Hope Today 090 - A Journey With Joseph: HOPE - Our Hope is in God

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:

Barry Rowland

Crist Family

Carrol Roberson

Nicol Sponberg

Bob Bennett

Sara Groves

Steve Darmody

City Allight

Robin Mark

Guy Penrod

Matt Boswell

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_01 0:04

Thank you for joining us for this program of Hope Today, a program of faith presented through music and teaching. We are so glad that you are here. Continuing with our story of Joseph as found in Genesis, Pastor Tom Cullen will be helping us all find true hope. Hope is what we are all looking for, but that often eludes us, because, maybe, we are looking in the wrong places. Pastor Tom will be helping us understand where to find hope, as we see in the life of Joseph. This time, on Hope Today. First, we look forward now to invite Mac Wigfield to bring encouragement in gospel music. In these next few moments, won't you sit back and be blessed?

Mac 0:53

Thank you, Brian. Let's set the stage, shall we, for our program today on hope with a song about just that, the source of our hope. Gary Roland and deliverance.

song 2:08

He has there is nothing. All the wonders he performed for his children.

Mac 5:15

And the obvious question, how can that be? The Christian family will tell us his strength is perfect.

SPEAKER_02 5:27

Through Christ who gives me strength. But sometimes I want to know what he can do through me. No great success to show. No glory of my eyes. Yet in my weakness, he is there to let me know. When our strength is gone. His strength is perfect.

Mac 9:09

And the key to it all is a God who hears and answers prayer. Here's Carol Roberson.

SPEAKER_08 9:18

I know I can explain. When I fall down on my knees, I feel God's hand on me, and when my heart I shake, God hears my praise. The troubles that no one knows There's a place I can go. I can go when I need strength. God's help is right on time, right on time, even when my words are few. He knows my thoughts are true. Anytime or anyway. Always new, even when my words are few. He knows my thoughts are true anytime or anyway. God hears my prayer, God hears my.

Tom 15:45

Of course I will. How will I ever forget you? Everyone had forgotten. His brothers had sold him into slavery. And now this man everyone had forgotten. Hear God's promise from his word in Isaiah chapter 49, verse 15. Bob Bennett sings, Hope like a stranger.

SPEAKER_06 17:17

Hope like a stranger came to my door. I was afraid I was rude. What are you coming here for? Have you come to stay, or are you just passing through? I've seen your face, but I do not know you. You said you know me, but I've had to remain hidden in the shadows of your sorrow and pain. For you have lived your life as a slave, so it seems. Believing your nightmares instead of your dreams. Like a dare, can you mask the mysteries of your heart? For the thing that you dismissed with your cynical facade, was the hope you'd been given from the very heart of God, and it drove you in secret, but you held it close at bay. And you tried to disown me, but you're not made to be that way. And so I stand here longing, for no matter where you run, I will wait like the father of the prodigal son. It can never be an end. Unless the value is a given. The bargain's incomplete. Then he showed me the scars on his hands and his feet. I touched his wounds as I steadied my nerve. He said I'd only bear the marks of the master I serve. And he sends me here to tell you I am bound up with him. You do well when he comes, while still letting me in me like a stranger came to my door. But he's risen and he stays a stranger no more.

Tom 20:53

It seemed like everyone had forgotten Joseph, but not God. When Joseph was to look back on his whole situation, he could see that God was with him. Even in prison. He would affirm the promise that came years later through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 49. Can a mother forget the baby had her breath and have no compassion on the child she was born? I will not forget you. I haven't forgotten you on the wonderful. They blended into another, and it was very easy to despair in the midst of it. But through it all, God kept reminding me that he was mindful of me, that he hadn't abandoned me, and he hadn't forgotten me. I remember one time being in the hospital for a lung biopsy. It was a scary procedure because I had to tell you all the things that might possibly go wrong. Thankfully, it all went well. And afterward, as I was recovering on a grenade in the hall, I met a woman carrying a bag. I knew in an instant that it was a Bible. We struck up a conversation, and as a dear woman who was there to visit her mother was like an angel to me. It was God's way of telling me that he had not forgotten me. Today God has sent me to tell you he's not abandoned you. Continue to place your hope in him. He will remain faithful. He was for me. He was for Joseph. And he will be for you. So Sarah Groves testifies. He's always been faithful.

SPEAKER_12 23:34

Season by season I watch him amazed in all the mystery of his perfect ways. All I have needed his hand will provide. He did not recycle to bring me cage. I can't remember one single regret in serving God only and trusting his hand for my hand. His hand will sight. The theme of the stories I've heard for so long. He has been faithful, He will be again His loving compassion in us now. All I have His hand will wise.

SPEAKER_01 27:13

The year following his graduation from Yale University in 1830, he became very discouraged as he battled illness and loneliness. One night, as he read a German poem that depicted a needy sinner kneeling before the cross of Christ, he was deeply moved. Ray translated the poem into English, and subsequently the four stanzas that eventually became the text for our hymn today. Palmer remembers, and I quote, the words for these stanzas were born out of my own soul, with very little effort. I wrote the words with tender emotion, the message that the work of redemption and salvation would bear me safely above, as a ransomed soul, and it brought abundant tears of joy. He happened upon his friend Dr. Lowell Mason, who in the course of their conversation asked Ray if he knew of any good text to be used in a publication that Dr. Mason was preparing. Hesitantly, Ray copied the words he had written. With music composed, the hymn, My Faith Looks Up to Thee, was finished, and has been used in most evangelical hymn books published ever since. Your spirit will understand these meaningful words as Steve Darmodi sings.

Tom 30:37

Yet when Joseph looked back on the whole situation years later, after he was promoted to Prime Minister of Egypt, he would say, God meant it for good. It's a valuable lesson for us. Sometimes when hope seems dim, we have to remember that we don't see the whole picture. And in one of her favourite illustrations, she would take out a handmade banner embroidered with multicolored thread, red, horrible, black, metallic gold. She would explain that it represented the glorious life away in the next world. Oh, I forgot what Cory would exclaim. You're seeing it from the wrong side. Turning the cloth around, I could hold it up again. From heaven's side, it revealed a magnificent crown, a design God was weaving for eternity with the seemingly mismatched threads of an earthly lifetime. So for you and me. Wherever we may be, whatever we may be dealing with now, God is at work and moving forward with his invincible purpose. Trust him.

SPEAKER_10 32:29

There is no more for heaven now to give.

song 33:03

Oh how strange and divine I can see more than mine, but through Christ in me The night is dark, but I am not forsaking For by my side this day he will stay I labor on in weakness and joy For in my need his power is display To discipline much and meet the Oh the night that touched that all the gold beat But too quite touch bed I don't think that's bad I can't stay I can't pray and not through Christ.

Tom 35:29

In the midst of that dark, lonely jail, Joseph was forgotten. But it was also a time when he was being prepared for the work that God had for him as Prime Minister of Egypt. There in the depth his skills as a manager and leader were being honed, as Scripture tells us that he was given responsibility for all that was done in the prison. I wonder if during a difficult time we can gain a foothold in hope by thinking of those difficult times as a helpful. I know it's not how we usually think. God had been preparing Joseph. And we sure God's rules are not like ours. We would have sent Joseph to president to prepare him for leadership of a nation. Instead, God sent him to prison. Through the difficult times, God is preparing us. He's shaping our character, cutting away the rough edges, making us into men and women whom he can use to minister for him and with him. So we pray along with Rob and Mark, guide me, O thou great Jehovah.

SPEAKER_09 37:19

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah.

Tom 40:40

In the midst of difficulties and trials, the people of God are still able to praise Him. Why? For at least ten thousand reasons.

SPEAKER_04 40:50

Guy Penrod sings, Bless the Lord of my soul. Worship his holy name. It's a new day dawn. It's time to sing your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me. Let me be singing when evening comes. Oh my soul, worship his holy name, sing like never before. Oh my soul, I'll worship your holy name, your rich in love, and your soul to rain. Your name is great, and your heart is kind. For all your goodness I will keep on seeing ten thousand reasons for my heart. Bless the Lord on my soul. Oh my soul.

song 43:10

Oh worship.

SPEAKER_04 43:53

The end draws near, and my time has come. Still, my soul will see your praise ten thousand years and ten forever.

song 45:06

I'll worship your holy name. I'll worship you, I'll worship your name.

SPEAKER_04 45:19

I'll worship your whole time difficult to grasp it and hold on to it.

Tom 46:02

And he died on the cross for your sin and mine. And while he hung there, he cried out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? You see, he experienced what it was like to be truly forgotten by God as he bore your sin. So that you never have to experience that. You will never be forgotten by God. Turn to him in faith and know the hope that is in Jesus Christ your Savior and Lord. Here's Matt Boswell with Blessed Assurance.

song 46:37

Blessed Assurance.

SPEAKER_01 46:46

Oh, what a full taste of both Earth salvation, purchase of love, born of his dream, watch the master, to my store, breast in my stay, all the day to my store, rest of my store, my stay, all the day Perfect nature, perfection, visions of rapture, numbers from eyes, Angels distended Bring from Ub Echoes of Murphy's mind store This is my store Praising Might State all the day long all the day long perfect submersion all is at rest I and my savior am happy and less watching and wait I'm looking up Hope Certain hope Hope that brings assurance That is the hope that can only be found in the eternal God He brought hope to Joseph and is still bringing hope to all of us these many centuries later The same God who has not changed the same hope 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 Pass 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.