WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.140 Born in Descumbia, Alabama, to a former captain in the Confederate Army, turned editor to a local newspaper. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:16.399 At 19 months old, she developed an illness that doctors then called, quote, 00:00:16.920 --> 00:00:21.100 an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain. 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:29.280 It's thought that it was actually a form of meningitis that left her both blind and deaf. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:37.579 She spoke of her experience, and she said that it was like I was at sea in the fog. 00:00:39.019 --> 00:00:47.439 However, Helen made the most of it and did amazing things after learning a sign language that began very primitive, 00:00:47.439 --> 00:00:49.700 but her vocabulary grew very quickly. 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:51.460 She's in the forefront of that picture. 00:00:51.460 --> 00:01:00.520 And Ann Sullivan, her tutor and teacher, is sitting beside her as she puts sign language into Ann's hands, 00:01:00.620 --> 00:01:03.579 so Ann can, and they sign to each other that way. 00:01:04.659 --> 00:01:06.099 It's amazing how that works. 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:10.740 She also grew to become a well-sought-after speaker and prolific author. 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:17.319 She was fifth on the list of Gallup's most widely admired people of the 20th century. 00:01:17.319 --> 00:01:27.479 A lot of people give definitions of character, but when Helen Keller speaks of character, I want to listen. 00:01:28.559 --> 00:01:34.239 She said of character, character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. 00:01:35.039 --> 00:01:41.039 Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:46.920 ambition inspired, and success achieved. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:53.460 She, as much as anyone, would understand trials and sufferings. 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:55.719 And so would Joseph. 00:01:57.059 --> 00:02:01.239 When we get to Genesis chapter 41, we see a high point. 00:02:02.059 --> 00:02:06.679 But if we look closely, we also see his character coming through. 00:02:07.359 --> 00:02:09.379 And I will say it is strong. 00:02:09.560 --> 00:02:15.819 Now, I want to revisit some verses that I spoke of last week and to take them a step further. 00:02:15.939 --> 00:02:22.759 And I say that because most of you don't have a clue what I said by the time you leave the building. 00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:24.500 And I understand that, okay? 00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:28.280 But some folks write something down in their Bible. 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:36.840 And it's their job, ordained by God, to come to their preacher and tell him when he last preached that passage of Scripture. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:40.180 And some of you are going to say, you just preached that last week. 00:02:40.239 --> 00:02:42.000 So I'm going to read part of that again. 00:02:42.099 --> 00:02:44.799 I'm going to deal with some of that again. 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:48.060 But I also want to go a step further with that. 00:02:48.060 --> 00:02:59.800 We pick up in this story where he, Joseph has just told Pharaoh, interpreted Pharaoh's dream and told him that they will have seven years of harvest, 00:03:00.479 --> 00:03:05.719 followed by a horrible seven years of drought and famine. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:09.480 And then he gave a plan for Pharaoh to handle it. 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:13.919 And the first plan was to appoint a wise and discerning man. 00:03:14.060 --> 00:03:21.780 And the second point was to tax people 20% of their harvest to put up for the hard times. 00:03:22.219 --> 00:03:28.000 In response to that plan, this is what it says Pharaoh said. 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:34.819 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 00:03:35.419 --> 00:03:36.000 Verse 38. 00:03:36.620 --> 00:03:44.259 And Pharaoh said to his servants, can we find a man like this in whom is the Spirit of God? 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:53.139 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, since God has shown you all this, there's none so discerning and wise as you. 00:03:53.139 --> 00:04:00.159 You shall be over my house and all my people shall order themselves as you command. 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:04.599 Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:12.159 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, see, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. 00:04:12.879 --> 00:04:22.779 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 00:04:23.139 --> 00:04:25.860 And he made him ride in his second chariot. 00:04:26.500 --> 00:04:29.680 And they called out before him, bow the knee. 00:04:30.419 --> 00:04:34.479 And then he set him over all the land of Egypt. 00:04:35.180 --> 00:04:39.339 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh. 00:04:40.060 --> 00:04:46.939 And without your consent, no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:53.000 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zephanath Paneah. 00:04:53.699 --> 00:05:02.439 And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphar, priest of On. 00:05:02.680 --> 00:05:06.019 So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 00:05:06.300 --> 00:05:11.019 I had decided that if we had a boy, we were going to name him Zephanath Paneah. 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:16.339 Because he would never be, nobody else would get that name, I bet, in his class. 00:05:17.740 --> 00:05:22.560 Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. 00:05:23.259 --> 00:05:27.959 And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 00:05:28.799 --> 00:05:33.079 During the seven plentiful years, the earth produced abundantly. 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:41.199 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which occupied in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:45.279 He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:52.639 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea until he ceased to measure it. 00:05:53.579 --> 00:05:55.860 For it could not be measured. 00:05:56.919 --> 00:06:01.360 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:07.560 Asenath, the daughter of Potiphar, priest of On, bore them to him. 00:06:08.280 --> 00:06:11.259 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. 00:06:12.020 --> 00:06:17.020 For he said, God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:20.120 The name of the second he called Ephraim. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:25.180 For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction. 00:06:25.540 --> 00:06:29.780 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end. 00:06:29.779 --> 00:06:34.059 And the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:36.659 There was famine in all the lands. 00:06:37.239 --> 00:06:40.299 But in all the land of Egypt, there was bread. 00:06:41.039 --> 00:06:45.199 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. 00:06:45.739 --> 00:06:49.179 And Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, go to Joseph. 00:06:49.699 --> 00:06:52.279 What he says to you, do. 00:06:52.279 --> 00:07:00.119 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. 00:07:00.119 --> 00:07:02.379 For the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 00:07:03.159 --> 00:07:09.979 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain. 00:07:10.559 --> 00:07:13.959 Because the famine was severe over all the earth. 00:07:14.799 --> 00:07:17.759 What a wonderful ascent. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:25.180 In a single bound, Joseph goes from the dungeon to the steps of the throne. 00:07:26.259 --> 00:07:29.959 After his dream, his father had rebuked him. 00:07:30.740 --> 00:07:35.500 Now Pharaoh, the greatest monarch of his time, after his dream, welcomes him. 00:07:36.199 --> 00:07:37.920 His brothers had despised him. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:43.860 Yet now he is ranked as the greatest force in Egyptian economic life. 00:07:44.279 --> 00:07:46.420 His hands are unshackled. 00:07:46.420 --> 00:07:50.100 His finger is adorned with a signet ring. 00:07:50.580 --> 00:07:52.960 Which is the signature of Pharaoh. 00:07:53.540 --> 00:07:56.840 On that ring, there would be a cartouche. 00:07:57.560 --> 00:08:04.800 And a cartouche is this engraving that shows the distinctives of Pharaoh. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:07.200 This is the one for Ramesses the Great. 00:08:07.620 --> 00:08:11.180 And apparently he was the Pharaoh that did not quite sit down. 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:21.079 But if you didn't get that, keep looking because the slide is going to leave eventually. 00:08:21.340 --> 00:08:21.519 Okay. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:25.939 The word in the Hebrew for ring is to sink. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:31.620 You sink the ring into hot wax to leave the seal. 00:08:32.299 --> 00:08:35.320 No need for him to check his decisions with Pharaoh. 00:08:35.320 --> 00:08:38.660 He could stamp with confidence. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:43.320 All the authority of Egypt was put on his hand. 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:44.440 What? 00:08:44.920 --> 00:08:45.660 An elevation. 00:08:46.680 --> 00:08:48.320 Garments of fine linen. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:49.840 Exquisite garments. 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:53.700 These garments were so fine that they were see-through. 00:08:53.700 --> 00:09:02.480 And what they would do is simply layer those fine linens over and over and over on top of the royalty. 00:09:03.379 --> 00:09:05.879 The Egyptian pagan priest wore that. 00:09:06.160 --> 00:09:07.700 The Pharaoh wore that. 00:09:07.980 --> 00:09:09.720 And that was distinctive among them. 00:09:10.660 --> 00:09:16.259 His coat of many colors and the heritage of the Hebrews, get this, had been erased. 00:09:17.379 --> 00:09:18.360 It was gone. 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:26.659 And now he was placed in fine linen of a royal but yet wicked ruler of the world. 00:09:27.560 --> 00:09:32.100 His feet are no longer in fetters and a chain of gold is placed around his neck. 00:09:32.180 --> 00:09:39.440 Those chains sometimes held large pendants with hieroglyphic celebration of the Pharaoh. 00:09:39.820 --> 00:09:41.980 Similar to the cartouche. 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:47.279 But it was a big pendant look like a rapper would wear or something. 00:09:47.279 --> 00:09:49.000 They would wear around their neck. 00:09:49.120 --> 00:09:52.360 Or they would wear what's called an unk cross. 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:55.240 And an unk means life. 00:09:56.039 --> 00:10:03.679 And so these crosses celebrated the God that held your life in his hands. 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:05.399 Or in her hands. 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:06.839 Or in their hands. 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:08.779 It was the Egyptian thought. 00:10:08.779 --> 00:10:18.699 But it was also, whichever one he wore, a graphic illustration of power and wealth. 00:10:18.839 --> 00:10:19.980 And I can't help but think. 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:24.679 There were prominent officials around Pharaoh. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:28.480 The equivalent to his cabinet. 00:10:29.299 --> 00:10:31.079 The equivalent to Congress. 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:34.060 All those people that were around him. 00:10:34.620 --> 00:10:38.759 Making decisions on his behalf for the country. 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:49.220 That now a prisoner from a foreign land had shot up and rose among them. 00:10:49.920 --> 00:10:53.400 And taken over their positions of power. 00:10:53.920 --> 00:10:56.040 It's amazing the kind of atmosphere he must have been in. 00:10:56.039 --> 00:10:59.459 In addition, he would ride in a chariot like Pharaoh's. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:00.620 Only behind Pharaoh. 00:11:01.099 --> 00:11:04.240 And people were required to bow to him like they did Pharaoh. 00:11:04.659 --> 00:11:06.959 Who was considered a god. 00:11:07.139 --> 00:11:09.419 Now don't forget Joseph's dream. 00:11:09.839 --> 00:11:11.579 In Genesis 37 verse 9. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:14.120 He dreamed that all the world would bow down to him. 00:11:14.339 --> 00:11:15.599 And God gave him that dream. 00:11:15.839 --> 00:11:17.059 Because it came true. 00:11:17.599 --> 00:11:18.939 In Genesis 41. 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:23.779 His 13 year sentence as a slave and prisoner abruptly ended. 00:11:23.779 --> 00:11:28.339 13 years of hardship, setback, frustration are now over. 00:11:28.819 --> 00:11:32.980 And instead he's been thrust into a world of prominence and prestige. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:35.360 When Pharaoh told him, 00:11:36.079 --> 00:11:43.439 Without your consent, no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 00:11:44.019 --> 00:11:46.980 That means no one had permission to work. 00:11:47.699 --> 00:11:50.199 No one had permission to move. 00:11:50.459 --> 00:11:51.620 To be mobile. 00:11:51.620 --> 00:11:56.320 In other words, to make major decisions without his consent. 00:11:57.320 --> 00:12:01.539 More wealth and power than you can imagine. 00:12:03.139 --> 00:12:07.679 I was trying to think of a modern day example of that. 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:09.360 And I'm a little afraid to give it. 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:13.279 Because I make no connotations one way or the other when I bring up this. 00:12:13.659 --> 00:12:15.720 But just so you somewhat understand. 00:12:15.879 --> 00:12:19.940 And you understand how our country has mixed feelings about the whole thing. 00:12:19.940 --> 00:12:23.160 We see an example of that today. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:30.620 There's an unelected person that has the power to direct the purse strings of America. 00:12:31.140 --> 00:12:36.260 Because the most powerful office in the world has given him that permission. 00:12:36.400 --> 00:12:43.420 By himself, Elon Musk, who would have no power except what is given to him by his extreme wealth. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:50.899 When authorized by the Oval Office, any and all money moves. 00:12:50.979 --> 00:12:57.839 Now listen, Joseph didn't have a Supreme Court or other courts to slow him down in that process at all. 00:12:59.259 --> 00:13:01.379 You know, like it or not, it's a similar situation. 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:07.179 And that may look powerful, wonderful as we see Joseph's rise for Joseph. 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:10.139 But as Lee Corso says, not so fast, my friend. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:11.879 I mean, don't be fooled. 00:13:13.700 --> 00:13:16.580 Because Joseph's always also living in a world of compromise. 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:20.080 He's living in a world of paganism. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:23.200 He's living in a world of high pressure. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:29.399 I mean, he's in the belly of a pagan, demonic, misguided power and prestige. 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:31.299 How do you stand up in the midst of that? 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:32.879 It gets worse. 00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:38.039 His name changed to Zephanath-Paneah. 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:42.600 And Zephanath-Paneah means God speaks and lives. 00:13:42.699 --> 00:13:48.259 Now Pharaoh knows God gave Joseph the vision of leadership. 00:13:49.079 --> 00:13:53.899 But Pharaoh realized it in a lost kind of way. 00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:57.019 Because Pharaoh's a man without God. 00:13:57.840 --> 00:13:58.960 He's a pagan. 00:13:59.399 --> 00:14:00.539 A demonic man. 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:06.399 And the spiritually darkened gets spiritual matters mixed up. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:12.019 So Pharaoh knows a God has informed him. 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:16.879 I hope that he acknowledges that it's the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:20.079 that gave Joseph the knowledge that he did. 00:14:20.539 --> 00:14:22.159 But it does not appear so. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:30.899 Because Joseph is given in marriage the daughter of the priest of On, the city also known as the 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:36.399 Helopolis, which was the center of the worship of the sun god, Ray. 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:42.059 Now my friend, that's as high in the royal family as one can imagine. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:49.600 However, it's also as deep into pagan, demonic, wrong worship as you can get. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:59.540 It is very likely that his wife was in his home worshiping false god that the evil one crafts for pagan lost people. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.920 Right in his own home. 00:15:02.060 --> 00:15:03.680 Now how do you handle such as that? 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:09.579 I mean, realize he's had a radical change of wealth. 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.859 He's had a radical change in power. 00:15:12.359 --> 00:15:17.079 He's had a radical change in peer pressure, in societal pressure. 00:15:17.080 --> 00:15:19.160 How do you handle such as that? 00:15:20.080 --> 00:15:24.040 Have you ever heard of sudden wealth syndrome? 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:33.560 Sudden wealth syndrome is when someone wins the lottery or somebody receives a large inheritance 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:37.139 or someone is given a lump sum. 00:15:38.300 --> 00:15:42.040 Many times for those folks, it can lead to anxiety. 00:15:42.640 --> 00:15:44.560 It can lead to fear. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:47.500 It can lead to sleeplessness. 00:15:47.859 --> 00:15:49.939 It can lead to overspending. 00:15:50.459 --> 00:15:52.559 It can lead to impulse buying. 00:15:53.159 --> 00:15:54.799 Some of you are thinking like I am. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:57.199 Well, I'd like to take a shot at it anyway, you know. 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:02.719 But how you handle it makes all the difference in the world. 00:16:04.059 --> 00:16:10.119 I have a friend that I served on a seminary board with who was in investment management. 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:12.500 And his father owned a business. 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:20.000 And as his father began to age, he left his investment management business to go lead his father's business. 00:16:20.139 --> 00:16:24.419 When he took over his father's business, his father's business was worth $10 million. 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:32.419 After leading that business for seven years, that business grew from a $10 million business to $100 million business. 00:16:33.219 --> 00:16:37.240 And then he sold that business for $250 million. 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:46.879 And he and his father, taking the proceeds from that sale, the first thing they did was tithe to their church. 00:16:47.740 --> 00:16:48.820 Can I get an amen? 00:16:49.980 --> 00:16:52.000 They tithe to their church. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:17:00.279 And beyond that, I know of three very significant gifts that they gave to Southern Baptist seminaries, 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.559 which now have buildings with their names on it, 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:09.339 as well as a Southern Baptist Conference Center in Oklahoma where they live, 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:13.160 where they've built a large building there as well. 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:17.099 They gave away $50 million. 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:23.859 That is remembering who blessed you. 00:17:25.859 --> 00:17:30.859 Not only did Joseph obtain great wealth instantly, 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:37.319 but the power that he obtained immediately would be too much for most. 00:17:38.399 --> 00:17:44.259 How do you handle it when people are bowing at your feet and you own the black card 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:47.480 for the richest nation in the world? 00:17:48.220 --> 00:17:50.759 That is a lot of power. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:56.000 How one handles it makes all the difference in the world. 00:17:57.339 --> 00:18:04.500 In ancient times, coins were not minted as they are today in large mechanical processes. 00:18:04.500 --> 00:18:11.759 Instead, they were made by melting the gold or the silver that was to become a coin, 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:16.960 and they poured a small bit of that gold or silver into a hard mold 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:25.019 and then pressed the die containing the image of a ruler or a god into that metal. 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:30.180 They made every coin slightly unique. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:33.779 They had irregular shapes. 00:18:34.579 --> 00:18:37.000 They were soft and uneven edges. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:42.140 Oftentimes, the less than honest folks would take a sharp knife 00:18:42.140 --> 00:18:47.500 and they would carefully peel away some of the excess gold or silver. 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:52.019 They would save these peelings off these coins 00:18:52.019 --> 00:18:57.180 until they had enough to melt down and then made into another coin. 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:06.000 It was such a common practice that the city of Athens passed 80 laws against trimming coins. 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:13.460 And even today, in museums, it's hard to find a coin that does not have the edges trimmed away. 00:19:14.160 --> 00:19:18.900 When Paul in 1 Corinthians 9 verse 27 said, 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:22.339 But I discipline my body and I keep it under control, 00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:27.400 lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 00:19:27.400 --> 00:19:35.259 The word disqualified in the Greek is the term that is often used to describe a coin 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:40.280 that has been whittled away so badly that it was no longer acceptable. 00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:44.019 The merchants would not take it anymore. 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.180 It had to be recalled. 00:19:46.680 --> 00:19:47.660 It had to be remitted. 00:19:47.660 --> 00:19:55.680 And that kind of slowly whittling down process is what too often happens in individual lives 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.380 when they are blessed. 00:19:58.380 --> 00:20:03.040 When wealth and opportunity come, and even attention along the way, 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:06.660 it is often that compromise comes with it. 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:09.980 Standards of behavior are not held as high, 00:20:10.540 --> 00:20:12.040 and priorities cannot be, 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.680 priorities can be misplaced. 00:20:14.820 --> 00:20:15.700 Why is that? 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:18.740 Because honor leads to pride, 00:20:18.819 --> 00:20:20.660 and pride leads to a fall. 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:22.620 And that might be a sudden fall, 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:24.559 or it could be a slow one, 00:20:24.700 --> 00:20:27.259 a whittling away of character 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:29.519 that is way too costly. 00:20:30.120 --> 00:20:32.640 But I want you to understand something, folks, this morning. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:37.840 We are never on the throne. 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.620 We're not. 00:20:40.340 --> 00:20:43.160 We are not in charge. 00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:45.340 God is. 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.700 God is. 00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:51.440 Regardless of the power or the wealth that's handed to us. 00:20:51.500 --> 00:20:53.920 Not only that, there's pressure. 00:20:57.360 --> 00:21:02.000 The Egyptians were a godless people 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:09.900 that revered Pharaoh as divine and believed in all kinds of gods. 00:21:09.900 --> 00:21:11.759 As a matter of fact, 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:14.240 in the coming years after Joseph's life, 00:21:14.780 --> 00:21:16.000 Moses would come about 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:19.920 and would lead God's people out of Egypt. 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:23.460 And the plagues that would come to Egypt 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:25.480 when Moses was leading them 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:29.400 was a direct attack on their made-up gods. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:32.860 The Nile turned blood as a plague. 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:37.559 That was attack on what they considered holy, sacred waters, 00:21:37.859 --> 00:21:41.240 as well as the two gods of the Nile. 00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:47.359 The plague of darkness that comes is an attack on Ray, the sun god. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:52.240 The frogs that came as part of a plague attacked Hekit, 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:57.719 which is a fertility god made in a man's image with a frog head. 00:21:58.319 --> 00:22:05.079 The locusts that came were attacking the god of the harvest and so on. 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:07.259 So that's the kind of atmosphere, 00:22:07.399 --> 00:22:09.579 an atmosphere with all of those gods, 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:12.139 that's the kind of atmosphere that Joseph was in. 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:16.699 And the priest of the main area of this demonic worship 00:22:16.699 --> 00:22:18.779 was his own father-in-law. 00:22:19.919 --> 00:22:22.960 Temptation all around him to not honor God. 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:24.899 That is pressure. 00:22:25.659 --> 00:22:27.220 Or as Helen Keller put it, 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:30.599 that is not ease and comfort. 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:35.799 One of two things are going to come out in a situation like that. 00:22:36.819 --> 00:22:39.039 Either character is going to shine through 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:41.559 or either there's going to be compromise. 00:22:42.879 --> 00:22:47.659 And I'm thankful today that Joseph chose character. 00:22:48.179 --> 00:22:50.099 Now, how do I know that? 00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:55.579 How do I know that he never left his faith in God 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:57.019 in the midst of that circumstance? 00:22:57.879 --> 00:22:58.980 I'll tell you how I know. 00:22:58.980 --> 00:23:01.759 I know by what he named his sons. 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:06.180 The first thing I learned from the name of his first son 00:23:06.180 --> 00:23:08.799 is that he had a blessed forgetfulness. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:11.079 A blessed forgetfulness. 00:23:12.160 --> 00:23:14.279 The first son was named Manasseh. 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:16.360 The name means to forget. 00:23:17.740 --> 00:23:20.980 He said, God has allowed me to forget my yesterdays. 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.120 Now, think about that. 00:23:23.860 --> 00:23:25.240 What did Joseph forget? 00:23:25.240 --> 00:23:28.599 Did he forget how his brothers betrayed him? 00:23:29.420 --> 00:23:32.019 Did he forget how they threw him in a dry cistern? 00:23:32.740 --> 00:23:36.660 Did he forget that desert journey that he took to the slave block? 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:40.680 Did he forget the daily temptation of the boss's wife? 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:45.180 Did he forget the false accusation of his boss's wife? 00:23:45.960 --> 00:23:48.880 Did he forget the impending jail sentence that he served? 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:51.339 Did he forget the dungeon they put him in? 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:56.919 Did he forget his forgetful cellmate that forgot for two years 00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:59.259 the difference that Joseph made for him? 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.699 I want to be clear about something. 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:03.359 I don't believe he forgot any of that. 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:06.199 I don't think you can forget all that. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:09.119 He didn't forget the events that happened. 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.299 I'll tell you what he forgot. 00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:12.579 He forgot the pain of it. 00:24:12.579 --> 00:24:15.359 I'll tell you what he forgot. 00:24:15.460 --> 00:24:16.859 He forgot the bitterness of it. 00:24:19.419 --> 00:24:21.139 He gave those things to God. 00:24:22.679 --> 00:24:25.179 He didn't let that bitterness rise up against him. 00:24:26.279 --> 00:24:29.579 He wasn't in the bondage of his past. 00:24:29.579 --> 00:24:32.079 And I want to be clear this morning. 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:34.740 Only God can bring that kind of healing. 00:24:35.819 --> 00:24:41.839 Only God can bring healing of a rough past caused by other people. 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:43.740 Only God can bring that. 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:46.240 And God did bring that for Joseph. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:49.659 And Joseph did not forget what God had done. 00:24:50.539 --> 00:24:53.919 He said, God has allowed me to forget. 00:24:54.960 --> 00:24:59.000 He had a blessed forgetfulness. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.940 But he also had a thankful heart. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:05.519 His second son was named Ephraim. 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:08.900 And it means to be fruitful. 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:12.420 God had made him fruitful. 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:18.200 Now I'm sure he was speaking partially of his two children that were born to him. 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:21.660 But he's also speaking of the harvest. 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:25.980 Because scripture tells us that both of those sons were born 00:25:25.980 --> 00:25:31.160 during the days of a plentiful, bountiful harvest. 00:25:32.039 --> 00:25:34.599 Matter of fact, verse 49 says this. 00:25:34.599 --> 00:25:39.960 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:44.380 until he ceased to measure it. 00:25:44.380 --> 00:25:48.260 For it could not be measured. 00:25:49.540 --> 00:25:53.160 Through it all, he never caught sight. 00:25:53.820 --> 00:25:54.380 Excuse me. 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:59.000 He never lost sight of the glory and the goodness of God. 00:25:59.120 --> 00:26:04.700 And now as famine is approaching, he's ready for whatever comes. 00:26:04.900 --> 00:26:06.400 Because he didn't compromise. 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:09.759 He trusted God through every step of the way. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.580 And he lived that out in godly character. 00:26:14.340 --> 00:26:16.220 As I pondered on that this week, 00:26:16.600 --> 00:26:19.120 I pondered on the power that was put in his hands 00:26:19.120 --> 00:26:20.680 and the wealth that was given to him 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:24.920 and the pressure, the societal pressure that he was under. 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:28.460 And in reality, when we've seen the church of Jesus Christ 00:26:28.460 --> 00:26:30.140 be the strongest that it ever could be, 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:33.860 it was usually when societal pressure was the greatest. 00:26:34.340 --> 00:26:36.400 In atmospheres of ease and comfort, 00:26:36.860 --> 00:26:40.360 the reality is there's a lot of compromise in the Christian church. 00:26:40.700 --> 00:26:44.820 But real Christians stand up for what is right in the midst of pressure. 00:26:45.080 --> 00:26:46.620 And I thought about all those things. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.320 And I couldn't help but think about the Apostle Paul 00:26:49.320 --> 00:26:51.460 and what he said in Philippians chapter 3 verse 13. 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:54.579 When he says, forgetting what lies behind 00:26:54.579 --> 00:26:58.140 and straining forward to what lies ahead, 00:26:58.460 --> 00:27:01.440 I press on toward the goal for the prize 00:27:01.440 --> 00:27:04.819 of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:08.380 Paul had to forget a lot of great accomplishments 00:27:08.380 --> 00:27:11.259 that would easily fill somebody with pride 00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:13.860 to be all that God would have him to be. 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:16.980 Joseph had to forget a lot of hurt, 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:19.500 a lot of things that people had done to him 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:21.779 that was not fairly done to him, 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:24.259 a lot of things that scarred his life, 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:27.720 a lot of things that shelved him for a long time. 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:31.319 So whether it's greatness or whether it's pain, 00:27:31.799 --> 00:27:33.599 to live with godly character 00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:37.099 in the midst of a world trying to choke us out spiritually, 00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:40.299 we need to be able to walk away from yesterday 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:43.720 and come fresh today to God. 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:47.400 And in that process, don't ever forget 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:50.839 to give him thanks for all that he's done. 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.900 God's been good to us, folks. 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:58.079 If we had time this morning, 00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:01.559 we took time to give thanks for what God had done. 00:28:01.940 --> 00:28:03.819 People all over this building 00:28:03.819 --> 00:28:05.579 could stand up and talk about 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:10.140 God's greatness to you, 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.220 God's goodness to you 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.660 and how thankful you are for that. 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:15.259 And because God's been so faithful in the past, 00:28:15.700 --> 00:28:17.339 man, I don't know what tomorrow's coming, 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.620 but I know who's already there. 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:21.259 I know who's already taking care of it 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:23.620 and I can put my confidence and my trust in him. 00:28:23.660 --> 00:28:25.400 And that's exactly what Joseph was saying. 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:28.480 God's been good to pick his first Baptist church. 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:32.539 What blessed fruitfulness God has given us. 00:28:32.539 --> 00:28:34.680 And I am thankful to stand here today 00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:36.279 and tell you he's still at work. 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:39.299 I still know what he's doing in people's lives 00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:40.460 that you don't know about. 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:44.259 So let's not forget the things that slow us down. 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:47.039 Cast those things aside. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.599 And you don't have to do that alone. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.700 God will help you do that 00:28:53.700 --> 00:28:56.839 and to move forward into thankfulness 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:59.440 for the fruitfulness that comes 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:03.279 only through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:07.899 How do you stand in the midst of the pressure 00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:12.200 that we feel in life so often? 00:29:13.160 --> 00:29:14.420 I'll tell you what you do. 00:29:15.639 --> 00:29:19.180 You put whatever burdens you under the blood of Christ. 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:23.019 You ask God to forgive you of your past 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:27.160 and you ask God to give you a blessed forgetfulness 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:29.740 for the things that you need to let go of, 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:33.539 the things that you need to not put your confidence in 00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:36.480 and to not allow you to scar you 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:41.019 from the evil one who's robbed you of things in the past 00:29:41.019 --> 00:29:43.099 to rob you of things in the future. 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:45.039 There's no need to do that, my friend. 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.980 You can walk fresh today. 00:29:47.700 --> 00:29:50.500 You can know that the Lord's already went before you. 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:52.920 He's paved your path. 00:29:52.920 --> 00:29:57.440 And for that, we have much to be thankful for. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.299 I want to ask you this morning, 00:29:59.840 --> 00:30:02.059 has there ever been a time in your life 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:03.820 when you've surrendered your life to Christ? 00:30:05.059 --> 00:30:07.840 When you've ever said, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:11.559 and I've never surrendered my life to Christ. 00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:14.500 And so Lord, today, I want you to control my life. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:18.059 I come as I am and I ask you to forgive me 00:30:18.059 --> 00:30:19.180 of the sin that I've committed 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:21.820 and I ask you to empower me to live for you. 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:24.039 God, guide me from this day forward 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:29.619 to live my life, to honor you and to praise you. 00:30:30.500 --> 00:30:32.240 Friend, if that's never happened to you, 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:34.599 I want you to know that today's the day of salvation. 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:37.720 You can have your life forever changed today 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.180 by surrendering to the Lord Jesus. 00:30:39.460 --> 00:30:41.480 And if you have any unction within you at all 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.680 to want to do anything like that, 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:44.159 I'm going to tell you, you didn't come up with that. 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:46.539 God's already initiated that. 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.299 He's working in your heart, 00:30:48.299 --> 00:30:51.440 so you just obey him as he speaks to you. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:53.100 Maybe you've done that privately, 00:30:53.600 --> 00:30:55.940 but you've never done that publicly. 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:59.539 Jesus, by example, as well as by his commission, 00:30:59.700 --> 00:31:03.019 tells us that when we're saved by the blood of the Lamb, 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:03.900 when we're Christians, 00:31:04.220 --> 00:31:06.019 we ought to acknowledge that through baptism. 00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:08.700 That's how we are to announce to others 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:10.380 what God has done in us. 00:31:10.660 --> 00:31:14.059 To not do that becomes a major snare sometimes 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:15.660 in our walk with God. 00:31:15.660 --> 00:31:16.840 And if you've never done that, 00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:19.500 I'd love to counsel you in that. 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.640 We won't do it this morning. 00:31:20.640 --> 00:31:21.220 Don't panic. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.060 But we'll line up a time 00:31:23.060 --> 00:31:24.400 to be able to do that in the future. 00:31:26.700 --> 00:31:27.759 Maybe you're here this morning, 00:31:27.860 --> 00:31:30.340 God's leading you to Pickens First Baptist Church. 00:31:31.100 --> 00:31:33.280 You feel like he's drawing you to be here. 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:35.620 God's blessed us mightily, 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:36.880 and we're very thankful for that. 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.560 And if you feel like God's leading you, 00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:39.120 be a part of that. 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.540 You come. 00:31:39.640 --> 00:31:41.840 I'd love to guide you in that process. 00:31:42.840 --> 00:31:44.480 For the most of us, 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:49.500 there's stuff that we need to forget. 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:54.900 We need to lay it down before the Lord today. 00:31:55.420 --> 00:31:56.700 Whether it's at your seat, 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.720 whether it's at this altar, 00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:59.360 whether it's with me praying with you, 00:31:59.620 --> 00:32:01.380 we need to lay some stuff down 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:03.540 with some blessed forgetfulness 00:32:03.540 --> 00:32:04.820 and let it go. 00:32:07.000 --> 00:32:08.560 The second thing we need to do 00:32:08.560 --> 00:32:10.360 is thank God 00:32:10.360 --> 00:32:13.440 that he ain't give up on us yet, 00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:15.700 that he's already walked before us, 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:17.559 and he'll never leave us 00:32:17.559 --> 00:32:18.700 or forsake us. 00:32:19.700 --> 00:32:21.980 We have a lot to be thankful for, folks, 00:32:22.039 --> 00:32:23.259 only in Christ. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:25.759 Let it mark not only our hour, 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:27.960 let it mark our lives 00:32:27.960 --> 00:32:28.840 in all we do. 00:32:29.340 --> 00:32:29.960 Let's pray together. 00:32:30.340 --> 00:32:32.140 Lord Jesus, I love you and thank you 00:32:32.140 --> 00:32:34.120 for the opportunity you give us 00:32:34.120 --> 00:32:35.940 to come to you and to be changed. 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.100 God, I pray right now 00:32:37.100 --> 00:32:38.700 that you'll work and you'll move 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:40.140 in each and every life in this place. 00:32:40.500 --> 00:32:41.880 Help us to simply be obedient 00:32:41.880 --> 00:32:43.580 to follow your will and your way right now. 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:45.159 In Jesus' name, amen.