Hello everyone! I want to officially welcome you to In The World In Faith blog!! If you ask me, the name is a bit lengthy, but I'm sure we'll get used to it soon😊. We'll be launching Season 2 very soon but in the meantime, let's finish up what we started this year - The Living Word Series!!!
Last time on this series, I served you with "Episode 1 - Appetizer" where we defined 'the pit', Joseph's identity, and its relation to us today. Episode 2 - Main Word will examine 2 major themes of the pit experience. Let's dive in!!!
~Main Word: Genesis 37:23-28 ▶
"23 And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him;
24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen, and they drew and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."
Theme 1: Help! I'm slipping into the pit. Before we fall into the pit of any sin (fornication, anger..) or depression, you name it. There's this tipping point I've noticed that you feel so close - it's like you're slipping. The only thing your heart is crying out is "God help me" but to be honest you're still falling deeper into those negative thoughts, you're getting closer to watching that porn video or to losing your temper and just breaking things...Well, Joseph seemed to have the same experience so we're in good hands still.
To burst our little bubble, the pit is not "slipped" into. I mean if Joseph's brothers wanted to make sure Joseph fell into the pit, they could have just put a slide that led straight to the pit. But no. In reality, we are all led by our choices. Every step Joseph was taking towards his brother was leading him to the pit. Verse 23 of our text says "and it came to pass" meaning "it happened as planned". I know we want to argue that it wasn't Joseph's fault neither is it ours. I agree it's not our fault nor our intention to fall into the pit but we unknowingly make choices that lead to the pit. The same verse 23 says "when Joseph came unto his brethren". This means if Joseph did not come unto them (if he chose a different path) he'd have not fallen. This is not to condemn anyone but to remind you and me that choices matter! Hence, the first way out of the pit is to make wise choices.
The first way out of the pit is to make wise choices.
Beware of how close you are to the pit! When Joseph had come close enough to his brethren, they stripped him out of his coat of many colors. From the last episode, you'd remember that your coat of many colors is your identity in Christ. As children of God, we are not befitting for the pit but if the enemy will successfully throw any child of God into the pit, he will strip off their identity in Christ first. The love of Christ for us is so much that nothing can separate us from His love except ourselves because as a man thinks, so he is. This is the reason the enemy plants doubt, self-condemnation, busyness, distractions all so we can think less and less of our identity in Christ. We should learn to walk cautiously and examine our thoughts.
Walk cautiously by examining your thoughts. Do your thoughts promote your identity in Christ?
Theme 2: The Way Out. Perhaps you missed the memo just like Joseph (and myself many times) and you're now in the pit. How do you get out??
First thing is, do not empty your life! From the text today, we see clearly that the pit is described as "empty". I can understand if a person in the pit loses interest in any activity or relationship. But what happens if a pit that is defined by emptiness is no longer empty? Would it remain a pit? I can say for sure that the possibility that it will no longer be called a pit is high! No matter how struck down or perplexed you are, make a conscious effort to have a family outside the pit. Joseph's brethren were not in the pit with Him and when the time for His rescue came, they were the ones who pulled him out. In simple terms, I'm saying that if you live in the pit of sin, have a community of people who are stronger and mature in faith than you are. The Lord will use them to lift you. Disclaimer: These people may not always agree with you on matters or have similar perspectives with you so be careful not to discard them easily.
Drink water - but not literally. It's okay that the pit was not designed to have water but we have a God who calls into being things that were not. The water here is the life of the holy spirit. You may not feel Him at this time but we walk by faith and not by sight, feelings or emotions. So, if you would survive in the pit and someday gather strength to climb out, you must feed on the word of God and spend time with the Holy Spirit. He's always there for you. Don't stop reminding yourself - He's with you and for you. Song recommendation: Kaestrings - HE’S HERE (GA SHI NAN) Acoustic LIVE || visuals by 1Media Hub - YouTube
Supernatural escape route. Our God is still a God of miracle and what He cannot do does not exist. If you think you have been in the pit for long enough and have been doing the above, cry out to God. Verse 25-28 shows how God in his infinite wisdom used the same people who threw Joseph into the pit to rescue him out of the pit. Just like Joseph, you can hope against all hope that God is working all things out for your good and in just a moment the world will behold it. Do not be anxious about how many obstacles you have to overcome. If all of Joseph's brothers could be content with Judah's idea (God's rescue plan), then you can be confident that all the obstacles will be content with God's supernatural escape route for you.
Finally, Joseph got out of the pit - victory at last! Joseph was lifted out of the pit and sold to the Ishmaelites for slavery as far as his brothers could see, but for leadership and governorship as far as God had planned.
Prayer:
Dear Father,
I adore you for loving me immensely, enough to give me your life so that I am never qualified for any pit whatsoever. I am sorry if I have been careless with this truth and have adopted a lie for my reality, stripping myself of the 'coat of many colors' you gave me and becoming vulnerable to the enemy. Forgive me for my wrong choices too, Lord, and empower me to choose life always! By your mercies, deliver me out of this dry and lifeless pit of [...name it...]. Let the light of your word cause all my human efforts to agree and be content with your plan for me. Thank you because I can be confident that in just a moment, the world (even the enemy) will behold your rescue plan for my life. In Jesus matchless name I pray! Amen!
Hallelujah, I'm now stepping out of the pit into God's glorious inheritance💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽
Bye readers! See you on the 29th in "Episode 3 - Dessert" of The Way out of the Pit.
Love always,
Moyo🤍
In The World In Faith
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