Genesis 41 will be in verses
39-45. Again, probably almost to the
end of the Genesis, we're going to be looking at Joseph as a
type of Christ. I don't know if this is part
8 or part 9. Let me just read, starting in verse 39, of Genesis 41, Joseph has explained
what Pharaoh needs to do concerning a famine that's to approach,
seven years of plenty and then seven years of famine. So after
he explained what he was to do, verse 39, Pharaoh said unto Joseph,
for as much as God has showed thee all this, there is none
so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house,
and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled. Only
in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto
Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And
Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's
hand, and arrayed Joseph in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold
chain about his neck. And Pharaoh made Joseph to ride
in the second chariot, which he had, and they cried before
him, Bow the knee, and he, that is the king, made Joseph ruler
over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph,
I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand
or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name,
a new name, he changed his name as was customary apparently,
and he gave him to wife, the daughter of Potipharah, priest
of An, and Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. I've got basically four thoughts this evening. The first one is
that, obviously, verses 39-41, we see Joseph is exalted and
set up over all the land of Egypt. He's exalted and he's set up
over all the land of Egypt." Because Pharaoh said specifically
that, verse 40, that you'll be over my house. According to your
word, all my people are going to be ruled. And basically, I'm
the only one that's going to be over you. You'll have, he
said, verse 41, I set thee over all the land of Egypt. What a
tremendous difference that we see now in the life of Joseph.
Exalted when he was once in deep humiliation, Joseph went from
the dungeon to the throne, from affliction to prosperity, from
want to surplus. But how much more can be said
about the Lord Jesus Christ? Turn to 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter 3. And verse 22, but the last two
words of verse 21, it shows who it's referring to, Jesus Christ,
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then we have verse
22, who is referring to our Lord Christ, is gone into heaven and
is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers
being made subject unto Him. Joseph was from about as low
as you could get to about as high as you could get. Well,
as I said, it could be said much more about our Lord Jesus Christ.
From the depths of abandonment and sorrow to the heights of
praise and adoration and glory. It could be said of no one more
so than the Lord Jesus Christ. Look at Matthew 28. Matthew 28. Now, there's only a couple more
verses in this gospel narrative of Matthew. Christ, who became a man, the Son of
God, voluntarily, willingly, humbling Himself more than a
dungeon, more than being captive, those whom He created had no
honor for Him, had no praise for Him, but despised Him. He
was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with
grief. But look at what He says in verse 18, Jesus Himself, And
Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto
Me in heaven and in earth. He was at all points tempted
like we, it didn't look like he... To the unbelieving person
on the street, to the passerby, he was weak. He was crucified. He was the
prisoner. But he rose from the grave. Death
couldn't hold him. The grave couldn't hold him.
Death had no sting on him. So, as Joseph was exalted and
set up over all Egypt, and more can be said about our Lord Jesus
Christ, who suffered the complete and total humiliation, as it
were, the eyes of the universe beholding Him, but He's set up.
He's set up, highly exalted above every name. Secondly, Joseph's
exaltation, and I thought this was pretty good, Joseph's exaltation,
Once he got out of the dungeon and was asked the questions by
Pharaoh, answered his questions, did what he was supposed to do,
he walked the walk and he talked the talk. He said, this is what
the dreams are about and if you want to make sure your people
have enough food, this is what you do. You do this, you do this.
So not only did he understand and interpret the
things of God, but he did that which was honorable and glorified
God. So Joseph's exaltation was a
direct result of his personal merit, obedience, and service. It wasn't, you know, I won't
pick on Jackson's school system, but it wasn't a family, you know,
no matter what school district you go to, they're always making
accusations about, it's not what you know, it's who you know,
how you get hired, or whatever, you know what I mean? It's the
same in my position, it's the same with the city, all those
accusations, true or not, That's the way of the world. A lot of
times... And the funny thing is I never
really paid much attention to it. I kind of heard about that
thought, but I never really paid much attention to it. But right
after I graduated from college and was looking for a job, it
smacked me right in the face. I'm more qualified than that
person. And they come to find out why they got that position.
Well, man, but Joseph, there wasn't any of that type of stuff
going on. Joseph was brought before the
king. Nobody else could understand
what his dreams were about. All the magicians, all the wise
men, he understood, he interpreted it and told him what he needed
to do. So he earned, because of his
personal merit and his obedience and his service to the king,
the king lets work. You do a good job, you get promoted.
You do what you're supposed to do, people recognize it. Now
there's people who do many things for show. I can't see that going
on here. Joseph just told him what he
knew. He wasn't trying to be a showman.
He wasn't like the religious Pharisees in the New Testament.
When they would pray, they'd make sure that somebody was watching
them. When they would fast, what does Christ say? When you fast,
don't tell anybody. But they were always telling
people. I worked with a guy years ago.
You know, hey, how are you doing? Pretty good. I'm fasting. I don't
feel good. I didn't ask you all that stuff. But then the whole
day he would mope. And then over the ten years that
I worked at this place, he worked there probably eight of the ten
with me, but I could tell he made sure that you knew that
he and his church, something was going on. He didn't have
a little thing in his forehead, wasn't of that denomination.
He didn't have all this other stuff, but he made sure that
you knew he was fasting. And he made sure you knew that
he was religious. Joseph's exaltation was a direct
result of his personal merit, obedience, and service. He produced
actions worthy of advancement. He talked the talk, then he walked
the walk. Our Lord Jesus Christ. It could
be and must be said, if there was anyone who worked their way
to heaven, It could be said of Christ. Christ's exaltation to
the throne of God, to the right hand of the Father, was a direct
result of his personal merit, obedience, and service. You and
I, never. I was talking to John the other
night, and somebody he was talking to said, she keeps the Ten Commandments. She keeps them. I think John's
answer was, you're the only one. No, they don't. There's no way. There's no way. Do you love the
Lord God with all your heart, soul and mind? Is anybody so
ignorant and blind and foolish? Sin makes us that way. Or we'll
start lowering God's standards so it looks like. And then the
second is as the first. Love thy neighbor as thyself.
Anybody in here take a shot at that? Uh-uh. Uh-uh. That man, when he asked that
question, he was asking, tempting Christ. And he said, Christ said,
how readest thou the law? And that man quoted those two
verses that Christ quoted in what, Matthew 22, we were talking
last night? That man answered correctly, because Christ said,
you've answered correctly. So you know what that shows me?
I never saw this before. You know what that shows me? Christ answered Christ exactly
what Christ said the answer was in another place in Scripture.
That tells me that people can have it up here. Right, Bruce? We've seen it. You can know the
answer. But be far away from Christ. Because then it goes, he says,
then desiring to justify himself, what did he say, Bruce? He goes,
who's my neighbor? He was a lawyer. Makes sense.
Who's my neighbor?" Trying to outwit the Son of God. No, it
just shows me that somebody can be studied and learn and understand
the doctrine, the doctrines of grace, perhaps. And still, just
up here, still be far from it. But Joseph was exalted based
on his actions. He was worthy of advancement.
Turn to Philippians chapter 2. Our own Lord Jesus Christ, it
could be said of Him, He's the only one that fulfilled the law
perfectly. And therefore, you and I as sinners,
owning up to our corruptions and our vile nature, we have
hope. Philippians chapter 2. verses six through nine. Let
this mind be in you, verse five, which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, Christ Jesus, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness
of men, and being found in the fashion as a man, he humbled
himself and became obedient unto death. Even the death of the
cross wherefore that is therefore because of what he did Exaltation is a direct result
of Christ personal merit obedience to serve wherefore God has also
Highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every
name Just like Joseph but only more so Christ is worked his
way to heaven, thus securing our way, his bride, his elect,
our way to glory by Christ, by his merit, by his worth, and
that all must be because of who he is. If he's just an imposter,
It doesn't matter what he did, it's going to come short. If
he was a good man, it'll come short. If he was just a prophet,
it'll come short. If he was a mighty man, it'll
come short. But he's the Son of God. He is God Himself incarnate in
the flesh. Therefore, because of who He
is and what He did, salvation is secured for His people. This could never be said, as
far as our second point, Joseph's exaltation, Christ's exaltation,
was a direct result of his personal merit, obedience, and service.
This could never be said of any sinner such as you or I. But,
bless God for that sacred humanity of His only beloved Son. He took
our place, He took our ruin, He took our nature, He took our
sins and nailed them obediently and justly to His cross and now
we have new life, real life and spiritual life. You know, people
talk about life and death and all these different things, you
know, life this and that, you know. Christ is the only one that gives new
life and real life, and obviously spiritual life. Thirdly, look
at verse 42, back in our chapter 41. Verse 42, and Pharaoh took off
his ring, Pharaoh's own ring, from his hand, put it on Joseph's
hand. And then he arrayed him in vestures of fine linen and
put a gold chain about his neck. Third thought is, Joseph was
showered with gifts and attire worthy of his new position. You
know, he was cleaned up when he came from the dungeon. They
cleaned him up. Remember, they shaved him, they cleaned him and everything.
But, you know, they put a new robe on him. But probably as
a servant or a commoner, not now. He's showered with gifts
and honors and titles. The girls were talking about
that tonight, you know, about society. Well, that guy must
be something, because look, he's got gold rings. He's got rings
on every finger. Every time Bruce would go to
Cherokee, he'd come back, he'd get another ring. It's like, man,
people are going to think you've got some money. Come back with all those, you
know, got all those rings and everything. You smile, you've
got some gold stuff in there. and bling, bling, bling, or whatever,
all that kind of stuff. It's a symbol. He must be somebody. Look at the suits. We walked in with our JCPenney. They came walking in with their
$2,000 suits. We'd get them too, we just don't
pay that much for them. But he was showered with gifts and attire
worthy of that new position. We're getting, we got a new uniform
policy which is going to start up next Friday when we go to
our meeting. So we're going to turn stuff back in. And my boss said, well,
I want you to get, you know, we're going to, everybody's going
to get new of these and this and everything. I want you to get a few different
kind of shirts because I'm a trainer or a senior rep or something.
It's like, you know, whatever. So, you know, people want you
to look. like that position. So Pharaoh's
like, I want people to know that I've set this, and I'm going
to take my ring off, put it on you. His high title included
high reverence and respect, which it should. Turn to Acts chapter
5. What could be said about our
Lord Jesus Christ? Acts chapter 5. Many, this is one problem today,
is many, and many preachers, many pulpits, many people, religious
people, they see Christ as just nothing special. He was a good
man, a great man, we must observe His teachings. Oh no. Oh no. The believer is shown what He really is. He is altogether,
Song of Solomon says, He's altogether lovely. And you better believe
it. You're courting your girl, and
you want to marry her, and you do things, and you're not interested
in anybody else. You're not interested in anybody
else. And the believer, we're married to another. We're not
our own, we're bought with a price. I'm sure you have the same reaction,
but when I hear The Lord's name taken in vain. I don't like it. It really upsets me. Look at
our Lord Jesus Christ. Joseph's new title was worthy
of the things that were given him. Acts chapter 5 and look
at verse 31. Verse 30 and the God of our fathers
raised up Jesus whom you slew and hung on a tree hath Jesus
hath God him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince
and a Savior and for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness
of sins look at Hebrews chapter 2 a prince a The way people talk
about Christ now, or the irreverent talk of Christ and His Gospel,
and the Father, the man upstairs, and all these different things
that are used, people say, well, what's your problem? Well, you're
not speaking reverently enough. Your God is not the God of the
Scriptures. And one man wrote, I think it
was Arthur Pinker, Arthur Pink wrote I can't remember how the
story goes, but the Lord was starting to show this man the
truth, and he was looking at some passages, and he wrote another
man, and the man wrote him back, and he says, your thoughts of
God are too small. Your thoughts of God are too
small. Well, how come you don't come to church with this? How
come you don't do this? And how come you don't do these
things? Or how come you don't talk like
this or whatever? Your your your thoughts of Jesus
and your thoughts of the gospel and your thoughts of God are
way too small They're too small Hebrews chapter 2 and look at
verse 9 Hebrews 2 But you are a chosen generation
a royal priesthood a holy nation a peculiar people that you should
show forth the praises of him and who have called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light." Christ, we are a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood. Why? A peculiar people? Because
we're like Him. He's peculiar to us. He's special
to us. He is our priest. He is everything
to us. He has that name. Look at Revelation
chapter 5. Revelations 5. Verse 13, And every creature
which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such
as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him that sits
upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Honor, blessings. We can't talk
too highly about our... We can't shower Him with verbal
gifts of adoration and praise. You see what I'm saying? Just
like with Joseph, his title, it merited it. You know, all
these gifts, these signets and the chain and the linen. It bespeaks
a man worthy of that title and respect and reverence. Our Lord
Jesus Christ, we must give Him the honor and the glory due His
wonderful name. We haven't sang this in a while,
but we've sung this hymn before. crown Him with many crowns, crown
Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne. Hark how the
heavenly anthems drones all music but its own. Awake, my soul,
and sing of Him who died for thee, and hail Him as thy matchless
King through all eternity. Crown Him the Lord of heaven,
one with the Fathers known, one with the Spirit through Him given
from yonder glorious throne. To Thee be endless praise, for
Thou for us hast died. Be Thou, O Lord, through endless
days adored and magnified." That's the way we feel about
the Lord Jesus Christ. His title demands gifts. of everything that we possess. And lastly, look at verse 43,
back in Genesis chapter 41. And Pharaoh made Joseph to ride
in the second chariot which he had, and they cried before Joseph,
bow the knee. And he made him ruler over all
the land of Egypt. Bow the knee. Bow the knee. Joseph's new position and authority
are publicly acknowledged. Joseph's new position and authority
are publicly acknowledged. As he's in that chariot, Pharaoh
said, see this man? Can you imagine those in prison with him, the
prison keeper and the guards? I remember that guy. Whoa, look
at him now. The king says bow, we're going
to bow. So Joseph's new position and
authority are publicly acknowledged. Turn to Acts chapter 2. We've already looked at this,
but it's always good to reread these. Acts chapter 2. Verse 36, in the middle of the
message in Peter's sermon on the day of Pentecost, he says,
"...therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that
God hath made that same Jesus whom you've crucified, both Lord
and Christ." Both Lord and Christ. And back to Philippians chapter
2. I think we made it up to verse 9 in Philippians chapter 2. Look
at verse 10. We'll look at verse 9 again.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Christ, and given him
a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus what
every knee should bow, of things in heaven, things in the earth,
and things under the earth. Now, it was just the Egyptians. And even Pharaoh didn't bow to
Joseph. But our Lord Jesus Christ, everybody,
everything, you can't go any place in this universe, you can't
go to our galaxy, you can't go to the next galaxy, you can't
go anywhere. that everything and every person
will be made to bow his position, Christ's position and authority.
And to the believer, He has always been Sovereign Lord, we know
that. We are His bride, we know this, but one day, one day, We bow willingly because He's
made us willing. But one day, be it your neighbor,
be it your parents, be it your children, one day all will be
forced, nay compelled, to bow down to Christ in submission. No exception. No exception. Have
you bowed to Him? I pray that you would do so now.
Bow to His right to reign and to rule you in grace and mercy,
and not judgment or justice. May He give you grace to bow
to Him, for He is a God of grace, a God of love, and a God of mercy. Bruce, would you close us please?