The Life of Joseph Week 5 - Hope Through Suffering

BCS Deaf Church Sermon from February 14th, 2016 covering Hope Through Suffering in the life of Joseph series.

Transcript

1. BCS Deaf Church Feb 14, 2016
2. What do the following characters have in common?
8. John 15:13 “There is no greater way to love than to give your life for your friends.”
9.  All the Poor and Powerless All Sons and Daugthers  Us for Them Gungor
10. Breakaway Ministries has launched their 2016 Shalom Project to help reach people in need with the love of Jesus. Deaf Church is excited to partner with Breakaway to help raise money for this exciting project.  Shalom Launch Video  Breakaway Shalom Sermon
12. HARD WORK FOR A YEAR AND EARN $15,000 HARD WORK FOR A YEAR AND EARN $15,000,000
14.  To experience pain, illness, or injury.  To experience something unpleasant (such as defeat, loss, or damage).  To lose what you think is important.
15. 1. Some people turned on each other. 2. Some simply gave up… lost all hope. 3. Some endured, their hope on a better life after the camp, but then became depressed and even suicidal after they were freed. 4. Those who endured had a greater hope than can be found here on earth.
17. Genesis 40
18.  Joseph is falsely imprisoned for an unknown amount of time.  Joseph is now 28 years old.  In prison, Joseph finds favor with the warden through his hard work.  Pharaoh’s Chief Baker and Cup Bearer are put into prison under Joseph’s care.
19.  The Cup Bearer and Baker have dreams on the same night.  God gives Joseph the dreams’ meanings: • The Cup Bearer will be restored to his position. • The Baker will be executed.  Joseph remains imprisoned for TWO MORE YEARS!
20. Q: At this point in Joseph’s life, what all had been taken from him?  His freedom  His family  Years of his life – lost opportunities  His country  His ability to worship God with other Jews
21. Q: When we suffer, what is taken away from us? Q: How did Joseph respond to his suffering?
22. Q: How do we know that Joseph maintained a good attitude and hope through his suffering? 1. He looked after others 2. He worked hard and faithfully – he persevered 3. He continued to trust God
23. Joseph sees his fellow prisoners in distress and wants to help them. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
24. How do you respond to suffering – by becoming more self-focused or looking after others? Jesus gave us an example on the cross:  “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)  He made sure his mother would be taken care of.
25. James 1:2-4 “2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
26. Romans 5:2-4 “2And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
27. It depends on what your hope is in!
29. 1 Peter 1:3, 6 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…. 6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
31.  Julia’s professor, Dr. Coverdale, passed away this weekend.  Brock Faulkner is very sick with leukemia and multiple lung viruses at MD Anderson. He is on a ventilator.  Paul is still searching for a job in computer science.
32. Breakaway will have two different meetings this Tuesday in the Hall of Champions at Kyle Field: • All Men‘s Breakaway (no women allowed!) at 6:00 pm • All Women‘s Breakaway (there will probably be some dudes there...) at 9:00 pm