Faith of our Fathers: Joseph
Short Summary:
This sermon uses the biblical story of Joseph to illustrate how God blesses believers even amidst hardship. The key point is that by being "forgetful" of past troubles and "fruitful" in present obedience to God, individuals can experience God's blessings regardless of their circumstances. The sermon emphasizes a commitment to integrity and a life of obedience as crucial for experiencing these blessings. A practical application is suggested: a "watch fast," where participants remove their watches for a day to symbolize trusting God's timing.
Detailed Summary:
The transcript is a sermon delivered by Dr. Abraham Cavilla, introduced by a friend who recounts how God guided Dr. Cavilla's journey from Kuwait to the church. The introduction highlights the speaker's diverse accomplishments as a dermatologist, theologian, seminary professor, and Christian writer.
Section 1: Introduction and Anecdote:
The sermon begins with a humorous anecdote about a man experiencing a series of unfortunate events involving a motorcycle accident and a house fire. This sets the stage for discussing how to cope with difficult times.
Section 2: Joseph's Story and God's Blessings:
The sermon focuses on the biblical story of Joseph in Genesis 39. It highlights how Joseph was blessed by God both during his enslavement and imprisonment. The speaker emphasizes the repeated phrase "Yahweh was with Joseph" and how God caused Joseph to prosper in both situations. The striking similarity in wording between the beginning and end of Genesis 39 is noted, emphasizing God's consistent blessing despite Joseph's circumstances.
Section 3: The Key to Joseph's Blessing:
The sermon argues that the key to Joseph's blessings lies in the middle section of Genesis 39 (verses 7-9). Joseph's refusal of Potiphar's wife's advances, despite his difficult situation, is presented as an example of committed obedience to God. The speaker emphasizes Joseph's "forgetfulness" of his past suffering and his "fruitfulness" in present obedience.
Section 4: "Forgetful" and "Fruitful": A Call to Action:
The sermon introduces the concepts of "being forgetful" (of past and future troubles) and "being fruitful" (in present obedience to God) as the path to experiencing God's blessings. It uses Joseph's children's names (Manasseh and Ephraim) to illustrate these points. The speaker challenges the congregation to live with integrity and to overcome sinful habits.
Section 5: The "Watch Fast" and Conclusion:
The sermon concludes with a call to action: a "watch fast," where the congregation removes their watches for the day as a symbolic act of trusting God's timing. This is presented as a practice for facing future trials and tribulations. The sermon ends with a prayer and a closing song. The speaker emphasizes that even though immediate success may not always be apparent, God's blessings are assured for those who are forgetful and fruitful. The final example is the story of Alan Gardner, a missionary who found a deep sense of God's goodness even in the face of death.