The Pharaoh's Dream
By: Rev. Steve Bass
January 29, 2006
Scripture Meditation: Genesis 41:1-40
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
- She was only gone for a little over an hour
- That’s how long it took Kim Crespi to drive to the beauty shop- have her hair done- and return home
- But in that time her husband killed their five year old twin daughters, Samantha & Tessara
- I wonder what Kim Crespi would give to have been able to see one hour into the future on Friday, Jan. 20, 2006
- She knew her husband was being treated for a severe depressive illness
- But who could have imagined that David Crespi would murder his beloved little girls?
- One thing’s for sure:
- If Kim had been able to see 90 minutes into the future
- Samantha & Tessara Crespi would still be alive- and David would be in the psych unit @ Carolina's Medical Center receiving the treatment he so desperately needed
- But- that’s not the way it works
- Whether you're talking about a family tragedy- or a national disaster like 9/11
- There’s no way to know what the future is going to hold- PERIOD
- ...Let me take that back
- God once revealed what the future held to the ruler of ancient Egypt
- Of course, he needed help understanding what God had shown him
- You know- some people read this passage of Scripture and wonder why God would reveal His plans to a pagan like Pharaoh
- Well- the answer isn't as complicated as it might seem
- God was using Pharaoh to accomplish His plan and purposes for Joseph’s life
- It wasn't the last time God would do something like this. For instance:
- He used the armies of Nebuchadnezzar to execute His judgment against the nation of Judah
- God used the Persian king Cyrus to accomplish His goal of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem
- And He used the Roman Caesar Augustus to insure that His Son- Jesus- would be born in Bethlehem
- Now as a Christian- this should be a source of encouragement and hope... especially when you think about the promise of Jesus’ Second Coming
- It’s easy to get discouraged when you read the newspaper or watch the evening news
- Sometimes- it seems like the world is spiraling out of control
- With no regard for the things of God
- But don't let it shake your faith
- God is still in control!
- And EVERYTHING is going to work out just the way HE planned it!
- It’s easy to get discouraged when you read the newspaper or watch the evening news
- Pam had to remind me of this truth Friday morning
- When the doctor came in and told me my liver enzymes were STILL too high to operate
- I was so frustrated I wanted to scream
- Here I'd spent a week in a hospital having expensive tests
- I hadn't eaten anything for 15 hours
- And now they're gonna make me wait a week to have surgery (not to mention the fact my side still hurts like a bad toothache!)
- I was telling Pam how guilty I felt for going to the Emergency Room Monday night when she said:
- Honey- God is in control
- Nothing’s happened that He wasn't already aware of
- Folks, if you only take one thing home from this message remember this:GOD is in control!
- He’s still...
- On His throne
- King of kings and Lord of lords over all Creation
- And He WILL accomplish all of His plans and purposes for your life - for this world- and for all eternity!
- He’s still...
- Pharaoh’s advisers weren't exactly the best and the brightest
- If your job is to interpret dreams- and you can't figure out what THIS one means
- Who knows? President Bush might choose YOU to be the new head of the F.E.M.A.!.
- All kidding aside- Pharaoh’s advisers couldn't interpret his dream for one reason:
- The One who'd given Pharaoh the dreamsB)
- Had closed the minds of Pharaoh’s advisers to the meaning of the dreams
- Like we just said: GOD is in control!
- It took an incredible amount of courage for the cupbearer to confess his shortcomings to the Pharaoh
- In essence he was saying: Remember when you were so ticked-off with me you threw me in jail?
- Given this Pharaoh’s impulsive nature- that was a risky thing to do
- Well, the truth is- Confessing the sin in your life requires an even greater amount of courage
- Please understand- you don't have to worry about God’s reaction
- The Bible says: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
- In other words: God loves you so much He’s already decided to forgive you of your sins- and adopt you as His child- if..
- You honesty and openly confess your sin to Him
- And invite Jesus to be your personal Savior and Lord
- Please read Luke 15:14-20
- Offer quick review of parable
- Read passage
- This father didn't need to stop and decide how he would treat his son
- That ship had long since sailed
- He was already prepared to welcome him home- and embrace his son with his love
- Now Joseph wasn't necessarily a GQ kind of guy- but he did want to look his best when he came before Pharaoh
- Years ago I heard a preacher use this verse to instruct his congregation what they should- and should not- wear to church
- If Joseph needed to look his best when he stood before FAY-A-ROW
- You need to look your BEST when you come before GAWD in worship
- Let me tell you something: God is not concerned with how you dress when you come to church
- Now the Bible makes it clear you should dress modestly and appropriately
- In other words: don't come wearing Speedos, halter tops, plunging necklines or short shorts
- But beyond that God..
- isn't concerned with the clothes you wear
- Is concerned with the state of your heart
- Read John 4:19-24
- The mountain the woman is referring to is Mt. Gerazim
- The right place to worship was a "bone of contention" between the Jews; and their distant cousins- the Samaritans
- Given that this woman recognized Jesus as a religious authority- it was a natural question to ask:
- WHERE should I worship?
- Here on this mountain- or at the Temple in Jerusalem?
- Here’s what Jesus is saying:
- It doesn't matter WHERE you worship- or what you WEAR to worship
- The important thing is that you come before the Father filled with the Holy Spirit and open to the truth of the Word of God!
- God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.
- You know, there are two ways you can look at this sentence
- On the one hand... On the other...
- "He" could be referring to Pharaoh. As in- God will give you the answer you're asking for
- "He" could be referring to God. As in- God will give you the answer HE wants you to hear
- I believe Joseph was telling Pharaoh he was about to hear the absolute truth of God’s Word
- It might not be what Pharaoh wanted to hear
- But it’s what God wanted him to know
- From time-to-time on Wednesday nights we'll have a "Pastor’s Forum"
- Folks are free to ask any question they wish- as long as they understand I might not know the answer!
- We've addressed a LOT of questions over the years
- Anyone want to guess what the most popular topic of discussion has been?
- (Listen for answers) The Second Coming of Christ
- Everybody has questions about the Second Coming
- When will Jesus come again?
- How will He come?
- What are the signs of His Second Coming?
- Should I be a premil, post-mil or a-mil?
- And there are countless books and websites and television personalities that claim to have the answers to these kinds of questions
- Some of these sources are good
- And some of them are really, REALLY bad
- Look:
- Everything GOD wants you to know about the Second Coming is found in the pages of His Word
- Everything else is speculation
- Folks- the infallible, inerrant Word of God is the final word on any matter of faith or doctrine
- Ultimately you're gonna know what God wants you to know
- Nothing more- and nothing less
- Turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
- This is the most direct- and comprehensive teaching about the Second Coming found in the Bible
- In other words: THIS is what God wants you to know
- Now let’s skip down to the 25th verse
- Joseph’s point is that none of the solutions Egyptian religion might offer can change Egypt’s fate
- The Almighty God- the sovereign Lord of the Universe- the one True and Living God has made up His mind
- What God has revealed- God will bring to pass
- Now this raises an interesting question: Can prayer change God’s mind?
- Some Christians say "No"-
- That God’s plans and purposes have already been determined
- And nothing we can say or do is gonna change that fact
- Other Christians say "Yes"-
- That if you pray with absolute faith- and never entertain any doubts whatsoever
- God is morally obligated to answer those prayers
- Some Christians say "No"-
- The strange thing is that both of these positions can be supported by Scripture
- There are verses that suggest God is unchanging and unyielding
- This is the doctrine of God’s immutability
- A doctrine that speaks to the eternal, unchanging character of our Heavenly Father
- Other verses of Scripture indicate God is flexible and directly responds to the prayers and petitions of His children
- There are verses that suggest God is unchanging and unyielding
- So what should a faithful and sincere Christian believe about these things?
- Well- let’s look at what JESUS had to say about this thing
- Please read Matthew 6:9-13
- "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name"
- This is an expression of praise and worship
- NEVER spend time with God without taking the time to praise Him for WHO He is- and WHAT He’s done for you
- It’s not so much that HE needs it from you- as much as YOU need to offer it to Him
- This is an expression of praise and worship
- "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
- Jesus' point is that God’s Will is GOING to done on Earth- just as it is in heaven
- As human beings we can't alter what God has determined
- But we CAN learn to trust that what God wills is what’s best for us
- Jesus' point is that God’s Will is GOING to done on Earth- just as it is in heaven
- "Give us today our daily bread."
- Here’s where we come to the petitions- or requests- we make to God
- Notice that Jesus doesn't say whether your requests will change God’s mind - but that doesn't really matter
- What matters is that Jesus has given you PERMISSION- and ENCOURAGEMENT to ask God for ANYTHING...within His Will
- Here’s where we come to the petitions- or requests- we make to God
- "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."
- Confession of sin should ALWAYS be a part of your prayer time
- Not because God needs to be reminded to forgive your sins
- But because YOU need to be reminded that God has forgiven you through the blood Jesus shed on the Cross
- Confession of sin should ALWAYS be a part of your prayer time
- "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
- You know what this is really talking about?
- It’s asking God to help you stay in a right relationship with Him
- Help me to avoid sin Father- because I know when I sin- I separate myself from you
- You know what this is really talking about?
- Here’s the bottom line:
- God-
- Wants you to pray
- Invites you to pray
- Expects you to pray
- It is your right and privilege as a Christian
- God-
- Joseph had given the Pharaoh good advice
- Why was it good advice?
- Because it came from God
- The Pharaoh recognized the presence of God in Joseph’s life
- Do people recognize the presence of God in YOUR life?
- Close with free-lib comments
- Let us pray
