ENCOURAGEMENT

 

EASTER

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Our sins are forgiven

The Bible makes it clear that we have all sinned (Romans 3:23). And sin put a rift in our relationship with our Creator, separating us from His love. But because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have received forgiveness, and our relationship with God has been restored.

Death is not the end

Jesus conquered the grave and promises that we can follow in His footsteps (Philippians 3:21). Because of the resurrection of Christ, death no longer has power over us. We have gained eternal life. Paul shouts with an air of defiance, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). Of course, there is no reply.

How we live is important

Because we know we will live forever in God's presence, our priorities and devotion are focused on Him, not on the concerns of this present world. This focus does not take us out of this world, but keeps our attention where it belongs (Colossians 3:2). In fact, living with our hearts focused on eternity enables us to be more effective in God's business — living out His truth and building His kingdom — right here and now.

The resurrection of Jesus means that ...

our sins are forgiven.

He conquered the power of death.

our lives now have an eternal perspective.

EASTER

 

Matthew 28:5-6  "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.'".

 

Lessons from Easter

 

1.        Power to Overcome Our Fear Through the empty tomb, Jesus can overcome our fear.  It has been said there are 365 [promises in the Bible dealing with fear one for each day of the week.

a.        The fear of death, hell, grace and the devil has been taken care of by the resurrection.  The spirit of fear has been replaced by love, power and a sound mind.

b.       Resurrection power is available to dispel fear.  Perfect love casts out all fear. 

 

2.        Strength to Overcome our Doubts and Challenges Imagine the disappointment of the disciples when Jesus was crucified. They experienced the heartbreak of losing a friend and teacher.

 

a.        The resurrection destroyed any doubt.  Jesus would show Himself with many infallible 

proofs for 40 days and nights.  The resurrection is the most documented and eye witnessed event in human history.  The evidence is clear.

b.       The resurrection proclaims the full endorsement and acceptance of Holy God on Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

c.        The resurrection of Jesus Christ is indispensable to the doctrine of forgiveness of sins1. It confirms the efficacy of His atoning death, assures believers of their justification, and provides the hope of eternal life through the defeat of death. The good news is that the resurrection proves that Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient, therefore God forgives those who are in Christ.

 

3.        Trust in God’s Promises Because of God’s great love and faithfulness, Christians are called to trust His Promises.

 

a.        We should trust God's promises because He is faithful, powerful, and loving. He knows better than we do what we need and what we are going through.

b.        He can do all things and fulfill the desires of our hearts. He is worthy of our trust and praise. He has proven His promises through Jesus Christ.

c.        When we trust Him, we can rest and be quiet in His presence.

QUOTES FOR MARCH 2, 2026

 

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM

 

Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. 2 Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, 3 and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.

 

Lesson One:  God is working behind the scenes even if we do not see or know it.  The divine scene was being set.  Two of Pharaoah’s officials offended him at the same time and was put in the same prison as Joseph.  God’s hand is all over this.  Notice in whose custody they are in.  Just a note here, In the house of the captain of the guard means under the authority of the captain of the guard.  We are getting a view of the administration of Egypt.  Moses who wrote this need how the government of Egypt worked because he was a Prince of Egypt.   Now what I find fascinating is that Potiphar assigned Joseph the care of these two men to Joseph and he attended them.  Now this brings me two thoughts.  Did Potiphar figure out that Joseph was wrongly accused or did he observe Joseph’s faithfulness.  Either way, we know that this was divine providence and godly circumstances.

 

When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”  8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”  Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

 

Lesson Two:  Joseph comes to them the morning after they are detained and they both look sad and confused.  He asked them why they were sad and they both tell him them had dreams but they had no one to interpret them.  The Egyptians were great believers in dreams and their powers and influence. The Dream Book is a papyrus that contains dream examples and dream interpretations and it is believed to date back to the early reign of Ramesses II. All dreams were listed as good or bad, with the bad dreams being written in red, which was the colour of a bad omen. The Dream Book is currently part of the archives at the British Museum in London.

The Egyptians believed their gods showed themselves in dreams and visions. They divided their dreams into three categories: those in which the gods demanded things, those that were warnings, and those that came to them during dream rituals. Regardless of the type of dream, they felt all dreams were oracles - that is, answers giving to them by the gods. Hoping to induce dreams, some temples held special "dream beds" on which people would lay, hoping to have a dream of advice, comfort, or healing.

 

So Joseph’s ability would be paramount to his future and God would use this to give him access to the highest levels of government.  Joseph had come to learn the world in which he lived.  The secret of both Joseph and Daniel’s success is that understood the times in which they lived.  They understood the culture, the religious climate and the way people thought of that day.  We need to do the same.  They were a group of men in David’s day from the tribe of Issachar.  They understood the times in which they lived.  That does not mean we join the culture or times.  Instead we know how to operate and influence them.  This was Joseph’s and later Daniel’s secret.  God can give us this wisdom.  Joseph knew that dreams were a way to God to speak and all true interpretations belong to God.  The dream world can be a subconscious gate to the spiritual realm.  In the last day’s old men will dream dreams.  This was God’s and Joseph’s platform to the next step in Joseph’s life.

 

So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, 10 and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.”

 

12 “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. 13 Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.”

 

Lesson Three:  The Lord uses a dream that is familiar to the cupbearer.  The vine, the grapes and three branches were all familiar and essential to His work.  A cup-bearer was an officer of high rank in royal courts whose duty it was to serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues, a person must be regarded as thoroughly trustworthy to hold the position.  Nehemiah was a cupbearer to the Persian King. 

     Joseph tells him that he will be restored to his position in three days.  It will go well with him.  Joseph then makes his request.  Remember me, show me kindness.  He was carried off as a slave from the Hebrews.  This is where we get an actual reference to whom the Hebrews were and how they were viewed by the Egyptians.  Remember they had some contact because of Abraham.   He then states that he is in prison because of false charges.  Joseph doesn’t want to just remember him but to actually investigate the charges.  Joseph is making his pitch to get out of jail.  You scratch my back and I will scratch yours.

 

When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I too had a dream: On my head were three baskets of bread.[a] 17 In the top basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.”  18 “This is what it means,” Joseph said. “The three baskets are three days. 19 Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole. And the birds will eat away your flesh.”

 

Lesson Four:  When the baker saw the dream was favorable he is excited to tell Joseph his dream but the interpretation is not good.  He was going to be killed.  Simple lesson, sometimes the truth is hard to tell but it must be told.  It must have broken Joseph’s heart to tell this man this.  I can see the compassion in Joseph’s eyes.  His heart breaking.  Yet truth must be told.  Truth must be given even if it is not popular, politically correct or culturally relevant.  Truth is truth.  That is why we must preach the word with broken hearts, eyes tearing with compassion and love.  A lost world needs to hear the truth.  We are called to be proclaimers of truth.  They must know there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.  They must know what God thinks about things even if it was not popular among the culture of the day.  We need to be more afraid of God than the culture of the day.  We must be so powerful that the culture of the day is more afraid of us than we are of them.  Talk about Patrick.

 

20 Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: 21 He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand— 22 but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation.  23 The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

 

Lesson Five:  True prophecy and interpretation comes true.  Even today this truth prevails.  If a prophecy, dream, vision or tongue comes it must come to pass and line up with God’s word.  It must be able to be judged and pass the test of truth.  So three days later on the king’s birthday he decides the fate of the two officials.  The cupbearer is restored.  The baker is killed, just as Joseph said.  So Joseph was correct and true.  Then something happened.  Something unfair, wrong and unjust.  The cupbearer forgot about Joseph.  The cupbearer was not grateful or just.  He simply forgot about Joseph.  This looks bad for Joseph.  An opportunity lost it seems.  Yet even when things look bad.  God is working.  There are a couple things we will learn from Joseph’s life.  Things are not always fair.  Next ,timing is everything.  When things don’t go our way we need to trust God and his providence.  We need to remember He is working behind the scene.  Sometimes providential waiting is God’s way of preparing us for greater things.  There was obviously some more lessons that Joseph had to learn.    Learn that failures are blessings in disguise when you trust the Lord.  Live in the moment because it is all you have.  Worrying about tomorrow never amounts to anything.  Keep focused on God.  Work hard and be faithful where you are.  Promotion comes in God’s time and usually bigger than you can. Dream, ask or imagine

You reaction and actions speak louder than words.  Kindness and love are the keys to success and victory.  When the time was right for Joseph and us everything falls into place.  Now, next Sunday we will see what happens when God moves so today let us learn what we have too and then get ready for the next step and stage. 

HEADS AND TAILS

 

 

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, 13 and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.”  “Very well,” he replied.  14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.  When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”  16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”  17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’”  So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns.

 

Lessons one:  Jealousy can move people to murder, in Joseph’s case he did not even know about his brothers hatred.  This was a momentary opportunity.  Remember it is the moments of instant decision, immediate temptation and spontaneous problems that can cause the biggest consequences.  James gives a piece of advice, be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger.  Basically engage brain before you act.

 

19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”  21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.  23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

 

Lesson Two;  The pattern or evil is revealed.  They called him a dreamer.  Evil will always mock, scorn, accuse and slander you.  It will attack you reputation, status and self esteem.  Next, they would lie and blame an animal for killing Joseph.  Evil will lie, deflect and blame others for what they do.  Thirdly, evil will always try to strip you our your dreams, kill your hope and destroy your destiny.  Fourthly, evil will never agree on methods, design or outcome.  There is no unity, just division, strife and destruction.  Fifthly they stripped of his robe which was the object of their hatred and jealousy.  Evil will always try to strip you of everything you have.  Physically, emotionally, spiritually and intellectually.  Lastly, they threw into a pit.  Evil will isolate you, take away your hope, throw you into darkness and despair. 

 

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.  26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.  28 So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels[b] of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

 

Lesson Three:  Just when it seems the darkest for Joseph.  Divine help was on the way.  Those Ishmaelites coming along was no accident.  It was God’s method to get Joseph to His destiny.  When you are in your darkest hour, deepest pit of despair.  God is there.  When you are at the end of your rope.  God gives you more line.  When evil is out for blood, you have the blood of Jesus Christ.  When evil tries to isolate, destroy and kill you, divine help is on the way.  Your pit is actually your means of a miracle.  It is the passage to your destiny.  It is the path to your dream.  This was a divine moment.  This pit was Joseph’s means to save his world.  Your darkest hour is God’s moment of light and life.  Remember 1 Cor 10:13 and Roman 8:28.  When evil closes a door God opens a window.  What his brothers meant for evil God used for good.  Remember when you are in the greatest moment of despair a miracle is on the way.  Just a side note.  It was Judah that made the suggestion for Joseph to be sold.  Even then God was using a descendent of Jesus to bring about divine destiny.  They sold him for 20 pieces of silver.  This is a prophetic moment.  The patriarch Judah and his brothers sold Joseph who is a type of Christ for money.  Jesus was sold for 30 pieces of silver and like Jesus Joseph would save His world as Jesus did ours.

 

 29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”  31 Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 They took the ornate robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”  33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”  34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.

 

Lesson Four:  What we do affects others.  They agreed together even Reuben to concoct a lie.  They agreed on the lie and then told the lie.  They devastated their family.  Their family would never be the same.  Jacob was heart broken and mourned for many days.  None of his children could comfort him.  This sorrow he felt was right to the grave.  What is amazing there must have been great pressure on the boys but they never broke ranks.  They never told their father the truth.  That is the amazing part of this lie.  The boys never gave in, they stay true to their lie. 

 

Meanwhile, the Midianites[c] sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. 

 

Lesson  Five:  Meanwhile, I love that world.  Meanwhile God was setting things up.  Joseph was sold to Potiphar  it says he was the Captain of the guard.  God was strategically placing Joseph.  God will always place you where you will be most effective.  So don’t try and fight God.  You are where you are for a reason.  You are suppose to be where you are to touch those in your world.  It may not look good but God has a plan.  Our part to trust him, walk by faith, and don’t try to circumvent God’s plan.  You are where you are because it is part of your destiny.  My darkest hours when I look back became my greatest lessons.  They were stepping stones to the next phase.  Prov 3:5-6.  God uses our tests to give us a testimony, He uses our victim moments to make us a victor.  When we feel conquered God make us more than a conqueror.  When we about to be over came God turns it around and makes us an over comer.  So remember meanwhile God.