The Life of Joseph

2. Facing Life’s Problems The Life of Joseph

3. Facing Life’s Problems • II Corinthians 12:10 – “in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses” • How do you face these problems? • What instructions were Joshua given? • Joshua 1:7 • What advice did the Proverb writer give his son? • Proverbs 4:20-27

4. Joseph • 1.) Facing Envy & Hatred • 2.) Facing Betrayal • 3.) Facing Persistent Temptation • 4.) Facing False Accusations • 5.) Facing Ingratitude

5. Facing Ingratitude • Genesis 40:1-41:1 • Joseph’s Problem: • Genesis 40:14 - Joseph asked the butler to remember him. • Genesis 40:21-23 - When the Pharaoh restored the butler, he forgot Joseph. • Genesis 41:1 - Because of the butler’s ingratitude Joseph remained in prison another two years. • Genesis 41:9 - The butler finally remembered Joseph & recognized his mistake.

6. Facing Ingratitude • Genesis 41:14-16 • Joseph’s Response: • Genesis 41:14 - When the butler finally remembered Joseph, he was ready. • Genesis 41:16 – Joseph continues to remember God.

7. Facing Ingratitude • Our Applications: • 1.)We Must not Become an Unthankful People • II Timothy 3:1-2 – “unthankful, unholy” • Romans 1:18-21 – “nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts” • Hebrews 10:29 – “counted the blood of the covenant… a common thing”

8. Facing Ingratitude • Our Applications: • 2.) We Must Become a People of Thanksgiving • Colossians 3:17– “giving thanks to the father” • I Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “in everything give thanks” • I Timothy 2:1 – “giving of thanks be made for all men”

9. Facing Ingratitude • Our Applications: • 3.) We must be Patient & Longsuffering • II Peter 3:9 – “God… is longsuffering toward us” • Ephesians 4:1-3 – “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” • Colossians 3:12-14 – “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering”

10. Joseph • 1.) Facing Envy & Hatred • 2.) Facing Betrayal • 3.) Facing Persistent Temptation • 4.) Facing False Accusations • 5.) Facing Ingratitude • 6.) Facing Power & Responsibility

11. Facing Power & Responsibility • Genesis 41:37-45 • Joseph’s Problem: • Genesis 41:37 – The advice was good in Pharaoh’s eyes. • Genesis 41:40-41 – Pharaoh sets Joseph to be second in command over Egypt. • Genesis 41:42-45 – Joseph is given rich gifts of royalty (signet ring, fine linen, gold chain, and chariot), a position of honor, and a wife.

12. Facing Power & Responsibility • Genesis 41:46-49 • Joseph’s Response: • Genesis 41:46 – Joseph went to work right away. • Genesis 41:49 – Joseph prospered in what he did.

13. Facing Power & Responsibility • Our Applications: • 1.) We Must Remember What We are to Seek • Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” • Jeremiah 9:23-24 – “let him who glories glory in this” • Colossians 3:1-4 – “set your mind on things above”

14. Facing Power & Responsibility • Our Applications: • 2.) We must accept the responsibility. • Deuteronomy 8:7-20 • (7) “the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land” • (9) “a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity” • (11) “beware that you do not forget the Lord your God” • (18) “you shall remember the Lord your God” • (19-20) “if you by any means forget the Lord you God… you shall surely perish”

15. Facing Power & Responsibility • Our Applications: • 3.) We Must be Diligent to Work • II Timothy 2:15 – “present yourself approved to God, a worker” • Romans 12:6-8 – “let us use them” • I Corinthians 15:58 – “always abounding in the work of the Lord”

16. Facing Life’s Problems • We must be a thankful people & be patient toward others. • We must remember our priorities & seek God first. • Although the problems of this life may seem huge, heaven will be worth it all.