This week, I wanted to talk about the benefits of the Lord. Before we get into that though, let me give a quick shout out to my brother Domino from Big 6 BBQ and my sister Lele (thats my bro Feet wife). I was talking to them last week and they inspired today’s lesson, and how we’ll move forward in the coming weeks. Basically, Domino just got huge blessing, about to relocate his restaurant and he admitted to me that he knew, it was only cause he been praising God and trying to do right. Then, I was at Feet crib chopping it up with them and we was checking last weeks episode, and Lele was like…”man Chuck, your show is like hip hop Bible study”. Domino’s blessing inspired today’s subject, Benefits of the Lord, but Lele’s description of Lyrical & Spiritual, a “hip hop Bible study” is why we still in Genesis, looking at Joseph. We gonna rock with Joseph for a minute. Its alot we can learn from his experiences.
A couple of weeks ago, we looked at Joseph and how his brothers got jealous and eventually sold him out, because he dreamed of being ruler. He got did dirty. That was in Genesis 37. Today, we’ll discuss the benefits of the Lord…I got 5 of them…in Genesis 39
Genesis 39: 1-6
Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
2 The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome,
Now, before we go any further, let me quickly recap how and why Joseph is even in this position. Potiphar, one of Pharoah’s right hand men, just bought him. When we discussed Joseph a couple weeks ago, he was being hated on by his brothers because he was special, and believed he was gonna be ruler. They ain’t like the fact that he had the nerve to tell them that. His brothers was gonna kill him, but instead they sold him as a slave to the Medianites. Potiphar, just bought him from the Ishmaelites. That means, Joseph been getting that work in. He was a young slave and been working and getting sold. Verse 6 said he was well built and handsome. All that hard work had his body right. We know he was young too because chapter 37 said he was 17 when his brothers sold him.
Throughout all of that, the Lord was with Joseph. I believe, here at the beginning of chapter 39, we see a few benefits of why you want the Lord on your side.
Point 1. The Lord is the “plug”
Verse 1 said…Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
Remember, Joseph had dream that he would be ruler. He is still chasing his dream and the Lord is with him. At the time, Pharaoh was ruler. What better way to become ruler, than get close to the current ruler? Potiphar is Pharoah’s top guy. Potiphar was captain of the guard. Ok…so if Pharoah was President Obama, then Potiphar would’ve been the Secretary of Defense.
I don’t think it was by “chance” that Potiphar bought Joseph. The Lord set that up. God made that happen. Why? Because he was with Joseph. All that means is that Joseph was a believer, so the Lord was with him. That’s good news because, the Lord is also with us also. Since we also believe, the Lord can and will, “plug” us into the right people, to get us on the path of accomplishing our dreams. Because we believe…I’m tryna tell you. The Lord is the plug.
Point 2. The Lord will provide for you
Verse 2 said…The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.
This one was pretty self explanatory. Joseph was a slave. His dad thought he was dead. His brothers sold him out. He was on the slave market and been sold at least twice. He didn’t have any family, noone to look out for him. But…since he was a believer, he ended up in his masters house. He wasn’t in the field or living in some inhumane conditions like most slaves. He was in the masters house. Not just any masters house either, Potiphars house.
I want to encourage anyone listening right now that you might feel like you’ve been sold out. Like you don’t have noone here for you. Believe and trust in the Lord. As grim as it might look, you might get moved to Potiphars house. In Joseph’s case, Potiphars house was, closer to the ruler, which was closer to his dreams. In your situation, Potiphars house might be that new job, that new car, that new business, that new opportunity that will put you on the path to accomplishing your dreams.
I’m telling you. One of the benefits of the Lord is that he will provide for you.
Point 3. The Lord will give you favor
Verse 3 and 4 said…When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.
Ok, so not only did he move him in, he put him in charge of everything. Why would he do that? Scripture said Potiphar saw that Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything. Potiphar peeped game. He saw the anointing on Joseph.
We all know someone like that. Seem like they just keep winning. Even when the situation look bad, they win. That’s Joseph right now, because the Lord is with him, and Potiphar recognized it.
All that means is Joseph’s light was shining. That’s why we need to let our light shine. I told yall last week that letting your light shine simply means giving the God the praise for what he has done in your life. His light was shining and he got favor. Dig this…its easy to get favor, when your light shining too. Somebody might be looking for a job or house right now and been getting denied. If that’s you, get out ya feelings! Cheer up and thank God that he is finding the perfect place for you. The Bible say count it all joy. If you start praising and letting your light shine, you will get favor. It happened to me the other day and it happened for Joseph over 2000 years ago.
Point 4. The Lord will bless those who bless you
The scripture said in verse 5…5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field.
Here is a clear example of “the overflow”. Potiphar was blessed tremendously because he had favor for Joseph. Let me stop here and drop this for my church goers. Take some time and bless your man of God. If he laboring and bringing you that word, show him some favor, outside of your tithes and offerings. Give him or her a lil love offering, and see what happen.
The scriptures said “The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field”. The Lord blessed everything he had, because he was being a blessing.
Point 5. The Lord will prepare you for your destiny
Verse 5 & 6 said… So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome.
Remember, Joseph dreamed of being ruler, and as a young, inexperienced slave, ruling would be difficult. He needed to learn how to rule. The Lord literally put Joseph in training. Scripture said, he left everything he had in Joseph’s care and didn’t concern himself with anything except what he was gonna eat. That means Joseph was Capo. In the streets, that means he was calling the shots. He was the HNIC. He set the schedules, he cut the checks, he gave the orders. He was well known. He had all the keys. He was in great shape and handsome and…the Lord was with him. He was that dude. He was being prepared to be ruler.
Somebody reading right now might be in training and don’t even know it. Once you’ve learned God’s purpose for you and you begin to pursue it, everything that happens is training you for it. Things might not be moving as fast as you would like them to right now. The Lord is teaching you patience. Or maybe, people you love keep doing you bad…The Lord could be teaching you forgiveness.
The point is, the Lord will prepare you for your destiny. You won’t get to your purpose until you are ready for it. This training is necessary.
The Lord is the plug. He will provide for you. He will give you favor. He will bless those who bless you. He will prepare you for your destiny. That’s just five of them, but there are plenty more benefits of being with the Lord.