The Last Word

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There is something powerful about “Last Words”. I often say that first impressions are important but last impressions are lasting impressions. Last words matter because Last words last …

How a life or a journey begins does not tell the whole story. Rather, as with each movie, we judge a life or a relationship or even a holiday on how it ends. The highest honors are most often reserved not for how a person lives their life but rather for how a person gives their life.

Even God waits until the end to judge.

Matthew 12:37  "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

Therefore great care should be taken to insure we protect our last words and end our story well. The only problem is … we don’t know when the end will be and if the words we are saying right now might be the last words we get to say in this life to that friend, family member, stranger, and our enemies or even to God.

Before we end 2016 and draw any final conclusions, let’s look at some last words from the Bible to see if we can discover a pattern to follow.

When I think of someone who had a hard life and a difficult journey my mind runs to Job. At almost any point in the 42 chapters of Job a person could stop and be sufficiently and reasonably depressed for Job. However, those difficulties didn’t have the last word. What was the last word?

Job 42

15  In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

16  After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations.

17  So Job died, old and full of days.

What put Job on his road to a better day? His attitude and his decision to not let trouble and problems be his last word. Job acted like the man he wanted to be instead of the way life and others described him. He defined himself instead of letting disappointments define him.

Job 42

10  And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

11  Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold.

12  Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning …

Job decided his future and acted like the person he wanted to be instead of the way others saw him.

Another person I think about when I think about not allowing the problems of life or any one moment have the last word is the Apostle Paul. If you are familiar with his life and ministry you know how many things he suffered. He was beaten numerous times, shipwrecked, jailed, stoned, run out of town after town, maligned, threatened, distrusted, betrayed and even lost his best friend over an argument. Paul was acquainted with hardship. When he was about 62 years old and in prison in Rome under Nero waiting to have his head chopped off we hear an account from Luke which constitutes the last words in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles:

Acts 28

30 ¶  And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

31  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

That’s not the picture of a prisoner who has been defeated by life but a man who is living in victory. Why? Listen to what we consider Paul’s last words which he writes to Timothy from this Roman prison:

2 Timothy 4:22  The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Paul is definitely not your ordinary condemned prisoner. He is an encourager who prays for the grace of God to be with Timothy. Paul’s last words are meant to encourage us all. And, we never hear from him again!

The last word in Psalms also gives the upbeat message which runs through the entirety of the Bible:

Psalms 150:6  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

Even the last words of the Apocalypse leaves us with a word of hope and encouragement:

Revelation 22:21  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

As 2016 comes to a close without respect as to how the year unfolded for you personally, professionally or politically, perhaps we could harness our hurts and focus our hopes on a better and brighter day for next year. Let’s not be defined by what we have seen in the past but rather let’s begin speaking grace and leave others with some better last words than perhaps the past deserves. Our future depends on us not our problems.

What if the words you speak to others today are the last words they hear or the last words you speak? Would you want them to be words of hope or words of hurt? How do you want to be remembered and how do you want to remember the last encounter you had with them?

We leave tonight together with the last word some of you will hear from me this year. Therefore I’ll go on record and declare that although 2016 had its difficult and disappointing moments, hurts and hardships were evident for many and some experienced great losses that left us empty and wanting. Nonetheless we are at peace and we have a growing hope for the future that outshines the past. I pray grace and peace be multiplied to you in the coming year and may the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. Amen!

The Christmas Story

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Luke 1  NKJV

26 ¶  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

27  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28  And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

29  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

30  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31  "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

32  "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

33  "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

34  Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

35  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

36  "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

37  "For with God nothing will be impossible."

38  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

39 ¶  Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,

40  and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

41  And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42  Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43  "But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44  "For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45  "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord."

46  And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,

47  And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

48  For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

49  For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

50  And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

51  He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52  He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.

53  He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

54  He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,

55  As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."

56  And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

Matthew 1  NKJV

18 … Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

19  Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

20  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

21  "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

22  So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying:

23  "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

24  Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife.

Luke 2  NKJV

1 ¶  And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2  This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria.

3  So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

4  Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

5  to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

6  So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.

7  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 ¶  Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.

10  Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

11  "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12  "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

14  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

15  So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us."

16  And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

17  Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

18  And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

19  But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

20  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Matthew 2 NKVJ

1 ¶  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

2  saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

3  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6  ’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’"

7  Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

8  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

9 ¶  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

13 ¶  Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."

14  When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

15  and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

The Star of Bethlehem

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Numbers 24:17  "I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.

Men spend a lifetime denying the vulnerability into which they were born.

We are a creation in need … we are born to need; we live in need and we die with yet the greatest need.

The man who uttered the words we read from Numbers 24 was an old prophet named Balaam. Balaam was not considered a good prophet. Balaam was known for his greed and his willingness to do almost anything for money. However, even Balaam recognized his need for God.

Balaam was handsomely bribed and promised great reward if he would use his prophetic powers to curse Moses and the Israelites when they camped in the plains of Midian and Moab. Three times Balaam prepared himself and all three times the Lord spoke blessings through him instead. Earlier in the account Balaam declared to his would be benefactors:

Numbers 23:20  Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it.

Now, after the third and final time Balaam ascended a high place in hopes to earn his bribe he finally understands … God has a far reaching plan greater than those of the East have seen. The old prophet Balaam speaks to proclaim:

Numbers 24

15  So he took up his oracle and said: “The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor, And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;

16  The utterance of him who hears the words of God, And has the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

17  I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult.”

What did Balaam see? Many imagine, as do I, Balaam saw in a vision what the Shepherds in fields of Bethlehem would one day see and what would shine as a star into the east and be observed and followed by wise men from Arabia bearing precious gifts to the King of these Jews.

Angles appeared with a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and declaring “Peace on earth and good will to all men!” The glory of the Lord appeared to men to announce the birth of the Savior, Jesus the Christ.

We’re told by scholars that the wise men most likely traveled by camel caravan for 2 to 4 months after witnessing the Star rising out of Jacob. By some accounts, although not offered as fact yet well imagined, the wise men may have arrived in Bethlehem around the end of December that year. It was most certainly after the days of Mary’s purification and just prior to Joseph leading his family down into Egypt for a brief time.

With these things in mind and well remembering that we are a creation born in need, let’s read from the passage in Matthew’s Gospel:

Matthew 2  NKJV

1 ¶  Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,

2  saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

3  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

5  So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

6  ’But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’"

7  Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared.

8  And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."

9 ¶  When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was.

10  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

11  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12  Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Gold – Frankincense – Myrrh

Much has been written about these precious gifts and most all of it bears some truth. These Magi Wise Men were most likely from Arabia where these commodities were native and in abundance among the elite. Each gift speaks its own truth and reveals a facet of man’s need for a Savior.

·        Gold was used as the medium of wealth and trade. Without gold a person would starve and be unable to have provision necessary for life. Gold was given to sustain His life. No doubt this gold was much needed and well used to finance Joseph taking Jesus and Mary down into Egypt to escape the wrath of King Herod who shortly sent soldiers to Bethlehem and killed every child two years and under hoping to destroy this Star’s prophetic claim to the throne of Israel.

·        Frankincense is precious oil made from the sap of a tree in Arabia. It was used to make the anointing oil which speaks of ministry. More than our own life, frankincense allows us to share the goodness of God with others. Frankincense was given to speak of His ministry.

·        Myrrh is a bitter extract and was most often used for embalming and preserving. It also has a numbing effect and was therefore mixed with wine to give a greater ease of pain or to dull the senses. Myrrh was given in consideration of His death.

1.   Gold – His Life

2.   Frankincense – His Ministry

3.   Myrrh – His Death

Life – Ministry – Death … That just about sums up the whole account of man’s need … remember – we are all born in need.

Life – Ministry – Death  ----- Some have also said:

1.   Gold for the King

2.   Frankincense for the Priest

3.   Myrrh for the Prophet

The wise men signifying that Jesus, this Star rising out of Israel was all the epitome of all three.

I believe these three precious gifts were given by those wise men in Bethlehem to remind them and the whole world after them of their need for a Savior. I believe these gifts speak:

1.   Gold to His Royalty

2.   Frankincense to His Divinity

3.   Myrrh to His Humanity

Let’s take a look at these three in light of our need as I close this morning. First let’s take the Frankincense:

·        Just as the wise men of old, we must also recognize the Divinity of Jesus. He is Only Begotten Son of God and as such Divine. We are all born into a world in need of a Divine Creator and Sustainer … One Who is high above all others, omnipotent, omniscience, eternal.

o   Do you believe in God?

o   These wise men came and first they bowed themselves before they offered any other gifts.

o   You need to acknowledge a God Who is worthy of your praise and worthy of your worship.

Next take the Gold … remember, it was for His Royalty!

·        Many believe in God and they do well to acknowledge Him. However, the Bible says that even the devils believe in God yet they do not serve Him. The gifts of gold were offerings given to Kings such as the Queen of Sheba sent to Solomon to recognize him as sovereign. Jesus is certainly the Son of God without question … the only question is:

o   Is Jesus your King?

o   If so, does He deserve your gold?

o   The Bible gives vivid and continual accounts of the need Jesus had in life, in ministry and in death for someone to recognize His Sovereignty and offer Him use of their gold.

o   We are born into need, we live in need and in need we die. To make Jesus the Lord, Master and Sovereign King of your life in every aspect of your life is the only thing that will meet all three of those needs.

Finally we look to Jesus and the Myrrh of His humanity.

·        If Jesus were not human He could not have suffered and died in our place.

·        I need Jesus to be human and to understand my burden, comfort me in my sorrow, lead me through temptation’s battles and weep with me when I feel pain.

Today these three precious gifts given the young child Jesus remind me that I have a God, a Savior and a Friend who knows my joys and feels my pain and yet loves me beyond my need.

1.   Do you believe in God?

2.   Do you have a King?

3.   Do you need a Friend?

His name is Jesus … The Star of Bethlehem!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

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Luke 1  NKJV

26 ¶  Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

27  to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28  And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"

29  But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

30  Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31  "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

32  "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

33  "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."

34  Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?"

35  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

36  "Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren.

37  "For with God nothing will be impossible."

38  Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Spiritual Fitness Lesson 10

Gtcotr/ws122116

God has an image in His mind of what your life should look like and He has a fitness plan specifically designed for each of you to get you there. You have a destiny and God has a plan to make you fit for that destiny.

The Bible says that many are called but few are chosen. Why? Spiritual fitness … or lack thereof … (Matthew 22:14)

During the past few weeks we have studied the life of Joseph and watched God bring him through several spiritual stretching and strengthening exercises. Each time Joseph’s life challenged him to lift more weight, run farther or endure longer, he pressed himself, encouraged himself and did things God’s way.

Let me recap the spiritual exercises we have added to our fitness program thus far:

Dream               Meditate    Declare      Relationship       Presentation Participation         Character   Humility     Endurance        Kindness Candidness Influence        Faithfulness Flexibility          Perspective Confidence               Meekness  Normal         Articulate           Plan         

Work                 Attentive    Restrained         Struggle            Fear

Strategic            Patient

Tonight we continue surveying the life of Joseph by turning to Genesis 44 where we will find our first exercise for week ten and learn the value of:

1. Persistence

Remember in week nine, Joseph first saw his brothers bow before him 25 years after they sold him into slavery, when they came to Egypt to buy grain as recorded in Genesis 42. He hid his true identity and gave them a very hard time by accusing them of being spies and putting them in prison.

At that point Joseph was unsure what to do and how to proceed but he soon realized that he did not want to forfeit his own destiny or jeopardize God’s plan by reacting out of anger, hurt or revenge. So, Joseph began to work God’s strategic plan that would demand much patience on his behalf.

Now, perhaps a year later, Joseph is still hiding his true identity from his brothers and still working his strategy with continued patience. This gives God the time and space He needs to fulfill the dream.

If we learn anything from this, we learn that Joseph is persistent. Make sure you read the story to get its full affect, however, suffice it to say that Joseph has been very persistent when dealing with his brothers, all the while carrying on other duties and demands of life.

The brothers have now returned to Egypt with their youngest brother Benjamin and proved that they were telling the truth. Simeon was released and the brothers brought into Joseph’s house. At lunch Joseph asked about their father, if he was still alive and well, and then he saw Benjamin, his mother’s son, and hid himself to weep.

Genesis 43: 31 Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, "Serve the bread."

Joseph persisted with God’s plan to bring his brothers to a true heart of repentance. He commanded his stewards to fill each man’s sack with food and money and to hide his own personal silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. This Joseph did so that he might trap the brothers, accuse Benjamin of thievery and make them face their greatest fear.

Genesis 44
16 Then Judah said, "What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? Or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants; here we are, my lord’s slaves, both we and he also with whom the cup was found."
17 But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be my slave. And as for you, go up in peace to your father."

* Joseph continues to play the game right to the very end.
* A little rudder can change the course of a mighty ship, if it is held steady, even against contrary winds and driving waves
* We shall reap in due season if we faint not (Galatians 6:9)
* Luke 18:5 The importunity of the widow worked
* Be persistent, don’t abandon the dream or God’s plan

Proverbs 24:10 ¶ If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. (The Message)

Persistence is the ability to remain constant under pressure.

The story continues as Judah intercedes with Joseph on behalf of his father Jacob.

·        It was Judah that led his brothers to sell Joseph in Genesis 37:26

·        It was Judah that would have to lead the repentance and bring restoration

·        Benjamin wasn’t a little boy at this time as one might imagine. He was about 35 years old and already had 10 sons. (Genesis 46:21)

In Genesis 44:33 Judah offers himself as a sacrificial substitute for Benjamin. With this unselfish request from his brother, Joseph could no longer hide his true feelings. These were the men, his family, his brothers who had sold him into slavery and caused him more than two decades of hardship and separation from family. Now, the true test of Joseph’s character … would he, could he be:

2. Forgiving

Genesis 45
4 And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5 "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

* Joseph let go his resentment and claim for revenge
* Forgiveness is a grace which comes from God to a willing heart … When we see it like God sees it, we can forgive
* We should view bad decisions, wrong decisions and even the costly mistakes of others as a part of the process and not the problem
* Forgiveness may be immediate, however, restoration often takes time
* Perhaps time was what Joseph needed to be truly restored and realize that it wasn’t all about him
* Forgiveness is for the one who forgives, not for the one who needs forgiving … forgiveness makes a person stronger & more fit

Forgiveness is the measure of God in the person who has been wronged.

Exercise number three for week ten comes to us from the last pages of Joseph’s earthly life. Ninety-three years after Joseph dreamed that first dream when he was the 17 year old favored son of his father … long after Joseph had been sold into slavery, carried to Egypt and wrongfully imprisoned … decades after Joseph witnessed his brothers bowing before him and the ultimate fulfillment of his first and second dreams … Joseph still thinks in futuristic terms.

Joseph was now 110 years old, his father is long dead and buried, the children of Israel are living and multiplying in the land of Egypt and it is time for Joseph to be gathered to God. Even though Joseph is old and about to die, he is not too old or too spent to dream …

Genesis 50
24 And Joseph said to his brethren, "I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob."
25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."
26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Thus ends the book of Genesis but not the story of Joseph!
* 4 centuries later God sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt and take them to the land He promised …
* Joseph’s dream was remembered and his bones were carried by the Children of Israel in the Exodus from Egypt.
* When Joseph was about to die, he had his greatest dream and since he was spiritually fit, he was ready to handle anything … even life beyond the grave …
* Joseph saw a future beyond his death … Joseph was:

3. Futuristic

Joseph made every step with the Children of Israel: across the Red Sea on dry ground; through the wilderness to Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments; making every step during the forty years of wandering before crossing the Jordan under Joshua’s leadership and marching around the city walls of Jericho. Joseph’s bones went with the children of Israel to every battle they fought in the land of Canaan and won each victory along with those who fought on the front lines.

In fact, it is not until all of the battles had been fought and Joshua is making his final farewell speech to the children of Israel that Joseph’s bones are finally laid to rest. Actually it is believed that it was at Joseph’s funeral service that Joshua made his farewell speech as recorded in the last chapter of Joshua.

Joshua 24
31 And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that out lived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

Lest you think that this was the end of Joseph, that 98 pound weakling that exercised himself to become the heavy weight champion of the world, let me tell you why I believe Joseph wanted his bones to be carried to the promise land.

I believe that Joseph foresaw the coming Messiah, His death burial and resurrection, and wanted to participate in another great adventure. You see, when Jesus cried with a loud voice and died …

Matthew 27
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Oh, hold on … I bet that is not the last we will see of Joseph … Why did he want to be a part of that resurrection and witnessing crowd?

Because it puts him in heaven in time to ride with Jesus on His return to the earth for the great battle of Armageddon to set up His thousand year reign. Joseph was old, but in shape. He was such a dreamer and very futuristic … however, he could never have done it if he had not been spiritually fit!!! And that comes with a whole lot of exercise.

* Never underestimate the power of a dream or a dreamer …

So what can we do with our week … or with our life?

1. Don’t abandon your dream and don’t quit your exercise program.
2. Give your hurts, pains, and disappointments of life over into the hands of God. He will visit your willing heart with the forgiveness you need to make you strong.
3. Never forget … Your greatest day is yet ahead. Dream Again!

Spiritual Fitness Lesson 8 Pearl Harbor Day

Gtcotr/ws120716

Today is the 75^th Anniversary of the surprise attack of the Japanese Navy on the United States of America at Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, the “Sleeping Giant” was awakened in the spirit of Americans and drew hearts and lives into action. We aggressively positioned ourselves in every theater of conflict ongoing in World War II. The insertion of US Forces brought about a turn in the Allied efforts on every front ultimately leading to victory over every enemy in the Pacific, Europe and throughout the world.

The overall cost was great but not greater than the cost of doing nothing in such a critical time of need. That sleepy Sunday morning brought a temporary tactical victory to the Japanese which did not last long nor serve them or their people well in the end.

Just before 8 am on December 7, 1941, the first of what would be hundreds of Japanese war planes began dropping bombs in a barrage that lasted 2 hours. By 10am the Japanese had managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including 8 enormous battleships, and more than 300 airplanes. The casualty list includes 2,335 servicemen and 68 civilians killed, with 1,178 wounded. Included are 1,104 men aboard the Battleship USS Arizona killed after a 1,760-pound air bomb penetrated into the forward magazine causing catastrophic explosions.

The following day American President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on Japan and 3 days later the US Congress also declared war on Germany, Italy and the Axis of evil.

WWII ended more than 12,000,000 casualties later with VE Day on May 8, 1945 followed by VJ Day on September 2 of that same year. It’s hard to discriminate when it comes the value lives and the pain of war but one can imagine that the Japanese people suffered the most and have suffered the longest since that ill fated morning of December 7, 1941, now 75 years past, “A day which will live in infamy.” This thought is born from the immediate devastation and the lasting plague experienced by the Japanese as a result of America dropping the 2 atomic bombs, one on Hiroshima on August 6 and the other on Nagasaki on August 9. This was the first time the world had witnessed such total devastation unleashed on a civilian population. It broke the will of the Japanese to continue fighting.

One might well imagine it would have been better to have left the sleeping giant alone. However, German forces under the crazed leadership of the demented Fuhrer, Adolph Hitler, were very close to deploying their newly developed atomic bomb against Great Britain and on to America. Without those brave men and women who gave their lives in the Allied efforts to stop these brutal sadistic aggressors bent on genocide and world domination, we would all be speaking either German or Japanese today from our modern day concentration camps until we became of no further use to the state and then euthanized.

It is always better to wake up, stand up, suit up and show up to the tasks at hand than it is to sleepily allow others to defend the freedoms which if lost will lead to our total ruin. To none do we owe our proud American heritage more than to those who stood their ground and gave their lives on that December morning 75 years now past. God bless their memory and God bless America!  

Spiritual Fitness Continued:

God will prepare you, position you and give you great potential. However like Joseph, Your greatest day will not come before you face and pass your greatest tests!

Catching up on the story of Joseph we understand that Joseph was 30 years old when he was brought to Pharaoh and set over the land of Egypt. By the time the story gets to Genesis 42, the first part of Pharaoh’s dream had been fulfilled. The seven years of plenty have come and gone and now the whole Middle East was in its second year of severe famine.

Joseph is 38 years old with a wife and two children. He has not seen his father or heard from his brothers for the last 25 years. His plan is working and he is in complete control of all the food supplies in the known world. God spent years preparing Joseph and positioning him for his greatest day. However, Joseph’s greatest day would not come before Joseph faced and passed his greatest tests.

Many times it is not the outward physical hardships which provide our greatest tests in life but rather those inner struggles we face with hurt, betrayal, fears and those feelings that we’ve been done wrong which we all face from time to time. However:

·        We never stop our pain by causing pain to others.

·        Hurting others will not help you.

·        Your victory is not always in the defeat of your enemies.

Joseph would find these things out as he exercised himself in godliness. Let’s learn some new spiritual exercises as we pick up on our story in

Genesis 41
53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended,
54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

Meanwhile, back in the land of Canaan, in the town of Beersheba , which is only 25 miles east of what is now the Gaza strip in Southern Israel and only 30 miles northeast of the Egyptian border, Joseph’s family was also affected by the famine. Jacob, now 130 years old with seventy mouths to feed, heard that there was grain in Egypt. Jacob was a wealthy man and he decided to send his ten oldest sons to Pharaoh’s court to buy grain. The story continues in:

Genesis 42
1 ¶ When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
2 And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die."
3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt.

5 And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.

Our first spiritual exercise for week eight is demonstrated through the life of Joseph who, although he was a great ruler and had many servants and assistants, nonetheless he remained:

1. Attentive

Attentive is simply described as the art of paying attention.

* Joseph was involved and up to date with what was going on under his command.
* Joseph was on the job, managing the most important affairs himself.
* There are some things which will only work for you.
* God demands that we participate in our miracles
* Your greatest day will demand your attentive involvement

If Joseph had been accustomed to sleeping late, playing games or shopping during his work days, looking for a new chariot or bigger palace when he should have been on the job, chances are he would have missed his brothers coming to buy grain in the crowd that day.

Chances are that Joseph could have missed the fulfillment of the first dream God gave him … his brothers bowing down to him.

However, Joseph was a man who exercised himself in diligent pursuit of earnest and honest labor. He gave an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Joseph remained attentive to those things he was responsible for. Joseph never got too rich to pay attention.

Exercise number two for week eight:

2. Restraint

Genesis 42: 8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

* Joseph had changed, his brothers evidently had not
* A life in God’s hands is a changing life --- you may not realize it day by day but wait 20 years and see what a difference He makes.
* Joseph knew their language and culture; they did not know his … Joseph’s life had moved on while their lives had not
* Joseph wanted to find out information, gain wisdom and insight for himself and he chose to not reveal information about himself at this point
* To keep the truth to one’s self is not a lie

We need to train ourselves to listen and learn instead of telling everything we know at the first opportunity we are given. There is an art and wisdom in holding your tongue and in being swift to hear and slow to speak.

Joseph did not have the habit of telling everything he knew. He restrained himself even in emotionally stressful moments.

Proverbs 25:28 Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls.

Both God’s Word and our own common sense demand that we exercise self control and learn some self restraint so that we can act and not react to the pressures and surprises of life. Don’t show your hand before your opponent places his bet, especially if you have a winning hand … RESTRAIN YOURSELF!

Exercise number three deals with the:

3. Struggle

Genesis 42:7 ¶ Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, "Where do you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."

With the re-introduction of Joseph’s brothers into his life, Joseph enters into an evident season of inner turmoil and conflict of the soul. Over the next few encounters with his brothers Joseph seems to be wrestling with what he will do.

It is not immediately clear what the end will be. I believe that Joseph was struggling with feelings of betrayal and temptations to get revenge. Perhaps these were feelings which had been hidden for some years, almost forgotten, buried with the pain of the past and now, facing his brothers, the hurt of those lost years is brought to the surface in Joseph’s life. He can’t hide any longer … he will have to face the feelings and decide what to do.

* Struggle is often a necessary part of the process of life.
* Jacob his father had struggled with the angel to have his name and nature changed from someone who follows on another’s heels to a prince with God.
* Jacob’s struggle left him with an evident limp due to the angel disjointing Jacob’s hip. (Genesis 32)

That’s what happens when we wrestle with God, struggle with our greatest tests ... the tests which have potential to change our name, change our nature and prove us before God. We too are often left walking with a limp. Once we see our humanity in light of God’s greater plan we can finally deal a death blow to our own pride and ambition and give our life over to the will of God … it’s surrender.

* Peter did it with denying Christ and then his subsequent struggle and repentance;
* David did it with his greatest test after he had taken Bathsheba and murdered Uriah … he surrendered to God
* Moses did it after killing Pharaoh’s servant and hiding in the desert for 40 years … he struggled and he surrendered
* Jesus did it in the Garden of Gethsemane;
* And Joseph did it when he saw his brothers bowing before him …

What did they do? They struggled and wrestled with their hurts, fears and desires and finally came to the conclusion that God’s way was the only way for them. Each one walked a little differently afterwards … not only in their own strength, but dependent on God.

I have heard it said:

Never trust a person who does not walk with a limp.

Someone who still trusts in their own devices, their own abilities, their own wisdom, is someone who has not yet met God in His greatness and not yet ready for their greatest day.

Have you met your match in God? Have you gotten down into the struggle of who you are and who you could be? Have you surrendered to God?

No one can be fully given until they are truly broken.

Here are our goals for this week?

1. Pray you never get too rich or too important to pay attention. Or, you might just miss a key element which would have led you to your greatest day.
2. Don’t tell everything you know to everyone you meet every time you get the chance … restrain yourself … God might have a better way.
3. Embrace God’s way as your only way … surrender.

Do not discount those things which push you farther into God. Do not despise the breaking of the Lord. Ask yourself:
* What inner conflicts am I avoiding?
* Struggle with yourself; wrestle with your soul and find the pathway to God and true inner peace … you’ll find it when you surrender to Jesus!
* Herein will be realized your greatest potential.