Continuation........
3.We are the carriers of His life and are created in His image, nature and likeness. Gen 1:26 – 27, 2:7
God created us in his image, nature and likeness which are why we have His nature and likeness in us.
We don’t live our own nature because we are born of God and He created us exactly in His image.
We no longer do just as we like or want because His seed is in us. His seed abides in us.
1 John 3:9
Can we overcome sin? Yes!!
Why? When we are born of Him, His seed abides in us already.
Joseph could rise and overcome all testing that were thrown at him and still remain pure, uncontaminated because he had the seed of God in him.
He was not merely using his own human will but he draws from what was in him.
He knew who he was in God.
He did not have to call nor pray for God to save him but He knew God has put all that he needs to overcome and rise in him already!!!!
He knew all the answers were inside him and he could go through and pass every test.
Eg: You go to school to be trained. All training given to you is inside of you. Exams are there to test how much in you have understood and comprehend. When you sit for exams, does your teacher give you the answers? No!! The same way, all you need is in you already, when every testing/trials, why do you expect God to give answers then!!
God blessed them and said to them,
“Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Gen 1:28
God command “Be fruitful” meaning we already have the seed to be fruitful.
E.g: You want to plant an apple tree and it grows to be big and bear many fruits. You can’t just stand at any ground and say you be fruitful and grow and bear many apple for me. You must first put in the seed in the ground.
Its starts from there and you do what is required of you and it will be fruitful.
You must see that in you God has put in His seed in you when he formed us that’s why we have the capacity to be fruitful/flourishing. It’s not the ground(environment) but the seed itself have the capacity to be fruitful/flourish. It’s in us NOW!!!
That’s why wherever we park ourselves at which ever ground we can flourish/fruitful!!!
It’s the seed of Jesus Christ!!! We no longer say it’s the people or environment that causes me to sin/fall but we can RISE above every limitations and boundaries!!!
"Increase in number" meaning reproduce.
As we flourish/fruitful, we have the capacities to reproduce just like our Father God.
We can reproduce people carrying the same DNA, image and pattern of God.
That’s why, Paul can say imitate me as I imitate Christ.
Paul was reflecting the very image, nature and likeness of Christ and he could reproduce others of the same kind just by living the life of Christ.
THIS VERY SEED CARRIES THE INDESTRUCTIBLE LIFE AND IT’S IN US NOW!!!
His seed is in us right now!!! We can reflect his image, nature and likeness!!!
We CAN BE THE BREAKTHROUGH BELIEVERS THAT HE WANTS US TO BE!!
We can rise and flourish!!!
In conclusion:
Repeat the following:
I am born of God into the kingdom of God. I am carrying His indestructible life; I can rise and flourish in every situation and circumstances because His seed abides in us. I hold the citizenship to the kingdom of God therefore I belong to the kingdom of God that cannot be destroyed but remains forever and ever!!!! Amen!!!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Identity - who we are?
The life of Joseph- His Identity
Who are we?
1.We are born of God. John 1:12-13
We are born physically in this part of the world but yet we need to know that we are not of this world because the scripture says we are born of God.
Eg: Your mother may give birth to you in a hospital. You are born in the hospital but it does not mean you are part/belong of the membership of the hospital. You belong to your parents.
The day we received Him we are the children of God that’s not born of blood/flesh but of God. John 1:12-13
That’s why it does not matter what our background/status or our past is because we are born of God.
To Joseph it no longer matter if he had a bad past or if he was an immigrant in Egypt because he knew who he was!!!
He is a citizen of the kingdom of God (heaven)!!!
That’s why it not about we holding the citizenship of this earth but we are holding the citizenship of the kingdom of God!!!
Those born of God in His kingdom are His citizen.
We hold the citizenship of the kingdom of God!!!
No matter how our past may be. It could be people look down on us, lack of opportunities, felt out of place like an immigrant and etc.
All these no longer matter nor can hold us back from moving forward because we are born of God!!!!!
2.We are the children of God
He gave us the right to become the children of God. John 1:12.
We have received a spirit of adoption by which we can cry, “Abba Father!” Rom 8:14-16
Joseph knew who his God was. This same God is the God of his father (Jacob) and his grandfather (Abraham)
We need to know who our Father is!!! God himself is our Father because we are born of Him!!! He is the King of all Kings and that’s why we are His prince!!!
Who are we?
1.We are born of God. John 1:12-13
We are born physically in this part of the world but yet we need to know that we are not of this world because the scripture says we are born of God.
Eg: Your mother may give birth to you in a hospital. You are born in the hospital but it does not mean you are part/belong of the membership of the hospital. You belong to your parents.
The day we received Him we are the children of God that’s not born of blood/flesh but of God. John 1:12-13
That’s why it does not matter what our background/status or our past is because we are born of God.
To Joseph it no longer matter if he had a bad past or if he was an immigrant in Egypt because he knew who he was!!!
He is a citizen of the kingdom of God (heaven)!!!
That’s why it not about we holding the citizenship of this earth but we are holding the citizenship of the kingdom of God!!!
Those born of God in His kingdom are His citizen.
We hold the citizenship of the kingdom of God!!!
No matter how our past may be. It could be people look down on us, lack of opportunities, felt out of place like an immigrant and etc.
All these no longer matter nor can hold us back from moving forward because we are born of God!!!!!
2.We are the children of God
He gave us the right to become the children of God. John 1:12.
We have received a spirit of adoption by which we can cry, “Abba Father!” Rom 8:14-16
Joseph knew who his God was. This same God is the God of his father (Jacob) and his grandfather (Abraham)
We need to know who our Father is!!! God himself is our Father because we are born of Him!!! He is the King of all Kings and that’s why we are His prince!!!
To be continued..........
Distinctive features of Joseph
Joseph had the characteristics of a breakthrough believer.
He was fashioned by God to fulfill destiny.
He had these features which we can identify:-
1. Stature to represent God.
What is stature?
Stature is the position of favor obtained in God.
Can stature be measured? Yes! We can grow and progress in our stature. Luke 2:52 & Eph 4:13
How to obtained stature?
We need to yield to the dealings of God in our lives until He finds us a trustworthy steward who will represent Him fully, and be bestowed with the necessary grace, provision and wisdom to finish Kingdom purposes here on the earth.
God wants to circumcise our hearts. He will use anything sharp to cut off unwanted flesh in our lives . It is the father who can circumcise his son according to the practice of the patriarchs in the Old Testament.
God as our Father wants to circumcise us but He will use our spiritual fathers to do it. Joseph's father rebuking him could be seen as a form of cutting off unwanted flesh. *This has sparked within me another topic :"circumcision" :D
How true! because when we are young and have not arrived to the fullness of maturity in God, our hearts are filled with pride. It's about what we can accomplish through our own achievement.
All Joseph had was just dreams, he had not arrived there and his head was big already! haha! That's why God placed his dad there to keep him level headed and so that he could find the true purpose of the very dream that God gave him.
Which is why we should be thankful that we have spiritual fathers i.e pastors who have walked before us to lead and correct us so that we won't walk in the wrong path thinking that we did it on our own achievement. They are placed over our lives to lead us to the very purpose of God and in extending His kingdom. God always uses the right kind of people to fashion us and make us better so that we could be the very person God wants us to be. We need to know that this life that we live is not about us but about Him and the many lives out there.
2. He was obedient and ready to his father instructions to look for his brothers in the field.
Gen 37: 13
3. He was thrown into the pit. Gen 37: 24
4. He was sold off. Gen 37:28,36
5. He served as a slave in Potiphar's house. Gen 39:2
In all these he did not murmur of his fate and resign to fate, but he set his heart to give and do the best in difficult/restricted circumstances. (A prevailing mentality)
6. He was made as an overseer in Pothiphar. Gen 39:4
(See under label "Joseph - "serving qualities")
I liken Joseph to a professional butler as he was made an overseer of his master's house.
He must be very good at serving as in his master's house there are plenty of servants and some of them are there longer with many years of experienced too. He clearly had the most coveted job in household as he gets to serve his master.
Joseph learned to "served" his master well.
The meaning of "serve"in its root word is "attend" or "wait on".
He learned to "serve" i.e. "wait on/attend to" the people he was placed in close range with.
7. He make himself useful(hardworking) in the house and in his assign field in the market place. He was useful in and out of Pothiphar house because Pothiphar made him overseer in his house and over all he had.
It shows that he had been tried and tested and knows how to do the job, for God blessed all that Pothiphar had in the house and in the field (outside) Gen 39:5
He was fashioned by God to fulfill destiny.
He had these features which we can identify:-
1. Stature to represent God.
What is stature?
Stature is the position of favor obtained in God.
Can stature be measured? Yes! We can grow and progress in our stature. Luke 2:52 & Eph 4:13
How to obtained stature?
We need to yield to the dealings of God in our lives until He finds us a trustworthy steward who will represent Him fully, and be bestowed with the necessary grace, provision and wisdom to finish Kingdom purposes here on the earth.
Joseph went through the many dealings(testings/trials) of God in his lives.
1. He was rebuked by his father of his dreams yet he did not answer back or retaliate. Gen 37:10This can be seen as a circumcision whereby God has placed people i.e. spiritual father around us to deal with things in our hearts and lives.
God wants to circumcise our hearts. He will use anything sharp to cut off unwanted flesh in our lives . It is the father who can circumcise his son according to the practice of the patriarchs in the Old Testament.
God as our Father wants to circumcise us but He will use our spiritual fathers to do it. Joseph's father rebuking him could be seen as a form of cutting off unwanted flesh. *This has sparked within me another topic :"circumcision" :D
How true! because when we are young and have not arrived to the fullness of maturity in God, our hearts are filled with pride. It's about what we can accomplish through our own achievement.
All Joseph had was just dreams, he had not arrived there and his head was big already! haha! That's why God placed his dad there to keep him level headed and so that he could find the true purpose of the very dream that God gave him.
Which is why we should be thankful that we have spiritual fathers i.e pastors who have walked before us to lead and correct us so that we won't walk in the wrong path thinking that we did it on our own achievement. They are placed over our lives to lead us to the very purpose of God and in extending His kingdom. God always uses the right kind of people to fashion us and make us better so that we could be the very person God wants us to be. We need to know that this life that we live is not about us but about Him and the many lives out there.
2. He was obedient and ready to his father instructions to look for his brothers in the field.
Gen 37: 13
3. He was thrown into the pit. Gen 37: 24
4. He was sold off. Gen 37:28,36
5. He served as a slave in Potiphar's house. Gen 39:2
In all these he did not murmur of his fate and resign to fate, but he set his heart to give and do the best in difficult/restricted circumstances. (A prevailing mentality)
6. He was made as an overseer in Pothiphar. Gen 39:4
(See under label "Joseph - "serving qualities")
I liken Joseph to a professional butler as he was made an overseer of his master's house.
He must be very good at serving as in his master's house there are plenty of servants and some of them are there longer with many years of experienced too. He clearly had the most coveted job in household as he gets to serve his master.
Joseph learned to "served" his master well.
The meaning of "serve"in its root word is "attend" or "wait on".
He learned to "serve" i.e. "wait on/attend to" the people he was placed in close range with.
7. He make himself useful(hardworking) in the house and in his assign field in the market place. He was useful in and out of Pothiphar house because Pothiphar made him overseer in his house and over all he had.
It shows that he had been tried and tested and knows how to do the job, for God blessed all that Pothiphar had in the house and in the field (outside) Gen 39:5
8. He was tempted and pressured to compromise.
9. He was falsely accused and jailed yet he was not bitter/vengeful and had prejudice over Egyptians.
10. He was not bound by past hurts/bitterness/unforgiveness.
He did not curse God by justifying his righteousness to God or sinned through his mouth and etc. He kept himself pure and clean in the physical, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In every one of the dealings he proven himself a trustworthy steward of God.
That's why at every juncture of his lives, we can see he grew in stature to represent God because people around him could see he was bestowed with the necessary grace, provision and wisdom. All these was so that he could finish Kingdom purposes here on the earth.
That's why he knew God sent him ahead. Gen 45:7
To be continued....................
Note:
Addition of notes is from Ps. Mike Maimele. Thanks alot! :D
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