The Journey
The Journey
Speaker: Pastor Jon Zondervan
Date: December 28, 2019
In this stand-alone sermon titled The Journey, Pastor Jon Zondervan teaches on the story of Joseph out of Genesis 37. We learn that the route that we picture ourselves on can be quite different than the journey God has designed for our lives. You don’t want to miss this timely word as we head into 2020.
Focus Scripture
Genesis 37:1-11 (ESV)
“So Jacob settled again in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived as a foreigner. 2 This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father's flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father's wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing. 3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph-a beautiful robe. 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn't say a kind word to him. 5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 "Listen to this dream," he said. 7 "We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!" 8 His brothers responded, "So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. 9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. "Listen, I have had another dream," he said. "The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!" 10 This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. "What kind of dream is that?" he asked. "Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?" 11 But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.”
Sermon Highlights
God has a dream and a vision for your life that He wants to reveal to you.
Before you were a person, you were a purpose.
The journey to fulfillment is never easy and rarely looks the way you thought it would.
You aren't going to see God's plan for your life in an instant. It has to be developed. But don't lose heart, He has a plan.
Joseph let trails produce perseverance - not discouragement.
Joseph surrendered to God's timing.
A faith that hasn't been tested can't be trusted.
Joseph recognized that God was with him and God was working.
In times when you don't understand, you are being positioned by God.
How you interpret the season you're in will directly how you enter the next one.
Never settle for something that isn't from the Lord.