“And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:” Genesis 46:3
God clearly told Jacob (Israel) to go down to Egypt. Four hundred and some years later God rebuked Israel for wanting to go back to Egypt. Where God led you years ago may not be where He wants you to be today. Where God may lead you today may not be the place he wants you to be at tomorrow.
“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.” Genesis 41:1
When you bake something in an oven and remove it too soon, it will not be done. If you leave it in too long, it will burn. It was the Lord who determined that two full years were to pass for Joseph before He would bring him out of prison. God didn’t want to bring Joseph out of prison before he was fully done. God has precise and perfect timing over all of our lives.
“But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.” Genesis 40:14-15
Joseph did nothing that deserved being put in prison. This all came about because one day, his father Jacob showed him favoritism and made him a coat of many colors. Saint of God, many of the trials you face are not because you did something wrong. It is only because the God of heaven has favor upon you and hell cannot stand it.
“And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.” Genesis 39:5-6
We the church, have the same responsibility as Joseph. Just as Joseph was in charge of all of Potiphar’s house and all that he had, so are we here on this earth in charge of all that God has. We are to be good stewards of His kingdom here on earth.
“But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” Matthew 20:22-23
Did you notice Jesus did not rebuke the two disciples when they said they were able to drink from His cup and be baptized with His baptism. Jesus did not consider them to be proud. He won’t rebuke you either or consider you proud if you believe you are able to drink of Jesus cup and be baptized with His baptism.
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.†Matthew 18:10
It is one thing for those of this world to despise those young babes in Christ. It is a whole other thing when Christians despise those babes in Christ. Sure, they may not have read the Bible through even once, they may not even have a scripture memorized. But they do have one thing, and that is simple faith. Ah, for simple faith. Hasn’t many of our troubles come because our faith got to complicated? Haven’t we at times got so theological and sophisticated that we forgot to just believe in the Lord all along the way?
“And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. 9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.” Matthew 14:8-10
Imagine what it could be like if Christians were as serious about keeping their oath to serve the Lord as Herod was to keep his oath before men.
“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.” Genesis 28:16-18
Jacob went to sleep one night and woke up the next morning saying, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not.” He went on to say, “this is none other but the house of God.” Today, there are millions of people that grew up in church and in the presence of the Lord, but they never quite seem to know it. They have grown numb to the word of God and His presence around them. So saints of God, we must pray for them; we must pray for our children that grow up in our churches. Pray that one day they too will wake up and say, “Surely the LORD’S presence has been with me, How did I not know it?”
“And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 21And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.” Genesis 26:18-22
Isaac started out digging up the old wells that his father Abraham had dug, but it wasn’t until Isaac dug his own well that he said “we shall be fruitful in the land.” You can’t live off of someone else’s religion; you won’t get into heaven on daddy’s coat tails. Each one of us has to dig our own well. If you aren’t digging for water then you are just digging a hole. If you are digging for water don’t stop until that spring of living water flows in your life.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
If you don’t preach that there is a hell, you cannot preach that there is a heaven. Both places are found in the teachings of the Bible. We must believe the whole book. We cannot pick and choose the things we like or dislike in the Bible. Many today only want to preach and accept that there is a heaven. Well sir, where did you learn about heaven from? The same book that tells us about hell. Denying there is a hell, will never help those who are going there, to be delivered from it. Hell is real, hell has enlarged its mouth to receive all who reject Christ. Let the people know they can be delivered from hell.
