Intro

We know that the life of Joseph shows us certain things: primarily how suffering, no matter how (seemingly) unfair, develops strong character and deep wisdom. He ultimately wins through, forgiving his brothers and feeding a nation.  Remind you of someone?  Yep, he is a type of Jesus.  And we will use this Christocentric approach in each of our posts, showing how the gospel runs through the story, and how we apply it to our lives.

Part 2 (Gen 40-41)

Joseph we have seen in the previous chapters did well in the sight of God, however Potiphar had been told a vicious lie from his wife. She tells a story far from the truth – this wasn’t a small white lie, this was a lie which leads to Joseph being thrown in Jail and shown the back of the hand by Potiphar.

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. (Genesis 39:21). Wherever he sets his feet, the Lord goes with him, for God knows him personally. The keeper of the jail sees something in Joseph and gives him full control over the inmates, an amazing turn of events. We see that again that even though Joseph has been given the short straw, that he is mistreated again, dealt a bad hand, actually it is God’s grace that abounds and gives him new life.

Joseph wakes one morning and meets with a couple of the blokes in the prison. He sees that they are both unhappy, and look troubled. “What’s up?”, Joseph asked, well they both replied with the same answer. They both had dreams last night and were confused with what they meant. One was the Chief Cupbearer to the King (Potiphar – remember him) and the other guy was the Chief Baker. After explaining their dreams, Joseph knew God would reveal to him the meaning, so he began to tell each the interpretation of their dream. 

The Cupbearer it seems got the good news, he was to get his job back in 3 days time, serving the King. However in 3 days time, the Baker was to be killed and hung on a tree. Harsh perhaps. On the third day, it was Potiphar’s birthday and he did exactly as the dreams had been interpreted. Cupbearer lives, Baker dies. The one thing Joseph had asked of the Cupbearer was for him to remember what Joseph had done for him, but not a word was spoken, Joseph had again been forgotten.

This paints an incredible picture of Jesus.  He was the bread of life (John 6:35).  He was the vine branch (John 15:1).  On the night of his betrayal, he gave them wine, telling them it represented his blood that was going to be shed for you (Luke 22:20), and the bread that was going to be broken (1Corinthians 11:24).  He asked them to do this in remembrance of Him.  As we saw those in three days, the Cupbearer would be given life and the Baker would have his life removed from him. We see that picture of how Jesus would die and on the third day He would rise again.

The price of risk and the victory of Jesus

There are two parts I want to touch on here, first is the price of risk. We all too often look upon this from a human level, a human perspective, we weigh up things and ask to ourselves…is it worth the risk? Will I be paying for this one for a long time? Will I look stupid? Will I lose friends if I do that? Will I be branded a joke at school or at the workplace if I don’t go to that party, or do that thing? Whatever the risk is for us, we seem to automatically look at the price, the cost of doing it. My wife and I recently uprooted everything and moved from the UK to Canada, why? Because Jesus spoke to us and made it clear that He had plans for us in Canada. When I looked at this from mans perspective it not only at times looked high risk but it also looked unwise, renting out our flat, resigning from both our good, well paid jobs, leaving close family and friends. Why? You may ask again, God spoke. It changes everything.

Obedience is a massive issue. God calls for obedience even when it hurts. We made the decision that it would be far too risky to not step out, to not obey God. He has plans, purposes and promises for us here. The greatest thing of all is that God then receives all the glory, not us. Jesus is our ultimate example in this, In Philippians 2:5-11 we read that it was Jesus who made Himself nothing, humbling Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. When we lift up our eyes, we realize that we need to take on God’s perspective, an eternal view on what’s before us. If we have decided to say yes and amen, and believe that the Spirit empowers us and leads us, the cost of risk always becomes worth it. Looking at things this way we can say, Lord have your way in me, I want your will to be done, not mine or my own agenda. Let us take what look like risks and let them take the form of opportunity.

The second part of this is the victory of Jesus. It is ever so refreshing to know it’s not down to me, or us but that the victory has been won, that Jesus has done it all. Victories aren’t won by us, they are won by and through Jesus. We are now able to live life in Him, alive in Christ, it’s breathtaking. It is by grace, which truly is lavished upon us, day after day after day that we can be part of this victory, that we get to join in on this one. Whether you currently are facing small risks or big life defining risks, we must approach them in the same light, because of the victory of Jesus we can move forward. We can go for broke for we know that it is all for God’s glory, that we get to gloriously spend eternity with Him.

What is God speaking to you about today? Is He calling you to live a life of risk? He has guaranteed the victory of Jesus. It is amazing for me to look around at some of my friends, my family who have chosen to live lives which take risks for God. Their stories speak of God’s goodness and faithfulness in every situation, for some of them life has been hard, is hard today and have hard times ahead because of the risks they have taken for God. I know that if they started it all again, their response would be the same, of course Jesus I will live this life for you whatever it entails.

1 Corinthians 15:57 – But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Empowered for risk by the Holy Spirit

• Galatians 5:25 says ‘If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

• 2 Timothy 1:7 says ‘for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

• Romans 8:6 says ‘For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

These 3 verses from the Bible give us great wisdom and insight into the how part of living a life of risk for God. We desperately need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit, we need the life of the Spirit in us and to walk with us. Galatians states that if we live by the Spirit, then surely we should be looking to walk by the Spirit also. When we wake up each morning the Spirit is there with us, when we go outside, walk to work, are in class, spending time with family and friends, the Holy Spirit is there with us. If we live and walk by the Spirit, it becomes less a question of ‘how?’, but of ‘how can I not?’ be courageous, step out and take risks for God. The challenges in seeing His kingdom advance becomes forgotten because you start to see things take life in the Spirit.

This can lead us to asking if we are seeking God to speak to us by the Spirit in our every day? Are we developing a legacy of listening to the Spirit’s promptings? This won’t always show in high risk situations, you won’t lead everyone to Christ, and it mostly won’t happen when you first share the Gospel. But we need to be ready to listen to the promptings of the Spirit, every day we will see opportunities come before us, the Holy Spirit speaking to us to help this person, speak a kind word to that person, ask this friend if they want prayer, listen to that friends story. Show grace where it usually isn’t shown, encourage people when that is lacking in their life, listen to people, let them tell you their story. They will be much more willing to then listen to your story afterward, then you can tell of what God has done. All these things mentioned will seem like risk taking to some people, for others it will look completely different.

I love the verse there in Romans, to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life. Paul is laying it out clearly for us, life in and with the Spirit is LIFE. Being empowered by the Holy Spirit to take risks breeds life. The problem before was the how part of the question, now we see the Spirit empowering, bringing life, leading us and walking with us, God is here! The ‘how’ has gone and the ‘when’ can begin. When we realize that it is so little about us and all about God there is freedom. I know for myself I begin to want this life as I understand that when God is involved everything is a risk worth taking.

As the verse above in Timothy mentioned, that God gave us a Spirit of power and love, not of fear. Let this rule in your heart, the Spirit will be with us, empower us, that love will flow through us and that life will be given. You just have to turn on the news or walk outside and immediately see that people are in great need of life, to be loved, to have the Spirit walk with them. I want my ears to be tuned in to listen to the promptings of the Spirit this day, this week, this year. I’m longing to see things accomplished because of what I know I can do in and by the Holy Spirit rather than what I cannot do when I view the earthly risk and the lack of power I have alone.

I have decided to take 3 parts in this series, my final part will be ‘The price of risk and the victory of Jesus.’

God has called us to take risks for Kingdom advance and Kingdom purposes. The Bible gives account after account of men and women who obediently and courageously stepped up and took risks for God in order to see more of Him. We can see in these people their eternal perspectives, they so often weren’t consumed with the temporal, the grappling of fear but they saw and heard God and so they acted on that basis alone. The result of your risk-taking affects more than just you, it can affect a multitude of people, family, friends, people you will never meet, maybe the Church. When David stood up against Goliath the risk didn’t only affect him if he was killed, far greater was the risk if whole army was to be affected.

I love the courage and risk taking in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who declared that they would not serve Nebuchadnezzar’s God’s. They believed that God, the true God, would deliver them from the fiery furnace (and would trust Him even if He didn’t). Fancy taking a risk like that today?!

The 3 things I will touch on, 1 in this blog entry and 2 in the next are…Living a life of risk for God, Empowered for risk by the Holy Spirit and finally The price of risk and the victory of Jesus.

Living a life of risk for God

What do we mean when we speak about living a life of risk for God? It sounds somewhat crazy. Do I mean we should all become missionaries overnight? Maybe, but not in the way you may be thinking. If we are believers and followers of Jesus, then we should be living out mission in our daily lives. The question I am asking is, ‘Are we willing to live truly for God, being obedient to His voice, do we spend time listening to what He has to say?’ If we are on mission, seeking to do His will then this will radically change the direction of our life, our days will look vastly different from when we weren’t concerned with this. Are we called to live for God, yes! Are we called to take risks for God, based on what we read in the Bible, another emphatic yes.

When we see this part answered it makes things so much clearer. The risk has just gone up 100% for how we live our life! We are, of course, also called to be wise also so don’t take me wrong. When I wake up in the morning I want to be expectant to meet with God, hear from Him afresh and to then live my life accordingly. This may mean that I look to change my attitude, the way I speak about others, the conversations I choose not to join in with. This may mean that when the opportunity comes along I tell my friends about Church on Sunday, about the people who got healed, the people who got saved, when the next alpha course is. This may mean that I intentionally wake up earlier to spend time with God, listen to worship music in the car instead of hard rock, pray out or use the spiritual gifts God has given me in the prayer meeting and Sunday service. This may mean that I look back at the prophetic words over my life and to what God is saying now; a change of job perhaps, joining another church even in another country, starting a relationship.

God speaks life into us, He also speaks to us about life, He is concerned with our whole lives. The more time we spend in God’s presence the more we will want to be like him. Risky, because of what the world might think? Absolutely. Risky, because it’s counter-cultural? Very much so. Taking risks for God is not easy, it will sometimes hurt, but God wants a people who will say that they stand before God above all else. Is God calling us to take risks today?! Let us be humble, listen to the voice of the Father and give all glory to Him. When it’s for God, it’s always a risk worth taking.
Part 2 of A risk worth taking will follow soon…

These very words hold weight, in my view of the Church, this to me is of key importance. In my life, in my community, in my city, in the country I live, across the nations, it is these words, the local Church, that should hold weight. Jesus told His disciples to go to all nations and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). When they did go out from Jerusalem they started and planted local churches wherever they went. This was their response to hearing and seeing Jesus. Our response should be the same. Jesus loves the Church. The Bible even speaks of the Church as Jesus’ bride. Think of His great love for His bride, loving her with all of His being. Those of you who are husbands will understand this meaning more closely. Immediately our view of Church is changed when we look at the local Church through Jesus’ eyes and what She means to Him.

The Church can be described as the community of God, a togetherness of people, sharing and doing life deeply with one another. Believing in and worshiping Jesus, preaching the Word of God, being continually filled with the Holy Spirit. The local Church is full of relationship, a real life dependent, life-changing relationship with God and also with one another. It’s the family of God and it’s totally different from the secular view of what Church is. When we read the bible and see what the Church was really like our view should instantly be changed and our eyes lifted. The early Church in the book of Acts is extremely exciting. It provokes us to change our old view on what the Church was shapes our new view into something glorious.

Is the Church meant to be dull, boring and full of rules and regulations? Surely not, we as the local Church are called to be breathtakingly different, to bring people into relationship with the trinity, to share life together, to delight in what Jesus has done, glorifying Him again and again. This is life, this is fellowship that we long for, to be part of God’s great plan on a mission together, carrying out the very words of Jesus.

The local Church in the new testament, which was built on the words of Jesus, was not just totally counter-cultural, it was also culture changing! No wonder 3000 people were added in one day (Acts 2:41). When you are surrounded in darkness, the Church is what should break in with incredible light. When people hear the gospel, the truth breaks in, the light transforms everything and the darkness cannot stand in such a place. I long for churches everywhere to be like this. Many see the Church as only a Sunday meeting. People in and out of the Church hold this view but we must be ready to change this. We must see that Church as God’s, not ours. Church being the community of God is for everyday. With this in mind, Church life becomes a joy to behold, nothing less.

God’s Church, the local Church is full of love where all barriers are broken down, full of grace where Jesus calls us all to display and demonstrate His glory, full of joy where people are drawn into this God-given community. Our vision of Church needs to be aligned with the view Jesus has of His Church. We are called to love the Church, not to hate it, not to run away from it but to embrace the community of God. To let Jesus change us, our families and friends, our cities, countries and the world to see the Church as breathtakingly different.
I am part of a great local church where this community of God exists. Here at The Meeting Place Church, Fredericton, Canada, I see daily the expression of genuine love for one another, a deep fellowship with family, brothers and sisters who are for each other, who long to serve each other, the Church and the city better. This love for Jesus overflows into daily life, whether at university, the workplace, at the bar or whilst watching sport. These people who have become great friends, through together knowing Jesus, continue to lift my eyes and my view of the Church to one of praise to God. I thank God for superb leadership.

Meeting on a Sunday morning is one way in which we gather as the Church. This happens again at our Sunday evening prayer meetings and through the week in our Life Groups. But it doesn’t end there. Belonging to the Church and to God’s mission means that it changes our whole lives, it transforms everything, it shapes culture and breathes new life. Church doesn’t end after these meetings finish. It is all inclusive of life, breathtakingly different.

Seeing someone as a hero is not bad or wrong, but there is a place and a line they shouldn’t have or cross in our lives. I have been stirred to write about hero worship, when we have heroes our natural response is to worship them in some way. We were built to worship so when we see people taking a high place in our lives, the place of and above God then this is a case of our worship going to this hero. We are consumed with them, we adorn our lives with them, we talk unendingly about them, we speak passionately regarding them. When I was a young boy I spent hours and days reading and looking at pictures of my football heroes, I wouldn’t think about much else, I’d go to the local football stadium and give my worship and life to this. Conversations with friends was all about football, the players we loved, the scores, the news. When my parents told people about me they would always say my passion was for the Brighton football team, I even got sent away from the dinner table for chanting football songs. This was a serious case of hero worship.

I still love the Brighton football team, I still have heroes but I am aware of where to draw the line. I recognise that I can’t let them take the place of Jesus, that they can’t get anywhere close. When my wife, my parents, my friends talk to other people about me I want the first thing to be most evident to be that Jesus is my ultimate hero. That He indeed is the one I give my worship too, If God is the one that consumes my thoughts and my life, my life will speak of Him, it changes everything. When you read the Bible, it speaks throughout about Jesus being the hero in it’s entirety. From beginning to end we see it’s all about Jesus. Even Jesus himself made it clear by repeatedly saying in the Gospels, follow me! This I can say is who I follow, this is someone who really does reign, that lives can be changed with this hero, people who are broken can be made new with this hero, people can live for eternity with this hero. We can look at His life and truly say I want my life to be like His!

When I’m asked if I have heroes, the answer is always yes. I have heroes, I also have one hero above all others. None come close to this hero Jesus. He is the only one who receives my hero worship.  My hope is that this is evident to all when they look at my life, that it would be infectious, that others would want their hero to be Jesus too. I’m passionate to see people, churches, cities and nations giving their lives to Jesus and living for this ultimate hero.

When we look at different characters in the Bible we see different situations come before them, occasions when they have every right to get distracted, to be grabbed by fear and not run into what God has for them. Looking at how they respond can teach us and do us so much good, looking briefly at Abraham and Elijah we see this very different response. When God spoke to both of them they didn’t look down, they didn’t waiver or wobble but they stepped into Godly confidence and went forth into God’s plans. When God spoke to Abraham to go into the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1), he was already 75 years old and God was asking him to go to a new land, to start over and to follow the voice of the Father. We read that Abraham (Abram as he was called at that point) went as the Lord had told him (Genesis 12:4), there was no argument, no weighing up of pro’s and con’s, no talk of his retirement plan, he heard God so he went. With Elijah who comes onto the scene in the old testament, we read he was a man just like us and a man who heard from the Lord. God gave him the opportunity to speak with King of the time, Elijah told King Ahab what God had spoken clearly to him, that there would be a drought and that no rain would fall until he says. (1 Kings 17:1) Let’s be honest, out of the things we would like to do and say to people that would not be top of my list, however God spoke to Elijah clearly and so he went in confidence, he even begins the conversation by stating that he stands before God, that is his starting point, Elijah is obedient to the call of God and does not look down.

Sally and I have been in Fredericton Canada for over 2 months now after God spoke to us years ago about moving here to be part of the Church. Leading up to moving we felt like we were climbing a great height, it was a huge challenge to listen to the voice of God and be obedient in its entirety. On many occasions we needed the reminder and encouragement of not looking down, to step into this God story, this plan of God, when we lifted our eyes and focused in on Jesus we knew what the right response was. Now we are here is it still a work in progress? Most certainly, 2 months in and it’s very much a challenge without a doubt. There are still many parts to scale and climb, we have to continue daily to not look down, to not be grabbed by fear or distracted with the what ifs. The part with which we hang on tightly to is that God has spoken, when it gets really tough, that’s where we go, when we want to give up, that’s where we go, when we are having a great time and see all of His amazing promises come through, that is where we go.

I hope this encourages you to climb but not to look down, When God has spoken, confidently move into that and say I stand before God, nothing else takes that place. When God speaks it is often into something that stretches us, but remember it is stretching you for growth.