FROM GRASS TO GRACE

GENESIS 37-45

“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember you made it though, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, where the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be the same person who walked in. That is what this storm is all about” Haruki Murakami.

“Happiness is not the absence of problems, it is the ability to deal with them “Steve Maraboli”

“Every problem is a gift-without problems we would not grow” Anthony Robins.

“The problem with temptation is that you may not get another chance” Laurence J. Peter

“The universe is so well balanced that the mere fact that you have a problem also serves as a sign that there is a solution” Steve Maraboli

“In a day if you don’t come across any problems, you can be sure you are travelling in a wrong way” Swami Vivekananda

“Whatever kind of problem you encounter in your life remember that there are positive sides to that, so don’t keep your head down. Look up and smile”

“The race of life will not be measured by the humility of your starting, but by the greatness of your finish” Paul Tergat

GRACE:

            God’s un-merited favor

            It is kindness from God we do not deserve.

            There is nothing we have done or can do to earn this favor

            It is a gift from God

            It is divine assistance given to human beings for their regeneration (rebirth) or sanctification.

GRASS:

            Any plan of the family Gramineae, having jointed stems, sheathing leaves and seed like grains

MERCY:

That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries or to treat an offender better than he deserves

Forgiveness for what I am supposed to pay for.

JOSEPH:

            Increase

            Addition

John 10.10 “The thief comes not, but to steal, kill and destroy: I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly”.

Joseph from this scripture we have read was a type of Christ.

Jacob was a father to twelve off springs of 4 mothers

Rivalry between Jacob’s 2 wives and 2 concubines caused much dissention in the family.

Joseph and Benjamin were the only beloved children of Rachael.

Jacob loved Joseph who typified an access, success and abundance

The 8 children of Leah combined hated Joseph with all hatred or passion if you so like to say

Genesis 37.4

“And when his brothers that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully with him”.

Shechem:

            Jacob had purchased land, Genesis 33.19

 ¹⁹ And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money.

            Jacobs 2 sons, Simeon & Levi, killed Shechem who raped their sister, Dinah

It could be dangerous for Jacob to allow his sons to stay for long to avoid backlash and revenge.

So Joseph was sent on a peaceful, graceful mission.

But the brothers’ reaction changed into somewhat the unexpected

Does it sound a bell?

Can you recall those instances or let me put it plain are you in a Joseph situation?

Think about it and do something.

Like Joseph you are not alone but under the watchful eye of the master surgeon of the soul, Yahweh.

Jipe moyo usiliye, vumilia kitambo kidogo.

Allow me to stir you a little bit.

How painful is the wound inflicted by a brother/sister or let me stretch it to your closest relative, fill in the gaps.

The grace experience is not always enjoyable; however, it is a season none of us can manage to run away from. When it comes, ask for the favor and grace to go through and not over.

Even you work mates can give you a Joseph moment, church members as well.

A Reuben may try to stand with but he may not manage the threats on his life or machinations by the enemy (brothers, sisters or friends) name it.

Joseph’s grace moments were not momentarily:-

1.      Brother threw him into the pit

2.      Pulled him out and sold him as a slave and changed his title from brother to slave

3.      Ripped off his robe of many colors (spiritual nakedness). Jesus had a similar experience

4.      Imagine his cries while in the pit yet the brothers were busy  enjoying the food he had brought for them.

How would you have reacted if it were you when you meet them later on?

1.      Grass is not an enjoyable place to find yourself in

2.      It is not an experience to anticipate

3.      It wears you out (physically, psychologically, spiritually and emotionally).

4.      It is a degrading position meant to shame you

5.      It is equivalent to being ashamedly undressed just as my lord Jesus was undressed

6.      It is meant to show you that you are better of dead than alive

And Joseph was not in such a situation once but severally

May be an issue has cropped up and you are up in arms looking for instant solutions everywhere.

Beloved of God give me your ears and kindly listen to this voice

I am here as God’s prophet to tell you that weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.

Be reminded that the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the lord

No. 2 Grass experience in Potipher’s house

The price of PURITY

-You will be called names

-good for nothing

-non performer

-coward

But let me take you back

When Joseph arrived in Egypt and may be you arrived in your Egypt

This may be the place of catching some breadth and you are like praise the lord finally I am free from those brats!

Like Peter you are saying lord let’s build here three tents, one for Elijah, Moses and Jesus.

Better listen to this voice before you today.

Joseph is employed and is only second in command

From a slave to a number two, because he dared to dream Godly dreams

Calling him names but dreaming he is not sopping either!

His only exception in Pharaoh’s wife!

Joseph whatever he touches succeeds.

 It grows and abounds bringing froth 30%, 60% and 100%

Whatever Joseph lays his hands on turns into Gold

How about that?

I guess he might have said “at last I am appreciated, valued needed and loved”

But how wrong that thought could have been

May be he declared “now I can manage some rest”!

Allow me to challenge you that perfect rest is only found in Jesus the Christ

Mathew 11.28

“Come unto me all you who are heavily laden and I will give you rest.

                                                                                                            Reaching

                                                                                                            Eternity

                                                                                                            Surely/Safely

                                                                                                            Trusting

The problem was Mrs. Portiphar

What could be your problem?

i)                    Pride

ii)                  Lack of knowledge

iii)                Pornography

iv)                Masturbation

v)                  The job you have

vi)                Family issue

But Joseph could not be manipulated!

Know how sex is marketed out there as the in thing for our young men and girls

It is the determinant of what are the so called ‘rightful bragging rights”

But I am here to announce try it before marriage, you are defiled together with your whole body

So Joseph decided never right there and then and was not ready to listen to any more seduction.

Friend when is the last time you ran away from sin?

Two things he decide to do and very quick he did them whatever the consequences

 He was here to protect his purity before men and God

1.      Trust

2.      Consciousness

So he got into trouble and once again sunk from grace to grass!

What an experience?

This was not a movie or a video as they say in the streets!

It was happening real time in broad day light

Kama ni wewe ungefanya nini?

Does this sink in us?

What does it remind us of?

Is pastor sounding boring or old fashioned?

Are we communicating?

For communication I am here for indeed!

If we are communicating please wave your hands to Jesus

So from the palace, Joseph lands in the prison, Gen 40.4

⁴ And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while.

No sooner does he land there, than he is appointed a senior attendant

Kwani what is not happening you might wonder?

What type of soap opera is this?

Allow me friends to decode this jigsaw puzzle for us

Mercy most of the time appears where you do not expect it to.

Just like angels you don’t know when they come calling

And this is why many at times we have missed out on God’s graceful hand.

Many at times while in “prison” it is easy to overlook the suffering of other people especially if you are suffering and in deep pain. The wine battler is our perfect example.

Do not loose your vigor for God just because there are mountains in and outside your life

Transform into a Joseph and become a problem solver

And remember never do good in anticipation for payment

If this has been your modus oparendi then today decide to have a paradigm shift.

Joseph tried this “kuonewa woiye” and it did not work for two good years.

Do not try for you will be disappointed miserably.

Child of the Most High don’t dare try resting here.

This is not our home. We have not yet reached destination rest!

Finally he comes out and grace shines her bright light to Joseph.

Genesis 41.37-41

³⁷ So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. ³⁸ And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

I feel within me right away, someone’s life is brightening immediately.

I believe transformation and mindsets are shifting right now in Jesus’ name.

When grace and mercy appears, the devil will not stop there after all he comes but to steal, kill and destroy.

20 years after his brothers sinned against him, they appear in persons to him again.

What could you have felt if it were you?

•perfect time for revenge

•make sure they pay for all your sufferings

NOT THE JOSEPH OF THE BIBLE

He understood the meaning of forgiveness

Genesis 43.8-23

But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house.

They said we are being brought in because of the money returned in our sacks last time.

He wants to capture us and make us his slaves and take our donkeys.

Ever thought like that

That is what I call a narrow mindset and skewed worldview.

When Joseph arrived, his brothers fulfilled Genes 37.5-11

⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. ⁶ So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”
⁸ And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
⁹ Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
¹⁰ So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Have you gotten to such a place as Joseph’s, Genesis 47.7?

⁷ Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 

This is what I call GRACE and MERCY meeting together and the results are:-

i)                    Stretches out love

ii)                  Pour out repentance

iii)                Confession and forgiveness without shame

iv)                Gives out self and worth/property or wealth.

v)                  Attracts blessing

Genesis 48.21-22, 17.6, 16, 2Samuel7.14, 29.10-12

I am here to announce that a Joseph is about to be birthed in some could you be the one

As we stand up, kindly reflect over your thoroughly

As a steward of Jehovah, have you been sober at all times?

Are there times you have been flexible with sin and even played hide and seek?

How many people have you not released from you life 20 years back now?

Who is your Portiphar’s wife in your life?

Who are they that have sold you all this long it is time to arise from the grass and climb up to grace!

I declare grace and mercy in operation now!

I decree favor now in the name of Jesus Christ

Holy spirit encounter is now

Friends it is time to align ourselves to for non of us knows the hour or the time the son of man is coming

It is time for repentance

It is time for encounter with Jesus Christ

It is time for regeneration

Yes new birth is taking place right now

Arise and tap into he saving grace of God

Believe it, Act it and Live it in Jesus' name!

And now may the face of the lord shine upon you and may favor and mercy be your portion both now and forever more, amen and amen!!