Genesis chapter 41. Genesis chapter 41 and we're beginning in verse 33 tonight. Picking up where we left off last time. Remember, Joseph has had a dream, or Joseph has had a dream. Pharaoh has had a dream, and Joseph has interpreted it, and we pick up where they're looking for a solution to a very grave problem they have, anticipating a famine. So, have a little context, we'll look at that a little closer in the sermon itself. Children, here are your questions for tonight. First, what two important things did Pharaoh see in Joseph? If you can at least name two. Except for Pharaoh, who became the most powerful man in Egypt? Three, when Joseph became a very important man, did he forget God? Four, who is the king of all eternity? And five, do fools bow down to the king of heaven? Who does bow down to the king of heaven? And is there a day coming when every knee will bow before him? Genesis chapter 41 beginning in verse 33. This is the Word of God. Now, therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man and send him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. and let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt so that the land may not perish through the famine. This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, can we find a man like this in whom is the spirit of God? Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, see, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand and clothed him in the garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride on his second chariot, and they called out before him, bow the knee. Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, I am Pharaoh. Without your consent, no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphonath Panea, and he gave him the marriage in marriage to Asenath, the daughter of Potiphar, a priest of on. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. There ends the reading of God's word. Let us pray together. Lord our God, we thank you for your words and Lord in your word. You in many ways take us far away and long time ago, but we know that your word is living and active even now and that these words. Speak to us. These words have varying on our lives. And so Lord, we asked tonight that whatever you would have us here. Tonight would sink into our hearts. Lord, that we would hear from you tonight. Minister to us, we ask. Please send your Holy Spirit to help the preacher and help to hear. Come to you in the name of Jesus. Amen. When God is honored, even the pagans can see how they respond may be vastly different in the case of Joseph in our text tonight. The response is a good one. It goes well at this point in ancient Egypt. The land was about to face famine. In seven years they were going to have no food and they had to prepare for it. It would be a vast famine. In fact, Joseph's own people, Israel, who lived nearby would be affected by it as well. It's all a part of God's plan. You remember Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams. So that was significant. He had insight into what was going to happen. But you notice that Pharaoh also saw that He not only had discernment, but he had wisdom. He knew how to practically take the things that God had told him and put them into practice. But he had also built a reputation as a good man. And so he could be trusted. But further still, he was unabashedly or unashamed or unafraid to let people know that he was a man of God. I'm convinced that was the most important thing to Joseph. No matter where he was, whether he was in poverty or whether he was at the top of the world, the world needed to know that he was a man of God. And now there's a desperate situation on the horizon. Measures have to be taken in anticipation, and Pharaoh responds wisely. Pharaoh, I say, exercises brilliance. Now he's being guided by providence, we understand that, but the ruler of the most powerful nation in the world makes a good choice here. Proverbs 21.1 says, the king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever he will. We often take this to mean that even the most obstinate, stubborn, resistant king is going to be broken and directed by God. But in this case, Pharaoh is willing. He's been given insight into the value of someone like Joseph, the pagan monarch sees. He actually sees and he sees it's a wise thing to put wise people in important places. He sees that Joseph has unmistakable character, good character. The only stain on Joseph's story is a lie from Potiphar's wife. He's a man of integrity. Of all the major figures in the Bible only he and Daniel have nothing bad said about them. Well said about them. Others have many many things said about them. Bad things said about them usually justified. Sometimes not. In their case there is nothing bad said about them. And so Joseph is a man of integrity, and Pharaoh can take comfort in that. He's a man of wisdom. He has insight into God's working and ways. He has resilience. He's not going to give up, and he has confidence. And again, I think all these things come from the fact that he has a constant, keen knowledge of the presence of God. That's why Joseph was the way he was. Pharaoh, in talking to his authorities, says, Can we find a man like this in whom is the Spirit of God? And he's talking about the God of Israel. He sees that Joseph has the Spirit. It's the first time that, in the Old Testament, that the Spirit of God is said to come upon an individual. And isn't it interesting that a pagan monarch sees it? And he chooses wisely. And he gives Joseph an incredible level of trust and respect. We can't help but be envious what a blessing it would be if our leaders had enough wisdom to pick the most godly, wise men of integrity, women of integrity as advisors in very important positions. You see, wise leaders surround themselves with wise leaders. And they're not afraid to pick for their closest advisors individuals that are even wiser than they. See, I see wisdom here in Pharaoh's choice. Well, immediately, because Pharaoh is Pharaoh, he's the most powerful man in Egypt, he's the most powerful man in all the world, Joseph rises immediately to prominence. And it's an amazing rise in just a few short years. When he was 17, he was a slave. Now he's 30 years old and he is basically ruling the known world. He's come from a pitiful condition. You remember what it was like for him. He had absolutely nothing at all. And guess what? He did not forget God in his poverty because God had not forgotten him and reminded him repeatedly that he was there. But then here on the other side, and this is almost more amazing, when he's at the top of the world, the height of power, the height of riches, he doesn't forget God. God has not forgotten Him. And so He's risen to the height of a sovereign, second only to Pharaoh. There's one spot at this point in the whole world. There's one spot that holds all the man-made power, should say, ultimately God-given power in the world. One spot, and that is the throne. What a visual. There you have Pharaoh's throne. And the only place that Joseph is not allowed to go is in that one spot of ultimate, absolute authority on the earth. But he's right next to it. Imagine the temptation there. Imagine the proneness that we would have to pride and arrogance in a position like that. Mine, all the power mine. But Joseph is a man of God and he's focused on God. top economic advisor and more. He's got all the power here. Nobody can lift a hand or move their foot without the word of Joseph. In a symbolic way, he's given a new wardrobe, fine linen and a gold chain around his neck. He's given the signet ring of Pharaoh that has that mark that any time Joseph used that seal on that signet ring, it carried all the weight of all the power of Pharaoh. The people were told when Joseph came on a chariot to bow the knee. There's so much now that has brought Joseph to prominence, this wonderful man of God. And Pharaoh has seen it. There's some question about the meaning of the name that Pharaoh gives to him. There's a number of different takes on it, Zaphonath-Paneah. But Dr. Boyce likes this, and because he likes it, I like it. He says, the name Very Possibly, and he admits that there are other possibilities, but the name Very Possibly means God speaks and lives. God speaks and lives. What a testimony. For someone to look at his life and say, I can see through your life that God really speaks and that God is alive. I don't know about you, but wouldn't. I would love wouldn't you love for people to look at my life and say I can see by his life. That God really speaks and that God is really alive. And here is a believer whose life speaks that way at the height of power in all the world. What an amazing thing. He's provided a wife. We'll look at that, the Lord willing, next time. We can't help but wonder, with Pharaoh seeing all this, if his heart wasn't changed. He's not a fool like the Pharaoh that would follow. He's different. But for Joseph, this could have been very heady stuff, but he maintained humility because he knew his place before God. It's a dramatic success story, isn't it? This story isn't about Joseph. The story is about God's redemption. And while Joseph is a great example for us, the hero of the story is not Joseph. The one that we're to have our eyes on is the God who is sovereign over all these things, and the God who's bringing all this together to bring his people down to Egypt, to fulfill the dream that he gave to Joseph, to provide for his people, and to set his people up to see even more glory than they have ever seen before, as we read in the book of Exodus. The story is about God's redeeming power, which sets our focus on Jesus Christ. We can't miss the parallel to Joseph, of Joseph and Jesus. There have been pieces all along the way that we've put together, but now we're at the point, finally, in the life of Joseph, where all those things start to converge and we begin to see Jesus more clearly. And in Joseph's rise to power from humility, we see a picture of Jesus' preeminence. But we know there had to be humility first. Jesus was one of undeniable perfection while he walked the earth. There were never any charges against him except for lies. He was proven to be worthy to be the ruler and king of his people. He had the Spirit of God without measure, but his kingdom was not of this world. Jesus never rose to worldly prominence. He never had a high position on this earth. because his position would be established where it once was before he came to earth, much higher on the throne of heaven itself with absolute authority. After the resurrection, Jesus tells the disciples that he's been given all authority on heaven and on earth, and then he tells them to go out and preach the gospel. We've already looked at the text in Philippians chapter 2 where we're reminded about the fact that Jesus had to absolutely humble himself even to the point of death, even death on the cross before he was highly exalted. We're told at the end of that in Philippians chapter 2 that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Since we dealt with that text just recently, I want us to connect that text to another text. This is a text from David. Turn to Psalm chapter 2. Psalm chapter 2. Consider the fact that here David sees Jesus exalted. Consider the fact that when Jesus ascends to heaven, he's at the right hand of glory. Consider the fact that in Revelation we see Jesus robed with glory. And then listen to Psalm 2, after the time of Joseph, before the time of Christ. Why do the nations rage? and the people's plot in vain. The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in heaven last, the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury, saying, As for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree the Lord said to me you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Now, therefore, O Kings, be wise. Be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the sun, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. There's a call. There's a demand. When Jesus tells His disciples that He's been given all power and authority, and He tells them to go out to preach the Gospel, there's a demand in the Gospel that says, bow before Jesus, kiss the Son lest He be angry. But fools are the only ones who resist Jesus' reign. Those who have wisdom from above have seen the King for who He is. Have seen the need to have Him as Savior. And have bowed the knee before Him. You see, it's Jesus' deeper humility. The deepest humility. Jesus, even from an earthly sense, absolutely put to shame, stripped of His clothes, hung on a cross in utter shame, bearing the sins, the wrath of His people. What could be more shameful than that? He became sin, though He was without sin. Deep, utter humility. to highest exaltation. The eternal king. The eternal king. Now robed in glory and majesty. Now in exaltation. You'll turn to Revelation chapter one, just a few verses here. We also looked at part of Revelation one recently, just a couple of verses in Revelation. then I want to turn our attention to Acts chapter 2. Revelation chapter 1. This is the vision, I believe, that John is being protected, but we're given a vision, as much as we can handle, of the glory of Christ. We sang a little earlier that we weren't looking for heaven to be opened. I would suggest that we have heaven opened for us in Revelation. Revelation 1 verse 14. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength." And then jump to Revelation chapter 19. Here beginning in verse 11. Then I saw heaven opened. I saw heaven opened. And behold, a white horse, the one sitting on it, is called Faithful and True. And in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems. And he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is the Word of God. And the armies of heaven arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh, He has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This is the Jesus that we bow before now. And one day, if we're in Christ, we will bow with joy. We're in submission now to the one true King. But those who are resisting now should be now and will be in that great day when every knee will bow in terror. Acts chapter 2 is the text where we hear about the Holy Spirit being poured out on the church. Perhaps this isn't a Pentecost sermon per se, but significant events happened on Pentecost, including the preaching of God's Word, which I believe at that point would have been utterly impossible with the apostles were it not for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It's important to remember that the Holy Spirit never draws attention to himself. That's not his ministry. The Holy Spirit points to Jesus. And so pick up a number of verses here in reference to the day, and you'll see in reference to our text tonight, and especially in reference to Psalm 2 and his sister Psalm, as it were, Psalm 110. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind. And it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as a fire appeared on them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians, we hear them telling in our own language the mighty works of God. And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, what does this mean? But others, mocking, said they are filled with new wine. But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words, for these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel. And in the last days it shall be, God declares that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even on my male servants and female servants in those days, I will pour out my spirit and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in heavens above and signs on the earth below blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon to blood before the day of the Lord comes the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst. As you yourselves know, this Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and for knowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death because it was not possible. for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, I saw the Lord always before me. For he has got my right hand that I may not be shaken. Therefore, my heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced. My flesh also will dwell in hope for you will not abandon my soul to Hades or let your holy one see corruption. You have made known to me the path of life. You will make me full of gladness with your presence. Hang with me here. Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he died and was buried and his tomb is with us to this day. Being there for a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ. That he was not abandoned to Hades. Nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up. And of that we are all witnesses, being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself said, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brothers, what shall we do? Peter said to them, repent. and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. Where are they pointed? They're pointing to Jesus. High and lifted up. And knowing that it was this self-same Jesus who was crucified and rose up from the dead and is exalted at the right hand of God. When it struck them, they were cut to the heart and they wanted to know what to do. And the very simple answer in the face, in the presence of this exalted Jesus, is repent and believe. Repent and be baptized, every one of you, for the forgiveness of your sins. In other words, serve the Lord with fear. And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son. Kiss the Son. Let's pray. Lord our God, we set our minds and our hearts tonight on Christ. And we know that we can do that only because you have sent your Holy Spirit that has directed us to Him, high and lifted up and exalted. And Lord, we can't help but think of the images we have in our mind from the Gospels of Jesus lifted up on the cross. But He said even in that, if He be lifted up, that all men will be drawn to Him. You've given us a vision of that as well. You've shown us from the psalmist that the sun. Is that the right hand on your throne? Given us the glorious vision of revelation where we know that our savior Jesus reigns with many diadems as king of kings and lord of lords. Lord, you've given us your gospel that teaches us and shows us undeniably that Jesus is the Lord before whom everyone must one day bow. We thank you deeply for the grace you've given to us in Christ that we have learned to bow now. And in that great and glorious day when we meet the Savior face to face, we will certainly bow. And we will certainly confess that Jesus is Lord. We confess it now. We will confess forever. The Lord, we pray for many who have hardened their hearts against you. Who live and move and have their being even right now at this moment in the presence of the King of Heaven. And we're reminded of the warning from Your Scripture. Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way. Lord, we simply plead tonight that You would send Your Holy Spirit, open eyes, to see Jesus for who He is. And that they might see their desperate need to be reconciled to You through Him. and filled with Your life-giving Spirit. And we pray in that name that's above every other name, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.