Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, November 30, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
JOSEPH, JESUS, AND AN ANSWER OF PEACE
by Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany. GA
Scripture Reading: Gen. 41:10-16
Text: Gen. 41:16
Genesis 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Introduction: As I’ve told you before, the Old Testament is full of what we call “types” of things in the New Testament. These types are prophetic pictures, found in the Old Testament, of some New Testament person, place or thing. I believe that the greatest PERSONAL type, or prophetic picture, of our Lord Jesus Christ, in that so MANY of the events and characteristics of his life were prophetically similar to those of our own Lord, was the man named Joseph. In today’s scripture reading Joseph was brought up out of the pit in order to help Pharaoh find peace. The fact that after coming up out of the prison, Joseph said that God would bring him an answer of peace is just one of the things about Joseph’s life that point us to Jesus. Let us look for Jesus here and see if we can find Him. After all, He did command:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
and again in that chapter:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
It may be that the Jesus talked about the “answer of peace” given to Pharaoh when He met with two of His disciples after the resurrection,
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
This morning I invite you to look with me in the story of
JOSEPH, JESUS, AND THE ANSWER OF PEACE
as we once again look in the writings of Moses to see what was written concerning JESUS!
I. JESUS GAVE AN ANSWER OF PEACE ABOUT THE SOUL
In colleges and universities professors and students wrestle over the issues of the SOUL intellectually, but it becomes a more serious matter, one that takes peace from the heart, when one is facing death, either his own or that of a loved one.
The word “soul” is found in 432 verses of the Bible. Yet there is much confusion over the subject. The Seventh Day Adventist cult and others teach a heresy of “soul sleep.” Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God cult has a perverted teaching about the soul.
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Ecclesiastes 3:21 Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
Jesus gave answers, especially in Luke 16, about
A. The precious value of the soul
1. Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
B. The presence of the soul
1. “lose his own soul”
2. “his soul”
3. Yes, you ARE a soul, because that is the real you, but you also HAVE a soul
C. The place for the soul
II. JESUS GAVE AN ANSWER OF PEACE ABOUT SALVATION
Acts 16:29-30 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
A. Salvation is a PROBLEM for man
B. Salvation is provide by Jesus
C. Salvation is personalized by faith
1. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
III. JESUS GAVE AN ANSWER OF PEACE ABOUT SUPPLY
Psalms 78:19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
Matthew 16:8-10 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? 9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? 10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
A. Recognize God’s goodness
1. “in every thing … with thanksgiving”
B. Request boldly
1. “let your requests be made known unto God”
C. Rest in the Lord and rely on Him
1. “Be careful for nothing …”
2. And the peace of God …”
IV. JESUS GAVE AN ANSWER OF PEACE ABOUT SECURITY
Psalms 118:5 I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Mark 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
A. The Lord is our Rock
B. The Lord is our Refuge
C. The Lord is our resort
D. The Lord is our resting place
E. The Lord is ruler over the storm!