A MESSAGE FOR OUR WORLD

It may have been last week or perhaps it will be this week.

We have met or we will meet someone who has a hard luck story.

In the past two weeks two separate men have told me some sad tales.

One man, over lunch in the state of TN said, “I came from a highly dysfunctional family.”

From what this man said I believe him.

This man related how his mother has bought items from QVC for years.

She doesn’t need the stuff but she is a compulsive shopper.

Rooms in her house are filled with QVC products she has never used.

To pay for the what she has ordered she has written checks from family business checking acct.

Compulsive buying, shady bookkeeping and other strange things affected this man’s childhood.

This past week I spoke with someone else.

This man came to this country as a refugee.

He did not relate too much about his parents but he did have a difficult time in his early years.

He said, “Because of my past; because I grew up with nothing; I cannot throw anything away.”

I came from nothing so to now throw something of value away I cannot do that.

This man might buy a dozen books at a garage sale but he only wants one of the books.

Though he only wants 1 of the books he keeps the other 11 which to him are junk.

Closets are filled with clothes that will never be worn.

Household goods that will never be used or wanted are kept.

WE HAVE AND WE CONTINUE TO ENCOUNTER PEOPLE WHO COME FROM BACKGROUNDS AND HOME LIVES THAT WERE FAR FROM PLEASANT. WE CAN SEE OR HEAR ABOUT SCARS WHICH HAVE BEEN LEFT BY MISTREATMENT OR ABUSE.

a) When we as Christians we hear these stories we should be quick to respond.

b) As Christians we have a message for anyone who has come from a dysfunctional background.

c) If people have had a horrible past we as God’s people have a message for them.

d) This message can be presented by using the life of Joseph.

e) In some previous studies we have looked at some specific incidents in Joseph’s life.

f) Tonight let’s tie together many of the things that he faced.

g) Our beginning point is Gen. 37:4.

h) Joseph was a teenager who was hated by his brothers.

i) Hate can be a difficult problem to deal with.

j) Imagine experiencing hate as a teenager and this hate comes from your own family.

k) Your family hates you so much that they have a hard time saying a kind word to you.

l) Instead of being greeted with a “hello”, perhaps all you get is a grunt.

m) The 23^rd verse in this chapter brings us to another problem faced by Joseph. READ.

i) I can remember growing up that some kids were not liked.

ii) When they went out to the playground someone body wanted to hit them.

iii) In some cases several children wanted to band together and engaged in abuse.

iv) This is essentially what verse 23 describes.

v) Joseph came to his brethren and his brothers “stripped” him of his coat.

vi) They then threw him into an empty pit that didn’t have any water (verse 24).

vii) We hear of teenagers being traumatized in our day and time.

viii) Folks, this was traumatic.

ix) This would be a horrible thing if a stranger did it.

x) The ones who removed Joseph’s coat and tossed him into the pit were his own flesh & blood.

n) If this were not bad enough Joseph was sold. Verse 28.

i) Joseph’s brothers initially planned to kill him.

ii) When they saw they could make money and get rid of him by selling him they did.

iii) Several young men were willing to sell their brother to foreigners.

2) Joseph finally arrived in Egypt and he was sold to yet another person (verse 36).

3) Joseph had gone from being a free man to a slave.

a) After serving as a slave for a time he was imprisoned because of a false charge.

b) He helped someone while in prison and asked that the favor be returned.

c) The man he helped forgot about him.

4) IN OUR DAY AND TIME WE HEAR OF PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED AND VICTIMIZED.

a) When people tell their stories many in the world shake their head and say, “I’m sorry.”

b) If we are a Christian we can offer a different response to those who have sad stories.

c) We can say, “I want to tell you a story. In God’s word there is a story about a man named Joseph.

d) I want to share with you what happened to him.”

e) Joseph was a young man who had a horrible home life.

f) He was hated. Fellow family members wanted to kill him.

g) His brothers hated him so much that they sold him into slavery.

h) Though he may have thought things couldn’t get worse they did.

i) Joseph was sold a second time. He had to live as a slave in a foreign land.

j) He was approached by a woman who immoral.

k) He went to prison for at least two years for a crime he didn’t commit.

l) He helped a man and hoped to be released from prison but the one he helped forgot about him.

m) Those who have had a terrible past might say, “My experience was not quite that bad.”

n) Joseph had a very trying time. In many ways he had a terrible childhood. What happened to him?

i) Some seem to believe that if our childhood is awful life is over.

ii) There is no hope. If we came from a dysfunctional family we are ruined for life.

iii) What happened to Joseph—a man who was mistreated, abused, and victimized?

iv) We have a fairly concise answer to this question in Gen. 49.

v) In the 49^th chapter of this book Jacob blessed his sons.

vi) Many know that Judah received a very prominent blessing.

vii) Through Judah would come the Messiah.

viii) The other blessing that is especially noteworthy was given to Joseph.

ix) This information is in verses 22-24.

x) Joseph was compared to a fruitful vine (verse 22).

xi) As a vine would climb over a wall so Joseph would prosper.

xii) His descendents would be numerous and strong.

xiii) This man and his family are further described in verse 23.

xiv) Though people would hate and try to destroy him he would survive and thrive.

xv) Joseph and his descendents received what was promised.

xvi) Joseph and his family did very well. They prospered.

xvii) Joseph was in such a high position that he was able to talk directly to Egypt’s ruler, 50:4.

xviii) He could think, “I would like to talk to the ruler of Egypt” and do it.

o) The life of Joseph shows that no matter what our background there is hope.

p) A terrible background does not mean that life is ruined.

q) Bad circumstances do not mean that our circumstances cannot be changed.

r) This is a message that needs to be taken into our world.

s) We have people outside these doors who don’t see a lot of hope.

t) We have people who look at their past and say, “Life will never get any better.”

u) Lost people look at the years gone by and believe that they are doomed to a terrible life.

v) The story of Joseph is a story that we need to know and carry to the lost.

w) This is a story that will help us assist others and convert people.

x) What happened to Joseph is a message that is both relevant and helpful.

y) No mater what our past was like—good, bad, or just okay the future can be bright.

z) Joseph was a man who believed in and obeyed God.

aa) His faith and obedience made life a whole lot better.

i) Because of his faith in God he had courage.

ii) If we have the opportunity to visit other congregations we probably sing some diff. songs.

iii) One of the songs we may sing when visiting elsewhere is Because He Lives.

iv) I couldn’t remember the exact title and the exact words so I called a congregation in TN.

v) The preacher I know had just left for lunch so I asked the church secretary for help.

vi) She said, “Oh yes; I know that song. We sing it a lot here. It is a beautiful hymn.”

vii) Here are some of the words:

viii) God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus. He came to love, heal, and forgive.

ix) He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

x) The chorus in this hymn contains these words:

xi) Because He lives I can face tomorrow, Because He lives all fear is gone; because
I know He holds the future, and live is worth the living just because he lives.

xii) Some songs can almost send chills down the spine.

xiii) In a congregation where hundreds of Christians are singing this song creates that effect.

bb) I do not know why this song has been so appealing to members of the church.

cc) It does appear that this song is loved throughout the brotherhood.

dd) This hymn may be one of the best that has ever been written by uninspired hands.

ee) A quick search on the web revealed that this song came out of a couple’s darkest hour.

ff) When life seemed to be especially bad the seeds were planted for the words in this song.

gg) I suspect that for those who have come from troubled pasts this song is encouraging.

hh) When we look at the life of Joseph we see a similar thing.

ii) Because Joseph’s God lived he could face tomorrow.

jj) Because His God was alive he was able to get along in a foreign land.

kk) A bad past didn’t destroy him or keeping him from what needed to be done.

ll) His fears were managed because of the God in heaven.

mm) Live was worth living because of God.

nn) Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a message for those who are outside these doors.

oo) Because He lives there is life, hope, joy, and salvation.

pp) Let’s take that message to our world this week.

qq) If we are a Christian this is our duty and we should count this as a privilege.

rr) If we are not a Christian and we came here tonight without a lot of hope, things can be good.

ss) Because He lives there is hope.