The Sermon God Is At Work For You by Ronald Stafford
Jul 12, 2015
God Is At Work For You (36:10)
Referenced Scriptures: Romans 8:28-39; Genesis 41:1-57; Genesis 42:1-38; Genesis 43:1-34; Genesis 44:1-34; Genesis 45:1-28; Isaiah 55:8-9; Psalm 46:1; Psalm 46:10
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Romans 8:28-39
28) We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
29) For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
30) Whom he foreordained, them he also called. Whom he called, them he also justified. Whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31) What then will we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32) He who didn‘t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
33) Who could bring a charge against God‘s elect? It is God who justifies.
34) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
35) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36) Even as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37) No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39) nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Genesis 41:1-57
1) It happened at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.
2) Behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle, well-favored and fat-fleshed, and they fed in the reed-grass.
3) Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river.
4) The ill-favored and lean-fleshed cattle ate up the seven well-favored and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke.
5) He slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, seven ears of grain came up on one stalk, rank and good.
6) Behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
7) The thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
8) It happened in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men of it. Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9) Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I remember my faults today.
10) Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, me and the chief baker.
11) We dreamed a dream in one night, I and he. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.
12) There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams. To each man according to his dream he did interpret.
13) It happened, as he interpreted to us, so it was: me he restored to my office, and him he hanged."
14) Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh.
15) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16) Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It isn‘t in me: God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
17) Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood on the brink of the river:
18) and, behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle, fat-fleshed and well-favored. They fed in the reed-grass,
19) and, behold, seven other cattle came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness.
20) The lean and ill-favored cattle ate up the first seven fat cattle,
21) and when they had eaten them up, it couldn‘t be known that they had eaten them, but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
22) I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up on one stalk, full and good:
23) and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them.
24) The thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. I told it to the magicians; but there was no one who could explain it to me."
25) Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one. What God is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh.
26) The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years. The dream is one.
27) The seven lean and ill-favored cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine.
28) That is the thing which I spoke to Pharaoh. What God is about to do he has showed to Pharaoh.
29) Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.
30) There will arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land,
31) and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous.
32) The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
33) Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a discreet and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34) Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt‘s produce in the seven plenteous years.
35) Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it.
36) The food will be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; that the land not perish through the famine."
37) The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
38) Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?"
39) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has showed you all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as you.
40) You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you."
41) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt."
42) Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph‘s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck,
43) and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, "Bow the knee!" He set him over all the land of Egypt.
44) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt."
45) Pharaoh called Joseph‘s name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
46) Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
47) In the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.
48) He gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, he laid up in the same.
49) Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number.
50) To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him.
51) Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father‘s house."
52) The name of the second, he called Ephraim: "For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."
53) The seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end.
54) The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55) When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do."
56) The famine was over all the surface of the earth. Joseph opened all the store-houses, and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt.
57) All countries came into Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth.
Genesis 42:1-38
1) Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
2) He said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy for us from there, so that we may live, and not die."
3) Joseph‘s ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4) But Jacob didn‘t send Benjamin, Joseph‘s brother, with his brothers; for he said, "Lest perhaps harm befall him."
5) The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6) Joseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph‘s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth.
7) Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, "Where did you come from?" They said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
8) Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn‘t recognize him.
9) Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed about them, and said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land."
10) They said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
11) We are all one man‘s sons; we are honest men. Your servants are not spies."
12) He said to them, "No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land."
13) They said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more."
14) Joseph said to them, "It is like I told you, saying, ‘You are spies.‘
15) Hereby you shall be tested. By the life of Pharaoh you shall not go forth from here, unless your youngest brother come here.
16) Send one of you, and let him get your brother, and you shall be bound, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you, or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies."
17) He put them all together into custody three days.
18) Joseph said to them the third day, "Do this, and live, for I fear God.
19) If you are honest men, then let one of your brothers be bound in your prison-house; but you go, carry grain for the famine of your houses.
20) Bring your youngest brother to me; so will your words be verified, and you won‘t die." They did so.
21) They said one to another, "We are most assuredly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us, and we wouldn‘t listen. Therefore this distress has come on us."
22) Reuben answered them, saying, "Didn‘t I tell you, saying, ‘Don‘t sin against the child,‘ and you wouldn‘t listen? Therefore also, behold, his blood is required."
23) They didn‘t know that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.
24) He turned himself about from them, and wept, and he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among them, and bound him before their eyes.
25) Then Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with grain, and to restore every man‘s money into his sack, and to give them provisions for the way. Thus was it done to them.
26) They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed from there.
27) As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the lodging-place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.
28) He said to his brothers, "My money is restored! Behold, it is even in my sack." Their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying, "What is this that God has done to us?"
29) They came to Jacob their father to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had befallen them, saying,
30) "The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.
31) We said to him, ‘We are honest men. We are no spies.
32) We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.‘
33) The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘Hereby will I know that you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way.
34) Bring your youngest brother to me. Then will I know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So will I deliver you your brother, and you shall trade in the land.‘"
35) It happened as they emptied their sacks, that behold, every man‘s bundle of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid.
36) Jacob, their father, said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. All these things are against me."
37) Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "Kill my two sons, if I don‘t bring him to you. Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again."
38) He said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm befall him by the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol."
Genesis 43:1-34
1) The famine was severe in the land.
2) It happened, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little food."
3) Judah spoke to him, saying, "The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.‘
4) If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food,
5) but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said to us, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.‘"
6) Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?"
7) They said, "The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?‘ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down?‘"
8) Judah said to Israel, his father, "Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones.
9) I will be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don‘t bring him to you, and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever,
10) for unless we had lingered, surely we would have returned a second time by now."
11) Their father, Israel, said to them, "If it be so now, do this. Take from the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
12) and take double money in your hand, with the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry again in your hand. Perhaps it was an oversight.
13) Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man.
14) May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."
15) The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
16) When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Bring the men into the house, and butcher an animal, and make ready; for the men will dine with me at noon."
17) The man did as Joseph commanded, and the man brought the men to Joseph‘s house.
18) The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph‘s house; and they said, "Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall on us, and take us for bondservants, along with our donkeys."
19) They came near to the steward of Joseph‘s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,
20) and said, "Oh, my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
21) and it happened, when we came to the lodging-place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man‘s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it again in our hand.
22) Other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food. We don‘t know who put our money in our sacks."
23) He said, "Peace be to you. Don‘t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your money." He brought Simeon out to them.
24) The man brought the men into Joseph‘s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys provender.
25) They made ready the present for Joseph‘s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there.
26) When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down themselves to him to the earth.
27) He asked them of their welfare, and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he yet alive?"
28) They said, "Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive." They bowed the head, and did homage.
29) He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother‘s son, and said, "Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?" He said, "God be gracious to you, my son."
30) Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought a place to weep; and he entered into his room, and wept there.
31) He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, "Serve the meal."
32) They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians, that ate with him, by themselves, because the Egyptians don‘t eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
33) They sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth, and the men marveled one with another.
34) He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin‘s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank, and were merry with him.
Genesis 44:1-34
1) He commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men‘s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man‘s money in his sack‘s mouth.
2) Put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack‘s mouth of the youngest, with his grain money." He did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
3) As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.
4) When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Up, follow after the men. When you overtake them, tell them, ‘Why have you rewarded evil for good?
5) Isn‘t this that from which my lord drinks, and whereby he indeed divines? You have done evil in so doing.‘"
6) He overtook them, and he spoke to them these words.
7) They said to him, "Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing!
8) Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks‘ mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then should we steal silver or gold out of your lord‘s house?
9) With whoever of your servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord‘s bondservants."
10) He said, "Now also let it be according to your words: he with whom it is found will be my bondservant; and you will be blameless."
11) Then they hurried, and took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
12) He searched, beginning with the eldest, and ending at the youngest. The cup was found in Benjamin‘s sack.
13) Then they tore their clothes, and loaded every man his donkey, and returned to the city.
14) Judah and his brothers came to Joseph‘s house, and he was still there. They fell on the ground before him.
15) Joseph said to them, "What deed is this that you have done? Don‘t you know that such a man as I can indeed divine?"
16) Judah said, "What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? Or how will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we are my lord‘s bondservants, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found."
17) He said, "Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my bondservant; but as for you, go up in peace to your father."
18) Then Judah came near to him, and said, "Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord‘s ears, and don‘t let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even as Pharaoh.
19) My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?‘
20) We said to my lord, ‘We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother; and his father loves him.‘
21) You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.‘
22) We said to my lord, ‘The boy can‘t leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.‘
23) You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.‘
24) It happened when we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
25) Our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food.‘
26) We said, ‘We can‘t go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man‘s face, unless our youngest brother is with us.‘
27) Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons:
28) and the one went out from me, and I said, "Surely he is torn in pieces;" and I haven‘t seen him since.
29) If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.‘
30) Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the boy‘s life;
31) it will happen, when he sees that the boy is no more, that he will die. Your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant, our father, with sorrow to Sheol.
32) For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I don‘t bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.‘
33) Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, a bondservant to my lord; and let the boy go up with his brothers.
34) For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn‘t with me? Lest I see the evil that will come on my father."
Genesis 45:1-28
1) Then Joseph couldn‘t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he cried, "Cause every man to go out from me!" There stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2) He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3) Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Does my father still live?" His brothers couldn‘t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
4) Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5) Now don‘t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6) For these two years has the famine been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.
7) God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
8) So now it wasn‘t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9) Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, "God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don‘t wait.
10) You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children‘s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
11) There I will nourish you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have."‘
12) Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13) You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here."
14) He fell on his brother Benjamin‘s neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15) He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.
16) The report of it was heard in Pharaoh‘s house, saying, "Joseph‘s brothers have come." It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, ‘Do this. Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
18) Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.‘
19) Now you are commanded: do this. Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20) Also, don‘t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all of the land of Egypt is yours."
21) The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22) To all of them he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
23) To his father, he sent after this manner: ten donkeys laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
24) So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, "See that you don‘t quarrel on the way."
25) They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.
26) They told him, saying, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." His heart fainted, for he didn‘t believe them.
27) They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived.
28) Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
Isaiah 55:8-9
8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says Yahweh.
9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Psalm 46:1
1) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:10
10) "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth."
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They did better. That's right. OK. My wife and I retired from Pastore ministry and are living nearby in Richland. We pastored five different churches through the years all in Pennsylvania. Our last pastor it was a New York County in a little place called Wrightsville and it's kind of a bedroom community of about twenty seven twenty eight hundred people. My wife is from the Johnstown area. She graduated from Johnstown high and I am from a small crossroads east of Cumberland Maryland called one stone. Anybody ever hear of that put it on. So you know you're looking at one of the original one stones. I even married a Betty my wife and I on the one nine hundred of last month celebrated our wedding anniversary. We were married. In Johnstown a great embly over Upton ha was faster then. So I know some of those things are pretty well you're with you. To you. Today we want to share from 's word about the fact that is at work for you. And we'll begin with Romans eight twenty eight. And we know that in all things works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to His purpose. When I was a young Christian I had this notion that if you were a Christian everything went right no problem was the speaker but now that I'm seventy one years old I've learned a few things along the road and I find that there are some adversities that believer's fate. Sometimes they're financial. I shared a testimony recently with a study group. Several men that gather together once a week to study 's word and I told them that in my lifetime I can remember of two times when we were so hard up for finances and the first time was after we were married first years so that we had to take some soda bottles back and get the deposit on them in order to get. A loaf of bread. Another time was after we had been to Oral Roberts University did a degree out there and came back to Pennsylvania. We were living in the Philadelphia area. We had not yet taken the pastorate there but we were doing what I'm doing today filling in for pastors on vacation and so forth and things were so tight. On one occasion that all I had was a roll of pennies fifty cents and when needed and needed gets so I went into a local gas station and I said I want fifty cents worth of gas and I said all I have are these pennies and he says I can't accept rolled change. OK I broke them open dump fifty pennies on the counter went out to my guests. Now sometimes we face difficulties and we wonder where is in all of this. If promises that all things work together for good. Where is he sometimes. In recent years my adversities had been in the health area. DR KEN Marley and I have had three encounters at your local hospital here. I had three operations in the e of twenty two months but in all that has been faithful. Today I want to share with you from the story of Joseph found in the book of Genesis. You won't need to turn there. I'm sure that this story is quite familiar. Do you. But we can see at work turning adversity into something good in the life of Joseph who was the son of Jacob one of twelve sons. And when you first read about him the scripture tells us that he's seventeen years old. He has a couple dreams and he shares these dreams with his family. One is about a grain and the other is about the sun moon and stars both of which indicate there is coming in a time when his family or when he is the one of the younger of the brothers is going to rule over the rest of the family when he shared these dreams with his family. This caused some anger on the part of his brothers. Now there were there was one father but there was four mothers and there was a total of twelve sons. In today's terminology we might call that a blended family. And sometimes those kind of situations bring adversity. And so even though Joseph was a young man called the he had 's blessing upon his life. Still there were problems that he had to deal with with his own family. There was so much anger and jealousy on the part of his brothers that one day when Joseph went out to meet them while they were tending the sheep he was to see how they were doing and report back to the Father as they saw him coming. In the distance they hatched the scheme that they were going to get rid of him. One suggested that they kill him. But thank goodness they decided instead to sell him into slavery. They had first stripped his coat of many collars off of him put him in a dry cistern that was just like a big pit in the ground and as they saw a caravan coming in the distance toward them they decided why not make some money on this at the same time and would get rid of him. And so they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to a caravan that took him down into Egypt. Now I don't know about you but I would consider that of some member of my family sold me into slavery. I would consider that an insult. I would consider that a big problem. So here is Joseph. He's been sold in to the hands of these lights taken down to Egypt with the other goods there he is sold as a slave. Now if Joseph is in 's will if 's blessing is upon him Where is now. Where is in all of this. When Joseph is being sold as a slay of our own country fought a civil war over the issue of slavery. We know how bad slavery can be and so Joseph a young man. When I'm seventeen is being sold as a slave. But was at work for here even though there were times when Joseph couldn't see it or sense it. Still was working in his behalf and so a man named part of her brought Joseph and we read it in the context there that 's blessing was upon Joseph and he prospered even in this situation of being a slave. It was that long before part of her was so impressed by Joseph that he turned everything in his household affairs over to Joseph and so Joseph took care of those things. Next we see an encounter with part of her is what she wanted to seduce Joe's. She wanted him to have an affair with her behind her husband's back. But the Scripture tells us that Joseph was a man of character. He was a man that didn't want to be trade his master part of her nor did he want to retrace his if we were to put that context or that family in today's world. You know there are many who would say to Joseph well go ahead and have your plain who care but those of couldn't do that he couldn't betray his master he couldn't turn back on. But that he knew. And so when part of his wife tried to trap him into a situation he fled leaving part of his clothing behind and she turned around because he had scorned her. She turned that around and falsely accused Joseph and you know the next day we see that part of her is so angry at what he believes Joseph has done that he throws Joseph in the prison. Seventeen year old boy. First the sin slavery and now some time after that he finds himself in the prison. Now the prisons of in those days weren't very good. They didn't have recreation. They didn't have T.V. they didn't have you know good food. It was a terrible situation for Joseph to begin again. Where is in all of this. How is working to bless Joe's of to take that which is evil and a big problem and turn it around and make something good in the blessing. Well it seems that Joseph soon impressed the jailer just as he had impressed pottered for with his honesty his integrity his good character. That came from the he served. And so it wasn't long before he was given the responsibility of running the prison that he was in. There were two inmates that came in. One day they were the former baker and cup bearer of Pharaoh. And these two individuals both had dreams one night and the next morning they were discussing it and upset because ody could tell them what the Greens meant. Joe's of interpreted the cup bearers dream first and the meaning of it was that in three days he was going to be restored to his position before Pharaoh the baker taking courage from that good interpretation told Joseph his dream. But the outcome or interpretation of it was not very good Joseph told him in three days. You are going to lose your head you're going to be killed. And sure enough within three days at a birthday party for the pharaoh. Why. Both of these things came to p . Joseph had said to the cup there that when you are resorted to your position remember me and my situation. And after three days the coupler was restored but he forgot all about Joseph Joseph was still in prison and it wasn't until two years had gone by that when they wrote had a couple of dreams and ody could interpret them for him that finally the cupbearer remembered there is a Hebrew slave in prison that interpreted my dream and it came to p just as he said. And so. He tells pharaoh they send for Joseph. He is brought out of prison he's cleaned up and taken before Pharaoh and Pharaoh tells him the two dreams that he has had and ask if he can interpret and Joseph says you know it's not me but it's that gives the interpretation. And he says both reasons that you have had are one and the same. He says there is going to be by our seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. And he says I suggest that you find a wise man and set him over this issue and so that he can store up all the planting and it will be available then when the years of famine come by and they decide who is wiser than Joseph. He's the only one that has been able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh and so they they gave him royal clothing. They hung a gold chain around his neck and put him second in command over the entire nation of Egypt. In they wrote took off his signet ring gave it to Joseph and he says I I am the only one that will have more power than you. Now we began to see Joseph emerging out of the adversity that he had been subject to being sold by his brother being a slave. For a number of years. And part of her spouse being falsely accused and put in prison and then remaining in prison an additional two years because of the cup bearer had forgotten about him. Now we see is working. He's taking those things which were meant for evil these turning them around and he's making something good out of this. We read that when Joseph took his position in Egypt that thirteen years had p ed from the time his brother first sold him to the Ishmael light. Thirteen years went by. How long are you willing to wait for to turn things around free. You know we live in a world where everything's and that you know we want to push a on and get immediate results. You probably can think of situations where you have taken a request before you've asked please do this or please do that and you may have waited for days or weeks or months and probably in some cases years before you saw an answer. Joseph waited thirteen years before he was elevated to this position. Now that verse that we read from Romans eight we know that all things that you know all things works for the good of those who love them and have been called a court. Through its purpose. What was the purpose of our baiting Jones of to this position. Was it to make him rich. Was it to compensate him for all of the adversity he had gone through in thirteen years. Neither was it was that he might be a deliverer. Not for himself but for his entire family who in the years to come would grow into a great number of people and eventually would become the nation of Israel. Had it not been for Joe's going through this adversity would get 's hand upon him being called of If it had not been for Joseph there would not be an Israel as we know it today. Continue the story. Joseph is now in a position of power. After a year or so of famine that affects the entire region including Canaan where his brothers were still living. They come down to Egypt to buy grain and he of course the mediately recognizes them but now he looks like an Egyptian. His hair and beard they are fixed like the Egyptians where he has a chipping clothes. So as you know and his brother haven't seen Joseph for thirteen years and so they. I don't recognize him. So he has an encounter with him here accuse them of being spies. And so you know now they're going to reap what they have so some years earlier. But again in all of this going back and forth with one another it gives him a test he puts very he orders that their money be put back in their grain sacks and as they go back home. One of them has to remain in order to prove or until it is proven that they have been telling the truth about their father and about a younger brother that still back home. And so eventually the brothers go back home. They tell their father Jacob about all that has transpired. Eventually that grain runs out. And so they said we have to go back to get more grain but we cannot go back unless we take Benjamin with us. Benjamin is the younger brother to Joseph. Their mother died in childbirth. He is a favorite now of Jacob. Jacob does not want to part with him in any way shape or form. But eventually the brothers prevail. Talk of mental allowing him to go back to Egypt again. They are presented to. You Joseph he has a great feast for there. The arranges for the brothers to be placed in order by age brothers were amazed that you know this was happening. Who could know the chronological birth of all the brothers again after sharing a time with Joseph. They are sent home again the money is put back in the mouth of the other grain sacks. Only this time a silver goblet is put in the mouth of Benjamin sack the stewardess sent after them. He searches through their proper earth the grain sacks that the goblet is discovered in the sack of Benjamin. They all have to go back. Joseph you know calls him to account the sort of the story is that before it's all said and done he identifies himself to them and they can't believe it. They can't believe it. Let me read a few verses from Genesis about this part of the story. Joseph said to his brothers I am Joseph. This my father still living but his brothers were not able to answer him because they were terrified at his presence. And then Joseph said to his brothers come close to me. When they had done so he said I am your brother Joseph the one you sold in Egypt and now do not be distressed do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here because it was to save lives that sent me. I have been called according to His purpose. This was Joseph's purpose. had called him to save lives. He says for two years now there has been famine in the land and for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. sent me ahead of you to preserve for you are remnant on earth to save your allies by a great the liver and it's the brothers. Go back call the short of the story is Jacob is delighted to hear that Joseph is still alive. He and his higher House will move to Egypt where provides for them for the rest of the famine. They are given the choice land they live in a living Goshen which is the delta of the Nile and the richest soil in the area. And so the Hebrews prosper. And of course when you get to the next book of scripture Exodus you have the story of Moses and how he led 's nation out of Egypt into the Promised Land. But in the story of Joseph we see has been at work. is at work for us. Sometimes we can't see but he's still there. You know doesn't promise to keep us from everything just promises that be with us through everything. He was with Joseph through all kinds of adversity. Look at the rest of the verses that follow Romans eight twenty eight and verse twenty nine for those foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son that they might be the first born among many brothers and those he predestined He also called those he called he also justified those he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say in response to this. If is for us who could be against us. Skipping down the verse thirty five who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. Verse thirty seven. No in all these things we are more than conquerors to him who loved us. For I'm convinced that neither death they're lying neither angels nor demons neither the present know the future nor any powers neither height nor depth or anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of that is Christ Jesus our Lord. had a plan for Joseph. He brought him through all. Since of adversity and blessed him and he became an instrument to save his entire family. Sometimes we don't understand how works or why he works in a certain way. The virus is a pastor I've heard many occasion people make a comment something like when I get to heaven I'll find out why. Why did a certain event happen in this individual's life or why did so and so die at such a young age. When we get to heaven we'll find out in Isaiah fifty five eight and nine the Scripture says for my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord as the heavens are higher than the Earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts then your thoughts. It's impossible for us to comprehend how a thinks how he works in certain ways but we do know this based upon Romans eight twenty eight that all things work together for good to those who were called by the Lord. In the Book of Psalms some forty six. There are two statements that I leave with you. First is verse one is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble and verse CAN BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. The first operation that I had in the local hospital was for a ruptured appendix. Very serious situation and there were times when I had to walk the halls for exercise and often I would do it in the middle of the night because I couldn't sleep and it just seemed like blackness envelops me. Where was in all of this is helping me I couldn't. There were many times I couldn't sense 's presence and all of that. I do know he brought me through. was at work for me like he was at work for Joseph and is it work for you as well. I don't know what situation you are facing today. It might be financial. It might be in your health. Maybe there is some kind of problem among family members. It's not important that I know what's important is that knows all about it. And if you will take the need to the Lord he'll work it out for the best. It may look like it's impossible but with all things are possible. Many of you are like me that as we grew up as children we heard about the Iron Curtain we heard about the atomic bomb and in grade school why we had to do the drills where you climb under your desk at that time I thought that the Iron Curtain that Soviet Union was such a huge problem that there was no way to deal with that. But you know what. In our lifetime the Soviet Union has dissolved. I don't care what problem you have how big it seems dollars bigger than all these that work for you this balance for the Lord. You know the needs of your people in this local congregation. I pray that they will have the faith to look to you to deal with whatever it may be and however long it may take whether it takes a few days or a few years I pray that you will see the need and respond to it. We ask in your name Amen. Are sisters coming out to close our service. They did better. That's right. OK. My wife and I retired from Pastore ministry and are living nearby in Richland. We pastored five different churches through the years all in Pennsylvania. Our last pastor it was a New York County in a little place called Wrightsville and it's kind of a bedroom community of about twenty seven twenty eight hundred people. My wife is from the Johnstown area. She graduated from Johnstown high and I am from a small crossroads east of Cumberland Maryland called one stone. Anybody ever hear of that put it on. So you know you're looking at one of the original one stones. I even married a Betty my wife and I on the one nine hundred of last month celebrated our wedding anniversary. We were married. In Johnstown a great embly over Upton ha was faster then. So I know some of those things are pretty well you're with you. To you. Today we want to share from 's word about the fact that is at work for you. And we'll begin with Romans eight twenty eight. And we know that in all things works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to His purpose. When I was a young Christian I had this notion that if you were a Christian everything went right no problem was the speaker but now that I'm seventy one years old I've learned a few things along the road and I find that there are some adversities that believer's fate. Sometimes they're financial. I shared a testimony recently with a study group. Several men that gather together once a week to study 's word and I told them that in my lifetime I can remember of two times when we were so hard up for finances and the first time was after we were married first years so that we had to take some soda bottles back and get the deposit on them in order to get. A loaf of bread. Another time was after we had been to Oral Roberts University did a degree out there and came back to Pennsylvania. We were living in the Philadelphia area. We had not yet taken the pastorate there but we were doing what I'm doing today filling in for pastors on vacation and so forth and things were so tight. On one occasion that all I had was a roll of pennies fifty cents and when needed and needed gets so I went into a local gas station and I said I want fifty cents worth of gas and I said all I have are these pennies and he says I can't accept rolled change. OK I broke them open dump fifty pennies on the counter went out to my guests. Now sometimes we face difficulties and we wonder where is in all of this. If promises that all things work together for good. Where is he sometimes. In recent years my adversities had been in the health area. DR KEN Marley and I have had three encounters at your local hospital here. I had three operations in the e of twenty two months but in all that has been faithful. Today I want to share with you from the story of Joseph found in the book of Genesis. You won't need to turn there. I'm sure that this story is quite familiar. Do you. But we can see at work turning adversity into something good in the life of Joseph who was the son of Jacob one of twelve sons. And when you first read about him the scripture tells us that he's seventeen years old. He has a couple dreams and he shares these dreams with his family. One is about a grain and the other is about the sun moon and stars both of which indicate there is coming in a time when his family or when he is the one of the younger of the brothers is going to rule over the rest of the family when he shared these dreams with his family. This caused some anger on the part of his brothers. Now there were there was one father but there was four mothers and there was a total of twelve sons. In today's terminology we might call that a blended family. And sometimes those kind of situations bring adversity. And so even though Joseph was a young man called the he had 's blessing upon his life. Still there were problems that he had to deal with with his own family. There was so much anger and jealousy on the part of his brothers that one day when Joseph went out to meet them while they were tending the sheep he was to see how they were doing and report back to the Father as they saw him coming. In the distance they hatched the scheme that they were going to get rid of him. One suggested that they kill him. But thank goodness they decided instead to sell him into slavery. They had first stripped his coat of many collars off of him put him in a dry cistern that was just like a big pit in the ground and as they saw a caravan coming in the distance toward them they decided why not make some money on this at the same time and would get rid of him. And so they sold him for twenty pieces of silver to a caravan that took him down into Egypt. Now I don't know about you but I would consider that of some member of my family sold me into slavery. I would consider that an insult. I would consider that a big problem. So here is Joseph. He's been sold in to the hands of these lights taken down to Egypt with the other goods there he is sold as a slave. Now if Joseph is in 's will if 's blessing is upon him Where is now. Where is in all of this. When Joseph is being sold as a slay of our own country fought a civil war over the issue of slavery. We know how bad slavery can be and so Joseph a young man. When I'm seventeen is being sold as a slave. But was at work for here even though there were times when Joseph couldn't see it or sense it. Still was working in his behalf and so a man named part of her brought Joseph and we read it in the context there that 's blessing was upon Joseph and he prospered even in this situation of being a slave. It was that long before part of her was so impressed by Joseph that he turned everything in his household affairs over to Joseph and so Joseph took care of those things. Next we see an encounter with part of her is what she wanted to seduce Joe's. She wanted him to have an affair with her behind her husband's back. But the Scripture tells us that Joseph was a man of character. He was a man that didn't want to be trade his master part of her nor did he want to retrace his if we were to put that context or that family in today's world. You know there are many who would say to Joseph well go ahead and have your plain who care but those of couldn't do that he couldn't betray his master he couldn't turn back on. But that he knew. And so when part of his wife tried to trap him into a situation he fled leaving part of his clothing behind and she turned around because he had scorned her. She turned that around and falsely accused Joseph and you know the next day we see that part of her is so angry at what he believes Joseph has done that he throws Joseph in the prison. Seventeen year old boy. First the sin slavery and now some time after that he finds himself in the prison. Now the prisons of in those days weren't very good. They didn't have recreation. They didn't have T.V. they didn't have you know good food. It was a terrible situation for Joseph to begin again. Where is in all of this. How is working to bless Joe's of to take that which is evil and a big problem and turn it around and make something good in the blessing. Well it seems that Joseph soon impressed the jailer just as he had impressed pottered for with his honesty his integrity his good character. That came from the he served. And so it wasn't long before he was given the responsibility of running the prison that he was in. There were two inmates that came in. One day they were the former baker and cup bearer of Pharaoh. And these two individuals both had dreams one night and the next morning they were discussing it and upset because ody could tell them what the Greens meant. Joe's of interpreted the cup bearers dream first and the meaning of it was that in three days he was going to be restored to his position before Pharaoh the baker taking courage from that good interpretation told Joseph his dream. But the outcome or interpretation of it was not very good Joseph told him in three days. You are going to lose your head you're going to be killed. And sure enough within three days at a birthday party for the pharaoh. Why. Both of these things came to p . Joseph had said to the cup there that when you are resorted to your position remember me and my situation. And after three days the coupler was restored but he forgot all about Joseph Joseph was still in prison and it wasn't until two years had gone by that when they wrote had a couple of dreams and ody could interpret them for him that finally the cupbearer remembered there is a Hebrew slave in prison that interpreted my dream and it came to p just as he said. And so. He tells pharaoh they send for Joseph. He is brought out of prison he's cleaned up and taken before Pharaoh and Pharaoh tells him the two dreams that he has had and ask if he can interpret and Joseph says you know it's not me but it's that gives the interpretation. And he says both reasons that you have had are one and the same. He says there is going to be by our seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. And he says I suggest that you find a wise man and set him over this issue and so that he can store up all the planting and it will be available then when the years of famine come by and they decide who is wiser than Joseph. He's the only one that has been able to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh and so they they gave him royal clothing. They hung a gold chain around his neck and put him second in command over the entire nation of Egypt. In they wrote took off his signet ring gave it to Joseph and he says I I am the only one that will have more power than you. Now we began to see Joseph emerging out of the adversity that he had been subject to being sold by his brother being a slave. For a number of years. And part of her spouse being falsely accused and put in prison and then remaining in prison an additional two years because of the cup bearer had forgotten about him. Now we see is working. He's taking those things which were meant for evil these turning them around and he's making something good out of this. We read that when Joseph took his position in Egypt that thirteen years had p ed from the time his brother first sold him to the Ishmael light. Thirteen years went by. How long are you willing to wait for to turn things around free. You know we live in a world where everything's and that you know we want to push a on and get immediate results. You probably can think of situations where you have taken a request before you've asked please do this or please do that and you may have waited for days or weeks or months and probably in some cases years before you saw an answer. Joseph waited thirteen years before he was elevated to this position. Now that verse that we read from Romans eight we know that all things that you know all things works for the good of those who love them and have been called a court. Through its purpose. What was the purpose of our baiting Jones of to this position. Was it to make him rich. Was it to compensate him for all of the adversity he had gone through in thirteen years. Neither was it was that he might be a deliverer. Not for himself but for his entire family who in the years to come would grow into a great number of people and eventually would become the nation of Israel. Had it not been for Joe's going through this adversity would get 's hand upon him being called of If it had not been for Joseph there would not be an Israel as we know it today. Continue the story. Joseph is now in a position of power. After a year or so of famine that affects the entire region including Canaan where his brothers were still living. They come down to Egypt to buy grain and he of course the mediately recognizes them but now he looks like an Egyptian. His hair and beard they are fixed like the Egyptians where he has a chipping clothes. So as you know and his brother haven't seen Joseph for thirteen years and so they. I don't recognize him. So he has an encounter with him here accuse them of being spies. And so you know now they're going to reap what they have so some years earlier. But again in all of this going back and forth with one another it gives him a test he puts very he orders that their money be put back in their grain sacks and as they go back home. One of them has to remain in order to prove or until it is proven that they have been telling the truth about their father and about a younger brother that still back home. And so eventually the brothers go back home. They tell their father Jacob about all that has transpired. Eventually that grain runs out. And so they said we have to go back to get more grain but we cannot go back unless we take Benjamin with us. Benjamin is the younger brother to Joseph. Their mother died in childbirth. He is a favorite now of Jacob. Jacob does not want to part with him in any way shape or form. But eventually the brothers prevail. Talk of mental allowing him to go back to Egypt again. They are presented to. You Joseph he has a great feast for there. The arranges for the brothers to be placed in order by age brothers were amazed that you know this was happening. Who could know the chronological birth of all the brothers again after sharing a time with Joseph. They are sent home again the money is put back in the mouth of the other grain sacks. Only this time a silver goblet is put in the mouth of Benjamin sack the stewardess sent after them. He searches through their proper earth the grain sacks that the goblet is discovered in the sack of Benjamin. They all have to go back. Joseph you know calls him to account the sort of the story is that before it's all said and done he identifies himself to them and they can't believe it. They can't believe it. Let me read a few verses from Genesis about this part of the story. Joseph said to his brothers I am Joseph. This my father still living but his brothers were not able to answer him because they were terrified at his presence. And then Joseph said to his brothers come close to me. When they had done so he said I am your brother Joseph the one you sold in Egypt and now do not be distressed do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here because it was to save lives that sent me. I have been called according to His purpose. This was Joseph's purpose. had called him to save lives. He says for two years now there has been famine in the land and for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. sent me ahead of you to preserve for you are remnant on earth to save your allies by a great the liver and it's the brothers. Go back call the short of the story is Jacob is delighted to hear that Joseph is still alive. He and his higher House will move to Egypt where provides for them for the rest of the famine. They are given the choice land they live in a living Goshen which is the delta of the Nile and the richest soil in the area. And so the Hebrews prosper. And of course when you get to the next book of scripture Exodus you have the story of Moses and how he led 's nation out of Egypt into the Promised Land. But in the story of Joseph we see has been at work. is at work for us. Sometimes we can't see but he's still there. You know doesn't promise to keep us from everything just promises that be with us through everything. He was with Joseph through all kinds of adversity. Look at the rest of the verses that follow Romans eight twenty eight and verse twenty nine for those foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his son that they might be the first born among many brothers and those he predestined He also called those he called he also justified those he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say in response to this. If is for us who could be against us. Skipping down the verse thirty five who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword. Verse thirty seven. No in all these things we are more than conquerors to him who loved us. For I'm convinced that neither death they're lying neither angels nor demons neither the present know the future nor any powers neither height nor depth or anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of that is Christ Jesus our Lord. had a plan for Joseph. He brought him through all. Since of adversity and blessed him and he became an instrument to save his entire family. Sometimes we don't understand how works or why he works in a certain way. The virus is a pastor I've heard many occasion people make a comment something like when I get to heaven I'll find out why. Why did a certain event happen in this individual's life or why did so and so die at such a young age. When we get to heaven we'll find out in Isaiah fifty five eight and nine the Scripture says for my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord as the heavens are higher than the Earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts then your thoughts. It's impossible for us to comprehend how a thinks how he works in certain ways but we do know this based upon Romans eight twenty eight that all things work together for good to those who were called by the Lord. In the Book of Psalms some forty six. There are two statements that I leave with you. First is verse one is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble and verse CAN BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. The first operation that I had in the local hospital was for a ruptured appendix. Very serious situation and there were times when I had to walk the halls for exercise and often I would do it in the middle of the night because I couldn't sleep and it just seemed like blackness envelops me. Where was in all of this is helping me I couldn't. There were many times I couldn't sense 's presence and all of that. I do know he brought me through. was at work for me like he was at work for Joseph and is it work for you as well. I don't know what situation you are facing today. It might be financial. It might be in your health. Maybe there is some kind of problem among family members. It's not important that I know what's important is that knows all about it. And if you will take the need to the Lord he'll work it out for the best. It may look like it's impossible but with all things are possible. Many of you are like me that as we grew up as children we heard about the Iron Curtain we heard about the atomic bomb and in grade school why we had to do the drills where you climb under your desk at that time I thought that the Iron Curtain that Soviet Union was such a huge problem that there was no way to deal with that. But you know what. In our lifetime the Soviet Union has dissolved. I don't care what problem you have how big it seems dollars bigger than all these that work for you this balance for the Lord. You know the needs of your people in this local congregation. I pray that they will have the faith to look to you to deal with whatever it may be and however long it may take whether it takes a few days or a few years I pray that you will see the need and respond to it. We ask in your name Amen. Are sisters coming out to close our service.