APPLICATIONS FROM JOSEPH’S WORK

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APPLICATIONS FROM JOSEPH’S WORK

21 February 2023

Topic: Practical applications

Mr. Hire Edward

READINGS
• Genesis 41:46-57
• Genesis 47:13-26

Joseph applied a proper management system and He didn’t just stay in the house of prayer but he put up policies to manage the food crisis.

15 Practical applications from Joseph’s work

  1. Become as familiar as possible with the state of affairs as they exist at the beginning of your service. Joseph traversed the land and moved around to see what kind of food was grown in Egypt. He looked at the pros and cons. What is the cost? What is the situation where you are standing now? Joseph was 30 years when he entered the service of Pharaoh and went through the land to understand the state of affairs of Egypt as in Genesis 41:47.
  2. Pray for discernment regarding the future so that you can make wise plans. Joseph leaned to the Lord in prayer. It was not a smooth ride for Joseph but wherever he reached, he thanked God. Joseph prayed all through his circumstances. He didn’t recognize his skills or network or finances because when his testimony came, it was all God.
  3. Commit yourself to the Lord first and then expect Him to direct or establish your plans. Joseph committed everything to the Lord. God is interested in the big projects and small projects we are involved in. We should commit ourselves to the Lord that we ask of Him what we should
    do in meetings. David committed himself to the Lord despite his weaknesses and he fulfilled his purpose. Joseph sought the Lord in all that he did.
  4. Gratefully and appropriately acknowledge the gifts God has given you. Joseph acknowledged the gifts God gave him. What you have recognize, and acknowledge that it is God who has given you those gifts. When you honor God, He will honor you.
  5. Even though others recognize God’s presence in your life and the special talents you have, do not broadcast these in a self-serving effort to get respect. Respect is earned. Some people when they have an anointing given to them, they have pride even in the way they walk. Whatever you do in word or deed do unto the Lord.
  6. Educate yourself about how to do your job and carry it out with excellence. Joseph had to understand the Egyptian culture, read and interact with people and in all this he even knew what they didn’t like to take care of and that was sheep. For the business that you are doing, teach yourself management skills. Internet has a lot of information but you can learn something from there. Learn something because sometimes knowledge is your breakthrough to take your business to another level. Learning never stops.
  7. Seek the practical good for others knowing that God has placed you somewhere as a blessing. Joseph didn’t do everything alone. Joseph had to rely on other people in work and even at home. He had to set up proper systems and departments.
  8. Be fair in all your dealings especially when the circumstances are green and deeply problematic. Joseph gave people food based on what they had. Even when the people had nothing to give, they still commended him for saving them. A lot of us accumulate things and we can have food in our gardens and our neighbors are struggling and we let the food get spoilt.
  9. Although you are raised to a high position, remember your founding mission as God’s servant. When you rise up to a position of prominence or to a high position, don’t forget that you are God’s servant. In your
    work, you are part time doing your work but full time working for Jesus. Your workplace is a mission place.
  10. Value the godliness of the various types of honourable work that society needs. Joseph found structures already in place and he used them. God is the one who makes nations rise and fall. Joseph was able to realize the needs of the people while carrying out his research of the land and had to work with the leaders and priests. Even some of the people he worked with practiced witchcraft, Joseph still valued the systems. He recognized the godliness of structures and utilized them.
  11. Generously extend the fruit of your labour as widely as possible to those who need it regardless of what you think of them as individuals. Joseph extended the fruit of his labor to those around him who truly needed it and people blessed him.
  12. Accept the fact that God can bring you into a particular field of work under extreme challenging conditions. God uses such circumstances to build you or challenges to bring something bigger. During the hardships, God was with Joseph and God is with us even in those challenging situations.
  13. Have courage that God will fit you for the task. Have faith and you don’t need to know everything because God knows everything.
  14. Accept the fact that sometimes people will choose other options better than yours. Don’t expect everyone to buy into your vision. People choose what they regard as better.
  15. Believe that what you do will not only benefit those you meet but your work can touch generations for many years to come. You want to build wealth or a legacy, think generational.

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”