New Years Day, 2014.
At this time of the year we are often asked if we have any resolutions for the new year and often people give a list of things they are determined to do in the coming year. As I listened to a number of these conversations today it made me consider the subject of 'success'.
Success for the world is something that has always alluded me but what does the Bible say about it?
Today, I would like us all to consider a young man, loved by his father and robed in a special coat, envied by his brothers, taken and thrown in a pit, taken out and sold and found in Genesis 39 standing in an Egyptian market place, stripped, humiliated and alone.
There is much I could say of Joseph but, today, as another year begins and as we all in our separate lives and situations consider what is before us I want to encourage you with this...
'And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah, the captain and chief executioner of the [royal] guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man...' Genesis 39: 1 - 2Joseph, a slave, stripped, lost, alone, empty, forsaken, poor...he was a SUCCESSFUL and PROSPEROUS man? How could this be?
The answer is obvious...THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.
Friends, today, if you have received Jesus Christ, the revelation of God, the Lord is with you. Sadly, however, it is possible to live our lives and not receive Him. We can even be 'Christians' having believed but never receiving.
Today receive this truth. The Lord is with you not because of your value, or the value of your works and striving but because of His value, because of His finished work. Consider today the image of the New Covenant meal, what we often call 'Lord's Communion' or 'Holy Communion', or the 'Lord's Supper.' Consider that feast that we consign to almost an afterthought in our churches today and see His striped and beaten body for our healing (Isaiah 53: 5) and His poured out blood for our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5: 21) and receive His words...
'The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the favourable year of the Lord.' Luke 4: 18 - 19Dear friend, 'Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing' for the truth is for you TODAY He is your favour, He is your provision, He, alone, is your Success.
Receive Him alone today and this year and success is yours.
For me, and my house, we declare this...
We, give thanks to the Lord for He is Good. Hallelujah! His Love, Mercy and Grace endure forever and ever, for me, for my family and for WTL. Amen, amen, amen, amen, amen.
Thanks Graeme! Nice article, though I'm not sure we can (or should) all expect to be given the same position and riches as Joseph in this world? You are right, Christ is enough :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your response Andy, nice to know someone reads my thoughts. You know I agree with you when you say that you aren't sure we can, or should, expect to be given the same position and riches as Joseph in this world. I believe that we can be certain of far greater than Joseph ever had because we have Christ. Joseph lived before the cross and in the cross Jesus restored far more than Adam ever gave away. Consider this verse for one moment, 1 John 4: 17, '...as He (Jesus) is, so also are we in this world.' How can we ever limit the restoration of the finished work of Jesus? As He is right now, so are we in this world. Wow! The implications of that make Joseph's position and riches look a little weak. Consider this scripture also, 'What shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?' Andy don't analyse it just receive the truth of the words and please don't limit the finished work of Christ, He didn't just die to save you from your sins, He died to restore you, release you, free you, give you sight, and to proclaim favour over you in this the year of the Lord's favour. You are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2), seated, resting in His work so that He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward you in Christ Jesus. Andy to believe that we must live lives of poverty in any area is limiting the work of Jesus to restore and is nothing more than self-righteousness. Receive His righteousness and the inheritance of the righteous is far greater than the position and riches of Joseph as 2IC to Pharoah. In the OT Jesus is shadowed in types but post cross Jesus is revealed in all His glory. Receive His Grace and be unveiled to the glorious magnitude of His restoration work.
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