You  are a Joseph !!!!

This is the account of Jacob.  Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives and he brought a bad report about them. Genesis 37:2

Lets take a look into Joseph's background. He was a motherless child. He grew up with his step mother and her children who were not the best of people. Growing up in this pitiful, lonely situation, it is amazing to see Joseph emerge as a nation's righteous leader!

Circumstances don't dictate your life

Many people blame their circumstances for their sinful lives. Some say that since childhood they lived in sinful circumstances and therefore were unable to lead a victorious Christian life. This is a lie of the devil. As long as you hide behind excuses, you will not be able to live a holy life. Irrespective of your circumstances and background, you can live a Godly life. In utter darkness, your life can shine forth like a sparkling star. Only when you believe this, you will live a victorious life.

He will add

Joseph means, 'He will add'. For many years Rachel was barren. Then miraculously she conceived. When she held her son in her arms for the first time, she spontaneously said, ' God has taken away my disgrace. May the Lord add to me another son and she named him Joseph. Gen 30:22-24
Just as she had predicted, God honored her word and blessed her with another son. After that she died. There is a spiritual truth hidden here. There is power in every word that you speak. If you believe something with all your heart and confess it with your mouth, heaven will honor it and bring it to pass.

If Rachel had said 'God will give me three sons', I believe she would have had three sons! She declared that God would add another son to her and immediately after she delivered her second son, she died. Therefore change your way of speaking. If you say, 'little', you will get little. If you say much, you will receive much. Get used to Word based, positive declaration. Say 'God will make me increase' and God will make you increase. Your power will increase! Your prosperity will increase! Your life span will increase! Everything will increase. Try this out! Make it your own! God wants to add to you more than you've ever had before and He has the power to make you abound! (IICor.9:8)

Real Life

In this passage, Jacob's genealogy starts with Joseph. ( Gen 37:2) Usually the firstborn is mentioned first. The narrative starts here with Joseph's seventeenth year! There is another spiritual truth hidden here. However long a man may live, his real life starts from the time he acknowledges the Lord Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Until that point of time he merely exists on planet earth!!

Knowing the Almighty at the age of seventeen is a great blessing. Christian spiritual leaders who were history makers dedicated their lives to the Lord in their youth. If you dedicate your life to God in your youth, your future will be unimaginably brilliant. Young people please don't waste your precious youth. Though Jacob had twelve children, do you want to know why his genealogy starts with Joseph?! However influential or wise the people in your household or city are, you are very special because you love the Lord. It's you God is after! His eyes are focused on you!!!

Loveless upbringing

Right from childhood, Joseph did not know his mother's love. He may have been ill treated by the other wives of his father. His greatest consolation was his father's love. His brothers hated him so much that they hardly spoke to him. In this loveless situation, he was firmly rooted in God's love. A tree's roots grow stronger when tested by storms. Today, many lonely orphaned people are diving deeper in intimacy with God.

You have the power to transform your darkest circumstances into honorable ones. Are you ill treated at home? Is your heart longing for true love? Do not be afraid. Like the lotus that grows in a swamp, your life will blossom in spite of your harsh circumstances. Rivers of Living water from the throne of God will flow out of you and flood the nations! Be of good cheer.

Young Joseph who did not know his mother's love received a double portion of the father's love. The fact remains that no love is greater than a mother's love. It is natural for those who have been deprived of their parents love to feel empty inside. But God fills your emptiness. When the rest of his brothers' were basking in their mother's love, imagine poor Joseph's agony and loneliness. Out of these difficult circumstances, Joseph rose up to bless the world. May this bless you and encourage you today.

Joseph saw his brother's disgusting ways and shared it with his father. Sharing other's folly only with your heavenly father is wisdom. God is lovingly looking at you and saying, “ My beloved child, I know how much you long for love. I understand your loneliness and brokenness. I know how you see disgusting things in your household and are struggling within. I know how you shudder to enter your house. I also know how much you love Me. I will fill you with My love and honor you in due season.”

God saw Joseph's heart cry and poured a double portion of love for him in his father's heart. His father made a multicolored coat for Joseph and honored him. His father adorned the little shepherd boy with a garment fit for kings. How much more will your Heavenly Father do for you! He will surely raise you up as a prince and a princess. Now you may walk with your head lowered but He will prove Himself as the Glory and the lifter of your head. Though right now you are a symbol of shame, God has the power to transform you into a symbol of fame!!! He is able and He will do it for you.

Jealousy

When the brothers saw their father's intense love for Joseph, they hated him all the more! As he narrated the dreams that he saw, their anger and hatred knew no bounds. It is natural for people to hate you when God loves you intensely. Jesus said, “Because of Me others will hate you.” His word is true. Because you set your love upon God, you have earned the hatred of many. Some will laugh at you while others scorn you. You are an alien on this earth.

See how Jesus prays for you. “I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world anymore than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. “ John 17:14,15

Just as Jesus was not of this world, His disciples were also not of the world. Knowing how the world would hate them, Jesus prayed that they should not be taken from the world but be preserved in this world. In the same way, Jesus prays for you.

Often unable to bear the ignominy you might have prayed, ' Lord take me away from this world. I don't want to live.' Do you know why God did not heed your prayer?! He did not take you away form this world because He has a great plan and purpose for you and He wants to preserve you from all evil.

Hatred

God has adorned you with His colorful garment. He has beautified you with different gifts. He has His eyes on you and is crazy about you. That's why Satan and His people hate you. Don't withdraw or step back in fear when people hate you. Many will see your anointing and God's blessings on you and hate you. The key is not to hate them in return. Imagine Joseph's agony and pain when he stood alone like an orphan against the hatred of ten brothers!

Those who are powerfully used by God were shattered at some point in life. Out of their brokenness, pearls shone forth. A rose blossoms among thorns. So be of good cheer. overcome evil with good. your light will shine forth and you will be a great blessings for the nations!