All Things For Good

Praise God. Please turn with me to Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8 and also if you so desire you can turn to the book of Genesis in around chapter 40 and this is our third message on Joseph as a vessel of recovery. You never really will understand the life of Joseph unless you put it in the context of what I'm going to say today. And remember we're not talking about Joseph as an individual. We're talking about a vessel that God prepares over many years. That could be a man or a woman or a preacher or a church or a movement or an organization raised up of God. Something like school of Christ. It could be that vessel but this third message if you are a part of that vessel, of that Joseph company, of the people that have been prepared for a crisis hour, for this hour, I believe you must understand what I'm about to tell you. You know this. You know the scripture. Almost everyone in the church knows what I'm going to say but I don't really think they know it. I don't really think they see it as they ought to because if you are a chosen vessel, if you're a vessel being forged in the fire, it is essential that you know this or you're going to begin to think the fire is from the hand of hell and it's for your destruction and there's no way out of it and you're going to perish in the midst of the trials, the troubles and the temptation. You've got to know what I'm going to say now. I want to lay upon you even before we read the text, the urgency, the necessity and the importance of hearing this. This isn't just a blessing sermon or a nice promise or something to encourage you. This is essential for Joseph. This is essential for a vessel being prepared that's going to be used on that day. So I hope I have your ears this morning. My message here this morning, this third part of Joseph as a Vessel of Recovery. Listen to what my title is. All Things for Good. Reading from Romans chapter 8. I'm only going to read one verse. Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. And it says there and we all know it so well. We can quote it, I hope, word perfect and letter perfect. But Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. And we know, don't miss that first part up, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Can we pray together here this morning? Father I do thank you for the word of God that you show us the bigger picture in scripture. As we look at the life of Joseph, we are not looking from the perspective of man, but we are seeing from heaven's perspective, from the perspective of God. We see the end at the beginning. As we begin looking at the life of Joseph, we see where it ends. We see what's accomplished. And yet Joseph had to walk through many pits, prisons, troubles and trials. He had to go through much burning fiery furnaces, Lord God, in order to be a vessel that could be used in your hand. He didn't always see clearly. He didn't always understand. There were nights of confusion. There were times of darkness. There was despair and hopelessness. There were times of doubting whether he had heard it right. But my God, thank you for your grace and your mercy and your eternal plan that lifted him up out of the pit, that carried him to Egypt. Lord God, that brought him through slavery. Lord God, that preserved him in the prison and finally set him upon a position of authority in that hour, in that land. In Jesus name, I pray open our eyes this morning to truly see by the grace of God and by the teaching of the Holy Spirit, that all things work together for good to them who love you and who are called according to your divine purpose, that you are named in Jesus Christ. We love you this morning. My God, I pray this church and this people help us to understand this, that we might endure through the fires that afflict us. In Jesus mighty name. Amen. My message here this morning is all things for good. Listen to what it says here in Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and to them who are the called according to his purpose. Or let me take you back into the life and the story of Joseph. And let me pull out two statements here that fit into this. First in Genesis 42, 36. You don't need to turn there, but listen carefully. This is Jacob, Joseph's father, speaking about what happened to Joseph. Listen to what he says. All these things are against me. That was a man of God said that. That was Jacob, the father of the faith, whose name was changed to Israel, looking at his life from the perspective of 22 years down the road. He looked back 22 years and he said, all these things are against me. Then another verse in Genesis chapter 15 and verse 20, Joseph speaking to his brothers 22 years after they put them in a pet. You thought evil against me, but God, aren't you glad for these thoughts? But God meant it for good. You meant it for evil. What you did was evil, but God meant it for good. And God made it work for good. Since my message here this morning, it's going to be brief if I can help it. All things for good. All things for good. You see in Romans chapter 8, verse 28, I believe this scripture explains the life of Joseph. I believe it gives us insight to understand. And without this scripture, you won't understand Joseph or what happened in his life. Why would God allow him to be hated of his brothers? Why would God allow him to suffer by being put in a hole in the ground and left to die? Why would God allow him to be sold into slavery? Why would God allow him to be lied about and accused of being a rapist and put in a prison? Why would it that God would actually leave him for another two years? You'll never understand that. You cannot understand that. You'll actually get a wrong concept of God's character and his ways and his dealings with the individual. You really will if you don't understand Romans chapter 8 and verse 28. Let's go to this first and begin to expound it. Then apply it to the life of Joseph. You will not survive the furnace if you don't know what I'm going to say. You are going to think evil of God in the furnace. When all the time he's working for good, you're going to think it's working for evil. You won't be able to see beyond that. Look at this verse in verse 28. How does it start? And most Christians do not learn the first statement of this. They know the rest, but they misquote it or they leave off the first statement. And we know. Paul the apostle writes, and we know. The word know means intimate knowledge or experiential knowledge. He's not talking about reading it and comprehending it with your mind. Anyone can do that. Anyone could read this verse and say, oh yes, I know what the Bible says. That is not what he's talking about. And he says, and we know. He's talking about an experiential knowledge of you don't really understand what I'm going to tell you this morning until you walk through the fire, until you go through nights of confusion, until you go through times of darkness, or you have doubts assail your mind. You don't understand what I'm saying here. You see this knowledge of what this one verse says, this knowledge that all things are working together for good, you don't know this. You don't really know this. You know it academically. You know it theologically. You know it's in the Bible and you say it must be true, but you really don't know it as an experience, not intimately in your heart until you begin to see what God's plan and purpose is. You see, there is a deeper knowing than seeing. Most of us know because we see. If I see it, then I'll believe, then I know it's true. Jesus said, blessed are those who do not see and yet they believe. That's what he said. Most of us, our knowledge depends on what we see. Everything's going bad, therefore it is bad. That's our knowledge. We actually go, I can't see any good in this, therefore God cannot be in it. He's not in it. Why? Because I'm looking with my eyes or I'm looking with my mind. I don't understand it, therefore it has to be bad. I'm confused about it, therefore it must be bad. I actually cannot believe that God could be in the middle of this or his hand in the middle of it, therefore he is not. Do you realize how far off that is when you look at the life of Joseph? I mean, that is a million miles off. Paul says, and we know that all things work together for good. Not by seeing, not by feeling, not by emotions, not by intellectual knowledge. He is actually saying, we know. I, Paul the apostle, hey, when you get left stoned for dead, when the church at Jerusalem won't touch you because they can't believe you really got born again, when you've been forsaken by brothers in the church, when you've gone all through these things, when you come to Romans 8 and say, we know, I know that all things are working together for good. Good preaching, Paul. Good theology, Paul. Amen, Paul. That's an encouraging promise in your Christmas cracker. What a beautiful promise. Everything's just working beautifully together. Try telling someone with cancer that. Try telling some wife who's been deserted by her husband about that. Try telling some young person that's being half destroyed in some church by abusive leadership that. Try telling them that. Hey, chums, smile. Get on with it. Don't you know all things are working together for good? Don't you know that? We are talking about something very real here. Intimate experience and knowledge that comes out of the furnace. As you're in the furnace, you begin to understand this. Joseph did not know this when he was put in the pit. He is crying. He is worrying. He's saying, why are you doing this to me? Do you think he's sitting at the bottom of the pit saying, hey, relax, Joseph. I'm having a great time down here. I know it looks bad, but I know that everything's working for good. And you know what? I can just whistle here. There's no water here. There's no food here. My brothers hate my guts. They're talking about killing me. But you know what? I'm just trusting in the providence of God. I'm just trusting the sovereignty of God. I'm just claiming all the promises of God. And I don't have any fears. Do you think that's how Joseph was? Absolutely not. I'm talking about a knowledge that you grew into. You say, I don't believe this knowledge is something you read it and then you just have to believe it. I believe every one of you aren't born again with this. And if you are, then you haven't faced any trials, okay, and any assaults in your mind and any afflictions of hell itself. I'm talking about a knowledge that comes through real fiery trials, through hard tests from the hand of God that God allows us. It's not easy. This is a knowledge that you get established in, grounded in, you're confirmed in, because you walk through the furnace and you say, now I know. Now I know that, what do you know? All things work together for good. All things. If you underline your Bible, you better underline the word all. All things. It doesn't say some things. It doesn't say the good things. Oh, all of us do know the mercy of God works for me. The provision of Christ on the cross, the grace of God, even the angels of God, the hand of God. I know all these things are working for my good. My brothers, my sisters, my friends who are praying for me, all of this is working together for good. If we stop there, that's easy. But you know what he's saying here? All things work together for good. The worst of things. Do you think Joseph being put in a pit was working for good? Being sold as a slave, lied about, hated. Do you really know that that was working for good? Let's make it more personal. It's happening to you. It has happened to you. But you're saying, I know that this attack, betrayal, lies, scheming, abuse, I know it's working for my good, not for evil. I'm convinced of it. I'm convinced of it. I'm utterly persuaded. In Romans chapter 8, 28, what's the context of this? All things work us together for good. What is the context? Verse 18, listen carefully. It talks about the suffering of this present time. Verse 21, it talks about the bondage of corruption. In other words, my fallen nature, the desire to sin, the desire to do what is wrong, the temptations, the thoughts, the feelings, the emotions, all of that is the bondage of corruption. Or let me go a bit further. Verse 23, we ourselves groan within us, talking about our physical bodies. Don't our bodies groan? Aren't our bodies decaying? Our bodies aren't getting better. Unless you're the lower side of 20, you're on the way up. Just wait. You begin going in a certain direction. It talks in verse 26 about our infirmities. It goes further then, talks about tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword. What is the context of Romans chapter 8, 28? It is affliction. You as a Christian are being persecuted. Your life is being threatened. Do you know what? All things are working together for good. There are those that hate your guts because you love God. You know what? That is working for your good. It goes further in verse 37. In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. There is an overcoming, but you know what? You'll never overcome unless you know this. I mean an experience where it becomes a part of you. I know. I absolutely know. Do you know 2020, everything that's happened, the Corona crisis, all that's happening, I know that this is working for good in the church. I know God is going to use all of this evil, all of this wickedness, all that's rising up in our world, the socialism. You know what's going to happen? Somehow God is going to bring it together and it is going to work for good. You see, it says all things, not individual things. You look at one trial in your life. You look at individual things that have happened to you and you say, that is evil. That was not working for good. This worked for good. That worked for evil. And you separate everything out in your life, right back to your childhood. If only I'd had this parent, if only I'd had the gospel, if only I had this, if only something could have happened differently. So these are all the evil things in my life. Put them over there. They're not working for good. And all of these other things, these things are working for good. And I put them all over here and I say, all of these things are working together for good. And all of these things are working together for evil. The devil is over here. God is over here. And I'm in the middle and trying to work through this. Since that's not what the Bible says. Do you know what it actually says? All things. Let's bring it right into the middle. Let's mix the evil with the good. What do you think is evil? What do you think is good? You see, if you look at individual things by themselves, they can seem evil. Many individual things. One after another. That's evil, that's evil, that's evil, that's evil. It's actually taken me away from God. It hinders me walking with God. Does it? Not until God puts it all together and finishes the work do you see it was all working for good. Do you realize in your life it could take decades to see what God preserved you from? What you now think is an evil thing. You can't reconcile it. You don't see God in it. You cannot believe that God could be working in that. Only a decade down the road are you going to stand and change your mind and say, no, I know. You don't know here this morning. And that's okay. We're all growing. I told you many times coming through trials, the Bible says rejoice in the trial. I go, I'm still learning. I'm still trying. Once I get past it and look back and I go, thank you, Lord. You didn't do that in the trial, but I'm learning. I'm learning. I am trying. I do want to. You see, it's only, and not until God puts it all together, all the things that happen, all of the evil, until he takes the pit, the prison, and takes all these things, all the hatred, the lies, the bitterness of false accusation, oh, you've got to bring it together. Oh no, please don't, Lord. The collage will look tragic. Really? Oh, I can handle them individually and I barely get past it and say, I'm sure God's going to work something out. But what bring all of this together every step of the way for 13 years? And then you want me to bring it together? Yes. Because amazingly, all of these things, when they're weaved together from God's perspective, you know what he says? All these things work together, not until they come together and God finishes work. You judge God too soon. So do I. You're there thinking, you know that this cannot work for good. How do you know that? Are you greater than God? Do you know more than God? You haven't even waited for him to finish. You're saying, this is against me. This is against me. This will destroy me. I'll never come through. How do you know that big boots? Can I ask you, are you so sovereign knowing all things? Not until all things work together do we finally see they were working for our good. That takes years, sometimes decades. I mean decades before you look back and say, man, if only I just believed the word of God, if only I'd mixed faith with it. I spent years, absolute years saying, this is wicked, evil and no good will come out of it. It could take decades before you reach a point and finally look from God's perspective and his hand is weaving it together and you say, oh God, I misunderstood you. I thought you weren't loving me. I thought you weren't there in the pit. I thought these men had sovereign power and you weren't answering my prayers. I prayed and I prayed and I prayed and I prayed and no answer came and no change came. Therefore I thought you weren't in it. And yet a day comes where I suddenly see, I actually do see, we finally see that they're working together for good. We judge at the beginning. We're thrown in the pit and we make big judgments. I know where this is going, really, really. I know what's going to happen from here. Do you ever, at night, some little thing happens and you think it's big and you spend an hour from two to three in the middle of the night on your bed and you're painting these big pictures. Then us guys don't do that, only you ladies do that, none of us guys do. And you paint a whole picture of tragedy and they said this and that happened and this is where it's going and it's all over and I can just see where I'm going. You've taken your first step. You're making a judgment at the beginning. That's far too soon. You're utterly incapable of doing that. You're seeing one little thing from your perspective. You're in a hole, you can barely see light at the top and you're saying, I see the full picture. You can't even see out of your hole. You can't even see barely through the bars of your prison and there you're saying, I see everything. I understand everything and we speak authoritatively. You can't do that. Maybe we even as a church have to wait to the end of the journey to go, I can't even believe what he's done in raising up this church. I can't even imagine. It is utterly remarkable. Do you know what Jesus said in John 13, 7? What I do thou knowest not, told his disciples. See what I'm doing right now, you don't know. What an offence to our pride. Now come on master. Well, why don't you tell us? What I do now thou knowest not, but thou shalt know hereafter. I want you to know, you're going to know, but you don't know it now. Christ is saying, see sitting here, I believe in this room and people who will watch this message afterwards. You don't even know what God is doing. You do not know. You're not going to know now, but you will do. There is coming a time when you are finally going to know. He goes further, for we know that all things work together, all things, all evil things, everything done against us. And remember I'm coming to condition. Some people in this room cannot know that and won't know that without a change. But he says they work together. Listen to what work together means. It means to cooperate, to help, to contribute, to conspire. If all you had was the love of your father Jacob and a nice coat and all the blessings and all of this emotion, it would destroy you. I guarantee it would destroy you. You need the hatred of your brothers to balance out that love of the father. You need to be betrayed to balance out that nice coat that you got given as a sign of the love of the father. Do you know what? They all work together. They contribute together. The good and the bad works hand in hand. They help each other. The evil things that happen to you help the good things. The good things help to not let the evil things drown you. If it was only evil, you're drowning. No one could handle that. You need blessings from God. One of the blessings of my life I know was Candace. All hell is letting rip year after year. It has not stopped since 2005. What did God send me in 2006? He sent me a little girl to marry. Little did I realize during the beginning of a trial in 15 years time, you do not want to know what's been happening for 15 years. But he sent me a little girl to help and lighten the burden because it would have been too much. That is not a carnal thing. God actually knows. He measures out. He balances. He makes it work together. He contributes. Be very careful to think you don't have what it takes to walk through these things. You do. God is very gracious. The brothers in the pit, the Ishmaelites, the Midianites, Potiphar, his wife, the baker, the butler, Pharaoh, all of these are going to be brought together, not just for what you think is good for you. Oh, I know what's good for me. Really? You actually know what is best for you. I know if you had your way, you'd say, that won't be in my life, and that won't be in my life, and I wouldn't have to face this, and I wouldn't have to endure this, and I wouldn't have to have fears and doubts and battles and temptations and trials and questions and tears and a broken heart. Who here would choose to have a broken heart? And yet I'm telling you, a broken heart can be essential to the will and the purpose of God. You'll never be a vessel God uses. God cannot use you until your heart has been broken, until you've stood in the fire and said, I don't know if I'm coming out of this. You're useless to God. Can I say that rather respectfully? Because he is careful what he does with an individual. Not everyone can endure that, so he doesn't put them through it. Some of us, I think, are so hard-necked. We're so troublesome that you go, Lord, do I ever get out of the fire? No, you need it, and you can endure it. No, I can't endure this. Yes, you can. Since you understand, we must know the Scripture. It is utterly vital. We've got to understand it. There is more to be learned in affliction than in the largest libraries of our world. The greatest books cannot teach you what one act of affliction is going to teach you. They're all working together for good. What does good mean? Your ultimate end, your final goal, your destination for your benefit. At the end of this, you're going to see it's for your good. It may not seem today. You may not seem to benefit today from all these things happening. You may not find anything. Just wait. Just wait. I'm telling you, just wait, and you're going to finally see that lies from your brother, anger, hatred is going to work for your good. That somehow, when God is involved, is going to be turned around, and that hatred becomes a blessing to you, a benefit to you. You would never sit on that throne of Egypt. You would never feed the nations. You would never restore your brethren. You're not going to save your father Jacob from a famine unless you actually endure through this. At the end of the journey, you'll look back. Can you imagine when you get to heaven what it's like? I mean, I'm looking after a number of years, and I can see something of it, but I don't dare think I see it all. I don't. I just believe. I trust. I know. I know the Scriptures are true, but you know what? At the end of my journey, when I stand in the presence of God, I'm going to look back and go, this is remarkable. This is utterly remarkable. It is working for good. You see, God brings light out of darkness, food out of the eater, the one who's going to eat you up. God brings food or honey out of him, good out of evil, good out of disappointment. We are talking about something very real here. We think we're experts in what's happening. Who is this for? Listen, for those who love God, don't you want all things in your life to work together for good? Yes, you'd be crazy if you didn't. Even the evil, where God will make everything evil that's worked against you, he's going to turn it into good. Who wouldn't want that? You'd have to be a fool. You'd have to be another fool, where every time they cast a stone, it's going to be turned into a blessing. Eventually, maybe a decade down the road, but it will. Every time they stamp upon you a name of trying to defame you, you wear it with pride. You know those old Methodists, they call it, they're Methodists. They said, we're Methodists. We'll wear that. Use our Puritans. Yes, we're Puritans. We believe in purity. Call us what you want. You see, that's what God does and turns it into a revival movement and changes our world again. Those that love God, here's the condition. Do you love God? You can't love God and then live for the world. How many people have we seen through here that say, I love God? I've had very sincere people and they're sincere and say, I do love God. I believe God. I know all this is true and I love Him. Why do you never obey Him? Oh, but I do love Him. Yes, but you're not obeying Him. I know that, but I do. I feel an emotion. I love Him. You know what the Bible says, if you love God, keep His commandments or if you keep His commandments, you love Him. How do I know if you love God or not? Do you keep His commandments? Do you keep His commandments? This isn't legalism to try and prove you love Him. When I love Him, there's certain things I want to do. That is a mark of a real believer. I really love God. I love this book. I want to obey this book. If that isn't your desire, your love is an emotion. It is sentiment. It is your own imagination. When I love Him, I say, oh God, help me to do your will. One other thing, so they love God and to them who are called according to His purpose. Are you called? Not only that you love Him, but you're called. What does that mean? Do you know what the word called there means? You have received an invitation from Jesus Christ into salvation. Do you realize that you've been called effectually by the gospel? Not just hearing it with your ears. Do you know what's funny? Lots of people, lots of sinners hear the gospel, but some hear it inwardly. Some hear it with the ears and go, yeah, yeah, yeah, I need to do something about that. Others hear it in their heart and they go, I know that Christ is calling me, that He's personally given me an invite. Come and believe. Come and be saved. Come and be forgiven. Come and trust in me. Come and rest in the forgiveness of Jesus on the cross. That is a personal invite. The gospel goes out to everyone. Yesterday at this wedding, we preached the gospel to everybody, but you could see certain individuals saying, I feel this. I'm hearing a call. Others are indifferent saying, nice sermon. Don't know how they could possibly have said that, but they would say, nice sermon or thanks for the nice wedding. Sometimes those are the hardest people. You'd rather have someone get angry or mad or some response. This call is the call to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. So if you love God and you've been called, you've been called invited into salvation and the call goes to everyone, but the called one is someone who's experienced it. Have you been called out of the world? Have you been called away from your own life? Have you been called into Christ? Have you heard Jesus saying, come follow me? Peter, come follow me. It's very personal. Lazarus, come out of your grave. He's dead. He can't get, he's bound up with all sorts of grave clothes. There's a big stone in the way. Lazarus, come forth. That voice raised him. You know what Lazarus said? I know that voice. I'm responding. I hear Christ calling, who can argue with him? Do you know what salvation is like? You hear the master call you. It's not the preacher. It's not the church. It's not an evangelist. You hear Christ speaking to your heart. I don't know how. I don't know how. It's the work of the spirit of God, but you know it's very personal and you're invited. But notice what it says, who are the called according to his purpose. In other words, the call comes to you individually out of a purpose. What is the purpose? The word purpose means a setting forth or a proposal and attention exhibited beforehand. You know what God's purpose is? His eternal plan in Christ Jesus made before the world. God had a plan before you go in the fire. God's got a plan. But before you get lied on, God has a plan. Before anything happens in your life, God has a plan and he calls you into salvation, into a plan. He doesn't just save you. He has a plan that he made before the world. He knew you. He loved you. He desired you. And he said, I want you to be my vessel. I have a plan to use you in this hour, this generation to do this thing. But you know what? I call you through the gospel. You say, yes, Lord, I'm a sinner. Then he begins to reveal a purpose and love arises out of your heart. You know, for that individual, all things are working together for good. I mean, everything in your life, Joseph, all hell that's ripping you at 17 and will not stop for 13 years. And I'm telling you, everything is working together for good because you love me, because you are called one who responded to the invitation. Everything in your life is working together. Even the things from before you got saved. Have you ever met someone to say, I wish I got saved 20 years ago? Wish I would've got saved 30 years ago. I've had good friends like that and they love God with all their heart, but the call never came. Their heart was not tender. Yes, they're utterly responsible every step of the way. But you know what? There is a day when the gospel comes and it's serious if you reject it or receive it on that day. Let me close here with three points. Three points as I apply all this to the life of Joseph. Let me show you three things from the life. Since you've got to understand this or we're going to lose this message on Joseph. A vessel forged in the fire. Number one, a father who could not see. Number two, 10 brothers who could not forget. And number three, a son who finally discerned. Number one, a father who could not see. Listen to the scripture, we read it earlier. In Genesis 42, 36, and Jacob their father said unto them, the 10 brothers. When did he say this? 22 years after Joseph was dropped in the pit. 22 years. Listen to what he says. Me have ye bereaved of my children. Joseph is not. He died 22 years ago. I had the garment. He's gone. Try convincing Jacob. Who's Jacob? A man of God. He wrestled with God. He's still got a limp. He's got a heritage. All the promises of God. All the covenants of God. He's got everything. He is God's man on the earth. God's plan on the earth is going to come through Jacob. He doesn't look like much, but he's God's man. He's got a limp on his leg, but all of God's plan is tied into him and to his children. But do you know what? Try convincing him that everything's going good over Joseph's death. Hey, hey, cheer up brother. You know Joseph, it's all working together for good. You'll never convince me. He's a man of God. You will never convince me that the hand of God was in that. That it was for my blessing or for my good. Nothing you can say could ever persuade me. You know what? You're going to have to come to the end of this before your mind has changed. Until you see all of those carts come from Egypt with all the treasures and then your heart's going to revive. But it won't be just yet. Look at him after 22 years. Joseph is not and Simeon is not. You know what happened? He sent his sons down to Egypt. His 10 sons to get bread. You know why they're dying in a famine? They're going to starve to death. Two years into the famine, they have no food left. They're in real trouble. So he sends them down with all the money to get food in Egypt. When the nine come back, they said, we've got a problem father. See Pharaoh's servant, the second in command, who we don't know, who we bowed before, but we don't know who he is, this Egyptian. He actually kept him because he didn't believe anything we said. And we're such honest guys. We really are. So he kept Simeon and he actually said, go get Benjamin, the little brother, the youngest and bring him down. Then I'll know you're men of truth. Listen to what Jacob says. And you will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me. 22 years he's been working, walking. Joseph, Simeon, and now Benjamin. We're going to starve to death. And the only way we can get food is if you take my youngest. No way. No way. But then you'll starve. Do you see Jacob being forced down into Egypt? Everything is forcing them. All of this is against me. This is disaster. No, it's not. No, it's not. God has been working for you for 22 years. Jacob, God went ahead of you. God was planning before the famine, 20 years before the famine. God was working 20 years in order to save your life. You've been in the famine two years and you're pulling your hair out and going, this is a disaster. It's finished. No, it's not. You could sit here and go, I know that all of these things against me. You know nothing. You know absolutely nothing. Jacob was a man of God, but he could not see. He could not see. And you know what? He went through hell those years, doubting he could have believed. Second of all the 10 brothers who could not forget. Listen to this. This is 22 years later when Joseph reveals himself, says, hey guys, it's me. Remember me, your little brother. Oh no. Oh no. You ever heard the penny drop on someone's brain? Ding. And the echo. 10 brothers who could not forget. Genesis 45 and 5. Joseph speaking to his 10 brothers. Now therefore be not grieved. Does this sound like a better younger brother who's been abused? No, I've got you. Now I'm going to take revenge. I've waited 20 years for this. He says, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that ye sold me. Heather, you did sell me. Hey, I'm not ignoring this and say, well, God's in control. You sold me. Don't ignore that. Don't plead grace and say, I'm under grace. You can't mention my sins. Really? He says, you sold me. Heather, you done it. I remember 22 years ago. But listen, don't be angry about it. Why? They must have been gulping, going, sweat breaking out and going, we, Simeon, Judah, we are in serious trouble. Do you realize how much trouble we're in? We had 20 years of it not catching up with us and it's caught up with us. And he says, don't be angry for God did send me. But we sold you. You've just said, we sold you. Yes. But it was God working in that. And you selling me, getting angry, hating me. God was there sending me. You were trying to get rid of me. God was sending me. You just didn't want to see me anymore. God is about to begin using me. And he sent me before you to preserve life, your life. God has actually got a plan. He was working out all the time and all of these evil things, but I couldn't see it. Even I, Joseph, couldn't have seen it. For two years, there has been a famine in the land and yet there are five more years of famine. Listen, and God sent me before you to preserve you a prosperity in the earth. There wouldn't have been any Israel today. And to save your life by a great deliverance. Do you realize when you got angry with me, when you got better with me, when you wanted to murder me and you put me in a prison, don't you realize that was God loving you because he wanted to save your life? Yes, Benjamin. Yes, Judah. Yes, Simeon. God actually at the point where you're throwing me into a pit and angry with me. Do you know what God is doing? God is saying, through this act, I'm going to save your life in 22 years time. Does this blow your brains? Can you imagine what we're saying here? God sent me before you to preserve your lives. Third and lastly, and a son who finally discerned. A son who finally discerned. When Joseph was in the pit, he cried tears and groaned. Please let me out. Please let me out. He worked in Potiphar's house and he worked hard. He didn't cut corners. He worked hard. It took a lot of effort. That was a choice. Some people say I believe in providence. Ah, surah, surah. Whatever will be, will be. I don't need to work. I don't need to labor. I don't need to read the Bible. I don't need to pray. I don't need to live. I don't need to come to church. It'll all work out well in the end. You're in serious trouble. Joseph was in Potiphar's house. I don't understand this. I don't know why this has happened, but I'm going to give my best. I'm going to work hard. I'm going to be faithful. I'm going to bless my master. He resisted temptation from Potiphar's wife and he ran with all of his strength. He helped them in his prison to fulfill the dream of others. He helped them. And then in it he said, please remember me and get me out of here. When in three days, he must have thought three days I'm out of here. I mean, I'm out of here in three days. I know I've helped this guy. Forgets about me for another two years. Don't play games with providence. Listen, as I close Genesis 15 verse 20, and this is Joseph speaking to his brethren at the close of the story. Listen, this is so beautiful. But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good. The same thing, the same event, the same attitudes, the same evil being done to Joseph. They're mean enough for evil. We want to destroy your dreams. We want to bring you to nothing. We never want to look in your face again. The same situation, the same event, the same circumstance. And God is saying, God meant it unto good. Is it possible that the same thing at one time can seem the worst evil in your life, and later you could see it as the greatest blessing? Yes. The thing doesn't change, but your perspective of seeing the hand of God. I know that all things work together for good. You see, Joseph got there, but it was by way of the pep, betrayal, lies, false accusation, that he eventually walked through the fiery furnace. He was forged in the fire. He was chosen in the fire. And as he come out as a vessel of gold, he said, I know that everything. Oh yes, you bunch are guilty. Let's not forget that. But do you know what? The act that was meant to destroy me, God was using, so I would save your life. Saints, it's real in this church, and it's real in your life. If you love God, and have accepted the invitation to believe in Jesus Christ, you may have doubts. You may have fears. You maybe can't see. Maybe you're convinced that it's all working against you. You could be convinced that no one's going to talk you out of it until those chariots come from Egypt. And yet the plan is still being worked out. Please stand with me.