Intro: Israel
is in the news again Israels Pres.
Net. & Yasser Arafat coming together w/ Pres. Clinton to Discuss conflict
in middle East
A)
And as usual Arafat wants
Israel to give up more Land / land that is rightfully theirs
B) Promised by God to Abe / reiterated to Joshua over 4000 yrs ago in the HOLY SCRIPTURES
C) Well some type of agreement
was reached where Net. & Israel
would consider to give up part of the West Bank
1)
And
in return Arafat & the Palestinians agree to not be so RADICAL
A) Whole thing is a JOKE
never work because ARAFAT has already said publicly that the Palestinians
will never rest until Jer. As CAPITAL
B)
That
is NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN !!!!- Israel
will never give it up so we will continue to go around in CIRCLES
1)
JERUSALEM
WILL CONTINUE TO be a Center of
conflict / a center of turmoil
BUT THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BIBLE PROPHESIED CONCERNING THAT CITY IN THE LAST DAYS .
3 A) Zech. 12 2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of TREMBLING & a Heavy Stone to all the, surrounding peoples
B) Jerusalem would be a
cup or trembling a source of conflict a heavy
wait for the WORLD
1)
and it is only
going to get worse during the Great Trib. Time that time known as JACOBS TROUBLE
C) Time when the Antichrist
is going to turn on the Nation of Israel & begin
to persecute her
1)
but it will be the time
that causes Israel to turn back to the Lord to seek His face and at that time
Jesus will be REVEALED
Well the Story that we have been looking at here on Wed. nights is a
Prophetic picture of that time when Jesus would be revealed to the Jews
A) We have seen that the Jacob & His sons their families what made up the Jewish
nation at that time ARE IN TROUBLE
B) A seven yr. Famine has hit the LAND they have to go
to Egypt & Appear before the PRIME MINISTER in order to be saved
1)
The PRIME MINISTER is
none other than their Long lost brother Joseph ( they sold ) who has been
elevated 2nd in Command
A) They dont recognize him / so he puts them through a
series of test to see if their heart have changed
1)
Spies / Liars / bring
Benj. / saw they did
A)
FINAL EXAM - sent them home sacks full / their on their way but there is another
cup of trembling in this story
1)
In Benj. Sack Joseph
had his servants secretly place his silver cup /
A) so once they are out of the city a ways here comes
Josephs Palace police/ Sirens blearing lights flashing - UNDER ARREST AGAIN
1) How could you do this after the kindness that our master showed to you that one of you could take his special silver cup ?
Well Josephs brothers were so convinced that there was no way that one
of them would do such a thing they confidently declared
If you find that cup let the one in whom it is found be killed & the rest of us will be your slaves
A)
And for the sake of
Drama Starting w/ the oldest and going down to the youngest Ben. They opened
each mans sake all 10 no silver
cup
1)
Until they came to
Bens there it was - AT THAT POINT
THE BROTHERS WERE HORRIFED - We will all go w/ YOU
A) It was exactly what Joseph wanted to see / would they abandon their little brother they way they did Him 22yrs earlier Tuff luck KID
B)
What Follows was a
Beautiful confession of sin by Judah God has found out our iniquity
- Their rejection of Joseph
1)
Then Judah offers Himself in Ben's place / they
passed the test
A)
With that Confession
would come a RADICAL REVELATION which is the focus of Ch. 45
1)
Divide into two parts - v.1-3 REVELATION OF HIS PERSON
2)
Then in vs. 4-15 REVELATION OF HIS PURPOSE
45:1 Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" ( Egyptians GET OUT! ) So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.
A) Josephs brothers are wondering what is going on
this guy is cracking up - ( Judah gave
a great speech but this kid of reaction)
1)
Egyptians - wondering what is going on in there
EVERYONE IS IN SUPENSE
A) Then Joseph breaks the SUSPENSE - "I am Joseph;
does my father still
live?" COME
AGAIN- SAY WHAT ?
C) We are told
that his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed literally
TERRIFIED in his presence.
Now this is a perfect picture of what Hosea Prophesied was going to
take place between Jesus & His brothers the Jewish nation Hosea 5:15
15 I will return again to My place Till they acknowledge their offense. Then they will seek My face; In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me."
A) This is a Messianic Psalm speaking of Jesus what
did He do after the Res. - He
RETURNED TO HIS PLACE - HEAVEN -
1)
Fathers right hand
A) I will return until they ( Not if they do but until they ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR OFFENSE )
C) Note this NOT OFFENSES - their one OFFENSE What was that ?
It was their rejection of
the messiah / of Jesus
C) THEN HE SAYS THEY WILL SEEK MY FACE - IN THEIR AFFLICTION During the Trib.
1) Zech. 12 : Jesus returns after confession of sin of their offense where did you get those wounds - In house of my friends
E) Jesus returns &
REVEALS HIMSELF - WHEN DID JOSEPH
REVEAL HIMSELF
1) In their
affliction - & after their confession
- Awesome Picture
Next we see the REVELATION OF HIS
PURPOSE note 4 things
1st - PARDON V.4 4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
A) Joseph says guys dont be angry of grieved w/ yourselves God had a plan What you did was done for evil God knew turned it for Good.
I am not angry for I see Gods plan in all of this sent me to preserve life
B) Is this not another BEAUTIFUL PICTURE What did Jesus say on the Cross - Father forgive them they know not what they do
C) Peter later Acts 3 their crucifying the Messiah what you did you did in ignorance
1)
But Peter went on to
say that it was all a part of Gods grand Design to bring about Salvation
D) God had a plan to
PARDON / FORGIVE / RESTORE
Now the 2nd thing to note in
the Rev. of his PURPOSE is PROVISION
5 "For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
A)
Note
How old is Joseph at this point -
sold at 17 / Began as Prime Minister at 30 7 good yrs / now 2 yrs of
FAMINE = 39 YRS OLD
1) SIGNIFICANCE ? - 39 is the # of MERCY
B)
What did Jacob pray for back in Ch. 43 :14 take your brother Ben & may
God almighty give
you MERCY - Boy did He Ever !!!
C)
The Lord showed them great MERCY Not
getting what they Deserve !!!
7 "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8 "So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
A) Guys look what the Lord has done look
where I am at !!! Look what God has
Done - God is at work Guys awesome thing to
realize
1)
What situation are you in
? God is at Work
9 "Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph: "God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.
10 "You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children's children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have.
11 "There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine."'12 "And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
A)
Joseph says go down & get dad and come back because I am
going to
provide for you-
B) God has made me an instrument of provision for you / your families
& for
Dad so go get them bring
them back
C)
So Josephs
appearing to His brothers would result in their being TAKEN CARE OF THRU THE
FAMINE / PROVISION
3RD Not just
PARDON & PROVISION BUT PRAISE I
love this one
v.13 13
"So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all
that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here."
A)
Where can we find a more expressive description of Worship - you shall tell my father of all my glory
B) Guys that is where it is at Tell the Father of my glory - Joseph saying
tell Dad what you see in me Power / Provision / Mercy / Splendor
C)Those of you who are Parents know that there is nothing more Delightful
than when someone tells you what you already Know
1)
HEY YOU HAVE GREAT KIDS
A) The HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWS HOW GREAT HIS SON IS but it Delights His Heart when we take the time to tell Him
1) Take the time to take Him Express our Gratitude at Giving us the Gift of His Son!!!
A) So Joseph says go & tell Dad what you have seen !!!!
4th Reason seen in the Rev. of His Purpose PROXIMITY
V. 14,15 14 Then he fell on his brother Benjamin's neck
and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15 Moreover he kissed all his brothers and wept
over them, and after that his brothers talked with him.
A) Look back at v. 4 Please come here come close Word that speaks of not just a PROXIMITY but an INTIMACY
1) Guys come close - then he falls on Bens neck / and hug & kiss all of them TEARS OF JOY
Guys lets consider this
in light of Communion Jesus came to this earth to Reveal the Person &
Purpose of the Father
A) First coming told in John 1 : 14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the
Father, full of grace and truth.
B) 18
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the
bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
C) We beheld His GLORY FULL OF GRACE & TRUTH
Reminds me of someone else who wanted to see
Gods Glory -
A) Moses Lord let me see your face - No one can see my face & live !!
I will show you my BACK SIDE - / Passes by Proclaims His name
5
And the LORD passed
before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and
truth, 7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin,
A) That is what Jesus came & Revealed Greatest Expression was seen at the Cross Mercy He bore the punishment that we Deserved
B) His grace We were given salvation & forgiveness that we didnt Deserve
C) His Patience or Longsuffering as He endured the taunts and as He was paid a debt that was 2000 yrs old .
D) His goodness & Truth Goodness seen in the gift truth or Justice seen in the fact that sin didnt go unpunished
E) His forgiveness / Blood shed cleanses us from all our sins
Yes it is true that at
the Cross we see a bold & Bright Revelation of His Person God of Grace /
Mercy / longsuffering / truth & Forgiveness
A) Also the REVELATION OF HIS PURPOSE -
B) PARDON actually better than that Pardon speaks of you are guilty but I am going to let you off exonerate You
C) Jesus does more than Pardon us He cleanses us JUSTIFIED JUST AS IF YOU NEVER SINNED
1) Sins are forgiven & Forgotten Set free Penalty & the Power
A) Jesus would say to those of us tonight who had rough days & got in the flesh He would say like Joseph did to his brothers
1)
Dont be angry w/ yourselves -
I paid the price for that look to me
Confess it & accept your forgiveness
Yesterday Devotions
Traffic- Vista High / usually takes me 10 to 15 minutes to get here / left at 7
/ took 30 minutes / so MAD / In the flesh
A) Walking
to the meeting thinking You are such a
loser go & teach
Devotions - Jesus says dont be grieved / angry confess move on
B) That is
what communion is all about LORD I AM A
LOSER BUT I AM THANKFUL YOU DIED FOR
LOSERS LIKE ME
1)
Only in you can I experience forgiveness -
C) Reminded of what you did for me - UNWORTHY MANNER
Doesnt mean you had a perfect day means - GIVE WORTH
1) Lord
I realize what you went through for me !
COMMUNION REMINDS OF THE
PROVISION
A) Salvation-
set free / new life / Abundant life -
/ free no longer lost / no longer in darkness
B) Inheritance -
Rewards / Eph.1: 3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed
us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
Communion is a time of
Praise Jesus said do this in Remembrance of me - Proclaiming to the Father the Glory of the Son
A) Time of
CELEBRATION sing Oh the Wonder of it
all !!!!!
Communion we are reminded
that Jesus came & Died so that we could be Close to Him no longer
separated
A) Romans 5:1
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2
through whom also we
have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God.
Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore
come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace
to help in time of need.
All of that is a part of
this awesome ordinance the Lord instructed us to Keep - finish up quickly v.16
16 Now the report of it was heard in Pharaoh's
house, saying, "Joseph's brothers have come." So it pleased Pharaoh
and his servants well.
17 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to
your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and depart; go to the land of
Canaan.
18 'Bring your father and your households and
come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the
fat of the land.
19 'Now you are commanded; do this: Take carts
out of the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives; bring your father
and come.
20 'Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is
yours.'"
21
Then the sons of
Israel did so; and Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh,
and he gave them provisions for the journey.
Full
on U- haul trailers - huge caravan
being sent home
22
He gave to all of
them, to each man, changes of garments; but to Benj. he gave three hundred
pieces of silver and five changes of garments.
A) The thing to note is that His brothers didnt even take notice - Joseph was alive Joseph had been revealed
B) When the Lord has been revealed / when our eyes are on Him we dont
take notice of who has what -
1) Beauty of the Cross All one sinners before the Savior
v.23
23 And he sent to his father these things: ten
donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded
with grain, bread, and food for his father for the journey.
21 So he sent his brothers away, and they
departed; and he said to them, "See
that you do not become troubled ( Distracted ) along the way."
A) Guys Jesus say a similar thing to us You are on a Journey going home dont get Distracted on the Way
B) I want you to partake of my PROVISION DONT GET distracted dont get discouraged / Hang in there / Because He hung up there for you
C) Coming to the Table helps us to stay focused on Him- keep from being Distracted because reminded of His Power / Provision
25 Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to
the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.
26 And they told him, saying, "Joseph is
still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt." And Jacob's
heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
27 But when they told him all the words which
Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to
carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
28 Then Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph
my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
Note this that Jacob
didnt believe the word that He heard yet that didnt stop the wagons from
coming in His direction
A)
2Tim. 2:13 We are
faithless / He remains FAITHFUL
B)
Sometimes we find ourselves saying God can you show me that you love me ?
C)
Told in Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.