Forged: Refined by Fire

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RHCC | Franklin Campus | Jeff Simmons 

Forged: Refined by Fire 

July 15, 2018 | Be Faithful Even in the Good Times   

Genesis 42-44  Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when  Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.  Genesis 42:6  How to remain faithful to God even in the ​Good​ ​Times​:  Remember it is God who gives ​Success  Joseph always remembered that God was the One who delivered him and gave him success.  ● ●

Every good thing we have comes from ​God​.  Being faithful to God in ​success​ is more difficult than in ​struggle​. 

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has  given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands,  His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day.​ ​Deuteronomy 8:10-11    Stay ​Humble  Joseph could have used this opportunity to get revenge on his brothers, but he trusted God.  ● ●

You may have people who you want to “show up,” but don’t let that be your ​motivation​ or  your ​validation​.  Pride​ goes before the fall. 

God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.​ ​1 Peter 5:5    Love​ Others  Joseph decided not to go the way of the world, but to engage his brothers.  ● ●

Love is wanting the ​best​ for the other person.  It takes spiritual ​maturity​ to love those who have wronged you. 

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ​1 John 3:18    Invest​ in what Matters  Joseph not only engaged his brothers, but he was generous.  ● ● ●

Joseph was “​in​” Egypt, but not “​of​” Egypt (“Egypt” represents the world).  Be ​generous​ as you invest in what matters.  There are 3 things that are eternal – ​God​, God’s ​Word​ and ​people​.  1 

 

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.​ ​John 17:15-16    Do​ what You Did at First  Joseph went back to his family roots of trusting God and living a life of faithfulness.  ● ●

Don’t fall more in love with the ​dream​ than with ​God​.  Think about what you did when you felt ​closest​ to God. 

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you  have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.​ ​Revelation 2:4-5a  Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ…   Romans 13:14  Taking It Home  Our faith is tested more in the good times than in the hard times. In the difficult times, we hold on  to God. We recognize our utter dependence on Him when we are in the hospital, facing a  financial struggle or in a crisis. Yet, in times of success, many people begin to drift away from  God. We put our faith in ourselves and talk about what ​we​ have accomplished. Learning to hold  on to God and being faithful in times of success is a real mark of spiritual growth and maturity.  Joseph did this, and I pray we will as well. Let’s be faithful people even in the good times.   

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