Sermon Tone Analysis

Joseph

We all have problems.

Wifi doesnt work, flat tires, those things that are really just random chance yet we seem to take them so personally, ruining our day and cursing God.

Then there are those times when you would beg for a flat tire to be the worst problem you have.

Those times when life gets dark, whether its from uncontrollable circumstance or caused by sin, sometimes in life, things get so muddy and thick that we almost can’t see the light.

When God seems so distant that when he speaks it is nearly a whisper.

Those moments when you feel as if every day you are asking God Why and for how long will this go on?

Yet, for those who remain steadfast, God has a very clear command.

DO NOT QUIT

Genesis 39:2–6 (CSB)

2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, serving in the household of his Egyptian master.

3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made everything he did successful, 4 Joseph found favor with his master and became his personal attendant.

Potiphar also put him in charge of his household and placed all that he owned under his authority.

5 From the time that he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house because of Joseph.

The Lord’s blessing was on all that he owned, in his house and in his fields.

6 He left all that he owned under Joseph’s authority; he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Genesis 39:6–20 (The Message)

Joseph was a strikingly handsome man.

7 As time went on, his master’s wife became infatuated with Joseph and one day said, “Sleep with me.”

8 He wouldn’t do it.

He said to his master’s wife, “Look, with me here, my master doesn’t give a second thought to anything that goes on here—he’s put me in charge of everything he owns.

9 He treats me as an equal.

The only thing he hasn’t turned over to me is you.

You’re his wife, after all!

How could I violate his trust and sin against God?”

10 She pestered him day after day after day, but he stood his ground.

He refused to go to bed with her.

11 On one of these days he came to the house to do his work and none of the household servants happened to be there.

12 She grabbed him by his cloak, saying, “Sleep with me!”

He left his coat in her hand and ran out of the house.

13 When she realized that he had left his coat in her hand and run outside, 14 she called to her house servants: “Look—this Hebrew shows up and before you know it he’s trying to seduce us.

He tried to make love to me but I yelled as loud as I could.

15 With all my yelling and screaming, he left his coat beside me here and ran outside.”

16 She kept his coat right there until his master came home.

17 She told him the same story.

She said, “The Hebrew slave, the one you brought to us, came after me and tried to use me for his plaything.

18 When I yelled and screamed, he left his coat with me and ran outside.”

19 When his master heard his wife’s story, telling him, “These are the things your slave did to me,” he was furious.

20 Joseph’s master took him and threw him into the jail where the king’s prisoners were locked up.

Just when things seemed like they might be getting better, bam! Life hits again.

I remember telling a friend while I was going through some dark times, that I felt like a kid carrying to many legos, and if I could just get to my bed and let go of all those legos, then I could start to build and things would be good.

But every step i took, some legos fell to the ground before I could reach the bed, and I would have to figure out how to pick these legos up while I still held all the others.

Sometimes, and I know this is unpopular to say sometimes in church, but sometimes things don't get better.

They get worse.

But even in these times, where you see no end in sight God is there whispering to you...

DONT GIVE UP

So eventually Joseph gets out of prison.

He had interpreted some of the other prisoners dreams and when pharoah found out he had Jospeh brought before him to reveal what his dreams meant.

Pharoah was so pleased with Joseph that he put him in charge.

Genesis 50:16–20 (The Message)

16 So they sent Joseph a message, “Before his death, your father gave this command: 17 Tell Joseph, ‘Forgive your brothers’ sin—all that wrongdoing.

They did treat you very badly.’

Will you do it?

Will you forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God?”

When Joseph received their message, he wept.

18 Then the brothers went in person to him, threw themselves on the ground before him and said, “We’ll be your slaves.”

19 Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid.

Do I act for God? 20 Don’t you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people.

and your children.”

He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.

You meant it for evil, God meant it for good.

You see friends I don’t care what situation your life is in right now, God is whispering to you right now, DO NOT QUIT.

God can use any of our stories no matter how dark, for his good and his glory.