Humble Success

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 22, 2012

Genesis 41:14-41, “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.”  So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in my dream I stood on the bank of the river. Suddenly seven cows came up out of the river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the meadow. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. When they had eaten them up, no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and suddenly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up after them. And the thin heads devoured the seven good heads. So I told this to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”  Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.  “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine.”  So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”  Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

Who wouldn’t want to be a little more successful this year than last?  Who wouldn’t desire to prosper, yes I said ‘prosper’, materially, financially, when all around recession and inflation are eating up people’s wealth?  Who wouldn’t want more strength to win battles literal, and especially, spiritual, in nature?  Who wouldn’t long to have greater power and success as one serves others and stewards what belongs to others?  Who?

I figure we all want 2012 to be a more successful, more prosperous year for us than 2011 was, right?  But do we know how?  And do we care to understand why?  Emmanuel, ‘God-with-us’, that name we hear, we sing, we remember, especially during the Christmas season, as we have seen in and through the life of this young man Joseph – ‘God-with-us’ – the Emmanuel principle as we are calling it, is the how, the means to success.  And the why?  Do you remember what the why, the purpose, the goal, God’s intended outcome, what He desires when He causes us to prosper? 

What a powerful, and I would add, consistent example of the WHY this young man Joseph really is for us.  God gave him success.  God caused Joseph to prosper, mightily with him as God was, why?  That the result would be glory to God!  That Joseph, as a servant, as a soldier, and as steward, might honor God, make God, the One, True and Living God, large and very, very near before the eyes of Potiphar, the Prison Warden, and even Pharoah himself. 

The Emmanuel, God-with-us, principle, once again, that’s the HOW to success!  And, honoring God, that’s the why… 

This morning, as we move from Genesis chapters 39 and 40, the passages that detail for us the Emmanuel and Honor God principles, at work in Joseph’s success as a slave and as a prisoner, to chapter 41, we find that Joseph’s station in life, his ‘social status’ we might say, changes dramatically.  From the pit of rejection in Canaan, sold off by his own flesh and blood, to the auction block in Egypt, the privileged son, coat of many colors and all is now a slave, to the prison house, falsely accused by a woman whose husband he had faithfully served for over 10 years!  Though God was with Joseph, and God’s name was being honored through Joseph, his social standing, instead of it going from low to higher, for a time, a pretty long time, it seemed rather to be getting worse, didn’t it?  Then, what?  Then, through a series of dreams, that God, the One, True and Living God whom Joseph served, sent to Pharoah of all people, God lifts Joseph from the pit to the pinnacle, and in one giant leap, right? 

Have you ever know of someone who, literally, overnight, went from rags to riches?  Have you ever been acquainted with someone who literally went from janitor – you know, pushing the broom, slinging the mop – to President of the company, in one big leap?  That’s what happened with Joseph!  In chapter 39, God caused Joseph to succeed as Potiphar’s chief slave.  In fact, God caused Potiphar to prosper because of Joseph, but still Joseph was, you know, a slave, Potiphar’s property. 

Then, God gave Joseph success as a soldier.  No, not with guns and bombs and combat boots, but against the wily temptations of a seductress named Mrs. Potiphar.  Yes, Joseph succeeded militarily.  But where did he end up when he refused Mrs. Potiphar’s advances?  In jail, in prison.  And, then, there in that dungeon, God was with Joseph, and enabled him to succeed as a steward.  Remember?  The text tells us that all that was accomplished in the prison was Joseph’s doing.  In other words, Joseph succeed as a minister. 

But now, the time has finally come.  Maybe he didn’t realize it immediately, but speaking of dreams, the dreams he had as a lad, back home with his daddy and his brothers, dreams about his future greatness and how that his parents and brothers would one day bow before him, finally, that day had come true. From the pit, to the pinnacle, overnight, in one big leap.  And, who wouldn’t want to revel in it?  Who wouldn’t want to strut your stuff for a little while?  From menial laborer, to magistrate, with the snap of Pharaoh’s fingers!  Wow!  You get the picture.

But, think with me.  Take a look with me, right here, will you?  This 30 years old young man, who is suddenly a success, as far as the social ladder is concerned – ‘Ah, that God-with-us stuff!  That was okay for when I was Potiphar’s ‘gopher’.  But now, look, I’m wearing Pharaoh’s signet ring!  Who needs God, here, at this level of prominence?  That ‘honor God’ stuff, that was fine when I was on the bottom of the ladder, but look, now I’m at the top!  I have arrived!  Enough of that honor God stuff!  Now, it’s time to honor ME! 

I’m looking, are you?  I’m searching, are you?  Do you find Joseph saying anything like that, doing anything like that here, when he, just like that, moves from the prison house to the palace?  It’s not there, is it?  It’s not there!  From the pit to the pinnacle, overnight, and at the tender age of 30 years old.  By the way, who else do we know rose to great prominence at about age 30?  Jesus, right?  There are a lot of parallels between Joseph and Jesus.  Have you noticed? 

From menial laborer to magistrate, second in command over the super power of that day, the country of Egypt.  Did anything change for Joseph on that day?  Verse 14 – His clothing changed.  Maybe that’s the Old Testament’s way of saying he ‘took a shower’.  And, his hairstyle or grooming changed, verse 14 says he shaved.  And, then, down in verses 42 through 45, after God gave Joseph insight into the meaning of Pharaoh’s drams, and what Pharaoh should do about them, Joseph’s wardrobe changed: signet rings, gold necklaces, fine linen garments.  And his transportation changed, he got to ride in the second chauffeur-driven limo in the Presidential procession.  And, ultimately, as we mentioned last Lord’s Day, his name was changed.  Pharaoh gave him an Egyptian name that meant ‘God speaks and lives!’  All of those things changed for Joseph. From the prison house to the palace, what a leap! 

But, notice – notice very carefully what DIDN’T change!  Verse 16 – Why do Bible students look at this young man Joseph and exclaim, ‘He’s just like Jesus!’?  Why do they point to him and say, ‘He’s one of the best and most stunning pictures of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament??  Because of his humility!  Pharaoh, the king of this ancient super power, Egypt, you know he’s gotta be used to people wanting to strut their stuff around him, wanting to make themselves look good before him so that perhaps he’ll put his signet ring on them.  ‘Young man, I hear that you know how to interpret dreams; is that right?’  What kind of reply, what kind of answer, do you think Pharaoh expected to a question like that?  ‘You got that right, Mr. Pharaoh!  Man, I’m the best!  I can do it!’  Did the ‘God-with-us’, Emmanuel Principle go out the window when Joseph suddenly made it to the big time? 

Denver Broncos quarter-back Tim Tebow made quite a stir recently, when he, almost single-handedly, rescued his team from elimination from the NFL Playoffs, throwing for 316 yards passing – 3 – Sixteen – anybody ever come across that number before?  And, then, in the thrill of victory, with millions of people watching, Tim Tebow bowed his knee and thanked God for His help!  By the way, I understand that young Mr. Tebow did the same thing, he honored and acknowledged God, and Jesus Christ his Savior, last week, when his team went down in defeat.  Now, I don’t know what you think about Mr. Tebow, whether he’s the real deal, or not. 

But, listen – I know, I can see, right here in the passage, and in the remaining nine chapters of Genesis, this young man Joseph IS the real deal!  Instead of strutting his stuff in front of big shot Pharaoh, his simply, and I believe, very humbly said, ‘It is not in me.  That dream-interpreting ability you’ve heard about O, king, it’s not in me!  No!  God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace!’  You know, I’ve yet to come across a book with a title that reads something like ‘Leap Frogging to the Top’, that has any mention of the idea of humility!  Guess what my friends?  It’s right here in this Book!  Church Leaders, you want to succeed in that position?  Parents, you want your children to grow up honoring you?  Husbands, you want your wife to turn out to be the most precious gift God gave you?  Lead them, love them, help them learn, not by strutting your stuff!  ‘Look here, I’m the Boss!’  Not by Lording it over them, but by humbly serving them!  By honoring God before their eyes and in their ears!  That’s what Joseph did, better yet, that’s what our Savior did, for us!

To succeed as a magistrate, in a position of power, influence and authority, the world says, ‘Shove your weight around!  Show off!  Strut your stuff!’  This Book says, ‘Serve!’ 

But, then notice, one other thing this young man Joseph shows us about success as a magistrate, a ruler, a leader.  Keep the big pictures in mind, and remember who’s painting that picture!  These dreams, the one about the cows, fat and skinny, and about the ears of grain, full and blighted, these dreams of Pharaoh were not the result of having too much pizza late at night!  They were God’s messages, the message of the King of kings, to that king, at that special moment in history – why?  Have you read the rest of the story, Genesis, Exodus, all the way to Calvary, the empty tomb and the Book of Revelation?  Those dreams, seen by that king and interpreted by that son of Jacob, were not only God’s message of hope and help for that moment and that era of abundant harvest and of severe famine, more importantly, as Joseph later acknowledged to his brothers, they were God’s sovereign means of saving lives by a great deliverance (see Genesis 45:1-11). 

Can you see it, my friends?  The meandering path of Joseph’s life, put in a pit in Canaan by brothers who wanted to kill him, drug out of the pit and sold to slave traders who took him down to Egypt, auctioned off to Potiphar, lied about by Mrs. Potiphar, sent to the dungeon, though innocent, forgotten by Pharaoh’s butler.  Then raised, just like that, to second in Pharaoh’s administration.  This wasn’t just a meandering set of steps – no!  This was a part of that sovereignly directed stream of redemption that becomes a mighty, rushing river of salvation at the cross, at the tomb, and at the throne of grace! 

Success, prosperity, whether as a menial laborer, or as a magistrate, this Book, this man’s Christ-like example, sets forth two abiding principles:

-       God-with-us, the Emmanuel Principle

-       Honor-God, make God large and very, very near in all you do and say! 

Two questions: are you desirous of success and prosperity in 2012?  Are you living in accordance with these principles? 

Servant Success

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 8, 2012

Genesis 39:1-23, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.  Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”  But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”  So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.  But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”  So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”  So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

Two weeks ago, we all began the New Year, 2012, at the same starting place, with the same hopes and aspirations for this year, with the same kinds of dreams and desires that somehow, some way, this year was going to be a better year for us, more successful, more prosperous.  How are we doing so far?  You know, we count down the days until Christmas, don’t we, those last few weeks before December 25^th?  But few, if any, of us consider the fact, count the days, we’ve already used up in this New Year, and recognize that we only have 350 more days left in this year to pursue those goals with which we began the year. 

Success, prosperity, this world’s definition of those words revolves around things like profit and product and progress.  And, those things aren’t wrong or sinful, in and of themselves.  But listen, I’m a Christian, that’s what I claim to be.  And that’s what you call yourself, too, right?  So, is this world’s definition of success, and perhaps, more significantly, is this world’s means for attaining to success, to be my definition and my means of attaining it?  Bible-driven, not profit-driven.  Holy Spirit-directed, not directed by and for an end-product or mere human progress.  That’s who I am, or who I am supposed to be, if I am a Christian.  So, how am I doing that so far in 2012, seeing I only have 350 days left to go? 

The life of this man Joseph, what an incredible illustration of success, God-centered success, his life is.  He was a success, he prospered, materially, or, we might say, monetarily, verse 3 tells us that “the Lord made all Joseph did to prosper in his hand.”  And, verse 5 adds the interesting and amazing insight into how the blessing of God upon Joseph’s life brought blessing from God upon his master, Potiphar’s life and family. 

Joseph prospered, he was successful, materially.  He also succeeded militarily.  We looked at this aspect of success, or prosperity, last time, didn’t we?  No, Joseph wasn’t a soldier, at least, not in the guns and bombs and combat boots sense.  But, what a war – fellows, ladies – what a war he waged with lust, with temptations that repeatedly came his way through Mrs. Potiphar’s invitation to the bedroom.  And, what a victory he enjoyed when he exclaimed in her ears, “How can I do such a wicked thing as this, and sin again God?”  Joseph was a success militarily, and he prospered monetarily or materially.  And, in both ways, he not only received blessings from God, but he also was used by God to give blessings to Potiphar and Potiphar’s family!  Beloved, that’s success!  That’s what this Book means by the word prosperity. 

But, then there’s a third way in which Joseph succeeded and shows us what real success is all about, and that is in a way that I’m calling, ministerially.  I’ll let your minds munch on that long word for a moment or two, while I set up for you the background.  Success, prosperity - I don’t know how many of you are college football fans, or professional football fans, or, maybe even High School football fans, but so far, in all the years that I have been watching, listening and reading about these games, I’ve yet to see a team awarded a trophy for ending up in last place!  Success, in football, at least, is measured in victories!  And, ultimately, in Championships and Super Bowl rings, right? 

Or, think of it this way.  If you have ever watched the Cowboys play, in their stadium, you know they have a special display of banners on a certain level of the stadium’s walls.  It’s called the ‘Ring of Honor’ and Cowboy greats like Tom Landry and Roger Staubach and Troy Aikman  have their names and numbers arrayed there for all to see.  And, of course, those men’s names are included in that select group, because they were the best, because in football terms, they succeeded.  But listen, so far, Jerry Jones may prove me wrong on this someday, so far, I have yet to see a banner raised for the Team Water-boys, for the gophers who make sure all those multi-million dollar stars have plenty of Gatorade® and Power-Ade®.

Success, ministerially, would you allow me to add a word to your ‘success dictionary’ that maybe, up to this time, you had not included?  Here’s the word: ‘servant’.  Servant.  Verse 4 of our text, it’s one of those verses folks like you and me pass over quickly, you know, because we want to get to the ‘meat of the passage’.  Verse 4 – Take a look, this verse is the first ‘bite’ of some really good, really needed, ‘T-bone steak’!  Success, how does God define it?  Verse 4 – The text simply says that Joseph “found favor in Potiphar’s sight and served him…” 

I don’t have time to develop it this morning, but allow me to remind you that that one word, a new addition, perhaps, to many of our success ‘dictionaries’, was the first ‘entry’ in our Lord’s dictionary!  Remember?  Jesus said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve and to give My life as a ransom for many…”  In another context, when even Jesus’ closest friends, His disciples, were elbowing for position and prominence, Jesus took up the towel, the pitcher and the basin, their Master stooped to show them the full extent of love (see John 13:1), washed their dirty, grimmy feet, and drove home the point one more time before He died, that He, their Lord, their Master, their Creator, the Great ‘I Am’, was among them as the One who serves.  (See Luke 22:27)

The successful servant, does that sound like an oxymoron to you, a contradiction in terms?  In God’s Dictionary, it isn’t!  Husbands, Fathers, Elders, Deacons, Preachers, in God’s ‘Dictionary’, it isn’t!  Open it up – house Wives, Mothers, Sunday School Teachers, open it up, this ‘Dictionary’, and next to the word ‘success’, first entry is the word ‘servant’… 

But, let’s go just a bit further with this, shall we?  What does it mean to be a ‘successful servant’?  What does one look like?  What are his or her qualities or characteristics?  Let me give you a quick list, how about it?  Do you want to be a ‘successful servant’?  Successful in this, Word-of-God-defined way?  Here’s what you must ask the Lord Jesus to do in your life, to make of your life, to accomplish through your life: this prayer, “Lord, increase my faithfulness; Lord, increase my willingness; Lord, increase my giftedness; Lord, increase my kindness; Lord, please make me a successful servant!” 

A successful servant, that’s what Joseph was, in all of these ways, and certainly, along with many other important roles like Savior and Great High Priest, that’s what Jesus was and is!  But are you, and am I? 

The successful servant, the one to whom the master can hand over increasing levels of responsibility, he is that way, becomes that way, how?  Why?  Because he is faithful!  Because he is trustworthy!  The apostle Paul, in a great passage on the subject of servant-hood, and the related topic of stewardship, said it like this: “It is required,” not optional, not ‘don’t have to, if you  don’t want to’, but “it is required,” you must, if you’re going to be a steward, someone entrusted with what belongs to someone else, if you’re going to be a steward, “it is required that you be faithful…”  (See 1 Corinthians 4:2)

Jesus put it this way: He drew the line of demarcation between successful and unsuccessful servants this way, remember?  The good servant, the servant the master commends, is what kind of servant?  “Well done, good and faithful servant…”  God, I want to be a successful servant.  Would you, please, cause me to grow, to flourish, to increase in faithfulness!  I don’t want to be entrusted with only one, measly, portion of what is Yours!  No, please cause me to grow in faithfulness, that I might be entrusted with more and more of what is Yours!  How about that for a prayer for the remaining 350 days of this year? 

Then, there’s willingness.  The word is not used specifically in this text of Joseph, but it’s there, believe me, between the lines, it’s there.  Imagine the conversation between Potiphar and Joseph, the first day Joseph is on the job.  ‘Young man, since you are min, my property, I expect you to do whatever I say, no questions asked. So, for starters, I want you to polish my armor, and mop the floors of my house.  Any questions?’  ‘Yes, sir.  When’s my coke break?  And, sir, couldn’t you think of something a little easier, a little les, you know, ‘yucky’ than polishing and mopping?’  From what I read both through the lines and between the lines of this passage, I don’t think such a conversation occurred, do you?  Joseph succeeded as a servant because of his willingness!  Jesus, the Ultimate Servant, described His role, His goal, His aim as His Father’s envoy, “I must be about My Father’s business” (Luke 2:49).  “I must do the will of Him who sent Me and finish HIS work!” (John 4:34, 6:38)  “Lord, increase my willingness.  This year, I want to be a successful servant!  God, please cause me to grow in willingness!”

Then, there’s giftedness and kindness.  Again, Joseph sets an example before us, that finds ultimate expression in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  There are several more things we could say about these qualities and characteristics of successful servants, but, let me bring it around to one more significant quality.  We don’t have time to read the passage in its entirety, so, your assignment for this afternoon is to read and examine Genesis chapters 40 and 41 to see the details of what I’m going to summarize for you here.  Genesis 40 – 41: It’s almost stunning to me to see it.  In both Pharaoh’s dungeon, his royal prison, and in his palace, God – the One true and Living God – was trying to make Himself known, He was attempting o show pagan Egyptians that He was, is, alive and that He speaks powerfully.  Pharaoh’s butler, Pharaoh’s baker, and then, Pharaoh himself, all three of them had dreams.  God was speaking to each one of them in their sleep, trying to show them that He is, that He lives and that He speaks, to men. 

However, there’s one big problem.  The butler, the baker, Pharaoh; none of them understood what the dreams meant.  And, in the palace, Pharaoh - who had wise men, and astrologers, and fortune tellers, coming out his ears - none of them could figure out the dreams either.  But God, the One, True and Living God, who speaks, who wants to communicate, yes, even with pagans, had a servant.  His name was Joseph.  And what did Joseph do?  He did what every successful servant of the Lord does.  He said, ‘God, speak to them through me…’  He allowed the Living God, the God who DOES speak, to speak His Word through him!  (See the meaning of the name Pharaoh gave Joseph in Genesis 41:45, “God lives and speaks”.)

How did Joseph do it?  Six words, we’ve seen it before in Genesis 39, and the same is true in Genesis 40 and 41.  Six words, and two principles, that are regularly at work in every successful servant of the Lord.  What are those words?  What are those principles?  Mark them down one more time, will you?  God-with-us: the ‘Emmanuel Principle’.  And, Joseph-honored-God: the ‘Honor Principle’.  What made Joseph the successful servant, faithful, willing, gifted, kind, that he was?  God was with Him.  The Spirit of the One, True and Living God was IN him.  And, as he honored God, in the pit of slavery, in the prison and, yes, even in Pharaoh’s palace, God spoke through him to people who otherwise might never have known that there is a God in heaven who lives and who speaks. 

How do you measure success, how do you define it?  God’s word for it is this: serve.  Servant.

Military Success in the New Year

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 8, 2012

Genesis 39:1-23, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.  Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”  But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”  So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.  But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”  So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”  So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

The end of the year and the beginning of a New Year is one of those critical cross-roads in life, isn’t it?  As we flip over the calendar, month-by-month, marking off each of the 365 days on it, we might not think that much about it.  However, when the time comes to change calendars, and, perhaps to do like we do at our house, to transfer from the old calendar to the new calendar, all the birth dates and anniversary dates, each of the highlights and lowlights of the previous year, when that time comes, we often find ourselves stopping to evaluate, don’t we?  Was I successful last year?  And, if so, how successful was I?  And in what areas of my life did I succeed?  And, what about this New Year?  Will it be a year full of prosperity and success for me, for my family, and for those I love? 

Last week we discussed the fact that prosperity or success is something that most everyone years for, and many go to great strides to achieve.  We also observed that different people’s definitions of success look and sound different.  Profit – did I make a profit?  Product – is this year’s product going to be better than last year’s?  Progress – how far did we move from where we began during the last 12 months?  A lot of people use words like profit, product and progress to define and measure success.  But, what did we learn?  What must we always keep in mind?  We, who call ourselves the people of God, set apart by Him, set apart to Him, set apart for Him and for His purposes, we must remember that our God has given us a different definition of success than profit, product or progress.  We must always keep in mind that success, prosperity, blessing, is always patterned according to His will for our lives, His goals, His Word.  That’s why we are opening up this Book today.  That’s why we open it every Lord’s Day, to see how our God defines success, to keep coming back to the simply but powerful truths He’s given us on the subject.  Truths such as the ones laid up for us in this text. 

Last week, we began our look at Joseph’s life, and at the fact that he was successful, very, very successful.  And, we asked ourselves, ‘What would it take to be more materially prosperous in this new year?’  Our text tells us that the “Lord blessed [Potiphar] the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and [that] the blessing of the Lord was on all that Potiphar had [both] in the house and in the field.”  Joseph’s success spilled over, reverberated, into the life of his master, Potiphar.  God blessed Joseph, yes.  But, God also used Joseph to BE a blessing!  In a nutshell, that’s what success is all about from God’s perspective. 

Material prosperity, monetary success.  We’d all like to be a little more, maybe a lot more successful in those ways this year, wouldn’t we?  But, how about this?  Would you, do you also want to succeed, be more prosperous, militarily this year? 

Military power and success.  Most of us likely don’t have that category of prosperity even listed on our goals for 2012.  But, if I may, I’d like to suggest it be written in near the top.  Military success; what do you mean, ‘Military Success’?!  Are we talking bombs and guns and combat boots?  What do we mean when we say, ‘In 2012, we ought to be striving for military success, greater levels of military success?’ 

We read through the passage rather rapidly a moment ago, so perhaps you didn’t catch it.  But, take a look again.  The 39^th chapter of Genesis begins and ends with the same refrain: “the Lord was with Joseph” – remember?  The Emmanuel Principle?  The ‘God-with-us’ principle that is at the heart of real success from this Book’s vantage point.  This chapter begins AND ends with the same refrain: “the Lord was with Joseph, and whatever he did, whatever Joseph put his hand to, the Lord made it to prosper.” 

Joseph was a successful man as God poured His blessings on and funneled His blessings through His servant, this man, Joseph.  We notice those parts of the passage, don’t we?  We want those parts of the passage to be true in our lives, also, don’t we?  But, here’s what we must not overlook: Joseph’s success was not without its battles!  Joseph’s prosperity was not a result of God’s putting him in some kind of protective bubble where there would be no wars and skirmishes!  Rather, at the heart of what we need to see and learn about success, as it is measured and defined by God, is what we discover in the middle verses of this passage, the section dealing with Joseph’s war, his battle with a woman, a wistful woman and agent of the Tempter, who wanted him to give into lust! 

The section we’re talking about here, the portion of the passage that deals with military success, begins in the sixth verse with the words, “Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”  A blessing of God – physical beauty – a beauty that, I believe, in Joseph’s case, flowed from the inside out, that was more than skin deep, this gift of God upon his life could have been his Achilles’ heel.  ‘Aw, come on Joseph… You’re young, you’re handsome, you’re single and unattached.  And, remember, I am your master’s wife, I could get you fired!’ 

Can you imagine the enticement all of that must have been to Joseph?  I mean, who would know?  His parents wouldn’t know.  They were in another country.  He hadn’t seen or heard from them in years!  His master wouldn’t know.  Surely, she wouldn’t tell on him.  Who would know? 

It’s not written there in some many words, the phrase that is so prominent in the first and last halves of the chapter, “The Lord was with Joseph”, that phrase that encapsulates the Emmanuel principle, is not written there in black and white, but, listen.  It’s there!  Believe me, it’s there! 

How can you tell?  Two things, two indicators that the Lord was with Joseph as he walked through this landmine.  Number one, his words, what Joseph said shows that the Lord was with him.  And, secondly, his deeds, what Joseph did shows that the Lord was with him there on that battlefield.  Take a look: I mentioned it to the Sunday School class last Lord’s Day, but I want all of you to see it today.  This woman, Potiphar’s Wife, who is in many ways like the strange woman, the immoral woman, that Solomon warned his sons against in the Book of Proverbs, notice how she uses her words.  Take a look at what she does.  Verse 7 – Prompted by longing eyes of lust and an empty, wicked heart, this woman doesn’t waste time with small talk: she just blurts it out: “Come to bed with me, you, handsome devil, you!” 

Sounds like a proposition from a street walker in the red light district, doesn’t it, fellows?  And, who wouldn’t be flattered by it, right?  That, by the way, is an appeal not only to the fleshly lust, but to pride!  “Come to bed with me…”  That’s what Mrs. Potiphar says with her words.  “Come to bed with me…”  “Come to bed with me…”  “Come to bed with me…”  It’s what I call the ‘broken record’ approach.  Take a look at verse 10 and you’ll get the picture.  “Come to bed with me…”  That’s what this audacious flirt says with her mouth.  Those were her words.  But notice the words Joseph uses in reply.  Unlike the foolish Israelites, who several hundred years later said to Moses, “We will go up to the place which the Lord has promised,” (Numbers 14:40).  We will go up and fight this battle and win.  We will…  And, sadly, Israel lost, was soundly defeated at the hands of the Amalekites and Canaanites – why?  Because “the Lord was not with them…”  (Numbers 14:42-43). 

Notice, the words of Joseph as he stood toe-to-toe with this temptation and this enemy.  There were no boastful forecasts of what he was going to do, on his own!   No!  Look!  Instead, with is words, Joseph draws a line in the sand.  He marks off the moral boundaries which governed his life.  He says,

“But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:8-9)

When the heat was on and the hormones could have been also, Joseph glorified God.  With his words, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin – SIN – against God?”  With his words, Joseph honored God.  But, words, you know, are a dime a dozen.  ‘Talk is cheap’ is how my mother puts it.  In other words, character, the kind of moral character and strength it takes to win battles, to succeed militarily, must be more – way more – than hot air!  It must be backed up, followed up, by what?  Actions! 

Take a look at verse 10, would you, please?  A lot of people, when they are pummeled with a continuing barrage of verbal assaults like Mrs. Potiphar used - that day-after-day, morning-after-morning, noon-and-night, ‘broken record’ approach – a lot of people give way and cave in when attacked like that.  How come?  Because they run out of air!  Because they get tired of the talk, the arguments, the verbal volleys back-and-forth.  And so, they lose the war! 

But, we’re wanting to know how to win the war, aren’t we?  We’re in need of guidance, THIS lamp for our feet, and light for our path (the Bible), to succeed militarily, aren’t we?  And, what is that guidance?

The Emmanuel principle, Joseph lived by the ‘God-is-with-me’ principle.  How do we know that?  We know that by what he said.  Verse 8 and 9, on the battlefield of lust and pride, he glorified God with his words!  “How can I do such a wicked thing, and sin against God?!”  But, that’s not all!  Joseph also demonstrated what it means to live by the Emmanuel ‘God-is-with-me’ principle, by what he did!  Verses 11 through 15 – to put it bluntly, he ran!  When the temptress tried to grab him, he remembered, “I must honor God now!  I am a vessel of honor, sanctified and fit for His use – here – today.  So, I must run!”  And ran he did! 

Military success, to win battles of the mind, body and spirit.  To honor God and allow the Emmanuel, God-with-me principle, to guide what you do with your mind, your body, and with your spirit, that’s what it means to succeed!  That is what our God is calling us to, when He says, “Set your hearts, your minds, your affections, on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God…”  (Colossians 3:1-3)  That’s what He intends to be worked out in our lives, when He says, “Flee sexual immorality…”  “You are not your own!  You’re not!  No!  You have been bought with a price!  Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s!”  (1 Corinthians 6:18-20)