YOU ARE A JOSEPH - PART 2
In these tough circumstances, how did Joseph preserve himself?
Vision
In these tough circumstances, how did Joseph preserve himself? How did he guard himself from sinning? Of course his father's love had a part in it. But greater still was the fact that God spoke to him in the watches of the night. Though he walked about like an orphan in the day time, God showed him his glorious future at night. These visions were like a fortress around him that preserved his holiness.
In my personal life this vision guarded me. From my youth, without any prompting from anyone, I had a deep conviction in my heart that God had planned something unique for my life. As a college student I knew I would be a great preacher one day. In those days no one spoke about full time ministry as something exciting. I was under the impression that if I went in for full time ministry, I would have neither food nor shelter. I heard that serving God was a great sacrifice. Yet I had a growing desire to serve God. In my youth I used to cry and sing over and over again: ”Lord I will serve You because I love You; Over hill or valley, wherever You lead me I will go.” Even when I believed that fulltime ministry would mean tremendous sacrifice, I had a craving deep in my heart to serve God.
One of the ways in which God reveals His plans for your life is to put a deep passion in your heart. A vision isn't just something that runs like a movie before your eyes. God's vision for your life could also be a deep desire in your heart for something. These desires or visions can change the course of your life. Such desires prepared my heart for any amount of suffering in ministry. When I was a student I could not sleep without a pillow. One day I thought 'when I become a full time minister, I will not even have a pillow to sleep on, so I must get used to it now itself'. The very next day, I gave my pillow to my friend. I went to that extent to prepare myself for fulltime ministry.
God did not create you for the cravings of the world, nor did He create you for yourself. When you realize that He created you to reach the nations of the world, your life's focus will change drastically. Your prayer life will change. Your friendships will change. When you are gripped by the vision of your future, your present will change, and if you are gripped by this vision now, your future will change. It works both ways. I firmly believe that Joseph's life was changed by his visions. His elevation in life also was through his visions.
First Joseph saw the vision for his personal life. Next he received revelation for the cup bearer's life. Then he saw visions for the nation and reached the pinnacle of life. Truly the gifts of the Holy Spirit only will exalt a man to that level.
Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit
The gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential for a man of God to increase. Self-control pushed Joseph into prison, but the gifts promoted him from the prison to the palace. If the fruit of the Spirit had not taken Joseph to prison, the gift could not have led him to the palace. That's why the gifts and fruit of the Spirit are imperative for a man's increase in life. They are like the heartbeat of a child of God.
Don't treat the revelations and dreams that God gives you lightly. Joseph's dream transported him from one level to another level of honour and increase. He received revelation from God in his sleep that even his brothers called him dreamer. In the last days, as God pours out His Spirit on all flesh, visions and dreams will be a natural phenomenon (Acts 2:17-21).
Vision under Attack
Watch out for one more danger! When God gives you a vision, all the forces of hell will see it and tremble. These evil forces are determined to abort the God-given vision. If you set your heart on some ministry, satan will train his eyes on it. If your vision is to be a prophet to the nations, satan will pick up all his weapons and try to destroy you. A prophet should always have the mind of Christ. Satan does a victory dance when he succeeds in bringing confusion into your mind. Satan knows that if he stains the mind, tongue or body of a servant of God, he has dulled the vision and aborted the mission. Satan will do everything in his power to attack your vision and calling in life.
See how crafty satan is! He instigated the brothers who tried their best to destroy Joseph's vision. They threw him in a pit hoping to see his 'dream' come to naught (Ge. 37:20). Satan has his eyes not only on the vision that God has given you, but he aims at destroying your anointing and your spiritual gifts. When the brothers saw Joseph, the first thing they did was to strip him of his garment (Ge.23). They threw him in a pit and said, “Now let's see what becomes of his vision!” Then they ripped up the garment and dipped it in blood. Satan hates the beautiful garment that God has adorned you with. His goal is to strip you of your garment of praise and your robe of righteousness. But the good news is that satan cannot strip you of your garment on his own. If you make up your mind, you can guard it. Don't let go. Guard your garment with all diligence.
If your visions and dreams are truly from God, He Himself will bring it to completion. He who placed the desire in you, will perfect that which concerns you. “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose”(Ph.2:12).
“When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more” (Ge.37:4,5).
Joseph's brothers detested him so much that they stopped talking to him. Yet when he saw the vision, he ran and went and shared it with them. In his heart, he did not harbour grudge or bitterness. This characteristic held him in good stead. It made him stand out from the rest. He showed them love and shared his heart with them.
Enemy's vision
After Joseph shared his vision with his brothers, they hated him all the more. 'His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said (Ge.37:8). His brothers' words came to pass. Joseph reigned over them. He ruled over his brothers. Those who receive the vision will rule over those who do not. Those who receive the garment of anointing will rule over the others. How ever long it takes, your vision will definitely be fulfilled. You will rule over the others. Be of good cheer.
Delay
Sometimes, there may be a delay in the fulfillment of the God-given vision. In his seventeenth year, Joseph received his vision which was fulfilled only when he turned thirty. For thirteen years, everything seemed to work against his vision. If you are in this waiting phase, you should wrestle in prayer, keeping the prophecies and vision before you. That's why Paul tells Timothy “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them, you may fight the good fight” (1Ti.1:18). Don't back off thinking your vision will not come to pass. Persevere in prayer.
Your fulfillment time will definitely come. Your vision may not happen immediately, but it will surely come to pass. Do not lose heart. “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised” (He.10:36).
First of all, Joseph shared his dream of his sheaf standing straight with his brothers' sheaves bowing down to his and they hated him to the core. Next, Joseph shared the dream of the sun, moon and eleven stars bowing down to him. His father rebuked him. Yet, he pondered over this dream (Ge.37:11). Yes-older, mature people will ponder over things. “The spiritual man makes judgments about all things” (1Co.2:15).
Guileless
Do you want God to use you powerfully? Get ready to face the jealousy of those around you. Every victorious servant of God has faced the brunt of people's jealousy. Through the thorny path of jealousy, Joseph remained guileless. He wasn't weighed down by the jealousy of those around him. As usual, he spoke to his brothers and father. As much as God gives you visions and grace in ministry, be humble and kind to those around you. If you behave like this, God will make you a Joseph generation.
Joseph was not bitter with his brothers. He was not put off by his brothers' hatred. Nor did he fear that his brothers would do him evil. The word-love always trusts, love always hopes was visible in him. Perfect fear that was within him cast out all fear. One day, his father sent him to see how his brothers and the flocks were faring. He spontaneously obeyed. Though he had many visions, look at his humility. He could have told his dad that he would not go since his brothers hated him so much. But he did not say so. In these circumstances, what would you have done? I wonder…
Perfect Love
Joseph generation will be kind and considerate to those who hate them. Joseph went to enquire about his brothers' welfare. Yes beloved, go and kindly inquire about the well-being of those who hate you. Show kindness to those who pushed you aside. Don't do it half-heartedly. Remember Joseph. His father sent him to Shechem. Joseph could have searched at Shechem and returned home. But he went further. When he heard that his brothers had moved with their flocks to Dothan, he went there and found them (Ge.37:12-15). This is complete obedience; perfect love. This is how you overcome evil with the love of God (Ro.12:21). This love of God placed Joseph a notch above his brothers.
Do you want to overcome evil? Or do you want evil to overcome you? Decide today to smile sweetly at those who frown at you.
Other's well-being
Joseph had a unique characteristic. He was always concerned about the well-being of others. He enquired not only about the welfare of his brothers who hated him, but others as well. When Joseph was in prison, one morning he saw the troubled faces of two people and asked them, ”Why are your faces so sad today?” (Ge.40:4-7). Imagine Joseph's plight at this point of time. Wasn't he the one who was sad? Wasn't he the one who had seen sorrow in his life? When the master's wife came after him, he fled from lust and adultery. In return for his integrity and faithfulness to his master, all that he received was shame, accusation and unfair imprisonment. How broken he must have been! The sorrow of losing his mother as a child; the sorrow of his brothers' hatred; the sorrow of being separated from his affectionate father. Finally the shame of being called unfaithful. If we had walked this path, we would have died of sorrow. But Joseph hid his agony and showed concern in others lives.
Often he would cry aloud in private and then wash his face and smile brilliantly at those around him. Yes-those who weep in private and laugh in public only can become a Joseph generation. With a thousand problems in your own heart, when you can forget about yourself and get involved in others' problems, then you will be a Joseph generation.
Do you want to be a Joseph? Forget your own troubles and be concerned about helping others with their problems. Control your tears and shower love on others. All the servants of God who were used by God walked this tough path. Only when you are mindful of others' problems, your anointing will increase. Today, tread on your problems in Jesus' name. Take time for others and pray for them.