Cross City Church
July 19, 2020 | A Chapter of Emergence
This series focuses on Joseph, a young man who became an incredible leader through a very difficult journey of life. It’s clear in Scripture that God is intensely interested in growing each of us as individuals. In a time of sheltering-in and greater solitude, have you noticed that God is teaching you and growing you in unique ways?The life of Joseph is a story of how God worked on one man to prepare him for the greatest impact in the world at that time. It’s a story of thrilling dreams, devastating disappointment, exhilarating temptation and solitary suffering. It’s a story of the agony of defeat, but also the thrill of victory. It’s the story of all of us to some degree. Joseph is a man that was willing to weather this rigorous process – and he saw the fruit of God’s work in the end. This study will be a challenge for each of us – because we will see how God works in a solitary, individual life to prepare them for the future.
Locations & Times
Euless Campus
1000 Airport Fwy, Euless, TX 76039, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Online Giving
Join us in meeting needs and caring for each other! Give online by tapping the link.
https://pushpay.com/g/crosscity?src=hppGenesis 43:1-10
Now the famine was severe in the land. So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” Judah spoke to him, however, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had another brother?” But they said, “The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever. For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”
Now the famine was severe in the land. So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.” Judah spoke to him, however, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You shall not see my face unless your brother is with you.’ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. But if you do not send him, we will not go down; for the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’” Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man whether you still had another brother?” But they said, “The man questioned particularly about us and our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ So we answered his questions. Could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down’?” Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the lad with me and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, we as well as you and our little ones. I myself will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever. For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”
The word “emerge” means to rise from obscurity or concealment; it means to move from an unfortunate or confused state of existence to a more visible and clear place.
When we desire to walk with God, His will and plan for our lives will, in time, EMERGE.
When God‘s promise EMERGES, the time and patience required to see it is worth the wait.
SURRENDER emerges in Jacob’s life.
Genesis 43:11-14
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and carry down to the man as a present, a little balm and a little honey, aromatic gum and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; and may God Almighty grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
“If it must be so…” v. 11
“…and may God Almighty grant you compassion…” v. 14
“And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” v. 14b
Esther 4:16
“And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
“And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.”
Daniel 3:17-18
“…our God is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not…we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
“…our God is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not…we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
God honors surrender.
What are you holding onto that prevents you from experiencing God’s plan? You may be closer to surrendering now than you were before, but what’s left to give up?
HOPE emerges for the brothers.
Genesis 43:23
“Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money. Then he brought Simeon out to them.”
“Be at ease, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money. Then he brought Simeon out to them.”
Genesis 44:33-34
“Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me – for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father.”
“Now therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me – for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father.”
A person is ready for repentance when they know sin affects their relationship with God.
Isaiah 53:10-11
“But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering…As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied.”
“But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering…As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied.”
Have you had God’s wrath satisfied against your sin? At what moment in your life did you realize and accept this amazing sacrifice on your behalf?
VISION emerges for Joseph.
Genesis 43:26-28
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” They bowed down in homage.
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which was in their hand and bowed to the ground before him. Then he asked them about their welfare, and said, “Is your old father well, of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” They bowed down in homage.
God’s promises to us may be delayed for many years, but God keeps His Word. —RT Kendall
God is demonstrating He can put anything in the world together to fulfill His word.
1. He brings US into alignment with Himself.
2. He brings OTHERS into alignment with Himself.
3. He brings us and other TOGETHER with Himself.
4. He brings IT all together with Himself.
2. He brings OTHERS into alignment with Himself.
3. He brings us and other TOGETHER with Himself.
4. He brings IT all together with Himself.
What God-given vision and dream from God are you waiting on right now? What do you need to do to shore up your faith and continue to trust Him for this? How will you settle in until it emerges?
Discussion Questions:
What are you holding onto that prevents you from experiencing God’s plan? You may be closer to surrendering now than you were before, but what’s left to give up?
Have you had God’s wrath satisfied against your sin? At what moment in your life did you realize and accept this amazing sacrifice on your behalf?
What God-given vision and dream from God are you waiting on right now? What do you need to do to shore up your faith and continue to trust Him for this? How will you settle in until it emerges?
What are you holding onto that prevents you from experiencing God’s plan? You may be closer to surrendering now than you were before, but what’s left to give up?
Have you had God’s wrath satisfied against your sin? At what moment in your life did you realize and accept this amazing sacrifice on your behalf?
What God-given vision and dream from God are you waiting on right now? What do you need to do to shore up your faith and continue to trust Him for this? How will you settle in until it emerges?