Admit it – all of us have been discouragers at times! There are several reasons I am reluctant to attend the ministerial alliance meetings in Kingfisher. First, I have been a member for 36 years. Some of those guys are not that old! So that makes me the “historian” of the group. I know why everything is going like it is, and if I am not careful I know why the next idea won’t work. So, I keep my mouth shut a lot and they do a fine job.

Thus part of this message is addressed to me!

Obviously Jesus wants us to consider carefully the cost of following Him. Too often we are so busy trying to get someone involved in the work of the Lord that we make it look so simple that there is no challenge to it! Serving God takes a deep, heart-felt commitment. God wants to be Number One in your life! That is a hard concept for some people to understand because they think the world revolves around them. Sorry, but it does not work that way!

Jesus was exaggerating to make His point when He told us to hate our family. It is a matter of comparison. Our love for Jesus should be so much greater that for our family that He always comes first. However, a committed Christian is the best family member you can have! Committed Christians take care of each other!

He also compares the Christian walk to building a tower or going to war. If you don’t have enough resources to complete the tower, it will fail and for years people will drive by your home and say, “There’s old what’s-his-name’s-folly!”

And you sure don’t start a war with one thousand soldiers against twenty thousand soldiers unless you have a divine appointment or a secret weapon!

However, life isn’t always that obvious! Consider Joseph of the Old Testament. His parents were Isaac and Rachel. His mother died giving birth to his younger brother Benjamin. Isaac actually had two wives – Rachel and Leah. Unfortunately for everyone involved, Joseph had a favorite wife and their two children were his favorite children. The other ten kids really resented these two – especially Joseph.

Joseph had two dreams when he was 17 years old. Both indicated that his siblings and his parents would bow down before him. They didn’t like him anyway, and when he told the family about this dream their dislike boiled into hate!

Additionally, his dad had made Joseph a special coat, so he really stood out in the crowd.  One day Isaac sent Joseph to see how the rest of the boys were doing in their task of herding sheep. They saw this as their chance to kill the know-it-all!

They put him in a pit while they decided how to do their dastardly deed, but God sent along a caravan of Ismaelites traveling to Egypt – so they sold him for 20 pieces of silver. Then they tore his coat and soaked it in animal blood so they could deceive their dad.

Now… you are Joseph. You had all these wonderful dreams and plans. It looks as if they have gone up in smoke. You went from freedom to slavery! All because your own family hated you!

Do you turn your back on God or do you remain faithful? Joseph remained faithful. He served Potiphar well, but Potiphar’s wife messed things up by letting her lust get out of hand. Once again Joseph was a victim!

Now do you give up? He didn’t! Even though he was falsely accused he remained faithful – and after a short time was placed in charge of the prison where he was a prisoner.

How does a young man pull that off? Because the Lord was with Joseph and Joseph stayed close to the Lord. In Revelation 3:20 the Lord says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in…” 

Joseph had a close relationship with God that helped him through every circumstance. Never doubt it – as long as you are living for God on this planet you will go through some great difficulties at times!

We were introduced to Joseph and his dreams at age 17. By age 30 he was the number two man in all of Egypt. That is a fast promotion!

In Matthew 6:33 Jesus told us that if we would seek God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness first that all the things we normally worry about would be taken care of for us!

The question: DO WE BELIEVE THAT?

How did Joseph get to be the number two man? When Pharaoh got mad at his cupbearer and baker he sent them to prison. They were assigned to Joseph for supervision. One morning the cupbearer and baker were sitting dejectedly in their cell when Joseph came to them. “Why are your faces so sad?” he asked.

“We both had dreams,” they answered, but there is no one to interpret them.”

Joseph responded, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Had Joseph been full of anger and unforgiveness because of his circumstances, he would not have had this close walk with the Lord. He could have stayed in prison until he died!

Instead, he gave them the interpretation. They would both be set free in three days. One would be restored, the other put to death. (Genesis 40) Sure enough, this is exactly what happened.  Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him to Pharaoh when he was released – but, you know the story – he forgot all about Joseph. (Another chance to be bitter!)

For those of us that are impatient, this is hard. However, God is, has been, and always will be in charge. In God’s own time – two years later – Pharaoh had a dream! When Pharaoh explained his dilemma the cupbearer was suddenly reminded of his shortcomings!

He told Pharaoh about the Hebrew in prison that interpreted his dream.  Immediately Joseph was sent for… however, he was a smart young man. Joseph took time to shave and change clothes before he stood in Pharaoh’s presence.

Always represent God well! We are Christ’s ambassadors!

The interpretation was that there would be 7 years of plenty, followed by 7 years of famine and drought. If the king would find someone that would direct the people they would save up enough food to help them get through the situation.

Using good logic Pharaoh appointed Joseph! Just as God planned!

Joseph had been a humble man up to this point – and he did not change! He had been a good son, a good slave, and now he was a good ruler. When his brothers came for food later on, he was a good brother – although he did have some fun with them!

What do we do when people rain on our parade? Put up the umbrella, fill our hearts with the joy of the Lord and walk faithfully!

The Bible is full of stories like this. Queen Esther had to risk everything to save the Jews from destruction.  Ruth – Naomi’s daughter-in-law – gave up her country and religion to go to Canaan with Ruth. As a result of her submission God let her marry a very rich man and she is in the linage of King David and Jesus Christ!  Daniel and the Three Hebrew Children were taken as captives to Babylon. They submitted themselves to the king – but only on their terms that God was always first. God promoted them. But it wasn’t always easy! Daniel spent time in a stinky lions’ den and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were tossed in a fiery furnace – but they got out alive and did not smell like hot dogs!

The Pharisees and Sadducees rained on Jesus’ parade, but He remained faithful. Stephen was a faithful deacon and was stoned to death. Before he died he looked toward heaven and cried, “I see Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand!”

St. Paul had a rough ministry – beaten and left for dead, bitten by a snake, on a ship that went down in the water, and he spent a lot of time in prison. Finally they beheaded him. But he remained true to God!  

Are we willing to count the cost and then set out to accomplish the things God has called us to do?

Have your received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?  Do it right now – you will never regret doing so!