This is a message I spoke at Slippery Rock’s CRU last week. If you’ve ever have asked yourself questions like this:
* Why am I in the season of life I am in?
* How long will I be in the season?
* When am I going to make a real impact for Christ?
* How come all my other friends seem to be doing great things for God right now, but I don’t?
Then this message is for you. I pray that you’ll be encouraged and able to make the most of where you are so God can prepare and equip you in this season for what He’s called you to do in the next. My notes from my message are below as well. **Note: I didn’t record the first 2-3 minutes of my message. Sorry.
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Notes:
Common Questions:
* Why am I in the season of life I am in?
* How long will I be in the season?
* When am I going to make a real impact for Christ?
* How come all my other friends seem to be doing great things for God right now, but I don’t?
Scripture: “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” -Proverbs 20:24
Takeaway: “God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go.”
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. -Romans 8:28
We need to have faith that Romans 8:28 is true right now in our lives. That if we’re pursuing God with all of our hearts, that He will use our current situation for good. He’s preparing us.
The Story of Joseph
* Joseph – Dreamer
* Sold into Slavery
* Became Potiphar’s personal assistant
* Potiphar’s Wife
* Thrown into Prison
* Put in charge of prison
* Interpreted Dreams
* Thought He was getting out of prison, but didn’t
* Got out years later, interpreted Phaoroh’s dream, Became 2nd in charge of all of Egypt
* Put in charge of famine
* His family came for help
* He helped his family and saved a nation
Lessons from Joseph’s Life
Between the Promise and The Payoff, There Must be a Process, Enjoy It
We Often Fail to Miss the Significance of This Season Because We’re So Focused on the Next
What You’re Doing in this Moment May Not Make Sense, But It’s Necessary
Throughout all of Joseph’s life, God was preparing and equipping Him for what he was ultimately called to do, even thought it didn’t make sense in the moment.
You may have no idea how what you’re doing now is going to lead to what God has called you to do, but He does… Trust Him!
What You Do with The Opportunity in front of You, Will Determine If and When You Get to the Next Opportunity
* Before Long… Joseph was put in charge of everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worried because Joseph took care of everything. The Lord was with Him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Because God could trust God as a slave and as a prisoner, He Knew He Could Trust Him as 2nd in charge of Egypt.
If we don’t do what God wants us to do to develop in the season we’re in, we’ll never develop into the person we need to be to do what God has planned for us years from now.
What are you doing with the opportunities right before you? If you’re not faithful with the opportunities before you, you won’t be faithful with whatever position you want in the future!
Ministry is Who You Are, Where You Are
What You’re Doing Now is Just as Significant as What You’ll be Doing Then
* God knows exactly what He needs you to be doing in every season of your life to prepare us for what He’s ultimately called you to do.
* Genesis 50:19 – But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I god, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended IT ALL for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
God is setting you up. He is preparing you. He is equipping you. He is painting a master piece, you may not see what it’s going to look like yet, but you will!
One day, you’ll be there. One day you’ll be doing what God’s called you to do. But what you’re doing now is just as big as what you’ll be doing then!
No matter what Season We Are In, We Always Need to Be Putting God First
What is the most important thing you can be doing for your future? Is it getting the right degree? Surrounding yourself with the right people? Going to the right church?
Those things are all important, but the most important things you can do in your life is Seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) – *Do that and you’ll become who you’re supposed to become and do what you’re supposed to do.
* Genesis 39: **The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he SERVED in the home of his master…
* Potiphar realized that God was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.Through God’s favor, Joseph got promoted – More responsibility…
**Do people realize that God is with you?
Potipher’s house was blessed as a result of Joseph being there… Everything ran smoothly and flourished…
Are the places you serve in blessed because you’re there? Even if it’s not a Christian workplace?
* The Lord was with Joseph in prison and showed him his faithful love. The Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. One day Joseph’s day came… Can we find anyone else like this man that is so obviously filled with the Spirit of God? You will be in charge of my courts… ALL my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on the throne, will have a rank higher than you. I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.
Let God Paint his Masterpiece… We Often Think His Plan is for Our Benefit, When in Reality, it’s to Benefit Others
Maturity: Realizing God has your needs met and you were created to make an impact in the lives of others.
“As many people as you can help, that’s how many you can hurt…” -God needs to develop our character… that takes time.
“The foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.” -I Corinthians 1:25
You’re not smarter than God. You can’t do anything that will get you to where He wants you go get faster. Trust Him. Wax on Wax off!
* Genesis 45:7 – God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And He is the one who made me an Adviser to Pharaoh the manager of his entire palace and governor of all Egypt.
Scripture: “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” -Proverbs 20:24
Takeaway: “God wants you to get where God wants you to go more than you want to get where God wants you to go.”
Wax on Wax off… Make the most of the season you’re in, it’s more important than you think!
