By Elder Sophia Jeffrie
Genesis 39:1-5 AMPC
39 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain and chief executioner of the [royal] guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.2 But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to flourish and succeed in his hand. 4 So Joseph pleased [Potiphar] and found favor in his sight, and he served him. And [his master] made him supervisor over his house and he put all that he had in his charge. 5 From the time that he made him supervisor in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the Lord’s blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field.
PRAYER: If I had to give a title to this, I would say: Are You Sure You’re Ready to Be Blessed??
Are you sure that you are ready to be blessed?? Every Christian at some point in their life has said “Bless me Lord” and theirs nothing wrong with that. Because I have prayed that prayer many times. But since I have been around the block a time or two on this Christian Journey. I have learned that in life you better be careful what you ask for because you just might get it. The good thing is, that we have a gracious heavenly Father that loves to bless His Children. His hand is not waxed short. If God said it, that settles it and I believe it!! Ephesians 1:3 tells us, “Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”. We as His children have every right to claim His blessings.
Here in the book of Genesis, God has given us a clear example of what the Blessing is, what it looks like in a person’s life, and the price you may have to pay if you really want it in your life. See I remember back in the day, we had a saying “You have to pay the cost to be the boss”!!! And this was not necessarily talking about a monetary thing, this is about whether can you handle the weight of the title, position, and the responsibilities that come with it. The Blessing of the Lord, when it’s in your life, it has a process that you will have to go through at some point in your life. So, my question for you on today is, “Are you sure you’re ready to be blessed?” I would like to share with you some important facts that I noticed through the life of Joseph in these passages of scripture that are a requirement to the Blessing that’s on your life and living blessed.
1. The first requirement in living a blessed life that I saw is that you become strong through the trials that come associated with the Blessing! The Blessings are material things that come to us which make people look good and feel good at times. But the Blessing is something totally different. Verse 1 says, 1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain and chief executioner of the [royal] guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
a. Once the Blessing is on your life, there is a divine process that must take place before you can fully walk in the Blessing of the Lord and know it!
b. Preparation is the process and the first step in the Blessing.
i. Joseph didn’t even ask to be blessed. God chose him.
ii. God gave him a dream.
iii. Immaturity told his family.
iv. Pride
v. His brothers got mad and throw him in a pit and then changed their minds and sold him into slavery instead.
vi. Isaiah 43:2 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
c. Our tests and trials that we go through are a part of God’s divine plan to prepare us for the weight of the Blessing that is on our lives.
d. I Peter 5:5 -10 tells us more about this process.
e. 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for
f. “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [[e]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
a. What is your type of problem/test or trial are you currently in today? _____________________________________
2. The next requirement for living a blessed life is you will have to go through a season of separation. But the good thing is the Blessing is working and you don’t even know it! Verses 2 and 3 says “2 But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all that he did to flourish and succeed in his hand.
a. Now, let me help you understand more about the Blessing that you want in your life!
a. Obedience and sacrifice make room for the blessing in your life.
i. Abraham is the first recipient of the Blessing. Genesis 12:1-4 says 12 Now [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favors] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing [dispensing good to others]. 3 And I will bless those who bless you [who confer prosperity or happiness upon you] and curse him who curses or uses insolent language toward you; in you will all the families and kindred of the earth be blessed [and by you, they will bless themselves]. 4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had directed him; and Lot [his nephew] went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
ii. You can’t just do what you want to do! You must live the way God is calling you to!
iii. We are blessed to be a blessing to others. It’s not just for you.
iv. You and I are distribution centers for the Kingdom of God dispensing good!
v. Then you need to believe that you have received the Blessing on your life once you have Jesus. Galatians 3:13-14 says 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
3. The next requirement to living a blessed life that really is a benefit is God can bless you in the darkest time of your life. Right in the midst of your storms! Verses 4 and 5 say “. 4 So Joseph pleased [Potiphar] and found favor in his sight, and he served him. And [his master] made him supervisor over his house and he put all that he had in his charge.5 From the time that he made him supervisor in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the Lord’s blessing was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 And [Potiphar] left all that he had in Joseph’s charge and paid no attention to anything he had except the food he ate. Now Joseph was an attractive person and fine-looking.
a. Hard work and a positive attitude were key factors for Joseph.
b. James 1:2-3 says, 2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[a] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
b. And after that comes a Promotion Psalm 75:6-7
6 For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south.7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
So, my question to you again is… Are you sure you’re ready to be Blessed?
So, to summarize the rest of this chapter of Joseph’s life. He was lied on, thrown in prison, and forgotten about all because he had standards, and the Blessing was on his life. God raised Joseph from slavery, through the prison, and finally to the palace. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for the Blessing, and now that I’m living and walking in it. I would trade it for the world. Just know that there’s more to the Blessing than meets the eye. Jesus tells us in Matthew 16:24-26 “24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? So, just make sure you are ready to receive and be fully capable of handling the blessing.
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About the Author
Elder Sophia Jeffrie is an ordained Reverend and called Evangelist into the Gospel Ministry where she serves the Lord with her whole heart! She is the founder and CEO of Wisdom Truths Ministries Inc and has been a faithful servant under the leadership of Dr. Shana Wise of Wise Choice Ministries. Elder Jeffrie is a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, and she is also a full-time missionary. She has two sons, a bonus son, and two bonus daughters, and has ten grandchildren.
Contact Elder Sophia at www.wisdomtruthsministries.com
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