The Life of Joseph

2. Facing Life’s Problems The Life of Joseph

3. Facing Life’s Problems • II Corinthians 12:10 – “in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses” • How do you face these problems? • What instructions were Joshua given? • Joshua 1:7 • What advice did the Proverb writer give his son? • Proverbs 4:20-27

4. Joseph • 1.) Facing Envy & Hatred • 2.) Facing Betrayal • 3.) Facing Persistent Temptation • 4.) Facing False Accusations • 5.) Facing Ingratitude • 6.) Facing Power and Responsibility • 7.) Facing Painful Memories

5. Facing Painful Memories • Genesis 41:50-42:8 • Joseph’s Problem: • Genesis 41:51 – “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house” • Genesis 42:3 – “Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt” • Genesis 42:7 – “Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them” • Genesis 42:8 – “So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him”

6. Facing Painful Memories • Genesis 42:18-24 • Joseph’s Response: • Genesis 42:18 – Joseph continue to fear God. • Genesis 42:19 – Joseph is making sure that they are honest men. • Genesis 42:20-23 – Joseph hear that they are sorry for what the evil that they have done. • Genesis 42:24 – Joseph turns away from them & weeps.

7. Facing Painful Memories • Our Applications: • 1.)Be Cautious with Those that Have Hurt Us • Proverbs 12:26 – “The righteous should choose his friends carefully” • I Corinthians 15:33 – “evil company corrupts good habits” • Matthew 7:15 – “Beware of false prophets” • I Thessalonians 5:21 – “Test all things; hold fast what is good”

8. Facing Painful Memories • Our Applications: • 2.) We Must Forgive Men Their Trespasses • Matthew 5:43-44– “love your enemies” • Matthew 6:12– “forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” • Matthew 6:14-15 – “if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”

9. Facing Painful Memories • Our Applications: • 3.) We must Forget those things which are Behind • Philippians 3:13-14 – “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” • I Timothy 1:12-15 – “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief.”

10. Joseph • 1.) Facing Envy & Hatred • 2.) Facing Betrayal • 3.) Facing Persistent Temptation • 4.) Facing False Accusations • 5.) Facing Ingratitude • 6.) Facing Power and Responsibility • 7.) Facing Painful Memories • 8.) Facing Past Forgiven Trespasses

11. Facing Past Forgiven Trespasses • Genesis 50:15-18 • Joseph’s Problem: • Genesis 50:15 – Joseph’s brother thought that he may hate them now that their father is dead. • Genesis 50:16-17 – They send a messenger to Joseph about what their father’s wishes were. • Genesis 50:18 – His brothers went and fell down before his face.

12. Facing Past Forgiven Trespasses • Genesis 50:17-21 • Joseph’s Response: • Genesis 50:17- “Joseph wept when they spoke”. • Genesis 50:20 – Joseph says that God meant everything for good. • Genesis 50:21 – Joseph “comforted them and spoke kindly to them”

13. Facing Past Forgiven Trespasses • Our Applications: • 1.)We Must not Become an Unthankful People • II Timothy 3:1-2 – “unthankful, unholy” • Romans 1:18-21 – “nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts” • Hebrews 10:29 – “counted the blood of the covenant… a common thing”

14. Facing Past Forgiven Trespasses • Our Applications: • 2.) We Must Become a People of Thanksgiving • Colossians 3:17– “giving thanks to the father” • I Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “in everything give thanks” • I Timothy 2:1 – “giving of thanks be made for all men”

15. Facing Past Forgiven Trespasses • Our Applications: • 3.) We must be Patient & Longsuffering • II Peter 3:9 – “God… is longsuffering toward us” • Ephesians 4:1-3 – “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” • Colossians 3:12-14 – “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering”

16. Facing Life’s Problems • We must be a thankful people & be patient toward others. • We must remember our priorities & seek God first. • Although the problems of this life may seem huge, heaven will be worth it all.