Keep the Dream alive!!!

The Story that I am about to write is all about Joseph or should I say, the DREAM of Joseph!
Joseph was a dreamer. God gave him dreams and the ability to interpret dreams. So what might Joseph say to us if he were here this morning? “Dreams are conceived long before they are achieved… between the birth of a dream and its realization is always a process. This period is filled with doubts, adversity, changes and surprises. During the process, you will experience good days and bad… So my question is: "Do you give up, or go on?" Without hesitation, I can give you the answer. "Don’t give up on your dreams.”

I want to pick out three tests God gave Joseph in the realization of his dream.

1. The Test of Adversity: Joseph learnt to submit to God while in the pit (Genesis 37). Don’t give up on your dreams even if you don’t start off well

Joseph’s dreams came early. He was just 17 (Genesis 37:2-5). His family did not react well to his dreams because of the way he shared them. Just look at how his father responded, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” (Genesis 37:10) And his brothers was using the words like: “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.” (Genesis 37:19-20)
You see what they tried to do was to kill the dreamer, but the dream never died!

Sometimes it is not wise sharing your dreams too soon!

Joseph was young. He was immature. And so, God helped him to grow up. He was not only misunderstood by his family, he was sold into slavery and forced to work in a foreign country far from home, he was thrown into prison where he was forgotten. Why didn’t Joseph give up? Because “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered… (Genesis 39:2); “But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness…” “…the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Like Joseph, sometimes we say things we shouldn’t say. Sometimes we do things we shouldn’t do. And so God sends adversity to refine our dreams and prepare us to realise our visions. The bottom line of this test was the pit. Joseph's brothers threw him in a pit. If we look at the structure of a pit we will see that the only way to get out of it is to go up. Yes, you cannot move anywhere, but to go UP!!! So when you find yourself in a pit, maligned or misunderstood, allow it to make you better not bitter. Try your best to go up... It does'nt matter what will happen on top as long as you always go higher and higher in the grace of GOD.

 Adversity builds character. We do not have to remain a victim of our past. The story of Joseph shows what God can do despite our upbringing. Whatever you do, don’t give up on your dreams even if you didn’t start well.

The favour of God and his own integrity won Joseph the admiration and trust of his master. He was made overseer of the entire household. He had come into a privileged position. Joseph had passed the test of adversity. If Satan cannot get us to sin by withholding our needs, he will try to by offering us what we desire. The test of adversity led to:

2. The Test of Allurement: Joseph learnt to submit to God while in prison (Genesis 39-40). Don’t lose your focus when temptations and distractions come.

Sexual attraction is probably as strong an urge as the will to survive. Like adversity, it is both test and temptation. You see God wants to build us up while Satan wants to tear us down. Allurement either makes or breaks us. Joseph found himself in a very difficult situation. Remember today that temptation is not sin, until you have fallen into it. 

Everything conspired to make sin easy and resistance near impossible. He was a slave living in a society devoid of moral values, far away from home, alone with a powerful, attractive and assertive woman. Several things we can note about this temptation:

It was totally unexpected. It came from an unexpected quarter – the wife of his master. She took the initiative. Joseph was taken by surprise. So it is with temptation. Satan does not wait until we have our armour on. When he wants to attack, he will.

There was daily repetition- We are told she spoke to Joseph every day. That made it harder to say ‘no’. Resistance can easily be worn down by persistence. Temptation will always repeat itself. Satan does'nt have any new tricks. He will let you fall into the same trap every time... Open your eyes saints!

There was a favourable opportunity- On this occasion there was no other man in the house. They were alone. This is how Satan works. At any other time there was the danger of detection but now the coast was clear. No one need know. He will always make sure that you are alone.

2.3 Joseph fled temptation

“he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house.” (Genesis 39:12). Joseph escaped the physical presence of temptation. Sometimes that is the only way. Joseph was rewarded, but not in the way he necessarily expected. He was in prison but he was free on the inside. If you come face to face with temptation, turn around and leave. Don't try to face it. Joseph had passed the first two tests: The Test of Adversity: Joseph learnt to submit to God while in the pit (Genesis 37). – Don’t give up on your dreams even if you don’t start off well. Second, the Test of Allurement: Joseph learnt to submit to God while in prison (Genesis 39-40).Don’t lose your focus when temptations and distractions come. If Joseph could not be tricked into bitterness through adversity nor adultery through the allurement, how would he fair under advancement?

He had to experience 13 years of adversity in order to be ready for a momentous responsibility – to save his people. Because God enabled him to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh, Joseph was honoured with the most senior position in all of Egypt.

3. The Test of Advancement: Joseph learnt to submit to God while in Power (Genesis 41). Don’t give up on God even when your dreams begin to come true

Not everyone could have coped with such sudden elevation in power and prosperity. The discipline of those thirteen hidden years was not wasted. Joseph was given an Egyptian name “Zaphenath Paneah” meaning Saviour of the World.

God protected him, gave him supernatural ability to interpret dreams and showered him with honour, power and influence. What would Joseph do with all this power? Use it or abuse it? Slowly the links in God’s plan were becoming visible as Egypt went through seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Few Bible stories are so moving and dramatic as the reuniting of their family, when Josephs brothers came to Egypt in desperation looking for food. Why did he treat them with kindness and not retaliation?

His one desire was reconciliation, but before he could reveal himself, he must first find out if there had been repentance. He wanted to renew their relationship based on trust not fear. His plan therefore was intended to awaken their consciences and that is what happened. In chapter 42 we read,

“They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.” (Genesis 42:21)

God brought them to repentance and eventually Joseph revealed himself with gentleness and concern for their welfare. He also reveals his understanding of God’s sovereign purposes in all that had happened.

“do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance… You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (Genesis 45:5-7; 50:20)

Here is genuine humility “God sent me…God sent me…” Here is a clear declaration of faith “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Joseph had passed all three tests. The adversity test. The allurement test and the advancement test. It had taken 23 years from the dream to fulfilment. God's time is not our time... The lesson that we need to learn out of this is to wait on God. In the end, Joseph did lead his family. He was reconciled to his brothers. He did save his people.

But that wasn’t the end of his dreams. On his deathbed he had another. It’s found in Genesis 50. He “spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt” (Hebrews 11:22). He was still consumed by a vision even on his death bed. But the significance of Joseph’s part in God’s providence goes much, much, further. I don’t know if you have ever observed how the parallels between Joseph and Jesus are quite remarkable.

We learn from Joseph that no path of adversity is too narrow that it can separate us from him. No night is so dark that the light of Christ will be extinguished. No temptation is so great that he will not provide a way of escape. No situation is so dire that he is unable to use it for our enrichment and his glory.

This morning we have considered Joseph’s dreams. But what about yours? Have you shared them with anyone? We share a common dream – a glorious vision of the future.

Remember today that God knows the plans he have for you.....