 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. - Exodus 1: 8 The Old Testament drama of Joseph began and ended with a dream. The announcement of his dream of ruling over both his brothers and his parents led to a series of apparent misfortunes where each one moved him closer to his destiny. In the end, his personal gifts of interpreting dreams, his personal integrity in the face of lies and his divine favor landed him in a dream position of power in Egypt second only to Pharaoh himself. Soon, his father, his family and their families enjoyed unprecedented freedom in Egypt which included their own suburb on the outskirts of the main capital. This period of liberty and bliss lasted as long as Joseph lived and as long as there sat a pharaoh on the throne of Egypt who knew and/or respected Joseph. Unfortunately, as this single verse relates, there came a day when there arose a Pharaoh who knew not Joseph. That meant he was not bound to continue the perks which Israel had enjoyed - And, of course, he did not. Their liberty quickly turned into slavery. All of this happened because the Hebrews' liberty was based on personality and not a permanent national policy. Their freedom was tied to Joseph and a favorable Pharaoh. This fact highlights why our participation in politics and the election process is absolutely critical. Not only do elections give us a chance to put positive and godly people in positions of authority. It also allows them to make laws which will preserve the gains which many have fought and died for. In this season of national choice, we cannot and must not go to sleep on the fact that our liberties can only be preserved if they are codified and legalized in such a way that it will not matter whether the next Pharaoh knows Joseph or not. Pastor Benjamin Morris🙏🏽
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 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past" (Isaiah 43:18). There is a difference between remembering the past and dwelling in the past. Remembering the past does have its value because there is so much to learn from it, the good and bad. The past can serve to help us solve future problems, form healthier relationships, and help us to better manage our emotions. However, when dwelling in the past becomes excessive and repetitive, it can result in emotional turmoil. Therefore, when we visit the past it should be for the purpose of learning from it or developing solutions. Otherwise, spending too much time in the past can cause “emotional disorders, such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder,” preventing us from moving forward. Paul said, “One thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) Charles Spurgeon stated, “The only hope for the racer was to forget all that was behind, and occupy his entire thoughts with the piece of ground which lay in front. Therefore, we are determined to no longer dwell in the past and we press toward what is ahead. GiGi❤️  “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32) At times we might struggle to forgive someone who has offended us. Yet, how quickly we forget that we ourselves were forgiven well before we even asked God to forgive us. (Romans 5:6). Therefore, it is often easier to talk about forgiveness but a great deal more challenging to actually forgive. Still, we thank our God that he is longsuffering and did not give up on us. For, he knew that the “light momentary affliction” was drawing us closer to salvation. (2 Corinthians 4:17) And so, in return, we are encouraged not to give up on people as he never gave up on us. Yes, that can feel like it is asking a lot, but all things are possible through Christ Jesus. He has given us the strength to forgive and not just for the benefit of the other person. Insomuch, that while the pain of the offense pushes us closer to God, forgiveness roots out bitterness and resentment so that we can have peace in his presence. Spurgeon wrote, “Once more: reckon the longsuffering of God, when it permits the ungodly to slander and injure you, as salvation, because it tends to your salvation by driving you nearer to the Lord. It prevents you from making your home in this world. It forces you to be a stranger and a foreigner. It compels you to go without the gate bearing Christ’s reproach, and so, in this way, that which seemed so hard to bear brings salvation to you.” This is why it is so important that we forgive, that we let it go, or “put away.” “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20a) GiGi❤️  “Behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.” (Genesis 29:15) What assurance there is in the word of God. The promise may not have been manifested but we serve a God that cannot lie, and what he promised will come to pass. We have to hold to that promise like Jacob. No matter what we face today, the God that we serve will not leave us. “Here we have this promise in the case of a man of trials. More than either Abraham or Isaac, Jacob was the son of tribulation. He was now flying away from his father’s house, leaving the over-fondness of a mother’s attachment, abhorred by his elder brother, who sought his blood. He lies down to sleep, with a stone for his pillow, with the hedges for his curtains, with the earth for his bed, and the heavens for his canopy; and as he sleeps thus friendless, solitary, and alone, God saith to him ‘I will never, never leave thee.’ Jacob is guided to Padan-aram where Laban cheats him, wickedly and wrongfully cheats him in many ways; but God does not leave him…Esau comes against him; let Jabbok testify to Jacob’s wrestlings, and through the power of him who never did forsake his servant. Esau kisses his brother, whom once he thought to slay…Then the nations roundabout seek to avenge their death, but the Lord again interposes, and Jacob is delivered. When Jacob was bereaved of his sons and cried— ‘Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and now ye will take Benjamin away; all these things are against me.’ The old man goes into Egypt; his lips are refreshed while he kisses the cheeks of his favourite Joseph. We are Jacobs, full of affliction, tried and troubled heirs of heaven, he hath said to us, each one of us - oh! believe him!— ‘I will never leave thee; I will never forsake thee.’” “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5) GiGi❤️ Taken from: Charles Haddon Spurgeon October 26, 1862. Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 8  “Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.”(Psalm 143:7-10) When we feel overwhelmed and anxious we must know that we have a “present help in the time of trouble.” David experienced the kind of anxiousness that can manifest when there is much too much going on and perhaps, too many opinions and too many options. He didn’t just require a one time fix but desired an understanding so that he could navigate this space more effectively the next time it should arise. “Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God.” “This prayer was suggested by the perplexity of the psalmist’s mind. He was overwhelmed, and did not know what to do, and therefore he cried, ‘Teach me to do thy will, O God,’” He had come to a place where many roads met, and he did not know which path to take; and so he prayed God to guide him in the way appointed. I commend this prayer to all who may be sorely puzzled and anxious. You have exercised your own judgment, and you have, perhaps, too much consulted with friends, and yet your way seems entirely blocked up: then resort to God with this as your heart’s prayer, ‘Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God.’” GiGi❤️ Taken from: Charles Haddon Spurgeon January 31, 1880. Scripture: Psalms 143:10: Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 26  "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you." (John 14:27) When a man has faith in the blood of Christ then of course there he has peace, for indeed he is fully warranted in enjoying the most profound calm which the mortal heart can know. For thus he reasons with himself:—God hath said, "He that believeth is justified from all things." and, moreover, that "he that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved." The necessary consequence of that is, that he possesses peace of mind. Some may think, well, but the Christian has troubles like other men—losses in business, deaths in his family, and sickness! Yes, but we have another groundwork for our peace—an assurance of the faithfulness and covenant fidelity of our God and Father. We believe that God is a faithful God—that whom he has loved he will not cast away. All of the negative experiences are but blessings in disguise, because “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). When our cup is bitter, we believe it is mixed by love, and it must all end well, for God secures the ultimate result. Therefore come foul, come fair, come all weathers, our soul shelters itself beneath the twin wings of the faithfulness and power of our Covenant God. The sanctified spirit is so resigned to our Father's will that we will not murmur. GiGi❤️ Taken from: Charles Haddon Spurgeon February 19, 1860, Scripture: John 14:27, New Park Street Pulpit Volume 6  And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8) The sixth sign of faith that works is that it leans. Early one morning, Abraham gathered his son, his servants and his supplies for a trip to Mt. Moriah. According to the instructions he had been given by God, Abraham was to slay his son Isaac there on the mountain. He left his servants at the foot of the mountain with these words: "I and the lad will go yonder and worship and return to you again." As they made their way up the mountain, Abraham's son noticed something strange. He knew that they were going to make a sacrifice, but he did not see the sacrificial lamb. He said to his father: "Behold the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" To this Abraham replied: "My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Was Abraham deceiving his son Isaac? Was he lying to himself? Or, was he simply expressing another of the signs of faith that works? That is, it leans on the Lord! God knew that He had promised Abraham a great lineage. God knew that Isaac represented that lineage. God also knew that killing Isaac would also kill the promise. So did Abraham. Still, at this moment, this man of faith understood that he had to lean on the Lord to work it out. The son asked: "Where is the lamb?" and the father's answer was: "The Lord will provide it." And He did! Faith that works leans on God when His command appears to contradict His promise. Faith that works leans on God when all around its soul gives way. Faith that works leans on God when trials, trouble and tribulation attempts to trip it. Faith that works leans on God when it needs a shoulder to cry on. Faith that works leans on God when the weight of the world seems to lean on it. Faith that works leans on God and sings: "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand." Pastor Benjamin Morris🙏🏽  “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12, ESV) We need boundaries in order to have good mental, physical, and spiritual health. Boundaries are the limitations that we establish for ourselves that are based on our core values. What are core values? Core values are the things that we prioritize and hold deep seated beliefs about. Boundaries can be executed to protect our person and body, and protect the person and body of those we love. They are also used to protect our personal belongings and space, our thoughts and opinions, and our emotions and feelings. With this comes the need for some self-awareness and self-acceptance. The Word of God provides us some insight into why boundaries are beneficial to us, because not all things are helpful. Therefore, with the freedom we have in Christ Jesus comes the responsibility to protect our souls. In the natural we establish boundaries based on our core values, while spiritually we execute judgment as to what we will participate in and who we will allow in. In essence, we learn to say, “NO!” “Yes, I can do it, but is it what’s best for me?” “Will it be disruptive?” “Will that individual bring chaos into my life?” “Will that job cause me to compromise my convictions?” Using our power to say, “No,” doesn’t mean that we are being self-centered, rather, it is being Christ centered. It is merely recognizing that in order to be holistically healthy we must set boundaries, because “not all things are helpful,” and certainly not all people. It is ok to say, “No!” GiGi❤️  A superpower that we can access is the power of pausing. If we pause before we speak and pause before we act, we can put that emotion in check and make better decisions. It is not necessary to verbalize everything that we think, nor is it necessary to act on every emotion. One mental health coach suggested that when we pause we can ask ourselves these five questions: Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? A spiritual take on this same concept is to exhibit the fruit of the spirit, self-control by, “taking every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5) Just as the 5 questions prompt us to consider the impact of what we are about to say and do, Philippians 4:8, encourages us to do the same, “We are encouraged to Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” As we set out to begin this day, I pray that we will exercise our superpower and push pause when necessary and think on these things. GiGi❤️  “Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered himself! And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.” (2 Samuel 6:20-22) David provided us with the perfect example of praise and worship as he danced before the Lord with thanksgiving. He was not concerned about form or fashion. To do something with all of your might requires pure abandonment. David was so overjoyed and grateful to God that he held nothing back in his praise. He was totally uninhibited. He had removed his kingly garment and presented himself humbly before God. Like David, after we have given the Lord praise, let us gather up our family and bless them as well. It is impossible for us to be blessed and not desire that our whole family be even more blessed. It is impossible for us to enjoy this freedom and not pray for our family to be just as free. Furthermore, if there is a Michal in the family that wants to silence our joy, we will respond like David, and I paraphrase, “If you think I look bad praising God just now, you should have seen me before he saved me, before he chose me, and before he called me. Once I was lost but now I’m found. Once I was blind but now I see. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good.” “If we are chosen of God we will, like David, bless our household. We will long to see our sons and daughters brought to God. Oh! how we will cry to God, even as Abraham did: “O that Ishmael might live before thee!” How glad we will be if our child turns out to be an Isaac! There will be family prayer in our house if we know that God has chosen us. For the Lord might say of us what he said of Abraham: ‘For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him.’” Charles Spurgeon GiGi❤️ |
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