Messages

Be Thankful for God’s Timing
Genesis 37:28

God’s timing is like a tree and the branches and fruit are His grace and faithfulness.

Joseph’s story is complicated but the timing of God is evident. Joseph was 17 years old. He was his daddy’s favorite. God gave him dreams and his dreams made his brothers angry. Angry to the point they stripped him of his coat and through him in a pit but had second thoughts and took him out of the pit and sold him to some foreigners as the passed by, but he was bought by a wealthy man named Potiphar who took him to Egypt where Potiphar’s wife lied against him so Potiphar had him thrown in prison where he interpreted a butler and baker’s dream and later was remembered by them when he found favor with the Pharaoh by interpreting his dream. Pharaoh gave him all authority and when a famine came Joseph was able to bless his family and others even the brothers who through him in the pit.

What if?

Joseph was seventeen what if had been born earlier or later?
What if he wouldn’t have told them about his dream?
What if his brothers would have stayed in Schism instead of going on to Dothan?
What if they had not thrown him in the pit?
What if they hadn’t sold him to the Ishmalites?
What I’d they hadn’t taken him to Egypt?
What if Potiphar had not bought him?
What if Potiphar’s wife had not found him attractive?
What if Potiphar would have believed Joseph?
What if he wouldn’t have had favor with the prison guards?
What if he hadn’t interpreted the baker and butler’s dreams?
What if the Butler hadn’t taken 2 years to remember Joseph?
What if Joseph didn’t interpret the Pharaoh’s dream?
What if Pharaoh hadn’t given Joseph all authority & power?
What if Joseph’s brothers hadn’t come to Egypt to buy food?

WHAT IF JOSEPH’S BROTHERS HADN’T GOT HIM OUT OF THE PIT?

Joseph wouldn’t have been sold to the Ishmalites.
He wouldn’t have been taken to Egypt.
He wouldn’t have been bought by Potiphar.
He wouldn’t have been put in prison.
He wouldn’t have interpreted the butler & baker’s dream.
He wouldn’t have been recognized by the Pharaoh.
Pharaoh wouldn’t have given him all authority & power.
He wouldn’t have been in a position to honor & bless his family.
He wouldn’t have seen his baby brother Benjamin.
He wouldn’t have seen his father again.
His father wouldn’t have been able to bless his children.
He wouldn’t have heard his Father’s last words.
He wouldn’t have been there for his Father’s death & burial.

He wouldn’t have been able to declare Gen. 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” because of Rom. 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Joseph would have been a 40 year old man walking around town in a bright coat prophesying and interpreting dreams while he and his family starved to death.

Be thankful for God’s timing and purpose. His timing is like a tree and the branches and fruit are His grace and faithfulness.

I have followed NASCAR for a few years. This year for the first time I have followed it on SIRIUS “NASCAR Radio.” Through interviews on NASCAR Radio there have been a couple of terms that have caught my attention early on this year. These two terms are, “No DNF’s” and “Seat Time.” I heard Bobby Labonte being interviewed and they ask him, “what his expectations were for the year?” He said, “to win a race or two and finish the year with no DNF’s.” They were talking about Trevor Bayne the rookie who became the youngest driver at 20 to ever win the Daytona 500, and this is what they said, ” he is a great kid and a tremendous driver, but for him there will be no substitute for seat time.”

Let me explain and elaborate a little on each of these topics that I feel relate to our lives both spiritually, and physically. You see in NASCAR a DNF means, “Did Not Finish.” There are too many that are giving up to quick. There are too many of us that are quitting way too soon. Maybe it’s time to say, “I am not giving up on that dream”, “I am not quitting on this marriage”, “I wont stop believing for that miracle or that loved one’s salvation.” It may be that now is the time to say, “no more DNF’s for me I will finish, and I will learn, and I will win.”

NASCAR shows us there is a difference in losing a race, and not finishing the race at all. It’s not a matter of winning every race. It’s not a matter of conquering every battle. It’s not a matter of being victorious in every conflict. It’s a matter of finishing the race. In NASCAR I have seen cars come back onto the track with fenders missing and duct tape holding the nose of the car on; and I used to think, “what’s the use?” But now I realize it’s not always about winning, sometimes it’s about finishing… say it with me, “NO MORE DNF’s!”

By staying in the race they show there fans and teammates we are in this to race and finish. They also gain experience, earn points in the series and increase their winnings for the race. There is no substitute for staying in the race. The Bible says it this way, “having done all stand”, and it also says, “don’t grow weary in well doing for in due season you shall reap.” Remember, “failure is not final unless you quit.” And know this, ‘you haven’t failed if you haven’t quit.” Say it with me one more time, “NO MORE DNF’s!”

Now what about “seat time?” Seat time just means there is no substitute for experience. There is no substitute for just staying in there and doing what it is you have to do to learn and finish. Someone said, “we either learn by example or experience.” Now we all know learning by example is way easier but we also know learning through experience, although more painful has more lasting results. Sometimes it’s not the victories that teach us, but the losses. It may be the thing you despise the greatest is the very thing God is using to develop you. There is no substitute for living life and experiencing the things God has put in our path to encounter…. It’s time to stay in the seat and finish the race.

We must realize that Jesus finished well. Did everything go good all the time? Did everyone like Him? Was He always accepted and understood? No. But did He finish? Yes. He was our example and He told us, “be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”Jesus finished, so we could. He is our victory. The Bible says, “we are MORE than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loved us and gave Himself for us.” Stay in the seat and finish the race it will be worth it! Paul said it this way, “I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith. The prize that shows I have God’s approval is now waiting for me. He will give it not only to me but also to everyone who is eagerly waiting for Him to come again.” Notice Paul didn’t say, “I won the race.” He said, “I finished the race and I kept the faith.”

Here are some things to think about when it comes to “Finishing”:

> If the prize is greater than the pain than focus on the prize.

• Figure out what is stopping you and fix it.
• Recognize what you are willing to tolerate and realize God rewards the relentless.
• Realize God doesn’t just want to give you strength He wants to be your strength.
• Remember “the weight of the world” is not greater than God’s strength.

Matthew 16:13-19

*The disciples were listening to the people’s voice –
Peter was listening to God’s voice

Society and popular would say are identity is found in:
1. By What we do.
2. By What we have.
3. By What we achieve.
4. By What others expectations are.

 

Societal Identity is found through Comparisons –

True Identity is found in Christ!

Here’s how – through realizing:

1. He loves you – yet he knows you.
2. He sees who you are – but knows who and what you can become.
3. He has expectations for you but his love is unconditional.
How can we begin to take our true identity back?

Solving the Identity Crisis:

1. By striving to become disciples and follow Christ.
2. By living to influence others for Christ instead of them influencing you.
3. By becoming satisfied from obeying God.
4. By Separating your identity from what you have, do and achieve.
5. By striving for God’s approval and not man’s.
6. By focusing on personal spiritual growth.
7. By understanding that everything belongs to God.
8. By prioritizing prayer and the Word.
9. By loving and appreciating who you are, what you have and where you are.
10. By making Jesus your best friend!