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- Merritt: EVEN IN THE STORY OF JESUS,
YOU SEE THE RIGHT
BEHIND THE WRONG.
WHAT WAS THE WRONG?
THE CROSS.
WHAT WAS THE RIGHT?
THE EMPTY TOMB.
AND WHAT IS THE RESULT?
THE CHANCE TO BE SAVED,
TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH GOD,
AND TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
female announcer: WITH HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR LIFE,
THIS IS TOUCHING LIVES WITH JAMES MERRITT.
- Merritt: WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TODAY IS,
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT
WHO I CALL THE POSTER CHILD OF MURPHY'S LAW IN THE BIBLE.
YOU KNOW WHAT MURPHY'S LAW IS, RIGHT?
IF ANYTHING CAN GO WRONG, IT WILL GO WRONG.
WELL, THIS GUY'S NAME WAS JOSEPH.
AND WHEN YOU STUDY HIS LIFE FOR THE FIRST 30 YEARS OF HIS LIFE,
EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG DID GO WRONG.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF HE HAD DIED AT THE AGE OF 30,
HIS BIOGRAPHY WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED
GETTING WHAT I DON'T DESERVE.
YOU'RE HERE TODAY, AND YOU'RE BITTER,
AND YOU'RE ANGRY.
MAYBE YOU'RE EVEN HONESTLY MAD AT GOD
BECAUSE YOU'VE GOTTEN WHAT YOU DIDN'T DESERVE,
AND YOU HAVE A PRETTY STRONG CASE.
YOU DIDN'T DESERVE FOR THAT SPOUSE TO WALK OUT ON YOU
AND TO LEAVE YOU WITH THE KIDS AND THE BILLS.
YOU DIDN'T DESERVE TO LOSE YOUR JOB
WHILE THE OTHER PERSON KEPT HIS.
YOU DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE CUT FROM THE TEAM
SO THE COACH COULD KEEP HIS SON ON THE TEAM.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE TODAY
AND YOU'RE IN A MESS YOU DIDN'T CREATE,
YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM YOU DIDN'T CAUSE,
YOU'RE PAYING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S INJUSTICE,
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT JOSEPH TEACHES US.
IT'S THE KEY TAKEAWAY.
IT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO WALK OUT THE DOOR WITH THIS MORNING.
I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN.
NOW, JOSEPH TELLS US FOUR THINGS TO REMEMBER
THAT, HOPEFULLY, WHEN WE'VE HAD ALL WE CAN TAKE--
WE'RE AT THE BREAKING POINT,
WE'RE ABOUT TO THROW UP OUR HANDS AND GIVE UP,
WE THINK WE'RE GOING DOWN FOR THE COUNT,
WE'VE GOTTEN WHAT WE DON'T DESERVE,
LIFE ISN'T FAIR--
THERE ARE FOUR THINGS THAT JOSEPH TEACHES US
THAT I WANT US TO REMEMBER.
YOU WRITE THESE DOWN. NUMBER ONE:
GOD'S CREATED ME AS A SPECIAL PERSON.
NOW, MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER JOSEPH,
AND THEY REMEMBER THE MULTICOLORED COAT
THAT HIS FATHER GAVE HIM.
BUT WHAT MADE JOSEPH SO SPECIAL IS NOT WHAT HE WORE,
BUT IT'S WHAT HE SAW.
IF YOU BROUGHT A COPY OF GOD'S WORD TODAY,
WE'RE IN GENESIS 37.
WE WANT TO PICK UP THE STORY IN VERSE 5.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE TRIED TO TEACH
MY THREE SONS THROUGH THE YEARS
IS THAT YOU OUGHT TO DARE TO DREAM,
AND YOU OUGHT TO DARE TO DREAM BIG.
YOU OUGHT TO GO ALL OUT AND BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE
AND TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THAT YOU BELIEVE GOD WANTS YOU TO DO,
BECAUSE JUST LIKE JOSEPH--
AND THIS IS ONE WE HAVE IN COMMON WITH JOSEPH,
GOD HAD A DREAM FOR JOSEPH.
WELL, GOD HAS A DREAM FOR YOU.
GOD HAS A DREAM FOR ME.
NOW, GOD'S DREAM FOR ME
IS NOT HIS DREAM FOR YOU.
AND GOD'S DREAM FOR YOU IS NOT HIS DREAM FOR ME.
MY YOUNGEST SON, JOSHUA,
HAS A PHRASE I PICKED UP ON.
I CHUCKLE EVERY TIME I HEAR IT,
AND I KIND OF USE IT SOMETIMES.
SOMETIMES SOMEBODY WILL SAY TO JOSHUA-- THEY'LL SAY,
"JOSHUA, HOW ARE YOU DOING?"
WITH THAT KILLER SMILE OF HIS, JOSH WILL SAY,
"JUST LIVING THE DREAM.
JUST LIVING THE DREAM."
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
EVERY PERSON OUGHT TO BE LIVING THE DREAM.
BECAUSE GOD HAS A DREAM FOR EVERY ONE OF US.
GOD'S GOT A DREAM FOR YOU.
GOD'S GOT A DREAM FOR ME.
JOSEPH WAS SPECIAL, BECAUSE GOD HAD A DREAM FOR HIM,
AND HERE'S WHAT'S TRAGIC.
JOSEPH WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE SPECIAL IN THIS STORY.
EVERY ONE OF HIS BROTHERS WAS SPECIAL.
HIS FATHER WAS SPECIAL.
HIS MOTHER WAS SPECIAL.
HERE WAS THE PROBLEM.
JOSEPH REALIZED HE WAS SPECIAL.
THEY DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WERE SPECIAL.
YOU MAKE UP YOUR OWN SELF-IMAGE.
THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT "SELF-IMAGE."
THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT "SELF-ESTEEM."
THE YOU THAT YOU SEE IS THE YOU THAT YOU WILL BE.
IF YOU SEE YOURSELF AS BEING UNIQUE,
BEING DIFFERENT, BEING GOD-CREATED,
BEING SPECIAL,
IT WILL RADICALLY CHANGE YOUR SELF-CONCEPT.
WHEN YOUR CONCEPT OF WHO YOU ARE IS WHAT IT OUGHT TO BE,
THEN YOU CAN MANAGE TO REMAIN STILL STANDING,
EVEN WHEN LIFE HAS GIVEN YOU TOUGH SHOTS,
BECAUSE YOU CAN KNOW,
"GOD'S GOT A DREAM FOR ME.
"I KNOW IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE IT RIGHT NOW.
"I KNOW IT MAY SEEM LIKE A NIGHTMARE RIGHT NOW,
"BUT I KNOW GOD HAS MADE ME DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE.
"GOD HAS A DREAM FOR ME HE DOESN'T HAVE FOR ANYONE ELSE.
"GOD HAS A PATH FOR ME HE DOESN'T HAVE FOR ANYONE ELSE.
"AND HE'S GOING TO BRING TO PASS IN MY LIFE
"WHAT HE WANTS TO BRING TO PASS
IF I'LL JUST CONTINUE TO TRUST IN HIM."
THE SAD THING IS,
THESE BROTHERS WERE ALL UNIQUE.
THERE WAS NOBODY LIKE JOSEPH,
BUT THERE WAS NOBODY LIKE BENJAMIN.
THERE WAS NOBODY LIKE NAPHTALI.
THERE WAS NOBODY LIKE DAN.
THERE WAS NOBODY LIKE ASHER.
THE PROBLEM WAS, THEY FELL INTO THE TRAP OF COMPARISON,
AND THEY BEGAN TO LOOK AT JOSEPH,
AND INSTEAD OF SAYING,
"WELL, WHAT'S GOD'S DREAM FOR ME?"
THEY BEGAN TO SAY,
"WELL, WHY DOESN'T GOD HAVE THAT DREAM FOR ME?
"WHY DID GOD GIVE YOU THAT DREAM?
"WHY AM I NOT THE ONE
THAT'S GONNA BE BOWED DOWN TO INSTEAD OF YOU?"
AND SO THEY FELL INTO THIS TRAP OF COMPARISON,
AND WHEN THEY DID,
YOU KNOW WHAT REARS ITS UGLY HEAD
EVERY SINGLE TIME?
IT'S THE GREEN-EYED MONSTER CALLED JEALOUSY.
AND THEY ALLOWED JEALOUSY TO COMPLETELY DESTROY
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR OWN BROTHER,
BECAUSE WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THIS ONE THING--
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'RE UNIQUE,
YOU'RE A ONE-OF-A-KIND PERSON,
NEVER BEEN ANYBODY LIKE YOU BEFORE,
WILL NEVER BE ANYBODY LIKE YOU SINCE,
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE,
GOD CREATED YOU SPECIAL--
WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT
AND YOU QUIT COMPARING YOURSELF WITH OTHERS,
EVERY RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
WILL AUTOMATICALLY GO TO A NEW LEVEL.
LISTEN.
A GREAT MAN ONCE SAID THIS.
"IT IS ENOUGH IF YOU DON'T FREEZE IN THE COLD
"AND IF THIRST AND HUNGER DON'T CLAW AT YOUR INSIDES.
"IF YOUR BACK ISN'T BROKEN,
"IF YOUR FEET CAN WALK,
"IF BOTH ARMS CAN BEND,
"IF YOUR EYES CAN SEE,
"IF BOTH EARS CAN HEAR,
"WHO SHOULD YOU BE JEALOUS OF,
"AND WHY SHOULD YOU BE JEALOUS OF THEM?
OUR ENVY OF OTHERS DEVOURS US, MOST OF ALL."
SO THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS
YOU SHOULD NEVER, EVER ASK.
I DON'T CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU.
NUMBER ONE:
"WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME?"
AND NUMBER TWO... [chuckles]
"WHY DIDN'T IT HAPPEN TO HIM?
WHY DIDN'T IT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE?"
LET ME TELL YOU TWO REASONS
WHY YOU SHOULDN'T ASK THOSE QUESTIONS.
NUMBER ONE, YOU'RE NEVER, EVER
GONNA REALLY KNOW THOSE ANSWERS.
AND NUMBER TWO,
THEY REALLY DON'T MATTER IF YOU'LL KEEP IN MIND,
GOD HAS CREATED YOU AS A SPECIAL PERSON.
GOD HAS A DREAM JUST FOR YOU
AND JUST FOR YOUR LIFE.
NOW, THAT'S THE FIRST THING JOSEPH TEACHES US.
HERE'S THE SECOND THING.
NOW, GO BACK TO THIS VERSE AGAIN AND LISTEN TO IT.
"NOW JOSEPH HAD A DREAM, AND"--
LISTEN TO THIS.
"WHEN HE TOLD IT TO HIS BROTHERS,
THEY HATED HIM EVEN MORE."
NOW, THIS WAS NOT A DAYDREAM.
IT WAS A DIVINE DREAM.
IT WAS GOD'S DREAM FOR JOSEPH.
NOW, IF YOU SAY,
"WELL, PASTOR, WHAT DOES THAT DREAM MEAN?"
IT'S VERY SIMPLE.
THAT DREAM WAS GOD'S PLANS FOR JOSEPH LIFE.
FOR EXAMPLE, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS WHEN I WAS BORN.
GOD'S DREAM FOR ME WAS TO BE A PASTOR.
GOD'S DREAM FOR ME WAS TO BE A SHEPHERD.
GOD'S DREAM FOR ME WAS TO BE A LEADER IN THE CHURCH.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT GOD'S DREAM WAS FOR ME,
BUT THAT WAS GOD'S PLAN FOR ME.
AND GOD'S PLANS FOR JOSEPH WAS,
"JOSEPH, I'VE GOT GREAT THINGS IN STORE FOR YOU."
NOW, WE ALSO KNOW, LOOKING BACK ON JOSEPH'S LIFE,
WHAT THAT DREAM WAS,
BECAUSE JOSEPH BECAME THE PRIME MINISTER OF EGYPT.
HE BECAME ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MEN IN THE WORLD,
BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS.
IT WAS BECAUSE THAT DREAM CAME TRUE
THAT JOSEPH'S ENTIRE FAMILY WAS SAVED.
BECAUSE IF YOU KNOW THE STORY OF JOSEPH,
HAD GOD'S DREAM FOR JOSEPH NOT BEEN FULFILLED,
HAD THE BROTHERS PUT A STOP TO IT,
HAD THE BROTHERS KILLED JOSEPH,
THEY WOULD HAVE ALL DIED IN THE END.
AND I'VE LEARNED FIRSTHAND,
THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY MATTERS IN YOUR LIFE
IS IF YOU CAN LOOK YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR EVERYDAY
AND YOU CAN SAY,
"I KNOW THAT I'M LIVING OUT GOD'S PLAN FOR MY LIFE."
AND WHAT IS SO CRUCIAL IS TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT JOSEPH UNDERSTOOD;
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
GOD HAS THINGS HE WANTS TO DO THROUGH YOU,
HE HAS THINGS HE WANTS TO DO WITH YOU,
HE WANTS TO DO THINGS HE WANTS TO DO FOR YOU
THAT HE WILL NOT DO THROUGH ANYONE ELSE,
BECAUSE HIS PLAN IS FOR YOU TO DO IT.
NOW, I'VE DISCOVERED THAT FOLLOWING JESUS
IS REALLY SIMPLY ALL ABOUT
JUST MAKING GOD-GIVEN DREAMS COME TRUE IN YOUR LIFE.
NOW, JOSEPH LEARNED A LESSON THAT YOU HAD BETTER REMEMBER.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU,
AND I DO,
IF YOU DO BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS DREAMS FOR YOU,
AND I DO,
AND YOU DARE TO STEP UP AND SAY,
"I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THOSE PLANS,
I'M GOING TO FULFILL THOSE DREAMS,"
LET ME WARN YOU OF SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE GONNA BE CRITICIZED.
YOU'RE GONNA BE MOCKED.
YOU'RE GONNA BE LAUGHED AT.
YOU'RE GONNA BE RIDICULED.
YOU'RE GONNA BE DERIDED.
YOU'RE GONNA BE JEERED.
BECAUSE NO--NOTICE WHAT JOSEPH'S BROTHERS SAID
WHEN THEY SAW HIM COMING.
LISTEN TO THIS.
AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THOSE THAT TELL YOU
YOU SHOULDN'T FOLLOW GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT GOD'S DREAM IS A PIPE DREAM.
FOR EXAMPLE, LET ME GIVE AN ILLUSTRATION.
WE'RE TOLD TODAY IN SOCIETY
AND THERE ARE EVEN PEOPLE IN CHURCH THAT KIND OF WHISPER THIS
IN THE HALLWAYS.
WE'RE BEING TOLD, "IT'S JUST INCONCEIVABLE
"THAT IN TODAY'S WORLD
"A TEENAGER WOULD REMAIN A ***.
"IT'S INCONCEIVABLE THAT A GROWN MAN
"WITH RED BLOOD POURING THROUGH HIS VEINS
"WOULD SAVE HIMSELF FOR SOME WOMAN
WHO WOULD NOT SLEEP AROUND."
AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD SAY,
"IT'S JUST IMPRACTICAL TO ABSTAIN FROM DRUGS
OR *** OR PROFANITY."
I MEAN, THAT'S LIKE--THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY.
AND THIS IS TRUE IN THE BUSINESS WORLD AS WELL.
LISTEN TO THIS.
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL'S FATHER-IN-LAW
CALLED THE TELEPHONE
"A TOY THAT NOBODY WILL EVER PLAY WITH."
THE BRITISH PHYSICIST LORD KELVIN SAID,
"RADIO HAS ABSOLUTELY NO FUTURE."
THE BRITISH ROYAL ASTRONOMER GEORGE BIDDELL AIRY SAID,
"THE COMPUTER IS ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS."
NOW, THE COMPUTER IS DEMON-POSSESSED.
IT'S NOT WORTHLESS.
THANK GOD--THANK GOD THAT THEY DARED TO DREAM ANYWAY.
WE'VE GOT TELEPHONES TODAY.
WE'VE GOT COMPUTERS TODAY.
WE'VE GOT ALL KINDS OF TREMENDOUS
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES TODAY BECAUSE PEOPLE SAID,
"I'M NOT GONNA LISTEN TO THE CRITICS.
"I'M NOT GONNA LISTEN TO THE DREAM KILLERS.
"THIS IS A DREAM I HAVE.
THIS IS A DREAM I'M GOING TO FULFILL."
AND THANK GOD THAT JOSEPH SAID,
"LOOK, THIS IS GOD'S DREAM FOR ME.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIKE IT.
YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO ACCEPT IT.
IT'S GOD'S DREAM FOR ME."
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DREAM THAT GOD GAVE JOSEPH,
IT CLUES US IN TO A REALLY GREAT TRUTH
ABOUT OUR VERY EXISTENCE ON THIS EARTH.
LISTEN TO THIS.
IF GOD HAS A SPECIAL PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE,
IF GOD HAS CREATED YOU UNIQUE--
NOBODY LIKE YOU BEFORE, NOBODY LIKE YOU SINCE--
AND AFTER GOD CREATED YOU,
GOD HAD A PATH PLANNED FOR YOU. GOD SAYS,
"THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I WANT TO DO WITH YOU, JAMES,
"THAT I'M NOT GONNA DO WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
"THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I WANT TO DO WITH YOU, JOHN,
"I'M NOT GONNA DO WITH ANYBODY ELSE.
"THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I WANT TO DO WITH YOU, TERESA,
"I'M NOT GONNA DO WITH ANYONE ELSE.
"THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS I WANT TO DO WITH YOU, GREG,
I'M NOT GONNA DO WITH ANYONE ELSE."
IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE,
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEANS.
THAT MEANS NOTHING HAPPENS TO CHANCE.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS LUCK.
I WANT TO TELL YOU,
THERE IS NOTHING THAT GIVES ME A PAIN I CAN'T LOCATE
WHEN I HEAR PEOPLE TALK ABOUT ESCAPING SERIOUS INJURY
IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT
OR THEY'LL FIND OUT THE TUMOR WASN'T MALIGNANT
AND THEY'LL SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
"I GOT LUCKY."
OR "IT WAS JUST PLAIN LUCK."
LET ME JUST KIND OF DISABUSE YOU OF A NOTION TODAY,
AND THIS IS KIND OF CHASING THE RABBIT,
BUT IT'S WORTH CHASING.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS CHANCE.
TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY,
THERE'S NO CHANCE THERE'S CHANCE.
THERE'S NO CHANCE THERE'S A CHANCE.
I'M GONNA PROVE IT TO YOU.
IF THERE IS A CHANCE,
IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE WHATSOEVER
THAT 2 PLUS 2 EQUALS ANYTHING EXCEPT 4,
MATHEMATICS IS ENTIRELY IMPOSSIBLE.
IF THERE'S A CHANCE--EVEN A CHANCE,
EVEN A MINUTE CHANCE,
THAT WATER DOES NOT BOIL AT 212 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT,
SCIENCE IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.
THE REASON WHY MATHEMATICS ARE POSSIBLE,
THE REASON WHY SCIENCE IS POSSIBLE
IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS
THAT GO ACCORDING TO PLAN.
THEY ALWAYS DO AND ALWAYS WILL.
SO DOES LIFE.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU CAN ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE RIGHT
BEHIND THE WRONG,
BECAUSE GOD HAS A SPECIAL PLAN FOR YOU.
HERE'S A THIRD THING JOSEPH TEACHES US.
NOW, FRANKLY, THE FIRST TWO THINGS
I MENTIONED TO YOU THIS MORNING,
I CALL THEM THE PEPPERMINT POINTS.
I MEAN, THEY'RE REAL SWEET.
THEY'RE EASY TO DIGEST.
THEY'RE EASY TO FOLLOW.
THEY'RE REAL ENCOURAGING.
THEY KIND OF PUMP YOU UP
AND BUILD YOU UP, MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD.
THE THIRD POINT IS THE PERSIMMON POINT,
BECAUSE IT'S VERY BITTER,
AND IT'S VERY HARD TO SWALLOW,
BUT WE HAVE TO GET IT OUT.
YOU SEE, THERE'S ONE THING THAT JOSEPH HAD TO LEARN FROM GOD
AND YOU NEED TO LEARN TODAY.
LIFE IS NOT A PLAYGROUND.
LIFE IS A BATTLEFIELD.
IT IS TRUE THAT GOD HAS CREATED YOU A UNIQUE PERSON.
IT IS TRUE THAT GOD HAS A SPECIAL PLAN FOR YOU.
BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT GOD HAS PREPARED EVERY ONE OF YOU
FOR SPECIAL PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING TO COME YOUR WAY.
I MEAN, LISTEN.
LET ME JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A LITANY
OF WHAT HAPPENED TO JOSEPH.
HIS BROTHERS CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM.
THEY THREW HIM INTO A PIT.
THEY SOLD HIM AS A SLAVE.
HE WAS THEN FALSELY ACCUSED OF ***.
HE WAS UNFAIRLY THROWN IN PRISON.
HE SPENT 13 YEARS OF HIS LIFE
IN JAIL FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T EVEN DO.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S SO DISCOURAGING
ABOUT THIS PART OF JOSEPH'S LIFE.
EVERY TIME YOU REACH SOMETHING BAD HAPPENING TO JOSEPH,
WITHOUT FAIL, EVERY SINGLE TIME,
WHETHER IT WAS BEING THROWN IN THE PIT
OR SOLD INTO SLAVERY, BEING ACCUSED OF ***
OR THROWN IN JAIL, IT DOESN'T MATTER.
EVERY TIME SOMETHING HAPPENED TO JOSEPH THAT WAS BAD,
IT WAS NOT BECAUSE HE WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG.
IT WAS BECAUSE HE WAS DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT.
WHY WAS HE THROWN INTO THE PIT?
WHY WAS HE SOLD INTO SLAVERY?
BECAUSE HE TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD'S DREAM IN HIS LIFE.
WHY WAS HE FALSELY ACCUSED OF ***?
BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT GIVE IN TO THE DESIRES OF POTIPHAR'S WIFE,
AND SHE LIED ABOUT HIM.
WHY DID HE SPEND 13 YEARS IN PRISON
FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DESERVE?
BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO SUFFER
FOR DOING WHAT WAS WRONG
RATHER THAN DO WHAT WAS WRONG.
SO TO BE QUITE FRANK AND TO BE QUITE HONEST WITH YOU,
LET ME JUST GIVE YOU A REALITY CHECK.
LIFE IS NOT ALWAYS FAIR.
AND IF THAT SURPRISES YOU,
THEN LET ME JUST KIND OF REMIND YOU OF SOMETHING.
THE CROSS WASN'T FAIR.
JESUS CHRIST DYING FOR OUR SINS WASN'T FAIR.
NOW, LET ME JUST ASK YOU A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION.
IF THE CROSS WASN'T FAIR,
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK LIFE'S GOING TO BE FAIR?
IF JESUS HAD HIS PROBLEMS,
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE YOURS?
IF THINGS DIDN'T GO ALWAYS THE WAY YOU THINK
THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE FOR JESUS, WHICH THEY DIDN'T,
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA GO
THE WAY THEY OUGHT TO GO FOR YOU?
AND SO IF YOU'RE IN HERE THIS MORNING
AND YOU'RE IN ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE EVERYTHING'S GOING WRONG,
YOU KEEP GETTING DEALT THE BAD HAND,
YOU KEEP GETTING WHAT YOU DON'T DESERVE,
YOU JUST CAN'T SEEM TO CATCH A BREAK,
I JUST WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS.
THIS WILL BE WORTH COMING TO CHURCH FOR THIS MORNING.
THERE ARE FOUR THINGS
GOD IS ALWAYS DOING IN YOUR LIFE.
I PROMISE YOU, EVERY SINGLE DAY,
GOD IS DOING AT LEAST ONE
IF NOT MORE OF THESE FOUR THINGS IN YOUR LIFE.
AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER WHAT THESE FOUR THINGS ARE,
YOU CAN BEAT ANYTHING THAT LIFE THROWS YOUR WAY.
YOU CAN TAKE LIFE'S BEST SHOT.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE RIGHT BEHIND THE WRONG.
FOUR THINGS GOD'S ALWAYS DOING. REAL QUICKLY.
FIRST OF ALL, GOD IS ALWAYS DIRECTING YOU.
ALWAYS.
GOD IS ALWAYS DIRECTING YOU.
HERE'S WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN THE LORD TAKES DELIGHT IN YOU,
WHEN YOU'RE LIVING FOR HIM AND TRYING TO PLEASE HIM,
HE IS ORDERING YOUR STEPS.
HE IS DIRECTING YOU.
SECOND THING:
GOD IS ALWAYS PROTECTING YOU.
WHEN YOU'RE IN HIS WILL,
HE'S NOT ONLY DIRECTING YOU.
HE'S PROTECTING YOU.
PSALM 121 SAYS THIS.
YOU KNOW, JESUS SAID SOMETHING ONE TIME,
AND EVERY TIME I SEE A BIRD FLY, I THINK ABOUT THIS.
HE SAID, "NOT EVEN A SPARROW
"FALLS TO THE GROUND
"THAT GOD DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
THE VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE NUMBERED."
GOD IS TAKING CARE OF YOU RIGHT NOW.
GOD IS DIRECTING YOU.
GOD IS PROTECTING YOU.
HERE'S A THIRD THING THAT GOD IS DOING.
HE'S ALSO CORRECTING YOU.
THAT IS, HE ALLOWS THESE THINGS TO COME INTO YOUR LIFE
TO TEST YOU, TO TRY YOU,
AND TO TOUGHEN YOU.
NOW, LET ME JUST KIND OF ANSWER A QUESTION
THAT I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE ASKING RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE SAYING, "BUT WHY CAN'T WE
"JUST GO THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT THESE PROBLEMS?
"WHY DO SOME OF US--WHY WILL SOME OF US, ONE DAY,
"HAVE TO BATTLE CANCER?
"WHY WILL SOME OF US SOME DAY
"GO THROUGH THE PAIN OF DIVORCE
"EVEN THOUGH GOD HATES DIVORCE?
"WHY ARE SOME OF US, EVEN RIGHT NOW,
"STRUGGLING THROUGH THE LONELINESS OF UNEMPLOYMENT
"EVEN THOUGH WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO FIND A JOB?
"IF GOD REALLY LOVES US,
WHY DO WE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS THAT COME INTO OUR LIFE?"
THE REASON MAY NOT SATISFY YOU,
BUT IT'S TRUE.
GOD'S GREATEST CONCERN
IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU.
GOD'S GREATEST CONCERN
IS HOW YOU RESPOND TO WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU.
YOU KNOW WHY GOD LET JOSEPH EXPERIENCE
ALL THESE WRONG, TERRIBLE THINGS?
WE DON'T HAVE TO WONDER.
THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHESIS.
THIS IS NOT A SCIENTIFIC THEORY.
THIS IS A FACT.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHY
GOD LET ALL OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN TO JOSEPH.
I KNOW WHY GOD ALLOWED HIM TO BE THROWN IN THE PIT.
I KNOW WHY GOD ALLOWED HIM TO BE SOLD INTO SLAVERY.
I KNOW WHY GOD ALLOWED HIM TO BE FALSELY ACCUSED OF ***.
I KNOW WHY GOD LET HIM SPEND 13 YEARS IN PRISON
FOR SOMETHING HE DID NOT EVEN DO.
WE DON'T HAVE TO WONDER. GOD TELLS US.
THE PSALMIST SAID THIS IN PSALM 105:17.
"HE HAD SENT A MAN AHEAD OF THEM, JOSEPH,
"WHO WAS SOLD AS A SLAVE.
"HIS FEET WERE HURT WITH FETTERS;
HIS NECK WAS PUT IN A COLLAR OF IRON"...
NOW, WATCH THIS.
"UNTIL WHAT HE HAD SAID CAME TO PASS,
THE WORD OF THE LORD TESTED HIM."
EVERY TIME SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED TO JOSEPH,
IT WAS LIKE GOD WAS SAYING,
"JOSEPH, THIS IS A TEST.
"JOSEPH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU.
"I'M NOT LOOKING AT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YOU.
"I CONTROL THAT.
"JOSEPH, WHAT I'M WANTING TO KNOW IS,
"HOW ARE YOU GONNA RESPOND
TO WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU?"
GOD IS ALWAYS DIRECTING YOU.
HE'S ALWAYS PROTECTING YOU.
HE'S ALSO CORRECTING YOU.
AND FINALLY, HE IS ALSO PERFECTING YOU.
SOMEBODY PUT IT THIS WAY.
"GOD ISN'T SO CONCERNED WITH DELIVERING US
"OUT OF THE MESS WE ARE IN
AS HE IS IN SEEING US GROW OUT OF THE MESS THAT WE ARE."
I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN. I LIKE THAT.
"GOD ISN'T SO CONCERNED WITH DELIVERING US
"OUT OF THE MESS THAT WE'RE IN
AS HE IS IN SEEING US GROW OUT OF THE MESS THAT WE ARE."
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT JOSEPH'S LIFE,
YOU REALIZE ALL THOSE WRONG THINGS,
EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED--THINK ABOUT IT.
EVERYTHING: THE PIT, THE SLAVERY,
THE FALSE ACCUSATION, THE PRISON,
ALL OF THAT WAS PREPARING HIM
AND GROWING HIM
AND GROOMING HIM FOR THE RIGHT THINGS.
ALL THE WRONG THINGS WERE TOOLS IN GOD'S HANDS
TO PREPARE HIM FOR THE RIGHT THINGS.
NOW, THERE'S ONE LAST THING JOSEPH KNEW
THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
IT'S THIS.
WHEN YOU READ JOSEPH'S STORY,
IT DOES HAVE A HAPPY ENDING.
YOU DON'T KNOW IT, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.
HE WENT FROM BEING A DREAMER
TO A WORKER TO A PRISONER
TO A RULER.
HE WENT FROM THE PIT AND THE PRISON
TO THE PALACE.
NOW, THERE WAS A SECRET TO HIS SUCCESS.
THERE'S A REASON WHY JOSEPH MADE IT FROM THE PIT
AND THE PRISON TO THE PALACE.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THAT SECRET RIGHT NOW.
IN GENESIS 39:2, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE TOLD:
IN VERSE 3, WE'RE TOLD THIS:
IN VERSE 21, WE READ:
IN VERSE 23:
BY THE WAY, WHEN YOU GO TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND YOU READ THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND READ WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT SAYS ABOUT JOSEPH,
THE ONLY NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY ON JOSEPH,
ACTS 7:9, TELLS US THIS:
GOD'S WITH YOU 24/7.
YOU MAY TRY TO GET AWAY FROM GOD.
GOD WILL NEVER GET AWAY FROM YOU.
SO IF I'VE BEEN TALKING TO YOU THIS MORNING,
IF YOU'VE BEEN THE BULL'S-EYE,
IF YOU'VE BEEN THE TARGET,
IF MY FINGER HAS BEEN ON YOUR SHOULDER,
IF I'VE BEEN POKING YOU IN YOUR HEART,
IF YOU'VE BEEN SITTING THERE THIS MORNING AND YOU'RE SAYING,
"HOW DID YOU KNOW?
"HOW DID YOU KNOW?
"HOW DID YOU SEE THE BITTERNESS?
"HOW DID YOU SEE THE ANGER?
"HOW DID YOU SEE THE DISAPPOINTMENT?
"HOW DID YOU SEE THE DISCOURAGEMENT?
HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS IS WHERE I AM IN LIFE?"
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS PIECE OF ADVICE:
LOOK BEHIND THE CLOUDS
WHEN THE STORMS ARE GATHERING.
WHEN YOU THINK GOD IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN YOUR LIFE,
LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN
AND JUST KEEP IN MIND,
"LORD, YOU KNOW HOW TOUGH IT IS ON ME RIGHT NOW.
"YOU KNOW HOW HARD LIFE IS RIGHT NOW.
"YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I'M BATTLING BEING ANGRY
"AND UPSET AND PARTICULARLY UPSET WITH YOU
OVER WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY LIFE."
YOU JUST KEEP REMEMBERING THIS:
THOUGH YOU MAY NOT CAN SEE HIM,
THOUGH YOU MAY NOT CAN FEEL HIM,
THOUGH YOU MAY NOT CAN SENSE HIM,
THOUGH YOU MAY NOT CAN HEAR HIM,
GOD IS DIRECTING YOU,
GOD IS PROTECTING YOU,
GOD IS CORRECTING YOU,
AND GOD IS PERFECTING YOU.
AND HERE'S WHAT I WANT TO CLOSE WITH JOSEPH,
AND THIS WHY HE'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS
IN ALL THE BIBLE.
AND ALL OF THE STUFF
THAT JOSEPH WENT THROUGH--JUST LIKE ALL OF US
ARE GONNA GO THROUGH STUFF IN OUR OWN LIFE--
IN ALL THOSE TIMES,
HE NEVER FOR A SECOND QUIT BELIEVING GOD.
HE NEVER QUIT LIVING FOR GOD.
HE NEVER QUIT TRUSTING GOD.
HE NEVER COMPROMISED HIS INTEGRITY.
HE NEVER LOST HIS HUMILITY.
HE NEVER SOILED HIS PURITY.
HE NEVER JEOPARDIZED HIS DIGNITY.
BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD, BEHIND EVERY WRONG,
THERE'S ALWAYS A RIGHT.
AND THERE'S NO GREATER ILLUSTRATION OF THAT
THAN THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST,
BECAUSE IF YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS,
EVEN IN THE STORY OF JESUS,
YOU SEE THE RIGHT BEHIND THE WRONG.
WHAT WAS THE WRONG?
THE CROSS.
WHAT WAS THE RIGHT?
THE EMPTY TOMB.
AND WHAT IS THE RESULT?
THE CHANCE TO BE SAVED,
TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH GOD,
AND TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
- female announcer: MAYBE YOU'RE IN THAT PLACE
WHERE IT SEEMS THAT GOD COULDN'T POSSIBLY
HAVE A DREAM FOR YOUR LIFE,
SOMETHING UNIQUE THAT ONLY YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T TRUE.
IF YOU'VE LOST FAITH IN YOUR DREAM,
CALL TOUCHING LIVES TODAY AT...
WE WANT TO PRAY WITH YOU
AS YOU BEGIN TO BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAM AGAIN.
EVERYONE FACES TOUGH TIMES,
BUT IT'S THOSE DIFFICULT MOMENTS
THAT CAN LEAD TO DEVELOPING OUR CHARACTER,
ACHIEVING A GOAL,
OR FULFILLING A DREAM.
THE BIBLE IS FULL OF STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO FACED TOUGH TIMES
YET CHOSE TO STAND FIRM IN THEIR FAITH.
AS A RESULT, THEY LEARNED THAT
WHEN THEY HONORED GOD WITH THEIR FAITH,
HE HONORED THEM BY FULFILLING HIS PROMISES.
- Merritt: AND THE ONE WHO HAS NEVER LOST A BATTLE YET
IS FIGHTING ALONGSIDE YOU.
SO WHEN IT'S EASIER TO SIT DOWN, SLEEP IN,
STEP ASIDE, OR SLIP AWAY,
DON'T YOU DO IT,
BECAUSE WITH THE GRACE OF GOD
THAT RAISED HIS SON FROM THE DEAD,
WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS AND THE DUST SETTLES,
YOU CAN STILL BE STANDING.
announcer: DR. MERRITT UNCOVERS THE VICTORIES
OF THOSE HEROES OF THE FAITH FROM GOD'S WORD
IN HIS NEW BOOK, STILL STANDING,
AVAILABLE NOW FROM TOUCHING LIVES
TO ORDER, GO ONLINE AT TOUCHINGLIVES.ORG.
OR, CALL TOLL-FREE:
THERE ARE SEASONS IN LIFE WHEN THINGS COULDN'T BE BETTER,
AND OTHERS THAT SEEM ALMOST INTOLERABLE.
AT TOUCHING LIVES,
WE REALIZE THAT EVERYONE IS FACING DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHALLENGES AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT,
AND THANKS TO THE FAITHFUL PRAYERS
AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF OUR DONORS,
WE ARE ABLE TO SHARE THE MESSAGE OF HOPE AND LOVE
NO MATTER WHAT THE SEASON.