Hope Today 089 - A Journey with Joseph: Our Triumph in the Midst of Trouble

A program of word and music featuring an eclectic mix of Christian music and teaching by Pastor Tom Cullen and Brian Evans.  Mac Wigfield starts the program with southern gospel classics.

Produced in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.

Christian Artists featured are:

Old Paths Quartet

Daybreak Quartet

Kingsmen

Oasis Worship

Matt Redman

Gaither Vocal Band

Steven Curtis Chapman

Jamie Slocum

Keith & Kristyn Getty

Poor Bishop Hooper

Planetshakers

Thank you for listening to HOPE TODAY. This is a program developed at Light & Life Programming, a registered charity. We are listener supported. If you would like to help with this ministry, donations can be made through our website at www.lightnlife.ca.

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:03

This is Hope Today. We are so glad you have joined us for this time of joy and faith. Our prayer is that together we will all be encouraged. So let's get started. In this program, Pastor Tom Collin will lead us further into lessons we learned from Joseph, the Bible character who God used to save the world in those days. Does that story have a familiar reading? More from Pastor Tom a little later. Just for a few moments now, would you think that you can allow your spirit to be lifted with wonderful gospel music? Would you please come back to lead us?

Mac 0:50

Thank you, Brian. Welcome from me to you, hope today. Gospel music coming up in these next few moments. We're gonna be talking today on the program about winning the battle. Yes, you know, the battle over sin. Here's a song from the Ball Brothers that will tell us where the victory is to be found.

song 1:10

I heard an old old story. How a savor came from glory, how he gave his life from cavalry to save a wretch like me. I heard about his groaning of his precious bloods atoning. Then I repented of my sin and won the victory. Oh victory, Jesus, my Savior forever. Well he sold me and he bought me with his redeeming blood. And all my love is true him. Will he plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood? I heard about a mansion he has built for me in glory. And I heard about the streets of gold beyond the crystal sea, about the angel singing, and the old redemption story. And some sweet day I sing up there the song of victory. Oh victory in Jesus, my savior forever. Will he solve me and he bombed me with his redeeming blood? He loves the air and knew him. And all my love is to him. Will he plunge me to victory in the cleansing flood? Must be wrong forever. With some beat and evolve me, with his beef deep all my love Will he plunge me to victory Ben?

Mac 4:30

Yes, the victory at Calvary was his. But that victory can be mine and yours. Here is the Daybreak Quartet.

SPEAKER_09 4:50

Victory is mine through his power divine.

SPEAKER_10 4:54

With God on our side, we can win every time. The forces of hell will never prevail through the blood of the Lamb.

SPEAKER_09 5:07

Victory is mine. Each and every day I face mountains too tall. For this frail, weary body to climb on my own. When I face battles too tough to fight, He lifts me up and defeats every foe. Victory is mine, his power divine.

SPEAKER_10 5:33

With God on our side, we can win every time.

SPEAKER_09 5:38

The forces of hell will never prevail through the blood of the Lamb. Victory is mine. In Jesus' name you can hold me today.

song 6:15

Oh victory is mine.

SPEAKER_10 6:20

Oh victories mine Victory is mine, it's my sign, and win every time. Will men Victory is mine? Victory is mine is mine.

Mac 7:11

To God, that is. Sometimes the war drags on, doesn't it? We wonder if it will ever end. Well, here's a word from the kingsmen. The war you've been fighting will end in God's timing. Seems like it's already won. And they encourage you, lift up a victory shout.

SPEAKER_10 7:32

There are troubles and struggles, we've all had to wrestle, and we pray cause it's all we can do. And while we trust in Jesus, sometimes he leaves us waiting for his hand to me. Oh, but even in darkness, we hold to the promise. There's nothing we can't overcome. So that war you've been fighting. Well then God's time makes sing like the battles been along. And you feel it, the sun that is rising, then you can help unlend If you're trusting in faith, even now while you wait, lift up a bit depreciation. Though you may not yet see it, you can believe it. The work is already begun. The miracles coming rejoice when it's already done Can you feel it? The sun is rising you can tell if it's just even now I'm gonna be able to do it.

Tom 11:18

It is an understatement to say that we live in difficult times, and many of us would agree with the words of the Old Testament Book of Job that says, We are born to trouble as surely as hard to lie upward. That certainly seems to be the case with Joseph, whose life we've been following in the book of Genesis. Trouble came to him, it comes to us as surely as hearks lie upward. What are we to do with trouble? Is there relief? Is there victory? Stay with us as we examine what God's word says about trouble. Here's Oasis worship with trading my sorrows.

song 11:57

I'm trading my sorrow. I'm trading my shade. I'm laying them down for the joy of the light. I'm trading my sickness. I'm trading my age. I'm laying them down for the joy of the God.

SPEAKER_11 12:28

So we say yes, Lord, yes, no, yes, yes, Lord. Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord. Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord.

song 12:44

I'm oppressed but not crushed, persecuted, not abandoned, stripped down but not destroyed. I'm blessed, beyond the curse, for his promise, will and do that his joy is gonna be my strength.

SPEAKER_11 13:01

Though the sorrow may last for the night, his joy comes with the morning.

song 13:07

Yeah, I'm training my song. I'm training my shame. I'm laying them down for the joy of the love I'm training my sickness.

SPEAKER_11 13:29

I'm training my aim I'm laying them down for the joy of the love We say Yes Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord. Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, yes, yes, Lord, amen.

song 13:55

Now I'm pressed but not crushed, persecuted, not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed. I am blessed, fear on the curse for his promise will endure. That his joy's gonna be my strength. Whoa!

SPEAKER_11 14:13

No, the sorrow may last for the night. His joy comes with the mind. Oh yeah. I'm training my sorrow. I'm training my shame. I'm laying them down for the joy of the law I'm training my sickness. I'm training my train. And I'm laying them down for the joy of the law.

Tom 14:56

In the Old Testament book of Genesis, we read of a man named Joseph, whose life was filled with the worst kind of trouble. Not the kind of trouble that comes from being criminal or turning his back on God. We might have an understanding of that kind of trouble. But he was subject to the worst kind of trouble. The kind that comes to people who are outright honest and God loving. If you are facing trouble, God has not abandoned you. He didn't abandon Joseph. No, we are clearly told God was with Joseph. So he is with you in the midst of trouble, and even able to use it in ways that would astound you. So Matt Redman sings, Blessed be your name.

SPEAKER_03 17:20

Blessed be your name in the land that is planned to fall. Blessed be your name. Blessed be your name. When I'm found in the desert place, don't walk through the wilderness. Blessed be your name. When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blessed be your name.

unknown 18:16

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

SPEAKER_03 18:20

Blessed be you close me as the name Blessed be your name. When the sun is shining down on me. When the world's all as it should be. Blessing be your name. Bless it be your name. On the road, my will suffer a ring. Lowest plane in the beat for a ring. Blessing be your name. Yes, no. Every blessing roll out all Sun back to praise When darkness closes and more. Still I will say Bless it be the name.

Tom 21:02

As you read through Joseph's story in Genesis chapters 39, 40, and 41, you discover that he was struck with one trial after another. He is betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, so that he is separated from his home and family. And then he's wrongly accused and then forgotten in the jail by people. I cannot do it. I encourage those of you who are facing multiple troubles today and are thinking about giving up your faith. Don't do it. Have a stubborn endurance and know that God has not abandoned you. He didn't abandon Joseph. And he promises never to leave you or forsake you. The psalmist wrote, God is our refuge and our strength, and ever-present help in trouble. So we are encouraged in the New Testament to run with perseverance and have the race marked out for us. I don't worry o'er the future, for I know what Jesus said, and today I'll walk beside him, for he knows what lies ahead. Here's the Gaither vocal band.

song 25:21

Who feeds the sparrow is the one who stands by me that be my o shinks, baby's gone sit before me and split.

SPEAKER_05 27:47

He gave his life to Jesus Christ at an early age. In childhood, he demonstrated a strong voice and a love for music. After attending schools in Tennessee and Missouri, Bartlett took to the road, teaching at singing schools and writing songs. As a businessman, he established his career working for the Central Music Company, an Arkansas company that published shape notebooks in 1918. He helped form the Hartford Music Company that became a driving force in the development of Southern gospel music. He also established the Hartford Music Institute, which trained hundreds of teachers and musicians each year. Notably, one of those students was Albert E. Bromley, who later authored the well-known hymn All Fly Away. In 1939, Eugene Bartlett suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. His traveling and performing days were over, and he was to live only two more years. During his illness, he devoted his time to studying the Bible and counting his blessings. The last of his eight hundred hymns was his most difficult to write. It was a culmination of his life's work. In his now impaired condition, he painfully wrote it, phrase by phrase, and note by note, and called it Victory in Jesus. Eugene Bartlett's sincere testimony is that our victory is assured in the victory of Jesus Christ. Listen now to victory in Jesus as Stephen Curtis Chapman sing.

SPEAKER_06 29:30

I heard an old old story, how a savior came from glory, how he gave his life on Calvary to save a wrench like me. I heard about his groaning of his precious bloods of tone, and I repented of my sins, won the victory, oh victory Jesus, my Savior forever.

SPEAKER_12 30:20

He plunged me to the cleansing. Of his cleansing power revealing, how we made the blame to all good, and also black to see. And then I cried Jesus. Come and heal my walk and spirit. And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory. Oh victory, Jesus. And on the plunge meeting, I heard about a mansion.

SPEAKER_07 31:49

He has built for me in glory. And I heard about the streets of gold beyond Christmas feet. And some sweet day I'll sing of the song of it.

SPEAKER_12 32:23

And on me.

Tom 33:17

This is Joseph's situation. His dependence upon God never wavered. But in the midst of trouble, it seems to have happened. He says in Genesis chapter 40, verse 8, that he was not able to interpret Pharaoh's dream. Joseph didn't abandon his God. Instead, he threw himself upon God in his rock and fortress. And while he was in that terrible prison, he experienced the kindness of God and was granted favor. It is Satan who tries to convince us that we should ease up in our spiritual quest, that we should back off in our service to God and his hurt, that we should stay at home and sit on the couch and take it easy. It is Satan who tries to convince us that God is found only when the sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and the world is good. If this is what you think, I pray that God in his mercy will rescue you from such a delusion. For down through the ages our Christians have found that it is when they are in the thick of service, when they are up to their elbows in trouble, that they are driven to depend on God more, and they in turn discover the treasures of his grace and his provision. No wonder Charles Spurgeon once said, Those who dive into the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls. Jamie Slocum testifies with dependence.

song 34:54

To know the Prince of Peace.

Tom 38:40

And during the last twenty-nine years of living with our son, I have seen my wife take a dark time and turn it into a ray of light for other parents in a similar situation. I've seen Janet take our trouble and speak meaningfully and helpfully to others and be an ambassador for Christ. She is able to be of help because she's been there herself. Thornton Wilder makes this point so well in his three-minute drama entitled The Angel That Troubled the Waters. It's based on the gospel story of the pool of Bethesda in John chapter 5. There we meet a doctor who has a wound that will not heal. Like the others gathered at the pool, he seeks the healing that is found in the waters. But he hears a messenger from God say to him, Draw back, good doctor, healing is not for you. Without your wound, where would your power be? It is your very sorrow that puts kindness in your face and makes your low voice tremble into the hearts of men and women. The angels themselves cannot heal the wretched, as can one human being broken on the wheel of life. In love's service, only the wounded can serve. The doctor turns away from the pool with disappointment. But even as he turns, a man comes running to him, begging him to help and heal his sick son and daughter. Only you who are wounded, he cries, can heal. So Scripture says, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. Heath and Christian Getty sing, He will hold me fast. You're listening to Hope Today. In the midst of trouble, we Christians find joy in God's word. Here's poor Bishop Cooper with Psalm One.

SPEAKER_08 44:46

Oh the joy. The joy. The joy of those who delight in the law of the Lord. Oh the joy. The joy. The joy. Oh the joy, the joy, the joy of those who delight in the law of the voice. Oh the joy, the joy, the joy of those who meditate day and night in the law of the Lord. Let all my dear life be only in your sweetener struck. Oh the joy, the joy, the joy of those who delight in the law of the Lord. Oh the joy, the joy, the joy of those who meditate day and night in the law of the Lord, like trees along the river, with leaves that never wither. Like trees along the river with leaves that never wither. Like trees along the river with leaves that never wither. Like trees along the river. With leaves that never wither.

Tom 47:44

But through it all, God was with Joseph. As he served as a slave in Potiphar's house, God was with Joseph. As he was thrown into the bowels of an Egyptian prison, God was with Joseph. As he stood before Pharaoh under the possible threat of death, God was with Joseph. And so for you. God is with you. How do I know? Because many years after Joseph, God's son Jesus came to earth and faced terrible trouble. In fact, Jesus faced the greatest trouble so that you don't have to. He was crucified for your sin and mine. He took on the terror of death so that you can know newness of life now and forevermore at God's side through faith in him. And on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and promises that he will be with you to the very end of the age. He will not abandon you when you face trouble. He will not leave you alone when trials come your way. Take heart, he says.

SPEAKER_05 51:52

The King of Kings willingly suffered through pain and disgrace so that with him we could also be victorious. There is no one else who loves you and I like God does. You may want to hear this program or a previous one again. Or you may want to share a program with a friend. You can do all that by visiting www.lightandlife.ca. Through the website, you can also send Pastor Tom and our team a note. We would love to hear your story. Hope today is produced at Straight Path Studio. We look forward to being with you and your friends next time for another program of Hope. Until then, keep looking ahead. Jesus is coming again.