Chapel Messages
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Dr. Bob WoodGod’s Will for Our Work ~ Genesis 50:15-26
Listen:
The book of Genesis covers over 2,000 years of history. One-fourth of the book is the history of one man – Joseph. There is nothing negative written about Joseph in the entire Bible. He was a man of faith (Hebrews 11:22). Joseph was a type of Christ.
God had a will for Joseph’s work, and He has a will for you. Joseph never thought God would use him to feed the people of Egypt as well as his own people. How did Joseph find out God’s will for his life? He surrendered his will to follow God’s will.
God has a specific will for you; He created you for a purpose. It is often hard for people to find God’s will because we want to do what we want. Joseph was in the place God had for him.
Can you say that you’re in God’s place for you? You will never find God’s will for your life if you’re in the wrong place. When you’re where God wants you to be, don’t complain; find out why He wants you in that place.
Ask God to make His will clear to you and determine to do it. Jesus surrendered His will to His Father even to death on the Cross (John 4:34). As in Joseph’s life, God may have you in a certain place in order to train you, and it may not always be a comfortable place.
Joseph accepted what he could not change. While in training, Joseph learned what it was like to be a slave, to be falsely accused and sent to prison. He learned how to handle enemies, even those in his own family. When you’re in the will of God, you will always have enemies.
In God’s sovereign will, things will turn out for good (Romans 8:28). Joseph knew this concept when he was placed in the pit by his brothers and when he was in Potiphar’s house and in prison. These were all things he could not control. Only God could control them; therefore, they were for his good.
When there is something in your life that you can’t control, take it to the Lord Who can control all things. You can see the hand of the Lord in Joseph’s life. This same great God has His hand upon you.
God has you at this place at this time for a purpose. God is calling His people to turn back to Him. If you miss the will of God, you’ll miss the thing that would be most satisfying to your heart.
Your work is always about the future (Luke 19:13). The Lord Jesus will return to this earth. He will check on what you’ve done with the talents He gave you. Have you surrendered your will to His?
Joseph was where God wanted him to be and had no regrets or bitterness. Do you have regrets? Are you bitter? In order to have a life free from regret and bitterness, you must forgive others and be kind (Matthew 11:25; Ephesians 4:31-32).
If you don’t understand what is happening in your life, ask God to reveal His will to you and then do it. You’ll have the happiness of knowing you’ve fulfilled God’s will.
