|
Turn The Page
by Rev. Moses K. Ndereva,
Pastor – Lifeline Community Fellowship
Genesis 41:51-52
51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
Job 36:15
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
Psalm 119:50
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
Mark 5:25-27
25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak,
Introduction
We play an important part in changing our direction in life. No one is condemned forever in suffering. There is always a new day. There is always another way out; but we are responsible for receiving the revelation. Changing direction is a decision that must be made. Joseph had to decide the end of his suffering memories and concentrate on the fruitfulness. For all of us there is always something good happening in the course of our suffering. We must hear the voice of God’s comfort in our afflictions. We must focus on God’s preservation through our suffering. Like the woman with the issue of blood, our suffering must bring us right at Jesus’ feet. Jesus marks the end of your losses and suffering. Do not allow your past to hinder your fruitfulness.
Joseph Had to Forget His Father's Household
Joseph's first action was to name Manasseh! He effectively forgot the troubles of his past. He put an end to the memories of rivalry with his brethren. He forgot the troubles that had marked all his life. He used his first progressive achievement to mark an end to painful reminders. This had to inevitably mean forgiveness and forgetting.
Joseph Had to Decide to Focus on Fruitfulness
Joseph’s second action was to name Ephraim! He decided that God had helped him to be fruitful in the course of his afflictions. Suffering did not stop him from being productive. He had been fruitful in the land of his suffering. God does not stop his agenda for our lives when we are going through difficulties. It will take us to see what God is doing beyond what the devil is doing.
Our Suffering Is Not Beyond God's Help
The bleeding woman suffered in the hands of those he thought would help. When she realized things were getting worse and the losses were massive, she ended at Jesus’ feet. There was an end to her suffering. Her connection with the Lord turned her page. Her pain, shame, bills and deterioration ended on touching the Lord. A little talk with Jesus is all it takes to end our chapter of suffering. A personal connection with the Lord
|
