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By the late Dr. Art Wilson
The Baptist Name Abandoned SOME CHURCHES ABANDON BAPTIST NAME SOME OTHERS SHOULD
Dr. Art Wilson Five Times Past President Of Baptist Bible Fellowship International What a romance! He met her when she was a pretty, vivacious 19-year old. The beam in her eyes, the upstanding moral decency and her effervescent personality literally stole his attention away from all other girls. Before her 21st birthday, he had persuaded her that nothing or anyone else on earth could make his life as happy and as fulfilling as could she. Embracing her at the wedding he whispered, “I love you truly, truly dear.” Then speaking out before God and witnesses he said, “I will cleave only unto thee as long as we both shall live.” What a romance! They each had considered God’s way was to “be fruitful” and expressed their desires mutually to raise a family. Not only was she to him all that a man would desire in a mate– a good cook and housekeeper– but an abiding best friend and a lover.
 
In unison both their desires were met and they were drawn even closer together by the children born to their happy and enjoyable union. After one year a baby boy brought ecstasy into their home. They drew even closer in all ways. After 18 years of super joy and satisfaction, he became somewhat cold toward her. It was hard for her to understand what was changing him. He had met a man at his job who also had a large family but had begun to grimace under the financial and social responsibilities. That man caused him to think likewise. So, without notifying either wife, they left and outright abandoned their own “darling” wife and “precious children” and moved without even a goodbye note, to another state. Not only did “darling wife” and “mother” of his seven children get abandoned but it was learned years later that he even spelled his name differently. I know this story quite well. His “darling” was my mother and that man led astray was my father. They never saw each other again. As it was way back then, so it is and far worse today.
Some men can’t take it when the burden of a family becomes their’s. They are easily led astray and can drop their family and go under another name because “true husband,” “faithful father,” and “dependable provider,” are too antiquated for them. Neither do they reflect the more progressive spirit of today’s society. Now think of the thrilling and moving SPIRITUAL romances some of our fine men in the ministry have had in their past. Courted by the Holy Spirit in a Baptist church, saved by Christ the Saviour in a Baptist Church, baptized in the name of the Father and the name of the Son and in the name of the Holy Ghost in a Baptist church; taught and trained in a Baptist Church and/or Baptist school; called of God to preach because of a Baptist church or Baptist youth camp; and for most of them– found their wife in a Baptist church or school; then were ordained to the Baptist ministry (to the upholding of the historical and Biblical Baptist distinctives); and then ultimately became pastor of a Baptist church, persuading that body of Baptists that they believed what the Baptists have always believed.
Such ones were asked (or it was assumed) that they were in harmony with “the trail of blood,” and like my father, they couldn’t say enough praise for their “sweetheart of faith and obedience to the faith,” but now– again like my father– they and their misled people want to drop and abandon the name Baptist.(Gal.5:7 & 3:1).As Paul wrote to the Galatians, I must state and ask this question: “Ye did run well (took a strong, unashamed stand for all Baptist doctrines), who hath bewitched you that you are so soon removed?”
The Scriptures also declare that in these last days mankind will not endure (stay with) sound doctrine but will want to go with the ear-ticklers. (2 Tim.4: 3). Further, because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matt.24 12). Unlike the terms “transgression, wickedness, lewdness and abomination,” all of which speak of the vilest, the term “iniquity” refers to the counterfeit. This then is saying that because so much counterfeiting is going on, millions are being deceived because they can’t tell the difference. My mother used to warn us thusly: “all that glitters is not gold.”
The amount of your education, the size of your church or the importance of your position and/or community popularity have not made you immune from Satan’s counterfeit, high-sounding seductions before which others– even stronger than you– have fallen. Did not the “MAN OF GOD” who was specifically told by God to do his job but not to go to anyone’s place to eat or drink, prove that? He did his job. He was true to his ordained calling. He then obeyed God as he refused the king’s invitation to eat and drink in the palace. He was again true to his ordained calling. He obeyed also by going home on the prescribed road. All the way thus far he is a dedicated fundamentalist role model for younger servants of God who may well have had their eyes on him and secretly desired to be like him. But now comes the bad news. Another “preacher” who had already left his roots of truth, came to the man of God, supposedly to console him (and of course, “help” him), and invited him to come back to his house to eat and drink. Again,
God’s good servant was true to his ordained calling. He told the other “preacher” that God had told him he could not go to anyone’s place to eat or drink. (“Let God be true and every man a liar.” Rom. 3:4). So the other “clergyman” said: “I am a preacher too, just like yourself, and God told me to invite you into my home for fellowship, eating and drinking.” On that basis, the man of God decided to leave God’s basics– (trust and obey) and departed in fellowship with the other “nice preacher.” The Bible says that the “nice preacher” lied to him. Like all of us, he was not immune from Satan’s trick– “spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph.6:12). That was the end of his ministry.
When he left the “nice preachers” house, he was killed by a lion. Take heed, preacher, the Devil is as an angel of light first and then as a roaring lion secondly, and walks about seeking whom he may devour. (I Pet.5:8). Back during the time of World War II, a Methodist preacher knocked at my door. He was obviously very upset. He said it was a heavy burden on his heart. He told me that he could not bear it another day– “God has made me come to you.” He was very angry because he had heard me preach “Eternal Security” on the radio. He called it “a damnable doctrine.” In two hours he had received Christ, and yes, “Eternal Security.” He was so overwhelmed with God’s amazing grace, he immediately asked if I would come to his church and present some sound doctrine. I told him yes, but I said, “they will fire you.” He thought his friendship with the District Superintendent would prevent that.
The newspaper head line read: “Baptist pastor conducts Methodist revival on doctrine.” On the 7th day, that “loveable and friendly” district superintendent had a secret meeting with the church board at 6 p.m. He led them in firing their preacher and stayed for the service so that he could inform the congregation of the action and also announce that to keep down any further problems, the doors would be padlocked. He told a packed, standing-room only crowd, “We are sorry to have to do this, but your speaker has not been declaring `Methodist Doctrine.'” I was sitting on the front seat, waiting for time to preach, but when he said that I had not preached Methodist Doctrine, I Jumped to my feet and said, “Just a minute, Sir, let’s check that out.” I then turned to the audience and said, “The first night I preached on `God, the Creator’; the second night on `The Passover Lamb’; the third night on `The Virgin Birth’; the fourth night on ‘The Blood Atonement’ the fifth night on `Jesus, our Substitute on the cross’ last night, it was on
`The Bodily Resurrection of Christ’ and tonight I’m preaching on `The Literal Bodily Return of Christ.'” Then I said, “I didn’t know that you Methodists didn’t believe these things and are all religious infidels, as this man is saying.” The next day, the newspaper headline read: “Methodist preacher is fired for having Baptist preacher.” Two days later it read: “Baptist pastor to baptize fired Methodist preacher and wife.” He became a strong Baptist preacher for 45 years. He is in Heaven now. He was honest and honourable– he sent his Methodist ordination certificate back to them with the statement: “Since I no longer believe as you do, I count it my moral and spiritual duty to return this ordination certificate.” Every pastor who has led or will lead his church to drop or abandon the name “Baptist” should be as honest and honourable as that preacher and send your ordination certificate back to the Baptist church that believed you were telling the truth when you were ordained. As in marriage, the vows are unto God first and then to your mate.
Are preachers becoming as fickle and uncaring about their ordination vows as people are about their marriage vows? Is it that easy also to divorce the truth (your spiritual darling) you once deeply cherished? One preacher is quoted as saying: “We dropped the Baptist name because we found it to be offensive and therefore a hindrance to our desired progress.” Another said: “That is not the road people want to travel nowadays.” Still a third one said: “Like any business, you must go where the traffic is, and it’s not on the Baptist boulevard any more.” Be honest with God, yourself and your people! Answer these questions.
Did you drop the Baptist name (or plan to) because (1) Creation is not true?
(2) The Old Testament prophets of God were fiction writers?
(3) Because the virgin birth was impossible?
(4) Because the One called Jesus, the Christ, was a good man but not God incarnate in flesh?
(5) Because the blood from His body on the cross was not efficacious or the only element to atone for man’s sin?
(6) Because the touted MYTH of the bodily resurrection from the grave is supported even today by numerous religious “intelligencia?”
(7) Because salvation is no longer by grace through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ alone, plus or minus nothing?
(8) Because His ascension back to the Father’s right hand is a “fairy tale?”
(9) Because He presently is the only mediator (contact or connection) between God and man?
(10) Because Christ’s return in the body is unrealistic, or certainly not soon?
(11) Because baptism is no longer the “like figure” (picture) of the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God, nor does it matter what mode, what “church”, or by what authority it is administered?
(12) Because the Lord’s Supper (Communion) is in no way exclusive but is to be in Promise Keeper’s style (everybody) where Jew, Gentile, Catholic, Moslems, Mormons and 25 other groups were “partaking” –making us all one body? Every sound-doctrine Baptist church should immediately demand public repentance from their pastor, or fire him, for breach of covenant if he partook of “communion” there or anywhere else in like manner. He is a traitor to his ordination vows!
(13) Because the old Biblical teaching such as, “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them,” (Eph.5:11); “Come out from among them and be SEPARATE,” saith the Lord; “Have no” means “don’t get started.” “Come out” means if you find yourself already in the mixture, be a “man after God’s own heart” and obey–come out! Not tomorrow but today!
(14) Because staying strong as a true Bible-believing Baptist doesn’t represent the aggressive, progressive spirit of today’s society and is destined to become obsolete and you don’t want to be behind all the religions in your city, even though you are associating with the groups that are at work toward the one world anti-Christ church, whose theme is “Tear down the walls” (of doctrine) and (differences). The fact that what a preacher gets involved in when he abandons the Baptist’s biblical beliefs of the centuries of doctrine mentioned herein can only mean– like it or not– he has moved into the camp of the compromisers, either ignorantly or in the company of those “who will not endure sound doctrine.” Because I have some good preacher friends who have been bewitched by this master-counterfeit program, I can do no less than believe that “all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for CORRECTION and for instruction in righteousness….” (2 Tim. 3:16).
Lastly, what will it be like at the Judgment seat of Christ when we stand face to face with Him Who founded the church and gave her the doctrines? It won’t be rewarding when we have to admit that for money, prestige and earthly popularity we abandoned what He first established! Could I possibly be true to God or to you who hear or read these words if I fail to give you Christ’s own instructions– “Come out of her, MY people.” (Rev.18:4). And “MY sheep hear MY voice and they follow ME.” (John 10:27). A Man of God who preach to the End. Praise God”

Genesis 41: 47-53, “Fruit in the Life of Joseph”
“And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah the priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.” Genesis 41:47-53
As God warned Pharaoh, in Genesis 41:1-8, in two frightening dreams, which the magicians and wise men could not correctly interpret, that a severe famine was coming, and how Joseph correctly interpreted the two dreams, the two dreams of Pharaoh start to happen. For seven years the earth brought plenty of food exactly how Joseph correctly interpreted the two dreams. As we read the Bible we must remember that every word, of every prophecy, will come to pass, whether or not the wise men of this world correctly understand it, and that the man of God, who correctly interprets the scripture, will be rewarded in the end.
For seven years, exactly as Joseph had prophesied, the land of Egypt brought forth the fruit of the ground in so much abundance that Joseph stopped numbering the quantity that he had stored up. God is one who causes the land to bear fruit as He so decrees it. Like the ant, Joseph stored up food, as God led him, during the time of plenty, in preparation for the time of want. “The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer.” Proverbs 30:25.
Could it be that during the time of his confinement that Joseph studied, by observation, nature, and learned how to lead men?
Joseph, a Jew, due to the envy of his brethren, was rejected, temporarily, by his own people, had a Gentile bride, and bore fruit. The Lord Jesus, a Jew, due to the envy of His brethren, was rejected, temporarily, by His own people, has a Gentile bride, and bears fruit.
John 1:10-12, “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Romans 11:11, “I say then, Have they [the Jews] stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them [the Jews] to jealousy.”
Ephesians 5:23-25, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
God is using the life of Joseph, a type of Christ, to give us, Gentiles in the church, because of His love and promises towards the Jews, a clear picture of what He is going to do with His chosen people in the last days. Like Joseph, the Lord Jesus, loves His brethren and, like Joseph, will reconcile Himself to them in the last days
The first son, Manasseh, means that God caused Joseph to forget his toil and His father's house. I think this meaning can help us. The Lord Jesus can help us in our troubles.
The second son, Ephraim, means that God caused him to be fruitful. I think that this meaning can help us also. The Lord Jesus can help us be fruitful in our toils of life. It is obvious that Joseph believed that God caused the hardship and the blessings. We need to remember that. In this life God will give us hardship and blessings. Job 1:21, “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return hither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
In Josephs era, and in our era, this world is full of temptations of the flesh, heartache, anxiety, distress, and times of unjust actions from others. We need to reminded of the words of Paul the apostle in order to encourage us in our time of toils, hardships, anxieties, and distress. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
With a wife, Asenath the daughter of Potipherah, God is starting the family of Joseph and eventually the tribe of Ephraim, and Manasseh. Proverbs 20:7 “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” The integrity of Joseph, as with the integrity of Job, has wonderful fruit.
God is starting to abundantly bless Joseph for his life of integrity and his close walk with God. Throughout the story of the life of Joseph we can see the results of the fruit of the Spirit. Joseph is an example for every believer who will decide to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Galatians 5:22-23  & 25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law… If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
At this juncture we need to consider the part of the prophecy of Zechariah in Zechariah 10:5-10.
Zechariah 10:6, “ And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them to place them; for I will have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.” And, Zechariah 10:10, “I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.” This prophecy is literal, is very clear in interpretation, cannot be applied, or given, to the church, and has not been fulfilled yet in any sense of the word.
Among many passages in the Old Testament prophets, the Lord Jesus prophesied that one day the house of Joseph would be gathered a second time out of Egypt, and bring them back to the land of Israel, “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:31
Exactly as Joseph prophesied that after seven years of plenty there would be a famine of seven years comes to past. I am reminded of the words of King Solomon when he said, “In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14
God brings prosperity, and adversity, in everyone’s life for a particular reason. When adversity comes our way, and surely it shall, then at that time we need to consider what God is trying to tell us and to let us know that, in the end, all of this life apart from God, and His perfect will, is what we should do.
And, in conclusion, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
 
 

Answer YES OR NO to these simple questions 
 
How can I get to heaven by going to church ?
By giving money to the poor  
By giving money to your church  
By memorizing a certain prayer 
By repetition of a single prayer  
By trying not to be a bad person  
BY not eating a certain meat 
By Obeying the ten commandments  
By living a drug free life  
BY not smoking or drinking alcohol  
By having a bible in your home  
By getting baptized  
By becoming a member of a church  
By talking in strange tongues  
By telling other people you are a christian  
By praying to the sun or to nature  
By praying to some prophet that lived then died  
By loving your friends and family? 
 
 
Thank you for taking time to read these questions. On Earth, there is no perfect church right now, and heaven can not be purchase in anyway or with anything.
There’s only one way that we can to get to heaven. My friends, first we must believe in Gods Words.
That tells us, that you and I are sinners, and that we all fall short to the glory of God. One day we will all die because of it, SIN.  We all must realize we are sinners, repent of our evils ways and accept Jesus Christ, as our personal savior.
Why not do this today ?
I did, in the year 1987. Then you will receive the holy spirit. He will teach you and guide you the rest of your life,
On what we should do, and what we should not do.
Note: We now live to follow Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit that is now living in us, we do not follow Man rules or traditions that try to make you earn your way to heaven, We seek Gods Word only, that are found to His Holy Bible. KJV preferred but not only.
Read the bible in the book of Romans,  Chapters 3-23  6-23  5-8  10-9 and 10-10. These verses will help and guide you closer to Christ.
Please read also John Chapter 3-16 and 3-17 in your king James Bible. I pray that God bless you and your family.
If you accepted Christ as your personal Savior today, " Praise God.” Now you need to go and find a bible preaching church that preaches Gods Word.
The Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing and by hearing Gods Word. The Holy Spirit will guide you to the right one.
Be not afraid, for the LORD will always be with you.
Thank you
E Morales with The Glory Land

Text     :           2 Timothy 3:16-17
Title     :           Abounding in Good Works
Date    :           February 25, 2018
 
1.      Furnished Unto all good works perfectly and Throughly - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Scripture perfects a man and equips him for every good work. By "perfect" is meant complete, matured, and filled. No person is complete or mature apart from Scripture. Man was made for God and he is to live by the Word of God. If he tries to live without God and His Word, man fails in life. He lives an incomplete, immature, and mis-fitted life.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
9Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. 98Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. Psalms 119:9, 98-100
11Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Isaiah 5:11
2.      Filled with all the Fullness of God  - Ephesians 3:19
And tknow the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19
The believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Spirit, Christ, and of God. When Jesus Christ was promising to send the Holy Spirit to believers, He promised that the trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—would all three come and indwell believers. The point is this: each Person of the Godhead has a different function within the believer. Therefore, the believer is to ask specific things concerning each. He has already prayed to be strengthened by the Spirit and to have Christ dwell within and control his heart. Now the believer is to pray for "all the fullness of God Himself"—for God and His presence in all its fullness to fill and flood him, ruling and reigning and having His perfect way in the life of the believer.
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 8:39
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
3.      Forwardness and sincerity in the grace of giving - 2 Corinthians 8:7
Paul does not command the Corinthians to give. If giving is forced or coerced, it benefits nothing; it does not please God. God is pleased only with gifts that are willingly and cheerfully given. He blesses only those who willingly help others. Therefore, giving must be based upon three things.
a)      Giving must be based upon love for those who are lost and needy.
b)     Giving must be based upon love for the Lord Jesus who has commanded us to go into all the world to reach and help the people of the world.
c)      Giving must be based upon the example of those who give sacrificially.
In the case of the Corinthians, they had the dynamic example of the Macedonians. The Corinthians should have been stirred to follow the example of such sacrificial giving. In our case, we should be stirred to follow the dynamic example of all those who give willingly and sacrificially.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7Therefore, as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:8
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 1 Timothy 6:17-18
Abounding in good works.docx
Edited by Mod: Added content of PDF to post

Genesis 41:37-46, “God Raises Up Joseph”
Introduction
The Psalmist said, “Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.” Psalm 113:5-8 God is going to lift Joseph out of the depths of the dungeon of Egypt, the dunghill of Egypt, the poorest of the poor, and set him above the princes of Egypt.
Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus was the poorest of the poor during His lifetime. When the soldiers crucified the Lord Jesus He only had the clothes on His bloody back and was mocked as one that was filled with the filth of the world. God so highly exalted the Lord Jesus that now He sits on the His throne on the right hand of the Father in Heaven.
Joseph gave Pharaoh wise counsel. Joseph knew that God wanted to help the nation of Egypt and his family. So, Joseph used his talents for the glory of God and was able to help other people. Joseph used his mouth to bring God glory and wisdom to give Pharaoh wise counsel. Proverbs 12:14, “A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.” We need to be like Joseph. To use our mouth for the glory of God and use wisdom to give other people counsel.
God has tested Joseph. Now Joseph is ready for God to use to help the nation of Egypt. God is going to promote Joseph from the prison to the palace. Psalm 113:7 & 8, “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.”
Joseph is a type of Christ. The Lord Jesus humbled Himself. The Lord Jesus left the glories of heaven and came to earth. The Lord Jesus became like a servant and helped other people. Philippians 2:5-8, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Joseph had this type of mind. Joseph believed that even as a slave, or prisoner, though wrongly convicted, he could serve God in the depths of prison.
The Lord Jesus – A Better Joseph
“Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:4 The Lord Jesus was better than the angels, better than Joseph, better than any saint, better than the Law, and better than Moses .
Therefore, the glory due to the Lord Jesus will be better, will exceed and surpass, all of the glory of the angels, the Law, Moses, Joseph, or any other saint.
Verse 37 - 30 Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God
God showed the interpretation of Pharaoh's two dreams to Joseph. Pharaoh knew that God gave Joseph the correct interpretation of the two dreams and that Joseph used wisdom to give Pharaoh counsel. The servants of Pharaoh also knew that God gave Joseph the correct interpretation of the two dreams. The servants saw that the counsel of Joseph was wise.
Joseph was bold in his witness. Joseph gave the glory to God for the correct interpretation of the two dreams. Joseph was filled with the Holy Spirit. Joseph walked in the Spirit. When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit he will witness like Joseph and be able to correctly interpret the scriptures.
As with the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit was with Joseph. Throughout his life, Joseph had the fruits of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22 & 23. Joseph walked in the Holy Spirit of God as Paul the apostle taught every saint to walk in the Holy Spirit of God, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25
As the Holy Spirit was with Joseph, the fulness of the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus is better than the Spirit given to Joseph. John the Baptist said, “For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” John 3:34
Verse 39 God was with Joseph
Pharaoh knew in his heart that God gave Joseph the interpretation of the two dreams. Pharaoh also said that Joseph was discreet and wise. Joseph could discern between hard choices and make wise decisions.
In Acts 7:9 & 10 we read, “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him. And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.” The brothers of Joseph, as with the Lord Jesus, were moved with envy to destroy him. But, Joseph, as with the Lord Jesus, ‘God was with him’ and delivered Joseph, and the Lord Jesus, out of their afflictions.
As God was with Joseph, in the life of the Lord Jesus, God was with the Lord Jesus in a better way. “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” John 8:29
Verse 40 -44 Pharaoh makes Joseph Governor of the land of Egypt
Psalm 113:7 & 8, “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.” God works in the lives of men, even in the poorest of conditions, and lifts up those into responsible positions of authority in order to help other people.
Now, God will give Joseph ‘favour and wisdom’ in the sight of Pharaoh. Pharaoh understood that Joseph gave the proper interpretation of the dream that God gave him. Pharaoh also understood that God gave Joseph the wisdom, discretion, and understanding that was required to save the nation of Egypt from destruction.
Pharaoh found out that Joseph ruled the house of Potiphar well, he ruled the prison well. Therefore, Pharaoh knew that Joseph could rule the land of Egypt well. Because of the wisdom, faithfulness, and discretion of Joseph in ruling previous responsibilities well, Pharaoh make Joseph ruler over Egypt. The Egyptians then bowed the knee before Joseph in recognition of his authority and position of power in the nation of Egypt.
Joseph is a Type of Christ
The Lord Jesus left heaven, humbled Himself, and became like a servant. Because the Lord Jesus was obedient and died on the Cross of Calvary; God exalted the Lord Jesus. Philippians 2: 9-11 teaches, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ”
Every Knee will bow on the Earth to the Lord Jesus
The glory that Joseph had in Egypt was great. Every knee bowed before him and all of the Egyptians were a witness to his wisdom and discretion in leadership for the physical salvation of the nation.
The glory of the Lord Jesus will be far better than than the glory of Joseph. One day, on the face of the earth, the knee of the people of the different nations of the world, will bow to the Lord Jesus as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. The prophet Zechariah prophesied, “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” Zechariah 14:16 & 17
The prophecy by the prophet Zechariah of all of the nations, or families, bowing before the King, the LORD of hosts, in Jerusalem, during the feast of Tabernacles, has not been fulfilled, in any sense of the word, since Zechariah penned this prophecy.
Every Knee will Bow in Heaven to the Lord Jesus
One day, at the Great White Throne of Judgment, as written in Revelation 20:11-15, every person that has lived on the earth, will bow the knee before Jesus and confess that He is lord. Revelation 20:11-15 says, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which are written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
The knee of Buddha will bow. The knee of Confucius will bow. The knee of every Taoist will bow. The knee of every lost politician, the knee of every atheist, the knee of every agnostic, the knee of every lost religious hypocrite and false teacher. Every individual from every county, in every culture, will confess that Jesus is Lord to give God the glory.
Verse 45 Joseph gets married.
Joseph was a Hebrew: a Jew. His wife was a Gentile: Egyptians are Gentiles.
The Lord Jesus is a Hebrew: a Jew. The wife of the Lord Jesus, the church, is mostly Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:6, “That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.”
Ephesians 5:23-25, “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
The Bride of Christ is the church. One day, in heaven the church will be without spot or wrinkles, and we will be sanctified wholly. The ‘spot’ and ‘wrinkles’ are the false doctrines, false teachers, false teachings, and insincere motives and lack of holiness and sanctification of the saints in the local congregations. We ought to love the church. If a person loves the Lord Jesus than he will love the church.
Verse 46 Joseph's History
Joseph was 17 years old when his brothers sold him into slavery. Now Joseph is 30 years old and is exalted as the ruler of Egypt. For 13 years Joseph was a slave or in prison. Initially, the brothers of Joseph were going to kill Joseph and the life of Joseph would have ended when he was 17 years old. “And when they [the brothers of Joseph] saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.” Genesis 37:18 If Joseph would have died at age 17 than he would not have been made ruler of Egypt at 30 years of age. At 30 years old, at he prime of his life, Joseph was exalted.
In the history of man, when a person dies, death means the end of his ability to rule, the ability to obtain fame, and the ability to do his will. A lot of men, especially in time of war, are cut down in the prime of life.
Even in death, the Lord Jesus was better. The Lord Jesus was cut down, crucified on the cross, died, in the prime of His life. If the Lord Jesus was an ordinary man than that would have been the end of His career. But, the Lord Jesus was ‘better’ than man and rose from the dead. The resurrection from the dead by the Lord Jesus gives us the eternal hope of eternal salvation and a new body in heaven.
The Lord Jesus was perfect, sinless, and righteous in every aspect of the word in word and deed. And, after He died, was resurrected and then entered into His glory in heaven. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 1:1-3
As with Joseph, so will the Lord Jesus rule the world in the proper timing of the Father in heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” The history of the Lord Jesus is far better than the history of Joseph and the end has not been fulfilled as of yet; nor will the history ever be fulfilled. The exaltation of the Lord Jesus will be far better than the exaltation of Joseph in Egypt.