Bernard Gabbott - Sunday, 26 November 2023
God has Provided Salvation
Scripture References: Genesis 41:1-57, Psalms 44:17-26, Philippians 2:5-11
Gathering Growing Going
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ClosePharaoh, the king of Egypt, is sent a dream from God. Basically, God saying “This is what the future holds, get ready!” How will Pharaoh respond? Will he listen and act? We see Joseph reach a semi-climax in his story. The young boy who has suffered for 13 years has now grown into a man who fully relies on God. He trusts in God’s greatness. He trusts in God’s word. He trusts that God is with him. How will that play out as he is brought in front of the most powerful man in all of Egypt? Will he succumb to the pressures around him, or stand firm in the power of the covenantal God? As we look at the story of Joseph we see a template for ourselves, a way that we can, and should, respond to God and His goodness. But there is more to Joseph. We also see the image of One who would bring salvation to all nations. One who would endure unjust suffering but then be raised to glory. We see Jesus!
Scripture References: Genesis 41:1-57, Psalms 44:17-26, Philippians 2:5-11
Related Topics: Genesis | More Messages from Bernard Gabbott | Download Audio
The Department of Home Affairs has an Australian Values Statement on its website. Visa applicants for residency/citizenship must sign this. And one of its key principles is that we are a ‘fair-go’ country. We would all agree with that. I suspect, too, that we would summarise our ‘fair go’ culture by stating that ‘you get what you deserve/what you work for’. In fact, many of us have established our relational, social and work ethics on this very principle. But is that what the ‘kingdom of heaven is like’? What is its value statement? What is the hallmark of such a kingdom, and its ruler, even its citizenship? Today, after Jesus has assured his disciples that the dependent will be provided for by their king, he now uses the same ideas to issue with them a warning not to abuse, misuse, ignore or become entitled in the face of the kingdom of heaven hallmark—which is grace.
Jesus deals with the question of ‘Who belongs in the kingdom?’ Is it children? Is it the good? Is it the godly? And, how and what does this look like? This question of ‘belonging’ is one that is constant in our lives – where do I belong, do I belong, what does belonging look like? And Jesus is very clear: the kingdom of heaven is made up of the dependent, the reliant, the weak – just like children.
The book of Esther recounts a period where God's people are in exile, aliens in a foreign land. Sounds like our time doesn't it? Even when God seems absent, He is at work. The great reversal of power at the heart of the universe has already taken place. Jesus won victory over death on the cross and in His resurrection. Satan the great enemy of God and His people, has been defeated. We wait in the now but not yet. Waiting for the Lord Jesus to return and give His people relief and rest. But as we wait, we share the good news of the gospel, call people to faith in Jesus, faithfully endure persecution, knowing that our deliverance is assured.
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