JOSEPH, SOVEREIGN CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT (6 OF 8)
by Steve Jones
Scripture: Genesis 45:1-28
This content is part of a series.
Joseph, Sovereign Character Development (6 of 8)
Series: Joseph, Sovereign God
Steve Jones
Genesis 45
SUMMARY: The account of Joseph in Genesis illustrates the doctrine of the sovereignty (control) of God. In this sermon we see that God's sovereign hand in our circumstances is a vital part of our spiritual formation - our character development.
INTRODUCTION: Sermon bumper: Theme song and YouTube clip from Bonanza. I grew up watching a lot of TV shows that were set on the American frontier. Shows like Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and the Rifleman. Interestingly, all three of those shows had main characters named ''Pa.'' Most of the boys who watched shows like that admired the main characters and would identify with them. But I always liked the blacksmith. You had to be strong to be a blacksmith. I was a skinny kid - I wanted to be barrel-chested and strong like the town blacksmith. Strong like bull! (Obviously that never happened for me, but that's beside the point). The blacksmith was strong because he spent his days by the forge, his tools were the hammer and the anvil. He worked with iron - forging horseshoes, plows, and tools. You didn't mess with the blacksmith.
God seems to identify with the blacksmith as well. Not because he forges metal, but because he forges character in people.
Is.48:10 (to Israel) ''I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.''
Jer.9:7 (to Israel) ''I will melt them down in a crucible and test them like metal.''
Mal.3:2 ''He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal''
And then there is this verse about Joseph (that's right, I'm not finished with Joseph yet):
Psalm 105:19
''Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph's character.''
What is that all about? The Lord tested Joseph's character. What does a ''character test'' look like? To quote another old TV character, Mr. T, it looks like ''PAIN''.
Helen Keller: (a person who maybe knew a little something about hardship ...
Series: Joseph, Sovereign God
Steve Jones
Genesis 45
SUMMARY: The account of Joseph in Genesis illustrates the doctrine of the sovereignty (control) of God. In this sermon we see that God's sovereign hand in our circumstances is a vital part of our spiritual formation - our character development.
INTRODUCTION: Sermon bumper: Theme song and YouTube clip from Bonanza. I grew up watching a lot of TV shows that were set on the American frontier. Shows like Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie, and the Rifleman. Interestingly, all three of those shows had main characters named ''Pa.'' Most of the boys who watched shows like that admired the main characters and would identify with them. But I always liked the blacksmith. You had to be strong to be a blacksmith. I was a skinny kid - I wanted to be barrel-chested and strong like the town blacksmith. Strong like bull! (Obviously that never happened for me, but that's beside the point). The blacksmith was strong because he spent his days by the forge, his tools were the hammer and the anvil. He worked with iron - forging horseshoes, plows, and tools. You didn't mess with the blacksmith.
God seems to identify with the blacksmith as well. Not because he forges metal, but because he forges character in people.
Is.48:10 (to Israel) ''I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.''
Jer.9:7 (to Israel) ''I will melt them down in a crucible and test them like metal.''
Mal.3:2 ''He will be like a blazing fire that refines metal''
And then there is this verse about Joseph (that's right, I'm not finished with Joseph yet):
Psalm 105:19
''Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph's character.''
What is that all about? The Lord tested Joseph's character. What does a ''character test'' look like? To quote another old TV character, Mr. T, it looks like ''PAIN''.
Helen Keller: (a person who maybe knew a little something about hardship ...
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