The Bible says, “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Gen. 39:2)
By Michael Adekoya – Dear Reader, listen! Blessing comes sometimes by association and by name identification; so also curse. Who do you hang around with? Who is your partner? What is your name? What is your relationship and your fellowship with God? There’s a refrain in the life of Joseph that says, “…and the Lord God was with him.” Amidst all the difficulties that Joseph faced, at each and every turn, the Lord God was with him. That is what our daily lives in 2024 should be about.
Joseph was given a mark of nobility – the robe of many colours. You may ask, “What does that mean?” My friend, when God saved you, He made you original and unique. He restored you to the original position before the fall of mankind through Adam. As a child of God, you are a prince or a princess. You are a co-heir with Christ (Gal. 4:7). You’re a twice-born person in a world of once-born people. You are different! The Bible calls you a peculiar people (Deut. 14:2, 1 Peter 2:9). It is time to express your God-given difference.
Let God put a dream in your heart. God spoke to Joseph through a dream. He may speak to you some other way. But the point is this: God has a plan for your life. Would you like to know God’s plan and His will for your life? Romans 12:1-2 holds the secret: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Here is the formula. Presentation + transformation = realization. My friend, it is now time to present yourself to God and to nobody or nothing else.
My friend, it is important for you to know that when there’s a God-given dream, there will be some God-allowed difficulties. Joseph was scorned by his blood brothers. He was thrown into a pit. He was sold as a slave. He was falsely accused. He languished in prison. Was God out of control? Not for a second. Why? Because God loved him and he carried the presence of God! Rom. 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Hear me! God loves you but He is going to allow you (not cause you) to have difficulties in life. Do you have a dream that lies shattered? God is not through with you yet. No matter what Satan does, no matter what happens, God is in control! Abide in Him and in His Word. Endure your difficulties and God will come through for you.
One philosopher said that God is a circle whose centre is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. There’s nowhere where God is not. When the Bible says that God was with Joseph, it means that God was for him. God was always working on his behalf. God was fighting for Him. He carried the favour of God everywhere. When he entered Potiphar’s house, he brought the favour of God with him. When he went to Pharaoh’s palace, he preserved and prospered the entire nation. My friend, do you know what I want? I want God to be with me. I want something about Michael Adekoya that you cannot explain apart from the fact that God is with him. I don’t want God to take His hand, His Spirit or His presence off of my life. I’m His temple. God has tabernacle inside of me. His presence is in me and His favour is upon my life. How about you?
God is doing a unique work around the world today. He is raising up Josephs throughout the world. Some are still in the “pit” stage of their pilgrimage, while others have attained the position of fruitfulness. You may ask, “What does it take for a person to become a true Joseph?” My friend, it takes years of preparation and testing to be a true Joseph. It takes what the Psalmist says, “He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them – Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles; his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. The king sent and released him; the ruler of peoples set him free” (Psalm 105:16-20).
A true Joseph is one who is a carrier of God’s presence and favour. He is a provider both spiritually and materially for people. It is a person who understands that he is simply a custodian of all that God has entrusted to him. It is a person who has humility and a broken and contrite heart before God. But how does God prepare modern-day Josephs? Modern-day Josephs are prepared through their own versions of bruised feet, with shackles and necks put in irons. It is often through the adversity, trials, troubles, failed finances or broken dreams. My friend, do you want to be a carrier of God’s presence? These are the things God will use to allow you to be proven by His Word. Once proven, God will bring you out of your pit, out of your prison and use you mightily for His purposes. Joseph went through his own trials – not because of any failure, but because of an incredible calling upon his life to save and provide for an entire nation.
God prepared Moses for 40 years, prepared Jesus for 30 years and had to prepare Joseph with 13 years of broken dreams and humble circumstances in order to break every ounce of pride and self-will. God could not afford to have a 30-year-old steeped in arrogance and pride running an entire nation. My friend, don’t be discouraged with what you are going through today. There is a dream and a giant inside of you. You are under preparation, so present yourself to God. Never forget that Presentation + transformation = realization.
My friend, are you willing to allow God to do whatever it takes for you to become a true Joseph who carries His presence and favour? Ask the Lord today to do whatever is necessary to fully use your time, talents and treasures for His eternal Kingdom. Remain blessed!
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