When Passing THROUGH Prison
Genesis 39:20 (ESV) And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison.
13 years from being sold into slavery until he steps out onto the platform of leading a notation
2 years of prison
You will experience seasons of the unexpected, where you are wronged, where things feel unfair, where you cry out to God, “WHY?”
These seasons are “outside the will of God,” outside the will of God, and yet God redeems these seasons and prepares us during them for our platform.
Run To GOD, Not From GOD
Bitterness:
Blame the devil, not God or people
Unforgiveness for others drives people from God
Unforgiveness toward God drives people from God
2 Samuel 22:2–4 (ESV) He said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Be Confident God Is With You & Working For You
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 43:1–3 (ESV) But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Get A Word From GOD
Ezekiel 11:14 (ESV) And the word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 12:21 (ESV) And the word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 12:26 (ESV) And the word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 16:1 (ESV) Again the word of the LORD came to me:
Work To Escape, But Do Not Bail
James 1:2–4 (ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Serve Others, Accumulate People
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
1 Samuel 22:1–2 (ESV) David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.
Bloom In Prison
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Lean Into Supernatural Giftings
Because there is a burn, it’s like fasting
Great opportunity to connect with the Spirit
1 Corinthians 13:13–14:1 (ESV) So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
Don’t Complicate Your Situation With Sin
Big picture focus
No culdesacs
Israelites in desert - tents
1 Corinthians 10:1–6 (ESV) For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
Only Joshua/Caleb experienced the promised land