What's Next?
GENESIS 17:4-5 NIV
As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE OUR HEART IS GOOD GROUND
2 ATTITUDES OF THE HEART THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR GOD'S SEEDS TO GROW
1. A HUMBLE HEART
JAMES 4:6 NIV
But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”
- HIS WORD
- GOD USES HIS SPIRIT
- GOD USED OTHER PEOPLE TO HUMBLE US
2. AN OPEN HEART
ISAIAH 55:8-9 NKJV
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
vs 7
Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
THE SIZE OF DREAM THAT GOD HAS PUT IN YOUR HEART…IS THE SIZE OF TEST YOU WILL HAVE TO PASS IN YOUR LIFE
1. THE TEST OF REJECTION
Genesis 37:18-20 NASB
18 When they saw him from a distance, and before he came closer to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer!20 Now then, come and let’s kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A vicious animal devoured him.’ Then we will see what will become of his dreams!
VS 26-28
26 And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him out and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. So they brought Joseph into Egypt.
2. THE TEST OF TEMPTATION
Genesis 40:14-15
14 Only keep me in mind when it goes well for you, and please do me a kindness by mentioning me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this prison. 15 For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing that they should have put me into the dungeon.”
VS 20-23
20 So it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he held a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; 22 but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
3. THE TEST OF ISOLATION
Gen. 42:6-9
6 Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.7 When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. He said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.”
8 But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them, and he said to them, “You are spies; you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land.”
4. THE TEST OF RETRIBUTION
GEN.45:4-8
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come closer to me.” And they came closer. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt. 5 Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to save lives. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7 So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. 8 Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God;