The Teenager Who Changed the World - II

The following message from Pastor Greg Laurie is made possible by harvest partners, helping people everywhere know God check out virtue our website for Christian women go to harvest.org/virtue is reserved when you forgive someone you so the prisoner free you're so withholding will eat you up inside. Forgiveness isn't letting someone off today. Pastor Greg Moore report show is really more of a pathway to peace for so you think you're hurting the nose giving her you want to live a happy, healthy, was life, learn how to say the words forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Thomas Fuller once wrote you that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself. Every man is need to be forgiven today on a new beginning.

Pastor Greg Laurie takes us to the life of Joseph outstanding biblical example and what can become selfless action were studying the Bible's great Genesis chapter 41.

The title of the message is the teenager who changed the world.

And the story of Joseph we discover how we can overcome, envy, how we can face adversity how we can resist sexual temptation and have faith in the promises of God with the most significant take away. I think in the life of Joseph is how to forgive those who have horribly wrong view in all that he went through, he was able to say to his brothers who betrayed him will get to that in the moment. It was not you who sent me here God and Joseph were to have a life versus percent been written when he was alive because this is the book of Genesis lifers. It would've surely been Romans 828 when it says so. We know that all things work together for good to those that love God and other called according to his purpose… Let's start him as a kid. He was favored by his father.

His dad noted on him, even giving him a special coat now.

Maybe you've heard it called the coat of many colors of that's a King James translation, see what I was was sort of a longsleeved tunic and something that you would wear maybe to one wonderful event while his brothers probably had outfits and cutoff sleeves are working the box on an old Joseph would show up and is super cool called and kinda walk around and looking at them and they were very envious. Why doesn't he afterward got here like the rest of us and then to make matters worse, he writes out his brothers because home and tells on them to his dad and the resenting, the more more every day. So much so they think.

Let's just kill wow really yes they decided they wanted to kill their young brother and and there were about to do it. They change their mind when a group of Midianite slave traders were traveling by and they sold their brother for 20 pieces of silver. So now he's purchased by a man named Potter for Bodiford was a very powerful man, but Zapata ever had a really psycho wife and so she looks at this very handsome muscular young man and that she was far from subtle to this basically said why don't you have sex with me right now and he was like no way he ran from her which was the right thing to do because he was a godly young man, what is she do she falsely accuses him of rape and Potter first sends him to prison. By the way, I think part of her new Joseph was innocent, but he had to live with this psycho cougar check so he went along with it. So that brings us to the next stage of Joseph life as he is imprisoned because it felt like God had forgotten him. But the Bible gives us one very important detail Genesis 3921 it says the Lord was with Joseph. Meanwhile, over in Egypt and the court of the Pharaoh, the most powerful man on the planet had a very unusual dream.

Pharaoh dreamt that he missed any by the Nile River and out of the river came seven healthy fat cows gazing among the reeds and after that came seven other cows who were ugly and God, and they ate up the seven healthy jobs and he woke up in a panic. What is this dreaming so he calls and all of his magicians and people that are supposed to interpret dreams for him and nobody was able to interpret it.

Genesis 41 verse 14 Pharaoh sent for Joseph and once he was brought hastily from the dungeon.

After a quick shave and a change of clothes. He went in and stood in Pharaoh's presence. I had a dream last night. Pharaoh told him, and none of these men can tell me what it means but I heard that you can interpret dreams. That's why called for you. Joseph boldly responds Genesis 4116.

It is beyond my power to do this but God will tell you what it means, and he will set you ready. He was bold listening. He's going to tell the Pharaoh know what this dream is all about not only telling the meaning of the dream he's going to tell him dreams is okay for this is what's going on those those seven cows that are ugly and gaunt, eating the other cows.

Here's what it means you can have a time of famine. You're not going to have enough food for your kingdom. So you need to start setting food aside now when the famine comes in. If you do this you love enough food to get you through the hard times and you need to put someone over the food supply as your starting to put it together all the magicians or think me me me and Pharaoh says I want you son and all of a sudden Joseph will resist the night before and it dungeon is now the second most powerful man in the world ruling over the food supply of Egypt. Unbelievable turn of events. So Joseph gets married. He has two sons, one he names Manasseh, the other if ram the meaning of their names are revealing. Manasseh means God is made me forget all of my hardship any prior means God is made been fruitful in the land of my affliction, so that sums up his life perfectly.

He was, not controlled by hate and bitterness. He was able to forgive his brothers and forgive Potiphar and forgive Potter first wife and of the story ended here would've been an amazing one, but instead it culminates with one of the most amazing demonstrations of forgiveness ever extent so fast forward many years.

Time is past Joseph looks like a completely different guy and and what happened was the famine came just as Joseph predicted, and so meanwhile back home with the family there all hungry and they hear that back in Egypt are over in Egypt they have a lot of food so the family of Joseph goes to get food from him and they show up in this court, and he looks at them and recognizes his brothers but they don't recognize him. So he starts peppering them with questions about what's going on in. Ask questions and only a brother would know. And then this amazing scene unfolds. Genesis 45 rating from the new living translation, starting at verse one. Joseph couldn't stand it any longer. All of you. He cries of the attendant wanted to be alone with his brothers when he told them who he was. Then he broke down and wept. A lot of the sobs could be heard throughout the palace and the news was quickly carried to Pharaoh's palace and then Joseph said, I am Joseph.

They were stunned to realize Joseph was standing there in front of them. Come over here. He said they came closer and he said I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold in Egypt but don't be angry with yourselves and you did this to me. For God did it underlying that don't be angry with yourselves or what you did to me. For God did it and sent me here ahead to preserve your lives. There what gave Joseph the grace to make a statement like that you're taking notes is point number one Joseph knew that God is sovereign.

Joseph knew that God is sovereign. What is that mean to say that God is sovereign, means that he is in control and he does not make mistakes.

To say that God is sovereign is saying nothing comes in the life of a Christian. It is not been first approved by God. Again the names that Joseph gave to his own boys say in all he had really put his past behind him, and he knew God was always in control even in the hard times.

Listen God is sovereign in your life right now as well. Something's happening to you. That is not making sense in the Lord is close the door and you thought he should left it open.

But God is in control. Joseph knew that you need to know that and I need to know that number two. Joseph knew that God is good, so he knew God is sovereign but he also knew that God is good. Therefore, the things that come into my life by God's sovereignty are ultimately for my benefit and for other it's for my benefit and for others.

Again, as Joseph said to his brothers, you meant it for evil against me, but God meant it for good, because Joseph love God no matter what came his way.

No matter wicked its origin.

God would turn it around for good.

Back to Romans 828.

It does not say that God makes bad things, good order does say is God brings good things despite the bad for we know that all things work together for good to those that love God. Notice it does not say. We know that some thing work together for good or we know that all only the happy things work together for good, though it says we know that all things work together for good to those who love God Mr. Greg Laurie led the second half of this message in just a moment, emails, letters and phone calls from listeners are so encouraging to us and they let us know the effectiveness of the studies Pastor Greg I listen to almost daily. Your words have strengthened my faith and help me in my everyday life.

You are a true blessing to me. When we hear from you.

It's also a blessing to us, and it confirms that the program is touching lives here in this community and if you have a comment or story to share, send it to Pastor Greg's email address is greg@harvest.org that's great@harvest.org will today.

Pastor Greg is presenting a message called the teenager who changed the world a look at an outstanding example of forgiveness in the life of Joseph. Let's continue the final thing in the most important thing that stands out in the story is his forgiveness for giving no CS Lewis said his paraphrase. Everyone thinks forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have someone to forget right all yes I'm all for forgiveness. Forgive me. I know I virtue forgive me but that I wanted. What about when it's time for you to forgive someone that is heard you a study on forgiveness found that 75% of those who were surveying believe that God forgive them for past sins, but of those who are cold only 52% said they had forgiven others Houston we have a problem. What Jesus teaches in the Lord's prayer is that after this manner therefore you should pray our father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as what as we forgive those who have sinned against us or forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespass against us. Listen forgiven people should be forgiving people listen to this. If you want to live a happy, healthy and blessed life.

Learn how to forgive what because life is filled with hurt and disappointments is an and as you get older you will see this for yourself. We've all been hurt in life sometimes we don't mean to do it but we heard others in life and that is why I must forgive others know someone is hurt you. You may regard them as an enemy you know you bristle when you think about the listen you are commanded to forgive them of forgiveness is not simply suggested in Scripture. It is commanded in Scripture Ephesians 432 says be kind tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.

Colossians 313 says bear with one another. Forgive one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, as Christ forgave you. Even so, you must do. You might say I can never forgive the person talk when I see that person.

They make me cringe.

Or maybe that's a problem there seem to much of the wrong person try shifting your glance away from the one who hurt you and set your eyes on the one who saved you, let me say that again before I say it again.

Let me give credit where credit is due.

This is a statement for my friend Max, the Cato and I quote again. Try shifting your glance away from the one who hurt you and set your eyes on the one who saved you very good statement, which arise in the one who hanging on the cross, said father forgive them for they know not what they do.

But what does it mean to forget because I don't think why I can't forgive and forget. Listen to this forgiveness is not condoning or dismissing someone's bad behavior. Let me say this again.

Forgiveness is not condoning or dismissing someone's bad behavior. It's not even reconciliation always because that's not always possible for to give means I'm surrendering my right to get even means I'm not didn't pay that person back though they may deserve payback big time.

I'm actually going to put them in the hands of God, because Romans 1219 says never take vengeance into your own hands, my dear friends stand back and let God punish you if you will, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. If you don't forgive your choosing to hate you know it's interesting the Bible gives 76 different word pictures for forgiveness. But the main word that is used in the New Testament for forgiving means to release to release to release yourself from something. Forgiveness is writing canceled over a dead in Scripture cancel this is on canceling this debt, I'm not going to be held by constraint of this any longer and listen if you're married in a really need to learn how to forgive.

Ruth Graham married to Billy Graham was once asked what the secret of a strong and lasting marriage was and she said successful marriage is made up of two good for givers. You have to learn how to be a forgive her. It's been said, when you forgive someone you set a prisoner free yourself, but to withhold forgiveness will eat you up inside. Studies have been done. I just read one today from Harvard that determined that if you want to be a happy person number one winning the lottery will not make you happy but they said if you want to be happy.

Forgive others. They found there's a direct connection between forgiveness of others and personal happiness. Listen.

Forgiveness isn't giving into another person. It's getting free of that person when they don't deserve it. It's not about deserving I'm talking about you right now you think you're hurting them by harboring a grudge against them nose getting hurt you.

You know it's like come. It's like taking rat poison and eating and waiting for the wrath of God ransacking a dot unit and so when I harbor anger and bitterness toward a person, even if they've heard me the person I'm destroying is not that person gets me actually. So you must forgive one person put it this way, the first to apologize is the bravest, the first of forgive is the strongest the first of forget is the happiest I like Joseph change the world because his world was changed first and I wonder if I'm talking to somebody that's bound up and bitterness right now you have a minute able to forgive.

You need to. I think the more you know about God's willingness to forgive you, the more you'll be willing to extend that same forgiveness to others heard about a Sunday school teacher who asked her class about forgiveness.

She said kids. What does a person need to do to receive forgiveness from God was a short pause in the small boy spoke up and said you have to sin, not the answers he was looking for think she was hoping someone would say we ought to repent and be sorry for it while you you have to sin. So we've all done that have away and so if we sin we need forgiveness and the good news is, God promises in verse John 19, we will confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let me close with this Joseph such an amazing guy you know there's not one negative thing said about him and all of those chapters in Genesis and the Bible you know will show us the flaws of of the people God used. There's plenty of critical things said about Abraham and even Moses said and that Jacob the father of Joseph, and in many others, but there's nothing critical said about this young man. I am not saying he didn't sin but I'm just saying that he lived a pretty amazing life and it's interesting to sort of compare Joseph to Jesus. Joseph was sold by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver. Jesus was betrayed by one of his disciples for 30 pieces of silver.

Joseph was thought dead, but he was alive. Jesus laid in the tomb thought dead rose again from the dead.

Joseph forgave those who betrayed him. Jesus did the same coming back to that statement on the cross, father forgive them for they know not what they do. Who was he talking about is talking about that Roman soldier who pounded the spikes into his hands and feet. He was talking about that religious leader that played a role in sending them to the court of Caiaphas and ultimately to the cross. He was talking about all those people that were culpable and he said father forgive them. They know not what they do and you know what it was that statement that woke up a hardened criminal. Because as Jesus hung on the cross he keeps all of those people gathered before him, and he was in great anguish. But then he said father forgive them for they know not what they do and immediately that the food was not so probably not a people all but a hardened criminal.

Probably a terrorist murderer because the Romans did not crucify thieves what they did crucify insurrectionist and that's probably what that meant was, he says to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come in your kingdom of Jesus as the day you will be with me in paradise. She initially he joined the crowd a mocking Jesus saying he saved others and them save himself if he is a semi-God then Jesus says father forgive them for they know not what they do. Like I believes because people are moved by forgiveness. It's powerful and it can happen for you right here but before we give you that opportunity to be forgiven by God, I would ask you is there someone you need to forgive this very moment.

There might be a mom might be at that might be a child, your child might be a friend, a coworker might be her husband and my beer wife someone is hurt you. Someone is betrayed you and you sit around and plot and how you get that has to stop. You need to lay it at the foot of the cross and put them in the hands of God and as I said earlier, when you forgive someone you set a prisoner free yourself that you want to be free.

You don't want to be bound by that anymore. Just let it go. Let it go and put it in God's hands. But let's start with you in the Lord. Maybe there someone here that could not say with confidence. I know God has forgiven me. There might be a sin separating you from the Lord, and you need to admit that sin is there and you need to turn from that sin and ask for his forgiveness and will give it to you because Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin. So if you need that forgiveness.

I want to give you an opportunity to pray and ask God for this we all pray together.

Let's all bow our heads and everyone praying please father, thank you so much for loving us. Thank you so much for sending Jesus to die in our place.

Thank you so much for the offer of forgiveness that is extended right here right now to any person who will call out to you.

Let this be the moment they believe. Let this be the moment they give their life to you. Let this be the moment where they are forgiven of all of their sins they enter into this relationship you in Jesus name I pray, amen, Greg Lord important prayer for those who want to make a change today in the relationship with the Lord, and if you'd like to do that. Pastor Greg will come back in just a moment to help you before today's addition of a new beginning. Concludes to hear a replay of today study go to harvest.org and look for the message title, the teenager who change the world. That's at harvest.org and it's a real privilege to have authors Catherine and Jay Wolf with us today. They written a new book called suffer strong. It chronicles the journey they been on since Catherine sudden brain stem stroke back in 2008. She almost died. She survived but everything changed.

Pastor Catherine that you write in your book a decade ago, I wrestled with the deepest despair of my life wondering why God would've left me on this earth after my stroke I was broken in body, brain, and spirit. Unable to do anything or be anything other than the source of pain for everyone. I love it seemed everyone would eventually stop being so set if I wasn't here anymore wow so this brought a sense of deep despondency to you didn't totally totally frog. From the moment waking up in the coma like state I was in after 2 1/2 months. I just began to rest. That was why am I even here anymore. My body doesn't work and I'm caught between life and death. I could need food for the first 11 mines and not eating now blocking not being able to speak, they all equaled a file no longer belonging on earth and I wasn't yet able to recognize how God had an extremely unique assignment for me on the earth, and that is actually a colleague and I believe that God chose me for that essay and that it was indeed on special calling as it says in Ephesians 41 that I was to live a life worthy than it really just transformed how I felt about my situation. I felt very select dead, which is the most bizarre feeling and moments of terrible pain, but it is transformed to my understanding of everything which is honestly what that that book is about covers dogmas about redefining how we see everything and it is game changing. Of course, because we know it isn't about what happens to us that really matters. It's about how we think about how we remember how we wake up to my God is doing in the story. He's writing in our lives, beautifully said Catherine if you've adjusted and then you're listening to Catherine Wolf right next to her wonderful husband Jay.

They've written a new book called suffer strong subtitled how to survive anything by redefining everything were offering this to our listeners this month for your gift of any size so we can continue to come your way with the teaching of the word of God and the proclamation of the gospel. Yeah, that's right, this is a kind of encouragement. We each need. When were facing one of life's seemingly insurmountable trials so many effaced that in recent weeks have essay maybe you faced a kind of challenge. This is practical how to encouragement about how you cannot only survive the trial but thrive in spite of it, and would like to send you suffer strong to thank you for your investment in this daily study opportunity that investment will be used to encourage you and someone else here in your community. In fact, we recently read this comment on social media to Pastor Greg I listen to your podcasts. Any time I'm awake.

I always hear encouragement at a dose of the gospel and I remember to pray for you and your family what you know your investments. Help us continue to bring this encouragement your way and to so many others to Dan right here in this area. So when you give ask for suffer strong. Our mailing address is a new beginning.

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That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org Pastor Greg a few moments ago you spoke of the need to get our hearts right with God, yeah, could you help someone who wants to do that right now. Yes, I'd be delighted to. This can be the moment when you change your eternal address literally from hell to heaven I'll pray a simple prayer and I would just ask you to pray this prayer out loud if you like after me just pray these words Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for me, and rose again from the dead, Jesus I choose to follow you from this moment forward in your name I pray. Amen. I know it's such a simple short prayer but you just called on the name of the Lord, and you know what he heard that prayer if you meant there prayer in your heart, he answered that prayer no let me help you to get started on the right foot in your new life in Jesus Christ. The greatest adventure awaits you the life of walking with God. I want to send you what we call a new believers growth pack. What is that will first of all, it's a copy of the new new believers Bible and by that I mean we have redone this from ground level up. I've rewritten the notes and it's the new living translation with a lot of notes on how to grow spiritually woven through this unique addition of Scripture saw send you the new believers pack that includes a new believers Bible and a whole lot more let me be the first to see the you congratulations and welcome to the family of God and to get that free new believers growth pack. Just ask for it if you prayed along with Pastor Greg to receive Christ will be glad to send when your way right is that a new beginning.

Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514 or call 1-800-821-3300. That's 1-800-821-3300 or go online to harvest.org and click know God everybody Greg Laurie here. I wanted tell you about a great way to hear God's word and worship with fellow believers, not only around the nation and around the world.

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