Genesis 39:1-2 (NKJV) “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
Just when all seemed lost and hopeless, Joseph was bought by Potiphar, the chief of staff of the Pharaoh’s army. Joseph learnt the Egyptian language and soon rose by the grace of God to being the chief servant in Potiphar’s house. Because Joseph served God with integrity, Potiphar learnt that he could trust him. Potiphar then gave Joseph his second coat, the coat of human authority.
Nothing in the world can hold you down if you trust God, walk in integrity and work hard.
Luke 16:10-13 (NKJV) “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
In life, there are ups and downs. Later, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph and he was put in prison. Once again, Joseph found himself in a pit facing possible death, where he could have given up and blamed God for his plight. However, the real strength of Joseph’s character was his refusal to give up on God, even in the worst of circumstances. In prison, Joseph became the model prisoner and had tremendous favour.
Deuteronomy 29:9 (NKJV) “Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.”
Joseph eventually got out of jail miraculously and became the second most powerful man in the land besides the Pharaoh.
God had worked such a transformation in Joseph’s heart that all bitterness, self-pity and desire for revenge were gone. If Joseph had disliked his father and brothers or refused to forgive Potiphar and his wife, he would have lost God’s favour and would never have received His blessings.
Joseph ended his life on target, fulfilling the vision of his youth because he always kept his eyes on God and His promises even during those bad times when it looked like God and men had forsaken him., He allowed God to work on him, transforming him into a vessel He could use for His glory on earth. Often when we think it is the end, God is just beginning. Even when you are a “nobody”, Jesus can bless and use you, if you keep the right spirit, love and care for others and stay faithful and humble before God.
Sermon Series: Grace for Life (Part 3）
拥有成功和美满人生的关键
我们所有人都需要生活的梦想和愿景来使我们前行。很多时候，梦想总是比我们更大，或者似乎不可能实现，我们也不知道它将如何发生。人生是一个充满障碍的旅程。 我们面临的挑战是如何克服这些障碍而又不灰心。拥有成功和美满人生的关键之一是信靠神。
创世纪37:3-10讲述了约瑟做了一个梦，梦见他比他的哥哥们，甚至比他的父亲都大。然而，约瑟被卖到埃及当奴隶。他本可以灰心丧气，怨恨神，为他的灾祸责怪神，但他没有这样做。他记得自己年轻时的异梦，知道父亲和兄弟们向他下拜的一天总会到来。
创世纪39:1-2 “约瑟被带下埃及去。有一个埃及人、是法老的内臣、护卫长波提乏、从那些带下他来的以实玛利人手下买了他去。约瑟住在他主人埃及人的家中，耶和华与他同在，他就百事顺利。”
当一切都似乎失去希望的时候，法老的军队护卫长波提乏把约瑟买了下来。约瑟学会了埃及语，并很快在上帝的恩典下被提拔为波提乏家中的仆人管家。因为约瑟诚实地事奉神，波提乏就知道可以信赖他。因此，波提乏把他的第二件外衣，就是人的权柄给了约瑟。
如果你信靠神，为人正直，努力工作，世上就没有什么能阻挡你。
路加福音16:10-13 “人在最小的事上忠心、在大事上也忠心。在最小的事上不义，在大事上也不义”。
生活中有起有落。后来，波提乏的妻子诬告约瑟，约瑟就下了监。约瑟又一次发现自己掉入了坑里，可能会面对死亡，他本可以放弃，为自己的困境责备神。然而，约瑟性格中真正的力量是他在最坏的情况下也拒绝离弃神。在监狱里，约瑟成了模范囚徒，得到了极大的优待。
申命记29:9 “所以你们要谨守遵行这约的话、好叫你们在一切所行的事上亨通”。
后来，约瑟奇迹般地从监狱里出来，成为埃及仅次于法老的第二大实权人物。
神动工使约瑟的心发生了巨大的变化，所有的苦毒，自怜，和复仇的欲望都消失了。如果约瑟不喜欢他的父亲和弟兄们，或者拒绝原谅波提乏和他的妻子，他将会失去上帝的恩惠，并且永远不会得到祂的祝福。
约瑟圆满地走完了他的一生，成全了他年轻时的异梦，因为即使在看起来神和人都抛弃他的那些困难时期，他始终定睛于神和神的应许，让神在他身上做工，更新他为神所用， 成为在世上荣耀祂的器皿。通常，当我们认为这是人的尽头时，这才是上帝的开始。 即使当你是一个“无地位身份的人”，只要你保持正确的心态，爱护他人，并在上帝面前保持忠诚和谦卑，耶稣就能祝福并使用你。
讲章系列：生命的恩典 (3)