Today we will determine that Joseph HAD A SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS. Before we can accurately talk about forgiveness, we must first talk about offences. In order to have forgiveness, there must be something that has been placed in your heart that needs forgiveness. Luke 17:1 “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come…” We must brace ourselves for reality – you are going to get offended!
THE TRAP OF OFFENCE
· Yes, you are going to get offended, but you must beware if you stay in that offence.
o It imprisons countless Christians.o It severs relationships.
o It widens the existing breaches between us.
o Many are unable to function properly in their calling because of the wounds and hurts that OFFENCES have caused in their lives.
o Many are handicapped and hindered from fulfilling their full potential.
THE STING OF OFFENCE
· The hurtful thing about offences is that they come from those who are the CLOSEST TO US.
Psalm 55:12-14 For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
The closer the relationship, the more severe the OFFENCE!
Have you ever felt that everything was lining up against you? The next time that happens sit down and create a list of all of the offences that you can think of, then compare your list to Joseph’s list.
OFFENCE #1 – BETRAYED BY HIS BROTHERS – THROWN IN A PIT
Joseph was Jacob’s eleventh son. He was despised by his older brothers because his father favored him and had set him apart with a coat of many colors.
God gave Joseph two dreams.
1) His sheaf arose and stood upright while his brothers’ sheaves bowed down to it.
2) The sun, moon, and eleven stars (representing his parents, and brothers) bowing to him
· His brothers did not share his enthusiasm for his dreams. When the older brothers saw Joseph coming to greet them in the field, they conspired against him. They said, “Here comes the dreamer. Let’s kill him! Then we shall see what will become of his dreams!
OFFENCE #2 – BETRAYED BY HIS BROTHERS – THEY SOLD HIM
· After they threw him in the pit, they saw a company of Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt.
· Then Judah said, “If we let him rot in the pit it will not profit us. Let’s sell him as a slave, he will never bother us again, and we’ll all share the spoils!”
· Joseph had OFFENDED them so they betrayed him, taking away his inheritance and family.
· This is what most people do when they are offended – They betray!
· The point: Joseph’s brothers were evil and cruel – It seems he had a RIGHT to be OFFENDED!
OFFENCE #3 – POTIPHER’S HOUSE – PRISION
Joseph was sold to a man named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. He served him for about ten years and found favor in his eyes. Then Potiphar’s wife seduced Joseph. He refused and ran out, leaving his robe in her clutched hand. When he did this she was shamed and screamed, “Rape!” Potiphar had Joseph thrown in Pharaoh’s prison.
Can you hear his thoughts in the damp darkness of that dungeon?
· “It seems the more I try to do what is right, the worse it gets!”
· “Could my brothers steal my promise from God too?”
· “Why hasn’t this mighty, covenant God intervened on my behalf?”
· “Is this how a loving, faithful God cares for His servants?”
· “Why me? What have I done to deserve this?”
· “I only believed I’d heard from God!”OFFENCE #4 – POTIPHER’S HOUSE – PRISION/ FORGOTTON
· Prison was a time of sifting for Joseph, but it was also a time of opportunity. There were two prisoners with Joseph, and both had vivid and disturbing dreams. Joseph interpreted both their dreams with amazing accuracy. One man was to be restored while the other would be executed. Joseph asked the one about to be restored to remember him when he regained Pharaoh’s favor. The man returned to Pharaoh’s service, but two years passed with no word from him. It was yet another letdown for Joseph, another opportunity to become OFFENDED.
PROMISES TO LIVE BY FOR FORGIVENESS
· There is only ONE person who can get out of the will of God, and that is YOU!
· Absolutely no man, woman, child, or devil, can get you out of the will of God
· No one but God holds your destiny
We must remember that nothing can come against us without the Lord’s knowledge of it before it ever happens.
B) GOD ALWAYS HAS A PLAN
Again: “Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
In the Lord’s Prayer: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
We need to remember the exhortation of Paul to the Corinthians, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make A WAY TO ESCAPE, that ye may be able to bear it.” (I Corinthians 10:13)
· Notice it says, “…a way of escape…”
· For every adverse circumstance we will encounter – no matter how great or small – God has a way planned for escaping it.
· Genesis 50:19-20 And Joseph said unto them…20. But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
CLOSING
To answer the question from the beginning of this lesson, “Do I have a RIGHT to be OFFENDED?
I may have been mistreated but NO, I do NOT have the RIGHT to be OFFENDED because it sidetracks me from the will of God for my life.
Jesus said: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)Again: “Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
In the Lord’s Prayer: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
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