Welcome!
Date: Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Today: From prison to the promise
Passage: Genesis 49: 22-24 NIV
22 “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. [j]
23 With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility.
24 But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed [k] limber,
because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob,
because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, (emphasis added)
The life of a person who is after God, and who God is after, will not be easy
The whole world would be after him/her, not for good!
Joseph was dear to God, as he was hated by everybody around him
He went through the worst, only because he was dear to God and because God had a plan for him
He was the target of the devil, throughout
We can see men/women used by God having gone through similar circumstances
David, Daniel, Hannah-mother of Samuel and Ruth are some examples
When Joseph came to the throne, he was well-trained, through all that he went through
Joseph had a great responsibility in the prison
Most prisons are full of people and are over-crowded
Joseph learned all the administration and skills, while in prison
He went through trials, tests and temptations-came out colorfully and victoriously
Training is hard. But if you see anyone doing a great job, they have been through disciplined training
We may not be in a physical prison. But most people are in some kind of a prison-emotionally, spiritually or otherwise
We may be restricted by those invisible bars, from going/growing beyond a certain limit
We know we have the capacity, but something has been stopping the advancement
The moment a person understands that they are in some kind of a prison, that is the key to come out of it
Many people do not realize this, and they continue to be in such “prisons” of their own, all their life
The so called “prodigal son” came to his senses one day, and realized that he had no need to continue in that kind of a life and life-style which he was leading
When a person goes to a doctor, diagnosis is the first part; treatment is the second
When we diagnose our limitations, we are half way through our deliverance
Rest is waiting upon God and doing what He says
There are so many out there, who are in various kinds of bondages
God wants you and me to come out of our bondages first, so that we can bring those people out of their bondages (Isaiah 61:1NIV)
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, [a]
It is time to understand what area of our life we are imprisoned in – and then, to come out of it; earlier the better
With God, we shall; and become a blessing to many
Stay blessed
BG
Prayer: Father God, help me to come out of those emotional/spiritual as well as other areas where I am limited by various forces. Help me to realize those areas and come out of it. In Jesus name; Amen