The Making of a Good Failure [Video]

How Will Others View My Success?

Preached at Northwest Christian Church

David P. Kautt

Sunday Morning, January 29, 2012

            1 Samuel 18:1-16, “Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.  So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward.  And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. And Saul cast the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” But David escaped his presence twice.  Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

I want to be more successful, more prosperous this year – in 2012 – than I was last year.  4 Sundays ago, can you believe it, we are nearly one month into the new year?!  4 weeks ago I made the rather bold statement that I just rehearsed a moment ago.  I want this year, 2012, to be a more successful, prosperous year for me, for my family, and for the people of God than last year.  That’s quite a statement isn’t it?  That’s quite a challenge to all of us, isn’t it?  And what does it entail?  In what areas of our lives does God have the power and, I believe, the desire to prosper us, to make us more successful?  Materially, monetarily – we’ve looked at that right up front, didn’t we?

Then, there was what we called ministerial prosperity, success as servants of the King of kings and as stewards of what, in reality, belong ultimately to Him!  And, then magisterial prosperity, we talked about this last time, success and blessing from God, like He gave Joseph, like He gave Solomon, so that they might wisely and uprightly rule and lead.  I pray this for our government leaders.  Even more important than that, I pray this for our family leaders, husbands and fathers and our church leaders, those essential societal building blocks that make our nation strong and free. 

And, one more – I want to be, I hope and pray that you will be, and your spouses and children and families, will be more prosperous, more successful militarily.  Military!  The armor of God, do you remember what I’m talking about here?  To be successful militarily, to prosper when one attempts to stand against the wiles of the devil, to quench all his fiery darts, can we do it on our own?  One page after another in this Book records the answer to that question, doesn’t it?  No!  “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!  Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand and with-stand in the evil day…”  That’s God’s formula for military success, isn’t it? 

I want to be more successful, more prosperous militarily, magisterially, ministerially, and even materially, this year, than last.  And, how is that going to happen?  What must I know, what must I do to pursue those lofty goals?  Two principles, two abiding spiritual principles that should guide our lives every day of this new year.  Remember what they are?  ‘God with us’ – in Genesis 39, we saw it repeatedly, didn’t we?  The first key to Joseph’s amazing success was not his skill, not his incredible intellect, not that he was more shrewd or had more savvy than everyone else!  No!  The key was the Emmanuel principle, those four simple, but powerful words, “God was with him!”. 

Joseph succeeded in all four of these areas of life, because God was with him.  No other explanation is given!  No other reason is the reason for his success!  But, did Joseph let all of that success go to his head?  There’s a temptation, a huge pot hole just a step or two down that road of prosperity, and what is it?  PRIDE – that’s right. PRIDE. 

The hand, the power of God to bless Joseph was mightily upon Joseph’s life, and he prospered, greatly.  But, did he forget God in the process?  No way!  What an example Joseph is of humility, of humbly abiding by that second, crucial ingredient of success, of real prosperity: he honored God.  Time and time again, when he could have taken the credit himself, “I did this,“ “I did that,” he turned the spotlight where it belonged!  ‘I know this, I can do this, I have received this, because of God!’  Joseph, successful as he was, lived by the ‘Honor God’ principle.  The magnify the Lord principle.  And, because he did, God not only blessed him, but also He used him to be a blessing, an instrument of God’s blessing upon the lives of many, many others.  That’s success, my friends, that’s success! 

As I have been studying this subject for these message, I have been amazed, an dyes, humbled and convicted by what God’s Word has to say about success.  Unlike the world’s definition of success: pursue it, achieve it, at any cost!  Break the rules, by-pass the boundaries, it doesn’t matter, just come out on top.  This Book says to me, that prosperity is stymied when I transgress God’s commands!  Further, Proverbs 28:13 teaches me that to try to hide my sins and transgressions, will prevent me from prospering and that only sincere, humble confession of sin, and intentional turning away from sin, will open me up to the blessings bound up in God’s covenant love for me. 

And, unlike the world’s ‘guidebook’ that makes us want to pursue prosperity on our own, in our own way, by our own strength and ingenuity, this Book, what does it say?  We read it at the outset: Hebrews 11:6 – “But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!”  Real success, lasting success, you and I, ultimately, we’re not going find it on Wall Street, or Main Street, or even on your street or my street.  But, we will find it, and enjoy it on ‘Seek Ye First Street!’ 

Success, prosperity - one of the questions that I have been faced with as I have pursued this study the last few weeks has been this one burning question: “how do others view the Joseph’s, those folks who prosper by the hand of Almighty God?’

1 Samuel 18 – We read a portion of that chapter a moment ago, didn’t we?  I came across this passage again in my study of success and prosperity, and, of course, it captured my attention because I share the same name with the main character – David.  That always causes you to sit up and take notice, doesn’t it?  But, as I studied this text, I found some very interesting, and very, very helpful insights into the effects of one person’s success on another person or group of people.  Take a look with me, will you?

1 Samuel 18 – David, as I said, is the main character, the ‘hero’ we might say, at this point in the record of 1^st Samuel, but next to him is another main character, the ‘villain’ in the story, King Saul.  And, what do we see here?  What are we to learn?  Well, notice with me first off, that King Saul has had a measure of success himself, right?  1 Samuel 18, the cheers of the women who came out to meet their returning warriors was, “Saul has slain his thousands!”  Saul, you have had a significant amount of success as a soldier and as a king leading your army into battle.  And, how did Saul get that way?  What was the key to his success on the battlefield?  Verse 12 of our text implies it, and the previous several chapters describe it in greater detail, as it was with Joseph over in Genesis 39 and following, so it was for King Saul – the Emmanuel Principle.  The mighty hand of God upon Saul’s life is what gave him that success as a soldier and as a king.  And everything was just fine for a good while, right?  Until what?  Until God began to test Saul, to see what he was really made of.  ‘Saul, I’m sending the Philistines against you.  Saul, I’m sending a 9-foot tall giant named Goliath to face you, to see whether or not you will trust me to win, to see whether or not you will honor me when I give you the victory! ‘ 

By the way, did you know that, from God’s perspective, none of us is ever really a success, unless and until we pass the tests He puts on us! 

How did Saul do?  How did he handle the tests?  Well, at first, because of the wise counsel of old Samuel, point him to God, reminding him not to get the Bighead, he did okay…  But, then he starts to fudge a little you know, I don’t have to obey God completely on this one, forget the details, I hit the high spots, but I won’t sweat obeying God down to the letter.  Bad idea.  Bad idea, Your Majesty.  3 or 4 times Saul does this kind of thing and, inch-by-inch, he’s walking further and further away from the One who enabled him defeat those thousands.  Until finally, Saul goes too far, and God removes His hand of blessing from Saul’s life, and places it upon a young man, a shepherd boy from Bethlehem named David. 

The ‘Emmanuel, God-with-us’ principle.  And, the ‘Honor God’ principle.  Do you remember how we learned that hose two success ‘keys’ go together? 

God says in 1 Samuel 17, Saul has walked away from me, so now I must test him with a 9-foot tall sized test.  A Philistine giant named Goliath.  I have withdrawn my hand of blessing from you, Saul, but I will give success and I will be honored, when I give the victory over that giant through, not a king, but a lad! 

You remember the story, don’t you?  Trusting in God, in Emmanuel, to be with him, and honoring God both before and after the victory, David gets the accolades that once went to King Saul.  1 Samuel 18:7, “Saul has slain his thousands, but David has slain his ten thousands!”  Good news to the ears of King Saul?  How do others view you when God places His hand on your life to bless you and prosper you?  Some people, the King Sauls in your world, eye you with suspicion, moved by jealousy and envy, they well up with anger, maybe even hostility.  Like the Jewish leaders toward Jesus, they’ll be afraid of you, and maybe even will try to pull the rug out from under you. 

But, don’t let them intimidate you.  Keep the Helmet of Salvation on, hold up that Shield of Faith, don’t unfasten the Belt of Truth!  Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!  Honor Him, make Him large and very near before the eyes of those who want to cut you down to size.  1 Samuel 18:10 – that’s what David did, he sang his songs of praise to God, while dodging Saul’s spear point! 

But, then, there are others who watch our lives, as God blesses us, as He prospers us, and how do they respond?  Not everyone acts like Saul did toward David!  In preparing the Israelites for a new leader, God prospered David and exalted him in the eyes of the people, over and above the esteem that King Saul had. 

1 Samuel 18:12-16, “Now Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul. Therefore Saul removed him from his presence, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people. And David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.”

Some people will really love you and admire you when they see your success.  Maybe they recognize and acknowledge where that success comes from, but still they will hold you in high esteem.  What are you to do when that kind of thing happens?  Well, don’t do what David was tempted to do, don’t do, what even ole Joseph was tempted to do, remember?  When Joseph’s brother came down to Egypt and didn’t realize who he was. 

God was with David, God had His hand of blessing on Joseph’s life, both of them, in their prosperity had opportunities to use that success as ‘upper-hand leverage’ to get even with the ones who had done them wrong, King Saul, Joseph’s brothers.  But both of them, instead of using their positions of prominence and prosperity to hurt, what did they do?  They used them to help!  David spared Saul’s life – twice – David had the chance to put the spear point through Saul’s belly, but he didn’t!  Instead, he honored God, he overcame evil with good! 

When God grants success to your life, to my life, some people are going to hate us, and others are going to love us.  But, listen – like with the apostles in Acts chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5, all of those people, the lovers and the haters, all of them need to see us doing what we do, prospering as God causes us to prosper by faith!  They need to be able to see that we know, we realize that God is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! 

Acts chapter 2 through 5, I mentioned this section of Scripture a moment ago, let me read from a brief portion of it as we close.  How do others view us when God places His hand of blessing upon our lives? 

Acts 5:11-20, “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.  And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.  Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

When God blesses you, and I pray He will this year, when He causes you to prosper, some will hate you, envy you, try to pull the rug out from under you, and others will love you.  But listen, everyone who observes your God-given success needs to be touched by you, ministered to by you, for Jesus’ sake!

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.