Joseph: Passing Tests

*Series:

“…the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”
-Gen.39:23Listen Now

Joseph’s Tests…

1.FORSAKEN at home.

“(His brothers) hated him so much they wouldn’t speak to him in a friendly manner.”

-Gen.37:4 (GN)

“Let’s not kill him…let’s throw him into this well so he’ll die without our touching

him!” -Gen.37:22 (LB)

2.FALSELY ACCUSED at work.

“After a while his master’s wife began to desire Joseph and asked him to go to bed

with her. He refused…but she asked day after day…” -Gen.39:7+10 (GN)

“That Hebrew slave tried to rape me!” -Gen.39:17 (LB)

3.FORGOTTEN by friends.

“…Please be kind enough to mention me to the king and help me get out of this

prison…But the wine steward never gave Joseph another thought – he forgot all

about him.” -Gen.40:14+23

How to Pass Life’s Greatest Tests…

1. I fulfill my… RESPONSIBILITIES

“Potiphar gave Joseph complete responsibility over everything he owned. He hadn’t

a worry in the world with Joseph there…” Gen.39:6 (LB)

“The jailer soon handed over the entire prison administration to Joseph… and had no

more worries after that, for Joseph took care of everything…” -Gen.39:22,23 (LB)

“Pharaoh said, “Who could do a better job than Joseph? For he is a man who is

obviously filled with the Spirit of God.” -Gen.41:38 (LB) See also Matthew 12:34

“The person who is faithful in the little things will be faithful in big things, and the

one who cheats in the little things, will cheat in big things too.” -Luke 16:10 (Ph)

2. I maintain my… INTEGRITY

“And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with

her or even to be with her.” -Gen.39:10

“…My master trusts me with everything in this entire household…How can I

do such a wicked thing as this? It would be a great sin against God!

-Gen.39:8,9 (LB)

“Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil, but good people are

protected by their integrity.” -Prov.14:32

How to Keep Your Integrity

1. Take moral inventory

2. Find a moral yardstick

3. I trust God’s SOVEREIGNTY

“God sent me ahead of you…to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” -Gen.45:7,8

2 Principles for Overcoming

1. Pain has a hidden purpose

2. God redirects through failure

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

-Prov.3:5,6

“But whatever happens make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel

of Christ.” -Phil.1:27(Ph)