Pastor Wes Morris
Genesis 50:14-21 (NLT) After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.
So they sent this message to Joseph: “Before your father died, he instructed us to say to you: ‘Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly.’ So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.” When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept. Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. “Look, we are your slaves!” they said.
But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
√ The position that you’re in influences the decisions that you make.
√ The decisions that you make influence the position that you’re in.
I. RELEASE MY RIGHTS.
Genesis 50:19 (NLT) But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?
Psalm 54:5 (CEB) He will bring disaster on my opponents. By your faithfulness, God, destroy them!
Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a servant and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
II. CHOOSE FORGIVENESS.
Genesis 50:22 (NLT) You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
III. MOVE FORWARD.
Genesis 50:21 (NLT) “No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.
(22-23) So Joseph and his brothers and their families continued to live in Egypt. Joseph lived to the age of 110. He lived to see three generations of descendants of his son Ephraim, and he lived to see the birth of the children of Manasseh’s son, whom he claimed as his own.
Current Series Resources: https://baychapel.churchcenter.com/pages/prayer
Bay Chapel is a life-giving church in the New Tampa community. We meet Sundays at 10:00 am and you are welcome to come anytime in person or online. Find out more at baychapel.com
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