Sermon Notes, July
14, 2013
Pastor Jan Sinozich
Pastor
Jan continued the series “When the Seatbelt Sign Comes On,” with the message:
“Follow.” It was based on Joseph’s story
in Genesis 37-47. Uncertainty asks “What
is God up to?” “What am I supposed to
do?” We know that one thing we are to do is to pray. Another is to remember what He’s done
for us: God keeps His promises. Then we
are to seek Him—trust Him to take care of us.
And
we are supposed to follow Him.
God works during times of uncertainty.
We have evidence of this in numerous Psalms and stories in the
Bible. From God’s perspective, our uncertainty is His
opportunity to work in us and through us.
By nature, we are idolaters, trusting in things we’ve created: wealth,
fame, material things. When we move
through transitions, in times of uncertainty, God has our attention. When He’s all we have, we find that He’s all
we need.
In
Genesis 37-47, we can see how God led Joseph through times of uncertainty in
order to work out His plan. Joseph was a
favored son who became a slave, then an inmate, and then a servant of Pharaoh,
who God used to save His people from famine. Uncertainty is a part of life: accept that
God will use it to achieve His purpose.
In chapter 37:14, Joseph was sold into slavery
by his brothers. In verse 34, his
father, Jacob, mourned him: he couldn’t see God’s plan. In chapter 39, as a servant of Potiphar,
Jacob was accused and imprisoned, but he was still faithful to God. Each crisis Joseph faced increased his maturity,
wisdom and faith. In chapter 41, Pharaoh
has a troubling dream: more uncertainty, more opportunity. God gives Joseph a favorable answer. Pharaoh accepts Joseph’s God’s sovereignty,
and puts Joseph in charge. God has a
plan—look for His activity in times of uncertainty.
In
chapter 45, there’s a family reunion of sorts.
Joseph makes himself known to his brothers as they come to Egypt to buy
food. They were terrified, but he told
them that what they meant for evil, God used for good, saving many lives. Joseph saw God’s hand in everything that had
happened to him. God was with him, working during his times of uncertainty. We can be sure that God is with us: we can
live with confidence.
Choose
to see and follow God, confident that He is with you!
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