IBCD Sermon Weekly International Baptist Church Düsseldorf

In today's sermon, Joseph has made peace with his life and is even grateful for his situation and at true peace.

Then God turns his life upside down. In the process, Joseph is set upon the destiny he had thought was lost forever.

Sunday Sermon by Avi Snyder

Joseph makes it from the bottom to the top, several times. He achieves great success. But what if I tell you that his even greater success lies elsewhere? The Bible talks about success very differently than the world does. Biblical success is all about knowing God, glorifying God, and being known by God. Joseph pursued that kind of success, as did Jesus.

It seems that in the darkest of times the light of God shines most brightly. For many this light changes the course of their life. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard people, and I am sure you have as well, who say that the most painful time of their life was also the time of the most impact when God took hold of them and changed their course forever. Joseph experienced this, as did Jesus.

When we allow bitterness to control our lives, then we have become a pathetic creature. We are pushed around by our feelings because of the actions of others. As a pastor I have seen people be emotionally stuck, airing out the same grievances for years, finding any sympathetic ear to listen (which is usually someone they have recently met) until this new person also tires of hearing the bitterness pour out and they distance themselves.

So, what is the remedy for this bitterness which can fill us? Well, in the life of Joseph we have an example of moving through bitterness and removing its power to control and manipulate you.

There are many parallels in the life of Joseph of the Old Testament and the life of Jesus.

One of the parallels is that they both experienced betrayals.

Betrayal is one of the hardest pains to deal with. It leads to bitterness, resentment, and anger within our soul.

So how do Joseph and Jesus deal with betrayal? We begin to answer that (but do not finish it) today.