WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:18.879 I want to ask a little bit of a I don't even know how that how that you would answer this, but in the past three weeks, um how many of you have had some kind of just moment of that was for me, everybody else could just go home type of a moment. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:20.239 Me too. 00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:21.120 Yeah. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:26.399 Well, this morning is gonna be one of those as well, and and really I don't have a specific verse. 00:00:26.480 --> 00:00:41.759 We're gonna look at a couple different verses, but I'm gonna be in Genesis chapter 37 through 49, and we'll hit a few verses because I want to just tell the story, and it's it's it's our final secret door of this series, and uh to kind of lead into it. 00:00:41.920 --> 00:00:46.560 I don't know how many of you, and I've I've shared this as comedy before, but it's one of my favorites. 00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:51.439 That growing up, I heard the phrase, you can be anything you want to be. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:00:52.880 Have you heard that? 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:55.600 What a crock that turned out to be. 00:00:57.759 --> 00:01:08.640 I wanted to play in the NBA, and I would spend hours in the driveway shooting, you know, dribbling and making that last-minute shot, and and it turns out I'm short, I'm slow, and I can't jump. 00:01:08.959 --> 00:01:11.519 And not a really good resume for the NBA. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:13.760 My best friend in middle school, they said that. 00:01:13.920 --> 00:01:15.680 He's like, dude, I'm gonna be a model. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.159 And I'm like, dude, you're ugly. 00:01:18.319 --> 00:01:23.040 You know, so I mean, you can't be whatever you want to be. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:30.079 And here's the trick, though, here's the amazing part is that we can be what we were meant to be. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:32.159 And there's a huge difference. 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:38.959 So, from that standpoint, I guess growing up, a lot of you, um, I don't know what the female versions are. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:44.480 Guys, you know, how many of you at any point growing up, gentlemen, you thought, man, I want to be a professional athlete. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:47.359 Any sport, any sport, I want to be a professional athlete. 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:48.079 Yeah. 00:01:48.239 --> 00:01:53.040 Uh, I think this also, a lot of guys also growing up, I thought the uniforms were cool and all. 00:01:53.120 --> 00:01:57.280 How many of you ever, gentlemen, wanted to be a uh fireman or policeman? 00:01:57.519 --> 00:01:58.640 Any of you, okay. 00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:03.840 Uh any of you guys ever on Halloween uh wear a superhero costume? 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:05.120 Any, okay. 00:02:05.439 --> 00:02:08.159 Not this past one, but yeah, okay. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:14.400 There's just this desire in us to be something more. 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:22.319 And what I want us to take a glimpse at today is that God really does create us for that something more, that purpose, that dream. 00:02:22.400 --> 00:02:31.120 But the truth is, is as we get to it, a lot of times we just are just it doesn't work out the way we thought it was gonna work out. 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:35.840 And we either let go of that dream or we just kind of miss it all together. 00:02:36.080 --> 00:02:43.120 And and I want to be attentive to that, and I'm so thankful that you were honest and saying, you know what, um, um God really has spoken to my heart. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:48.240 And I hope for some, today is that day where you think, you know what, I've got some resolution there. 00:02:48.319 --> 00:02:53.840 I this past week I was at a student conference up in uh Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee. 00:02:54.159 --> 00:03:04.879 Me and 750 middle school students, which, yeah, that's the way I thought first too, but it was tiring, but it was unbelievable how moldable their hearts were. 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:20.000 And during one of the last nights at the free time, I had several of these students, middle school students, coming up and asking us stunningly in-depth questions of just, well, how can I know that I have eternal life? 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:23.199 And you said this, and and what do I do with this? 00:03:23.360 --> 00:03:27.039 And when I get home, I know I'm gonna face this circumstance. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:28.319 What do I do with that? 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:31.120 And I was praying, and and and these are just coming up. 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:36.879 This is why everybody's having fun, just running around, and they're so heavy of heart, they're coming up and asking me these questions. 00:03:36.960 --> 00:03:44.719 And I'll not forget this one girl, and and I've I'm just walking, I'm trying to get to the gym where some stuff's going on, and these kids keep coming up one at a time. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:48.240 I'm just like, Lord, thank you for these moments and the clarity to pause. 00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:49.680 And I get in a little lobby there. 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:54.159 This one girl comes up and she goes, Hi, um uh, can I ask you a question? 00:03:54.479 --> 00:03:56.479 And and I just come from a string. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:57.520 I'm like, absolutely. 00:03:57.599 --> 00:03:59.280 And she seemed a little bit hesitant. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:00.319 So I did the normal thing. 00:04:00.400 --> 00:04:01.919 I said, Well, tell me your name, where are you from? 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:02.639 I'm Ken. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:08.240 And and I said, and she told me her church, and she seemed a little bit like, why do you want to know that? 00:04:08.319 --> 00:04:10.319 And why do you want to need to know my name? 00:04:10.400 --> 00:04:13.919 And and I said, Did you okay, what kind of question did you have? 00:04:14.159 --> 00:04:16.800 And she said, Um, do you know where the bathroom is? 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:21.680 And I was like, Oh, yes, yes, I do. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:23.120 It's right down over there. 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:30.560 And sometimes when we get in the midst of really looking at the big picture, we miss the simple steps. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:34.560 And sometimes those simple steps are simple. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:40.560 And yet we don't see the validity of how important those simple steps are. 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:43.839 And I say that to just kind of intro the idea of where are we going. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:50.000 One of my favorite people in all of Scripture is Joseph, because I can relate to Joseph. 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:52.319 And let me just give you a quick background. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:55.120 If you're in Genesis, I want to just encourage you. 00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:02.720 If you don't have a book you're in the middle of right now reading for entertainment, read Genesis 37 through 49. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:08.160 And it is just entertaining on a multitude of levels and helpful. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:09.839 Let me give you a quick background. 00:05:10.720 --> 00:05:13.519 Joseph's background, he comes from a family. 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:17.360 If you think you know dysfunction, you do not. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:22.720 I mean, this story is one Jerry Springer would go, no, that's too weird. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:23.600 We can't put that on. 00:05:24.160 --> 00:05:26.639 So you can imagine his brothers hated him. 00:05:26.800 --> 00:05:29.920 And it says that as you read it, and you'll go, wow, no lie. 00:05:30.079 --> 00:05:30.879 They hate him. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:33.279 And then God gives him a dream. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:35.600 God gives Joseph a vision. 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:39.120 And one of the pieces we can take as an aside, put it in the margin there. 00:05:39.279 --> 00:05:42.000 Be careful who you share your vision and dream with. 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.639 Make sure it's somebody who's on your side. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:48.879 And make sure that we ask ourselves the question, how does it affect them? 00:05:49.199 --> 00:05:54.000 And we need to share those dreams and visions with a uh a community mindset. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:58.079 Because Joseph goes to his brothers and he goes, dudes, I had a dream. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:05:59.360 Let me share it with you. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:02.959 I'm gonna be up here and you're all gonna bow down to me. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:05.120 Isn't that awesome? 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:08.399 And they're just looking like, seriously? 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:10.720 Do you do you want us to kill you now or later? 00:06:10.959 --> 00:06:11.519 Really? 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:16.000 And he has another vision, and there's another one, he goes, I had another one, and this isn't this great. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:19.600 And he goes to his dad and he goes, Dad, this is so great, because here's the deal of the interpretation. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:29.600 Not only are all my brothers, I'm gonna be up here, and I'm this, and you're and you and mom, and all the other moms, and all the other kids, and the sister wives, you're all gonna bow down to me. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:31.680 Isn't that awesome? 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:36.800 His dad's like, okay, um I I'm I'm gonna bow down to you. 00:06:36.879 --> 00:06:38.160 Do you know okay? 00:06:38.319 --> 00:06:47.040 You're you're a kid, you're 17, you don't understand how this works, but uh yeah, you you need to you need to just kind of tone that one down there, Chief. 00:06:47.759 --> 00:06:52.079 So that's where we pick it up, and and he has this vision. 00:06:52.720 --> 00:06:56.240 And I share that to realize two pieces. 00:06:56.399 --> 00:07:02.959 One, the realization that there's a good chance that none of us at this stage are that foolish. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:08.000 Yet God uses some extremes to teach us through his truth. 00:07:08.399 --> 00:07:24.560 And I share that also with you, those of you, and today's really about me in a confessional mode of just going, God, I really believe you had a vision, and I really did share it with a close group of friends, and I've spent literally years trying to hash out and figure out, God, what does this look like? 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:27.040 And I can relate to Joseph huge. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:36.399 So if if you're sitting here today and you've had that, I felt God laid this on my heart, I felt God called me to this or that or the other. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:42.240 I sense that God has done this, yet it just hasn't worked out. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:48.879 It's a secret part of my heart that I just don't talk about because I don't like speaking from failure. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:50.800 Today is for you. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:08:05.519 Because in that area, if we were so bold, we can see that first we have some realizations about this, and I hope by the time we get to the end of today, these realizations will cultivate and stir that dream again. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:14.319 Because God does give dreams, he does give passions, he does give vision to our hearts, and they're individual and they're intimate. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:19.759 And I hope that these realizations will help you like they are helping me in the process. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:25.920 First, we have to realize we have to faithfully serve wherever we are. 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:31.040 Wherever I am today, faithfully serve right there. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:43.840 If you have your Bible open, Genesis chapter 39, verses 1 through 5, Joseph goes and shares with his brothers, hey, his dad said, Go check on him. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:49.600 He's already told them about the visions, they hate him greatly, they think dad's not here, we'll kill him. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:53.759 And they rip off his coat and they throw him into a pit and go, that was good. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:54.720 Wait a minute. 00:08:54.960 --> 00:08:58.639 If we just kill, if we just leave him for the animals, we don't get anything for him. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.919 So they rip him out of the pit in the ground and they said, Hey, we'll sell him as a slave. 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:08.399 And they see some traders going by and go, hey, we got this young guy, he's like, shut up. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.440 They put duct tape on his mouth and they said, Hey, he's a slave. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.399 We've got no idea. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.919 We don't want him anymore, you can have him. 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:15.600 They sell him as a slave. 00:09:16.159 --> 00:09:18.159 And then here's what happens. 00:09:18.480 --> 00:09:24.320 Joseph, and I don't know what point, it doesn't specifically say it, loses the dream. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:28.720 I don't know what point he just goes, Wow, I must have missed that. 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:30.799 But now he's sold into slavery. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:33.519 But look what happens in the midst of that. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:38.879 He is committed to doing and serving faithfully wherever he is. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:40.799 I'll look at the three different stages. 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:42.320 Verses one through five. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:44.960 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. 00:09:45.279 --> 00:09:55.279 Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officers, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:58.240 And the Lord was with Joseph. 00:09:58.639 --> 00:10:05.360 And he proped, and he lived in the house, prospered, and he lived in the house of the Egyptian Egyptian master. 00:10:05.679 --> 00:10:16.399 When his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in the eye in his eyes, and became his attendant. 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:23.840 Potiphar put him in charge of his household and entrusted to his care everything he owned. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:30.480 He was sold as a slave, and yet I'm going to serve faithfully where I am. 00:10:30.879 --> 00:10:41.919 Well, fast forward, we'll go into details in a few minutes, but we're going to see that Joseph is faithful, and the only thing he's not allowed to do is mess with Potiphar's wife, and yet Potiphar's wife messes with him. 00:10:42.080 --> 00:10:47.519 And he does what's right, and yet he's falsely accused, and he's thrown into prison. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:55.519 In verses 21 and 22, he's in prison, and just before that, but Joseph was there in prison. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:57.360 The Lord was with him. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:11:02.399 He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:11.519 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all there was done there. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:13.679 He now rises to position there. 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:16.000 He's faithful wherever he is. 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:28.639 And then finally, in chapter 40, verse 8, he's in prison and he does what's right, and he sees these two, and he's got no hope at this point, and that these two guys come to him and he is serving faithfully. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:39.840 In verse 8 of chapter 40, these two gentlemen that used to be in the king's service, Pharaoh's service, we both had dreams, they answered, but there is no one to interpret him. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.799 Joseph says faithfully, do not interpretations belong to God. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:46.480 Tell me your dreams. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:54.080 He is serving no matter where he is, and he's faithfully serving wherever he is, and deciding, you know what? 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:56.000 I'm going to be faithful here. 00:11:57.360 --> 00:12:07.200 The second realization we have to come to in the midst of these dreams is to realize that circumstances do not determine progress. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:11.759 In God's economy, look at Joseph real quick. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:15.679 He has a dream of God and he shares it, so he's beaten up by his brothers. 00:12:15.840 --> 00:12:17.440 Oh, I didn't expect that. 00:12:17.600 --> 00:12:19.279 And then he's sold into slavery. 00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:25.120 And as a slave, he does everything right till he raises to the top of Pharaoh's house. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.200 And he's like, Man, I'm in charge of everything. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:31.279 He's kept nothing from me except for his wife, and I'm going to be faithful here. 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:32.639 And he's faithful. 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.840 And what happens? 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.120 He is falsely accused of rape. 00:12:37.519 --> 00:12:39.519 And he's thrown into prison. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:52.240 And I don't know where you are today, but could it be that maybe some here have done everything we know to do that's right, and yet we get the opposite circumstance. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.360 That's the way God refines at times. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:00.720 To say if we're doing what's right, and then he goes and he even does and honors God. 00:13:00.879 --> 00:13:10.639 There's two people, a cupbearer, and the gentleman who prepared the food and the chef, and he says, We both had dreams, and he says, God alone gives dreams. 00:13:10.720 --> 00:13:14.399 And I gotta think, he's sitting there thinking, this is the shot, this is it. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:15.519 God has brought him here. 00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:25.039 I'm gonna give him credit, and these guys I'm gonna interpret their dreams, and one of them is gonna be raised back up, and then, then, then I'm gonna get out of this situation, and what happens? 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:28.559 He's forgotten and left in prison. 00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:33.919 Circumstances do not determine the outcome. 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.080 It doesn't determine progress. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:46.320 And if nothing else, I hope today that some of you who have had that dream and that calling and circumstances, every time you take a step, it seems like it's not working out. 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:49.360 I my hope is that you and I would realize, you know what? 00:13:49.600 --> 00:13:52.159 I cannot look with human eyes. 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:56.639 I can't look at human eyes, and I can't look with what I understand. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:14:02.799 I have to stop and go, okay, God, this is the process where I totally trust you. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:06.879 When I look like a fool and nothing's working out. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:09.279 I've been through that phase. 00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:10.639 I've been there. 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:16.399 What I do need to do is continue to be excellent in whatever I am right now. 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:18.399 He was excellent at every stage. 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:20.879 To realize I am going to be excellent. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:31.120 I am convinced in an audience's size, some of you right now are working far underemployed with the way our economy is. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:36.080 And you have been disheartened, and you're thinking, What did I do wrong? 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:43.600 All I did was be faithful and do my job well, and now I'm working here in a place I never thought I would work again. 00:14:44.240 --> 00:14:49.279 My encouragement to you is that of Joseph, be excellent wherever it is. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:15:01.440 One of the highest compliments I've ever been paid, and I've shared a little bit of the story in the past few weeks, was when I started out on this, I left the corporate world and I went, I was doing, man, you think of any menial job you can do. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:09.919 I mentioned one last week, some of the other ones I had was I refurbed computers, I operated and helped manage a gym, I just did all kinds of stuff, and I just thought, Lord, why here? 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:13.919 And I thought at that point, okay, God, I'm gonna be excellent no matter where I am. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:22.080 I'm gonna give my best, even though this seems because of where I've been, it is beneath where I've been. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.480 But I'm gonna be excellent. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:28.639 And I started to catch some breaks and started to turn some corners. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.360 And I was working landscaping at the time. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:33.200 I still love to do my yard. 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:36.159 And I got a lot of experience at landscaping from there. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.480 And you haven't lived till you do landscaping. 00:15:38.559 --> 00:15:54.000 There's something about getting up before the sun, going home after it sets, and by the time you're done, you are covered in goop, sweat, and dirt, and and we had a walk behind at the time, which is this huge mower, and it just vibrates. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:16:03.440 And you know that after 12, 13, 14 hours of that, I mean, literally, you're on the your hands are on the steering wheel just going like this because you've been doing that all day. 00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:07.279 And I get home and I had enough energy to shower off and fall into bed. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:12.480 And I did that job because it was flexible enough to give me weekends off to pursue what I'm doing now. 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:19.440 But I will never forget, I'd kind of turn the corner, starting to turn that corner to be able to do this on a full-time basis. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:24.480 And I told some of the guys, I said, Guys, I'm gonna record my first ever comedy video, and I'd love for you guys to come. 00:16:24.559 --> 00:16:26.000 And they're like, What? 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:31.440 And I didn't realize I'd never told them what I was really trying to do, and they're like, You're you're a comedian? 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:35.360 And I'm like, Well, yeah, and they're like, Man, we want to come to that. 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:44.720 And I and so I got them tickets, and two or three days later, the night before the show, one of the guys came to me, and I this is one of the highest compliments I've ever been paid. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:47.519 He said, Man, I I hope you do well. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:56.799 And he said, Let me just tell you, if you're half as good at comedy as you are at landscaping, you're gonna be incredible. 00:16:57.200 --> 00:16:59.279 Because you're a great landscaper. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:03.519 And this is from a guy making, yeah, you can clap at that, that's awesome. 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:12.240 But the but the pain in that process, don't miss this part. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:23.359 It was at least, by the time he's in prison, it's been at least seven or eight years with no hope. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:27.119 And I can tell you, there were multiple times in that process. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:33.519 For me, it was two years and eight months from the time I left to the time I was able to squeak out a living. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:42.559 Two years and eight months, and I remember multiple times thinking, well, it's okay to go through this, but there's no hope that it's gonna work out. 00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:50.079 But I have to realize I'm gonna be excellent, and I'm determined that the circumstances do not determine the progress. 00:17:50.480 --> 00:18:03.359 My job in 1 Peter 5 6, and this came to my life over and over, and it's revisiting me greatly now, is to humble myself, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift me up in due time. 00:18:03.839 --> 00:18:06.720 It's his job to lift up and it's his job to prepare. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:11.440 Mine is to humbly come with my best every day. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:20.480 And then I have to realize, and this is probably one of the most painful ones, God-sized dreams most often take time. 00:18:21.759 --> 00:18:23.519 They're not instantaneous. 00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:25.920 I wish they were, they're not. 00:18:26.240 --> 00:18:35.920 But I do know this God's timing is perfect, and we need to mature in it so we can realize why he made this for me. 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:43.440 If you look at Genesis 37, 2, in Genesis 37, 2, we see his age. 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.119 Is that account, Jason? 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:47.440 Joseph was a young man of 17. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.279 17 years old. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:52.400 17 years old when he gets this vision and this dream. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:57.359 And then if we look over at 41.46, we see what happens by the time he's there. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:02.960 Joseph was 30 years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh and the king of Egypt. 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:06.559 Thirteen years. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:08.799 Thirteen years. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:14.079 And before he entered that service, he had gone down the ladder of success. 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:17.599 Son of someone, slave, prisoner. 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:19.759 Circumstances didn't determine it. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:25.359 Thirteen years later, he's sitting in prison, and I just wonder, I wonder almost out loud, thinking, you know what? 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.680 What is he thinking? 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:32.079 After he's interpreted the dreams for the cupbearer. 00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:34.160 Finally, this is it. 00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:36.799 He's been restored to the king, and and this is it. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:37.920 This is gonna be it. 00:19:38.079 --> 00:19:44.160 How long in that two-year span do you think it was before he just gave up hope? 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.079 Here it is again. 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:49.759 I've been faithful, and now I'm forgotten. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.759 How long was that? 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:53.119 I don't know. 00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:55.839 I'm thinking weeks, maybe months. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:20:01.200 But I love the way, and one of my favorite people to listen to is a gentleman by the name of Ravi Zacharias. 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:15.119 Ravi said, we've got to stop looking for God in circumstances, and we have to start looking from God's view of circumstances to realize that God has got a plan. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:19.839 In God's economy, there is never pain without a purpose. 00:20:20.160 --> 00:20:22.000 God's got purpose in it all. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:34.640 And if we realize that God has a purpose in the midst of this, one that I'm not going to be able to see, if I could put it to you this way, I love this idea that God really does have it under control. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:40.720 Realize that God's dream is to use me in something bigger than I can comprehend. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:45.519 For those of you who haven't been here in a while, I've mentioned that I love to coach basketball. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:49.519 And I had some of the parents come up after this last spring season. 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:52.240 We played up a level. 00:20:52.400 --> 00:20:55.920 So we're playing against kids bigger, stronger, faster, more talented. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:21:00.319 And as a coach, I had several parents go, Why are you pressing? 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:01.839 Why are you pressing? 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:03.200 That's crazy. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:04.640 I'm like, I know. 00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:06.400 And they're like, Well, why are you doing it? 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:08.799 I mean, they're bigger, they're faster, they're stronger. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.480 Why are you pressing? 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:12.559 We're not stealing the ball. 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.400 I'm like, oh wow, you're right. 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:14.960 You know what? 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:18.480 If that was the point, it's an utter failure. 00:21:18.880 --> 00:21:20.799 But that's not why I press. 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:23.200 I said, have you noticed the other team? 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.400 Like, what do you mean? 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.599 Yeah, they're they're huge. 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.720 I'm like, exactly. 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:35.599 Their entire purpose is to put their two guys who are supposedly in middle school that have children and drive to games. 00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:45.279 The whole purpose of those two huge guys, they love to dribble down the floor, put those guys under the basket, they throw it into them, they turn around and they make a layup. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:49.920 I said, I press so that they don't get into their offense. 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.680 I don't need to steal the ball. 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:56.079 I don't need to make any great layup or make great statements to get them out. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:22:06.000 I said, because look, next time, watch, when we press, we're their big Guys go, they come up to the other end of the floor and they run in the middle and they catch the ball. 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:06.960 And then what do we do? 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:07.680 We back off. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:10.880 We let that big guy who's never dribbled, dribble down the floor. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:12.559 And we let him dribble. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.240 And he thinks, wow, I'm really good at this. 00:22:16.559 --> 00:22:19.359 And then he never gets to the place he's supposed to be. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:24.000 And I said, our hope, they're bigger, they're stronger, they're faster, they're more talented. 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:27.440 Our hope is getting them out of what they do best. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.599 That's my mindset. 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:34.319 And I love when Paris says, Well, I guess that might work. 00:22:34.559 --> 00:22:36.559 Yeah, yeah, it might. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.240 But it might not. 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.319 But I've got to try something. 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:43.839 And see, God's got this big picture view of going, you know what? 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.559 Even on the floor, I know that my guys don't fully understand. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:52.400 And they'll start catching a glimpse of it as they do it. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:56.000 But I tell them, guys, I'm going to tell you something to do right now. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.519 You've got to trust me. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.880 And here's what we're going to do. 00:22:58.960 --> 00:23:01.599 We're going to be up in a full press and they're going to throw it in. 00:23:01.680 --> 00:23:02.480 And here's what's going to happen. 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:07.359 Their big lumbery guy is going to come up in the middle on the wrong end of the floor, and he's going to catch the ball. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:09.920 At that point, move away. 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.680 Let him dribble. 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:12.799 They're like, what? 00:23:13.279 --> 00:23:14.799 I'm like, trust me. 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:18.079 And then they do, but they don't understand it at the beginning. 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:25.359 And I can tell you this: there's going to be times as we go through our dreams that we don't understand why. 00:23:26.000 --> 00:23:27.039 Be obedient. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:29.519 We don't understand the circumstances we're in. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.960 Be excellent. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:43.119 Because God has a plan, and he will in due time lift us up to the fulfillment of what he made and meant for us to be, if we'll trust him. 00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:57.519 In Matthew 6, 33, 34, it says simply this in every situation, seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:02.319 Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:05.119 Each day has enough trouble of its own. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:07.519 Let's be faithful today. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:08.799 Today. 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:16.480 And then probably the one of the greatest, but the last realization I want us to really grasp, and I'm just getting there. 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:20.559 After four decades of living, I'm finally getting to this point. 00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:27.519 Joseph started out as a 17-year-old thinking, whoo, look at me, I'm gonna be on top. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:30.480 But he didn't ask why. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:33.200 Why does God give dreams? 00:24:33.599 --> 00:24:35.680 Why does God lift people up? 00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:42.720 You can look throughout scripture, it was never for that person to be lifted up and glorified. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:46.079 It was always to provide for others. 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:50.640 He lifted Joseph up to save Israel. 00:24:50.960 --> 00:24:53.440 He lifted him up because a drought was coming. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:25:01.200 And he knew that he had to take him through these circumstances down to put him in a position to take care of everyone. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:07.359 The question for you and I is: are we willing to take that downward spiral? 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:12.880 Are we willing to ultimately sacrifice our life to serve all? 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.759 Because that's what's most important. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:20.240 A friend of mine and I were talking about this over lunch, and I love what he said. 00:25:20.319 --> 00:25:20.960 I wrote it down. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:31.119 He says, the breakthrough came when Joseph realized that holding on to God was more important than holding on to his dream. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:35.759 I had this dream, but I'm gonna hold on to God. 00:25:36.160 --> 00:25:39.519 I'm gonna hold on to God, and I'm not gonna take shortcuts. 00:25:40.160 --> 00:25:48.720 He had the opportunity to, and there's a temptation in the middle of this process to where we can say, I've done enough. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:56.319 No, I haven't had the pain, complete pain, of complete failure, but I'll never forget in the middle of this time. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:26:00.160 I'm thinking, Lord, here I am circumstantially, nothing's working out. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:01.920 And I don't know if it ever will work out. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:04.240 And I met this young lady, I'm like, she is sharp. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.839 I I'm gonna date her. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:08.400 And I remember vividly, nothing wrong with her. 00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:10.480 She's a sweet girl, Christian girl. 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:16.640 But I remember vividly God just checking in my spirit, going, This is not the one, it is not the time. 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:20.480 And I'm like, well, I've been through enough. 00:26:20.799 --> 00:26:23.279 I deserve a little something. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:25.039 And you know what? 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:29.279 All I'm gonna tell you is one of the biggest train wrecks of my life. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:31.759 And one of the biggest regrets. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.240 I'm just like, Lord, forgive me. 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:36.000 And he goes, already have. 00:26:36.319 --> 00:26:37.599 And I still have a plan. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:39.039 I'm still moving forward. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:41.279 Joseph responded a different way. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:47.279 He's at the top of Potiphar's house, and Potiphar's wife says, I want you, arranges everybody to be gone. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:49.039 That compromise will happen. 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:58.799 It will come, and when we realize it will come in the midst of when we feel worst about ourselves, and start thinking, I deserve a little something. 00:26:59.839 --> 00:27:01.680 That is the choice. 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:13.599 That is oftentimes the midway point of the preparation to go, I will humble myself before the Lord, that in due time he will lift me up. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:15.119 He did the right thing. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:25.839 Potiphar's wife grabs him and he goes, You are the only piece of property that I am not allowed, and he runs out, and then she lies about him and he's thrown into prison, and he did what was right. 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:29.200 Run away from compromise and shortcuts. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:31.279 Seek first his kingdom. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:37.599 Today I want to just wrap up this series with an opportunity. 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:40.240 We have the elements one more time. 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:49.279 In the corners of this room, if you haven't been here before, there's tables with little sheets of paper and pens and stick pins. 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:54.640 This morning I want to challenge and encourage you to do what I've already done today. 00:27:54.880 --> 00:28:01.759 And that is, I sat down with that little piece of paper and I said, Lord, I don't want my dreams anymore. 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:03.680 I want yours. 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:08.880 And Lord, I'm I realize that you have a bigger picture. 00:28:09.119 --> 00:28:11.039 So I just put my dreams end. 00:28:11.839 --> 00:28:22.640 I don't know what yours is, or maybe it's Lord, I still trust you in this, whatever it is, or maybe it's a specific vision God gave you, write it on there. 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:32.319 And then walk it to one of these four crosses and go, God, what I'm humbling myself because it's going to happen your way or no way, and put that on there. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:34.640 There's also the candles. 00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:36.720 I love this. 00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:43.920 We talked about God's forgiveness and that God is a light to our path, a lamp unto our feet. 00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:47.680 And maybe it's you just want to say, Lord, I want to pray, show me a step. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:48.480 I've given up. 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:49.680 I haven't told anybody about it. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:50.880 I've given up on this. 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:53.519 Show me a step to take. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:59.039 Or maybe it's like I did today, and just say, God, continue to refine me. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:04.720 If I need to go down that ladder to be ready for whatever it is you have, so be it. 00:29:05.119 --> 00:29:10.000 But Lord, I'm gonna just, I'm gonna be excellent today at whatever it is you have. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:11.839 So, Lord, refine me. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.279 Or maybe it's guide me. 00:29:13.359 --> 00:29:16.000 And the Holy Spirit is oftentimes shown as a flame. 00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:19.279 Just say, God, fill me afresh and new, whatever that is. 00:29:19.759 --> 00:29:21.279 Take that opportunity. 00:29:21.599 --> 00:29:25.440 Take that opportunity with these elements wherever you are. 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:35.279 I'm gonna pray, and then we're just gonna play instrumentally while we have time to tangibly connect with God this morning and those realizations. 00:29:35.440 --> 00:29:37.680 If you would go ahead and stand up with me. 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:46.319 And Ben's gonna play it for just a few minutes and then we'll close in a song. 00:29:47.119 --> 00:29:51.519 But Father, I thank you so much for this incredible story. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:54.960 And Lord, I've seen part of it in my life. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:30:03.359 I've seen so many of these pieces, and I've seen where I fall short so many times, and yet you never give up on me. 00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:17.599 So, Father, I pray for every single individual here today that maybe had a dream or a vision and really sensed that was from you, Lord, and maybe it was something that we did to mess it up, or maybe it just never happened. 00:30:18.079 --> 00:30:33.119 Lord, that we would give that to you, that we would come to a cross and say, Lord, the best I can say is if you still have that, if you still have a purpose for me, then I I trust you. 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:39.039 Or maybe it's lighting that candle and just saying, Lord, refine me. 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:51.599