 00:10:02.279 And when he saw the love that they had for Benjamin, he gave them a great revelation. 00:10:03.419 --> 00:10:08.080 It's in Genesis chapter 45, beginning in verse 1, it says this. 00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:15.120 Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. 00:10:15.759 --> 00:10:18.500 He cried, making everyone go out from him. 00:10:18.560 --> 00:10:22.100 So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 00:10:22.680 --> 00:10:27.320 And he went out loud so that the Egyptians heard it and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 00:10:27.800 --> 00:10:30.700 And Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph. 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:33.720 Is my father still alive? 00:10:34.320 --> 00:10:38.560 But his brothers couldn't answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 00:10:38.879 --> 00:10:41.980 So Joseph said to his brothers, come near to me, please. 00:10:42.040 --> 00:10:42.879 And they came near. 00:10:42.980 --> 00:10:47.340 And he said, I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:55.140 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here. 00:10:55.139 --> 00:11:00.240 For God sent me before you to preserve life. 00:11:00.960 --> 00:11:04.080 For the famine has been in the land these two years. 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:09.059 And there are yet five years in which there will neither be plowing nor harvest. 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:21.059 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. 00:11:21.059 --> 00:11:24.919 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:34.639 He has made me a father of Pharaoh and Lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 00:11:35.699 --> 00:11:39.679 Forever their lives would be changed due to their mistakes. 00:11:40.799 --> 00:11:47.119 Now forever their lives would be changed through the grace of the one that they victimized. 00:11:47.659 --> 00:11:50.159 They had looked at Joseph, but they hadn't really seen him. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:53.600 And what they got now is a great revelation. 00:11:54.179 --> 00:12:01.259 The grace and the kindness of Joseph was so abundant that their lives would never be the same again. 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:06.339 However, their horror was almost more than they could bear. 00:12:07.279 --> 00:12:14.519 Verse 3 says, when he said he was Joseph, but his brothers couldn't answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 00:12:15.079 --> 00:12:18.299 Listen, they had thought two decades earlier they had snuffed him out. 00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:20.139 They had made him go away. 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.219 They had forgot him and they had moved on. 00:12:22.319 --> 00:12:24.339 Or at least they had tried to do that. 00:12:24.459 --> 00:12:27.079 But they had never been able to let that go. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:31.259 In the words of King David, their sin was ever before them. 00:12:31.519 --> 00:12:34.019 The guilt continued to haunt them. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:36.939 And it made them paranoid to leave Benjamin behind. 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:38.099 They weren't going to do it. 00:12:38.100 --> 00:12:42.659 They forever scarred their father, Jacob. 00:12:42.980 --> 00:12:45.720 Jacob now lived in fear that he would lose another child. 00:12:45.800 --> 00:12:49.259 Although they thought it would pass, it never had. 00:12:50.580 --> 00:12:52.420 And let me tell you, friend, it never does. 00:12:53.420 --> 00:13:01.879 When people are in sin, when people are unrepentant, they continue to try to turn the world up louder and louder, 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:05.980 hoping to drown out the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to them. 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:07.320 But they can't do it. 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:09.000 And it haunts them. 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:14.379 Such efforts of escape often lead to a spiraling out of control. 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:19.700 Or a fall into a deep, mundane, barely living depression. 00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:22.179 It is the rout of sin. 00:13:23.100 --> 00:13:25.799 But for them, that's a great revelation for them. 00:13:25.799 --> 00:13:29.219 Joseph announced to them, hey, I'm Joseph. 00:13:30.479 --> 00:13:32.319 Is my father still alive? 00:13:33.399 --> 00:13:36.399 And they went, what? 00:13:37.339 --> 00:13:38.740 They were dumbfounded. 00:13:39.419 --> 00:13:41.019 Open-mouthed. 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:41.859 Amazed. 00:13:42.339 --> 00:13:44.120 They wet their tunics just a little bit. 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:48.379 And he calls them to come to him. 00:13:48.399 --> 00:13:49.079 That's not in Scripture. 00:13:49.199 --> 00:13:52.479 But anyway, they called him to come to him. 00:13:52.479 --> 00:13:55.639 And they walked toward him like my golden doodle does. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:57.759 When she's been into something. 00:13:57.939 --> 00:14:00.159 Tail between the legs, scared to death. 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:03.639 He tells them, again, who he is. 00:14:04.039 --> 00:14:06.599 Reminds them of what they had done. 00:14:07.379 --> 00:14:08.979 But they needed no reminder. 00:14:10.479 --> 00:14:11.479 Because it stuck. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.000 They knew it. 00:14:14.179 --> 00:14:15.979 And then he tells them not to be distressed. 00:14:17.559 --> 00:14:19.419 Not to be angry with themselves. 00:14:21.199 --> 00:14:22.539 God's been up to something. 00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:25.779 God's been working all the time. 00:14:26.659 --> 00:14:29.240 God's had his hand in this. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.079 God has used their mistakes. 00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:42.299 God has used their wrongdoings to put someone in place to oversee and to administer in the midst of a famine. 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:45.979 And to actually protect his own family. 00:14:47.819 --> 00:14:50.899 Who does such as that? 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:54.539 In reality, it sounds kind of familiar. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:01.019 The reality is that Joseph is, in fact, what's called a type. 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:06.459 Or a foreshadowing pattern of Christ himself. 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:09.460 And they call that a type. 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:25.960 Now, a type means a person or an event or an object in the Old Testament that foreshadows or prefigures a New Testament person, event, or object. 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:26.960 Let me explain. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:27.220 Let me explain. 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:36.379 For instance, the sacrificial lamb of the Old Testament is a prefigure of Christ. 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:48.700 Because he would come and become the sacrificial lamb that would be the one sacrifice for all time to take the sins of the world away. 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:51.020 And there would be no need for more sacrifices. 00:15:52.220 --> 00:15:55.840 Another example, the Passover event of Egypt. 00:15:56.060 --> 00:15:59.500 When death was coming to every house in Egypt. 00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:12.860 Every house that did not have the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the doorpost is a type and a foreshadowing of the shed blood of Christ of Calvary. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:16.060 Because without the shedding of blood, there would be no remission of sin. 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:17.539 There would be no hope of that. 00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:24.340 Another one, the veil of the Holy of Holies was the barrier between us and God. 00:16:24.700 --> 00:16:26.700 Because God's a holy God. 00:16:26.840 --> 00:16:29.700 And the Holy of Holies represented the presence of God. 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.200 And we are unholy. 00:16:31.340 --> 00:16:35.200 And so there was a veil that separated us from that. 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:37.560 Because of our lack of holiness. 00:16:37.559 --> 00:16:46.039 Of course, the death of Christ on the cross removed that barrier as it was torn from top to bottom. 00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:47.759 Not because the earth was quaking. 00:16:48.219 --> 00:16:52.279 But because God torn the barrier and removed it. 00:16:52.659 --> 00:16:56.019 Thank God, due to what Christ did on the cross. 00:16:56.579 --> 00:17:00.039 All of those are examples of types. 00:17:00.939 --> 00:17:04.619 And there's a study of those types called typology. 00:17:04.619 --> 00:17:08.619 Now, I only say that as a background to what Joseph is. 00:17:08.939 --> 00:17:14.299 Because Joseph is in fact a type or a foreshadowing pattern of Christ himself. 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:16.819 And I want to show you how that is. 00:17:16.879 --> 00:17:18.199 The parallels are startling. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.759 And there are many of them. 00:17:20.059 --> 00:17:21.219 And I'm just going to name a few. 00:17:22.199 --> 00:17:24.879 One of them is they were both prophesied to be rulers. 00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:28.479 Joseph received his prophecy in his dreams. 00:17:28.919 --> 00:17:30.539 Remember those dreams that he had? 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:33.019 That he was going to rule the world of sorts? 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.500 And he told his brothers that. 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:35.859 And boy, that really made them mad. 00:17:36.339 --> 00:17:42.940 But in reality, the very thing that we just read in Genesis 45 is the fulfillment of the dream in which Joseph had. 00:17:43.319 --> 00:17:44.680 He was prophesied to be a ruler. 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:47.460 Not only that, but Christ was also prophesied to be a ruler. 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:50.139 The prophet Isaiah talked about Christ coming. 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:52.519 And how he would rule and reign. 00:17:53.059 --> 00:17:54.700 Both of them had jealous brothers. 00:17:56.460 --> 00:17:59.200 Jesus' brothers tried to get him to be quiet. 00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.539 He was embarrassing the family. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:03.039 And so they both had jealous brothers. 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:05.379 Both were stripped of their coat. 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:10.039 Both of the coats are dipped in blood. 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:14.460 Joseph was with a wild animal to try to act like he had died that way. 00:18:15.299 --> 00:18:18.240 You look at the book of Revelation and the revelation of Christ. 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:24.960 You'll see his robe dripped in blood representing his sacrifice for us. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:30.579 Joseph left his home and became a slave of his brother's making. 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:36.299 Christ left his home in heaven to take on the form of a servant. 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:38.860 They both served as slaves. 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:46.279 As a matter of fact, his favorite self-identifying phrase was, Christ was the son of man. 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:47.920 And you know what that means? 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:54.300 A son of that day was a servant to his father and to his father's estate. 00:18:54.759 --> 00:19:05.340 And once he had worked in his father's estate until his father's death, then he would inherit at least a portion of that from his father, depending on his siblings and those type things. 00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:13.699 But the reality is, when Christ called himself the son of man, what he meant was, upon that imagery, he was a servant. 00:19:14.459 --> 00:19:18.099 When he says son of man, he's saying, I am the servant of humanity. 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:23.480 And he did do the ultimate service for us on the cross. 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:31.899 Once in slavery, Joseph succeeded, influencing many, but he was only to be falsely accused. 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:42.120 Christ led the 12, filled four New Testament books with loving outreaches and outstanding miracles. 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:50.220 And although sinless, he was falsely accused and died the most shameful death on a Roman cross. 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:53.420 Both of them symbolized bread. 00:19:55.040 --> 00:19:56.940 Joseph was thrown into prison. 00:19:56.940 --> 00:20:03.600 He came out a prophet and his faithfulness sustained the world during a time of famine. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:06.279 Christ was sealed in a tomb. 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:12.680 Jesus arose a Savior, ascended to heaven as the Savior of the world. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:19.200 And during a time of famine, Joseph managed the bread basket of the world. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:31.100 In response to a spiritual famine, Jesus called himself the bread of life, meaning his salvation sustains us. 00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:37.100 And this last similarity that I want to point to this morning is the great revelation. 00:20:37.940 --> 00:20:47.880 The passage we look at today, now in a time of famine, his former hate-filled brothers kneel before their long-lost brother in hopes of relief. 00:20:47.880 --> 00:20:50.600 Never believing that they would see him again. 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:55.580 They do now, and in fact, he holds their lives in the balance. 00:20:56.520 --> 00:20:58.940 Christ has now ascended to heaven. 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.100 He makes intercession for us. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:03.940 But we'll see him again. 00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:06.520 It was our sin that killed him. 00:21:07.380 --> 00:21:10.300 But our slackness still stifles his cause. 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:12.299 But I want you to know it today. 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:17.019 Whether you recognize it or not, we will see him again. 00:21:17.799 --> 00:21:20.299 And when we do, it'll be a great revelation. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:25.159 Philippians chapter 2, verse 9 through 11 tells us about it. 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:25.639 It says, 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:48.340 And when that day comes, there are going to be two responses to Christ. 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:52.939 One will be what Christ described as the sheep. 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:55.319 Those are those who followed Christ. 00:21:55.980 --> 00:21:59.500 And then there's others who he refers to as the goats. 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:02.459 In Matthew 25, he refers to that. 00:22:02.519 --> 00:22:03.119 And he says this, 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:06.819 Then he will say to those on his left, the goats, 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:12.459 Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 00:22:13.199 --> 00:22:15.480 For I was hungry, and you gave me no food. 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:18.299 I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink. 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:21.579 I was a stranger, and you did not welcome me in. 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:23.480 Naked, and you did not clothe me. 00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.439 Sick and in prison, and you did not visit me. 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:28.939 And then they will also answer, saying, 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:31.720 Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty? 00:22:31.879 --> 00:22:38.599 Or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to you. 00:22:39.019 --> 00:22:40.919 And then he will answer them, saying, 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:46.720 Truly I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:54.460 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:59.500 The goats are those that have missed God's purpose. 00:23:00.079 --> 00:23:01.960 Wondered kind of what the big deal is. 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:11.420 Just thought of him as maybe the man upstairs, or some other kind of sacrilegious term that ought to never come out of your mouth, by the way. 00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:16.299 Instead of realizing he's the blessed king of kings and lord of lords. 00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:18.799 I don't want you to misunderstand this passage of scripture. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:21.259 Your deeds do not get you to heaven. 00:23:22.220 --> 00:23:27.460 But the evidence of a real relationship with Christ is found in your deeds. 00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:30.519 Christian faith is not just a thought. 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:32.700 Christian faith is a lifestyle. 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:39.759 However, when Christ returns, a second thing will happen on that day for those in Christ, the family of God. 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:43.159 And it parallels what happened in Joseph's life. 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:45.759 First, let's look at Joseph. 00:23:46.300 --> 00:23:52.519 Because what happened next for Joseph and his family, Genesis 45 tells us that the family ate together. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:23:53.840 They lived together. 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:57.500 They didn't need anything anymore from their own land. 00:23:58.240 --> 00:24:02.220 They just, he just told them to come and to live. 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:04.900 All their needs would be met. 00:24:04.900 --> 00:24:13.519 So it is when the Christian sees Christ face to face. 00:24:14.560 --> 00:24:23.180 Scripture describes heaven as a banquet, as a marriage feast of Christ and his bride, the church. 00:24:24.080 --> 00:24:25.300 He'll provide everything. 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:29.420 All we need is him. 00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:33.240 Do you believe that this morning? 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:38.960 I don't mean the thought of it. 00:24:41.819 --> 00:24:45.019 I mean, do you believe it and live the life according to it? 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:52.039 Have you ever committed your life to follow Christ? 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:57.839 It don't really matter if you're a member of this church or you're not a member of this church. 00:24:57.839 --> 00:25:03.839 If you're here this morning and you've never truly committed your life to the Lord Jesus. 00:25:04.759 --> 00:25:06.879 Never acknowledge the sin in your life. 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:10.740 Never acknowledge the wrongdoing and the need of a Savior. 00:25:12.199 --> 00:25:23.319 Never acknowledge the fact that you need the Lord Jesus to cleanse you, to change you, to come into your life and empower you and to change you. 00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:35.500 I'm thankful today that you can not just give a verbal consent of agreement to some theology, but you can commit your life to it. 00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:42.119 Joseph's brothers faced a great revelation. 00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:44.160 They weren't ready for. 00:25:45.660 --> 00:25:49.500 And by the grace of God and the love of their brother, they were rewarded. 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:54.000 Not because of their merit, but they were rewarded. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:59.900 Friend, we face a great revelation when we see the Lord face to face. 00:25:59.900 --> 00:26:06.320 And the question is, are we ready? 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.019 More particularly, are you ready? 00:26:13.540 --> 00:26:18.300 Because if we're ready, what a reward. 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:20.640 But if we're not ready, it's not going to be a reward. 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:24.540 Scripture says it will be eternally punishing. 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:33.319 There will be an eternal separation from hope and love and light and salvation. 00:26:35.639 --> 00:26:46.299 And there's absolutely no reason this morning why anybody here or listening should ever have an uncertainty about that. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:50.399 You don't have to be uncertain about that. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:54.900 You can surrender your life to the Lord today. 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:57.519 Give him control. 00:26:59.620 --> 00:27:06.820 If that's never happened to you today, I encourage you to surrender your life to God. 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:11.900 Ask him to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life and to change you. 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:15.700 And commit to follow him from this day forward. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:21.940 And if that has happened to you, have you ever acknowledged that publicly? 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:29.539 Jesus said, if you're ashamed of me before others, I'll be ashamed of you before my Father. 00:27:31.160 --> 00:27:37.059 And the reality is, the reason why he says that is because if we're ashamed, we're not really believers. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:38.620 We're not really followers of Christ. 00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:42.559 Have you ever acknowledged that publicly? 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:50.639 Now, Jesus, by his example, as well as by his commission, tells us that the way to acknowledge that is through baptism. 00:27:51.919 --> 00:27:58.319 That's the way we publicly profess outwardly something that God has done in our heart inwardly. 00:27:59.240 --> 00:28:01.940 And if you've never done that, I would encourage you to come. 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.379 We're not going to do it this morning. 00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.740 We just did it a couple of weeks ago. 00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:06.960 We'll do it in another couple of weeks probably. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:08.940 But I encourage you to come. 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:10.960 We'd love to guide you in that process. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:15.840 Maybe you're here this morning and God's leading you to Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:28:16.200 --> 00:28:18.980 God's doing a wonderful work in our church. 00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:20.019 And I'm thankful for that. 00:28:20.340 --> 00:28:23.620 We had six people join in our 9 a.m. service this morning. 00:28:24.039 --> 00:28:26.319 God's moving and working. 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:33.840 And so, listen, if God's drawing you to be in this place and worship with us, I encourage you to come. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:36.919 I'd love to guide you in that process. 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:43.720 Listen, for the rest of us, are we where we need to be today? 00:28:45.919 --> 00:28:49.679 Are we honoring God in the way that we need to honor God? 00:28:49.680 --> 00:28:54.440 Are we ready for the day of the great revelation? 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.320 When we see Him face to face? 00:28:58.580 --> 00:29:05.279 What in your life would you want different today if you knew you were going to see the Lord tonight? 00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:10.640 Whatever that is, let's deal with it. 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:13.580 This morning, right now, let's deal with it. 00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:15.539 You can do that where you stand in just a moment. 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:17.240 You can do that at this altar. 00:29:17.240 --> 00:29:22.559 I'll be happy to pray for you and pray with you and continue to pray for you if you'd like me to. 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:26.180 I have no idea what God's told you. 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:30.019 I just know I want you to do exactly what He's told you to do. 00:29:31.099 --> 00:29:34.519 Never be satisfied with doing less than God's very best for your life. 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:39.680 And I'll never ask you to do more than what God has told you to do. 00:29:40.420 --> 00:29:45.940 Heavenly Father, I love you and I thank you for the opportunity that you give us this morning to be in this place. 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:51.940 God, will you lead us right now to be obedient, to simply follow your will and your way, dear God. 00:29:52.660 --> 00:30:04.180 Don't let nerves or pride or indifference get in the way of simply following your will and your way in our hearts and lives right now, Father. 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:06.460 I pray in Jesus' precious name. 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:06.740 Amen. 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:07.099 Amen. 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.099 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.099 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.099 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.099 00:30:07.099 --> 00:30:07.099