Charlotte’s Hope Church
Spiritual Resilience - Genesis 39, Matthew 14
If you want to know who God is, look at Jesus.
If you want to know what it means to be human, look at Jesus.
If you want to know what love is, look at Jesus.
If you want to know what grief is, look at Jesus.
And go on looking until you’re not just a spectator, but your actually part of the drama which has him as the central character.
N.T. Wright
Matthew 14:28-30 ESV
We have looked so far at…
1. God’s Pattern of Calling us to Him.
2. The High Cost of Staying in the Boat
3. Taking the first step
Today - Spiritual Resilience
To examine Spiritual Resilience today, we will take our eyes off of Peter and look at another man in the Bible who stepped out with God into an incredible storm.
JOSEPH – the ultimate good news/ bad news story
1. Resilient People Refuse to Become Victims of Their Circumstances
Genesis 39:20-21 ESV
When we step out of the boat and the realities of the storms hit, we must remember…WE ARE NOT ON OUR OWN. WE ARE WALKING WITH JESUS!
Growth happens when you decide to be wholly faithful in a situation that you do not like or cannot understand. REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM!
2. Resilient People Remain Committed to Their Values When Tempted to Compromise
Genesis 39:6-9 ESV
Loyalty to values even when it means suffering is a powerful catalyst for character formation.
Joseph decided he would rather face life with the Lord and possibly have NOTHING than face life without the Lord and have EVERYTHING.
3. Resilient People Find Meaning and Purpose in the Storm.
Genesis 39:21-23 ESV
Genesis 40:6-7 ESV
When life does not turn out the way you plan, you forget that other people face disappointment too.
He treats disgraced prisoners like human beings – HE NOTICES THEM, ASKS ABOUT THEM, AND EXPRESSES GENUINE INTEREST IN THEM.
AND BY NOTICING THEM, JOSEPH GIVES MEANING TO HIS PRESENCE IN PRISON.
James 1:2-4 ESV
Genesis 50:20 ESV
Circumstances or other people are not in control of your character or of the life that lies endlessly before us in the Kingdom of God.
Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord.
Peter Walked on the Water but it wasn’t about walking on water.
Jesus invited him to the great adventure of greater faith and showed him what we always need to remember — He will not abandon us…even when we See the Wind, take our eyes of of Him and sink.